Well, G.I. Joe started off with a bang in 1982 with their self-proclaimed "Blockbuster First Issue"! I doubt either Hasbro or Marvel knew just how accurate that statement would prove to be!
Getting right down to the nitty gritty, this issue, and the legend of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero starts off pretty quick. A train passes through the jungle, holding famed nuclear physicist Dr. Adele Burkhart, who is giving a press conference to some reporters. This interview does not last very long, as the train is soon under attack by mysterious blue-garbed terrorists flying amazingly hi-tech jet packs! After a short but fierce firefight, The Baroness, disguised as one of the reporters along with her bretheren, snatches Burkhart and escapes.
Back in Washington, Generals Flagg and Austin discuss the kidnapping and give a broad description of Cobra: "...Legions--well trained and equipped with all the latest hardware..." They decide as a last ditch effort, they must call in "Special Counter-Terrorist Group Delta, Code Name: G.I. Joe!". And that they do.
We are given a brief glimpse of the Joes' mysterious base ad shown their hi-tech planning room where they convene to make an attempt to rescue Burkhart from the Cobra Island Fortress.
They strike hard and fast, demonstrating that they will pull no punches when Stalker flies in and drops explosives on a whole group of hapless Cobra troops. Cobra Commander shows The Baroness his legions of troops ready for attack while Breaker and Flash disable the radar and Snake Eyes and Scarlett sneak in. The Joes smoke a decoy airfield while the two commandos venture further inside the HQ. Then the Joes begin their frontal assault, which seems to be heading towards certain victory. Dr. Burkhart is taken by car from the HQ, and is valiently rescued by Stalker and his jetpack! But WAIT! It's not Burkhart after all. The Baroness was in a disguise, and the Joes fell for it hook line and sinker! But against overwhelming odds, Snake Eyes and Scarlett plunge into Cobra Commander's throne room with no support from Hawk's team. As Cobra Commander is about to gun down the two reckless troops, Burkhart throws herself in front of the bullet, allowing Scarlett to nail the Commander with a throwing star. At that moment, the rest of the Joes blast their way in, to find their troops okay, Burkhart injured, but not severely, but no sign whatsoever of Cobra Commander. Thanks to Zap's knowledge of helicopter piloting, they hijack a Cobra transport and escape just as the spanish fort used as their HQ goes up in smoke. But Cobra Commander and The Baroness have escaped, living to fight another day.
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