G.I. JOE #36
All the Ships
at Sea!

Cover Date: June, 1985
Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Rod Whigham, Mark Bright,
Bob Camp, Larry Hama
Inks: Andy Mushynsky,
Mike Esposito
Lettering: Rick Parker
Colors: George Roussos
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Summary:  Somewhere in the South Atlantic -- after dropping off the G.I. Joe Whale hovercraft -- the freighter Jane is attacked by Cobra Rattler jets. Cutter knocks out three oncoming anti-ship missles with the Jane's gatling gun, but the fourth has a direct hit on the freighter's hull after the gatling gun is washed out by the rough seas. Deep Six tries to keep control of the ship while Doc and Tripwire contend with the fire on board. The Rattlers circle around for another attack and Deep Six uses an axe to open a huge crate on the deck of the Jane. The Rattlers' machine guns fire on the freighter, while Doc tells Tripwire the fire is too far out of control to put out. They decide to try and get the shorted-out gatling gun to work again. Deep Six finally opens the crate to reveal a G.I. Joe Mobile Missle System (MMS). "O.K. The gloves are off," he shouts as he fires two missles at the Cobra jets, shooting down one of the Rattlers, but not before the jet fires more missles at the Jane. More of the freighter is on fire, but Doc and Tripwire still try to fix the gatling gun. Doc aims the gun manually, pushing it into place, while Tripwire searches for the firing circuit. As the remaining Rattler opens fire on the Jane, Tripwire finds the severed wire and completes the circuit, destroying the Rattler.

Twenty miles from the Jane's position, Snow Job and Torpedo, in the Whale, attack a secret Cobra base on an atoll. They battle with ASP assault guns and Cobra hydrofoils. They continue to outmaneuver the Cobras -- taking advantage of the ASPs por turning speed -- until they destroy the base's defenses. But according to one Cobra officer after the Joes leave, their secret operation in the Gulf of Mexico is still a secret. Snow Job and Torpedo find the floating wreck of the Jane and the other Joes in a life raft. The U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier arrives to rescue them all.

In plainclothes on the Staten Island ferry, Snake-Eyes and Scarlett are being watched by a group of undercover Cobra Crimson Guardsmen led by Fred II. They only recognize Scarlett, since Snake-Eyes is wearing his life-like rubber mask. When Snake-Eyes leaves to get some coffee, the C.G.s pull their guns on Scarlett. Snake-Eyes comes back and throws the hot coffees in the Cobras' faces, but Fred II gets out of the car (parked on the ferry) and fires on Snake-Eyes, accidentally shooting one of the C.G.s. In the confusion, the Guardsmen take Scarlett below decks, but Snake-Eyes takes the dead Cobra's weapon and goes after her. They fight in the darkened cargo hold. Eventually, all the C.G.s are dead except Fred II. In a struggle, Snake-Eyes catches Fred before he falls into the harbor. Hanging there, Fred pulls off Snake-Eyes' mask, revealing his disfigured face. Horrified, Fred falls into the harbor. Snake-Eyes replaces his mask and he and Scarlett continue on to Staten Island.

Commentary: This three-part story makes for an exciting issue. The three subplots go on at the same time, not showing more than one page at a time for each subplot. This is mostly an action story, with the small amounts of space making each story very immediate and fast-paced. This format will be tried much later on in the series, but not with as much success. This is the third issue in a row not to be a part of the main storyline, but it still maintains continuity. The Joes on the Jane have been their for some time, last seen around issue #29. Snake-Eyes is off-duty, probably just after recovering from his injuries at his cabin, sustained in issue #31. Fred II will survive his plunge into New York Harbor, but will get sick from staying in the cold water.

Larry Hama makes good use of some of the lesser-used Joes, and for some, this will be their last most significant appearances. Cutter, Doc, Deep Six and Tripwire rarely see much battle action, but they all step up during the Rattler attck. Again, Deep Six's character shows him to be extremely loyal and persistent, while still not being full of personality. The Joes save themselves, but the Jane eventually sinks. The funnier part of this scene is Doc's ill-fated attempt to give the Jane's crew some hot cocoa. I would think these guys would dink coffee, but Marvel wouldn't want to encourage kids to have all that caffiene. Snow Job and Torpedo also get some of their biggest roles in this issue, while they zip back and forth on the WHALE, one step ahead of the Cobra ASPs, until it becomes funny. Even in a mostly all-action issue, Torpedo gets a few character details, like when he uses the native Hawaiian terms for native and foreigners ("Kanaka" and "Haole").

Snake-Eyes and Scarlett finally get a chance to spend some time alone, but the Crimson Guard ruins it for them. Snake-Eyes shows his usual superhero-like prowess against four of Cobra's best, but he just wouldn't be Snake-Eyes if it was tough for him. When Fred reveals Snake-Eyes' face his horrified enough to fall into the harbor. He must really look disgusting under there!

Once again, the art chores are divided up among the same several artists who worked on the last issue. This issue also includes the first appearances of the Cobra Moray hovercraft and the U.S.S. Flagg, obviously named after the late General Flagg, the Joes' former commander. A comic-book only vehicle is the Cobra Sea-Rattler. It's basically a Rattler with skis instead of wheels for landing gear, but it would still make a interesting custom vehicle...

"All the Ships at Sea" is one of the best action issues of the series. The major storyline will pick up again in the next issue.
First Appearances:
  • G.I. Joe Vehicles: U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier
  • Cobra Vehicles: Moray hivercraft; Sea-Rattler jet (not a toy)
Reprinted in:
  • Action Force #28 - #30 (September 12th - 26th, 1987). A Marvel UK series featuring the UK's version of G.I. Joe reprints this story in three parts, alongside an original story. All references to "G.I. Joe" were changed to "Action Force".
  • G.I. JOE Comics Magazine #13 (December 1988). Digest format from Marvel Comics. Includes issues #35 and #37. (This is the final issue of this series.)
  • G.I. JOE: Volume 4 (2002). A trade paperback collection from Marvel. Includes issues #31-41.
  • Classic G.I. JOE: Volume 4 (July 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 #31-41.