G.I. JOE

• Title: G.I. JOE: Special Missions #5
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Chuck Dixon
• Artist: William Rosado

When the Chinese Government forces down a Cobra spy satellite using a combination of a high and low tech assault, the satellite crashes to Earth somewhere in the middle of the Australian outback. The JOEs send Roadblock, Tripwire, Hard Drive, Beach Head, and Spirit to retrieve the remains of which contain vital information about Destro‘s M.A.S.S. Project.

The team runs into trouble, first from the half-crazed nomad who decides to drag away what he believes is a UFO and then from an old enemy. Zartan has built himself his own personal army of road warriors since Snake Eyes blasted him from the skies over Australia, and now with the M.A.S.S. data one of Cobra’s former top lieutenants once again has real power at his fingertips.

G.I. JOE: Special Missions #5 does a good job of reintroducing Zartan and giving an explanation of how and why the master of disguise would put a crew like the Dreadnoks together. The issue introduces Buzzer, Ripper, Thrasher, Crusher, and an unnamed character I’m guessing to be either Zanya or Zarana. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE: Special Missions #4
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Chuck Dixon
• Artist: Paul Gulacy

And then everything goes straight to hell. The final issue of this first arc doesn’t end well for anyone. First, the Baroness has to deal with the mutiny of the mercenaries who have decided they’d rather kill her and take Cobra’s cash for their own. Next, Serpentor‘s Coil soldiers arrive to retreive the money and the Baroness’ head. And finally, the group of JOEs are stuck in the middle of everything as all hell breaks loose and the storm picks up, threatening to sink everyone aboard.

The JOEs are able to successfully tag Cobra’s money, but with it all once again buried at the bottom of the ocean it’s not really a victory worth celebrating. The Baroness gets away, although without the plunder she was seeking, and Coil is left empty-handed as well. And to save their teammates aboard the ship, Scarlett and Mainframe are forced to put their own lives at risk as well.

Although we didn’t get as much Scarlett as expected, this is good end to a pretty good opening arc although it still hasn’t sold me completely on the series. Next month: Dreadnoks. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: G.I. JOE: The Cobra Files #3
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mike Costa
• Artist: Antonio Fuso

Without Duke‘s permission, who doesn’t learn until after the fact, Flint goes ahead and puts his plan in action by hiring the Tiger Team known as the Night Creepers to burgle the JOEs home base inside the Pentagon. The first-half of the plan goes off without a hitch, as the group find holes in the heroes security and get the job done. The second-half of the plan falls apart, however, as Flint is kidnapped by the team’s middle man when he meets to set-up a second job.

The latest issue does have much action, and actually give us Chameleon, Lady Jaye and Ronin doing nothing more than sitting around and waiting for Flint’s call when his plan goes south. When Flint misses their rendevous the deadly female threesome realize they now they need to plan a rescue mission as well as taking down the Night Creepers.

Although light on action there’s plenty of story here that sets up a big throwdown between the team and the Night Creepers to come. This issue also gives us Tomax continuing to play his mind games on Clockspring and turn one of Chameleon’s most loyal soldiers against her. Worth a look.

[IDW, $2.99]