Cobra #21
Written by Mike Costa
Art by Werther Dell’Edera
Colors by Arianna Florean
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Editors: John Barber & Carlos Guzman
Covers by Antonio Fuso, Joe Eisma, Juan Castro & Simon Gough
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 23, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Sadly, Cobra #21 is the last issue of the series. But, in typical fashion of this book, it goes out with a bang and a boom!!!…and some unsolved mysteries.

Writer Mike Costa does just what he’s done with this title for years. He makes it awesome, plain and simple. Let’s face it, everyone thinks that their villains are the most interesting characters, but Costa PROVES it! There’s just about everything that there should be in a book about Cobra. Mysteries, betrayal, crime, etc. It’s hard to really put this book into any kind of genre. It’s part crime, part superhero, part drama. It’s basically a catch-all of everything that you love about comics. While you’d think there’s MORE than enough material to do a book about NOTHING but Cobra, Costa throws in a couple of fan-favorite Joes, that should make everyone happy. I’m sad to see this book go, but it’s been a great ride. Thank you, Mike Costa!

Artist Werther Dell’Edera is a great choice for this issue. Sadly, Antonio Fuso, the regular artist on this title, isn’t on this issue, but Dell’Edera does a great job filling his shoes. Or pencils. In an action heavy book, he does a great job with action, tech, and human anatomy. What impressed me most was the tone that he set for this book. It’s dark and moody, full of shadows, but it never hurts the storytelling at all. Hope to see more of his art in the near future.

The bad news: This is the last issue of Cobra. The good news: The title relaunches in April with the SAME creative team as Cobra Files!!!! It’ll include the same bad-ass Cobra villains, as well as a team of G.I. Joe fan favorites. I’ve been reading this title since issue #1, and I want to give out a HUGE thanks to Mike Costa, Antonio Fuso, and everyone else who worked so hard to put out such an intriguing, entertaining book, month in and month out. See you in April!!