At this point I wish I could tell everybody on HISSTANK.com that IDW’s G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #216 was epic and a real turning point for the comic to reconnect with the fans. Unfortunately today will not be that day. The new run leading up to “Cobra World Order” is called “Cobra Rising”, but is just really a continuation of “The Death of Snake Eyes” and the Throwdown story. Even worse, this issue makes the Cobra organization look weaker than ever before, and the G.I. Joe Team look really stupid…..Again!
COBRA RISING! As G.I. Joe continues to mourn the loss of one of their greatest members, Cobra consolidates its power and brings long-departed villains back into the fold…
If you decide to read on this review will contain Major Spoilers.
One of the highlights from the last book was watching Firefly do what he does best, Blow stuff up and cause chaos. You see Sean Collins/Throwdows/Fake Eyes house being blown up and it looks like his whole family has been killed by Cobra. It was a shock to the system that you expect to see in a comic book like G.I. Joe, that gives the Cobra organization the street credit it has earned. Then fast forward to Issue #216 and it’s all taken away in more ways then one.
So Fake Eyes still has a family, they are all still alive. It’s ridiculous to think they would have had time to excape that kind of explosion, but yeah somehow they made it to this impenetrable basement without being blown up or tipped off. It’s this type of wonky story telling that drives me crazy.
Next up we take a long unnecessary walk through the woods (5 pages worth) with the only survivor of the cabin battle with Fake Eyes,the Night Creeper Leader who spins a tail of how epic Fake Eyes is, and how are we ever going to stop this guy, in-front of Cobra Commander. Now Fake Eyes has taken the time to dress up as a Night Creeper, and been taken before Cobra Commander along with the Night Creeper Leader spinning the tale.
Fake Eyes sees his opening, tears off his Night Creeper uniform, lunges at Cobra Commander, and does what? Yup he just punches Cobra Commander in the nose with the but of his sword and runs off, out an open window/hole in the wall and escapes.
So let me get this straight, a member of the G.I. Joe Team has a point blank chance to kill Cobra Commander and he does a harsh Karate Kid? The name of the run is called “Cobra Rising”, how does it look to the reader if Fake Eyes can walk in and kill Cobra Commander when ever he wants at will, and Dr. Mindbender is quoted as saying so? Cobra looks weak and silly with their cut out open holes in the wall, and G.I. Joe looks really stupid for not ending Cobra Commander when they had the chance.
Later on in the book General Hawk is shown talking to intelligence agencies from all over the world telling him Cobra is up to something big and G.I. Joe better be on the look out. I wonder if he told them he just authorized an op to tell Cobra Commander we can kill you at anytime, and let him live to play out those plans?
As a long time G.I. Joe fan and reader of G.I. Joe Comics and Comics in general, nothing about Cobra being a threat to national security or G.I. Joe being an elite trained military unit is believable. I’m all about bending the rules of reality in Comics, but this is going way to far for a Military Drama.
As always this is just one Man’s opinion on the current status of IDW’s G.I. Joe ARAH 216. I HATE being so negative about something I should be enjoying. I welcome all of you on the Tank that have been keeping up with the story to sound off and let us know what you think. See you after the jump.
DESTRO says
IDW G.I. Joe ARAH #216 Cobra Rising Part 1 Preview
Not Good at all.
IDW G.I. Joe ARAH #216 Cobra Rising Part 1 Preview - HissTank.com
Gothiczartan says
We got a Sean Collins version of Snake Eyes after he was Throwndown only in the Hamaverse. Kamakura was just another Sean Collins only in the Disavowed continuity.
Dolemite says
Larry Hama- please retire. Now.
You were the man. You wrote brilliantly for Marvel. You gave this fandom things that we cherished all the way into adulthood. You had the touch.
But it's gone now. You're writing stories at a third grade level. It's time to pack it in.
DESTRO says
You were the man. You wrote brilliantly for Marvel. You gave this fandom things that we cherished all the way into adulthood. You had the touch.
But it's gone now. You're writing stories at a third grade level. It's time to pack it in.
Stalker says
They should lock in a continuity for the new movie and build toward it. One major story push with everything connected. IMO.
Right now I see them sort of drifting. I bet they don't even have a script they like, and they probably lost at least Jinx, Lady Jaye, and probably Roadblock and Storm Shadow to scheduling conflicts.
That opens the creative vacuum to kill off Snake-Eyes. Desperation creates the twice monthly for a comic that was shedding readers and losing fans.
Oh, well. It will turn. And I know Hasbro's happy with how they're doing overall, so I doubt they will bother risking much on Joe.
RPD says
The preview doesn't look bad. I read it on CBR yesterday, I believe it was. Looking forward to it...
Kaisugi says
thanks for sharing the preview, the art looks better than when I last picked it up (pre death of SE), but it sounds like the story is not faring so well.
neapolitan joe says
Low quality.
samsson37 says
The way the Creeper told the story to Cobra Commander was horrid...it was like they were around a camp fire eating smores... " and then in a sweet southern drawl " WTF was that !!!!!!! I was waiting for the Commander to say, " are you telling me intel or the porn dream you had last night " !!!!! Just bad bad writing...
Tomax & Xamot says
Thanks for the Review , but I'll read the issue myself before I decide if I like or dislike it... Everyone has their own opinion on what one likes or dislikes... For me personally the series is a Great escape from the real world.
Keep reading: IDW G.I. Joe ARAH #216 Cobra Rising Part 1 Preview - Page 2
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