G.I. JOE

• Title: G.I. JOE: Snake Eyes: Agent of Cobra #1 (of 5)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mike Costa
• Artist: Paolo Villainelli

Not seen nor heard from in two years since his fall from grace with G.I. JOE and his apparent death at the hands of Storm Shadow way back in Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #20 Snake Eyes finally returns. IDW relaunched (and eventually cancelled) an entire slate of G.I. JOE titles (including some issues written by Mike Costa) without one of the franchise’s favorite characters over the past couple of years so I’m excited to see the character finally be brought back into play, although I never expected it to be as an agent for Cobra.

The comic itself is vague about how long Snake Eyes has been missing or how long it has been since he signed on with Cobra. What is clear is his current mission which includes rescuing Destro from custody. The mini-series is set to run for five-issues suggesting that Snake Eyes’ time with Destro and Cobra may be limited (and one has to ask is that even Snake Eyes under the mask?). The promise of Storm Shadow’s appearance in the series and yet another confrontation between the two should answer several questions about Snake Eyes’ short and long term future. But for now we can just be happy he’s back in action once more. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE #2
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Karen Traviss
• Artist: Steve Kurth

“The Fall of G.I. JOE” continues as the fate of the military organization is discussed in Washington various forces, each working with limited information and at cross-purposes, head into Galibi. As the small force of Flint, Roadblock, Mainframe, and Helix search for the terrorist base of Grigor Rashidov, Tomax learns of the defection of Siren‘s militant son to the group. Complicating matters even further leads Tomax to hire non-Cobra agents, which turns out be Duke, to retrieve the boy through byzantine means providing only the vaguest information about the situation. However, given the fast-approaching JOE hit-squad to the camp had Tomax left the situation alone it would have solved all of his problems.

Choosing his mission, and the life of a boy who he believes is a hostage not a whackjob Cobra believer, over that of his former comrades, Duke warns Rashidov of the arrival of an American hit squad. The ramifications of his actions muddy the waters of the new series even further and might very likely lead to more trouble between the JOEs and their former commander. For fans.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE #1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Karen Traviss
• Artist: Steve Kurth

After discontinuing the company’s various G.I. JOE titles earlier this spring, IDW launches a new series where a changing world threatens G.I. JOE. With Cobra renouncing its terrorist ties and becoming a peace-keeping organization Washington debates whether or not an organization like the JOEs need to exist.

As Cobra attempts to broker peace between Schletteva and Galibi, Scarlett is stuck in Washington attending Senate hearings defending her organization now that their primary threat has apparently seen the error of its ways. The question about what Cobra is really up to, with the help of Siren who continues to rebrand Cobra to the outside world, is left hanging as the first issue comes to a close but we do know not every Cobra soldier is happy in their new roles.

New York Times best-selling author Karen Traviss begins to lay a foundation for the series here but by the nature of the story is forced to be unnecessarily vague about the real intentions of all the players. The art on IDW’s JOE books has always been hit-and-miss. Steve Kurth’s work matches Traviss expositional storytelling but a little more traditional comic style would go a long way to help sell the storyline. For fans.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE #15
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Paul Allor
• Artist: Steve Kurth

Following the pattern of IDW’s other JOE series, the current main G.I. JOE comic comes to an end with G.I. JOE #15. Continuing the story of Cobra’s newest asset Siren, the JOEs arrive at a Cobra training base and indoctrination center where her son and dozens of other recruits have been brainwashed by the terrorist organization.

Far from wrapping up Siren’s story, G.I. JOE #15 at least resigns her to her fate as her future is tied to that of her son who wants no help from Cobra’s enemies. The comic is highlighted by some strong art by Steve Kurth, a throwdown between Roadblock and Big Boa, and Hashtag struggling to see the rescue of several children, but not Siren or her son, as anything other than a failure.

The comic certainly leaves several questions from the series left unanswered (such as Cover Girl‘s concerns and suspicions about Duke) as IDW closes the book on the last of their JOE titles heading into this Fall’s “Fall of G.I. JOE.” Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]