G.I. Joe #1 started out as a real disappointment. For years, the Joe team's modus operandi has been keeping out of the public eye. But with this series, they are announced to the world as a special forces unit. The government goes so far as to hand pick members according to demographics that will make them appealing to U.S. citizens, no matter if they're the most qualified soldier for the team. That's a slap in the face to what the core meaning of G.I. Joe has always been. Sure, it makes light of some of the more outlandish aspects of the Joe team, but it also makes fun of the essence of the Joes' history. But the book did pick up in the second half when it got to mission time. The action was intense, and felt like a true military comic. Issue #2 continues that, so hopefully this series continues to straighten out and head in the right direction.
G.I. Joe Special Missions #1 continues the plots set up in the last main Joe series from IDW. This is the hard-nosed, military precision unit that this current run of G.I. Joe has become known for. If the team in the main Joe book is the face of the U.S. military, then Scarlet's team in Special Missions is the behind-the-scenes black ops unit that gets the dirty deeds done discreetly. Chuck Dixon continues his excellence with technical jargon and mission parameters. Paul Gulacy's art is legendary, and to see him take on my beloved Joes is one of the best things to happen in all my years of reading comics. This IS G.I. Joe to me.
G.I. Joe: Cobra Files #1 takes on the unique perspective of showcasing the villains of the Joe universe, an ideal set up in the previous G.I. Joe: Cobra series. The main focus of this series is Flint's undercover unit, but the main star is former Cobra agent turned Joe operative, Chameleon. Her narrative is superb. It takes a very extraordinary individual to completely give up on their life long beliefs to work with the polar opposite viewpoint. Will Chameleon ever revert to her old ways, or will she be able to find a whole new life for herself? And will Cobra allow her to live after exposing all their secrets? That is the ride you will be on if you decide to enlist.
Three monthly titles, with three different styles, yet all three set in the same universe. While you definitely don't need to read all three to enjoy the overall story, together they form a complex and compelling story. I'm not sure IDW needed to go through a whole renumbering of their Joe line, but in today's marketplace, first issues get more press and attention than issue #32s. If this move opens some eyes, then it was a smart move, and hopefully a few of you will be inclined to give it a hearty Yo Joe!
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