Any time, baby, any time.
  -- Ace (in response to Wild Weseal's threat of revenge)
Home Comic Book Commercials G.I.Joe #51

Issue #51: Thunder Machine
Publication Date: September 1986
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Rod Whigham
Inker: Andy Mushynsky
Lettering: Joe Rosen
Colorist: George Roussos

SUMMARY

"Hmmm...when Zartan said his sister was cheap, I thought he was talking about something else altogether."
- Buzzer (after Zarana tells Ripper that a bottle of grape soda will cost him $1.50)

Torch, Ripper, Buzzer and Storm Shadow arrive at Zartan's base, a gas station, and meet Zarana, Zandar and Thrasher. Zarana learns from Buzzer that Zartan has been captured and travels to the Joes' headquarters in the Dreadnok Swampfire while dressed as Lady Jaye and with Zandar, who is disguised as an electronics expert sent to interrogate Zartan. After Sgt. Slaughter brings Zartan out of his prison cell and leaves with Thunder, Zartan's sister changes her costume to become Scarlett and they travel back up the ground level, however, Storm Shadow sneaks out of compartment in the Swampfire and stays inside the Joes' base. Thunder notices that one of the classified com-link modules has been stolen and the base is placed on alert, and just as Zartan and his brother and sister are about to escape, Cross Country cuts them off with the HAVOC. But the Swampfire's helicopter blades snap into place and the mercenaries fly away. Since the com-link allows the Joes to follow Zartan, the Joes set up an ambush, but they capture only Zarana and Zandar, who split up with Zartan and the Dreadnoks. The Thunder Machine bursts into the Joes' area, destroys a Mauler and knocks over an AWE Striker before streaking back into the swamp. After playing a game of "chicken," driving through an oil refinery and smashing through a box car on a train, Thrasher escapes from Cross Country. Sgt. Slaughter attempts to pursue the Cobra agents with the HAVOC's utility flyer, however, he is misdirected by Zandar, who is dressed as a gas station attendant. As Sgt. Slaughter flies away, Zartan tells his brother, "Zandar, you have no shame!" But Zandar removes his hat and glasses and replies, "Why should I? Nobody ever remembers me!"

THE  PERSONNEL
G.I.Joe: Tollbooth, Sgt. Slaughter, Thunder, Lady Jaye*, Scarlett*, Cross Country, Wild Bill, General Hawk, Alpine, Flint, Heavy Metal, Roadblock, Crankcase Cobra: Buzzer, Torch, Ripper, Zarana, Storm Shadow, Zandar, Thrasher, Zartan
THE  GEAR
G.I.Joe: HAVOC, Mauler, AWE Striker, Dragonfly Cobra: Thunder Machine, Swampfire
* one of Zarana's disguises


THE  COMMERCIAL
[ issue51.zip - 1.67 mb - 30 seconds ]

Description
Zartan hands a small cube to Zandar and he follows his sister, Zarana, as she climbs onto the Swampfire, which is piloted by Monkeywrench. Flint and Roadblock pop out of the water and shoot at the Swampfire while a Mauler and AWE Striker provide supporting firepower, however, the swamp skier transforms into a helicopter and flies into the sky. The Joes fire grappling hooks onto the Swampfire and quickly capture the Cobra agents. Zartan watches from afar with binoculars, hops onto the Thundermachine and attacks the Joes. After a Mauler is decimated, Monkeywrench and Zartan's sister and brother hop onto the Thundermachine and flee the scene, but two HAVOCs move on an intercept course with guns firing.

THE  PERSONNEL
G.I.Joe: Flint, Roadblock, Leatherneck, Dusty, Sci Fi, Shipwreck, Dial Tone Cobra: Zandar, Monkeywrench, Zarana, Zartan, Buzzer, Ripper, Torch
THE  GEAR
G.I.Joe: Mauler, AWE Striker, Joe grunts Cobra: Dreadnok Swampfire

Lyrics
Swampfire changes color in bright sunlight
The Joes attack and Swampfire takes flight
Dreadnok Thundermachine
Meanest machine you've ever seen
Dreadnoks' Thundermachine
is Joe's evil new foe
G.I.Joe a real American hero

Tagline
What happens next? Find out in Marvel Comics!

Notes
Although bullets were not allowed in the cartoons, the appearance of shell casings was not a problem (Screen Captures: second row, right image) and would appear again during the opening sequence for G.I.Joe: The Movie.

Just like the Dreadnok Thundermachince toy, pegs for the figures were included on the animated version while it was driving through the Joe camp (Screen Captures: third row, center image).

The commercial featured the voice talents of Morgan Lofting (the Baroness), Brian Cummings (Dr. Mindbender), Corey Burton  (Tomax) and Michael Bell (Xamot).

Scenes from the commercial were reused in the animation segments for following toy advertisement:
· Dreadnok Swampfire and Dreadnok Thunder Machine

Screen Captures

Jan 25: G.I.Joe Examined on Podcasts
Jan 25: Buzz Dixon Interview
Jan 25: Paulsen Annie Nomination & Dini on Batman Comic
Jan 12: Sgt. Slaughter Signing in Atlanta
Jan 11: G.I.Joe to Return on G4
Dec 30: Paramount Movie Reviewer Plugs JoeGuide.com
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