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 #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.

Transformers: Dark Prelude
Trade Paperback | Kindle Edition
Written by James Roberts, John Barber and Nick Roche
Art by Steve Kurth, Chee, Nick Roche, David Daza, Matt Frank and Agustin Padilla
Inks for Orion Pax by Juan Castro
Colors by J. Aburtov, Graphikslava, Ronda Pattison, Len O’Grady, Zac Atkinson, Thomas Deer and Joana LaFuente
Letters by Shawn Lee
Series Edits by John Barber and Carlos Guzman
Collection Edits by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon
Cover by Nick Roche
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Cover Price: $19.99

Transformers: Dark Prelude collects the storylines of Orion Pax, ThunderCracker, Megatron, Bumblebee, TrailCutter and Hoist in an overarching story that spans millions of years, from the distant past, to now. Each story shows a major event from each character’s life. This allows for a more in-depth view into each character’s make up and driving forces.

The abrupt changes between the different stories can be a bit much but do help to distance each story from the last. This was also helped by each character’s changes in appearance between stories. These stories add to lore of this Transformers universe in a wonderful way.

G.I. Joe: Special Missions #2
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Aburtov & Grafikslava
Letters by Shawn Lee
Consulting Editor: John Barber
Editor: Carlos Guzman
Covers by Paul Gulacy, Aburtov & Grafikslava, Sean Chen & Joana LaFuente, and Jim Rugg
IDW Publishing
Release Date: April 3, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

G.I. Joe: Special Missions #2 picks up right where the first issue left off-with Joes racing against The Baroness to recover the treasure of a fallen ship. All this, and Serpentor is up to no good. Actually, he’s up to GOOD, but that’s a whole nother story.

Writer Chuck Dixon has taken to this new title like a duck takes to water. He really brings a nice contrast to the G.I. Joe line, as this book is pretty much straight-up, Tom Clancy like military maneuvers and Fred Van Lente’s flagship G.I. Joe title has a little more of the theatrics that’s come to be associated with the franchise. Again, this is straight up military action, and that’s what makes it awesome. It’s totally believable characters in totally believable situations. This book is the one with elements of James Bond like levels of spying, action, locations, and intrigue. All the characterizations are strong, accurate and Dixon throws some good old fashioned Joe hallmarks in just for good measure.

G.I. Joe #2
Written by Fred Van Lente
Art by Steve Kurth
Inks by Allen Martinez
Colors by Joana LaFuente
Letters by Shawn Lee
Covers by Steve Kurth, Allen Martinez & Joana Lafuente, Juan Doe, and Ryan Dunlavey
Consulting Editor: Carlos Guzman
Editor: John Barber
IDW Publishing
Release Date: March 20, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

I honestly don’t know how I waited a whole month for G.I. Joe #2. But, I’m glad I did. Wait, I’m not glad that I WAITED, I’m glad that the moment is here and I got to read it. Issue #3 comes out next week, right? RIGHT?!?!

Fred Van Lente is quickly becoming my favorite writer. I don’t know how I missed his awesomeness all these year. And for that, I apologize. Now, I’ll be making up for it. Ladies & Gentlemen, G.I. Joe is BACK! BACK to its comic greatness. BACK to the stories that we all imagined while we played with the toys when we were kids. Remember a couple of years ago when we were all so pleasantly surprised when we watched G.I. Joe: Resolute? Yeah, it’s like that.