Writer: Mark Powers
Artist: Mike Bear
Publisher: Devil’s Due
Price: $3.50
Release Date: July
For the past few years the G.I. Joe title has been building up the menace again of Cobra Commander and seeding a major confrontation with the Joes. Having a slow build up has allowed a focus on a smaller team (which at times does feel like it rivalled the Legion of Superheroes) and a re-evaluation of their role.
Following from the shock decision by Destro in the last story, Sins of the Mother, to relinquish control of his weapons manufacturing company to Cobra Commander the rules of the conflict between Cobra and G.I. Joe have been rewritten and with some of the secrets of the Joe Team exposed the stakes are high.
Unlike other companies’ stories of the same name, World War III has been set up for the last two years in this universe. The fact that it will take a year to tell is surprising to some extent, but as the first issue unfolds you are just waiting for the twists to start up. This first part deals with the Joes’ reaction to recent events, ramping up their activities and inviting old members back into the fold. Looking at who comes back it adds weight to how much has been built up in the lead-in stories. The team have a more proactive mission now and that can only bode well for the action in the series. This issue starts out with one of the smaller teams out trying to bring in Cobra agents and this action gives a nice backdrop to the setups going on in the other scenes as well as delivering some humour itself. I have to admit I had been wary of Mark Powers taking on the book, as my wariness of X editors taking on writing roles has not lessened much, but the setup here is very good and intriguing. Even after ramping up the threat for Cobra Commander Powers sets up new mysteries as well as a look at recruiting within Cobra. This all bodes well for how this story can really deliver a 12 part story without filler along the way. This issue sets up mysteries, the threat of betrayal all along that central conflict between Cobra and G.I. Joe.
Mike Bear’s art on this issue is stunning, managing to deliver the action and the dialogue heavy scenes with equal aplomb. Some of the oddities in the art, such as why Gung Ho runs around barechested in the snow are not down to artistic choice, but weirdness in his character. He’s been doing the not wrapping up in the snow thing for quite a while and it still never made sense to me. Much like previous series artist, Stefan Caselli, I do expect him to be grabbed by one of the bigger companies at some point. If he can deliver all 12 parts of this story then the consistency will look great.
If you’ve wandered away from G.I. Joe over the years then give this a try. The future looks explosive at the least.
Mark Peyton – has a MA in History and Research from the University of Hull specialising in the Hundred Years War. In a complete departure from that he now runs communications and membership for a UK based Trade Union as well as being a part time writer/journalist.
He is a founding member of Millarworld acting as a moderator and as an editor for Fractal Matter.