Blow in my headphones and I’ll follow you anywhere, Lady Jaye.
  -- Ace (who is asked by Lady Jaye if he would like to accompany her into battle)
Home Comic Book Commercials G.I.Joe #24

Issue #24: The Commander Escapes
Publication Date: June 1984
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Russ Heath
Lettering: Rick Parker
Colorist: George Roussos

SUMMARY

"Ah, sweet science...a boon to villainy thou art."
- Storm Shadow (after finding Cobra Commander)

Duke and several Joes setup a small fort in the snow-covered Rockies, however, Storm Shadow finds Cobra Commander and rescues him using a CLAW. Meanwhile, Destro, the Baroness and Major Bludd secure control of Cobra and Major Bludd explains that he slipped a homing device into the handle of Storm Shadow's sword so that Wild Weasel and Firefly will make certain that Cobra Commander is killed. At the Joes' base, Duke pursues Cobra Commander, who is flying the CLAW alone since it was damaged by shots from Roadblock's gun. Storm Shadow climbs into a tree and attempts to shoot Duke's Sky Hawk, but Gung Ho fires a mortar shell that strikes Storm Shadow's tree, causing the ninja to fall to the ground. After Gung Ho is cut by Storm Shadow's sword, Roadblock plows into Storm Shadow and knocks him to ground. Duke is attacked by two FANGs, but the Joe rotates the Sky Hawk 180 degrees, fires two missiles and destroys the Cobra helicopters. However, Cobra Commander escapes. Carrying Gung Ho on his back, Roadblock drags Storm Shadow back to the Joe base in the Rockies and hands a Federal Express form to Duke, who asks, "What could a ninja be mailing to Chokoloskee, Florida?" Destro, Major Bludd and the Baroness learn via radio that Wild Weasel and Firefly have tracked the homing device to an empty shack in the middle of the swamp, but Cobra Commander enters Cobra headquarters and explains to the shocked conspirators that he knows the homeowner - Zartan.

THE  PERSONNEL
G.I.Joe: Duke, Gung Ho, Roadblock, Grunt, Ace, Wild Bill, Airborne, Rock 'n' Roll Cobra: Cobra Commander, Major Bludd, Destro, the Baroness, Storm Shadow, Cobra agents, Firefly, Wild Weasel, Zartan
THE  GEAR
G.I.Joe: Sky Hawk Cobra: FANG, Water Moccasin


THE  COMMERCIAL
[ issue24.zip - 214 kb - 6.91 seconds (unconfirmed) ]

Description
Cobra Commander, who is escorted by Snow Job and Rock 'n' Roll, is rescued by Storm Shadow after Cobra's leader shoves the Joes to the ground. However, as Storm Shadow flies away on a CLAW, Duke swiftly climbs into a Sky Hawk and pursues them.

THE  PERSONNEL
G.I.Joe: Duke, Snow Job, Gung Ho, Rock 'n' Roll Cobra: Cobra Commander, Storm Shadow
THE  GEAR
G.I.Joe: Sky Hawk Cobra: CLAW

Lyrics
Cobra Commander, he's the enemy
he's the enemy of G.I.Joe.

Notes
From Daniel DeCesare: "Part of this footage was reused in the commercial for the CLAW and Sky Hawk toys. The animation that was cut out was basically the screens inside the Cobra base showing Cobra Commander being held at gunpoint. You hear Major Bludd telling Destro that Cobra Commander has been captured and Destro saying, 'Not for long' or something similar. The music then starts, the picture on the monitor fills the screen, and Cobra Commander's rescue begins."

From J. Stephen Jordan: "I know this may seem redundant, but I do remember the exact jingle for the commercial of issue #24. The commercial begins in some remote mountain area. The first line begins: 'Nothing can stop Cobra!' It shows the Commander being escorted by Rock N Roll and Snow Job. And you capture a teasing glimpse of Storm Shadow riding the CLAW. Then the jingle goes: 'Is there a prison big enough, strong enough to hold the Cobra Commander? He's the enemy.' The Commander then shoves both Rock 'n' Roll and Snow Job to the ground, to which he's snatched by Storm Shadow. You then hear Rock N Roll yelling out in an Austrailian accent: 'He's escaping!' "He's the enemy of GI Joe!" It then shows Duke, Short Fuse, Grunt, and Wild Bill, and Stalker in hot pursuit in Sky Hawks and Dragonflies. There's a cut scene to Cobra headquarters. A contingent of the new Cobras are shown for the very first time. Storm Shadow, Firefly, Baroness, Bludd, and an unidentified Cobra stand and salute the Commander. Destro says to the Commander: 'Our new team is ready Cobra Commander.' To which the Commander replies: 'No, Destro, not quite.' Cobra Commander switches on a monitor screen that displays a silhouette of Zartan. That's what I remember. I could be wrong since it's been over 15 years since the commercial aired. E-mail me to tell me if I'm off-key here. But I am confident that this is how the commercial went..."

Scenes from the commercial were reused in the animation segments for following toy advertisement:
· 1984 figures (part two)

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