WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! The Baroness escapes to Paris for much needed space. Cover Girl has tagged along with COBRA still on the loose. Watching her parents from afar, the trip has turned very quickly.
A ghost from Baroness’ past has arrived looking for payback. His name is Major BLUDD. After kidnapping the two G.I. Joes, Bludd wants to pit them against each other. It looks like one of them has decided to play ball. Cover Girl has attacked the Baroness! So much for team work making the dream work!
G.I. JOE #10 by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, Lee Loughridge and Rus Wooton (Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics continues its’ big action adventure!
Tom C. (“Play 4 Keeps”/N.I. Bullpen/”Turn A Page”) and yours truly (Ken – ODPH Podcast/NI editor In Chief) are back at it for another round! Let’s take a closer look at what is going down now!
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
LETS TALK STORY!
KEN: Williamson firmly leads this story into some classic spy themes. Bludd’s over arrogance shines in his dialogue. His dialogue comes off a bit unhinged as he is about to grasp victory. It does cause some conflict with Raptor.
Readers watch as the pair argue while the Joes have their fight to deal with. It results in a clever bait and switch in result. Perfect for the ever deceitful world of global espionage.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW!
This theme carries back over to a few subplots building. One of which is Clutch’s discovery of Hound. Their covert partnership leads into very familiar places. The writing builds up a tense confrontation. It echoes the uneasiness of Transformers and humans.
Williamson also adds a few more elements into play. Take nothing away from the main event. The Baroness storyline is rightfully running the show here. Both main storylines look to head towards their explosive showdowns. The only question remaining is who’s walking away from the bouts in one piece?
TOM: To start, #10 completely redeems most of the shortcomings I had with the last issue.
We all knew that Baroness and Cover Girl were playing possum last issue. They are both so highly trained, and Bludd is so off his rocker, a little bit of ketchup would have satisfied his “bluddlust.” To top it off, with his prose, he totally missed the mark. But going back to the fight, they were methodical in their approach, and yes, blows did land, but not enough to keep a good Joe down! The turnabout on Bludd was perfect, with the ladies being the best silent sparing/dance partners.
Talking about Kup and Hound, I’m starting to come around to their partnership, coupled with the fact that Hound doesn’t steal the scene, I appreciate that it stays a Joe book that features a Transformer. But Clutch’s nature is to go off the reservation to help Hound. It was risky, no pun intended (for once!) Add the fact that Risk was tagging them, and it annoyed me. But then again, I’m not a huge Risk fan, for $#!t like this! But where this all ends up on that final full-page spread?! Perfect!
Not forgetting about Destro, it’s feeling like this one was the filler for the book. But I understand that we can’t have everything all at once, and something needs to be a slow burn. I hope that next issue the stories get a flip with Destro taking lead, Clutch and Risk a second, and then an easy conclusion for Baroness and Cover Girl, but since when is being a Joe “easy.”
HOW ABOUT ART AND LETTERING!
KEN: Milana and Loughridge play into the maniacal game of Bludd’s with the art. His reactions come across as unbalanced as expected. Having that much pent-up revenge takes a toll on anyone. It’s deflected by the Baroness’s determination to win.
As the Joes fight for another round, the two page splash mixes in great fighting with the conflict. A half panel shuts down the action with Wooten’s lettering. It helps to switch gears for the other events of the book.
Clutch and Hound have their fair share of page time. The covert operation has a mysterious tag along watching in shadows. Readers watch as the mystery figure reveals himself. Clutch’s reaction says it all with more questions raised. It leads readers into more frantic scenarios.
With the raised awareness of COBRA, how much would go unnoticed? This leads into an excellent final page. The full page image sends readers home anxiously awaiting what is coming next. This is textbook Energon Universe which always wins.
TOM: Pain and passion were on full display between Cover Girl and Baroness, even if they were putting on a show for the sadistic Bludd. What a show it was with the art to match! Color plays a massive part in this book, whether it’s the throwing of punches or sneaking out under the dim moonlight. They inform at first glance what the tone is. Combined with the forceful and brash onomonaptias, they are a visual gut punch in the best way possible!
But outside all the action, the City of Lights emanates off the page. Destro’s Castle even has a sullen warmth, as much as a war-monger’s castle can have.
The characters’ faces and upclose panels are bold, and even if you thumbed through this book at a glance, you pick up so much. Bludd’s maniacal gaze, Baroness’ rage, Destro’s shock, and even Risk, who has the best jaw-drop moment.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.1
KEN: 9/10. The Baroness’ past comes back in a deadly way as lines are crossed. Williamson gifts readers with a hefty does of action. Milana and Loughridge build up the ever-evolving world that houses G.I. Joe and Cobra. This will be a very tough wait for next issue once the final page hits. CLICK HERE FOR MORE CONTENT FROM KEN
TOM: 9.2 / 10. Like I said, there are plenty of great things in the book; it’s just the speed bump with Destro that took me out for a minute. With that said, it’s paced wonderfully so that you get to take in the action and revel in and feel it. Topped off with that satisfying end, I’m left impatiently waiting for the next issue AS USUAL…
Let us know your thoughts on G.I. Joe #10 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
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