The Dreadnoks were one of my least favorite elements of the original G.I. Joe series, so it's somewhat ironic that a Dreadnok centered story has reinvigorated my interest in the new ongoing G.I. Joe title. But the story so far seems a little more focused, and the characters a little more off the beaten track, than in the first two story arcs, and the artwork in these two issues, courtesy of industry veterans Jamal Igle and Kevin Sharpe, is considerably clearer than the artwork has been. This is still a title largely for those who already hold some appreciation for the G.I. Joe team, but it stands up better to the fondly remembered Hama work from Marvel than the last couple of issues have.
Blaylock still introduces too many characters and plot elements for my taste, and I could do with a bit more of a focused story, but he does seem to have adopted a more single plot/multiple subplot style that works better for this arc. While there are plenty of developments, including Hawk's confrontation of the corruption in the upper echelons, Zartan's family squabbles and medical conditions and the integration of the high-tech Joes into the more physical side of the organization, the central plot is very simple, as Cobra has gotten a piece of new technology and G.I. Joe must figure out what it is.
This more simple plot gives Blaylock plenty of room for characterization, and there's plenty of fun to be had as he reintroduces some of the more obscure characters from the G.I. Joe mythos. The Dreadnoks are goofy and often stupid, but they're undeniably fun, and Blaylock's take on Road Pig, Zarana and others captures that sense of fun. His take on Heavy Duty, a G.I. Joe who I honestly don't even remember, is likewise impressive, giving even the newest reader the instant impression that he's a tough and dangerous guy.
A big part of the improvement, however, comes in the artwork. I note that Blaylock isn't credited with layouts anymore, and the shift to letting the pencillers dictate the storytelling a little more has helped the clarity of story considerably. The opening sequence of #10, an airport sting/chase, is well executed and exciting, and the threat posed by the "Supa' Bat" (as one of the Dreadnoks calls it) is quite clear in Kevin Sharpe's depiction of the chaos that it causes. In addition, I loved some of the new designs in these issues, particularly the work on the B.A.T., Heavy Duty and Dr. Mindbender.
In reading this review, you can probably guess whether or not G.I. Joe is for you. If the goofy codenames and concepts are something you can get past, or better, if you have a fondness for them despite their cheesiness, than the newest story arc might be worth checking out. Many of my complaints about the book up to this point are no longer relevant, and the sense of fun that G.I. Joe once gave me when I was younger has returned.
