G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #312, by Image Comics & Skybound on 12/25/24, continues the Battle for Springfield when Destro shows Serpentor and Cobra Commander the futility of standing against superior weaponry.
Credits:
- Writer: Larry Hama
- Artist: Chris Mooneyham
- Colorist: Francesco Segala, Sabrina Del Grosso
- Letterer: Pat Brosseau
- Cover Artist: Andy Kubert (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: December 25, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #312:
Recap:
When last we left the battle for the fate of Springfield in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #311, all forces converged in the town’s sports field. Cobra Commander’s plot to ambush Serpentor’s invaders worked at first, but the tide turned more than once. The issue ended with Serpentor facing off against Destro on the battlefield.
Plot Analysis:
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #312 begins where the previous issue left off – Destro and Serpentor prepare to engage in single combat. Serpentor’s mutant strength is more than a match for Destro’s skill in hand-to-hand fighting. However, Destro casts aside archaic ideas of honor and calls down a missile strike on Serpentor.
Elsewhere, Serpentor’s mutant army marches through the ruined streets of Springfield on its way to Cobra Commander’s command post in the Community Center. The lead mutant decides to redirect the army to the Springfield Hospital to eliminate future resistance or sneak attacks from the rear after they pass. However, the mutants didn’t plan on meeting a joint force of Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, and the Dreadnoks as they guard the hospital while the Baroness receives urgent care. The mutants soon regret their side trip.
As the one-sided battle nears its end, Destro arrives looking for Baroness. Zartan wheels her hospital bed out after her surgery, and Destro orders a Dominator in to transport the Baroness back to Scotland for treatment. Once the Baroness is on her way, Destro vents his rage.
The issue concludes with Destro calmly walking to the Community Center where Cobra Commander remains safe and secure… for now.
First Impressions:
If you’ve ever had doubts that Destro is a 100% certified badass, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #312 will put those doubts to rest. Writer Larry Hama doesn’t make the journey easy for the world’s greatest arms dealer, but Destro reminds Serpentor and Cobra Commander exactly why superior firepower is invaluable.
Artwork and Presentation:
Chris Mooneyham pulls out all the stops to show readers why Destro is just as capable in a hand-to-hand fight as he is in his command of the battle from a distance. This issue is all about making Destro look powerful, intimidating, and cool at the same time, so Mooneyham focuses every panel on doing just that.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a hundred times. You can excuse all the little ticks, mistakes, and foibles if a single comic has one big idea and presents it in a compelling way. Larry Hama presents one big idea, the notion that Destro was the wrong person Cobra Commander should have messed with, and gives it to you in a hard-hitting narrative.
The Negatives:
As much as this issue plays up Destro’s character as a force to be reckoned with, part of that elevation comes at the expense of Serpentor Khan. The big boss who planned Springfield’s invasion for months is dispatched a little too easily.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
For new readers who might be confused about how G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and the regular G.I. Joe title overlap, they don’t. Larry Hama’s “A Real American Hero” series exists independently from the other G.I. Joe titles or anything happening within the interconnected Energon Universe.
Final Thoughts:
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G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #312 goes out of its way to ensure the biggest badass in G.I. Joe mythology is the one and only Destro. Writer Larry Hama elevates the world’s greatest arms dealer to new heights when he exacts revenge against every enemy, and Chris Mooneyham’s art is glorious.
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