G.I. JOE

• Title: G.I. JOE #1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Fred Van Lente
• Artist: Robert Atkins

G.I. JOE comes out of the shadows as IDW relaunches all their G.I. JOE related titles beginning here with a somewhat less covert team than we’ve seen in the past. General Joe Colton introduces Duke and acknowledges the existence of the JOE’s to the media before sending Duke and his team to to a media friendly mission to Warrenton, Ohio, where Cobra has established a chemical weapons plant.

For his team, and to fit under the Pentagon’s regulations of a proper mix of gender, ethnicity, and skill sets to market around and fulfill the mission, Duke chooses Roadblock, Quick Kick, Tunnel Rat, Cover Girl, Shipwreck, and Doc (each who has been given a new look and codenames by marketing a public affairs to enhance their likability – much to Shipwreck’s chagrin). He’s also saddled with including the JOE’s embedded blogger Hashtag.

When the JOEs walk right into a Cobra trap and get their transport shot down in the middle of downtown, what should be an easy assignment turns into anything but.

…

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• Title: G.I. JOE: Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #21
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Chuck Dixon
• Artist: Robert Atkins

I’m going to miss this series. As IDW prepares to reboot their entire G.I. JOE franchise with new titles and new collaborative teams, writer Chuck Dixon and artist Robert Atkins provide one final Snake Eyes comic for us to enjoy. In honor of Larry Hama‘s own silent issue of G.I. JOE #21, Dixon and Atkins provide a final Storm Shadow tale that needs no words to tell.

The story involves both the Hard Master and Storm Shadow’s attempts to retrieve a priceless Arashikage blade discovered in the rubble of a construction site. There’s tons of action here including a final staredown between Storm Shadow and the Hard Master as they former teacher and student, at long last, come to an understanding.

Although given recent events there is plenty for the student and teacher to hash out, the comic needs no words to tell the story. Dixon even leaves us with a nice final surprise from our other title character who doesn’t make an appearance here but whose absence is felt in every panel. Must-read.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE: Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #20
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Chuck Dixon
• Artist: Robert Atkins

Target: Snake Eyes comes to and end as Snake Eyes and Helix‘s recuperation comes to a screeching halt when Storm Shadow shows up to destroy an entire aircraft carrier just to get his hands on his traitorous sword brother whose recent actions have gutted the once proud Arashikage Clan.

There’s a little too much of everyone else here including Scarlett and a whole host of various other JOEs as the comic is at its best when it stays with the fight we’ve been waiting to see ever since the crossover began: Snake Eyes vs. Storm Shadow. The fight itself is good, I just wish the rest of the story didn’t keep encroaching on it.

The fallout leaves the JOEs minus one aircraft carrier and another apparent “death” for our title character. It also, in an interesting choice by writer Chuck Dixon, gives Storm Shadow the smallest semblance of victory. With the crossover now finished and Snake Eyes once again missing in action, it will be interesting to see what new direction the comic takes next month as it appears the comic will continue to give both characters title credit. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]