World War III (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
World War III is the title of a 12-issue comic book
story that took place in issues #25-36 of the comic G.I. Joe: America's Elite
, published by Devil's Due Publishing
. The plot concerns Cobra Command's final attempt to take over the world. It was generally well-received by critics. In August 2007, soon after the storyline began, America's Elite was chosen as "Book of the Month" in Wizard
magazine, and it was #94 on Comic Book Resources
' list of the "Best 100 Comics of 2008". Originally begun to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
franchise, World War III also marked the end of the original G.I. Joe comic continuity, which was begun by Larry Hama
in the first G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series.
and Baroness
turn over control of M.A.R.S. to Cobra Commander
in exchange for their kidnapped son, he uses the weapons to foment conflict all over the globe, starting World War III in a last bid to gain control of the world.
General Joseph Colton responds to Cobra Commander by turning more proactive. he increases the main roster by returning Cover Girl
, Wild Bill
, and Gung-Ho
to active duty. Using a Threat Index that lists all known enemy agents, the Joes start hunting down every Cobra they can find. Cobra Mortal, Ghost Bear, Vypra, Firefly, and Skull Buster are all captured. G.I. Joe creates a prison in Greenland code-named the Coffin to hold all their captured enemies. Meanwhile, Cobra Commander recruits soldier Nick Bailey, making him the last member of the elite Cobra unit code-named The Plague.
Lorcan Rourke, aka Agent Delta, comes out of hiding. He had been assigned by General Flagg
to infiltrate Cobra years ago but went dark after being unhinged by the experience. Blackout sneaks onto a Russian sub, kills the crew, then fires missiles at Boston, causing massive destruction. Colton contacts nearly every Joe still alive and deploys the team all over the world, including Russia where Falcon
and Vorona team up with her old friends in the Oktober Guard. The main team head to Israel where the meet Agent Delta face to face and help stop an assassination attempt. While the team is away, Cobra Commander attacks Washington DC, taking over the White House and capturing the President. Alexander McCullen attacks London and France with the Iron Grenadiers. More Cobra forces attack the Rock, causing Colton, Jane, Hawk
, and Sparks to retreat. Cobra ends up taking over several nuclear arsenals, including one in Suffox, England.
The Joes in the Mid East run into The Plague. The battle is stalemated and eventually the Joes split up and try to head back to the States. Meanwhile, Storm Shadow
gets a mysterious phone call and heads to the Coffin. There he tries to prevent Tomax
and a squad of Night Creepers from freeing all the prisoners. Tomax manages to free Major Bludd
and several others while killing those Cobra Commander considered "loose ends". Storm Shadow makes Tomax retreat by threatening to kill his comatose brother Xamot
. Tomax leaves with Xamot and only the prisoners he's freed. Storm Shadow then meets his mystery contact, a Joe disguised as a Cobra Trooper. On returning to Colton, Storm Shadow is then tasked with finding Destro and Baroness so they can help disable Cobra's MARS tech devices. These include cloaking devices which render aircraft invisible, giving Cobra an edge in fighting Joe forces near France.
Duke
and Delta make it back to New York where they face The Plague. They escape thanks to help from armed New Yorkers. Storm Shadow runs into Dela Eden who had been recruited by Cobra Commander to kill Destro. Cobra Commander takes over Fort Meade. Major Bludd is confronted by a mysterious person. Billy
, Cobra Commander's son, confronts his father and tries to kill him. he fails and Cobra Commander kills him instead. He then hangs Billy's body from a flagpole with a message that no one is untouchable. Storm Shadow finds Destro and Baroness and convinces them to help. Meanwhile, the mystery undercover Joe helps another undercover Joe steal a M.A.R.S.-modified Night Raven.
The Joes find out about a plan by Cobra Commander to blow up nukes in the Amazon and the Arctic. The team splits up and battles The Plague in both locations. The stolen Night Raven is delivered to Destro with Joe member Barrel Roll being revealed as the pilot. Destro, Sparks, and Firewall disable the M.A.R.S. tech, giving the Joes victory in the air war in Europe. In the Amazon, the Joes deactivate the nuke and Storm Shadow kills Incision of The Plague. The Arctic unit is also successful. Colton leads a small unit in retaking Fort Meade and at Spirit
's suggestion, taking care of Billy's body.
Destro and the Baroness leads her troops, code-named Athena, in retaking London from Alexander. The Iron Grenadiers surrender when they see the elder Destro. Alexander tries to walk away but is shot by Mistres Armada. Baroness then shoots her. Cobra Commander retreats to a secret base in the Appalachian Mountains where he trained the first Cobra soldiers. Delta leads the Joes to the base. As the battle rages, Major Bludd is revealed to be Zartan
, who paid Bludd to leave so he could impersonate the Major and get revenge on Cobra Commander for killing Monkeywrench
in the Coffin raid. Major Bludd returns and tries to kill Sparks but is stopped by the undercover Joe who is revealed as Recondo
(who ironically was thought killed by Major Bludd). Snake-Eyes defeats Firefly
in a sword duel. Delta convinces Nick Bailey to surrender. Barrel Roll defeats his brother Blackout. The battle ends when Hawk tackles Cobra Commander and knock him out with several punches to the face.
In the aftermath, the Joes are still active and fully funded. Zartan has disappeared. Major Bludd and several big name Cobras are back in the Coffin. And Cobra Commander is locked away in a special prison located underwater.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
story that took place in issues #25-36 of the comic G.I. Joe: America's Elite
G.I. Joe: America's Elite
G.I. Joe: America's Elite is a series of comic books set in the G.I. Joe universe that began publication in June 2005. The events of the series begin one year after the conclusion of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero . The Special Missions series features reservist G.I. Joes and expands on plots set...
, published by Devil's Due Publishing
Devil's Due Publishing
Devil's Due Publishing is an independent comic book publishers in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned properties that populate its monthly comic book series and graphic novels.Though...
. The plot concerns Cobra Command's final attempt to take over the world. It was generally well-received by critics. In August 2007, soon after the storyline began, America's Elite was chosen as "Book of the Month" in Wizard
Wizard (magazine)
Wizard or Wizard: The Magazine of Comics, Entertainment and Pop Culture was a magazine about comic books, published monthly in the United States by Wizard Entertainment from July 1991 to January 2011...
magazine, and it was #94 on Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
' list of the "Best 100 Comics of 2008". Originally begun to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
franchise, World War III also marked the end of the original G.I. Joe comic continuity, which was begun by Larry Hama
Larry Hama
Larry Hama is an American comic book writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s....
in the first G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series.
Plot
After DestroDestro
Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional villain from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys from Hasbro. He is portrayed by Christopher Eccleston in the 2009 live-action film, G.I...
and Baroness
Baroness (G.I. Joe)
The Baroness is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline by Hasbro, originally appearing in the first issue of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic series by Marvel Comics in June, 1982. The Baroness is a villain, usually associated with G.I. Joe's enemy, Cobra.Baroness...
turn over control of M.A.R.S. to Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...
in exchange for their kidnapped son, he uses the weapons to foment conflict all over the globe, starting World War III in a last bid to gain control of the world.
General Joseph Colton responds to Cobra Commander by turning more proactive. he increases the main roster by returning Cover Girl
Cover Girl (G.I. Joe)
Cover Girl is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline comic books and cartoon series. She is a tank jockey, specializing in the Wolverine missile tank, and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
, Wild Bill
Wild Bill (G.I. Joe)
Wild Bill is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s.-Profile:According to Wild Bill's original file card, his real name is William S. Hardy, and his rank is that of army chief warrant officer CW-4...
, and Gung-Ho
Gung-Ho (G.I. Joe)
Gung-Ho is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original Marine and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
to active duty. Using a Threat Index that lists all known enemy agents, the Joes start hunting down every Cobra they can find. Cobra Mortal, Ghost Bear, Vypra, Firefly, and Skull Buster are all captured. G.I. Joe creates a prison in Greenland code-named the Coffin to hold all their captured enemies. Meanwhile, Cobra Commander recruits soldier Nick Bailey, making him the last member of the elite Cobra unit code-named The Plague.
Lorcan Rourke, aka Agent Delta, comes out of hiding. He had been assigned by General Flagg
General Flagg
General Flagg is the code name as well as the rank and surname of two fictional characters from the toyline, cartoon and comic series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero....
to infiltrate Cobra years ago but went dark after being unhinged by the experience. Blackout sneaks onto a Russian sub, kills the crew, then fires missiles at Boston, causing massive destruction. Colton contacts nearly every Joe still alive and deploys the team all over the world, including Russia where Falcon
Lt. Falcon
Lt. Falcon is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is a green beret with the G.I. Joe Team and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
and Vorona team up with her old friends in the Oktober Guard. The main team head to Israel where the meet Agent Delta face to face and help stop an assassination attempt. While the team is away, Cobra Commander attacks Washington DC, taking over the White House and capturing the President. Alexander McCullen attacks London and France with the Iron Grenadiers. More Cobra forces attack the Rock, causing Colton, Jane, Hawk
Hawk (G.I. Joe)
Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
, and Sparks to retreat. Cobra ends up taking over several nuclear arsenals, including one in Suffox, England.
The Joes in the Mid East run into The Plague. The battle is stalemated and eventually the Joes split up and try to head back to the States. Meanwhile, Storm Shadow
Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe)
Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and television shows. The character is best known for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes...
gets a mysterious phone call and heads to the Coffin. There he tries to prevent Tomax
Tomax and Xamot
Tomax and Xamot, also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders, are the code names of identical mirror twin brothers in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe...
and a squad of Night Creepers from freeing all the prisoners. Tomax manages to free Major Bludd
Major Bludd
Major Bludd , is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of the 1980s. Appearing in both the comic books and the cartoons, Major Bludd is one of the series villains, a mercenary working for the Cobra Organization.-Toy:Major Bludd first appeared in 1983, he has had 6...
and several others while killing those Cobra Commander considered "loose ends". Storm Shadow makes Tomax retreat by threatening to kill his comatose brother Xamot
Tomax and Xamot
Tomax and Xamot, also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders, are the code names of identical mirror twin brothers in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe...
. Tomax leaves with Xamot and only the prisoners he's freed. Storm Shadow then meets his mystery contact, a Joe disguised as a Cobra Trooper. On returning to Colton, Storm Shadow is then tasked with finding Destro and Baroness so they can help disable Cobra's MARS tech devices. These include cloaking devices which render aircraft invisible, giving Cobra an edge in fighting Joe forces near France.
Duke
Duke (G.I. Joe)
Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 lines of military-themed toys. The character is featured in both the animated series and comic books. Duke is portrayed by actor Channing Tatum in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of...
and Delta make it back to New York where they face The Plague. They escape thanks to help from armed New Yorkers. Storm Shadow runs into Dela Eden who had been recruited by Cobra Commander to kill Destro. Cobra Commander takes over Fort Meade. Major Bludd is confronted by a mysterious person. Billy
Billy Kessler
Billy Kessler is a fictional character in the comic book series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. He is the son of the main villain of the series, Cobra Commander, but fights against his father and the forces of Cobra Command, learning martial arts under the tutelage of Storm Shadow, who helps him...
, Cobra Commander's son, confronts his father and tries to kill him. he fails and Cobra Commander kills him instead. He then hangs Billy's body from a flagpole with a message that no one is untouchable. Storm Shadow finds Destro and Baroness and convinces them to help. Meanwhile, the mystery undercover Joe helps another undercover Joe steal a M.A.R.S.-modified Night Raven.
The Joes find out about a plan by Cobra Commander to blow up nukes in the Amazon and the Arctic. The team splits up and battles The Plague in both locations. The stolen Night Raven is delivered to Destro with Joe member Barrel Roll being revealed as the pilot. Destro, Sparks, and Firewall disable the M.A.R.S. tech, giving the Joes victory in the air war in Europe. In the Amazon, the Joes deactivate the nuke and Storm Shadow kills Incision of The Plague. The Arctic unit is also successful. Colton leads a small unit in retaking Fort Meade and at Spirit
Spirit (G.I. Joe)
Spirit, sometimes called Spirit Iron-Knife, is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books published by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due Productions, toy line and movie....
's suggestion, taking care of Billy's body.
Destro and the Baroness leads her troops, code-named Athena, in retaking London from Alexander. The Iron Grenadiers surrender when they see the elder Destro. Alexander tries to walk away but is shot by Mistres Armada. Baroness then shoots her. Cobra Commander retreats to a secret base in the Appalachian Mountains where he trained the first Cobra soldiers. Delta leads the Joes to the base. As the battle rages, Major Bludd is revealed to be Zartan
Zartan
Zartan is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, by Hasbro. He is a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra Commander, and is one of the main villains in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic and animated series. His character was voiced by Zack Hoffman in the 1985 TV...
, who paid Bludd to leave so he could impersonate the Major and get revenge on Cobra Commander for killing Monkeywrench
Monkeywrench (G.I. Joe)
Monkeywrench is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is affiliated with Cobra as one of the Dreadnoks and debuted in 1986.-Profile:His real name is Bill Winkie...
in the Coffin raid. Major Bludd returns and tries to kill Sparks but is stopped by the undercover Joe who is revealed as Recondo
Recondo (G.I. Joe)
Recondo is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original jungle trooper, and debuted in 1984.-Profile:...
(who ironically was thought killed by Major Bludd). Snake-Eyes defeats Firefly
Firefly (G.I. Joe)
Firefly is a fictional character in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe. He is a mercenary who works for the Cobra Organization as a saboteur.-Profile:...
in a sword duel. Delta convinces Nick Bailey to surrender. Barrel Roll defeats his brother Blackout. The battle ends when Hawk tackles Cobra Commander and knock him out with several punches to the face.
In the aftermath, the Joes are still active and fully funded. Zartan has disappeared. Major Bludd and several big name Cobras are back in the Coffin. And Cobra Commander is locked away in a special prison located underwater.
Reception
The series received mostly positive reviews. Brian LeTendre of Comic Book Resources described it as, "a great end to a great run," and by OAFE as a "good globetrotting adventure" with "unbelievable" scope, that "absolutely lives up to its name and premise."Collected editions
- G.I. Joe: America's Elite Volume 5: World War III Omnibus - (328 pages, July 2008, ISBN 978-1934692028, Devil's Due Publishing)