ADie Hardprequel comic make it seem likeJohn McClaneshould have bring in a lot sooner in the original 1988 film that the movie ’s villains were only pretend to be terrorists to force off a heist . In 2010 windfall ! Studios published an 8 - issue trammel series calledDie Hard : Year One . The Howard Chaykin - Stephen Thomas collaboration tell the story of a unseasoned John McClane more than a decennary before the events of the originalDie Hardmovie . While risible was never able to mirror the achiever of the film series , it did make enough of an impression on movie maker for it to be prefer as the base of the   badly - fated sixthDie Hardmovie .

The fact that the comic was being   going to be adjust for the film series means thatit is consideredDie Hardcanon . Therefore , John McClane in the movieA Good Day to Die Hardshould recollect what bump inDie Hard : yr Oneas easily as he remember what happened in the original flick .   The comical adapts the films ' unmistakable " day - in - the - liveliness " style to tell its tarradiddle . The chronicle begins on July 4 , 1976 ,   when McClane is a newly minted member of the New York Police Department who is asked to supply security for the Police Commissioner during a meet and greet onboard the yacht of one of the city ’s most brawny business administrator . Naturally for McClane , the yacht gets commandeered by a bunch of " terrorists " who peril to muff it up unless their demand are met .

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Within a few moment of hearing the demand of the so - called " terrorists,“John McClane points outthat they ’re   just pretending to be terrorists   to disguise their veridical motive : money . McClane ’s theory is ab initio dismissed by others function with him   but at last he ’s proven right . What is impressive about his psychoanalysis of the situation is that he does it with only a year ’s experience as a fuzz . To be sure , as he himself says in the comedian , it ’s a combination of his life experiences and police breeding that informs his law-breaking - fighting expertise .   Fast forward to Christmas Day 1988 , when the now - veteran police detective John McClane   look another group of fake terrorist who take over Nakatomi Plaza . Based on what is deliver inDie intemperately : Year One , McClane ’s training and experience — now compound by 12 geezerhood of conduct down felon on New York ’s tough street — should tell him that Hans Gruberand team are not terrorists but criminal . To be sure , identify Gruber as a felon rather than a terrorist would have change a issue of story power point such as the FBI ’s helicopter programme .

Interestingly , McClane does not fancy out that Gruber and companionship are criminals until the close of the movie when he understand and catch them moving   stolen bonds . McClane ’s failure to see them for who they rightfully are happen   despite there being legion clue to the reverse . Indeed , the clues are much more obvious than those provided in the comedian . to boot , on more than one social function , McClane corroborates the fact that they are terrorists , such as when he says that he recognized that they have fake IDs that would have been expensive to make .   Presumedly these IDs are   more expensive than a common crook could afford .

course , there are a few cause whyan senior John McClanemight be fooled . For illustration , Gruber   is a former member of a terrorist group , most of the group are International , and they are armed with weapons like rocket launchers , which most crook would be ineffectual to get . Nevertheless , the time disruption betweenDie Hard : Year Oneand the originalDie Hardis too unforesightful forJohn McClaneto have completely lose his senses . of course , the expectation is that his power in this area would only get better with age , not worse .

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Die Hard John McClane comic version (left) and movie version (right.)

Die Hard Year One #4 cover, John McClane in his NYPD uniform, bathed in blood red light.

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