Editing Team Play

{{italic title}}
{{publication infobox
|title=''Team Play''
|image=[[File:Game boy comic team play cover.jpg|250px]]
|publisher=[[Valiant Comics]]
|writer={{wp|George Caragonne}}
|artist={{wp|Paris Cullins}}, Art Nichols, Jade, Rainbowhead
|label=[[Nintendo Comics System]]
|series=Game Boy (comic)
|previous=It's a Small World After All
|next=Pipes is Pipes
}}

'''''Team Play''''' is the third issue of [[Valiant Comics]]' ''[[Game Boy (comic)|Game Boy]]'' comic book series. This issue is notable for being the first issue to a feature a letters column. 

==Plot synopsis==
Following the events of [[It's a Small World After All|the previous issue]], [[Herman Smirch]] is wanted by the {{wp|Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI}} as the main suspect in the hijacking of a {{wp|Boeing 747}} airliner. After pretending to the police that she has not seen him in months, Herman's mother comes to her son (who was hiding in her closet) and tells him the police is gone. She also gives him a package: his neighbor forwarded back the [[Game Boy]] he had given to her children, with a note saying she taught her kids not to accept gifts from strangers and especially not "weirdos" like Herman.

Convinced that he cannot get his mother involved in his situation with the Game Boy invaders, Herman decides to "borrow" some of her house money and her car. A week later, Herman is at [[Jerky's Burger Bar]], contemplating that he should skip payment on his dinner as he finds the price outrageous. While [[Melody Ann-Evers|the waitress]] is away serving another customer, he gets hypnotized into opening the gateway and summons [[Pionpi]].

[[File:Game boy team play flying car.png|200px|left|thumb|Herman's car flies over the Pacific.]]

Going outside, Pionpi explains that he came with a elite squadron to set up a base for [[Tatanga]] and enslave many [[Human|giants]]. He asks Herman what the world's largest population center is, to which Herman answers {{wp|China}}. Satisfied with the answer, Pionpi orders Herman to drive him to China and has his car modified to be able to fly. After a few hours of flight, Herman, who does not know where China is, lands into a uninhabited island in the {{wp|Pacific Ocean}} and tells Pionpi they are at the destination, pretending the lack of inhabitants is because it is monsoon season.

On the ''[[USS Nimitz]]'', Ensign [[Greg Campbell]] points out to [[Jose]] that there is a black cloud hanging over the island, but Jose merely tells him to go back to work. Later, inside his quarters, the mention of the black cloud leads to Greg rereading a letter from his brother [[Josh Campbell|Josh]]. The letter explains that the black cloud is a sign of Tatanga's presence and how to summon [[Mario]] by using the "middle door" in either of the first two levels of each world of ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', but Gregg dismisses the letter as a product of his brother's hyperactive imagination.

In the afternoon, an off-duty Greg plays ''Super Mario Land'' and is shocked to find the [[Goal (Super Mario Land)|goal]] has three doors instead of two. Mario goes through the middle door and enters reality, asking Greg where Tatanga is.

On the island, Tatanga's forces are nearly finished fortifying their base. 

Back on the deck of the ''Nimitz'', Mario thanks Greg for his assistance in getting the [[Sky Pop]] out of the Game Boy and takes off to recon the island. Sensing something is wrong as he approaches the base, Mario is ambushed by Tatanga's forces, who are shooting with real ammunition. The Sky Pop is heavily damaged and Mario makes a crash landing on the deck of the ''Nimitz'', Greg catching the plane as if it were a football.

Pionpi and the troopers rejoice at Mario's apparent defeat and their impending victory. Herman joins in their battle chant, but Pionpi silences him, telling him the chant is only for Tatanga's loyal minions. A [[Gao]] rebuffs Pionpi, saying Herman is as much of a servant to Tatanga as them.

[[File:Mario team play vulcan.png|thumb|200px|Mario unleashes firepower]]

On the ''Nimitz'', Mario reassures Greg he is fine and explains he is outmatched against Tatanga's [[Earth|real world]] weapons, requesting access to the ship's ordinances. Greg is initially hesitant but changes his mind, reasoning that, as the island is [[United States of America|United States]] territory, it is his responsibility as a Ordnance Officer to bring the fight to Tatanga.

The next morning, two officers in the carrier's Air Operations Center, having found a piece of paper on the hangar deck, are befuddled by the blueprints for the Mario Sky Pop Defense System. Now heavily armed with {{wp|M61 Vulcan}} cannons, various type of missiles, and laser-guided bombs, the Sky Pop flies by the carrier's control tower. 

Mario flies to the island fortress again, but this time his new weapon systems make short work of the island defenders. As they detect one of the carrier's {{wp|F/A-18 Hornet}}s approaching the island, Pionpi orders the guns to fire on it, giving Mario the opening he needs to land. Mario throws a bomb from the Sky Pop's defense system to defeat a group of Gaos. A tank nearly sneaks up on Mario, but it destroyed by a blast from the F/A-18. Mario jumps into the command center and grabs Pionpi, but the main screen of the command console shows the F/A-18 has been heavily damaged and is about to crash. Mario flies to the F/A-18 and hold its wing, ensuring a safe landing.

Pionpi, recognizing the base is lost, activates its self-destruct countdown and orders Herman to escape. On the carrier's deck, Mario notices Tatanga's troops are escaping and jumps back into the Game Boy. A formation of US Navy's planes observes the destruction of the base and flies back to the carrier. 

Herman Smirch flies back to the US Pacific coast and parks at a gas station to use the bathroom, content in the idea he is now one of Tatanga's top minions. While inside, his car flies up and dissapears. Heading back outside, Herman laments he forgot to put it on park.

==Quotes==
*''I can't believe it! Are we living in a police state? A man can't feel safe in his own mother's house..!'' - Herman
*''Mario, I can't let anybody see you--! I--I don't know what the regulations say about bringing unauthorized videogame personnel aboard but, I think I might get in big trouble'' - Greg
*''-Silence! Destroy the intruding giant's plane! Then destroy Mario! <br> -I saw ''{{wp|Top Gun}}'' six times! Those F-18's are tough!'' - Pionpi and Herman

==Trivia==
*The F/A-18 Mario rescues is misidentified as a {{wp|F-14 Tomcat}}, a different fighter. 

{{Game Boy comics}}
[[Category:Nintendo Comics System Stories]]