G.I. Joe‘s biggest draw – other than reuniting the creative team of Josh Williamson and Tom Reilly – is showcasing how the titular team of soldiers are outnumbered, and literally outgunned, by Cobra’s forces. It makes sense, as Cobra not only has the superior firepower due to their Energon weaponry but also strength in numbers. G.I. Joe #4 only turns up the heat on the Joes, as the Crimson Twins Xamot and Tomax have entered the fray.
But Williamson isn’t just shaking things up with the Joes. Over the course of G.I. Joe #4, he reveals some tension in Cobra’s ranks, particularly where Destro and Cobra Commander are concerned. Both villains are already on shaky ground with each other, and even though Cobra Commander has the means to enact his next phase of world domination, Destro is beginning to go behind his back, lighting the match of a powder keg that’s bound to blow up in their faces.
On the other side, the Joes race like hell to stay out of Cobra’s crosshairs. It’s here that Duke makes a seemingly unexpected choice – and while it’s one that shocks his teammates (and probably the reader), it keeps things exciting. Having read Williamson’s work before, particularly his current Superman run, I know that he likes to zig where the reader expects him to zag. Keeping the Superman parallels going, Duke’s decision comes down to not wanting to see innocent people hurt in the Joe/Cobra crossfire, which is something the Man of Steel would definitely endorse.
Skybound
What truly keeps G.I. Joe #4 exciting is Reilly’s artwork. The opening pages begin with Duke, Baroness and Risk in the middle of a chase scene, where each panel not only propels one of the Joes forward but also showcases their character. Baroness is constantly worried about her own safety, Risk is rather pessimistic about their chances of survival, Duke is focused on the mission. Another sequence turns chaotic fast when Cobra corners Stalker and his team of Joes at a military base – bullets fly, bodies drop, and chaos breaks out.
All of this wouldn’t work without Jordie Bellaire’s color art. She utilizes bold colors for backgrounds: yellow for the Joes, bright blue for the Crimson Twins’ Stinger, and red when Stalker’s team is cornered. Not to be outdone, Rus Wooton slaps each page with impossible-to-miss sound effects; the “BANG-SPT” of a sniper’s bullet is just as shocking, and as bloody, as it would be in real life.
G.I. Joe #4 shows no signs of slowing down, as it sows dissension in Cobra’s ranks and puts the Joes in a precarious position. Williamson and Reilly are continuing to fire on every cylinder imaginable, which means that next issue is bound to be one that readers can’t miss. Because with how this one ends, all I was thinking was “how they can top this?!”
You must be logged in to post a comment.