G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #113
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeIssue #113 is one of the darkest single chapters in Larry Hama's long run on the Marvel series, delivering one of the most emotionally resonant mass-casualty events in the book's history: the near-total annihilation of Battle Force 2000, plus the death of the fan-favorite scout Sneak-Peek. The final beat — Dusty carrying Sneak-Peek's body back to base because he made a promise — became one of the most-discussed 'quiet moments' in the series, demonstrating Hama's ability to humanize toy-tied characters in ways most licensed comics never attempted. The issue also marks the first comic-book appearance of both Joe communications specialist Dee-Jay and Cobra wilderness trooper the Range-Viper, giving it dual first-appearance significance on both sides of the conflict. As a brutal midpoint in the Benzheen story arc, it helped define the grittier, higher-stakes tone that distinguished the Marvel run's later years from the lighter fare of its early issues.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The issue falls squarely within Hama's uninterrupted creative tenure on the series, which he wrote for nearly all of Marvel's 155-issue run, collaborating closely with artists and working in parallel with Hasbro's toy-release cycle while retaining editorial control over story direction. Pencils were handled by John Statema with inks by Randy Emberlin, under editor Bobbie Chase and editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco. The cover was provided by Andy Kubert. No production anomalies specific to this issue have been documented beyond the standard newsstand and direct editions; the issue also carried a Mark Jeweler insert, part of a marketing program that ran in many Marvel comics through July 1991, making this one of the final issues in which that insert appeared.
Trivia · 7 facts
- Script by Larry Hama; pencils by John Statema; inks by Randy Emberlin; colors by Bob Sharen; lettering by Rick Parker; cover art by Andy Kubert; edited by Bobbie Chase.
- First comic-book appearance of G.I. Joe communications specialist Dee-Jay (real name Thomas R. Rossi III), a Battle Force 2000 member whose action figure debuted in the 1989 toy line.
- First comic-book appearance of the Range-Viper, a Cobra wilderness trooper whose action figure was released in 1990; a Range-Viper is directly responsible for killing Sneak-Peek within the story.
- Death of Sneak-Peek (long-running scout character) and the near-complete destruction of Battle Force 2000: Avalanche, Blocker, Maverick, Blaster, Knockdown, and Dee-Jay are all killed; only Dodger survives.
- Dee-Jay is unique in the Marvel run for debuting and dying in the same issue — his entire comic existence is contained within these pages.
- The Benzheen-arc setting involves Cobra Commander destroying oil storage facilities as a negotiating tactic against the fictional Emir of Benzeen, grounding the military drama in geopolitical realpolitik.
- Issue was distributed in both a direct-edition and a newsstand edition, and includes a Mark Jeweler jewelry insert — one of the last Marvel issues to carry that insert before the program ended in July 1991.
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Reprinted in Classic G.I. Joe TPB #12 (2011), G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Kickstarter Compendium #3 (2024)
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