After almost 7 years of searching, I finally have a copy of every
issue of the original series of GI Joe published by Marvel Comics. It would be
too expensive to have all 155 issues as the first and last issue would require
me lying down about 3-5 bills apiece (I am talking Franklins, not Washingtons.)
Anyway, I bought up as many issues as I could afford and then
filled in the gaps with these collections. Marvel managed to do 5 reprint
volumes before losing the franchise rights to IDW. The Marvel reprints are hard
to find and can be pricy, unless you get lucky and find them in a used book store
like I did. Marvel’s reprints are called “GI Joe: A Real American Hero.” IDW’s
version is titled “Classic GI Joe.” Both versions contain the same content.
This volume introduces us to the Joe team and Cobra. It’s pretty
basic stuff with only the first run action figures being covered in these
books. So, no Duke and no Destro yet. Here the Joes find their base under
attack by a giant robot and a sinister scientist known as Dr. Venom is creating
a powerful virus that will wipe out mankind. We are also introduced to an
Eskimo mercenary named Kwinn, and get the first glimpse of a town called
Springfield that is anything other than ideal.
It’s not bad, not bad at all. But, it’s also not 100% what I was
expecting. I am guessing this series started independently of the cartoon,
which I remember fondly. The Pit, the secret base of the Joes is actually a
pit, not that mega fortress with the giant laser cannon in the front. Plus,
Snake-eyes doesn’t have a wolf and where’s Duke and why are the Joes led by a
guy named Hawk that looks just like Duke?
Hopefully these questions, along with what’s Cobra’s motivation of
world dominance, will be answered in future issues.
Worth Consuming.
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
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