G.I. JOE

• Title: G.I. JOE: Special Missions #9
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Chuck Dixon
• Artist: S.L. Gallant

The latest issue of G.I. JOE: Special Missions centers around one of the least heroic members of the team, Bildocker, whose uncanny ability to scavenge, locate, and trade for necessary ordinance and intel is matched by the overweight desk jock’s lack use in the field that certainly separates him from his more heroic teammates.

With Dial Tone along for the ride, Bildocker soon finds himself in way over his head in the bayou’s as a trip to an old friend to get what Roadblock and Mainframe need for their latest mission gets the pair attacked by Cobra troops and in a fight for their lives far from any back-up.

G.I. JOE: Special Missions #9 is an interesting issue because it reminds us that there are many jobs various JOEs are called on to do and not all of them are as heroic as those on the front lines. He may not fit the mold, but Bildocker is a vial member of the team. Although we only get a single issue for his story, I wouldn’t mind seeing Bildocker pop-up again sometime down the line. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE: The Cobra Files #8
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mike Costa
• Artist: Werther Dell’Edera

Tomax is loose, the secret Las Vegas facility has been breached by Firefly and Night Adder, and thanks to Clockspring‘s unintentional cooperation every member of the team is now in jeopardy.

A drunk, drugged, and beaten Flint shows that he still has some fight left in him by throwing one of their unwelcome party guests out a very high window and saving the lives of both Billy and Ronin in the process.

Heading into next month’s final issue of the title it appears no matter who survives Tomax’s betrayal, Flint’s team is done. I don’t see IDW willing to kill any major characters such as Flint or Lady Jaye, but the setting for the finale leaves the fate of several of the team’s lesser members, possibly even Chameleon (who doesn’t quite fit in either of the other current JOE titles) a bit more uncertain. I’m been meaning to drop at least one of the G.I. JOE titles for awhile now, and it looks like IDW’s made the choice for me. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE #9
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Fred Van Lente
• Artist: Steve Kurth

As the separate JOE teams take on the three Cobra attacks which came from Duke‘s new source, Destro and the Baroness contact the JOE leader under the old proverb “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and lead Duke to the lair of the Mad Monk. What Duke and Destro don’t realize, however, is the new head of Cobra’s operations in New York is two-steps ahead of them.

Destro receives an unexpected visit from the new Cobra Commander, and his elite strike force, who is none to pleased to discover Destro has sold out a member of Cobra to G.I. JOE. Meanwhile, Duke doesn’t realize every move he takes makes him look that much more guilty to his team who have already begun to suspect that Duke may be Cobra’s mole.

The issue ends with Scarlett and her team unable to deny the damning evidence and setting out after their leader and the Mad Monk captured by Duke who is shocked to learn the final card the villain has left to play concerning Duke’s wife. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]