G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #309, by Image Comics & Skybound on 8/21/24, goes full-throttle into the battle of Springfield when Serpentor’s invaders attack everyone in sight.
Credits:
- Writer: Larry Hama
- Artist: Paul Pelletier, Tony Kordos
- Colorist: Francesco Segala
- Letterer: Pat Broasseau
- Cover Artist: Andy Kubert, Brad Anderson (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: August 21, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #309:
First Impressions:
Nobody knows G.I. Joe better than Larry Hama. If issue #309 is any indication, Hama’s talent for military action stories with a sci-fi twist is only getting better with time. Mixing equal parts action, military tactics, and emotional drama, this issue is a pristine example of a war comic done right.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the Joes in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #308, Serpentor launched his long-gestating attack against Springfield by dropping cybernetically-enhanced mutants onto the town from custom-designed bombers provided by Revanche. Coincidentally, Zartan and Baroness led the Dreadnoks into the heart of Springfield when Scarlett arrived with a ninja strike team. Meanwhile, the captured Joe recon team on Cobra Island escaped their holding cell and made a curious discovery in Dr. Mindbender’s lab.
In G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #309, the battle for Springfield continues in earnest. Enhanced Cyborgs land in the middle of town to attack any resistance from Cobra Commander’s forces. At first, Cobra Commander’s soldiers are outmatched since the Enhance Cyborg body armor is nigh impenetrable, but an armored Cobra Commander leaps into action to show his troops the vulnerable point on mutant bodies to take them down, sending a rallying ripple through the defensive forces of Springfield.
After months of planning and maneuvering, Larry Hama steps on the battle gas and doesn’t let up for one panel throughout this issue. The opening battle exchange helps the readers understand how tough the Enhanced Cyborgs are, and Cobra Commander’s impressive performance creates a morale boost that shows the readers this fight is far from a route.
Meanwhile, Zartan helps the Baroness escape their crashed truck while the Dreadnoks free up their Thunder Machine to lay down cover fire against Maggots and H.I.S.S. tanks. Technically, Zartan is on the same side as Serpentor, but the Enhanced Cyborgs and Cobra Commander’s forces are attacking anything that moves.
This scene involving Zartan and Baroness accomplishes two key points that could come into play later. First, Serpentor’s invasion of Springfield has at least one rogue element running around that could help or hurt the invasion effort. Second, the possibility of friendly fire on either side of the conflict has gone up significantly.
Elsewhere, Scarlett and the ninja strike team stealthily work through the town, looking for vantage points and reporting the developments back to The Pit. The team happens upon a crashed police cruiser with the driver trapped inside. Unfortunately, the driver recognizes Dawn Moreno when the team moves to help, and he begs for forgiveness because he is the cop who opened fire on Dawn’s parents in issue #306. Unable to free the police officer when attacking forces arrive, the ninja team is forced to flee.
On Cobra Island, the Joe recon team loads up the frozen “body” and Dr. Mindbender on a transport. The undead clone in the container is well-protected and well-preserved, according to Mindbender, but the team isn’t taking any chances. They speed away to a secret location near the shore to uncover an inflatable dingy as a means of escape.
The issue concludes with Cobra Commander continuing to rally his troops, but it’s not what you think, Serpentor deciding to get his hands dirty, and Dawn opting to go AWOL.
Overall, Larry Hama delivers a fast-paced, action-heavy issue that keeps multiple teams moving toward their respective goals. Hama’s dramatic elements hit as hard as the ordinance, and there’s no telling where this story will go next.
Artwork and Presentation:
Paul Pelletier and Tony Kordos deliver a kinetic set of visuals to masterfully complement Larry Hama’s tense war drama. The sheer volume of disparate character designs is impressive, and the panel compositions are exceptional. The art team has been firing on all cylinders since taking over for Chris Mooneyham.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
If you’re new to this title or our reviews, you may wonder where it fits within the interconnected Energon universe from Skybound. Although this series comes from Skybound, it sits outside the interconnected Energon universe, so don’t look for any Transformers to show up anytime soon.
Final Thoughts:
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G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #309 is a fast-paced action-fest from start to finish. Larry Hama keeps a surprising number of teams moving in different directions to keep the variety and dramatic complexity high, and the art team’s output looks great. This series is one of the consistently best comics out of Skybound since they acquired the Hasbro license.
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