IDW Publishing 2010
Written by Larry Hama
Penciled by SL Gallant
Inked by Derek Fridolfs
Coloured by J. Brown
Lettered by Neil Uyetake
G.I. Joe foils Cobra’s plan, disabling sleeper agents all over the US! But not without a cost: two G.I. Joe agents, Chuckles and Cover Girl, are in critical condition after their missions… But is this truly the end of Cobra’s plan? Or is there more to the Cobra World Order?
Alright it’s issues like this one that I personally live for. Sure we open with Chuckles and Cover Girl’s conditions being revealed and that’s all fine and dandy but it’s what happens after that which excites me. This is really all about the villains, and I say that because well Cobra Commander has cut loose all those past associations and left a slew of angry folks in his wake. Back to the opening though for a few, Lady Jaye was one of my favourites in the Cartoon so any chance I get to see her is always welcome. Oh and the dialogue with the doctor to Duke was priceless!
Then there’s Wendy and her trusted aid Fred, yes one of those Fred’s. I am kind of fascinated by this woman because she’s a complete tool. She thinks that she’s making the best of being saddled with the Oversight Committee, no one else wanted, and seems to be grooming herself for bigger and better things, as is pointed out in the dialogue. She is completely Cobra’s and she doesn’t know it, though Fred does, and i’m looking forward to seeing the complications that come with her.
What is it about Zartan that we love so much? Over the years we’ve seen him portrayed in various ways but in the here and now as a leader of the outcast and discarded I think I like him the most. With his espionage background and his unique abilities he’s been underused and underutilized in my humble opinion. So what we see this issue is for me absolutely incredible characterization with him. I like the more smart and organized man he’s shown as than the less backwater cutthroat of the past.
Duke and his wife is still something i’m trying to figure out. It’s awfully convenient that she has suddenly been found after all this time just as Cobra is mounting a large, game changing, Earth altering event. It all smells too coincidental and let’s face it there are no such things as coincidences.
Ah not to be left out we also see Destro and the Baroness in action as well. With the exception of Mindbender Cobra Commander really cut all ties and that’s both genius and frightening. I’m more than a little surprised at how Destro and Baroness are shall we say caught flat-footed. Still what Larry is doing here with the story, characterization and plot is utterly phenomenal. Just the way this issue ended yeah that’s what i’m talking about.
Then there’s the work of Shannon, Derek and J. are doing. I’ve never seen these characters look as good as they do here. The way the pages flow, panel usage and just the sheer amount of detail and backgrounds we get to see makes reading this ever the joy! I think it’s caught somewhere between comic books and a Saturday Morning cartoon which for this series and it’s origins is exactly what it needs.
This my friends and compatriots is why I love the G.I. Joe franchise and this book and these creators.