G.I. Joe #14
Written by Paul Allor
Art by Steve Kurth
Inks by Allen Martinez
Colors by Joana LaFuente
Letters by Shawn Lee
Consulting Editor: Carlos Guzman
Editor: John Barber
Special Thanks to Max Brooks
Covers by Steve Kurth, Allen Martinez, Joana LaFuente & Freddie E. Williams II, David Garcia Cruz
IDW Publishing
Release Date: March 19, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

G.I. Joe #14 starts with a shock and then just keeps on going. Talk about ACTION!!! There’s more than you can possibly handle in this issue. All this and I haven’t even mentioned the great story and awesome art.

Writer Paul Allor lays out a story that reads like an episode of the original G.I. Joe cartoon, only better. With more character depth and action and modern day military situations. Allor manages to get all the trademark G.I. Joe hallmarks into this issue, while telling a great story that focuses on the newest Joe team member, Hashtag, and her trouble to fit into the Joe team when her position is eliminated. There’s some great character development for her, but it doesn’t take away from the missions that the Joes are sent on. This was actually a real page turner, and Allor managed to give us a great close to this issue, yet leaving the characters in a great “to be continued” moment.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #192
Written by Larry Hama
Art by Sergio Cariello
Colors by J. Brown
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Editor: Carlos Guzman
Covers by SL Gallant & Gary Erskine with colors by J. Brown, and Larry Hama
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #192 is, just like it has been since its return to publishing in 2005, a complete and totally fun read from cover to cover.

Writer Larry Hama deals with about 4 major plot lines in this issue, switching focus about every 2-4 pages on what’s going on. You might think that there’s not enough time to devote to each character or story, but this is where Hama succeeds. He brings a couple of the stories to a definite close (well, as much as you can in comics, and leaves the others ending with some great cliffhangers. What I love so much about this series is that I can’t wait for the next issue. You just don’t get that with a lot of other comics today. This series is definitely NOT “written for the trade” and that’s what’s so unique about it and so great about Hama’s story telling.

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: A Real American Hero #184
Written by Larry Hama
Art by S L Gallant
Inks by Gary Erskine
Colors by J. Brown
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by Ron Frenz & Larry Hama
IDW Publishing
Release Date: November 14, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely LOVE IDW’s current G.I. Joe books. And I’m over the moon excited about the relaunch next year. But, once a month, I’m transported back in time and reminded WHY I love this franchise in the first place. And that’s all thanks to this book. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #184 is just another example of that. And c’mon, it’s got Roadpig and Zarana on the cover too!!

How awesome is writer Larry Hama? He’s been writing this book for THIRTY YEARS (OK, the book wasn’t published for a little chunk of that, but still) and he hasn’t lost a beat with these characters and this concept. What impresses me most about his writing is that he’s able to mix the perfect amount of real life military adventure with the right amount of sci-fi to create situations that are both believable and unbelievable at the same time.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #182
Written by Larry Hama
Pencils by Ron Frenz
Inks by Sal Buscema
Colors by J. Brown
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by Ron Frenz & Sal Buscema and Larry Hama
IDW Publishing
Release Date: September 26, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

As far as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #182 goes, it’s a pretty good comic. My only complaint is that despite having Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow on the cover, they are nowhere to be seen in the issue. Otherwise, the book is pretty great!

The Godfather of G.I. Joe, writer Larry Hama, still cranks out fantastic, believable, and militarily accurate stories today just like he did almost 20 years ago. This issue sees all the tracker specialist Joes go after the recently escaped Darklon. There’s a LOT more to that story, but for spoiler reasons, I won’t give anything away. Besides that you have Road Pig and Zarana dealing with a secret agent and Zartan looking to get back in the good graces of Cobra. What most impresses me about the story is the way Hama balances so many subplots so easily. You get just enough of each one to satisfy you, and each plot is moved along just enough to keep you looking forward to the next issue.