Many Joefans, myself included, are a bit perplexed about the upcoming G.I. Joe: Future Noir limited series. Perhaps because the G.I. Joe universe is somewhat grounded in reality, Joefans have a hard time grasping multiple continuities, and I can certainly understand that. I’m not entirely certain the G.I. Joe fanbase is quite strong enough to leverage all of these different G.I. Joe titles, but in my opinion, with the main book being probably the slowest paced of the bunch, I’m glad IDW is taking those chances.
Then along comes Future Noir. Boasting an anime style and a different take on the G.I. Joe universe, it certainly seems like a neat enough aesthetic…but where is it going, and what does it serve to accomplish? At the root, reading comics are about journeying to a different world, so this will certainly accomplish that, I just hope it’s worth branching out even further from the more familiar G.I. Joe style. I’ll certainly give it a try.
Over on Comic Book Resources, IDW Editor Andy Schmidt talks a bit about the mindset behind Future Noir, and what we can expect:
“Future Noir’ is geared more towards fun, over-the-top adventure. The regular G.I. Joe books are more serious and grounded. ‘Future Noir’ starts off in a world that’s clearly not the one we live in and just balloons out from there,” Schmidt said of the series’ style. “So, from a tone stand point, it’s quite different. Also, it’s a more action-paced story, it starts off in action and hardly ever stops to catch its breath.””
I will admit from what Mr. Schmidt is saying, this does at least sound like a fun ride. I do think sometimes the adult Joefans forget that these toys are playthings and should retain an element of fun. If nothing else, perhaps this series will maintain that atmosphere. Schmidt also adds the following details:
“The series takes place in what Schmidt described as a “not-too-distant future.” “It’s a world with cybernetics, flying mobile bases, underground cults experimenting on genetic structures and creating monsters and so on,” Schmidt said. “It’s still got the military aspects, but this is definitely a different world and a different kind of Cobra.”
The Cobra of “Future Noir” features an all-new terrorist leader, Schmidt told CBR. “There’s a new character front and center called King Cobra, and his design is really great. We’ve got some classic characters like Dr. Mindbender and a few others, but the organization itself is really different than what we’ve seen before. Their goals are a little over-the-top.”
On the Joe side, the series will star Duke and Scarlett, along with Snake Eyes, Sci-Fi, Roadblock and Agent Helix. “They’re both a recognizable cast and a couple hand-picked for this adventure specifically,” Schmidt said. “Sci-Fi wound up being my favorite to write because he had an emotional character arc during the series more than the others. I really enjoyed writing him a lot. And Duke was fun, too.”
I’ll check it out, for sure…I don’t hold much faith that many Joefans will do the same, however. Check out the full interview right here.
I really like this idea, I was a big fan of Sigma 6, and the kind of sci-fi stories are what make me love G.I.Joe. Can’t wait for it!
“It’s a world with cybernetics, flying mobile bases, underground cults experimenting on genetic structures and creating monsters and so on,”
So… the Sunbow cartoon?
I’m sure there will be elements to it that are new, but what he describes is really what Joe began as for many people. I think the response would be much more positive if he’d just make that connection to something established that many fans enjoy.
It sounds interesting to me anyway, but if he just said “It’s like the Sunbow cartoon with a little modern/near-future ‘oomph'” … he wouldn’t have to say ANYTHING else to get me in line. 🙂
“Perhaps because the G.I. Joe universe is somewhat grounded in reality, Joefans have a hard time grasping multiple continuities, and I can certainly understand that.”
Grasping may not be the best choice of words. Accepting or recognizing or loathing multiple contiunities might be a better description. Otherwise you’re painting the fandom as relatively simpletons who lack the intellectual sophistication to handle something that already has between 4-7 different continuities, depending on how you count. There is a huge difference between the two.
Now, about having a fan base large enough to support multiple titles, even figure lines if they do split Renegades and “real/classic” is an entirely different discussion. Delicate balance to bring in new people with new concepts but keeping some familiarity there. We’ve seen this before with the movie, the figure design, and the most recent titles in comics.
“Boasting an anime style and a different take on the G.I. Joe universe”
I think the closet thing to anime style here just the spiky hair.
Sigma Six was much more anime looking compared to this.
Ok…I’m not really liking the art for this series
(especially the faces), but the story does seem to be interesting.
It’s a two-issue experiment that sounds like it could be an interesting distraction; I’ll definitely give IDW a chance here. There are always opportunities to tell interesting stories outside the confines of a known and comfortable universe; it’s all make-believe, after all.
Sounds like a really cool idea. Plus, Sci-Fi is in it. I’ll definitely be checking this out.
I’m going to give it a shot; looks like G.I. Joe Beyond.
However, the series with the worldwide teleporter, giant underground city base, and ninja commando is the one “somewhat grounded in reality”? That’s a big somewhat!
Out of all the series’ that IDW is currently running that “claim” the title of being GI Joe, THIS is the one I would most be interested in besides the continuation of the Marvel run…which honestly is still not impressing me as I’d hoped (thanks for nothing Larry…).
Ironically, many Joe fans won’t like it because it offers yet another Joe continuity (of sorts), but for me, this is EXACTLY WHY I would buy it. It isn’t being pimped as the brand new mainstream reincarnation of GI Joe to replace the original series of old, with all-new characterization of familiar characters, just to be “cutting edge” and “ultra-hip” for more “ahem” mature Joe fans. Whatever. Like was said before, Joe is supposed to be fun and NOT so ultra-realistic, with all the grittiness and killing off of name characters to sell it as being “believeable”. Seriously, do ANY of you out there REALLY BELIEVE that anything in those comics are real?! NO. Because it ISN’T. It isn’t real, no matter how “real” some retards want to make it for the so-called “readership”. GI Joe, no matter WHAT the incarnation, is supposed to be about ESCAPING from the everyday crap that reality hands us, not to further immerse ourselves into it with our toys of old and conversely RUIN the entire mystique of childhood fun that we should be experiencing when we read Joe.
I think this series can embody at least some of that, though I have no doubt it will be chock full of bloodshed and angst, just like all the other series’ drag into things and kill the fun factor with so-called realistic violent behavior and mannerisms. We don’t need it really, not to tell a fun story.
So, while I HATED Sigma SUX, er I mean 6, both as a toyline, comic series AND especially as a cartoon, I did rather enjoy the aspects of it that took everything back to what GI Joe used to be for me…well, it was at least a thousand times closer than that joke of a movie last year… Future Noir looks to be much better than S6 and almost ALL of the IDW books so far, so it’ll be worth buying for that reason alone, but we’ll see as it develops.