Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #30

Good afternoon,

I'm closing out this weekend with a recap of the thirtieth issue of Marvel's The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover showed Indy trying to revive a companion, as an unidentified man aimed a pistol at them in front of a casket that was resting on a pedestal. The story was called "Fireworks!" The issue had a cover date of July 1985.

The tale began on a boat navigating across the Hwang River in China in 1936. Jones and IRA member Michael Cobb were searching for Weng Ho, who had betrayed Cobb (last issue) by delivering a crate that was supposed to contain weapons for Cobb's cause. Instead, the crate housed the corpse of their agent in that country. Indiana had tagged along because he was looking for a mummy that was supposed to have been delivered to the National Museum.

Cobb proclaimed himself the leader of the expedition, and that he'd only allowed Indy to tag along because he knew the country. Jones knew the language well enough to convince a military group that they met to back off. Indiana thought that he was threatening them with explosives that didn't work, not knowing that Cobb was carrying waterproof dynamite until the soldiers had passed, and Jones casually tossed the sticks in his hand behind them, which detonated upon impact with the ground.

As the feuding colleagues ventured further, Alec Sutherland asked Marcus Brody at Marshall College for a meeting. The scholar had transferred to the university and was eager to start learning under Doctor Jones. Brody explained that the professor was still seeking the museum that he'd been dispatched to San Francisco to find, at the behest of museum trustee Bradley Travistock. Travistock himself joined the meeting, peeved that Jones had not returned yet. Brody suggested that his friend could be anywhere in the world at the moment. 

Jones came across several of Weng Ho's lackeys, some of whom took his fedora and revolver. An explosion in the near distance distracted them long enough for Indiana to escape. He eventually found a disguise and made his way to Cobb, who was now being held at gunpoint by the same military leader they'd just run into. 

Indy watched for a few moments before exposing himself by firing the sergeant's machine gun that he'd just been handed. Jones and Cobb then let the military leader guide them to Weng Ho's hideout until he commandeered a Jeep. The duo followed and took control of the vehicle. The sergeant had been knocked unconscious but could still be used as a decoy, which allowed them to enter their foes' stronghold. 

Once inside, the trio met the mastermind of the operation. Weng Ho admitted to Sean McManus' murder and knew about the ruse as soon as his guests had entered the perimeter. He got away as Jones and Cobb fought their way further inside the compound. Indiana followed Weng Ho to the coffin of his ancestor. Cobb had been wounded in the skirmish, but still had enough ammunition to deal a deadly blow to Weng Ho before succumbing to his injuries.

Cobb asked Indy with his last words to honor his promise to make sure the guns were delivered to his homeland. Jones' life had just been saved, so he made good on his commitment. Indiana found a weapons cache, which contained enough dynamite to destroy the base. 

Afterward, Jones was in Tsingtao, overseeing the shipments to Ireland and America. He had accomplished his goals and opted to take a boat back home. Indy decided that he'd had enough of coffins for a while and wished his unwanted accomplice well. 

This was another two-parter that felt a bit rushed. If enough background details were supplied, this could have been extended to three issues. I think that the Sutherland subplot was intended for a larger story, but we would only see one more minor appearance of the young college student before this title was cancelled. Only four more issues would be published, and the last three were part of the same storyline. 

If you're wondering what happened to Indy when he returned home, you'll have to wait just a bit. The thirty-first issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones is a bit of a filler story. A plane crash off the coast of Washington State puts Jones in contact with a striking young woman who enlists his aid in her search for a legendary creature. Until tomorrow, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.