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[LOLtron]

TheGeek checks out the nostalgic GI Joe: A Real American Hero Annual #1! What's he got himself into? Read on to find out!

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Credits & Solicit Info:

STORY BY: Larry Hama
ART BY :Ron Frenz, Ron Wagner, Herb Trimpe
COLORS BY: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS BY: Shawn Lee
PUBLISHER: IDW
COVER PRICE: $7.99

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Review:

My last brush with GI Joe was with the cartoons and the toys, both of which awesomed my mind away as a kid. Now it's 2012, and here I am reviewing GI Joe: A Real American Hero Annual...how will my first foray into the comics fare?

After reading it from cover to cover, I can safely shout at the top of my lungs, "Yo Joe!"

Larry Hama pens this particular tale that's ripped straight from recent headlines...a disgruntled ex-employee is dissilusioned about the American Dream, seeing all the news of rising unemployment rates and shrinking economy, and feeling he's got to do something about it. Too bad the guy is a Cobra sleeper agent...and a member of the ruthless Crimson Guard! Now, GI Joe (and even Cobra!) is racing against time to stop him from committing the crime of the century!

I gotta say, Hama's still got it. The book is nostalgic, reading more like a good episode of the cartoon than a comic. It's a combination of memorable characters (Scarlett and Zartan, two of my faves, get some good screentime here), a fun dip into GI Joe lore (learn about what the Crimson Guards are all about here!) and an exciting story that just begs to have the GI Joe solve.

What's really amazing is that the comic's got it's share of action, while never showing any blood or guts lying around. Far from looking sanitized, Hama proves here that it's possible to show action without being all messy about it. I'm not particularly squeamish, but I appreciate the fact that someone out there had the guts to do that.

The art is classy, with big names like Ron Frenz, Ron Wagner, Herb Trimpe, Sal Buscema and Rachelle Rosenberg working on the book to give life to Hama's story. I catch myself smiling seeing how timeless the book looks, like I could pick it up and not have it feel dated. Props all around.

Bottom line is, if you want a good old-fashioned GI Joe yarn by Larry Hama, with the right amount of action, danger and fun, the GI Joe: A Real American Hero Annual is your best bet.

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Review by: TheGeek


http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/reviews/comics-reviews/18544-review-gi-joe-a-real-american-hero-annual-1.html/

[DMM]

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a great series. So, if you liked the Annual, you should start reading the regular book. If I could only buy one comic book a month, it would be G.I. Joe: ARAH.

[TROY]

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a great series. So, if you liked the Annual, you should start reading the regular book. If I could only buy one comic book a month, it would be G.I. Joe: ARAH.

Yeah I picked up the Annual and latest issue #175 I think this week and I am sold. I will continue on reading the series from here forward, great great stuff from Hama that reminded me of loving the old Joe series from Marvel as a kid.

[US Agent]

This is the only book I buy both the floppies and the trades. It's a good series and has that feel of an 80's comic.

I did pick up the Annual, but for $8 I thought it fell a little flat. Having all the classic artists on it though more than made up for it.

The Yearbook Trade came out this week as well. All four Yearbooks from the Marvel series collected for the first time.

[Zechs]

I haven't gotten this yet. I'll probably get it tomorrow. I can't wait. RAH is one of my fav books right now.

[Miracloman]

The Crimson Guard have one of the most awesome looking uniform ever wore by a collection of "cannon fodder witless minions/goons".

[DMM]

The Crimson Guard have one of the most awesome looking uniform ever wore by a collection of "cannon fodder witless minions/goons".

hell yeah. The original action figures for them were the coolest. I never had one (my best friend did). But now that I am an adult, I've bought myself like 10 of them on Ebay.

[Benderbrau]

The Crimson Guard have one of the most awesome looking uniform ever wore by a collection of "cannon fodder witless minions/goons".

Seconded

[Benderbrau]

They still make annuals?

[Johnny Smith]

It was a fun read. The Cobra Commander-Dr.Mindbender scenes always crack me up.

[Zechs]

I just read this. What a great read. It puts any DC/Marvel book to shame. Nobody can write these characters like Hama. His writing style for action is the best. And the characters he writes always memorable. Like in the review above stated, Hama knows perfectly how to handle the violence level. Just by showing off screen or hinting at what happen is so superior than actually showing the event other comics have (and fail at it).

I was rereading Classics vol. 8 before reading this. I was just thinking about those crazy yet scene stealing Dreadnoks. Anytime they're front and center magic happens.

I totally forgot the Fred's were just one variation of the Crimson Guard. I wonder what Hama will do next with them given they're going to have a key part in this Gray Ninja Saga very soon. But I agree that their costume is one of the best of the Cobra Grunts (the only one that is on part with them for me is the regular Viper or Alley Viper uniforms).

[Miracloman]

I just read this. What a great read. It puts any DC/Marvel book to shame. Nobody can write these characters like Hama. His writing style for action is the best. And the characters he writes always memorable. Like in the review above stated, Hama knows perfectly how to handle the violence level. Just by showing off screen or hinting at what happen is so superior than actually showing the event other comics have (and fail at it).

I was rereading Classics vol. 8 before reading this. I was just thinking about those crazy yet scene stealing Dreadnoks. Anytime they're front and center magic happens.

I totally forgot the Fred's were just one variation of the Crimson Guard. I wonder what Hama will do next with them given they're going to have a key part in this Gray Ninja Saga very soon. But I agree that their costume is one of the best of the Cobra Grunts (the only one that is on part with them for me is the regular Viper or Alley Viper uniforms).

The Iron Grenadiers also had some sweet duds.

[Zechs]

[/b]


The Iron Grenadiers also had some sweet duds.

Are they Cobra grunts?

[GHERU]

I really did not like this issue
The writing was so corny and out of tune with the rest of this series that it kept pulling me out of the book. There was a span of 4 pages where some variation of the phrase "we got lucky" was used way too many times, and thats just one example.

I love this series and weil continue to push it on everyone I know, but not the annual.

[avengingtitan]

Are they Cobra grunts?

No those are clearly labeled Iron Grenadiers. They are DESTRO's elite troops, also clearly marked.