Fans of Josh Williamson’s G.I. Joe run will be happy to learn that the title’s now going bimonthly for its “Dreadnok War” storyline. That’s only fitting, given that Williamson and Tom Reilly have hyped up the storyline as the biggest they’ve ever done in the book, but a question remains: can they keep up the forward momentum they built in the previous issue? Not only is the answer a resounding “yes”, but Williamson and Reilly show they’re going to push the envelope as far as they can.
The opening pages more or less hammer this home, as Duke and Cobra Commander are on the run from a legion of Dreadnoks. This sequence works on two fronts. First, it’s a chance for Reilly to show off more of his incredible style. A two-page spread features Duke’s jeep racing down the road, with the Dreadnok horde in full pursuit. It feels like a scene out of Mad Max: Fury Road, especially with the post-apocalyptic punk gear and makeshift weapons the Dreadnoks are sporting. It only gets more intense from there, thanks to a chainsaw-wielding maniac and a chase into a desert crevice.
The second half lies in Williamson’s ability to keep both action and story rooted in character. The Dreadnoks are willing to burn through their forces and vehicles as long as they can take out Cobra Commander. Simultaneously, the Commander points out to Duke that, despite being enemies, they have to work together. And that’s not even getting into how Destro is slowly taking over Cobra, or G.I. Joe is finding itself short-staffed at a critical moment. Williamson takes the old Joe tropes and gives them a realistic spin, or as realistic in a world with laser guns and giant robots that you can get.
I also love that G.I. Joe #14 isn’t making it easy on the not-so-dynamic duo. Not only does Duke lose his jeep, but he also has to sacrifice some of his weaponry to get an edge on the Dreadnoks. Cobra Commander arguably gets it the worst. He lost his cybernetic hand to a buzzsaw in the first issue, and suffers an attack so grievous that readers will be left wondering how he survived. On the one hand, it’s satisfying to see the Commander being put through his paces. On the other, it’s one of those things you can actively feel.
The last pages of the issue feature a frightening new antagonist who’s a deep cut from G.I. Joe lore, and also puts Duke and Cobra Commander between a metaphorical rock and a hard place. It also kept me on the edge of my seat, which is a sign that your story’s working. In an era when the gap between television and movie seasons has widened, comics remain one of the last truly serial experiences, and this creative team knows how to make that work to their advantage.
G.I. Joe #14 maintains a new sense of forward momentum, pitting Duke and Cobra Commander against escalating danger while keeping the reader hooked on every page. I never thought I’d be anticipating a G.I. Joe comic every month, but Williamson and Reilly are just that good at their jobs.
