Menu Content/Inhalt
Home arrow Comic Series & Reviews arrow Vintage Series arrow Adventure Team comics (1969-1976) arrow Series 5: 1975 A

Main Menu

User Menu

Series 5: 1975 A PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 08 December 2008

Hasbro completely overhauled their product offerings in 1975, adding a large number of new deluxe boxed sets. Only four previous sets remained, two still continuing from 1969 (Eight Ropes of Danger and The Shark's Surprise).

  1. Revenge of the Spy Shark (1975-76)
  2. Black Widow Rendezvous (1975-76)
  3. Sky Hawk (1975-76)
  4. Attack at Vulture Falls (1975)
  5. Jaws of Death (1975)
  6. Devil of the Deep
  7. Sky Dive to Danger (1975-76)
  8. Fate of the Troubleshooter
  9. Eight Ropes of Danger
  10. The Shark's Surprise
  11. Fantastic Sea Wolf (1975-76)

Comics not listed this series:
Secret Mountain Outpost (1975-76)
Trapped in Coils of Doom (1975 Sears exclusive)

Also, there were two Atomic Man sets released this year that included previously released comics:
Secret Mission
(included Secret Mission to Spy Island)

Dive to Danger (included Danger of the Depths)


1.  Revenge of the Spy Shark (1975-76):
 There's been a leak in government security. The rocket site at Cape Hadley is under secret surveillance, but the government can find no trace of the leak. Interestingly, a mysterious shark has been spotted off the coastline, with some kind of metal apparatus strapped to its head. Skin divers have searched the area, but they cannot find the shark. G.I. Joe uses the sonar detector to find the metal on the shark. Joe tricks the shark into surfacing and deftly cuts the camera off with a swipe of his knife. The angry shark retaliates and punctures the life raft. Joe has only one chance for salvation, and he kills the shark with his spear gun. He treads water until the AT helicopter arrives. Highlight: Gutsy Joe decides the only way to bait the shark is with himself. Lowlight: Surely there could have been a plot device than a shark with a camera attached to its head. Starring: Sea Adventurer. The comic also shows the correct yellow raft and buoy without striped flag, although the shark in the comic is gray, not black.

2.  Black Widow Rendezvous (1975-76):
 G.I. Joe is tapped to transport a secret "microdot" film of plans for a new defense mechanism to Washington. Joe enters the storage area of HQ and suits up in a new outfit - a stealthy black jacket and pants with a sleek silver helmet. Soon after he is transported to a mountainous region in the Troubleshooter, where he is to meet up with government agent Black Widow to get the plans. Carried by his backpack helicopter, Joe cruises low over the mountains. Soon he hears something and sees three figures coming up the mountain. Joe hides and fires his machine gun into the air to frighten them away. The echoing canyon amplifies the sounds, and the men flee. The spies are apprehended by an AT man in the Troubleshooter, Joe makes the rendezvous with Black Widow, and the film is transported safely to Washington. Highlights: has outline of excellent story; the backpack helicopter's operation is implied to be silent. Lowlight: After chasing away spies, Joe forgets he has helicopter strapped to his back and climbs the remainder of the mountain on foot. Starring: Land Adventurer in Black Widow outfit; Sea Adventurer in green fatigues.

3.  Sky Hawk Adventure (1975-76):
 Joe takes the Sky Hawk out for a test - it works perfectly! A call comes in to HQ - an AT expedition member has been shot with a poison dart. The antidote must be rushed to the jungle immediately. The area is inaccessible - Joe needs the Sky Hawk glider. He drops the antidote via parachute and saves the man's life. Lowlight: Story features pathetic Sky Hawk (where was the AT helicopter?). Starring: Land Adventurer in orange jumpsuit. Trapped Troubleshooter crew: Land Adventurer in sea fatigues; Sea Adventurer in OD fatigues; Land Adventurer in tan fatigues; Land Adventurer in OD fatigues.

4.  Attack at Vulture Falls (1975):
 Vulture Falls has been a constant threat to the native of Watiki. Tribe members have been disappearing on the rapids. G.I. Joe is asked to help out and heads out in his raft. Joe is climbing a rope ladder up a cliff wall when he is harassed by a vulture. Joe overcomes the beast with his Kung Fu grip, and deduces the bird had been harassing the natives for the fish in their canoes. Joe gives the vulture to a small boy who wants to train it to hunt. Highlight: Nice paper stock. Lowlight: All these villagers dead from this bird, and the boy wants a pet. Starring: Sea Adventurer in orange suit.

5.  Jaws of Death (1975):
 The call comes into HQ - communications between countries has been cut off. The approximate location of the jamming device is known, and G.I. Joe is assigned to investigate after divers have fruitlessly searched the area for days. Joe dives in and immediately spots a giant clam. A glint of metal reveals the spy device inside. Joe props shell open to get device, but gets caught. His air is running out but he manages to free himself and get the device. As he heads back to land, another message comes in - "Investigate Spy Island." Highlight: Great suit/vehicle color combo. Lowlight: If Joe was almost killed getting the device out, who could have safely installed it? Starring: Land Adventurer; supported by Air Adventurer in OD fatigues.

7.  Sky Dive to Danger (1975-76):
 At a jungle research station, a spider has mysteriously mutated. Unable to contain the mutation, the spider grows large and breaks free, making its way toward the city. The National Guard, with tanks, surrounds the area. G.I. Joe is called in, and uses the Sky Hawk to spot the demon. Leaving the giant kite to crash to the ground without a pilot, Joe jumps out and pops the 'chute. A gust of wind blows him into the giant spider's web, and he uses his mighty Kung Fu grip to break free. Joe uses the parachute silk to capture the spider. Highlight: The Sky Hawk is abandoned in mid-air, a worthwhile fate for a worthless vehicle. Lowlight. Terrible art and bad story. Why did they surround a 3 foot spider with tanks? Starring: Land Adventurer.

11.  Fantastic Sea Wolf Adventure (1975-76):
 The beaches at a resort have been closed - danger lurks off the coastline. A skin diving search party is missing, and the water temperature has mysteriously gone up. G.I. Joe must find out what is going on! Joe takes out the new Sea Wolf, searching the ocean bottom. Suddenly - a gigantic squid attacks the sub! It wraps itself around the sub completely, but Joe struggles out and after a fierce battle defeats the creature with Kung Fu Grip. He grabs the squid with the sub's pincer arms and heads back to land. Highlights: Great vehicle, nice moody art and decent story; girl in skimpy bikini at start. Unsolved plot thread: Increase in water temperature never explained. Starring: Sea Adventurer in camo trunks.


Secret Mountain Outpost Adventure:
 The Adventure Team has been looking for a new member, but none pass the test - until they meet Mike Power! Power passes all the tests with superhuman abilities. The AT Commander asks Mike how he explains his strength. Power explains that he created his atomic limbs to "compensate for the weak ones he was born with." A call comes in - a plane is down! Power speeds to the rescue, getting there quickly with his hand-powered helicopter. Saving the pilot, Power joins the AT and is a hero. Highlights: Atomic Man's origin. Lowlights: The height requirement was the *last* test given. Plot holes: Midway through the story, Power's garb suddenly changes from white t-shirt and blue shorts to camo short and brown shorts (maybe this is a variation, since the workout clothes were added later on). Starring: Mike Power, Sea Adventurer in OD fatigues, gray-haired (!) Talking Commander in tan fatigues. Background: Air Adventurer in camo fatigues.

Trapped in Coils of Doom (Sears exclusive):
 While at Adventure Team Headquarters, a native outside is attacked by a giant anaconda. Dr. Forbes, a retile expert, is brought in to assist. Joe and Forbes set off after the snake in the Mobile Terrain Vehicle (MTV). Mysteriously, the radio malfunctions. Forbes heads off into the jungle. Joe launches the swamp boat, but it malfunctions too. What's going on? Joe fixes the radio and calls HQ. Dr. Forbes is a fraud! Suddenly the anaconda attacks, and Joe gets the snake in his Kung Fu Grip. It's a big wrestling match and the snake escapes. Joe chases in the pontoon boat and manages to snare the snake. When he gets back. "Dr. Forbes" has been captured.  Highlights: The ultra cool tan MTV with fold-up pontoon boat. Unexplained plot hole: Why did Dr. Forbes want to sabotage AT Headquarters? Featuring: A Land Adventurer in uniform from set. Also features several characters in HQ background, including an Air Adventurer in tan fatigues, a Sea Adventurer in green fatigues, a black Adventurer with gray hair (!) wearing a blue denim shirt, an Air Adventurer in camo fatigues, a black Adventurer, and a Sea Adventurer.

 
< Prev   Next >