G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #311 – New Comic Review

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #311, by Image Comics & Skybound on 11/20/24, continues the battle for Springfield when Cobra Commander gains the upper hand and loses it but may get it back again.

Credits:

• Writer: Larry Hama
• Artist: Chris Mooneyham
• Colorist: Francesco Segala
• Letterer: Pat Brosseau
• Cover Artist: Andy Kubert, Tamra Bonvillain (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: November 20, 2024
• Comic Rating: Teen (for violence)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

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Analysis of G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #311:

First Impressions:

Talk about a tug-of-war of action. Writer Larry Hama pulls out all the stops to ensure there’s no sure winner in the battle for Springfield as momentum shifts from one side to the other in a non-stop battle comic. At this point, the winner is anyone’s guess.

Plot Analysis:

When last we left the Joes in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #310, all forces converged in the battle for Springfield. Scarlett and the ninja team snaked their way through the town, but the group was sidetracked when Dawn encountered the policeman who killed her parents. Zoltan and the Dreadnoks fought their way through Serpentor’s mutants, but Zoltan was forced to form an unlikely alliance when Baroness was critically wounded. Meanwhile, Serpentor left Cobra Island to lead his forces in battle personally, but Cobra Commander may have a big surprise waiting for Serpentor and his mutant army. And the Joe recon team escaped Cobra Island with a frozen clone of the original Serpentor.

In G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #311, the battle for Springfield continues. Murphy’s Law states that whatever can go wrong will go wrong, but in this case, luck is on Cobra Commander’s side. His gambit to lure the mutant army onto the school field with a fake tactical retreat works and the mutants are decimated by an air assault from Cobra Commander’s forces.

Larry Hama proves to be the master of suspense when he appears to show readers that victory is assured for one team before snatching victory away to head in another direction. If you thought this battle would be an easy win, you’re mistaken.

Elsewhere, the unlikely partnership of Joe Ninjas and Dreadnoks arrives at the Springfield hospital. Zartan shapeshifts into the visage of Cobra Commander and orders the staff to put all resources into tending the Baroness’s injuries. Meanwhile, Cobra Commander orders his flying assault to wipe out the remaining mutants when suddenly, the aircraft are attacked by Serpentor’s Night Ravens. Reinforcements have arrived to turn Cobra Commander’s fake retreat into a real one.

Hama leans heavily on the last-minute twist to keep the ebb and flow of battle going as long as possible. Instead of drawing out the fight with a stalemate, Serpentor’s arrival is a smart way to extend the action while keeping it interesting.

Serpentor lands on the battlefield to press the advantage. Suddenly, Serpentor’s Night Ravens take heavy fire from the arrival of Destro and his army of well-equipped mercenaries. The issue concludes with more mutants, more mayhem, and two leaders facing off in single combat.

Overall, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #311 exemplifies everything you want in a hard-fought military action comic. Hama’s authentic battle tactics and energetic plot make this issue the war comic to beat, even if it has a sci-fi twist.

Artwork and Presentation:

The great Chris Mooneyham has returned in the nick of time to lend his artistic talents to the infernal heat of battle in the most thrilling issue to date. Mooneyham’s talent for eye-catching details, hyper-expressive gestures, and dramatic shading are in top form.

Art Samples:

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The Bigger Picture:

Series Continuity:

Let’s get the obvious question out of the way. With the release of the Energon Universe’s version of G.I. Joe, readers will wonder how the two series connect and, more importantly, which one is better. To answer the first question, each series exists independently of the other in separate timelines or universes, so there is no overlap. As for the second question, nothing beats the original.

Final Thoughts:

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G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #311 takes readers on a wild ride as the battle for Springfield rages, with the momentum shifting to and fro at a moment’s notice. Larry Hama gives you all the hardened battle action you can take, and the return of Chris Mooneyham results in a comic that’s never looked better.

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