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G.I. JoeVersity: September 2012

By | October 5th, 2012
Posted in Columns | % Comments

Welcome back to G.I. JoeVersity, Multiversity Comics’ MONTHLY look at all of IDW’s G.I. Joe comics and beyond. September 2012 saw the release of five Joe titles, and the kickoff of the core titles’ next big mega-arc, ‘Target: Snake Eyes,’ so where do we start?

G.I. JOE #17
Written by Chuck Dixon
Illustrated by Alex Cal
DEEP TERROR Epilogue! COBRA’s scheme to take the Joes public goes viral. America’s most secret fighting force is on the run! COBRA COMMANDER dispenses his own rewards for failure. Copperback a prisoner of the JOEs! And SCARLETT learns that SNAKE EYES is still alive and confronts Helix in an encounter only one of them may survive!

In what I’ve taken to referring to as a “catch your breath” issue, “G.I. Joe” #17 takes things down a notch, with the Joe team pulling together in the wake of Cobra’s public outing of the organization. The world now knows G.I. Joe exists, but not everyone’s happy about it. To avoid unwanted attention, Duke uproots the team and orders the aboard the USS Flagg. But the Flagg’s IDW debut isn’t exactly impressive. No longer the jewel of the Joe’s naval arm, it turns out that the new Flagg is, in fact, an giant old box of rust… but don’t say that in front of Shipwreck.

This issue features several major plots moments. In the midst of G.I. Joe’s relocation, Cobra Commander does some regrouping of his own, picking up the pieces from Dr. Mindbender’s foul-up from the previous arc. And while the big snake scolds Mindbender for another failure, the Baroness — who’s becoming more and more of a wild card for Cobra — forces a low level Cobra sleeper agent to commit suicide. But probably the most notable thing about this issue is Scarlett’s discovery that Snake Eyes is still alive and working with the Arashikage. Her subsequent confrontation with Snakes’ former subordinate, Helix, leaves both ladies with some bruises, both physical and emotional, leading to Scarlett rounding up of team and putting together an op to take out Snake Eyes.

Debriefing:

  • Debut of the USS Flagg
  • Dr. Mindbender’s on Cobra Commander’s $#@! list
  • Scarlett finds out Snake Eyes is still alive
  • Scarlett kisses Mainframe. Again.
  • A senator denies the existence of the G.I. Joe team to Congress
  • Helix beats up Torpedo and Deep 6
  • Shipwreck sprays Scarlett and Helix with a fire hose
  • Scarlett’s going after Snake Eyes
  • Deaths: 3

Cobra #17
Written by Mike Costa
Illustrated by Werther Dell’Edera
They call him… BLUDD! Major Bludd takes center stage in this spine-shattering issue! What makes Bludd tick… and who does he have to kill next? Locked in prison, he’s still deadly–so who wants him free?

I’ve written at length about Cobra. But month in and out, this really is just about as good as G.I. Joe has been. Cobra is a beautiful example of what can be accomplished with comics, and proof that there are no bad characters. Mike Costa has taken the the “bad guys” from a boys toy line and told their side of the story, and turned it into a sophisticated, darkly attractive tale of men and women drawn into something even darker. And Cobra #17 turns its focus on my favorite G.I. Joe villain, Major Bludd.

Originally, Bludd was a bad Australian stereotype with very little characterization beyond a rocket gun and a Nazi fetish. But IDW’s Major Bludd has been fleshed out over the last few years, gaining a wife and kids, some genuine ambition, and now, a pretty engaging back story. Bludd’s been in custody since the finale of ‘Cobra Command’, and since then, he’s been feeding information to Flint and proving to be more of an asset than anyone expected. With Flint’s ear, Bludd tells his story and in doing so, reminds us why Cobra is the best G.I. Joe book.

Debriefing:

  • We learn how Major Bludd lost his eye
  • Lady Jaye spars with Chameleon, the second of this month’s sparring matches between Joe ladies (see above)
  • Chameleon shots down Clockspring’s romantic advances, and doesn’t even know it
  • Continued below

  • IDW debut of the Oktober Guard
  • Deaths: 9

Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow #17
Written by Chuck Dixon
Illustrated by Atilio Rojo
Is SNAKE EYES an asset to the Arashikage Clan or a liability? That’s a question that STORM SHADOW is asking himself as the wrath of Serpentor is turned upon them and SNAKE EYES becomes a target for the G.I. JOEs! Blistering ninja action and intrigue! Nothing is what it seems and loyalties are questioned as the life of the most dangerous JOE takes a turn!

The Arashikage have embraced Snakes Eyes and welcomed him back into the fold. And that would normally be a good thing except for the fact that the family of ninja assassins have been targeted for total eradication. Now everyone ever connected to the Arashikage are in danger, including Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, and both mens’ teachers, the Soft Master and the Hard Master.

As we know, for years, Cobra employed the Arishakage as its enforcers, but then Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes tried to kill Cobra Commander which obviously strained the relationship. Cobra Commander has since recruited Serpentor and his followers to destroy the Arashikage, and if this issue’s any indication, they’re off to a pretty good start.

Debriefing:

  • Serpentor gathers his army, The Order of the Basilisk
  • The Soft Master is captured
  •  Snake Eyes connects with the Hard Master
  • Storm Shadow gets an informant
  • Helix strikes up an alliance with the Soft Master’s latest student, Tomo
  • Deaths: 14

G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #182
Written by Larry Hama
Illustrated by Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema
DARKLON IS ON THE LOOSE! G.I. JOE has lost their prisoner, and it’s up to Outback and his team to recover the dangerous villain. Meanwhile, Zartan and COBRA COMMANDER formulate a plan that would move COBRA HQ to another coast. The villains take center stage in this issue of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero!

This issue picks up with Outback, Ambush, and Muskrat pursuing Darklon into the desert after his escaping the Pit last month. The bad news is, Darklon was literally hanging underneath their Hammer HUMVEE and they actually aided in his departure. Add that to the fact that Duke’s playing a game with all three of them, and you start to feel sorry for the boys. Even Muskrat.

RAH #182 featured the classic Joe action we’ve come to expect, with classic Hama-isms and Joes being Joes. But the big draw for me this issue was Ron Frenz on art duties. I grew up with Frenz on Thor and other big Marvel superhero titles, and I’m pleasantly surprised at how easily he falls into the sometimes more technical aspects of G.I. Joe. With Hama’s take being more traditional and seasoned, it’s nice to see his story paired with an artist from the same school. I wouldn’t mind seeing Frenz as the regular artist on RAH… but let’s not lose SL Gallant, okay IDW?

Debriefing:

  • Duke’s being weird
  • Darklon goes free
  • Zartan tells Cobra Commander he wants in
  • Pale Peony wins over Zarana and Road Pig
  • Clutch and Rock N’ Roll take out some SeiGies
  • Low-Light sees some action
  • Deaths: 3

Danger Girl/G.I. JOE #3
Written by Andy Hartnell
Illustrated by John Royle
It’s the most dangerous event of the summer, and the action continues right here!  Abbey Chase has been working behind enemy lines as an Agent of COBRA, but when the G.I. JOE strike force puts the Danger Girl team in the line of fire, who will Abbey side with to win the battle?

Remember what I said earlier about “Cobra?” That it achieved a level of sophistication and relevance that no other G.I. Joe comic comes close to? And I praised it for being an example of achievement and applauded it for playing against expectations. But funny enough, “Danger Girl/G.I. Joe” is about as far from those things as comics can get, and I enjoy it almost as much as I do “Cobra.”

I think what I like so much about this mini-series is how obvious it is that Andy Hartnell and John Royle are enjoying themselves. Like two kids on a sunny day and a yard full of toys, these guys are going all out and having a blast. In three issues, we’ve seen the Joes in action in the air, in the sea, and now, with this issue, we’re treated to some snow action. Hartnell and Royle aren’t embarrassed by Joes like Quick Kick or Snow Job, and they’re equally uninhibited by the Danger Girls. And they’re fully utilizing what they’ve been given, paying more attention to the ladies of G.I. Joe than anyone’s ever done before.

Continued below

If the rest of IDW’s G.I. Joe books are what happens when G.I. Joe grows up, “Danger Girl / G.I. Joe” reminds us exactly why we don’t necessarily need it to.

Debriefing:

  • Cobra makes plans to blow up Moscow and Beijing
  • A Danger Girl’s cover is blown
  • A rescue team is put together to extract Abbey
  • Snake Eyes slices up some B.A.T.s
  • Action takes place over land, sea, and air
  • Zartan gets the drop on Abbey
  • Deaths: 1

That’s it for this month’s Joeversity, but be back next month!

Remember, if you’ve questions for me or any of the books’ creative teams, email me at chad@multiversitycomics.com

YO JOE!


//TAGS | G.I. JoeVersity

Chad Bowers

Chad Bowers has been reading comics for most of his life. His transition from fan to professional is a work in progress. He’s the co-founder of ACTION AGE COMICS, creator of the webcomic MONSTER PLUS, co-creator of AWESOME HOSPITAL, THE HARD ONES, and DOWN SET FIGHT (coming soon from Oni Press) with Chris Sims. He reviews comics, writes G.I. JoeVersity, and co-hosts The Hour Cosmic for Multiversity Comics! If you've got nothing better to do, you can follow him on Twitter or Tumblr.

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