G.I. Joe #13
Written by Paul Allor
Art by Alex Cal, Robert Atkins & Juan Castro, and Chris Evenhuis
Colors by David Garcia Cruz, and Joana LaFuente
Letters by Gilberto Lazcano
Covers by Steve Kurth, Allen Martinez, Joana LaFuente & Freddie E. Williams III, and David Garcia Cruz
IDW Publishing
Release Date: February 5, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

G.I. Joe #13 could be titled “Everything you always wanted to know about Cobra, but where afraid they’d kill you for asking.” Thankfully, it’s not. What it IS is a really awesome issue.

This month, new writer Paul Allor gives us not one, not two, but THREE stories all packed into one surprisingly not over-crammed issue. The stories are framed with The Baroness being told about the history of the Cobra organization. A tale that goes back — like REALLY way back. It turns out, the Cobra organization has been behind some pretty interesting things that you’d never even associate them with. You know that I’m anti-spoiler, so I’m not going to tell you what those things are, but I suggest you pick this issue up and find out what they are, because I guarantee you’ll be highly entertained. This is one of my favorite issues of Joe in a long time.

G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow #16
Written by Chuck Dixon
Artists: Robert Atkins & Atilio Rojo
Inks by Juan Castro & Atilio Rojo
Colors by Simon Gough & Joana LaFuente
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Editors: John Barber & Carlos Guzman
Covers by Alex Cal & Robert Atkins
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 29, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

In Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow #16 a TON of mysteries are revealed. The unfortunate part… they’re not solved. Yet. But, it’s a really fun ride trying to figure them out with the clues given in this issue.

Of the two G.I. Joe books that Chuck Dixon writes, I feel that this is his best. By far. In G.I. Joe, he has to juggle a TON of characters, both heroes and villains; here, he only has to write a handful of characters, and I think that’s why he excels on this title. This issue continues the battle between the Araskicage and Cobra. Cobra has declared war on the Arashikage clan, and it’s everyone for himself. During the issue we get some FANTASTIC flashbacks telling the origin of the Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow rivalry. I was very surprised at just how MEAN that Snake Eyes was a child, you almost get the feeling that you should be sympathizing with Storm Shadow, as he’s portrayed as the victim in their childhood feud. Now, I have a feeling that will change in upcoming issues, but for now, it’s really quite surprising.

G.I. Joe #9
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Alex Cal
Colors by J. Brown
Letters by Shawn Lee
Covers by Dave Wilkins, Wil Rosada, and Nick Runge
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 4, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Cobra Command begins in G.I. Joe #9 and Cobra proves they are NOT something to dismiss easily! Finally, Cobra IS a ruthless, terrorist organization determined to rule the world — and I get the feeling they just might.

Chuck Dixon packs an awful lot of story into this first chapter of Cobra Command. He gives us a nice recap of the whole Cobra Civil War storyline in about three lines of dialogue, so the whole issue isn’t a recapping of what came before.

Snake Eyes #9
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Alex Cal
Colors by J. Brown
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Ever since I was a kid I have always loved G.I. Joe and when I heard that the comics were coming back, well I just had to start reading them again. It has been a rough time for our band of heroes since they resurfaced back in 2010 and they are just now reeling from the aftermath of the Cobra Civil War. Enter Snake Eyes #9 where we see our beloved heroes in action trying to stop Cobra from controlling a country in Asia known as Nanzhao. We learn that the country is a capital for the drug trade which begs to ask the question “Why is Cobra here?” Two Joe teams are sent in to investigate and take out the threat. I don’t want to go to far into detail, because let’s face it Snake Eyes #9 is just a fun book.