GI Joe #2

 

Published: IDW Publishing 

Art by Steve Kurth

Writer by Karen Traviss

Colors by Kito Young

 

 

Set 5 years in the future where the previous series ended, Scarlett has taken a lead position in the Joes and helps fight to keep the team from being disbanded and reabsorbed into other departments. Traviss set up building blocks in the first issue, and happily she’s choosing to focus on Siren and Isaac and their relationship in Cobra. Disenchanted with Cobra’s change in tactic to Tomax’s PR battle, Isaac and Jon desert Cobra Youth “Peacekeepers” for Rashidov’s Seperatists. Tomax has requested that Isaac be returned as discretely as possible, and mercenaries Duke and Big Ben get tagged for the recon.

The 2nd issue of the new GI Joe series starts out with a quick snapshot of Issue 1 and headshots of the main cast. In reading the interview at the back of Issue 1 and
listening to her interview with Star Joes Podcast, Traviss reiterates that she brings a realistic approach to her military writing, and insists that she will keep this GI Joe series as realistic as possible. Hopefully this will be remiscent of the Hearts and Minds miniseries done by Max Brooks and the Cobra Files by Mike Costa. I’m also interested to see Traviss to develop Big Ben’s personality, as he’s remained largely unused in the previous series.

The art in thiss issue is done really well. The darktones and smudgey lines give off a feel of grit and grime without being overdone. The art keeps true to Traviss’ writing of realism and the two merge well together. The cover art for all three covers are amazing (my personal favorite is the subscription cover with the iconic Uncle Sam Propaganda poster done as Cobra Commander). The rough skethes of pages 1 and 2 at the end of the issue are a really nice bonus and the file card styling is perfect.

This issue started to pick up its pace at the end making me excited for whats to come. Traviss has a log of building blocks to set down in her series and though that is understabable, its nice to see the action pick up. I think the biggest concern in any GI Joe story is how does one incorporate the iconic Snake Eyes and Stormshadow without taking center stage!? Will Traviss even try to incorporate them into her series? I think that if anyone could maintain a balance with them, she would be able to. If this series isnt already in your subscription box, add it, because things are going to get interesting!