Yo Joe! Independence Day has arrived, and it’s time to celebrate, G.I. Joe style. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how to spend this 4th of July. But after reading through Larry Hama’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero run, I was able to get some pretty good ideas! So, if you’re looking for some fun ways to celebrate Independence Day, just follow these tips from our friends at Skybound’s G.I. Joe branch…
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Independence Day is when we celebrate America, and enjoying the great outdoors is the perfect way to do that. Consider renting a cabin, hiking a trail, or exploring the wilderness. Going outdoors is a great way to get to know America better, deepening your appreciation for our fine country.
When they aren’t battling Cobra, the G.I. Joe crew love getting reacquainted with nature. For example, in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #303, Scarlett and Snake Eyes went out to a scenic cabin in the woods for some rest and relaxation.
Granted, they got interrupted by some assassins (which led to a damn cool action sequence), but that probably won’t happen to you.
Have a Barbeque with Family and Friends
Independence Day is a great time to get together with friends for a BBQ. Gather the neighbors, fire up the grill, and enjoy some lively conversation. Just keep in mind, not everyone has the same taste in food. Some of your guests might be vegetarians, some might be lactose intolerant, and others might be Cobra agents who’ve mutated into flesh-eating zombies. You can never really be sure.
If you don’t know how to spot an undead Cobra agent, check out G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #302. The issue features a Cobra squad that was mutated after an experimental bio-bomb detonated. After one of their own is shot in the head, the remaining Cobra agents feast on their fallen friend’s flesh.
It’s…unconventional. But I guess you can say they’re sharing food with friends, which is in the spirit of Independence Day.
(The rest of us will be having hot dogs though.)
Hit the Water
The 4th of July is a great time to make a splash! Grab a beach ball, put on some lotion, play some tunes, and enjoy the beach. If you’re lucky, you might even make some new friends. If you need an example, just look at Zartan in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #306. The Dreadnoks’ leader took his speeder out on the water, where he enjoyed some good times on the waves. Part of Zartan’s fun was dodging a heat-seeking missile. Oh, and the missile destroyed his speeder.
In all fairness, I doubt you’ll have that problem. Unless you’re an agent of Cobra, I doubt anyone has any reason to launch a heat-seeking missile at you. So you can probably enjoy your time on the water in peace.
Blow Something Up (Responsibly)
Let’s face it, Independence Day isn’t complete without blowing something up. For most of us, this means fireworks, but for the G.I. Joe crew this means just about anything! Almost every issue of Larry Hama’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero run has one explosion or another. We might not have the artillery G.I. Joe has, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have our own Independence Day excitement. In our case, I’d suggest detonating fireworks instead of Cobra bases.
(Skybound reminds you to detonate fireworks responsibly and be mindful of your local laws.)
Of course, depending on where you live, you don’t know what the weather will bring. So if rain ruins your Independence Day plans, you can always stay home and read Larry Hama’s epic saga of Joe vs. Cobra. It’s one of the most patriotic comics ever. After all, they don’t call it G.I. Joe: A Real AMERICAN Hero for nothing. Happy Independence Day from your friends at Skybound!
And don’t forget… Skybound’s free-to-join rewards program Insiders is now giving you the opportunity to appear in the upcoming Energon Universe series G.I. Joe #1!
G.I. JOE TM & © 2023 Hasbro
