G.I. JOE #5 – IT’S NOW OR NEVER

Time has run out for G.I. Joe. On their heels from Cobra, Duke and the remaining squad are in the belly of the beast. They’re behind enemy lines. Destro is ready to handle business. Rock N’ Roll was the first Joe to fall. Are more of the team doomed the same fate?

G.I. JOE #5 by Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire and Rus Wooton (Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics) kicks into high gear action with its latest chapter.

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

HOW WAS THE STORY?

TOM: Duke and his team show a determination you no longer see in comics. Duke and the team had the odds completely stacked against them. Luckily, things came through for them in a “Clutch” moment! All HELL breaks loose!!! They are tenacious, fighting tooth and nail through the ranks in the Cobra headquarters to get out!

The lens Joshua Willaimson is taking us through has evoked a childlike nostalgia. But the nuisance to these reimagined characters makes my inner child and adult self feel a combined joy that gives both of us goosebumps! All because of two simple words: “YO JOE!” This is the first time we hear/see the iconic battle cry on the paneled pages. 

Even though Destro and the Twins have a “home-field” advantage, Cobra Commander is preoccupied with his machinations, oblivious to everything else. No one in Cobra was ready for Joe’s steely resolve. But again, the ending with Duke being “Duke” was something I did see coming, but I would have expected this much further down the road. It’s a welcome surprise!

KEN: Williamson cracks everything to 11 with this chapter. Seeing the Joes at their lowest should seal their fate. Duke comes across as defiant to the overwhelming odds. His actions reflect that of either pure bravery or insanity. Readers may actually question this at one point. One action proves to quiet that inquiry long enough to throw everything into high-gear.

The only moment where things slow down is with Cobra Commander. The evil leader is solely focused on obtaining power. Williamson writes him as cold and ruthless as he should be. Commander makes a chilling move. It gets lost in the action but circles back to the close.

Readers won’t mind as the action is what they came for. There’s no shortage of that here. As eluded to, events circle back to the Commander. His goals hit a snag in the form of a monster cliffhanger. The only thing wrong with this is we have to wait for next issue. This series just doesn’t miss.

LET’S TALK ART AND LETTERING!

TOM: Again, I’ve said my peace with the chosen color palette, but it doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon, but that’s my problem. The fact that a whole massive fight scene took place over 10 pages of this comic felt RIGHT! With some panels crammed in to show the frantic battle and others lengthed for a well-timed bazooka shot. You would think this book would have been read at a breakneck pace. But no, the level of detail in the panels makes you stop and take in each moment. It gives you an idea of where the Joes are in this do-or-die situation. 

Using the Energon-based weapons to shine, the light fills the page and offsets the bland palette, drawing you in like a moth to the flame, as if that flame were made from Energon.

KEN: Reilly and Bellaire light the fuse for the combustible face-off in style. A two page spread brings Duke face to face with an “old friend.” Seeing the punches connect gives readers a sense of what to expect. Its aftermath is set up nicely. Even in a beaten state can Duke still appear to win. Readers see the power of “Vroom” come into the spotlight.

Destro’s standoff accelerates the wild action to another gear. It also gives readers a much anticipated moment. I’m genuinely surprised this wasn’t a larger panel. It still delivered on the intended goal. Reilly goes for smaller panels. The compact images don’t take it easy. Pacing is really flying at this stage. Only Cobra Commander’s smaller role slows things down. Save the drastic action, it assists in providing a simple break point. This all leads to a monster final page. The full image sets up a can’t miss event that readers will be jazzed to finally see. Strong work per usual.

OVERALL GRADE: 9.6

TOM: 10/10 We have finally picked up our stride, and I can’t wait for the next book! Obviously, with the confiscated helo, the Joes should be able to reverse-engineer some countermeasures against Cobra’s new arsenal and even develop their own. As for now, I have a few other theories floating around in my head, like the USS FLAGG, but that is for another review.”For Rock-N-Roll”

KEN: 9.2. Can Duke rally his defeated team for one more round? That is the question posed in this latest chapter. Williamson takes readers for a daring confrontation with the writing. Reilly, Bellaire and Wooton raise the stakes with the non-stop action. This series sets the blueprint for what dramatic action should strive for.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below about G.I. JOE #5. Thanks for reading!  CLICK HERE FOR MORE CONTENT FROM KEN