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#2 Direct #2 Newsstand #2 Second Print
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, #1 Newsstand

Published: June 1982

Cover

G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #1

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Issue Contents:
1 page military; war

"Blockbuster first issue! The ultimate weapon of democracy! Introducing America's sensational new special missions force for the 80's!"

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G. I. Joe Weapons Profile: Code Name: HAL
Story 1 1 page military; war

"I'm Flash and I'd like to tell you all about my little pea-shooter, but I can't!"

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Inside front cover, black & white. Information about the H.A.L. (Heavy Artillery Laser).

Operation: Lady Doomsday
Story 2 28 pages adventure; military; war

"Quartered in top-secret armored underground bunkers -- deep beneath the Army Chaplains Assistant School at Fort Wadsworth -- is America's elite counter-terrorist strike force!"

Storyline

Cobra captures prominent nuclear physicist Doctor Adele Burkhart. The newly-formed Special Counter-Terrorist Group Delta, code name G.I. Joe, is tasked with her rescue by Generals Austin and Flagg.

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G.I. Joe member Shooter is so-named as in-house joke for Marvel editor in chief Jim Shooter. Twenty-four years later, Shooter was made into an official (female) G.I. Joe sniper by writer/creator Larry Hama in [gcd_link_series](21859) and received an action figure as part of the "G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary" line in 2016. Hawk's original line on page 11, panel 4, as written by Larry Hama, was "We're soldiers... ...our job is to do the unthinkable -- and be forgotten." Editor Tom DeFalco changed the dialogue to "We're soldiers... ...our job is to follow orders... to do the impossible -- and make it look easy." Hama's original script is restored in reprints and collections published by Image Comics / Skybound, starting in 2023. Cobra Island is not the same Cobra Island that is created and occupied by Cobra as a sovereign state in later issues. This island is abandoned for Cobra's "true headquarters" at the end of the story. The Hydrofoil LCT (Landing Craft Tank) used by G.I. Joe is presented as though it <i>may</i> have been considered as a vehicle for the toy line, but currently there is not any evidence to support that.

G.I. Joe Classified File: The Pit
Story 3 2 pages military; war

"Five levels of steel-reinforced, radiation-shielded concrete and alloy armor."

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Story Notes

Cutaway diagram of the G.I. Joe Command Center, code named "The Pit."

...Hot Potato!
Story 4 10 pages military; war

"Somewhere in the Middle East..."

Storyline

Pinned down by enemies in the Middle Eastern country of Trucial Abysmia, Scarlett orders Snake Eyes and Rock 'N Roll to deliver a tape they've obtained (the hot potato) to the waiting and incognito Hawk, Stalker, and Clutch. With Rock 'N Roll's prodding, Snake Eyes returns to support Scarlett. Upon delivering the tape to the waiting Joes, Rock 'N Roll commandeers a R.A.M. and returns to save Scarlett and Snake Eyes just as they run out of ammunition. With back-up from Hawk and Clutch in a V.A.M.P., the Joes escape as Stalker flies back to the United States on a commercial flight with the tape.

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Although unnamed in this issue, this is the first appearance of Trucial Abysmia - the fictional G.I. Joe stand-in for Middle Eastern nations hostile to the United States.

G.I. Joe Classified File: Scarlett
Story 5 1 page military; war

"If I miss with this, I know I can get it with the machine-pistol!"

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G.I. Joe Classified File: Breaker
Story 6 1 page military; war

"Let's hear it for communications!"

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G.I. Joe Classified File: Flash
Story 7 1 page military; war

"Some things in this man's army never change!"

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G.I. Joe Classified File: Stalker
Story 8 1 page military; war

"This may look easy, but I don't want any of you kids trying it!"

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G.I. Joe Weapons Profile: VAMP
Story 9 1 page military; war

"I'm Clutch, and this is my bad short!"

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Inside back cover, black & white. Information about the V.A.M.P. (Vehicle Attack/Multi-Purpose)

G.I. Joe Weapons Profile: Code Name: MOBAT
Story 10 1 page military; war

"Heads up, troopers!"

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Back cover. Information about the M.O.B.A.T. (Multi-Ordnance Battle Action Tank).