by generalsjoes | Nov 26, 2010 | Comics and Cartoons, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comic Reviews, G.I. Joe Comics, G.I. Joe Reviews, IDW
While I’ve fallen behind on some of the comics, I try to keep up to date on the G.I. Joe: Cobra title. Far and away my favorite Joe themed series, I’m constantly amazed by simply how intelligent the writing is. Mike Costa and Christos Gage manage to really delve into the idea of a shadowy terrorist organization like Cobra and really try to rationalize the concept and have it make sense. In the old school days, Hama just sort of accepted some things and expected the readers to do the same. Nothing wrong with that idea in the least, but I really like that this new generation of Cobra is trying to exist within a realistic world and the writing team is trying to breathe life and idealism into Cobra as a whole.
Issue #10 was refreshing. I had no major issues with the last story arc in this series, but it’s like spending the weekend at your best friend’s house when you were a kid. During that weekend, life was different, yet still fun, with some adventures. But then you get back home and go back to your own bed, and suddenly, everything just falls into place. The weekend was fun, sure, but there’s nothing like home, and getting thrust back into the Chuckles and Cobra Commander arc was like coming back home.
Click the “Read the Rest of the Story” link below to see the full review.
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by generalsjoes | Nov 11, 2010 | Comics and Cartoons, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comic Reviews, G.I. Joe Comics, G.I. Joe Reviews, IDW
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been enthusiastically following the G.I. Joe: Cobra ongoing series, even as it deviates from the more standard Cobra coverage and goes into the Coil’s more “cult like” tendencies. I really enjoy this dynamic between the underground almost supernatural cult angle and the polished brick & mortar corporate structure, and somehow make them all mesh together in a seamless way.
I’m not sure they quite pulled it off by the end of this arc, but they did tell a pretty interesting tale. I’ll be honest, though, I’m ready to move along and see what Chuckles has in store for us starting again with issue #10.
To avoid spoilers, I will continue the review after the jump.
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by generalsjoes | Oct 12, 2010 | Comics and Cartoons, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comics, IDW
Now that NYCC has wrapped up, we’re starting to finally get some good, nicely detailed reports about all of the panels and events that went on in the Big Apple this past weekend. Among those reports was one from Comic Book Resources which focused on IDW and Hasbro’s joint panel and what to expect from their licensed titles over the next several months. I will try and outline the various news items below.
- G.I. Joe: Origins #23 is the final issue. Editor Andy Schmidt revealed that G.I. Joe: Origins would end with the 23rd issue. I’m not sure if this is sales related or that they simply had no more stories to tell, but regardless, after just wrapping issue #19, we’ve got about 4 more issues to go.
- Christos Gage is leaving G.I. Joe: Cobra after issue #13. I reported this during NYCC, but IDW confirmed it, also reporting that Mike Costa would handle the writing duties solo from then on.
- G.I. Joe #27 will wrap up “Season One” of the main Joe title. In April of 2011, G.I. Joe will begin “Season Two”, starting over from issue #0 and kicking off with a Cobra Civil War. Schmidt also says that in April, the only Joe title taking place in IDW continuity that month released would be G.I. Joe #0. Dixon will still be writing the title, but Javier Saltares will be tackling the art chores.
Schmidt also talked a bit about Infestation and how it ties into the G.I. Joe realm, and remarked that Joe fans did not seem very “chill” to the idea…at least not to the level of Transformers fans.
Some interesting news, to be sure. I could have sworn that at one point I read that this latest issue of G.I. Joe was going to be the end of “Season One” but apparently that’s being pushed off a bit. Chuck Dixon has been hit or miss for me throughout his G.I. Joe run, and honestly I’m not sure what I think of Saltares on the title. Loved his stuff with Moon Knight, and his Ghost Rider work was pretty cool as well, but those are both very supernatural, dark, and gritty worlds. I think G.I. Joe can be gritty (just see the Cobra title) but I’m not sure Saltares’ exaggerated style works real well in a pseudo-realistic military setting. I’ll certainly give it a shot, though.
You can read the entire article right here, and thanks to The Terror Drome for the heads up!
by generalsjoes | Sep 15, 2010 | Comics and Cartoons, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comics, IDW
So, let me get this straight. Mike Costa and Christos Gage have actually introduced and used the characters Croc Master, Golobulus, Serpentor, and Venomous Maximus before Storm Shadow even makes an appearance in the IDW universe?
It’s hilarious…it’s awesome…and it’s a testament to the quality of these writers because they make it work.
To avoid spoilers, click the “Read the rest of this entry” link below for the full review.
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by generalsjoes | Jul 26, 2010 | Comics and Cartoons, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comics, G.I. Joe: Renegades, IDW
GeneralsJoes commenter Nas made the trip to San Diego and was nice enough to bring some little tidbits back with him to share on the site!
First of all, he had a chance to talk with Mike Costa, writer of the amazing G.I. Joe: Cobra series, and here are some cool little bits of info he had to share.
- Originally, his story focused more on the military aspects of Cobra, as opposed to the financial side. As such, he’d intended to have Major Bludd be the primary antagonist, with a surprise reveal of Zartan towards the end!
- However, Major Bludd was on an early “don’t use” list, so editor Andy Schmidt suggested using Tomax and Xamot. Mr. Costa was very clear with me, however, that he never felt stifled by the “don’t use” list from Hasbro, and in fact had nothing but nice things to say in regards to the feedback he received as his comic got edgier and more intense. In fact, when he decided who he wanted to kill off in the book, the character was on the “don’t use” list, but Hasbro complied, based on Costa’s reasoning (My observation- And clearly, how his story was going.)
- When Cobra wrapped, he was asked to continue the story, but wasn’t sure where it could go without it being a rehash. After talking with Andy Schmidt and Chuck Dixon about the direction the series as a whole was heading, Mike felt confident that he could do a quality story, and said we’ll see the two books (GI Joe main series and Cobra) coming together nicely as the third arc wraps.
- He was never a hardcore fan of GI Joe. He had the toys in the house, since his younger brother collected them, but Mike was more of a Transformers fan! He actually credits his lack of fandom to his ability to write a story with no compromises, especially as he’s getting into the Transformers story he’s writing for IDW, and has to struggle more about being precious with the characters.
- I mentioned the awesome and scary takes on Crystal Ball and Croc Master, and how CB looks a lot like Alan Moore. He laughed, and said his intention was to have him look like Rasputin. (My observation- artist Antonio Fuso took that where he wanted it to go, apparently!) But, Alan Moore looks like Rasputin, so there you have it!
Another very cool little part of the SDCC experience was that Nas had a chance, with his son, to become official employees of Cobra Industries! As an added bonus, they get their own name badges… this is BAD ASS. I NEED one of these for myself! Awesome. Check out the images below.
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A huge thanks for Nas for taking the time to relay this information to us!
