Writer: Larry Hama

Art: Brian Shearer, Ron Joseph, J. Brown, Neil Uyetake

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 28, 2021

Part 5 of “Untold Tales” features non-other than the Baroness! Let’s see what Larry Hama has in store for us as we jump back in time to the mid-’80s in a quick tale of one of the Cobra elite!

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Story:

Thanks to a handy editor’s note, this story takes place literally immediately after G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #34. Issue 34 happens to be one that I collected as a kid. I love everything about that issue. For reference sake, it ends as an air battle has come to a stalemate of sorts. Each jet has been damaged to a critical state and each has zero ammo left. Rather than ram each other killing everyone, the pilots streak by each other in the air and salute as a sign of respect and calling it a draw at the same time. Issue #280 begins with Baroness questioning Wild Weasel about his actions. Larry Hama shows in one panel how even though Wild Weasel is one of the “bad guys” he still has some honor and a moral code of sorts.

He also shows in this one panel what a cutthroat Baroness is. At Cobra’s Springfield base, Destro attempts to coordinate safety and rescue teams to aid the badly damaged Rattler. After a loud and fiery landing, Wild Weasel and Baroness emerge relatively unscathed. Destro immediately tells Baroness that she’s needed on another mission. In France! From this point on we get a spy story of sorts that could be straight out of a James Bond or Mission Impossible movie. A crucial mission, exotic locale, secrecy identities, double/triple agents, harrowing street chases, and of course spectacular gun battles! Through it all, we see that Baroness is not one to be messed with. She’s smart, witty, daring, resourceful, fearless, and doesn’t back down from anything OR anyone!

Art:

The art and coloring by Brian Shearer, Ron Joseph, and J. Brown are top-notch. From a battle-damaged Rattler filled with bullet holes and on fire, to a simple steaming coffee mug with a Cobra logo on it, there are details abound! And as usual, we get some fabulous variant covers!

Final Thoughts:

Larry Hama has the unique ability to create a story today that fits perfectly in between two issues he wrote 35 years or so ago, and never misses a beat! This “Untold Tale” one-shot gives us an in-depth look at Baroness and what makes her one of the most interesting characters in the massive G.I. Joe universe!