GI Joe: A Real American Hero #272: Runnin’ with the Night

I remember calling last month’s issue “the calm before the storm,” but this is actually the calm before the storm. At the end of this issue, the Joes, Dreadnoks, Oktober Guard, and Destro’s Iron Grenadiers are literally on their way to get Sean (Snake Eyes) Collins out of the possession of Cobra at any cost. Who could make a whole issue of “driving to a fight” entertaining? Author Larry Hama, that’s who. He’s been doing these types of stories for 272 issues and 99% of them have been ridiculously entertaining, and this issue is no exception. Hama tells a unique story in which almost everybody bands together to go and rescue Sean. While entertaining, the story does make me stop and scratch my head for a minute. Haven’t half these guys tried to legit kill Snake Eyes for the last thirty-seven years? Why all of a sudden does Cobra Commander kidnapping and brainwashing Snake Eyes cross the line? I have a feeling that we’ll get our answer soon enough, but for right now, it doesn’t matter because seeing all those groups of soldiers coming together to fight against a common enemy is really cool.

Artist Netho Diaz, backed up by inkers Brian Atkins & Thiago Gomes turn in a particularly wonderful issue this month, It’s another cast of hundreds issue, each with their own outfits, accessories, weapons and looks and the boys manage to knock it out of the park!!! I won’t even manage the excellent work they did with the many vehicles that appear in this issue. What impressed me most is that you can immediately identify each character. Let’s face it, a lot of the Joes look really similar to each other because they have the same specialties, but Diaz manages to give each one just enough uniqueness to never make you second guess yourself.

I’ve forgotten for like six months now to acknowledge IDW’s Tom Waltz for doing what almost NOBODY else is doing right now: a letters page. Unfortunately, some of you might have to google that, but take it from me, it’s like the “extras” on a DVD. It somehow makes the wait between issues a bit easier, while at the same time it answers all those questions you have that don’t get answered in the stories themselves.