Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

G.I. JOE Annual #1
IDW Comics
Hama, frenz, Wagner, Trimpe & Buscema

The first GI Joe Annual from IDW reads a lot like the old Special Missions from the Marvel days. For the most part, the issue is a self-contained story that could basically take place at any number of points in the continuity. The story is fairly entertaining but doesn't really provide a lot of density to it. Sure, the premise is a sound one but the book sort of races through the detective work to get to the ending and then provide a big ending with only a couple of panels. The price point for the book is a concern at $8 as well. Combining the so-so story and the exorbitant price point makes this an opportunity lost, in my opinion, for IDW.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

GI Joe A Real American Hero #161
IDW Comics
Hama & Gallant

Hama continues to breathe new life into the old GI Joe series by expanding the roster overwhelmingly. This issue has a couple of great moments as Hama shows, yet again, how much command he has over certain characters. On the flip side the issue feels slightly out of place as if an issue was missing between this one and last one. It's also a rather slow issue as it relies on the rollout of the familiar characters more than telling a story as seen in the past few issues.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

GI JOE A Real American Hero #160
IDW Comics
Hama & Padilla

Hama continues to spin the old Marvel series in familiar circles, but manages to do so in an exciting and interesting way. Hama turns in another good issue that turns the battle between the Joes and Cobra into one that is loaded with gray lines. Hama also hits the right notes at much of the humor he lays out in the issue. While some of the Cobra Commander dialogue still comes across as moronic for a successful dictator, the other jokes by other characters do elicit some laughs. I enjoyed the issue and the series is quickly becoming one that I look forward to each month.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

GI Joe #159
IDW Comics
Hama & Padilla

The fourth issues into the revisiting of the old Marvel GI Joe run is a major improvement in this series and makes me think Hama still has a knack for writing these characters and putting them into interesting situations. GI Joe has infiltrated Cobra's base and their plan is revealed to the reader. Cobra's high command is scrambling to deal with the Joes in their base until they manage to capture one of the Joes in a shocking turn of events. The issue has action, surprises and a good plot. If only the hokey dialogue would go away we would have an amazing GI Joe title.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

GI JOE A Real American Hero #158
IDW Comics
Hama & Padilla

Larry Hama continues his story that originated in the 1980s comic book series over at Marvel. This issue furthers the reformation of the GI Joe team and has the few that have gotten back together taking the fight directly to Cobra Commander's headquarters. The issue is jammed with action and moves extremely quickly from the Joes being out of commission to launching a huge operation. Ultimately, while some of the characterizations feel off, the main problem with the issue is the unbelievable manner in which the key characters seem to survive anything and everything. It's a good issue but far from great.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

GI Joe A Real American Hero #157
IDW Comics
Hama & Padilla

Larry Hama's second issue of the revisiting of the old Marvel GI Joe title falls into more familiar territory than the previous issue. This issue continues the slow burn approach that IDW comics follow with regard to storytelling as the Joes continue to regroup and form some sort of organization in the face of disorganization. The issue reintroduces a couple of familiar characters and tries to establish some sort of a plot for the long term development of the series. It's an okay issue but it is not as strong as the last one.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

GI JOE: A Real American Hero #156
IDW Comics
Hama & Padilla

Some sixteen years after the cancellation of the original GI Joe comic book series over at Marvel with issue number 155 Larry Hama is given the chance to continue his run. He simply knocks this issue out of the park. Of all of the reboots and various series that have launched by various publishers over the last ten years this is the story that I think most fans have been waiting for and it was worth the wait. Hama brings the classic GI Joe characters into a modern setting that lost none of the charm or continuity from the original series. This is an excellent start to hopefully a long run.

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Media Release -- The excitement keeps growing for IDW Publishing's TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE comics, with two new sold-out series last week. On Wednesday, January 27th, IDW released G.I. JOE: COBRA II #1, a continuation of the acclaimed COBRA series, and TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS #1, a new miniseries spinning out of IDW's ongoing story. Both comics flew off the shelves and are already sold-out though Diamond. Under license from Hasbro, IDW is rushing to a second printing for each, and fans can expect them in stores on February 10th.

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