GI Joe #6: More Than Meets The Eye

In GI Joe #6 author Paul Allor continues this brand new version of GI Joe that’s become SO popular SO fast, and it’s easy to tell why. It has 90% of what GI Joe, as a brand is and has been since the early 80s and 20% updating that formula for today’s audience. And I’m not talking about the stuff that every author does like including iPhones and sending messages via Snapchat or Instagram. He’s updated things to reflect how things look in my neighborhood, in your neighborhood,  and how people dress, act, and behave right outside your door. Honestly, this is one of, if not the most, unique “reboots” I’ve ever read and trust me, I’ve read more than you have. A LOT more. The bad news is that this issue is mostly talking. The good news is that the words tell an amazing story.

Honestly, I really disliked this issue until about the last four pages. While reading it I was racking my brain thinking “what’s the nicest possible way to tell people to skip this issue?”. But I’m really glad that I was really wrong. The story that’s told throughout the issue is one that you think you know the ending to, one that you’ve read a million times, one where you can easily predict the next beat before you read it. But Mr. Allor manages to pull a fast one and in the end, this comic is SOOOOOOOOOOO good!!

Speaking of good, that’s only one of many adjectives I’d use to describe artist Chris Evenhuis’ work. He turns out a couple of new designs this issue that looks like a natural evolution of what the original designs were. Plus, the man definitely knows how to tell a story. If you haven’t already, do yourself and check out his art.