G.I. Joe 0 (2008)

## [Source]

***G.I. Joe #0*** is the first published *G.I. Joe* comic from IDW Publishing. It contained three stories; **"One Word"** which served as a lead in to *G.I. Joe #1*, **"In Or Out?"** which was a prequel to *G.I. Joe: Origins #1*, and **"Deep Cover"** which set up *G.I. Joe: Cobra #1*. The issue was released on October 22, 2008.

## Publisher's Summary

*G.I. Joe has a new base of operations! IDW Publishing is proud to present an all-new era for the legendary Joe team. This introductory issue re-introduces the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA conflict for today’s world!*

## One Word

### Plot

A G.I. Joe team consisting of Duke, Beach Head, Flint, and Torpedo undertake Operation Painted Horse, an infiltration of the cargo ship *Benin Pearl*. The *Benin Pearl* is docked in the Hayadarpasa Ltd Shipping Yard in Istanbul, and under the control of members of the Zogc Militia with the intent of transporting an illegal arms shipment to Tampa in the United States of America. The militia cut the doors off international shipping containers after they have been cleared for transport, then reload them with contraband before weld the doors back on.

The Joes' mission is a non-lethal intervention. Utilizing XM-84 Stun Grenades, they subdue the terrorists with the intention of taking them prisoner and destroying the weapons shipment with thermite. However, the Joes fail to account for one of the members, who uses a Stinger against the team. The missiles detonate the high explosives belowdecks, destroying the freighter.

The Joes survive the explosion, and manage to interrogate one terrorist before he dies. They get one word out of him, a lead to their supplier: "Cobra."

### Appearances

**By type**

Characters

* Beach Head (First appearance) (As "Beachhead")
* Duke (First appearance)
* Flint (First appearance)
* Torpedo (First appearance)

Events

Locations

	+ Bulgaria (First mentioned) (As "Bulgarian")
	+ Ceylon (First mentioned)
	+ Liberia (First mentioned) (As "Liberian")
	+ Macedonia (First mentioned) (As "Macedonian")
	+ Sweden (First mentioned) (As "Swedish")
	+ Turkey (First appearance)
		- Istanbul (First appearance)
			* Hayadarpasa Ltd Shipping Yard (First appearance)
	+ United States of America (First mentioned)
		- Tampa (First mentioned)
			* Port of Tampa (First mentioned)
		- The Pit (First mentioned)

Organizations and titles

* G.I. Joe (First appearance)
* NATO (First mentioned)
* U.S. Customs (First mentioned)
* Zogc Militia (First appearance)

Sentient species

Vehicles and vessels

* Zodiac (First appearance)

Weapons and technology

* Stinger (First appearance)
* Thermite (First mentioned)
* XM-84 Stun Grenade (First appearance)

### Quotes

"*Personnel on board reported as members of the Zogc Militia. They have some kind of grievance with the Macedonian government. Goes back to when Alexander was in diapers.*"
—Duke[src]

"*What is this? Stupid doll?*" [Holds up stuffed turtle toy]
[Holding up a Stinger launcher] "*Would you rather play with this?*"
—Two members of the Zogc Militia[src]

"*This mission is a chicken-chaser, Duke. I say we sink this tub with all hands.*"
"*You like international incidents, Tor?*"
"*Do Swedish bikini models count?*"
—Torpedo and Duke[src]

"*Tell me something, friend. Go to God in peace.*"
"*…*"
"*What did he say, Duke?*"
"*Cobra.*"
—G.I. Joe learn about the existence of Cobra[src]
### Trivia

#### G.I. Joe references

* First appearances of **Duke**, **Beach Head**, **Flint**, and **Torpedo**.
* First appearance of the G.I. Joe team.
* First mention of Cobra.

#### Hasbro Comic Universe references

* This is the first *G.I. Joe* comic published by IDW Publishing after they acquired the license.

#### Real world references

* The "Alexander" mentioned in this story is a reference to Alexander the Great.
* The Hayadarpasa Ltd Shipping Yard appears to be based on the real life Port of Haydarpaşa, located in Istanbul.
* Weapons
	+ The members of the Zogc Militia are armed with AK-47s.
	+ Duke is armed with a Heckler & Koch MP5.
	+ Flint is armed with a Franchi SPAS-12.

### Errors

* Beach Head is initially drawn as being armed with a SPAS-12 shotgun. Later, he is carrying either a rifle or carbine, and a pistol.
* Torpedo is depicted in this story with dark blond, almost ginger-ish hair. When making later appearances in the mainline *G.I. Joe* comic, he is show to have dark hair.
* Despite being identified as a Stinger, the rocket launcher wielded by the member of the Zogc Militia looks more like an Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon.
* There are at least seven members of the Zogc Militia on the *Benin Pearl*; one taken out by the Joes as they infiltrate the boat, then six shown in an establishing shot. After the Joes have subdued the militia, they have four in custody, one loose with the Stinger, and one previously taken out. This makes six enemy soldiers, with one more unaccounted for.

## In Or Out?

### Plot

Conrad Hauser meets with a superior officer in a classified location. On the table before them is a disassembled pistol. The officer asks Hauser a question. "Are you in or out?" With no idea of anything beyond the question, or even why he's there, Hauser questions both the purpose of the meeting, and the officer's identity. He calls himself Hawk, stating that they don't use rank in this place, and asks Hauser why *he* thinks the meeting is taking place. Hauser begins to mention a hostile interception of a supply convoy in Trucial, but Hawk interrupts him. Everything they say is off the record, and Hauser should learn to avoid mentioning proper names and place-names aloud.

Hawk begins recounting the incident, paraphrasing from the citation for a Purple Heart and a Silver Star. When Hauser comments he already has a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts, Hawk comments that these two awards are posthumous. Not liking the turn of events, Hauser moves to leave. Hawk begins to reassemble the pistol, and repeats the question. Hawk refuses to answer any of Hauser's questions.

Hauser tells Hawk he's in. Hawk congratulates him, hands him the pistol and tells him to deny everything about the meeting. His old name no long exists, and he has a new one: Duke. Duke asks Hawk if he was meant to shoot him if he opted out. Hawk tells Duke that they're the good guys.

### Appearances

**By type**

Characters

* Duke
* Hawk (First appearance)

Events

Locations

	+ Trucial (First appearance)
	+ United States of America (Mentioned only)
		- Spokane (First mentioned)

Organizations and titles

Sentient species

Weapons and technology

* Improvised Explosive Device (First appearance)
* Rocket Propelled Grenade (First appearance)

Miscellanea

* Silver Star (First appearance)

### Quotes

"*Are you in or out?*"
"*With all due respect, Sir … that is one hell of a question.*"
—Hawk and Duke[src]

"*It's about what went down with that supply convoy in Trucial —*"
"*You should get out of the bad habit of saying place-names and proper names aloud.*"
—Duke and Hawk[src]

"*I already have a Silver Star. And two Purple Hearts.*"
"*These are different. These are posthumous.*"
"*I do* not *like where this is going.*"
—Duke and Hawk[src]

"*You old name doesn't exist anymore. From now on, you're Duke. Be careful with that, it's in "condition one."*"
"*Duke? Who the hell through up that silly-ass name? You were supposed to shoot me if I opted out, right?*"
"*We're the good guys, Duke. Don't you ever forget that.*"
—Hawk and Duke[src]
### Trivia

#### G.I. Joe references

* First appearance of **Hawk**.
* To join G.I. Joe, operatives have to be officially declared dead.
* G.I. Joe codenames are assigned, apparently without any input from the operative who has to use it.
* Before he is cut off, Duke mentions a country called "Trucial." In the *A Real American Hero* comic series, Trucial Absymia is a fictitious Middle Eastern country.
* The scenario of Duke's convoy coming under attack, being forced to defend himself, and subsequently joining G.I. Joe as a result, is similar to the opening of the then-recently released *G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra* film.

### Real world references

* The convoy vehicles in Duke's flashback appear to be a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck and a Humvee.
* The pistol that Hawk hands to Duke is in "Condition One," meaning that a round is chambered, a full magazine is in place, the hammer is cocked, and the safety is on.
* Weapons
	+ The pistol that Hawk assembles in front of Duke, and the one that Duke fires in a flashback, is an M1911.
	+ The convoy in Trucial comes under attack from hostile forces armed with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers (RPGs), Kord-12.7mm machine guns (12.7 mike-mikes), and a Mk 19 grenade launcher (40 mike-mike automatic GL).

## Deep Cover

### Plot

G.I. Joe undercover agent Chuckles reflects on his previous deep cover assignments while delivering Polonium-210 to the local mafia in a former Soviet country. The deal goes sour when the mafia try and kill Chuckles, but he is saved by a pair of individuals who have been tracking his underworld movements and wish to hire him.

Chuckles reports in to Hawk about the meeting. Hawk tells him his contact will meet him with final orders and codes. Radio silence is to be maintained until he is pulled out.

### Appearances

**By type**

Characters

* Hawk
* Jinx (Indirect mention only)
* Skelton (First appearance)

Locations

	+ Colombia (First mentioned)
	+ Estonia
		- Tallinn (First mentioned)
			* Falgi (First mentioned)
	+ Laos (First mentioned)
	+ United States of America (Mentioned only)

Organizations and titles

* Taliban (Appears in flashback(s))

Sentient species

Weapons and technology

* Firearm
* Knife (First appearance)

Miscellanea

### Quotes

"*And here it comes. I knew I was gonna get burned on this. Never trust a communist. Even one who's turned capitalist. They just have a problem with the idea of fair compensation.*"
—Chuckles[src]

"*Yo, Joe.*"
—Chuckles[src]
### Trivia

#### G.I. Joe references

* First appearance of **Chuckles** and **Skelton**, although the latter goes unnamed here.
* First use of the classic G.I. Joe catchphrase, "Yo, Joe."

#### Real world references

* Weapons
	+ Chuckles uses an M60 machine gun during a flashback to his time running guns in Laos.
	+ Chuckles is armed with an AK-47 while in Tallinn.

## Cover gallery

Cover A. Art by Robert Atkins and Chris SotomayorCover B. Art by Jonboy Meyers, colors by Tom Smith and Scott KesterRetailer Incentive Cover A. Art by Robert AtkinsRetailer Incentive Cover B. Art by Ben Templesmith
## Notes and references

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 ***G.I. Joe #0***
2. ↑  *G.I. Joe #0* on Comic Vine
3. ↑ *G.I. Joe #1*
4. ↑ *G.I. Joe: Origins #1*
5. ↑ *G.I. Joe: Cobra #1*