| Summary (by Todd J. Weinzierl): "Turnabout" opens with Chuckles and Roadblock on a mission somewhere near Oxford in England. Their mission is to escort the young Prince Ngoto of Equatorial Kalingaland from his classes at Oxford to his homeland to reclaim the throne. As they are driving towards the house they spot four men at the front door whose intent seems to be preventing the Joe’s from accomplishing their mission. Before Chuckles has a chance to stop the vehicle, their adversaries open fire causing Chuckles and Roadblock to bail out and return fire. It would seem that these men who block the Joe’s path are supporters of the collapsing Marxist regime opposed to Prince Ngoto’s return to the throne. As the firefight continues, one of the men kicks in the door and enters the house. On the outside, Chuckles and Roadblock get the upper hand and finally take out the remaining three men. Shots are then heard from the inside of the house. The last attacker stumbles out of the front door and falls dead on the ground. Chuckles and Roadblock are confused to as who shot the last man. An older gentleman steps out of the house and questions the Joe’s identities. After telling the man that they are Americans sent to take the young Prince back to his homeland, the two Joe’s question the man’s identity. The older gentleman replies with a grin that HE is the Prince Ngoto, and he does not attend lectures at Oxford... he gives them. Chuckles, Roadblock, and Prince Ngoto then take a jeep and head for the airport to board a domestic flight to the Canary Islands. From there they will be able to switch planes and arrive in Equatorial Kalingaland. The Joes feel this flight plan will work best because it will be low-profile. Aboard the plane, the three men notice that they are seated next to suspicious looking individuals. Roadblock takes to further investigation and finds that weapons have been smuggled onto the plane inside meal pans. He removes the firing pins from the guns and returns them to their hidden locations. Soon the meals are served, and the suspicious looking men begin to unwrap their guns from the meal pans. They approach the Prince, draw their weapons and begin to pull the triggers. Nothing happens!! As they stand in the aisle with looks of disbelief on their faces, Roadblock rises and begins to lecture them on the importance a firing pin has to the proper performance of a weapon. As the plane touches down, Chuckles, Roadblock and Prince Ngoto prepare to be the first to disembark so they can catch their connecting flight. As they board the C-130 Hercules, flown by Wild Bill, men on the outside of the fence surrounding the airfield begin firing weapons at the back of the plane. The plane takes off with no further obstacles, and begins the final stretch to Equatorial Kalingaland. On the ground a MIG-21 prepares for takeoff to intercept the C-130 carrying the Prince and his G.I.Joe escorts. Soon Wild Bill takes notice that he has a bandit on his tail. He tries various maneuvers to shake the bogey but has no luck. Within moments both planes are flying on a collision course towards each other. The MIG fires, taking out the plane’s radar. The planes pass each other and the MIG is maneuvers behind the C-130. Roadblock takes matters into his own hands and rushes toward the back of the plane. He tells Wild Bill to open the rear cargo door and keep the plane steady. With the MIG bearing down on the back of the plane, Roadblock takes arms with his fifty-caliber machine gun and opens fire on the enemy plane. The shells rattle the MIG and the pilot is forced to bail out, but before he does, he is able to fire off two missiles. One hits the C-130’s left engine while the other misses. Although with one engine badly damaged, Wild Bill is able to pull the C-130 under control and ready the plane for a quick touchdown and takeoff. Chuckles, Roadblock, and the Prince board an AWE-Striker in the rear of the plane and drive off the cargo ramp as Wild Bill touches down. Roadblock exclaims the they are finally on the homestretch... only 50 kilometers to the town of Kalingaville. As the Prince enters his homeland, his return is met with jubilation. His supports have rounded up all members of the opposition and are preparing to execute them. Prince Ngoto however pronounces a general amnesty. The time for freedom of choice has arrived and his countrymen will be allowed to participate in a general election and have equal representation. The people rejoice. The Prince continues his speech to say that his country will accept no aid from either the Americans or the Russians, for if they do, they will never be truly free. So he expels both ambassadors and announces the closing of the embassies. His people continue to rejoice, as the American ambassador is left in shock. The story ends with the Joes and Americans leaving in the AWE-Striker. The Ambassador is complaining that the Prince’s decision has cost him his job. Roadblock replies that it may have cost the Ambassador his job, but the Prince might turn out to be the best friend the Americans have in that area, for his will be a friendship that was not bought.
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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #10
Comic Series & Reviews