G.I. So Awesome

[BentonGrey]

Are you reading the renewal of Larry Hama's classic G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero?  If not, do you hate America AND good stories?  Those or bat-guano-style insanity are the only reasons I can think of NOT to be reading this book.  It's ridiculously awesome, ridiculously well written, and continues to blow my mind issue to issue.  I just finished 187, an issue that wrapped up a recent storyline involving a nuclear device, several competing factions, and about a thousand and one incredibly well manipulated and blended story threads that were woven into a great tale of intrigue within intrigue and heroism under fire.  As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that these new issues are the best JOE books Hama has ever written.  If you're a fan of the original series, you NEED to read these.  If you aren't, you should read the old ones, THEN read these.  If you're bat-guano insane, you have my condolences. 

[BentonGrey]

Yep.  IDW is putting out some cool books these days.

[BentonGrey]

Well Kommando, I think I can very safely say that if you enjoyed the original run of Hama's JOE book, you'll love this continuation.  It's everything that was good about that original run, and all without the occasionally heavy-handed Hasbro influence that created the sillier moments of that series.  There's no-one telling Hama, "you've got to include this character or this vehicle," so he can tell his own stories at his own pace.  Man, just wait until you get to the Blue Ninja saga...haha, there's a lot of really exciting stuff ahead of you!

[BentonGrey]

Has anyone else been reading this series?  I just read 214 and 215, and I'm man enough to admit that I got a bit misty-eyed. 

Spoiler

Snake-Eyes, my favorite JOE, and one of my favorite comic characters at large, has left this mortal coil.  He went out in about the most spectacular way possible, and I suppose it was a good death, but I wish that we had gotten a bit more about HIM in this arc.  I suppose I shouldn't complain, though, as we've gotten more of him than just about anyone else over the history of G.I. JOE.

If you're not reading this series, you really should be.

[oldmanwinters]

I recently picked up one of the 1st season DVD sets, and remembered the show's old school 80s charm.  Most of those episodes are very well animated and the voice acting is great.  "The Viper is Coming" is just a delightful episode.  Apparently,  the old Marvel comics preceded the cartoon?  I didn't know that until I watched the DVD bonus features.  Good to know the IDW series retains some of that  crazy fun factor.