Bizarre Adventures #28

This black and white magazine from Marvel is a must have for Elektra fans. It contains the assassin and Daredevil love interest's first ever solo story. With art and story by creator Frank Miller, it alone is worth the asking price which seems to range online from $20-50 bucks. Maybe it's because it's a magazine. Or maybe the asking price is less than I would have expected as maybe collectors don't know about it's importance. I know that I got lucky having bought it for only a buck at a thrift store a few years back.

A trio of characters make their first ever appearance debuts in this issue. Neal Adams, Doug Moench and Larry Hama present the Shadow Warrior; perhaps the world's smallest ninja and America's only hope against the infiltration of a cadre of brainwashed American soldiers trained by an Asian operative to overthrow our government. 

Archie Goodwin, Michael Golden and Steve Mitchell introduce readers to the world of the Huntsman. From what I can tell, this is the only appearance of the character and that may very well have been because of how much the world of the cracker jack Huntsman named Ballard is a lot like that of the dystopian sci-fi thriller Logan's Run. Citizens who must die at age 35, bounty hunters stalking 'defiers', those who wish to extend their lives by escaping into the wilderness and there's even a floating arena where winners who make it to the victory ring atop the domed ceiling can live longer lives in luxury. I wonder if Marvel got a cease and desist order from 20th Century Fox for copyright infringement. 

Upon further research, it turns out that I was right. Only in reverse. In 1975-76, Marvel Comics had the rights to produce a comic book based on the film starring Michael York. Only, the House of Ideas had the rights to adapt the film, which they did as a 5-parter. When Fox learned that Marvel was continuing on with new adventures, the studio made them stop. Issue #7 was the last issue, which supposedly ends with a never resolved cliffhanger. 

'Huntsman' was a story that was going to run in a future issue of Logan's Run. But due to the sudden cancellation resulted in the project getting shelved. Never one to let paid work sit unpublished, Goodwin and Golden made some adjustments to the story; enough to satisfy legal and the forgotten story finally saw print several years later in 1981.

It must of been Assistant Editor's Month at Marvel because two of Goodwin's assistants supplied a story for this issue. Mary Jo Duffy and Wendy Pini place the Inhuman Triton in an ecological heavy adventure involving a wrecked oil tanker and modern day pirates.

If you've been paying attention to this review, you'll remember I said that this book contains 3 debuts. Lastly, Steve Skeates and Steve Smallwood introduced a rather odd little fellow named Bucky Bizarre. In his premiere, this guy is a time traveler who winds up in the 1950s, where non-conformity is a thing to be mocked and berated. Bucky tries to help a living garbage heap that came alive because of pollution and nuclear water only to set up the punchline to a really awful plotline. 

I'm really torn about this issue. Having the Elektra story makes it sorta valuable. Only I don't really have room nor a bag and board for a magazine sized book. I think the materials to keep it pristine and clean are more important than having a place to keep it. If I could get it, that would be great.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Savage Tales #3

The first volume of Marvel's Savage Tales was a black and white magazine edition that was slanted more towards fantasy adventure. Characters such as Conan the Barbarian and Kazar fit it's mold perfectly. Though there were a few exceptions, like the Man-Thing who's first ever appearance in the premiere issue, was rooted deeply in science fiction horror. 

In the mid-1980s, Larry Hama sought to revive the title. The second volume was a black and white magazine just like it's predecessor. But instead of sword and sorcery type adventures, this edition was geared towards war and conflicts from the past, present and near future. It's from this comic mag that we get a pair of stories set during the Vietnam War that the amazing comic book The 'Nam would come into fruition. 

In this issue alone, we see a episode set during the Bolshevik revolution of a forgotten police action carried out by American and Canadian troops to keep the Czar in power. A moonshiner takes revenge on a rival responsible for the death of his dog and the destruction of his impressive collection of Elvis vinyls. Desperate women seek military protection during an uprising set in 19th century colonial India. Airplane flying rebels seek to scavenge a crashed Soviet bomber in the aftermath of a nuclear Holocaust while in another different story set in a similar apocalypse, friends see medical attention for their critically injured mentor. A Nazi courier crosses enemy lines and angry live ammunition to deliver important top secret documents during the Watch on the Rhine. Lastly, The American Calvary tracks a legendary American Indian throughout the Sonoran Desert.

Unfortunately, this 1986 offering isn't one of the issues that features a The 'Nam precursor. I have that entire series run, plus a couple of Punisher tie-ins. So I would love to have those 2 issues to round out the full run. That means I'll be on the lookout for issues #1 and 4! Incidentally, a third story set in South Indochina was scheduled to appear in volume 2 of Savage Tales. Alas, the series was cancelled with issue #8. However, that story actually is not lost as it was retooled and saw print as The 'Nam #8!

Along with the editing talents of Larry Hama, there's a slew of Marvel greats including Dick Ayers, Herb Trimpe, Chuck Dixon (going by his Christian name Charles) and the fantastic John Severin. I've been a fan of his work ever since I was cutting my teeth on Cracked Magazine. Severin was the first artist I could recognize by his art style alone. He does double duty penciling the Russian Revolution and the American Calvary adventures. The cover art was by Mitch O'Connell.

An interesting read. I'm definitely wanting those The 'Nam forerunner stories but I don't think I'm in it for the entire 8 issue run.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Generic Comic #1

Never before has a comic book cover offered so little that it has inspired generations of fans to seek it out as a part of their collections nearly 40 years after its release.

According to the cover, this one-shot offers a self-doubting superhero with real life problems, a villain with a shtick out to rule the world, a good looking (but otherwise absent) girlfriend, family drama, conflict, twists, turns and fisticuffs. Basically the sort of stuff you would find in just about any other Marvel Comic on shelves in 1984.

Marvel's Generic Comic was the idea of then Marvel editor Larry Hama. Hama had been toying with the satirical idea of a story that checked off all the boxes of the Marvel style of comics a year or so earlier. Hama had planned to include such a story in the pages of Marvel's humor mag Crazy, when the publisher unceremoniously pulled the plug on the MAD Magazine imitator. 

Larry Hama was not a creative force known to let a good idea die, no matter how generic. Over the course of about a year, Hama kept pitching the idea until editor Tom DeFalco caught on to the concept and the project was greenlit. Steve Skeates was assigned writing duties for a project he went on to proclaim the most fun project he had in his career up to that point.

Generic Comic tells the origin story of a character commonly referred to as The Unnamed Super-Hero. With his brother Bobby in a coma and a girlfriend tired of waiting for a proposal, he's desperate for a long promised promotion. A collector of glow-in-the-dark chatchkes, the lad gains all around super powers when he smashes his Three Mile Island snow globe in frustration. Along with abilities of flight, speed and super hearing, the young man's lanky body begins to rival that of a bodybuilder. 

Seeing a chance at changing his fortune, the man decides to become a super hero. Thanks to an ad in the morning paper, he heads down to a superhero supply store for a costume. All he can afford is a generic all-white bodysuit complete with equally plain domino mask and cape. It's not much to look at. But at least it matches his hair which turned white thanks to all that radioactive day-glo.

Things begin to look up for the newest hero of the world designated Earth-84041. He performs a couple of acts of heroism. A couple of goons are defeated. However, this string of good luck comes crashing down when the Unnamed Super-Hero meets the Unnamed Super-Villain who comes complete with a special hypnotic helmet that causes the protagonist to lose his confidence and become a quivering ball of jelly!

It seems rather odd that Marvel would back such an unusual project. Especially one that openly mocks the very formula of the House of Ideas. One theory is that Marvel supported the project in order to secure the copyright to the terms 'Super-Hero' and 'Super-Villain'. If you use a magnifying glass or a dose of super-vision, readers will notice that under the copyright information on the bottom front page, it does indeed state that Marvel co-owned both terms. If it's true, this seems like a legal blunder on par with Marvel's earlier attempt to enforce their copyright on the word 'Zombie.' However, some fans dispute this theory claiming that the copyright statement was a joke put in by Hama or DeFalco.

Unfortunately to this day, we still don't know how illustrated and inked the book. Not a single by-line credit is attributed to anyone, anywhere in the book. Despite both Hama and Skeates discussing their roles in creating the Generic Comic in interviews, it's a real head scratcher that nobody has ever asked for them to identify the missing staff members who contributed to this uniquely common work.

Worth Consuming!- if only for being such an oddity!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Graphic Novel #31: Wolfpack (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Sam Weltschmerz is a Jewish teen living in the South Bronx. He's accused of attempted murder by a gang member who probably assaulted his dad and most definitely burned the family hardware store to the ground. Known as Slippery Sam because of his ability to make sly escapes, the teen is the oldest established member of the vigilante team, the Wolfpack.

Formed in China 2000 years ago, the Wolfpack was created to protect the earth from evil. A splinter group called the Nine is the Wolfpack's primary foe. Mr. Mack, the Wolfpack's sensei, took martial arts, including the way of the ninja, that he learned overseas in the navy and formed a new Wolfpack to confront the Nine who have set up operations in the crumbling wasteland of the Bronx.

Along with Slippery Sam, this Wolfpack consists of the brooding giant genius, Slab, the ultra fleet of foot Sharon, and young Malcolm, AKA Wheels, a brilliant strategist confined to a wheelchair. After running afoul of the gang members who attacked Slippery Sam's family, the brash Rafael becomes the newest member in the fight against the Nine.

Wolfpack made their debut in the 31st edition of Marvel Graphic Novel. It was co-created by Larry Hama and Ron Wilson. Wilson came up with the team name, the members of the Wolfpack and the concept behind the evil intentions of the Nine. Hama was hired to write the script. As a result, many of the character back stories and tha inclusion of martial arts, a subject of great interest to Larry Hama as you can see in his G.I. Joe comics, were added to the story. 

Both Larry Hama and Ron Wilson were born in New York. Wilson, a Brooklyn native drew inspiration from the gangs and war on drugs he encountered from his childhood. Wilson imparts a heavy 'Just Say No' to drugs fervor, especially in the backgrounds of many scenes where the rhetoric is displayed on the graffiti of the city walls. 

Larry Hama was in the Navy during the Vietnam War. After a short one-year stay in Hollywood trying his hands at acting, Hama returned to New York City, becoming very active in the Asian community there. Seeing the effects that urban decay, gangs and drugs were having on the city's Asian community among others, it influenced Hama to focus on the social inequalities and sense of hopelessness the poorest parts of the five boroughs were experiencing in the mid- 1980s.

After the graphic novel, the Wolfpack returned in a 12-issue maxi-series where they continued to fight against the Nine. While Ron Wilson penciled the entire series, Larry Hama had to depart midway due to scheduling conflicts with his other regular series. John Figueroa took over as Wolfpack scribe for Hama.

Aside from a couple of appearances of solo members of the Wolfpack in the pages of Marvel Comics Presents, the gang of do-gooders really haven't had a large presence in the Marvel Universe. Slippery Sam lost his life at the hands of a stalker type villain. Wheels left in his own sometime later, eventually joining the Underground resistance during the Secret Empire storyline. That leaves Rafael, Slag and Sharon to defend the South Bronx from drug dealers and violent gangs. The trio of remaining Wolfpack members appear to have last been seen during the first Marvel Civil War, in which they were branded as sympathetic to the Superhuman Registration Act.

Completing this review completes Task #30 (Written by an Asian Author) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

G.I. Joe Special Missions #1 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

"There are some missions so secret, so sensitive that even the Joes who go on them are told only the bare minimum, on a strictly need-to-know basis. As far as the other Joes are concerned, these missions never existed. These are the G.I. Joe Special Missions."- from G.I. Joe #50

G.I. Joe Special Missions was the first spin-off of the wildly popular Marvel Comics series based on the legendary Hasbro action figures. Of course, the main goal of this comic was due to the dollar signs both Marvel and Hasbro saw with the production of a sister title. But for writer Larry Hama, it was a chance to write slightly more grittier stories. In a Raleigh, North Carolina comic con panel, Hama told the audience (that I was a part of) that with the main G.I. Joe series, he was tasked with featuring the newest toys being released in the line. With Special Missions, since the enemies weren't just from Cobra, but conventional terrorists as well members of the Soviet Army, Hama was able to write those clandestine war stories that he always wished to write starring your favorite Joes. 

The spin-off was first introduced as the backup feature of the anniversary special 50th issue of G.I. Joe. In the 'pilot', a commercial jet hailing from San Francisco is hijacked by Russians. Calling themselves members of the Leon Trotsky Brigade of the Fourth National, the terrorists plan on flying the plane into the Soviet Union and crashing the ship into a chemical warfare depot, making the flight the ultimate dirty bomb!

While the plane refuels in Alaska, several Joes sneak about the plane through its landing gear. With only minutes to spare, America's finest must take control of the cockpit for if the plane enters Soviet airspace, there are several MiGs ready to blow it out of the sky! At the very last minute, Joe commander Flint grabs the controls and veers the air taxi away from Russian boarders.

The Soviets factor into the first issue of G.I. Joe Special Missions. Several of the ship-worthy members of GI Joe are posing as Scandinavian fishermen in the Baltic sea. An American submarine has broken down and members of the October Guard, the USSR's version of GI Joe, are on a nearby navel destroyer, observing the very transparent ruse. Should the sub's location be discovered by the Soviet Navy, it will violate countless treaties as the sunken submersible is deep inside Russian waters. 

Adding to the stress of this situation is the presence of Cobra. The Baroness and Firefly are on hand to commandeer the sub for themselves. Should Cobra get their hands on the American ship, the vessel's nuclear armament will make the terrorist organization an even more deadlier force to be reckoned with. 

The level of violence in this debut issue was on par with the standard G.I. Joe main title of its time. The addition of Cobra gives this tale a comedic foil. However, the level of technobabble and secret ops was unlike anything seen in the pages of a G.I. Joe comic. While 'That Sinking Feeling' isn't on par with a Quentin Tarantino film in terms of death and mayhem, the end of the age of innocence for G.I. Joe was at hand. 

It's true, that prior to G.I. Joe #50, some characters and a whole lot of Cobra troops died. After the introduction of G.I. Joe Special Missions, that death count got higher. A Cobra Civil War sees many villains die at the hands of their so-called brothers-in-arms. We learn of the tragic deaths of the heads of the Arashikage Clan, the Head Master and his younger sibling, the Soft Master. But nothing will prepare readers for issue #109 where 8 Joes are brutally slain; including fan favorites Doc, Quickick and Breaker!

Art duties for this issue were by Herb Trimpe. Trimpe, along with Hama, would stay on for the entire run of this series that ran for 26 issues. However, X-Men legend, Dave Cockrum would assist frequently as a fill-in. Special Missions started as a bi-monthly publication, quickly becoming a monthly with issue #12. The series was revived both by Devil's Due Publishing in a number of one-shots and IDW Publishing, which ran for 14 issues. In 2010-11, IDW collected the entire Marvel run in a series of 4 trades, which are no longer in print.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #11 (More Than 20 Years Old) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Marvel Comics Presents #25

This is another MCP that could get hot one day soon. It features the first appearance of John Doe; The Nth Man: The Ultimate Ninja. Doe and his foster brother Alfie O'Meagan are destined for world impacting things. One will become an assassin; the other will prevent World War III. One is pure evil. The other a force of good. 

The main selling point for this story was 'unfortunately, the good one is the assassin.'

I really liked this opening salvo to the series of the same name. Written by G.I. Joe's Larry Hama with art by collaborator Ron Wagner, I want to read the entire Nth Man series. As there was only about 15 issues in that first volume, and most of these books can be found in bargain bins, I shouldn't have much trouble getting it for cheap.

Ninjas seem to really be Larry Hama's thing. Hama was responsible to turning Snake Eyes into a ninja and the who Japan mystic permeated the original G.I. Joe series from Marvel. Parts of this 8-pager really felt like a slightly oddball retelling of the complicated history between Snake Eyes and Cobra assassin Storm Shadow. And if the rest of the story is half as good as this introduction, then I am in for a treat.

Now I don't know if the Nth Man is scheduled to appear in any MCU project. But should he pop up, then you should expect this first appearance issue to shoot up in value. I paid 40 cents for this issue. If you can get this book for under $2, I think you've made a safe investment. The worse that happens is you paid a couple of bucks for a very good short story.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

True Believers: Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham #1 (Family Comic Friday)

After a brief vacation, Family Comic Friday has returned and we brought with us a classic kids comic book from the 80s that you can buy a copy of for just a dollar! Welcome back to print the adventures of Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-ham!

True Believers: Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #1
Writer: Tom Defalco, Steve Mellor
Artist: Steve Mellor, Mark Armstrong
Publisher: Marvel Comics
SRP: $1.00

Way back in 1983, writer Tom Defalco along with G.I. Joe's Larry Hama and Mark Armstrong showed the world what would happen if Spider-Man was made of bacon!

Though his origin doesn't appear in this comic book, let's dive into how Spider-Ham came to be    In a world not quite similar to our own, Earth-1183 to be exact, a friendly little spider named Peter was bitten by a radioactive pig. As a result, Peter mutated into a swine but still maintained his arachnid abilities.

Adopting the last name of Porker, Peter became a photographer for the Daily Beagle. But now inspired by the superheroes that he photographs on a daily basis, Peter also wears a blue and red suit, masquerading as the Spectacular Spider-Ham.

With the recent release of Into The Spiderverse and next week's debut of Far From Home, Marvel is upping its distribution of anything Spiderverse related. Thus fans young and old can relive the very first appearance of Spider-Ham in this True Believers edition reprint for the price of one portrait of George Washington!

In this issue, Peter is sent to photograph a disturbance at a brand new video game arcade. Someone is sabotaging the games and when the mysterious villain causes game developer Dr. Bruce Bunny to become irradiated by his new gamma Ray game, Earth-1183 will become the new home of the Incredible Hulk Bunny!

I may have my issues with Marvel Comics. But when it comes to re-releasing classic all-ages material for the next generation of comic book fans, I can fault no wrongs! I only wish that this book was released as a facsimile edition. I really think that young readers and their parents would get a kick out of seeing all the old ads for Return of the Jedi, Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and games for the Atari video game system.

I love Spider-Ham. It was one of a handful of titles that I subscribed to monthly as a child. Back then, when you subscribed to a book it came to you in the mail. The owner of your favorite LCS didn't hold it for you like they do today. I looked forward to a monthly trip to the mailbox to see what new parodies were dreamed up. From Ducktor Doom to Deerdevil, each issue was a creative delight to read.

If the young readers in your life become huge fans of Spider-Ham and want to read more, then rush back to your comic book store and pick up Peter Porker The Spectacular Spider-Ham Complete Collection Vol 1 TPB. This book collects the entire 17 issue run of Spider-Ham. This issue is also reprinted. But with a nearly $40 cover price for the collected edition, it makes sense to test the Spider-Ham waters with this more affordable release first.

True Believers: Marvel Tails is being re-released as all-ages. This actually surprises me. When the book was first published, Peter's boss, J. Jonah Jackal is depicted smoking a cigar. Also, some of the villains Spider-Ham first encounter are drawn smoking cigarettes and stealing cigarette lighters. There's been a huge effort to eliminate smoking from old cartoons. Since I re-read my 1983 back issue, I'm not sure if the reprints have edited the smoking parts or not. So if smoking is a taboo thing for your younglings to encounter, discretion is advised.

True Believers: Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham #1 and Peter Porker The Spectacular Spider-Ham Complete Collection Vol 1 TPB debuted in print and digital formats on June 26, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

G.I. Joe Origins Omnibus Volume 2

  Writers Chuck Dixon, Scott Beatty, and Merrill Hagan explore the beginnings of Snow Job, Ripcord, and Zartan in the opening chapters of the G.I.Joe Origins Omnibus Volume 2. Then the master himself, Larry Hama returns to penned another all-silent Joe tale, this one starring Snake Eyes. Finally, the series wraps up by exploring the story of Michael Monk.

      Of all of the characters portrayed in this series, the only character I am not familiar with is that of Monk, AKA the Mad Monk. His character is someone that pops up in the pages of other IDW G.I. Joe titles. Honest, I had to do a web search on this guy because I really didn't know who he was. 

    I am not really sure how I feel having a non-traditional Joe character take up the last several chapters of this really exciting series. But, the Mad Monk story was really good and it gave a very interesting look at the training of a COBRA operative. If anything, the Michael Monk story was a good primer for those waiting to delve into IDW's vast catalog of G.I. Joe books. 

     The artwork was okay. But above all else, it was story that won out in this series. I just wish that they had focused on some other 80s characters like Gung Ho, Lady Jaye, and Shipwreck before this series came to a close.

    Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

G.I. Joe Origins Omnibus Volume 1

      There are 2 people you call on if you want to reboot the G.I. Joe franchise to reflect a more modern era war on terror: Larry Hama and Chuck Dixon.

      Hama is the granddaddy of G.I. Joe. He crafted all of the backgrounds of the 1980s era action figures and documented their exploits in the pages of the Marvel Comics adaptations. 

     Chuck Dixon took over the reigns as head writer for G.I. Joe when the license switched over from Marvel to Devil's Due Publishing in the late 90s and early 2000s.

      So when IDW Publishing decided to publish the definitive origin of both the Joes and Cobra, they called on both Hama and Dixon to do it. Featuring a slew of IDW's best artists, including Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) and Andrea Mutti (Highlander), this was a thrilling look at how the fight between good and evil got started before the Marvel Comic series even got started. Cobra Commander has never looked more evil and Snake Eyes has never been more cooler!

    Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
       

Bizarre Adventures #34

  

The cover says that this book isn't for kids and for 1983- they're right. 

   First of all- look at the cover- it's a skeleton Santa. Or maybe it's dad dressed as Santa coming to surprise his kiddies but he got stuck in the chimney and died. It looks kinda gruesome and kinda wicked awesome and man was I all over this!

   I didn't even know this book existed until probably 6 months ago and someone posted the cover on social media as a sort of Christmas in July motif. At that point, Bizarre Adventures #34 went on my wish list because A) It was a Christmas Themed book and B) it was a scary book or, at least, a weird one.

   So let us look at the stories contained inside:

• A homeless teen discovers that he's the Son of Santa and must take over the role when Jolly Ol' Saint Nick is brutally murdered by the Anti-Claus.
• Howard the Duck is shown by an angel that if he wasn't born his friends would've turned out a-okay!
• In an apocalyptic wasteland, a young renegade and his buxom sidekicks rescue a kidnapped tyke on Christmas Eve.
• When Santa accidently kills his father, a young boy murders the fat man's helpers one-by-one until he finally meets the real Father Christmas in his living room with a sackful of toys and one mean can of whoop ass.
• Santa's trip to the Big Apple doesn't go as planned when he's arrested for breaking and entering by New York's Finest.
• Finally, in a tribute to the classic EC Comics of the 1950s, a time traveller arrives in Victorian England in hopes of witnessing a more peaceful Christmas and gets stuck in the middle of some brutal class warfare between the Little Match Girl and her fat-cat employer.

    These Bizarre Adventures were completely off the wall and totally insane. Only the third and fourth story is really gory. But just about every tale has its fair share of sex, greed, and violence. In 1983, this book wouldn't have been deemed suitable for readers under the age of 16. Hence, the book is published without the Comics Code stamp on the cover. 

   For 2016, I would say parents of those under the age of 13 should be advised about this books contents. And for goodness sake, don't let them take this comic to school unless you'd enjoy seeing your child's place of higher learning on the 6 pm news for being under lockdown because some teacher took issue to the book's treatment of kids with weapons.

   Featuring art and stories by Al Milgrom, Denny O'Neil, Alan Kuppenburg, Mike Carlin, Larry Hama, and many more, this is a hard to find holiday themed Marvel comic. As the last book in the series, it's also the rarest. A little violent, a bit shocking as well. But it was a fun campy B-movie trek through the genres of horror, sci-fi, parody, and whatever the heck Howard the Duck is considered...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe: A Real American Hero #155.5 (Free Comic Book Day, 2010 Edition)

 

Well it took over a decade and a half, but IDW Publishing and Larry Hama joined forces to finally tie up the loose ends left over from the sudden cancellation of the original Marvel version of GI Joe. In the final issue (#155) we saw what was going on with the Joes, mostly Snake Eyes, as the Pit was being mothballed. Well, this issue shows what is happening with Cobra during the exact same time those prior events were taking place.

 

Cobra Commander is awakened to discover that his plan to create a counter revolutionary movement operating “independently” from Cobra has gotten underway. The Capital, Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and several important US landmarks have been held “hostage.” Though these terrorists are apprehended quickly, it signals the next phase in a plan to take over the US government jointly conducted by Cobra and the Jugglers.

 

You read that right, the Jugglers, who have been giving the Joes fits since the first issue in 1982, are revealed to have been working with Cobra. They don’t want Cobra to take over the nation. But, in order for these Pentagon yahoos to be able to overthrow the President and Congress, they’ve relied on Cobra to undermine the work of the Joes. Thus, that is why the Joes were shut down in issue #155. Now with the Joes out of commission, the Jugglers hope to take over the government to a more McCarthy-era friendly police state, while giving Cobra the scraps of the rest of the civilized world.

 

Meanwhile, another plot thread is addressed while Cobra Commander and the Jugglers are plotting global conquest. When we last saw Storm Shadow, Destro, Zartan, Baroness, and Billy, they were under the mental controller of Doctor Venom’s brainwashing machine. Well, the machine is starting to show some ghosts in the machine meaning that the brainwashing procedure might not be as strong as originally thought. Thus, the wheels begin turning with Destro, Zartan, and Baroness questioning their loyalty to Cobra and their ultimate fate may mean overthrowing the Hooded One.

 

I was excited to research that Hama was finally given a chance to tie up some loose ends. That was my biggest beef with how the Marvel series ended. Thankfully, I had this issue. Man, was it awesome! Sadly, I do not have any further issues. So, you know what that means- I’ve added this series to my wish list.

 

The search begins…

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

 

 

Classic GI Joe, Volume 15

 

This is it! The final 10 issues of the original Marvel run of GI Joe. I must say that this is the worst volume of the entire bunch. The art is worse than ever before. Not only is the anatomy wrong, but the inking looks like somebody did it with a dirty brush. There are ink stains and blotches everywhere. It looks like the artwork from Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas!

 

Not only is the art poor, but the quality of the stories isn’t the best as well. Before signing off, the Joes do end hostilities in the fictional European nation of Borovia. That story arc was the best of this volume. How the conflict is concluded is brilliant and is a sign of Larry Hama’s genius. Then Hama devotes another tribute to the original GI Joe with an origin story in honor of the iconic toy’s 35th anniversary. After being reinstated by the American government, Joe Colton reflects on his beginnings as he’s whisked away to Washington. His origin is neatly tied up though it appears that we’re not done with the original Joe as the nature of this new mission and reactivation to active duty is poised to be explored in the next issue. Yet after that excellent story, it appears that things about Marvel or Hasbro went all to heck!

 

The next two issues aren’t even written by Hama. Instead, a substitute writer crafts two solo stories; one focusing on Scarlett and an experimental Cobra BAT targeting the redhead for death while the other has Road Block’s flight overbooked and his alternative flight leaves him taking on an aircraft full of Cobra operatives. Take about snakes on a plane!

 

Larry Hama returns for the final issue. It’s a very poignant issue with Snake Eyes finally getting his say as he writes to an army buddy’s son who has hopes of enlisting after high school. While I like this issue very much, there’s no closer to the Joes Vs. Cobra storyline. While the Pit is being mothballed and the team is deactivated, there’s no mention as to whether Cobra was finally defeated or if the Jugglers, the sinister cabal of Pentagon officials who seem to have it out for the Joe squad, were behind the closure.

 

Truly, I think that ending sucks! I expected the 155 issue plus series to come to an end. I know there’s been other series published by other comic book companies that delve deeper into the world of the Joes. Yet, I would’ve expected Hama to be given a chance to tie things up. Heck, I expected Larry Hama to have tied up these loose plots and give the loyal readers of Joe some closure. (A forward in this volume by Hama goes on to explain that the decision to cancel Joe was a sudden decision with only about 2 weeks given to write a final story. Why he didn’t end the series on a definite note is beyond me.)

 

I am sorely disappointed with this volume and how the series ended. Like I mentioned before, there are other non-Marvel GI Joe comics out there and this lack of closure has inspired me to search them out. It will take some time, but I’ll get to them.

 

Not Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

 

Classic GI Joe, Volume 13

 

We’re coming down the home stretch with the original Marvel run of GI Joe. This volume starts off with Larry Hama at his finest as he and the Marvel bullpen pull off an issue that runs 3 separate storylines at the same time. In that 3 issue arc the Eco-Warriors try to remove a Cobra derrick that’s polluting the Gulf of Mexico but to do it, they’ve got to prevent making an even bigger mess with errant bullets.

 

While Flint has his hands full, Snake Eyes and the Ninja Force team learn just what happened to Firefly. In that story, you’ll learn more of the mysteries of the ninja clan that Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow are leaders of and you might even see another mystery character unmasked. Lastly, the new Joe Drug Enforcement Task Force is given a tip to take down a drug dealer in Broca Beach. But that could mean the gig is up for the Cobra strong hold. That plot plays out very interestingly.

 

Then the original GI Joe returns with his gal, Nurse Jane, seeking the Joes help from yet another attack by Cobra. Only, the reason behind why Cobra Commander wants use of Joe Colton’s laser guidance system may surprise you and give you a little more “Hell Yeah!” respect for the terrorist leader.

 

The action returns in this volume to the newly Communist independent nation of Borovia. Only things have gotten worse as democracy hasn’t come easy and a Bosnia- Sarajevo type civil war focused on ethnic cleansing has led to even more instability for the region. Lady Jaye and Hawk must fight their way free from the besieged nation while not setting off a diplomatic red flag. It’s yet another fantastic story line in what is perhaps one of the better collected volumes of the latter half of the series.

 

The only thing I would fault is the art. The first three issues with the cross-weaving story lines were superb. Each panel had a border that reflected the plot line being covered. It reminded me of the exquisite work done on the borders in Vertigo’s Fables. However, towards the end of this book, the art gets sloppier. The proportions of the characters is absurd and the positioning of characters make it look like Hawk is 5 times larger than a Borovian soldier standing right next to him. Even worse, I swear there’s a couple of times it looks like Road Block is levitating. Its 90s super hero artwork at its lowest!

 

Of course, you know who I blame for this- Rob Liefeld. Even though he had nothing to do with this issue, it’s his god-awful artwork that for some unknown reason inspired an entire decade’s worth of art to look like everybody took steroids or were part-time magicians. I’m not a fan of the art of those last 5 or so issues in this book. Thankfully, the writing continued to be top notch throughout!

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Classic GI Joe, Volume 12

 

The war in the Middle East rages on and Joes and Cobras die by the handful. If you hated BattleForce 2000 like I did, then you’ll cheer! But, the ever classy Larry Hama makes the end of that division and the tragically short life of a new recruit named Cool Breeze a poignant message of the spoils of war.

 

After some typical behind the scenes subterfuge between the high ups in the American government and the Emir of Benzheen, this battle goes in Cobras favor! Yes, the bad guys win!

If you are a fan of the villain, you’ll cheer!

 

On a roll with his Middle Eastern victory, Cobra Commander puts a bounty on former ally Destro’s head. Along with hiring a gang of ninja accountants (yes- you read that right and no, I wasn’t reading the Tick and got confused) the leader of the world’s most dangerous terrorist group prior to 9/11 has an ace up his sleeve- the brainwashed Baroness, who just happens to be shacking up with ol’ Chrome Dome. This turn of events result in the formation of some new Joe squads with Flint heading up the Eco-Warriors and Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow beginning a group that will become the Ninja Force. I am excited at the prospect of Ninja Force becoming a factor in the future pages of Joe, but Eco-Force? Really? I want blood and guts not Captain Planet!

 

Lastly, we discover the one thing even Cobra Commander will not stand for- drugs! A small-time hood called Head-Man has taken up in the crevices of Broca Beach. That storyline is left to be continued in volume 13, but I cannot wait to see what happens next.

 

I had the most trouble trying to find an affordable copy of Classic Joe, volume 12. I hate the number 12- never been a favorite of mine either. But, this volume was worth the effort and might’ve made me like the number a little bit. Okay- nothing’s that good!

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

 

Classic GI Joe, Volume 11

 

This volume starts with a Joes/ Oktober Guard cross-over. And wouldn’t you know it; you have to have an issue of Special Missions prior to reading this volume. Of course, I don’t have it. It really ticked me off, but I pressed on and I read it anyway. I am happy to say, you don’t miss much.

 

Then the fate of Millville and Mutt and Spirit is concluded with an outcome that works completely in Cobra’s favor. Speaking of Cobra’s favor, this entire issue seems to be a win/ win for the terrorist organization. The Joes are made to look like chumps and the besieged nation of Sierra Gordo looks like it’s been pushed to the brink when Cobra contractors completely wipe out that nation’s rain forest.

Then the unthinkable happens- Joes die and they die violently and by the handful. When a team of Joes are captured in a fictional Middle Eastern nation by Tomax and Xamot, a little bit of static on the sat-com call between the Crimson Guard and Cobra Commander results in the unthinkable. It’s one of the most shocking and gut wrenching moments in the entire series.

Lastly, I want to talk about Snake Eyes. Not only does the fan favorite say his first (and so far only) word, the American Ninja experiences a true existentialistic moment when Storm Shadow hypnotizes him into becoming a no mercy killing machine in order to rescue a CIA operative from Borovia. This mission sees many things transpire as the White Clown and his midget friend continue their search for the clown’s imprisoned lady love. As Snake Eyes seeks to complete his mission, back home, his lady, Scarlett, is in a coma fighting for life and Storm Shadow finds himself in a game of cat and mouse fending off the Jugglers and a new clan of Cobra endorsed ninjas.

This volume is Larry Hama and GI Joe at it’s very best. That’s probably because the rule book of GI Joe is thrown out the window. In the cartoon, Joes and Cobras alike shoot lasers by the hundred and nobody dies, much less snag a fingernail. But, in this volume Joes mercilessly kill and are killed. If you only read one volume of Classic GI Joe- this is the one to own! It’s complete and utter carnage to the Nth degree.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #90

 

Poor Rock and Roll and Clutch; those two just seem to have the worst luck going on road trips when they get a 3-day pass. Last time, the Dreadnoks destroyed Clutch’s classic convertible on a trip to California. This time, the guys are cruising down the Jersey shore only to stumble upon the boardwalk at Broca Beach. Man, those bumper cars sure look a lot like HISS tanks!

 

The events that unfold in this issue will undoubtedly have drastic repercussions for the Joes in coming issues. I can’t wait to see what happens next! I must say the idea of hiding Cobra vehicles in plain site by disguising them as rides at an amusement park was a stroke of genius. Larry Hama and the guys in the Marvel bull pen really pulled out all stops on this issue! Bravo!

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #89

 

This issue is designed primarily to introduce new characters and vehicles that Hasbro recently added to the ever growing GI Joe line. It’s pretty standard fair in which these new Joes and their newest tank undergo a training mission that inevitably becomes a real mission when they stumble upon a Cobra plot.

 

You’d think Cobra would know to stop planning their next mission for global conquest so close to the Joe’s training grounds. But, they never do.

 

About the only thing really enjoyable or memorable is the character Hardware. He’s a big strong Joe, so strong, that just about everything he touches breaks. So, of course, when it looks like the Joes are about to win out, Hardware breaks something, putting them into another pickle. If you asked me 20 years ago about this issue, I’d say “Why would I want to buy a vehicle and figure that breaks so easily?” I kinda feel the same way. With Joes like these, it’s no wonder that Cobra, with its confederacy of dunces, have been a boil on the backside of humanity for so long. However, Larry Hama does such a great job at crafting really interesting characters that you overlook some of the image problems associated with the later Joe toys.

 

This is not the worst Joe issue I’ve ever read, but it’s also not my all-time favorite either. It’s just okay.

 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #88

 

Python Patrol? That’s the stupidest name for a GI Joe team/ figure/ vehicle/ or play set ever! The idea isn’t so bad. Destro comes up with a new type of stealth technology with a radar resistant paint scheme process he calls pythoning. Since Cobra is a snake-themed organization, it’s appropriate. To best market the new product, Cobra hosts a demonstration in a fictional European country.

 

Concerned that this show of products may underlie with a plan to infiltrate a neighboring country that is an ally of the US, the Joes provide a show of force of their own with a joint military training maneuvers exercise. What happens next is sheer insanity when a greedy border guard allows Joes and Cobras to crisscross into hostile territory.

 

I have thought something was this European and this madcap since the days of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Maybe Larry Hama was paying the Pythons tribute with this whole insane bit of Joes and Cobras invading their perspective enemy’s land and their not being anyone to greet them.  Plus calling the stealth painting process “Pythoning”, maybe I’m on to something.

 

  The addition of Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Flint, and Lady Jaye posing as boorish American tourists give this issue a touch of the mistaken identity craziness of A Fish Called Wanda. Plus with Cobra Commander trying to rent a car from a bunch of snooty French waiters, I don’t think I’ve laughed so much to an issue of GI Joe before.  Like I said, this issue is totally insane and with the exception of the cover, I love it.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #86

This is an issue I remember owning as a kid. The Joes are called to protect an office building from an invasion of Iron Grenadiers. It just happens that a super-secret spy satellite program is housed inside the besieged building, posing as an advertising agency. When the Joes finally make it inside, they meet the program’s head of security- a tall bearded man who looks awfully familiar and answers to the name of “Joe.”

 

That’s right- in a clever bit of writing; Larry Hama manages to tie in the classic GI Joe line of the 1960s with the updated Joe team of the 80s. This is a fantastic tribute to 25 years of the most popular boy’s toy line of all-time, up to the Kenner line of Star Wars.

 

This was the perfect GI Joe book with some great twists, turns, and diversions. I could read this book over and over.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #82

 

This is the issue I’ve been waiting for. A look at the selection process for becoming a Joe. I’ve heard that the Navy SEAL program is the toughest there is. Well, this induction process makes that one looks like applying for the mail carrier exam.

 

Larry Hama really did his research in this issue which concludes with a raid on an armory. Is this raid part of the recruits’ final training or is there a more devious motive behind this attack of Cobra commandos? You’ll just have to read and decide for yourself.

 

This is one of my favorite issues in the series with an amazing amount of attention to detail.

 

OKAY- wait. I’ve got to fault one thing and I think its Hasbro’s fault and not Larry Hama. There’s a recruit in this issue called Budo. He’s of Asian descent. As you may know, Joes come from all branches of the military. So tell me, which branch do the samurai come from? This guy wears full ancient warrior gear. It even looks like he wears sandals. This just doesn’t seem like they type of General Issue that the US army would approve of? This is yet another reason I started to see GI Joe as less of a really cool war toy and more far-fetched than is realistically possible. Regardless, the story was good, but the line is starting to show signs of trying too hard and coming up short.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.