Bookshelf: The A-Team #2

The A-Team #2
First Published April 1984
Published by Marvel Comics Group

I reviewed the first issue of Marvel’s short-lived comic book series based on NBC’s popular The A-Team back in August, noting that I am a huge fan of the series and lamenting the fact that the artwork “left a lot to be desired.” One odd thing I forgot to mention was the way Templeton Peck (the character played by Dirk Benedict in the series) was referred to as “The Face” rather than simply Face or Faceman (Face Man?). I don’t recall the series ever using “The Face,” although occasionally someone may have referred to him in the third person as “The Faceman.” Anyway, this issue continues using “The Face,” including on the cover.

The story, titled “Who Kidnapped Kuramoto?,” begins with the A-Team — Hannibal, Face, B.A., Murdock and Amy — driving through San Francisco, with B.A. behind the wheel, Face working on updating his little black book, Amy fixing Hannibal’s makeup and Murdock engrossed in an issue of Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Synergy! Then, suddenly, a dog runs in front of the van and B.A. swerves to avoid it, smashing the van into a tree. Everyone is okay and before long Murdock and B.A. have replaced a damaged tire and Hannibal is able to make contact with a client named Mr. Kuramoto.

The A-Team #2 Cover

The A-Team #2 Cover – Copyright Marvel Comics Group

Kuramoto and his brothers run a video game empire. While on a vacation with their father to the Grand Canyon, a gang of men clad in purple hooded jumpsuits and wielding swords abduct the father. A ransom demand of $10 million is paid but he is not returned. That was two years ago. The brothers hope the A-Team will have more luck. Luckily, Hannibal recognizes the outfits the kidnappers were wearing: they’re the Sons of the Desert. To make a long story short, Amy and Face pose a reporter and photographer while Hannibal and B.A. pose as telephone repairmen. Murdock waits in a helicopter to swoop in when needed.

Unfortunately, the Sons of the Desert own no telephones. Hannibal and B.A. must combat trained fighters, with B.A. up against a sumo wrestler. Before long, the jig is also up for Amy and Face. But all is not lost. It turns out Papa Kuramoto staged his own kidnapping so he could get away from his materialistic sons and their crazy world. He was able to finish building the fortress the Sons of the Desert call home with the ransom money his sons paid. The A-Team are allowed to leave unharmed. What a shocking turn of events.

As was the case with the first issue, the artwork is decent but far from perfect. For the most part the character are recognizable, if a little bland. And as was the case with the first issue, this one was probably written before Melinda Culea (who played Amy Allen) left The A-Team. You can’t tell from the scanned image but my copy of this issue has some water damage along the bottom third, with waving on every page. You actually can’t see it when looking straight on at the cover, which is probably why it was said to be “Near Mint” by the seller. The back cover displays the damage a bit better. There’s also a crease in the lower right that goes throughout the entire book. It is certainly readable, though.

On a somewhat related note, who knew that Galoob produced a six inch Amy Allen action figure in 1983? According to Blasts from the Past the figures are “a rare find as not many figures” were produced. Here‘s a picture of the figure carded.


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