#088 PYTHON PATROL
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Issue Date: July 1989
Series: G.I. Joe A Real American Hero
Issue Number: 88
The Joes, on assignment as military advisors to the country of Wolkekuckuckland, infiltrate the country of Darklonia, where Cobra is testing a new pythonizing system to make their vehicles and troops invisible to radar.
Notes of Interest
A Camaro plays a major role in the Story.
Debut of Python Patrol.
Python Vipers are wearing "wraith" suits.
Joes: Hawk, Roadblock, Flint, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Lady Jaye, Skidmark
Cobra: Destro, Baroness, Darklon, Cobra Commander (Fred VII), Dr. Mindbender
Others: General Leiderkranz, Wolfgang
Script: Larry Hama,
Pencils: Tony Salmons,
Inks: Randy Emberlin,
Lettering: Rick Parker,
Coloring: Bob Sharen,
Editor: Bobbie Chase,
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco
Cover Artist: Ron Wagner and Bob McLeod
A camaro pulls up to a border station in Wolkekuckuckland. The guard refuses to let them into the country of Darklonia. General Liederkranz watches the camaro turn back in an AWE striker as Hawk, Roadblock and Skidmark are parked next to him in a Desert Fox. The General is testing the vehicles to see if he is interested in buying them.
Darklon is complaining to Destro about the condition of the surplus Cobra equipment he isn't able to sell. Darklon is not convinced about the new alliance between Cobra and Destro. Dr. Mindbender gets his attention by offering a new technology that is invisible to radar and infrared.
The camaro stops at a cafe, the passengers act like rude Americans. They ask the waiters about smuggling and it makes them nervous. They come back guns drawn saying they are going for a ride. Then the four pull out their weapons and agree except they are giving the ride.
At the border the General is showing Hawk their early warning system. A stun whizzes by setting it off and several tanks rush to the border. Hawk mentions it is a good idea to keep some vehicles in reserve. They meet Wolfgang the operator of the system. As they are talking an X 30 Conquest rushes overhead. Skidmark notes that several of them were sold to a country that experienced a coup. Hawk says that the pilot has a really shiny helmet. The pilot is Destro.
Darklon Cobra Commander and the Baroness discuss how the border seems impenetrable except for the smugglers. Dr. Mindbender appears with a large sprayer on his back and is ready to begin "pythonizing".
At the border we find out the Americans in the camaro are actually Flint, Lady Jaye, Scarlett, and Snake eyes. They take the two smugglers out for interrogation and they don't seem too compliant until Snake Eyes removes his mask and shows them his face. They then take them to the trailer. Flint warns them about a double cross as they knock on the door. Wolfgang opens it waiting for his bribe, the smugglers don't beat the system they simply bribe Wolfgang to turn it off.
Just as the warning system is turned off the python stuns cross the border. One stun passes the Joes in the camaro. Darklon thinking it's the smugglers orders them not to shoot. He hypothesizes that maybe it's the shape of the camaro that defeats the radar. The Joes in the camaro realize that in order to attack Darklon must have his own method of defeating the radar, because they didn't know it was turned off. They turn around. Darklon is planning to capture General Liedrkranz. Leidrkranz meanwhile is finding out that the smugglers beat his system by bribing Wolfgang. Hawk turns the system back on. They don't see the Cobras but they do see the camaro. Darklon has already crossed into Wolkekuckuckland however. Under attack by the python patrol the Joes lead them into a waiting column of Maulers. Destro flying overhead in a python conquest blows up the Maulers. He in turn is damaged by a couple of SLAMs. Cobra Commander and the Baroness wind up on foot as their stun is destroyed. Driving with no lights on Darklon crashes into the camaro. This disables both vehicles. Snake Eyes tackles Darklon and captures him. General Leiderkranz however, impressed with these new weapons, offers to purchase them from Darklon and they walk away making a deal.
Afterwards Destro and Darklon raise a toast to the successful sale. Cobra Commander, the Baroness, and Dr. Mindbender find themselves seeking out the aid of the smugglers. Their price? Double the usual and a special request, a camaro.
Summary by Ted Jacobson