G.I. JOE #15
Red-Eye to Miami

Cover Date: September, 1983
Scripter: Larry Hama
Penciler: Mike Vosburg
Inker: Jon D'Agostino
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Andy Yanchus
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

"The man who whips a dog will pull his own sled someday..."
— Kwinn
Summary (by Ben Grimes):  This issue finds Snake-Eyes and Dr.Venom emerging from the sunken bunker in Sierra Gordo, only to be greeted by a cobra hit squad disguised as renegade government troops. They are really pissed off for being stuck in the jungle and they took quite a thrashing in the last issue. We get to see the weasely Dr.Venom at his finest when he tells the troops he could fly them out if they spare him. They notice Kwinn is not present, Venom explains that Kwinn didn't make it out. Why because venom hit him over the head with a wrench. Kwinn comes out of the water slowly( a homage to "Apocolypse Now" and "Missing in Action". He then guns down the cobra troops with his trademark .30 caliber machine gun. Boy that one ammo belt he always carries goes a long way!

Snake Eyes with the immediate realization that Venom lied about Kwinn tries to kill venom. Kwinn stops him because Venom is the only one who can fly them out. They sneak through the jungle to whats left of the airstrip the joes trashed in the last issue. An old world war 2 bomber, British Avro Lancaster bomber is chosen as their freedom bird. Snakes and Kwinn thump some guards and Venom gets into the plane. Snake-Eyes mans the dorsal gun turret, Kwinn assists Venom with preflight. Kwinn asks Venom if he can start the plane, Venom retorts "Just as I'm sure our friend in the turret can operate those twin .303 brownings!" Kwinn is keeping his eye one the sneaky venom. They have engine problems taking off, Snake eyes finishes trashing what was left of the air strip. Finally the engine kicks over and they barely make it out . Kwinn takes over the flying chores for Venom. Venom mysteriously radios someone. The plane is then attacked by a spitfire fighter that was not damaged. It takes Venom and Kwinn working together to get out of the dogfight. After a trick using the planes lights they force the spitfire to crash.

Meanwhile in Cobra headquarters, Destro and Baroness have received venom's transmission. They decide to help him because he is holding out on the complete toxin formula. Cobra Commander then says "that still doesn't explain how you were able to anticipate the gi joe attack on the furniture factory, does it Destro?" Ah, dissension in the ranks.

Over the ocean weasely Venom tries to kill snake eyes by opening the bombay doors. snakes gets a grip and Kwin comes to the rescue of the "shadow man". Venom then banks the plane to knock Kwinn out. Venom then tries to knock them loose by bashing Kwinn with the wrench again. Venom finds out how strong the bear spirit is when Kwinn climbs back into the plane with Snake-Eyes. Kwinn then tries to throw out Venom, but is stopped by Snake-Eyes.

A brief segue to the Pit, shows the joes getting more of a clue to the nature of the toxin, printer's ink. Then a scene at Cobra headquarters introduces Major bludd for the first time. Cobra Commander hires him to take care of a problem-- Destro. Destro reveals to the Baroness he has been sabotaging all of the Commander's plans in an attempt to take over Cobra. He forces his love Baroness to choose between him and betraying Cobra Commander.

Meanwhile our friends on the plane have an encounter with a smuggler freighter. They screw up shooting at the plane and end up blowing up their boat. However the damage is done, the plane is crippled and they start jettisoning spare weight. After some witty banter from some tourists they crash land on Miami beach. Snake-Eyes and Kwinn are arrested and Venom is set free by the awaiting Cobra lawyers.

Commentary: Issue 15 is a character driven issue. It explores the relationship of Snake Eyes "shadow man" and two Cobra enemies Kwinn "bear spirit" and Dr. Venom "weasel". you get some great dialog and interesting conflict between the three. Snakes and kwinn form a closer friendship at the end of the issue through their hatred of Venom.

We also get a lot of plot development on the Cobra toxin, and the Cobra infighting. You get to see the Cobra Commander vs. Destro fight escalate. You also get to see the first appearance of the seldom used but very popular Major Bludd.

The real highlight of this issue is the detail given by Mike Vosburg to the Lancaster bomber. He really did his homework on the drawings. My other favorite part is the banter of the bystanders. The troops guarding the airport have some great lines as do the tourists on the beach. This is what made the earlier issues great. They had action, an intriguing, believable plot that kept your interest, great characterization, and a good sense of humor.

First Appearances:

  • Cobra: Major Bludd
Reprinted in:
  • G.I. JOE Comics Magazine #6 (October 1987). Digest format from Marvel Comics. Includes issues #16 and #17.
  • Tales of G.I. Joe #15 (March 1989). The final issue of the reprint series from Marvel.
  • G.I. JOE: Volume 2 (June 2002). A trade paperback collection from Marvel. Includes issues #11-20.
  • Classic G.I. JOE: Volume 2 (March 2009). A trade paperback collection from IDW Publishing. Aside from some slight changes made to the cover, this is a reprint of the earlier Marvel collection. Includes issues #11-20.
  • G.I. JOE: Best Worst of Baroness (January 2010). Part of a series of reprints from IDW. Also includes issues #1, 13, 14, 34 and 47.