G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #317 – Review

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #317, by Image Comics & Skybound on 6/4/25, sends multiple Joe teams on infiltration missions to spy on the enemy. Can the Joes get ahead of the fallout from the War for Springfield?

Credits:

• Writer: Larry Hama
• Artist: Paul Pelletier, Tony Kordos
• Colorist: Francesco Segala
• Letterer: Pat Brosseau
• Cover Artist: Andy Kubert, Brad Anderson (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: June 4, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

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Analysis of G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #317:

Recap:

When we last left the Joes in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #316, the Joe Ninja Team was called in with a special mission. They will infiltrate Springfield, disguised as the family of a defected Crimson Guardsmen, to find out what’s happening since the War for Springfield concluded. Lastly, Cobra Commander settles into his new position as Destro’s guest in Scotland, but can he survive the Baroness’s wrath?

Plot Analysis:

In G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #317, the War for Springfield is over, but the fallout continues. We begin with Wet-Suite and his recon team coming ashore on Cobra Island to report on what they find. Alpha–001 and Revanche are now in control. The tourists have been mind-wiped and augmented, so everyone is lining up to go him, not realizing that they’re Revanche sleep agents. Meanwhile, Dr. Mindbender comes out of surgery, cured of his mutant infection, and augmented with a host of Revanche upgrades. Wet-Suit reports all he sees back to Duke.

Elsewhere, the Ninja Team arrives in Springfield, disguised as the defected family. Once they pass the security checks, they quickly work to secure the family home and integrate into daily life. The issue ends with Destro making an offer that the Cobra Commander refuses to accept. However, Destro activates several pain chips in the Commander’s body, implanted while the Commander was in surgery. The Baroness is pleased with Destro’s negotiation “tactic.”

First Impressions:

Writer Larry Hama does what he does best in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #317 by moving all the players into strategic positions with military precision, drama, and intrigue. Admittedly, most of this issue feels like a lot of setup, but it’s still entertaining.

Artwork and Presentation:

Paul Pelletier’s gritty, detailed artwork is a fantastic match for Larry Hama’s hard-edged military drama. Pelletier makes great use of silhouettes, shadows, and lighting to capture the stealth activities of the joes in multiple locales. Therefore, the issue has almost no action, but it swells with tension.

Art Samples:

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Story Positives & Negatives:

The Positives:

As setup issues go, Larry Hama’s script is as good as it gets. Every team sneaks into a position to gather intel or establish a presence to move the players forward on their journey. Hama’s use of military jargon and tactics is unparalleled, and the undercurrent of dramatic tension is palpable.

The Negatives:

All the players are moving into position and in roughly the same direction, but we don’t know where that direction is headed or why, which makes it difficult to get on board. Hama hints and teases that bad things are in motion, but it’s a little too vague to establish stakes or a sense of urgency.

Big Picture:

Series Continuity:

For new readers picking this issue up, you may have heard that G.I. Joe and Transformers are overlapping, but that’s not this series. A Real American hero exists in a separate universe/timeline that has nothing to do with Transformers. If you’re interested in the Joes interacting with Transformers, check out Image’s subtitle-less G.I. Joe series.

Final Thoughts:

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G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #317 is an action-free transition issue that still packs in loads of tension, drama, and military flavor as multiple teams use stealth to cross enemy lines. Larry Hama’s knack for military storytelling makes even a setup issue fun, and Paul Pelletier’s atmospheric art is a winner.

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