The 'Big, Giant Robot' was to this comic-and our imaginations-what Spock saying, "In the year 2006..." was to 'Trekkies' in the '60's, '70's & even '80's; basic 'can you EVEN imagine THAT date??' So the robot makes perfect sense in the plotline.
This comic was a great way to show that while the Joes operated 'outside' what conventional military parameters might have been, when they 'dressed up' they were still soldiers. That went a long way to 'humanizing' them in the public's eyes. How many of us really sat up & took notice of the National Guard in the parades after getting hooked on G.I. Joe?? I mean think about it-maybe some of these soldiers could be Joes in disguse........
And the fact that this team was shaping up to be tight & cool & real all at the same time......man these comics can still retain cool factor 25 years later-AWESOME!!!!!!!

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Coming soon: 'JoeSpecialOps'