A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

B

BENZHEEN. An oil-rich desert nation that was allied with the United States. Bezheen is one of the Middle East's wealthiest nations thanks to its vast oil-reserves that bring in money from nations all over the world. Benzheen is ruled by the Emir. 

Benzheen was thrust into war when Cobra invaded the nation from the neighboring country of Trucial Abysmia in 1991. Their gole was to take control of the nation's oil fields. When Cobra invaded, the Emir escaped in a fighter jet, just seconds before being killed. The Emir got word of the attack to the United States, and nearly the entire G.I. Joe team was sent to free Benzheen. The war that followed was a short but bloody conflict, during which many Joes lost their lives. The Emir was an arrogant man who questioned Hawk's command constantly, and seemed more interested in saving his art treasures than freeing his people. The Emir's attitude made it come as no surprise that a small faction of rebels tried to end the Emir's rule, even involving the Joes in the conflict. During the Battle of Benzheen, many Joes were killed when Cobra artillery ignited some of Benzheen oil storage tanks, causing a spectacular explosion. The Emir grew tired of Hawk's "incompetent" command and sought out Cobra Commander to make a deal to save his country. The Emir made the deal, but did so at gunpoint. Essentially, the Commander held the nation for ransom, and the Emir was forced to give huge amounts of money to Cobra. Even so, this ended the conflict and outraged the Joes. Their fight for Benzheen and the loss of their comrades were all for nothing in the end. Cobra has since left the country mostly alone, and the United States is much less willing to trust the Emir. (#109-115)
 

BERN INSTITUTE OF RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY. An exclusive and expensive hospital in Bern, Switzerland. The Bern Institute was world famous for it's advanced techniques of reconstructive surgery. It is also home to Dr. Hundtkinder, a well known surgeon. The Baroness underwent surgery to restore her face after a Cobra night raid on Washington left her badly scarred. The Baroness was thought to be dead, but was brought to Bern by Major Bludd. Hundtkinder was paid to keep silent about his patient's identity. (#22-23) 

Years later, Snake-Eyes sought out Hundtkinder's skills to restore his badly scarred face. The Joes were unaware of the doctor's ties to the Baroness, and Hundtkinder revealed to her that Snake-Eyes was being operated on. A Vietnam-era photo that Snake-Eyes gave the doctor was sent to the Baroness and she recognizd the man as the soldier who she believed had killed her brother. Much of Snake-Eyes' surgery was complete by the time the Baroness stormed the Institute with a group of Cobra soldiers. While Snake-Eyes was still sedated, Baroness shot Scarlett in the head, leaving her in a coma for months. Snake-Eyes was taken to the Cobra Consulate in New York City afterward. Both Joes survived their ordeal, and the Joes discovered Hundtkinder's connection to Cobra when Roadblock and Chuckles broke into the his office and searched through his records. It is unknown how this affected the doctor's career. (#96-99)
 

BLIND MASTER'S MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL. Located in Denver, Colorado, the school was operated by the Blind Master and Jinx, both members of the Arashikage clan. Whether by coincidence or design, the school was set up in an old warehouse next door to the garage owned by undercover Crimson Guard Fred VII. Billy continued his ninja training there after he awoke from a coma. Shortly afterward, the school was closed and abandoned by the Blind Master. (#59-62)
BORIGIA / KRAZNY-MARENGO. (see BOROVIA)
BOROVIA. One of the many eastern European nations swallowed up by communism. Officially named the People's Democratic Republic of Borovia, the small nation's economy was based on agriculture. Borovia's capital city is Krogdnz.

In 1987, American journalist Devlin Winchell was reported captured by Borovian secret police. A small group from the G.I. Joe team -- Stalker, Snow Job, Quick Kick and Outback -- were sent into Borovia to rescue Winchell. Posing as foreign businessmen, the Joes made their way to the Hotel Grod in Krogdnz. In a nighttime raid, the Joes snuck into the State Security building where Winchell had been held, only to discover he was no longer there. Since the Joes began their mission, the State Department had made a deal with the Borovian government to free Winchell. As they attempted to escape, the Joes were discovered. In the fight that followed, Snow Job and Quick Kick were injured. Stalker had to stay behind with them, but ordered Outback to escape on his own and get word back to the United States. Outback fled through the sewers of Krogdnz and eventually made contact with the U.S. Embassy in Russia. Though Outback returned home, the government ordered the Joes not to make any rescue attempt for the others. The three Joes would remain imprisoned in Gulag 23 for months before Scarlett and Snake-Eyes undertook an unauthorized mission along with Storm Shadow, Billy, Jinx and the Blind Master and liberated the gulag. (#66)

A few years after the liberation of Gulag 23, Borovia succumbed to the chaos that came after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Rioting broke out in Krogdnz's Lenin Square, incited by a man name Metz who was hoping to gain power by reigniting the old ethnic conflict between "upper-Borovians" and "lower-Borovians". Borovian Security Police were preparing to gun down Metz -- to stop his rebellion -- along with the rioters, but were stopped by Snake-Eyes, sent on a commando mission to rescue US representative, George Strawhacker. During the mission, Metz shot and killed Metz is front of a crowd after threatening a small girl. The crowd turned on Metz, and he was nearly hanged by the people. His death was stopped by Snake-Eyes and locals Magda and the White Clown. (#103-106)

In the years that followed, a provisional government was put in place, ending the chaos for a time. Magda was elected president but the government collapsed afterward, partly due to the revolutionaries known as the Lower Borovian Separatist Front. The nation was again in turmoil and fighting broke out in the streets between the Separatists and the Borovian Secret Police, who were now acting on their own. Hawk and Lady Jaye found themselves trapped in Krogdnz during the fighting. With the help of the White Clown and Magda they fought the Bezpos until a group of Joes came to the rescue. The Joes finally got out of Borovia, but the warfare continued. (#128-129)

Magda formed under a new government led by the Liberal Democrats, with the help of the White Clown. The nation was renamed "Borigia / Krazny-Marengo", in keeping with it's traditional name, not used since before the communist revolution. But, the strife never ended, and an army of extremists led by old rebel Metz continued to fight the Liberal Democrats for years. Eventually, Metz decided the only way to win the war was to get outside support and turned to Cobra for help. After a battle in the capitol, an armored column of Cobra tanks, led by the Commander himself, defeated the last of the Liberal Democrats. Magda and the White Clown were brought before Metz, and he intended to spare their lives, remembering they had once saved his. Cobra Commander had other ideas. He casually gunned them both down with a machine gun. He intended for Metz to be merely a puppet leader, with Cobra taking control of the country. With Borovia now subdued, the Commander moved on through Europe, first taking Darklonia. The next nation on his list was Wolkekuckuckland, but advisors for the G.I. Joe team were there, aiding W-land's leader, General Liederkranz. After a long battle, Cobra was driven off and defeated. (#145-150)

Cobra Commander soon decided to get rid of Metz altogether, and sent Zartan to do assassinate him. Posing as General Liederkranz's weaselly aide, Wolfgang, Zartan set explosives inside the Hotel Grod. When Metz came inside, the bomb was set off and Metz was killed. Zartan made his escape, but Wolfgang was blamed for the assassination. But when a mob of Borovians tracked down Wolfgang, they praised him for killing Metz, chanting "Long live Wolfgang!" Incredibly, Wolfgang was soon made president of Borovia. No doubt, Cobra decided to use him as another puppet. In recent years, little contact has been made with Borovia, but the region still remains in turmoil. (#151)
 

BROCA BEACH. A small town on the New Jersey shore, Broca Beach was intended to become Cobra's secret base in America, replacing the long-lost town of Springfield. The town's conversion to suit Cobra's needs was financed by real estate scams run by Zarana and Zandar. Zarana and the Dreadnoks were put in charge of the Broca Beach operation. Under cover of night, the town was settled by Cobra troops and their families, taken by ship from Cobra Island. The main attractions of Broca Beach were the boardwalk and amusement park. Other landmarks included an amphitheater. Like Springfield, Broca Beach hid Cobra vehicles and equipment, and some were hidden in plain site, disguised as amusement park rides. (#81-90)

Two Joes -- Clutch and Rock & Roll -- stumbled upon Broca Beach while on leave. They discovered Cobra's presence there, but were captured by the Dreadnoks and brainwashed before they could report the existence of Broca Beach. The Brain-wave Scanner was hidden inside the local multiplex theater. (#90)

Years later, the G.I. Joe Drug Elimination Force were sent into Broca Beach on a mission to track down the drug dealers led by Headman. Headman believed that Broca Beach was the perfect place to deal drugs since Cobra couldn't involve the authorities without exposing their secret operation. After a battle between the Joes and the dealers, Headman escaped. The Joes chased him down and foud the Headman on a freighter, ready to deliver a shipment to Broca Beach. To the Joes' surprise, Cobra Commander himself stopped Headman, wanting to rid his town of drug dealers. (#124-125)

Eventually, Cobra Commander focused his attention to Eastern Europe and Cobra slowly abandoned Broca Beach. It is not known if Cobra's involvement in Broca Beach was ever discovered.
 

BROCA MULTIPLEX THEATER. A movie theater located in Broca Beach, New Jersey. Broca Beach was controlled by Cobra, and the Brain-wave Scanner was hidden in the theater's offices. Members of the G.I. Joe team, Clutch and Rock & Roll, were brainwashed there by Zarana and the Baroness. (#90)

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