tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120234572815493852.post2450861418202785812..comments2023-07-18T16:47:57.523+01:00Comments on The Night Cruiser: Comic Review: G.I. Joe #108-114: The Benzheen Affair, or the Death of CredibilityTom Prankerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06918178515169260530noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120234572815493852.post-30943362618679016052018-10-08T02:20:29.190+01:002018-10-08T02:20:29.190+01:00Good points on the reluctance to kill named charac...Good points on the reluctance to kill named characters, but I suspect it has a lot to do with the toy aspect. After all, how do you sell a toy that died two years ago in the comics? <br /><br />I disagree on two points. The first, Hama's use of military jargon is actually fairly accurate. Hama was a decorated combat veteran in Vietnam. I seem to recall a couple instances where some of the terms seemed a little forced, ie they were put in to make it seem legit. <br />The second point, is on the patriotism to the point of racism. Having an "evil" Arab leader is hardly bigotry and it certainly isn't racism as Arabs and middle easterners are not a race. I have seen these claims of jingoism and such before on GI Joe, but consider that of the original 13 Joes, you had an African American in a very key role, a hispanic, and a bad ass woman. There were additional minorities added as other characters were added. As you note, Hama is Asian, and considered race as important part of his identity. <br />Anyway, enough complaining, really well written, thanks for this. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02182981883937103093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120234572815493852.post-51462627429015617942017-02-17T22:00:26.588+00:002017-02-17T22:00:26.588+00:00Of course, none of that IMO excuses Hama voluntari...Of course, none of that IMO excuses Hama voluntarily scripting himself into this stupid corner where both sides head into battle with loaded weapons and don't seem to like the idea of killing each other.Tom Prankerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918178515169260530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120234572815493852.post-7345896505234825552017-02-17T21:59:08.140+00:002017-02-17T21:59:08.140+00:00It is very odd; you do wonder if Hasbro maybe had ...It is very odd; you do wonder if Hasbro maybe had a hand, perhaps not wanting to have made toys of a 'murderer' but that doesn't make much sense. Considering Hama's habit of turning Cobras into good guys (Storm Shadow, The Baroness, Destro, even Zartan to some extent) it's possible he just didn't want to sully someone. There are actually very few 'named' Cobra characters actually active and on the same side as Cobra Commander at that particular time in the comic; as the toyline went on it leant more towards producing umpteen Vipers and the like than named Cobras.Tom Prankerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918178515169260530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120234572815493852.post-81500298026296386282017-02-17T12:01:00.403+00:002017-02-17T12:01:00.403+00:00Never understood why it tries so hard to keep the ...Never understood why it tries so hard to keep the named Cobras generally and Cobra Commander's in particular hands clean. Was there some sort of edict he couldn't be seen as too nasty by actually wanting to kill his stated enemies?<br /><br />It's just so bizarre the first big wave of Joe deaths is the result of a sitcom misunderstanding. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317266277993188821noreply@blogger.com