About this Collection
This massive compendium collects the earliest issues of Larry Hama's original G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series, reprinting the first 50 issues of the Marvel run that launched in 1982. It covers the formation of the G.I. Joe team under General Hawk, their ongoing covert war against the terrorist organization Cobra, and the introduction of iconic characters like Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Destro, and Storm Shadow. Presented in black and white, this volume is the most cost-effective way to experience the foundational stories that defined the modern G.I. Joe mythos.
"Operation: Lady Doomsday" kicks off in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium #1 (2024), a landmark collection spotlighting a pivotal mission from the original series' run. Written by Larry Hama and illustrated by Frank Springer, with inks by Andy Mushynsky and Pat Redding, this story sees Zartan infiltrate McGuire Air Force Base under the mistaken belief it’s the Joes’ true headquarters—setting off a chain reaction that forces the team into a tense defense when the Dreadnoks launch a surprise assault. The cover, a dynamic collaboration by Andy Kubert and Mike Zeck with inks by Kubert and Bob Wiacek, captures the high-stakes clash perfectly.
Contains 51 stories
Operation: Lady Doomsday
28 pp · adventure; war
Gregor (introduction)
...Hot Potato!
10 pp · war
Colonel SharifGuardians of Paradise (villains)
Panic At the North Pole!
22 pp · war
The Trojan Gambit
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Operation: Wingfield!
22 pp · war
Strike First soldiers (first appearance, villain)
"Tanks" For the Memories
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers (villains)
To Fail is to Conquer...To Succeed is to Die!
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers (villains)
Walls of Death!
22 pp · war
Cobra soldiers (villain)
Code Name: Sea-Strike!
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers (villain)
The Diplomat
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers (villain)
A Nice Little Town Like Ours...
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
The Pipeline Ploy!
24 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Three Strikes for Snake-Eyes
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Last Plane From Rio Lindo
22 pp · war
Destro Attacks
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Red-Eye to Miami!
22 pp · war
Cobra troopers
Night Attack!
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Loose Ends
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Destro Returns!
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Joe Triumphs!
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Home Is Where the War Is!
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
Silent Interlude
22 pp · war
Cobra SoldiersRed Ninjas (introduction)
Like Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust...
21 pp · war
Cobra SoldiersAir ViperDr. Hundtkinder (first appearance)
Cobra Commander Captured at Last!
22 pp · war
The Commander Escapes!
22 pp · war
Snake-Eyes: The Origin
22 pp · war
Snake-Eyes: The Origin Part II
22 pp · war
Swampfire!
22 pp · war
R.L.Chief (both county sheriffs)
Beached Whale
22 pp · war
Crimson Guard (introduction)Cobra SoldiersR.L.Chief (both sheriffs)
Darkness
22 pp · war
Cobra Soldiers
All Fall Down!
22 pp · war
The Mountain!
22 pp · war
Celebration!
22 pp · war
Cobra [Cobra SoldiersH.I.S.S. driversCobra Officers]
Dreadnoks on the Loose !
22 pp · war
All the Ships at Sea!
22 pp · war
Cobra [Cobra SoldiersCobra OfficersCobra agents (disguised)Air-Vipers]
Twin Brothers
22 pp · war
Cobra [Fred series]
Judgments
22 pp · war
Tucaro IndiansCobra [Cobra SoldiersCrimson Guard [Dr. Appel (unnamed, first appearance in uniform)]]
Walk through the Jungle
22 pp · war
Tucaro Indians
Hydrofoil
22 pp · war
Cobra [Cobra SoldiersCobra Morays (Hydrofoil pilots)Professor Appel (first full appearance, named)]
Strategic Diplomacy
22 pp · war
Cobra [Crimson Guard [Dr. Appellawyers around the world (* see synopsis for more info)]Air-VipersH.I.S.S. driversCobra troopersCobra Officers]
Ties That Bind
22 pp · war
Crossroads
22 pp · war
unnamed driver (death)
Improvisation on a Theme
23 pp · war
Cobra [Cobra troopersB.A.T.S. (first appearance)]
In Search of Candy
22 pp · war
Cobra [Crimson Guard [Professor Appel]Cobra Soldiers]
Who's Who on Cobra Island
22 pp · war
Cobra [Cobra TroopersCobra OfficersCrimson Guard [Professor Appel (death)Guardsmen]]
Sea Duel
22 pp · war
Cobra [EelsTeleviperCobra SoldiersCobra Officers]
Slaughter
22 pp · war
The Jugglers (first appearance)Cobra [Eels]
Serpentor
22 pp · war
Cobra [TeleviperCobra SoldiersCobra Officers]
The Battle of Springfield
22 pp · war
Cobra [Cobra SoldiersCobra OfficersEels]
