FALL IN! Welcome back to G.I. JoeVersity, a weekly look at every new issue of IDW’s G.I. Joe comics where we endeavor to bring you the best in-depth analysis and Joe-related intel on the internet.
Joining us again for a little Q & A, is “G.I. Joe” and “Snake Eyes” writer Chuck Dixon. But before we pick Chuck’s brain, let’s take a look at this week’s “G.I. Joe” #13.
Written by Chuck Dixon
Illustrated by Will Rosado“Deep Terror” begins here! COBRA is digging a miles-deep shaft in the Patagonian wilderness and what they’re digging for could change the world forever and NOT in a good way. The Joes are looking for payback after recent events but will the cuts to their operating budget allow for a mission to the bottom of the world? Also: A new JOE arrives at Fort Baxter!
Chad Bowers: Welcome back, Chuck. In your first post-‘Cobra Command’ issue, we start getting a glimpse of how the new status quo is going to work. Requisitions. Heavy oversight. Off the radar ops. Other than regular trips to Office Depot, what else can we expect from a more streamlined Joe-team?
Chuck Dixon: Missions more like the Navy SEALS or SAS; reduced mission goals, shorter duration missions. More like surgical strikes. The brain trust of Scarlett, mainframe and Dial-Tone will still be calling the shots and looking at the Big Picture. But the teams will form more a hunter/killer role.
Duke’s the man on deck now. How will his leadership differ from Hawk’s?
Well, he’s starting to regret (to himself) this promotion. He’s taking over the Joes at a very bad time. But then, when HAS it been a good time to step up to command the Joes.
Good point. Okay, so talk to us a little about Scarlett and Mainframe.
Clearly, Mains is pretty taken with the lady, and she thinks he’s a good guy, it seems. And now with Snake Eyes absent and presumed dead, are we maybe going to see this relationship change? Or — and this is something I’ve been wondering — is Mainframe maybe not the only guy on the team with an eye for Scarlett?
They’re guys, right? And the ladies are in the minority so there’re some rivalries. The Mains and Red thing will have some ups and downs and unforeseen complications. The biggest danger is poor Mainframe getting himself killed to prove he’s in the league of Scarlett’s past suitors.
You’ve worked with a number of talented artists on G.I. Joe, but for me, it doesn’t get much better than Will Rosado. His work on the book has been incredible and probably more fitting than any artist you’ve worked with since SL Gallant. I know you guys have collaborated before on Green Arrow, but what’s it like having Will on Joe? How long can we look forward to having him?
Will is gonna be back for future arcs but can’t take on the book fulltime. I campaigned to get him on the book for a long time. We worked together on Green Arrow at DC and I KNEW he’d be right for Joe. How right I had no idea. Turns out he’s been a Joe fan since he was a kid. I’m thrilled to have him. He has the characters nailed, draws great gear and weaponry and tells a story par excellance.
Could not agree more.
I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of Cobra’s operation in Patagonia next month. But their role in this issue made me wonder what goes into coordinating YOUR Cobra with what Cobra’s doing over in Mike Costa’s “Cobra.” How much back and forth do you guys have, and what happens if you both want to use Dr. Mindbender. Sorry, sorry… I mean, Dr. Singh?
Mike and I talk regularly and email back and forth. We kind of divvy up Cobra and the Joes months in advance. And I have a LONG character arc for Dr Singh, so I’ve kind of co-opted him for the foreseeable future.
Continued belowDEBRIEFING ROOM
-Visit Chuck Dixon’s website .
-Here’s a look at the brand new, “final” movie poster for G.I. Joe: Retaliation. [www.comingsoon.net]
-The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club continues to reveal the make up of this year’s convention box set. Joining the already announced Oktober Guard are the Iron Grenadiers. [www.gijoecon.com]
-More names have been added to the list of playable characters in SyFyGames’ G.I. Joe Special Ops. You’ll be able to play as Scarlett, Sci-Fi (not SyFy, obviously), Serpentor, and Cobra Commander. It’s worth noting that the game’s Cobra Commander is actually the New Cobra Commander, fueling speculation that the game will be based-on and tied-in to IDW’s reworked G.I. Joe continuity. [www.theterrordrome.com]
Got a question for the G.I. Joe creators or me? Email me at chad@multiversitycomics.com
