G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (Marvel Comics, 1982)

Before kids all around the world could sing the G.I Joe theme song, quote the awesome G.I. Joe public service announcements, and reenact the "Silent Interlude" story with their Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow action figures, there was the very first issue of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero published by Marvel Comics in June 1982.

As the cover claims, this comic book will be "Introducing America's Sensational New Special Missions Force for the 80's!" For those looking to read the first appearance of Snake-Eyes, Cobra Commander, Scarlett, Stalker, Hawk, Grand Slam, Short-Fuse, Flash, Grunt, Breaker, Rock 'N Roll, Zap, Steeler, Clutch, General Flagg, and Baroness; this is it!

Titled "Operation Lady Doomsday", G.I. Joe for the 1980s opens with a bang as the Baroness and her Cobra terrorist goons dressed as TV reporters kidnap an American scientist named Dr. Adele Burkhart from an Amtrak train. Burkhart is one of the brains of the "Doomsday Project", and before she can testify in front of Congress, Cobra would sure like to know what she knows.

After smuggling guns onto the train in their television cameras and shooting up the place, the Baroness grabs Burkhart, jumps out of the train window, and catches a ride on a Cobra helicopter to a secret Cobra Island.

General Austin considers terminating her, but decides it would be a national embarrassment. Instead, he instructs General Flagg to get the G.I. Joe team at once!

Hawk and Clutch arrive at G.I. Joe Command Center in the V.A.M.P., where they ride an elevator down into a subterranean military base. Inside, they discover the G.I. Joe team training. Hawk summons them to a meeting and explains the situation using a high-resolution 1980s hologram of Cobra's island in the Caribbean. Cobra has more than 1200 soldiers guarding the island, led by the mysterious Cobra Commander and the Baroness, but the government won't authorize a B-52 bombing run because there is also a civilian population, which is why the Joes will go in covertly.

On Cobra Island, Cobra Commander gloats in front of Dr. Burkhart and appears to expect the Joes. The beaches are lined with a Cobra garrison as the Joes show up on a raft launched from a Submarine and attack. Stalker is the first to bring the pain as he flies in on his jetpack and attacks from above, while the other Joes machine gun the enemy soldiers from the raft. The invasion seems almost too easy...

Each Joe gets a chance to show what they can do in the first G.I. Joe comic book (this was a gigantic advertisement to sell toys, after all). Flash cuts wires with his laser gun, Short-Fuse uses his mortar, and Snake-Eyes and Scarlett kill enemies covertly by being badass. Steeler shows up in the MOBAT tank and crushes the Cobra position while Rock 'n Roll jumps over them on his cool minigun-equipped motorcycle. As the Joes close in on Dr. Burkhart, being held inside a castle in the center of the Island, Cobra Commander plans to blow it all up.

Scarlett and Snake-Eyes confront Cobra Commander, who threatens to kill Dr. Burhkart, but she pushes the Commander away. Scarlett throws a ninja star and hits him in the wrist as the remaining Joes burst through the door. Cobra Commander escapes in the chaos, and the Joes steal a Cobra helicopter to fly away before the castle explodes.

G.I. Joe saves the day! Readers are treated to bonus pages featuring technical schematics of G.I. Joe's command center called "The Pit", and the "HAL" Heavy Artillery Laser. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero also includes an additional short story starring Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, and Rock 'N Roll called Hot Potato. Yo Joe!