A kids' book based around a violent post-traumatic stress disorder sufferer, played by Sylvester Stallone?

It is not, what you would call, a barrel of laughs.

So of course, they made a kids cartoon of it.

This isnt that unique.

It also happened withRoboCop,Highlanderand most bizarrely, TromasThe Toxic Avenger.

The 1988Ramboannual definitely falls into that latter category.

Its a wonderful, unique item, and a gaze into a bizarre parallel version of an iconic character.

Im obsessed with it.

The juxtaposition of one of the most violent characters in cinema history and childrens colouring activities is endlessly fascinating.

So are the attempts to bend the adult characters and situations into something suitable for eight year olds.

The Cobra to the Force Of Freedoms GI Joe were a handful of generic bad guys called S.A.V.A.G.E.

There are profiles of them as well.

I genuinely feel sorry for him.

They also have their own ninja, called Black Dragon, who is a ninja who dresses in black.

Its absolutely not anything like Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow from GI Joe.

InRambo: The Force Of Freedom, the good guy ninja dressed in white.

See, its completely different.

All these profiles also weirdly list the guns each of them carry in worrying detail.

Especially considering this is British, and we definitely dont have the USs gun culture.

What I wasnt expecting was the level of politics in them.

The belated third sequel even turned its focus on the then-current situation in Burma.

But youd be wrong.

SoRambo The Force Of Freedomwas a rather obviousGI Joerip-off.

Whats the first mission forThe Force Of Freedomin the annual?

The US covertly manipulating regime change in a South America country.

This all happens on the first page.

Lets break down what this is telling us.

And Custrels first act of aggression?

Take over the local state controlled media.

All things considered, thats a pretty solid plan of action.

The basic plot (not that theres any depth to the plotting) revolves around S.A.V.A.G.E.

trying to infiltrate the official opening of Centura, City of the Future.

The story is just some weak espionage claptrap, but the description of Centura is fascinating.

Trautmans response is baffling stuff for a childrens book.

Ranaths idea is to expand the countrys economy as fast as possible.

His aim is to develop the countrys interior as far as Centura by the end of the century.

Snake Eyes clone White Dragon then asks him why they are having such a big opening event.

Ranath doesnt have the funds to finance the whole deal… Centura will show the superpowers he means business.

Remember when everyone criticised George Lucas for opening the Star Wars prequels with an opening crawl about trade agreements?

This is about a million times worse.

But enough about politics does the annual provide much Rambo-based excitement and bad-assery?

Theres a text story called Castle Of Dogs, which I had high hopes for.

Which would have been awesome.

There is the awesomeness I was hoping for in a comic strip entitled Gun Run though.

However, when he gets through, it turns out the coffins are actually full of smuggled guns.

He even shouts out Who were you expecting…. Dracula?

However, his plan doesnt really seem very thought out.

It would have been a lot simpler as well.

Its fine, though.

Rambo blows up a boat and escapes.

So yeah, thats theRamboAnnual 1988.

I have no idea what was in that.

But theres probably less about city planning…