G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #307, by Image Comics & Skybound on 6/19/24, sends a small team of Joes to infiltrate Cobra Island, where they witness Serpentor’s latest Ravanche purchase.
Credits:
- Writer: Larry Hama
- Artist: Paul Pelletier, Tony Kordos
- Colorist: Francesco Segala, Sabrina Del Grosso
- Letterer: Pat Brosseau
- Cover Artist: Andy Kubert, Brad Anderson
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: June 19, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #307:
Plot Analysis:
Say what you will about Larry Hama’s slow but steady crawl to war, G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #307 delivers the goods. If you want military action, intrigue, adventure, and excitement, you’ll get it.
When last we left the G.I. Joe in issue #306, Serpentor’s plans to double cross everyone, including Revanche and Destro, bore fruit. However, Serpentor’s schemes didn’t go completely undiscovered, leading to multiple plots to feed the mutant leader false information. Meanwhile, Dawn Moreno’s parents met a violent end when they tried to leave Springfield.
In G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #307, we begin with Serpentor taking delivery of a Revanche long-range stealth bomber customized to Serpentor’s specifications. The team of Joes that parachuted onto Cobra Island at the end of the last issue recorded the transaction and reported their findings to The Pit.
The satellite signal is detected by one of Serpentor’s mutant soldiers. The leader orders his men to track down and capture the intruders alive so he can interrogate them personally.
Meanwhile, Duke requests a meeting with Dawn Moreno to deliver bad news. The Joes who monitor communication in Springfield received word that Dawn’s parents were killed in a traffic stop. All Joes present lend their support to Dawn in her time of grief.
Elsewhere, the infiltration team narrowly escapes capture by Serpentor’s forces. Since their enemies have orders to take them alive, that order gives the Joes an edge in hand-to-hand combat. The Joes head to the beach to find a place to hide.
In Scotland, Destro spends time with Baroness and Zartan as they discuss their plans. One of Destro’s lieutenants interrupts the discussion to deliver a private message to Destro. When the arms dealer excuses himself to receive the message, the lieutenant reveals himself as the true Zartan.
The issue concludes with the Joe infiltration team on Cobra Island narrowly evading capture. But their success is short-lived when a pair of upgraded B.A.T.S. are airdropped onto the beach. The Joe team is captured within moments.
Character Development:
G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #307 impacts multiple characters by revealing new information that forces those characters to react to surprising twists and turns.
Dawn Moreno is shocked to learn her parents are dead. Will that news hinder her ability to do her duty in the face of impending war?
The Joes learn that Serpentor is acquiring long-range stealth bombers, confirming Serpentor’s intentions to attack Springfield. Will that news spur the Joes into developing a new strategy against the mutant terrorist leader?
The Joes’ infiltration team has been discovered and captured. Can Duke afford to divert G.I. Joe to form a rescue mission with war on the horizon?
Artwork and Presentation:
Paul Pelletier and Tony Kordos deliver a sharp, crisp, action-packed set of visuals that are good enough to make any G.I. Joe fan happy. In fairness, the art style is more in line with current-era comics, which means it lacks the dramatic shadows and grittiness of Chris Mooneyham’s art, but the art team’s output here serves the story well.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Larry Hama is synonymous with G.I. Joe comics, so there’s no question that he gets the names, cameos, military jargon, and mission protocols exactly right. Serpentor is gearing up for war, and Hama’s plot construction lays out the precise methodology an army goes through to make war possible.
That said, digging into the minutiae of reconnaissance, arms purchases, and the logistics of strategizing may not be everyone’s cup of tea or appeal to readers who like their action comics with a little more splash in their story. That’s not to say a casual reader won’t enjoy this issue, but Hama’s structure and pace are dogmatically suited for existing G.I. Joe fans.
Thematic Exploration:
If it wasn’t obvious, the theme of this entire series centers around the machinations and intrigue in the lead-up to war.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Readers aware of the other Skybound titles sourced from the Hasbro license may wonder where this issue and the series sit within the integrated Energon universe. It doesn’t. G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO exists separate from anything Energon-related or the past and present miniseries spotlighting G.I. Joe characters.
Final Thoughts:
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G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #307 is another solid entry in the series that mixes military action, twists, turns, and shifting alliances in the face of Serpentor’s deceptions. The art team turned in a great set of visuals, and Larry Hama’s script is as authentic a G.I. Joe experience as you can get.
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