Welcome to The Comic Box. This is a discussion thread for the GI Joe comics. We start at Marvel’s #1 and move thru the series every Wednesday. It’s a chance to give your thoughts, opinions and remarks about the comic in question.

GI Joe #5. Tanks For the Memories

General Flagg has this grand idea of putting the MOBAT into a regular parade w/ other tanks to show off to the big wigs that the MOBAT, while being majorly hi-tech, looks like any other tank. But things go awry when Cobra tries to steal it. Can the Joes navigate thru a crowded city? Can tanks sit at the bottom of a lake? Only by reading this issue, will you know!

Special Notes. Old Iron Butt Austin makes his appearance. It is revealed that General Flagg is a marksman with a pistol.


Discuss Away!


-image from yojoe.com-

First time I saw the Baroness (my brother would go back and get issues 1 and 2 at a comic shop).

I remember being disappointed that the Cobras in the issue were disguised as a marching band.

Also the downside is that it reminds you how inadequate the Mobat toy was when it came to figure interaction. If only we'd have been able to actually crew the tank with Clutch and Breaker as well as Steeler.

It was a decent issue though. Maybe 6/10.

Loved this issue. It really showed the Joes as being very intelligent as they defeat Cobra without firing a single actual shot.
It also featured the very first mention of Springfield.
And let's not forget all of Cobra's undercover operations, which are quite impressive. I believe this was the first time they were featured extensively (from the spies catching info about the MOBAT to two different portions of the parade being ran by Cobra agents to being able to construct a command center right under the generals' parade seats).

Character-wise, we got a good treat, with Cobra Commander being completely unscrupulous, and Flagg being the "good guy", not even taking a shot at CC despite his flawless aim, on the .0000001% chance that he MIGHT hit an innocent bystander.

The issue wasn't dumbed down for kids, either. After Flagg gets shot, Cobra Commander flees as girl scouts look on...
"Look Susie! That man shot the soldier and is running away!"
"Don't worry, Julie! They'll catch him! They always catch the bad guys!"
And Flagg, hearing this, simply whispers to himself "I wish that were true, little girl..."

And G, General Austin doesn't appear in this issue. He's mentionned by Steeler at the beginning, and Flagg sends him a memo, but he's never seen.

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RIP Minouche, 1994-2009.

I've got to echo what Jay posted-hands down this is a 'Top 10' issue of the series. I know personally it was a part of the template that has guided my unique Joeverse over the past 25 years.......

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Non illigitamus carborundum~Vos mos non effrego mihi

Coming soon: 'JoeSpecialOps'

I was going off what yojoe.com was saying. It's possible that Austin is actually there in the bandstand. There's no reference to whether he IS in the stand, of course...

I loved the issue. IIRC, this might be the 1st issue that actually had a tv ad for it. I know by #9 or #10, the toys and comic ads went hand in hand.

I re-read the issue prior to my posting. General Austin is nowhere to be seen.

I don't know why the Yojoe summary guy said so... maybe he mistook the generic joint chiefs general who speaks with Flagg (who was thinner than Austin, and sported grey hair instead of red) with old Iron-Butt.

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RIP Minouche, 1994-2009.