G.I.JOE #1
"Reinstated! 1 of 4"
Neutral (4/10)
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Image Comics
Writer/Layouts: Josh Blaylock
Pencils: Steve Kurth
Inks: John Larter
Colors: Hi-Fi Colour Design
Editor: Scott Wherle
Price: $2.95 US |
I loved the G.I.Joe action figures I played with as a kid... not the originals, but the smaller ones with the expansive cast of heroes and villains. The comic book of the same name, though, never really did it for me. This return of the fan-favorite characters from the comic book, cartoon and toy line has been the focus of a fair amount of hype, but its appeal for me personally hasn't grown since the 1980s.
A student of the retired military ninja Snake Eyes learns of the return of Cobra Commander to America, and the information spurs the government into reforming the G.I.Joe Task Force. The old Joes are brought out of retirement, and they prepare to face off against some old enemies. Meanwhile, Cobra Commander finds himself fighting the same old battles as well, such as his power struggle with the arms dealer known as Destro.
The art by Kurth is clearly inspired by the style of Bart (The First) Sears. There are times when I could have sworn Sears actually pencilled some of the panels. The art is capable, but a shade too exaggerated. Hi-Fi's colors are crisp, and it's clear the creators had a good deal of fun rendering these characters.
Blaylock reintroduces the various players in this drama quite clearly, and given how many characters he has to introduce, that's no small feat. The book is definitely accessible, re-establishing some key dynamics among key characters. Say what you will, but this is a good G.I.Joe primer.
G.I.Joe reminds me a good deal of Marvel's new Defenders series. Both books have as their foundation pure, unadaultered nostalgia, but nothing else has been built on top of that foundation. The characters have changed little (if at all) from their heyday, and they've returned to play out the same old conflicts. If you were a fan of the old Marvel G.I.Joe series, this may appeal to you. Personally, I would have preferred a darker Joe; for example, instead of ninjas and villainous blowhards, maybe an examination of drinking problems and government corruption might have made for better reading instead.
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