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Mutants, Casinos, Springfield, love, death, and cybernetically-enhanced ninjas! Larry Hama has pulled out all the stops, this being the 3rd issue of the now reinvigorated G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic.
G.I.JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #303 by Larry Hama, Chris Mooneyham, Francesco Segala and Pat Brosseau (skybound Entertainment/Image Comics)
READ THE LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW
This doesn’t Fly with me
The Joes have Cobra Island under surveillance. Supposedly, it’s a no-fly zone. But the superintelligence known as Alpha 001 has come for a partnership with Serpentor Kahn. Let’s take your mutated army and upgrade them into a new league of super-enhanced Blue Cyber-Ninjas.
Did Someone say ninjas?
Speaking of Family Snake Eyes and Scarlett are having a bit of R&R when TImber brings in a new wolf pup! And then it happens: the Blue Ninjas “try” to ambush the couples while they slept. Of course, they held their own, but these new Ninjas, OF COURSE, come with a Kamakaze self-destruct. Sending one final video to Serpentor Kahn…
Dawning/Spirit
Two short side stories involve Dawn sneaking back home to visit her family in the COBRA COMMUNITY of Springfield. She’s obviously missing her family after the previous deaths in the last two issues. Duke, on the other hand, realizes the increased threat level of this new alliance between Serpentor and Alpha-001. He asks Spirit to beef up security to The Pit. He obliges his commander but does mention he always gives 100%, but he will find 200%. Duke was right three unknowns were spotted 300 meters off base…
Pit Duty
All in all, it is a solid issue. But these extra pages for Dawn dealing with her emotions and, secondly, the security of the base just seems shoved into the narrative. I get the emotional weight of everything going on, and adding the larger threat from Serpentor is a great escalation to rise to the next level, but there was no immediate resolution, almost like a cold cut on a TV show like SVU.
On the ninja flip side, I’m interested in how this alliance is going to fair with the Joes and even Cobra Commander. With Serpentor as a wild card villain and you still have Destro and the Baroness on their own agenda, there is a chance that the Joes are going to be spread thin, which can lead to some great interpersonal dynamics about the struggles of the mission versus the struggles of self.
A huge USS FLAGG sized plus are the letters at the end of the book! It’s a lost art! In today’s digital footprint, all we need to do is Tweet, Facebook, and Insta our favorite artists and hopefully get the semi-instant gratification in a reply. But seeing your name and comment posted in a comic book. Now, your name will live on!
GI JOE: A Real American Hero #303 Final Score 7.5/10
I really want to see where this goes but like i said the think those few pages out of the main story felt more like speedbumps than staying on track.
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