G.I. JOE

G.I. JOE #1

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G.I. JOE #1After 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]

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Transformers vs. G.I. JOE #1

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Transformers vs. G.I. JOE #1By any definition Transformers vs. G.I. JOE #1 is a mess – one hell of a god awful mess. Written by Tom Scioli the story (such as it is) is a non-linear attempt to throw in as many characters from both franchises into a single comic without any attempt at all to create plot to tie the various panels together. Jumping wildly from one set of characters to another the comic reads like a giant finger to actual storytelling or some kind of poorly designed logic puzzle the creator actually needs your help to solve. In fact the comic makes so little sense IDW felt the need to include writer’s notes for every single page (taking up far too many pages of a $4 comic book) in an attempt to explain what the hell is going on.

If the story is crap the visuals aren’t that much better. Although I don’t have an issue with John Barber’s nostalgic throwback-style art of some of my favorite characters from both franchisees, I was very much distracted by the attempt to make the comic look like faded newsprint of an 80s comic on glossy current comic stock. The attempt to make the comic feel vintage actually makes it look incredibly cheap and (even more) half-assed. Pass.

[IDW, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE #15

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G.I. JOE #15Following 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]

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #14

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #14The Special Missions series comes to close with this finale one-issue story involving Scarlett and her Special Missions team ambushed by Cobra while transporting a prisoner near the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. With both Roadblock and Mainframe injured, and a squad of Vipers descending on the position of their destroyed transport, the small squad splits up as Scarlett leads most of the team away from the action.

Staying with the injured Mainframe, the JOE’s sniper Low-Light takes center stage here providing the cover for his teammates to reach safety and take out a Cobra sniper whose skills nearly match his own.

Following the cancellation of G.I. JOE: Cobra Files and the nearing end of IDW’s main title as well it appears the company is set once again for a soft reboot of their various JOE titles. Special Missions may not have always been great, but it was consistently solid and goes out on a high note here. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #13

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #13The conclusion of “Destro Must Die” isn’t much of a victory for anyone as Cobra and Destro lose their secret installation in Russia, the JOEs not only fail to capture their target but also loose Copperback as well, Destro earns the ire of Cobra Commander, the Special Mission team is captured by the Russian military, one member of the team gets left behind, and Copperback leaves disappointed without fulfilling her personal mission to kill Destro.

On their way home following some finagling of the diplomatic corps, the team leaves one member down as Beach Head will have to find a way to make his own way home, without their target, but are still able to halt the new B.A.T. experiments of Destro and Cobra.

After bringing her in, Helix isn’t given much do in the arc’s conclusion (but you can say the same for both Scarlett and Mainframe as well) in a very Destro-centeric issue. For fans.

[IDW, $3.99]

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