Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
G.I. JOE A Real American Hero #200
IDW Comics
Hama & Gallant
This is a big anniversary issue. 200 issues spread over thirty years and two publishers brings a celebratory-like comic that is very fitting for the long view of this series. Hama's written all the issues and his latest run has been forty-five issues with IDW where S L Gallant's art has been in most of them. This comic comes in at six bucks giving about thirty pages of story and a lot of artwork in the back along with an interview with Gallant. I believe this to be an over-priced comic and I'm not sure the content is going to grab a bunch of new readers but time will tell. If you like GI Joe from the 1980s then this is the issue to pick up.
The comic is basically the Joes regrouping, taking back their base and attacking the Cobra army. It sounds awesome and it is awesome, but it reads very short. So much happens in short order it almost feels rushed. However, Hama does manage to give some depth to some of the characters, which makes the book enjoyable to see some of the favorites getting a spotlight. Overall, it's your basic GI Joe comic book. Big scenes with small twists here and there and not much death and destruction.
Gallant illustrates a couple of great panels, especially during the battle scenes. Its obvious that Hama and Gallant want this issue to be everything you might remember about GI Joe from the characters, weapons and vehicles from the 1980s. It's impressive that these designs stand up 25 years later but Gallant definitely has a hand in making them feel fluid. This book is about action and that's what Gallant serves up. Not to be overlooked is Gallant's new design for the base. It's a very impressive looking comic.
This comic is defined too much by what it doesn't include. There are no pin-ups. There are no character profiles. There is no then and now perspective. There isn't an interview, letter or comment from Larry Hama. That seems like an awful to miss on. I enjoy Gallant's work but he's the entire focus of the back matter and that isn't right when Hama's the celebrity here.
Overall, this comic is basically like any other in the previous forty-five. There's some cool action in it, some cool artwork and no plot gets completely resolved, it just follows right into the next. To take advantage of the anniversary issue IDW would have been better served putting together something truly special and different. It's an enjoyable read. It's simply not a special one.
3 out of 5 Geek Goggles
