G. I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol. 19 (Superhero) (Graphic Novel)

By Larry Hama (Writer) & S. L. Galant (Illustrator)

Published: IDW Publishing (February 13, 2018)

Softcover, 120 pages

Now I usually don’t fanboy out about anything, but G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is my BIG exception. The comic that is, not the cartoon, and not the toys. This was my favorite comic growing up. The writing, the action, the characters, all of it was top notch. Even though it was initially designed to sell a toy line to children, G.I. Joe was never written as a “kiddie book”. That’s why it lasted 155 issues on its initial run.

When the comic was canceled in the early 90s, I was heartbroken. This occurred right around the same time that Chris Claremont left X-Men and the entire industry went into a giant downward spiral in terms of quality. I actually quit comics for years after these events. When there were attempts to revitalize the G.I. Joe series, I was all over them. Most were terrible, some were good. They seemed mostly honest attempts, but lacked the pacing of the original. That is each issue, always felt like a lot was going on. Then IDW bought out the rights for G.I. Joe and did one of the greatest thing ever in comics, they started up the original series, with Larry Hama writing, beginning with issue 155 ½. And I have been hooked back on it, just like I was at age 8.

Author Larry Hama

For those who don’t know G.I. Joe started out in the 1960s as an oversized action figure in the army. Eventually vehicles and companions were added along the way. Popularity for the toy died out during the anti-Vietnam war movement as all the dumb hippies wanted non-violent toys for their illegitimate children. Roll around to the 1980s, Reagan in the White House, Hasbro decides to relaunch the line and goes to Marvel for the ideas. This was normal at the time, for a successful toy launch one needed a cartoon and a comic to go along with it. Larry Hama was working on a idea around a strike force starring Nick Fury. Jim Shooter, then editor-in-chief, suggested it be adapted for G.I. Joe and history was made. Archie Goodwin came up with the idea of Cobra and Cobra Commander, but Hama designed all the rest.

So when Larry Hama jumped back in, he got in right there as if he were cradling his baby. He wiped away all the crap others had dumped on it and kept going from where he left off. This volume collects issues 241 - 245 of the ongoing series (and may it continue to be ongoing) and sees the Joes fighting on several fronts.

The most interesting one occurs in the town of Springfield (Cobra's foothold in the U.S.) where various anti-Cobra factions combined to break into the stronghold to sabotage various plans of the terrorist organization. This brings back the spiritual return of Snake Eyes (who was killed off in what was perhaps one of the worst G.I. Joes stories ever), when the ninja’s mind in implanted into the body of a young girl via the Brainwave Scanner.

This incident also heralds the return of an old villain, Dr. Venom, who is implanted into the mind of Dr. Mindbender. For those old time fans, you will recall the character was killed off in issue 18 when a grenade landed at his feet. He was later buried in a potter's field, but the character always had a lasting effect on the G.I. Joe universe in his creation, the brainwave scanner.  Now he has returned in all his glory and reminds the heads of Cobra about their lowly beginnings. Specifically that the Commander started his career as a used-car dealer who raised millions in a pyramid scheme.

In addition to this, we have the Joes completing operations in Trucial Abysmia (the go-to place for Joe stories in the Middle East) and Darklonia (the go-to place for stories in Eastern Europe). These stories are what drew me into the comic in the first place. The characters seem real, the action seems real, their decisions are understandable for men under pressure and under fire. The comic has always remained grounded despite the slight sci-fi element in the gear, which has always been present.

One of the best issues of G. I. Joe ever.

 There has always a sense of humor hidden in the story whether it be Cobra Commander’s egotistical abuse of the thesaurus for each speech, a few pins ups of the Zaranna and the Baroness inside a Cobra locker, or writing on a chalkboard in the Joe’s cafeteria, “Knowing is half the bar-be-que burger”, or a discussion happening on a mini-golf course designed to laud the cobra leaders, or a construction company called Vindoveipers. Little details like that are what keeps me coming back every time.

           For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst.