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.

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.

Snake Eyes #7
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Casey Maloney
Inked by Juan Castro
Colors by Simon Gough, Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters by Shawn Lee
Covers by Robert Atkins, Agustin Padilla, and Trevor Hutchison
IDW Publishing
Release Date: November 16th, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

Writer Chuck Dixon got my letters. After a few disappointing issues, I am happy to report there is 100% more Snake Eyes ninja butt-kicking in Snake Eyes #7 than in the last three issues combined. THANK YOU, CHUCK!! Not only that, but this issue actually moves the Hunt for Cobra Commander story arc forward, as we’ve only got two more issues of G.I. Joe comics until we find out who’s going to be the new Cobra Commander!

Snake Eyes #6
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Casey Maloney
Inks by Juan Castro
Colors by Simon Gough, Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters by Neil UyeTake
Covers by Robert Atkins, Agustin Padilla
IDW Publishing
Release Date: October 19, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

What I really like about Snake Eyes #6 is that it showed a different side of the Cobra Civil War storyline. There’s plenty of Joes and Cobras to go around, so it’s nice to get a little glimpse on what the coolest member of the GI Joe team is up to while the rest of the team is scrambling to hold their own and the forces of Cobra are launching all out war on the Joes.

What I liked most about this issue was the constant action. In the whole book there’s maybe one whole page of “talking heads” and that’s it. And that’s the way a Snake Eyes comic should be.

There are a lot of great comic book art blogs out there, beyond the deviantart pages of the world, and if you’re a comic book fan, these are webpages that you should be checking out on a daily basis. This week, I’m going to highlight a few that I think are worthy of your attention or are just pages for some of my favorite artists.

We start with Robert Atkins Art, the webpage for Robert Atkins, currently on the Snake Eyes ongoing from IDW, formerly of the main GI Joe series. Atkins has also done work on Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and others.

Atkins has really stepped up his game on his webpage in the last few months, updating the site almost every day with sketches of various characters from across pop culture. He also chooses specific themes for each week, giving him a chance to stretch his muscles. What’s the best part about this blog? Almost all of the sketches he posts are for sale at decent prices, so if you’re a fan of original art, you have to check this out. There are several pieces on the site that I am kicking myself for not buying.