G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #31
Issue #31, 'All Fall Down!', is the first full appearance of Spirit (Charlie Iron-Knife) and his wolf Timber — two characters who became fixtures of Larry Hama's rotating Joe roster and fan favorites for years. The issue also launches the multi-part assassination-plot arc in which Major Bludd and the Baroness recruit the boy Billy to kill Cobra Commander, a storyline that pays off with one of the series' most dramatic revelations two issues later. Published in January 1985 at the height of the title's commercial peak — when G.I. Joe was Marvel's top subscription title — it also marks the debut of penciler Rod Whigham, whose steady linework would define the book's look for a substantial stretch of the run.
In "All Fall Down!", Snake-Eyes finds quiet in the High Sierras, his solitude a rare moment of peace as Airborne and Spirit keep watch from a distance. But with Destro, Firefly, and Fred(C.G.) One(I) moving under the Commander’s orders—and the Baroness and Bludd conspiring with Billy to strike at the top—calm is a fleeting luxury. Written by Larry Hama and illustrated by Rod Whigham, with inks by Andy Mushynsky, colors by Christie Scheele, and letters by Rick Parker, this 1985 Marvel classic features a cover by Michael Golden and David Mazzucchelli.
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Larry Hama wrote every issue of this arc as part of his sustained, serialized approach to what was ostensibly a toy tie-in comic, consistently layering in character work and long-form plotting that went well beyond what Hasbro required. Rod Whigham stepped in as penciler with this issue, taking over from a rotation of earlier artists, and the Marvel Database confirms his creative team alongside inker Andy Mushynsky, colorist Christie Scheele, letterer Rick Parker, and editors Dennis O'Neil and Don Daley under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. The cover was provided by Klaus Janson, who was then doing prominent work across Marvel's line.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First full appearance of Spirit (Charlie Iron-Knife), G.I. Joe's Native American tracker, and his wolf Timber — confirmed by YoJoe.com, MyComicShop, Joepedia, and the Amazon/ComicBase listing.
- First issue penciled by Rod Whigham, who would serve as the series' primary artist for years to come.
- Written by Larry Hama; cover art by Klaus Janson; inked by Andy Mushynsky; colored by Christie Scheele; edited by Dennis O'Neil and Don Daley; editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.
- Story title: 'All Fall Down!' — Destro and Firefly are sent by Cobra Commander to eliminate Snake-Eyes at his remote High Sierra mountain cabin, while Zartan plants a tracking bug on the Joe transport plane to locate him.
- Introduces the assassination subplot: Major Bludd and the Baroness manipulate the boy Billy into agreeing to kill Cobra Commander at an upcoming Cobra rally — the arc that culminates in the revelation (issue #33) that Billy is Cobra Commander's own son.
- The issue takes place partly at Snake-Eyes' mountain cabin and partly in Springfield (Cobra's secret American town), weaving two distinct threat threads simultaneously — characteristic of Hama's serialized plotting style.
- Reprinted in the G.I. Joe vol. 4 and G.I. Joe: The Best of Snake Eyes trade paperbacks, and in the United Kingdom in the Action Force Holiday Special 1987.
- Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Iron Man (Tony Stark), and Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius) are indexed as appearing in this issue, consistent with Marvel's practice of including promotional backup strips or inserts in its 1984–1985 comics; the specific nature of that material could not be independently corroborated across multiple detailed sources.
Cast · 29 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Snake-Eyes takes some down time at his cabin in the High Sierras, with Airborne and Spirit keeping watch on him from afar, but Destro, Firefly, and Fred(C.G.) One(I) have other plans under the Commander's orders. Meanwhile, the Baroness and Bludd plot with Billy to assassinate the Commander.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).