Since it began, Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly’s G.I. Joe has been slowly building up to a conflict between the Real American Heroes and the terrorist organization Cobra. G.I. Joe #5 finally delivers that fight, and it’s nothing short of magnificent. Part of that’s due to the fact that the entire issue more or less takes place within Cobra’s base, meaning the Joes can finally utilize the same weaponry that’s given Cobra the edge against them. Yet Cobra still has the advantage in terms of sheer numbers.
With this issue, Reilly cements himself as one of the most dynamic artists working in the comics business. From the very first page, which features Duke on the end of a brutal beatdown, to Clutch hijacking a Cobra tank and blowing away half of the Cobra soldiers, his line work packs a punch – quite literally, in some cases. And Reilly is always on the move, since each page more or less features a major action beat.
The use of color by Jordie Bellaire is what drives the action home. Whenever there’s a fight sequence, the background, or sometimes even the whole panel, fades to red, representing the sheer adrenaline that Duke and his team are running on. Clutch’s hijacking of the tank leads to the base being plunged into sheer darkness…which is then lit up by radiant bursts of Energon-fueled lasers.
The same principle is applied to Rus Wooton’s letters. The sound effects make every punch feel painful and every explosion jolt you out of your seat, while highlighting the intensity of characters’ dialogue. When Destro swears, you feel that things aren’t working out in his favor.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how all of this unfurls courtesy of Williamson’s script. The man knows how to write an action sequence (while Reilly, Jordaire and Wooton know how to bring it to life), but more importantly he knows how to root the action in character. Duke’s action comes from putting trust in his team; he may not know where Clutch is, but he knows his friend will come through in a pinch. Likewise, Destro is willing to torture and kill the rest of Duke’s team once he sees that the Joes’ leader doesn’t bend under pressure.
The real meat of the character dynamics, though, lies in the actions that Duke and Cobra Commander take. One is willing to risk his own life to save his team, and the rest of the world. The other is willing to sacrifice others to achive his own goals. Williamson previously wrote for both of these characters, but seeing their dueling dynamics in this issue only makes the last page that much more exciting.
G.I. Joe #5 is a blast from start to finish. It pays off plot threads that have been building up since the series’ start, and teases a confrontation that fans have been waiting for. Given the amount of care the creative team have put into this comic so far, they’ll definitely deliver once again.
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