G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #185
Written by Larry Hama
Pencils by S L Gallant
Inks by Gary Erskine
Colors by J Brown
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Editor: Carlos Guzman
Cover by Ron Frenz & Sal Buscema
IDW Publishing
Release Date: December 5, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #185 is the one hundredth and eighty-fifth issue of awesomeness. In a row. That’s a pretty good record, by any standards.

Writer and creator of the G.I. Joe that everyone knows and loves, Larry Hama, manages to do something that no other writer does: makes a completely believable, viable, military comic with soldiers dressed in the most RIDICULOUS outfits ever imagined. OK, so, everyone of my generation thought (and still thinks) that those fatigues are awesome, but, in reality, if any kind of soldier wore those clothes he would be shot and killed immediately. Probably by members of his own team. But, I digress. This issue continues the three main story lines and even introduces a couple more into the mix. PLUS-ZARTAN!!!!!! And, there’s a couple other surprise appearances that I won’t spoil for you. But, this is another solid issue of excitement and adventure that we’ve gotten since 1983 from this writer, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Thank God.

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 #15
Written by Chuck Dixon
Pencils by Will Rosado
Colors by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Editors: John Barber & Carlos Guzman
Covers by Tommy Lee Edwards & Will Rosado
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

G.I. Joe #15 is basically the perfect G.I. Joe comic. It’s got everything that you want – Joes, Cobras, and fighting. Another great issue by the current creative team. YO JOE!!

Writer Chuck Dixon sure knows how to handle a crowd!!! There are COUNTLESS characters in this issue and they all get a fair amount of “scren time,” he moves the story along at a great pace, and winds up and starts several plot threads. And let me tell you, one of them that he starts is gonna have a REALLY interesting outcome. Frankly, I’m afraid of how it’s going to turn out. Seriously, this issue is GREAT. In a way, it really reminds me of an old episode of the TV show, although clearly updated.

Snake Eyes #15
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by 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 Andrea Di Vito & Lee Ferguson
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 25, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

What Snake Eyes #15 has that I love is a whole issue of build up that’s NOT pointless. Quite the opposite, actually. And what it’s building up to… well, let’s just say if you buy one book next month, it better be Snake Eyes #16!!!!!

I hate to say it, but it’s like there’s two different Chuck Dixons in the world. There’s the Chuck Dixon who writes the monthly G.I. Joe title, and then the one who writes Snake Eyes. It’s come to my attention that Snake Eyes is the more action orientated, by far, of the two. I don’t know if Dixon feels that it’s just the nature of the beast or that he’s set out to fill every page with as much action and intrigue as he can in this book. Don’t get me wrong, G.I. Joe is a GREAT comic, but this one is that, plus infinity.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #179
Written by Larry Hama
Art by SL Gallant
Inks by Gary Erskine
Colors by J. Brown
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by SL Gallant, Herb Trimpe & Larry Hama
IDW Publishing
Release Date: June 6, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Very few comics can pick up right where they left off 20 years ago and still maintain the level of creative goodness that G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #179 does. I believe that’s due in part to the creative team, but also to the minds of the audience. All it takes is opening the cover and you’re right back where you were a couple of decades ago. Sure, you might have a kid or two, a family, a house of your own. But inside we’re all the same 10 or 12 year old kids that loved reading this book. The book hasn’t changed. We have. A little.

Every G.I. Joe fan needs to buy Larry Hama a drink. If for nothing else, for the fact that he’s just awesome. This issue is action from cover to cover. I’ll be honest with you, there’s not much Joe action here, it’s a Cobra-centric issue as the forces of Cobra take on the Blue Ninja Clan, with the help of a Joe or two.