G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #25
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #25 — titled 'Zartan!' — is one of the most character-dense debut issues in Marvel's 1984 run, simultaneously introducing Zartan (Cobra's shape-shifting master of disguise and leader of the Dreadnoks), the original Dreadnok trio of Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch, and a cluster of new Joe operatives including Cutter, Deep-Six, Mutt, and his dog Junkyard. That concentration of first appearances in a single issue reflects writer Larry Hama's ambition to expand both rosters in lockstep with Hasbro's 1984 toy-line wave, giving every new figure a meaningful comic-book debut rather than a throwaway cameo. The issue also advances the central mythological thread of the series — Gung-Ho's observation in a Bethesda hospital bed that Snake-Eyes bears the same tattoo as Storm Shadow sets command on high alert and accelerates the Arashikage storyline that would become the series' emotional backbone. Coming just four issues after the landmark 'Silent Interlude' (#21), this chapter demonstrates Hama's skill at weaving ensemble action with slow-burn mystery, cementing the mid-run Marvel G.I. Joe series as one of the tightest long-form action narratives in mainstream comics of the era.
In "Zartan!", the G.I. Joe team follows Cobra Commander into the swamps of the Florida Everglades, where he's entrenched with his loyal minions and a mysterious new ally—Zartan. Meanwhile, Storm Shadow makes a daring escape from Alcatraz, setting off a chain of events that could shift the balance of power. Written by Larry Hama and illustrated by Frank Springer, with inks by Mike Gustovich and colors by George Roussos, this 1984 issue brings high stakes and relentless tension to the battlefield. The cover, by Mike Zeck and John Beatty, captures the intensity of the moment.
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The issue was scripted by Larry Hama with pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Mike Gustovich, colors by George Roussos, lettering by Rick Parker, and editing by Denny O'Neil — the regular creative team operating at a brisk monthly pace driven by Hasbro's 1984 product schedule. Zartan had received a brief cameo in the preceding issue (#24) before his full introduction here, a two-step reveal that Hama used to generate anticipation; notably, Zartan's name was devised as an anagram of 'Tarzan' by Hama for Hasbro. The on-sale date logged by Grand Comics Database places the newsstand release on April 10, 1984, with a July 1984 cover date — part of a rapid-release cadence that made the Marvel G.I. Joe book one of the publisher's top sellers during this period.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First full appearance of Zartan, Cobra's master of disguise and Dreadnok leader — he had a cameo only in the preceding issue #24.
- First team appearance of the Dreadnoks: Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch — Cobra-affiliated biker mercenaries who would recur throughout the series and the Sunbow animated series.
- First appearances of Joe team members Cutter (Skip A. Stone, pilot of the W.H.A.L.E. hovercraft), Deep-Six (Malcolm R. Willoughby, S.H.A.R.C. submersible pilot), Mutt (Stanley R. Perlmutter), and his dog Junkyard.
- First appearance of Tripwire (Tormod S. Skoog) as a full cast member on the Joe team.
- First appearance of the U.S.S. G.I. Jane, the Joe team's undercover freighter, used as a mobile staging platform in the Everglades operation.
- The issue advances the Snake-Eyes/Storm Shadow Arashikage clan mystery: Gung-Ho notices in Bethesda Naval Hospital that Snake-Eyes bears the same tattoo Storm Shadow has, alerting command to the link between the two characters — a plot thread that feeds directly into the two-part origin in issues #26–27.
- Written by Larry Hama; penciled by Frank Springer; inked by Mike Gustovich; colored by George Roussos; cover date July 1984, with a newsstand on-sale date of April 10, 1984 per Grand Comics Database.
- The issue was reprinted in the Hasbro 25th Anniversary Action Figure Reprint Series (#25, 2007) and in the UK's Action Force (Marvel UK, 1987) #9, with pages excised to remove references to the Major Bludd tracking-device subplot.
Cast · 40 characters
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Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
The Joes track Cobra Commander to the Florida Everglades where he is holed up with his Cobra cronies and his new buddy Zartan. Storm Shadow escapes from Alcatraz.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).