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Cobra attempts to capture a G.I. Joe M.O.B.A.T. tank during a Armed Forces Day parade. A chase through New York City ensues.


Detailed summary

'Tanks' for the Memories...
The scene opens in the heavy equipment level of the pit where Steeler, Clutch and Breaker are prepping the M.O.B.A.T. for the Armed Forces Day parade and they are trying to impress Scarlett with the hardware. General Flagg wanted the M.O.B.A.T. in the parade to convince the Joint Chiefs of Staff that a top secret tank such as it can pass by unnoticed.

Issue5

Meanwhile at LaGuardia Airport, Cobra intercepts a memo by Flagg to General Austin regarding the M.O.B.A.T. Cobra did this without the courier ever knowing his briefcase was x-rayed. Upon learning of the news, Cobra Commander initiates a plan.

On the day of the parade, the M.O.B.A.T. is expected to roll down New York City's Fifth Avenue. The tank had the honor of being in the middle between the Springfield Drum and Bugle Corps and a float replica of the U.S.S. Nautilus stuck in an iceberg. The dancers of the bugle corps start surrounding the tank with large banners and the Joes start to become suspicious. They notice the Nautilus float opens its front which is large enough to swallow their tank. At that point, Steeler orders Clutch to get themselves away.

Issue5

With their cover blown, the drum and bugle corps turn out to be Cobras and quickly give chase. With the streets crowded by traffic and the parade, the M.O.B.A.T. team decide to use the sidewalk for getaway. They clear the way with Breaker using the tank's speaker system to tell the people. They managed to lose their pursuers by hiding in a park lot amongst heavy machinery. Meanwhile, the Cobra pursuers are pressured by Cobra Commander over the radio to get the tank before the authorities start reacting.

Breaker laments the fact that they don't have any ammunition to use against the Cobras. Steeler points out it would have been risky anyway without hurting innocent civilians in the process. They discuss what their options are before the Cobras find them again. One of the things they noticed is that the radio pack one of the Cobras is using is good for only a few miles range, suggesting that in order for the Commander to give them instructions, he had to be somewhere nearby. Steeler has had enough and comes up with an idea to capture the Cobras.

Cobra Commander informs his men that the tank's heat signature indicates it is in the middle of Central Park but when they get there, it is nowhere in sight. Thanks to its temporary amphibious capability, the M.O.B.A.T. rises out of the pond to face its pursuers. The shock and awe approach worked enough to make the Cobras scatter before Cobra Commander berates and reminds them that the tank has no ammunition. As the Cobras work to disable the tank, the Joes fired a warning shot and got them to surrender.

Issue5

While the Joes are facing their dilemma the whole time, General Flagg has to put up with the Joint Chiefs of Staff who are growing impatient as they expect see tanks in the parade. He tries his best to placate them. The M.O.B.A.T. arrives but its unkempt appearance and the bugle corps under custody has the generals make disapproving remarks and question Flagg what he was thinking. Just then, Clutch detects there is significant electronic activity going on under the stand the generals are on. He tells his teammates to get off and head directly to the stand, smashing it down. The generals were able to get off it in time.

Before Flagg can reprimand Clutch for his actions, it turns out that Cobra's command post was under the stand all this time. Flagg whips out his pistol to take a shot at Cobra Commander who also takes out his own pistol but not without taking a girl scout hostage. Flagg tried to bluff the Commander into surrendering but it doesn't work. Cobra Commander fires a shot only managing to graze Flagg's temple. The Commander and the Baroness manage to run away into the crowd.

After the day's events, Flagg debriefs his men while Scarlett tends to his wound. The one detail in their story that Flagg couldn't get was how they managed to fire a warning shot when they didn't even have any ammo. The Joes, then, reveal their secret. With a sound amplifier and the M.O.B.A.T.'s powerful speakers, they stuck a microphone to near Breaker who blows up his bubblegum. Flagg can't help but smile and shake his head at his men's resourcefulness.

Appearances

Featured Characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

G.I. Joe Cobra Civilians Others
  • Hollis (9)
  • Gate attendant (6)
  • Girl Scouts (18)
  • Skycap (7)
  • Roscoe (17)
  • Taxi driver (8)
  • Army courier (5)
  • Joint chiefs (14)


Featured Vehicles & Equipment

G.I. Joe Cobra Civilian
  • Parade float
  • Manhattan traffic





Featured Locations

G.I. Joe Cobra Civilian
  • Central Park
  • LaGuardia Airport
  • New York City



Memorable quotes

  • None yet.

Other Notes

Errors

  • No errors known.

Items of note

  • The Drum and Bugle Corps were from Springfield. This is the first mention of the town that, in later issues, will be revealed as Cobra's base of operations.
  • The M.O.B.A.T. is amphibious.
  • This story was reprinted in G.I. Joe Digest #2, Tales of G.I. Joe #5 and G.I. Joe vol. 1 and G.I. Joe: The Best of Cobra Commander trade paperbacks.
  • This issue was featured in a 2004 Comic Pack which included a reprint of the comic book and action figures of Cobra Officer, General Flagg and Steeler. However, the filecard for General Flagg incorrectly contained information regarding his son.

Real-world references

  • The suited man joining the Armed Forces brass in the reviewing stand appears to be Ed Koch, who was Mayor of New York from 1978 to 1989. He references almost choking to death while eating Chinese food and was only saved by use of the Heimlich Maneuver, which happened to Ed Koch in 1981.

Footnotes and References





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