G.I. JOE #11 – REVENGE IS BEST SERVED COLD BLOODED

Bad Blood never goes cold! The Baroness takes a leave of G.I Joe to clear her head. Her break leads her to Paris. Waiting in the shadows is someone who wants an eye for an eye. His name is Major Bludd.

Bludd uses her parents as bait for a trap. After kidnapping her and Cover Girl, he pits them against each other. Using trickery, the Baroness turns the tables. It leaves her one on one against her twisted foe.

Winner. Take. All.

G.I. JOE #11 by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, Lee Loughridge and Rus Wooton (Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics) delivers the high stakes showdown of Bludd vs. The Baroness!

Tom and Yours truly are back on the Energon Universe call for this one. Let’s see how it plays out.

LETS TALK STORY!

TOM: This book hit every single note it needed to:

1. Filling out the Baroness Mini-Arc and solidifying her as a Joe (for now?)

2. Giving The Baroness someone to rely on in the Joes

3. Getting a new buddy dynamic between Clutch and Risk (who I’m still not a fan of)

4. Even getting Destro and Cobra Commander relatively on the same page.

For me, there wasn’t a single misstep. As much as I did say Joshua Williamson tied things up… There were enough breadcrumbs to lead into the next arc and NOT give it away.

KEN: Williamson opens up handling a sub-plot that’s been brewing for a while. The Hound/Clutch “odd couple” serves as a solid build for the Energon Universe. Seeing Transformers interacting more with the Joe side only opens doors for more possibilities. Risk and Mercer’s reactions hit as they both have to process what this all means. It concludes to a great transition to the main event.

Readers watch as the Baroness and Bludd slug it all out. The tone plays into the insanity of Bludd. This is very comfortable villainy. Bludd’s psychotic state leaves room for the Baroness to fight back. The dialogue is sharp. It resonates the brooding mood to a great climax. At this stage, the fight ends with a brutal twist. It serves as a reminder that the Joes are not always angels.

Another element at hand is if the Baroness has truly bought in. The writing teases a few notions before moving to close. Readers see the final page changes events before bowing out. It steadies the ship as a certain war is brewing in the shadows. Another fantastic read.

HOW ABOUT ART AND LETTERING?

TOM: The entire art team shines off the page! With the three storylines in very different locations, they may have come from the same art team, but each location spoke for itself. The one thing that shines is the use of light, whether it’s the City of Lights itself or an Energon Blast across the page. The glow would lend itself to the reaction on the characters’ faces.

KEN: Milana and Loughridge conclude their Joe time with a few strong takes. The Hound/Clutch story is gifted an exciting two page splash. It instantly sets off the combat as the unlikely trio of heroes step up. The pages carry the high-octane tempo into its’ next phase. This provides readers a easier entry into the books’ major lead story.

The fight between Baroness and Bludd doesn’t disappoint. There are plenty of fast-paced strikes. this compliments Bludd’s insane reactions to his mischief. Even as Raptor and Cover Girl get page time, nothing overtakes the Bludd feud. This ultimately comes to a graphic close. The full page image leaves no wonder as to who won. Even as the story tries showing Destro & Cobra Commander, readers will be buzzing about the ending blow.

This works in the closing’s favor. The final page teases more events working in the shadows. Judging by the combat, these moments weren’t going to overtake the emotional fight of revenge. Its’ aftermath will be looming around the Energon Universe as it readies itself for the next phase of stories.

OVERALL GRADE: 9

TOM: 8.7 / 10. Like I said, this hit every mark like a sniper, especially with Flint’s covert-ops team coming back to find a very deep cut character. How is his unit going to affect the goings on of day-to-day operations? Better yet, who ELSE is Hawk keeping an eye on?

KEN: 9.1 The final round of Baroness vs. Bludd leaves its’ mark as the Energon Universe continues to expand its’ vision. Williamson’s writing leans heavy into action as more builds. Milana and Loughridge grow a fast pace with their strong art. With more on the horizon, the EU is firing on all cylinders. Don’t miss it.

Let us know your thoughts on G.I. Joe #11 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!