G.I. JOE #38 REVIEW

[Blake Petit]

Review by: Blake M. Petit Blake@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Great
Title: Union of the Snake Part Three

G.I. Joe and Cobra both face schisms as they teeter towards the brink of collapse.

<a href="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/media/87/GIJoe38.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/87/GIJoe38.jpg" align="left" border="0"></a>Writer: Brandon Jerwa
Pencils: Emiliano Santalucia
Colors: Brett R. Smith
Letters: Robin Spehar
Editor: Mark Powers
Cover Art: Tim Seeley & Andrew Pepoy
Publisher: Devil’s Due

Review: Last issue Duke and Snake-Eyes got sprung from prison by the unlikely duo of Scarlett and Storm Shadow. This issue, as they make their escape, Zartan and the Dreadnoks plan their own jailbreak – to free the imprisoned Cobra Commander!

Devil’s Due promises that next year will feature the biggest storyline in G.I. Joe history, and Brandon Jerwa is working overtime to make that happen. The Joe team has been pruned down to just 12 members, under the command of General Rey, but the members left out (or under fire) aren’t going to go down without a fight. Meanwhile, Destro has seized command of Cobra, but Zartan’s faction has other ideas.

We get a few nice revelations in this issue, about who’s really been in Joe custody all this time, the truth about Zartan’s mysterious condition, and a powerful scene between Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow, brothers too long at odds. There’s also a surprisingly powerful scene between Flint and Lady Jaye, the married couple caught up in the midst of this torment.

Emiliano Santalucia handles the pencils on this issue, stepping in for regular artist Tim Seeley, and the transition is almost seamless. The artwork looks a little more detailed, a little polished than usual, but the style is nearly exactly the same. It’s a great-looking comic book – as good as Seeley is, Santalucia would be a perfect artist on this book full-time if it came to it.

The Joes were my favorite toys as a kid, and even at the ripe old age of 27 I’m a huge fan, and this may be the best they’ve ever been. I can’t wait to see what’s coming up in 2005.

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[Walt Kneeland]

Yup....this book's gotta be shipping more than once a month...seems every couple weeks, there's a new issue out! :D

(Not that I'm complaining, aside from the price point!)

Loving the series, especially as I've gotten more familiar with the various characters and history (still working my way through an unauthorized "biography" type thing of GI Joe from the cartoons, to the marvel, and the beginning of this current series).

I just wish the books were a bit cheaper--though with the art on 'em--I love the art--I suppose I have less complaint than certain other books.

It'd be cool* to see a larger/combined book each month...perhaps 1/3 the "regular" Joe story, 1/3 "Reloaded," and 1/3 something new (such as M&A or other "anthology"-typed "backups").

Ah well. Quarter-til-midnight, and my mind's all over the place! ;)

~Walt

Actually, one other 'complaint'....there were a couple scenes I couldn't quite figure out. Firstly: were those 3 Joes killed? (I assume so, based on 'next issue' text or such). And the final page was a bit over my head: was Cobra Commander posing as Zartan and vice-versa? Or am I just up way past bed-time and off my rocker?

[Blake Petit]

In answer to your questions:

1. Unconfirmed

2. Yes