G.I. Joe: Origins 1

## [Source]

***G.I. Joe: Origins #1*** is the first regular issue of IDW Publishing's *G.I. Joe: Origins* series, following on from the prologue story "In Or Out?" published in *G.I. Joe #0*. The issue was released on February 18, 2009, written by Larry Hama with art by Mike Hawthorne and Tom Feister.

## Publisher's summary

*THE ORIGIN OF G.I. JOE! Don't miss this historic first issue, chronicling the forging of America's most elite fighting force and REVEALING FOR THE FIRST TIME how these wildly different characters formed an unbeatable team! Join DUKE as he meets his new warrior brothers--HAWK, STALKER, and SCARLETT. And who's the other new guy giving everyone the silent treatment...?*

## Plot

In a C-130 over the desert, General Hawk gives his new recruits instructions for a training mission that also doubles as a real mission. Duke and Scarlett are given a codeword each—"N.L.V.C.H." and "Buick" respectively—and then they are forced to jump out of the plane to catch up to parachutes that had already been thrown out. Stalker is deployed next, and his parachute is also not working, with Hawk throwing a third out for him as part of the same exercise. On the ground, Duke and Scarlett determine they are in Nevada, north of Las Vegas.

In Dallas, local police, F.B.I. and A.T.F. respond to a stand-off with a billionaire holed up in his home. The billionaire, who had recently murdered his family in Florida, is former military who went AWOL and stole secrets before building a fortune with a pyramid-scheme energy company.

Scarlett and Duke hitch a ride from Connie, an injured veteran who helps them solve their codewords. "N.L.V.C.H." stands for North Las Vegas Community Hospital and "Buick" stands for Burn Unit Intensive Care, bed K."

In Dallas, storming the billionaire's residence turns into a massacre. The reason for the billionaire's break becomes known; while recovering from plastic surgery in Las Vegas, he was recognized by an Airborne Ranger recovering in the next bed.

That Airborne Ranger is also the target of Duke and Scarlett's recruitment mission, who is currently recuperating in the hospital after the billionaire blew up the plastic surgery clinic. Duke and Scarlett get the Ranger—known only as Snake Eyes—clear of the hospital before the billionaire, now calling himself Chimera, can kill him.

However, Chimera kills Connie, who stayed in the bed to cover Snake Eyes' removal from the hospital. Duke, Scarlett, and Snake Eyes manage to escape, and Snake Eyes is recurited into the fledging G.I. Joe unit. At the hospital, Stalker claims Connie's body for burial at Arlington as a hero and to cover for Snake Eyes' escape.

## Appearances

**By type**

Characters

* Connie (First appearance)
* Duke
* Hawk
* Scarlett
* Snake Eyes
* Stalker

Locations

	+ Central America
	+ United States of America
		- Arizona (Mentioned only)
		- Arlington (Mentioned only)
		- Florida (Mentioned only)
		- Nevada
			* Las Vegas
				+ Las Vegas Center for Reconstructive Surgery
				+ North Las Vegas Community Hospital
					- Burn Unit Intensive Care
		- Texas
			* Dallas
				+ St. Augustine Estates
					- Krechmer Road
		- Utah (Mentioned only)

Organizations and titles

* Department of Defense
* F.B.I.
* United States Army
	+ Airborne Ranger
	+ Army C.I.D.
	+ Green Beret
	+ Military Police

Sentient species

Weapons and technology

* Firearm
* Improvised Explosive Device

## Trivia

### G.I. Joe references

* The pilot of the C-130 used by the Joes is not named, but his brown hair and moustache could be a reference to helicopter pilot Wild Bill, although this does not match up with his traditional appearance including a cowboy hat and sunglasses, or to Conquest X-30 pilot Slipstream.
* The overall look of the Army CID officer in the issue—blond hair, loud coloured shirt—could be a reference to Chuckles. Chuckles primary military speciality is traditionally given as Army CID, the same as The character is not confirmed to be killed in the issue, leaving the possibility that it is an early appearance of the character.

### Pop culture references

* Chimera references the James Cagney film *White Heat* when he says "top o' the world, ma!", which is a paraphrase of a famous quote from the movie.

### Real world references

* Chimera had a copy of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house built in Dallas, Texas. The original is located in southwest Pennsylvania.
* Chimera has a copy of Goya's Saturn Devouring His Son which is implied to be the original. However, the name is given incorrectly as "Saturn Devouring His Child."
* Chimera mentions feeling like John Brown and his raid on Harper's Ferry. Brown was an abolitionist who attempted to initiate a slave revolt in the Southern states prior to the American Civil War.
* Weapons:
	+ Chimera uses a .308 sniper rifle.
	+ A.T.F. agents carry M-16s and MP5s.
	+ Connie is armed with a Beretta '92 and mentions using an M4A1 while in the Army before she was injured by a white phosphorus grenade.
* Stalker's uniform at the end of the issue—assuming it to be an accurate reflection of his service and not part of a cover identity—shows that he holds the rank of Sergeant First Class. The majority of ribbons and badges on the uniform cannot be made out, but one appears to be a Parachutist Badge.

### Errors

* Duke is wearing shorts in one panel while chasing after Connie's vehicle. He is wearing trousers in every one panel.

## Cover gallery

Cover A. Art by Andrea Divito, colors by Chris SotomayorCover B. Art by Tom FeisterCover RI. Painting by Dave Dorman
## Notes and references

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 ***G.I. Joe: Origins #1***
2. ↑  *G.I. Joe: Origins #1* on Comic Vine
3. ↑ *G.I. Joe #0*: "In Or Out?"
4. ↑ *G.I. Joe: Origins #2*