A Die Hard prequel series reveals the truth behind John McClane’s iconic “Yippee-ki-yay” moment. John McTiernan’s 1988 movie about a lone cop caught up in a terrorist takeover of Nakatomi Plaza on Christmas Eve is considered one of the greatest action films ever made, full of many quote-worthy moments. One such moment is during John’s first interaction with the villainous Hans Gruber, who accuses his mysterious interloper of thinking he’s a cowboy like John Wayne. Although John admits he’s more of a Roy Rogers fan, the Die Hard: Year One comic miniseries suggest Gruber’s assessment is both correct and incorrect.
In the movie, John visits Los Angeles hoping to reconcile with his estranged wife Holly at her company’s corporate Christmas party and is forced to improvise saving her and as many of her co-workers when Gruber and his accomplices take over the building. In the Boom! Studios comic Die Hard: Year One by Howard Chaykin and Stephen Thompson, readers see John McClane during his first year with the NYPD, providing security for a private event onboard a yacht during the 1976 4th of July. That event is hijacked by terrorists who threaten to blow up the ship unless their demands are met, taking the guests and the event’s wealthy benefactor hostage.
In Die Hard: Year One #4, John hides below deck with Rosie, a woman who witnessed an execution by corrupt cops who are also involved with the hijacking. Having disabled one of the terrorists himself, John borrows his radio and reassures Rosie with a line that even John admits sounds like something from a John Wayne movie: “I’m a duly sworn officer of the NYPD…and I’ve got a job to do.” While the parallels to his future at Nakatomi Plaza are most likely symbolic, John makes a silly mistake when feedback from his radio gives away his location, something that he’s sure Matt Dillon or John Wayne wouldn’t have done.
While this glimpse into John McClane’s past proves that indeed trouble seems to follow him no matter where or when, this revelation proves Hans Gruber labeling John as a cowboy was once accurate. Outnumbered and outgunned, McClane seeks to stop the terrorists and save the passengers, dropping one-liners like Dillon or Wayne would in similar situations. This point is cemented even further when John takes down two more terrorists with his gun before their leader addresses him via the radio as “Cowboy.” While it’s not surprising the terrorist portrayed by the late Alan Rickman’s insult is surprisingly insightful, the comment in this context is more amusing than hurtful as time and experience help McClane outgrow such ideas. Instead of barging in guns blazing in an ill-fated attempt to save the day at Nakatomi Plaza, McClane seeks to carefully assess the situation, taking down the terrorists while also keeping the loss of life to a minimum.
In the end, both terrorist groups make the same mistake in underestimating John McClane. Despite their numbers and firepower, they are no match for John’s dedication and ability to improvise under the worst conditions. While the events of Die Hard: Year One might explain how John is ready to handle the events that unfolded in Die Hard, they also confirm that John McClane was a lone cowboy long before he ever cross paths with Hans Gruber.
