One of the strengths of great G.I. Joe Comics, is that regardless of how absurd the set-ups or plot twists or technology involved in a particular story, the characters generally acted like no nonsense military personnel. They most often made the smart, level-headed decisions that revealed their professionalism, dedication, and training. In IDW's continuation of the Rise of Cobra based continuity, G.I. Joe: Operation HISS, somebody somewhere forgot this lesson, forgot that soldiers and especially officers are not, frankly, idiots. 
On what do I base this review? The fact that in an attempt to infiltrate a private military corporation believed to be linked to Cobra, Hawk sends one of the people he can't possibly send. A person nearly any highly placed person in Cobra is going to be able to make a positive identification of. A soldier who might possibly have been engaged to one of Cobra's top agents. Who was in the US military with Cobra's Commander.
Right. Duke. How is this even possible? How is Duke even considered?
Sure, sure, you can maybe claim I'm just being the fanboy picking apart the book. But on this indefensibly stupid decision...the kind of decision no previous incarnation of Hawk would even have considered...the book falls apart for me. Some might say that with Destro, Baroness, and Cobra Commander in custody (something the first issue of the miniseries breaks out an Exposition Fairy moment to remind us of) this doesn't matter as much. Nonsense; anything connected to Cobra is still going to have too much easy access to information that will allow them to positively ID Duke.
There are things to like about this book; it introduces Dataframe (although, frankly, why it introduces a new character to do what was Breaker's job in the movie is something I don't quite understand). The art has a sharp style that I tend to like, heavy on the ink, but interesting to look at, with clearly defined and flowing action. Major Bludd is appropriately cutthroat and an interesting 'new' villain for the movie continuity, and I love his updated character design (though it could do, perhaps, with a touch less black). If you really enjoy the movie continuity, you probably won't be disappointed by this book.
Maybe Duke is front and center because, in the movie continuity, Duke simply must be front and center. Ultimately that doesn't change my central point; a G.I. Joe book in which Hawk has no critical thinking ability is not one I want to read. I wanted to like this book, and I really enjoy its art. But I can't recommend it.
Dan Ford
Staff Reviewer
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"No! It can't stop there! I need to see what's next!" - me, after gazing at the last panel of G.I. Joe Cobra II #2 I actually said these words. Out loud. I don't do that very often; I love comics, I read dozens every month (including every G.I. Joe book) and while I certainly enjoy them, it isn't often that I say something like that. 
Put it simply; the writing team of Mike Costa and N. Gage are knocking it out of the park every month, and Antonio Fuso's art brings their gritty, unexpected take on the G.I. Joe comic universe to life in an interesting and dynamic way. This issue brings Chuckles back into the game and not as the deranged mess the first issue left us expecting. I was a little worried that the new Joe operative introduced in the previous issue was simply going to be a stand-in for Jinx, sort of a "hey, look, we killed a character but it doesn't matter, because we just replaced her!" thing. Not at all; new character, new name, new specialties, apparently. And while it's possible that it's just a coincidence, she does have a codename that had a previous place in Joe history, one so obscure only the hardiest of fans will pick up on it, and even if the writers were unaware, it still tickled.
Moreover, it marked the second issue in a row where the issue introduced one of the more laughable fringe characters of the Cobra hierarchy and made him interesting and creepy and new. First, Croc Master, now...well, you've probably seen this on the net, but, SPOILER: Crystal Ball...that's right, Crystal Ball. One of the most notorious 'peg-warmers' of the original toy line, who is named by some fan sites as the most universally disliked figure in G.I. Joe history...and I hung on his appearance. The comic pivoted on it. I cared about what happened. And if you have ever enjoyed G.I. Joe comics, if you are interesting in seeing what can be done in the G.I. Joe universe, if you are just interested in plain excellent comic storytelling, so will you.
Of the three concurrently running G.I. Joe titles, Cobra is clearly the best, and it deserves its move to monthly series this coming June. I cannot wait for next month. And the next. And so on.
Dan Ford
Staff Reviewer
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New comics series TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the Wreckers #1 and G.I. JOE: COBRA II #1 both going toG.I. JOE: COBRA II #1 2nd printing cover second printing
The excitement keeps growing for IDW Publishing's TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE comics, with two new sold-out series last week. On Wednesday, January 27th, IDW released G.I. JOE: COBRA II #1, a continuation of the acclaimed COBRA series, and TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS #1, a new miniseries spinning out of IDW's ongoing story. Both comics flew off the shelves and are already sold-out though Diamond. Under license from Hasbro, IDW is rushing to a second printing for each, and fans can expect them in stores on February 10th.
"This is a really exciting time for fans of both TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE," said Andy Schmidt, editor of both lines of comics for IDW. "We've tried a lot of new things and had a lot of success due to the support of not only the existing fan base but also many newer fans who are discovering these comics for the first time."
TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS #1 2nd printing coverIn TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS, fan-favorite writer and artist Nick Roche helms the five-issue series, which rounds out IDW's trifecta of new TRANSFORMERS comics, including the new ongoing series and TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE. WRECKERS gives fans a taste of what's been happening off of Earth as the WRECKERS investigate a prison planet that fell to the evil DECEPTICONS three years ago. Called "a festival of awesome" by TFormers.com, the second printing of WRECKERS #1 will feature a variant cover by Roche.
"TRANSFORMERS fans braved some pretty bad Chicago weather to come out and get TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS#1 on Wednesday. Both old and new fans of TRANSFORMERS alike were quickly drawn to the book due to the amazing art by fan-favorite Nick Roche. And honestly, nobody can resist a Kup story," said Jimmy PS Hayes of Graham Cracker Comics in Wheaton, IL.
Written by Mike Costa and Christos Gage, G.I. JOE: COBRA II continues the danger and suspense of the acclaimed G.I. JOE: COBRA series, as the G.I. JOE team penetrates the evil COBRA organization and eventually comes face to face with COBRA COMMANDER himself. The masterful art of Antonio Fuso gives new layers to the subtle yet undeniable divide that fans have witnessed within COBRA, highlighted in the celebrated G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1. The second printing of G.I. JOE: COBRA II #1 will offer an exclusive new variant cover treatment.
"With the recent success of the G.I. JOE comics, we were on top of this new series and made plans to bring it in. Early demand caused us to increase quantities before release and we still sold out the first week," commented Mike D'Elia of Astro-Zombies in Albuquerque, NM.
TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the Wreckers #1 (of 5; $3.99; 32 page; full color; 2nd printing) will be available in stores on February 10th. Diamond order code: DEC09 8305.
G.I. JOE: COBRA II #1 ($3.99, 32 pages; full color; 2nd printing) will be available in stores on February 10th. Diamond order code: DEC09 8306.
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I should preface this review by saying that I am a moderate fan of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and of several of its tie-in comics. I mention this because it is a very divisive issue within G.I. Joe fandom, and I want anyone reading this to understand I am not merely dismissing the comic because it is tied to the Rise of Cobra universe.G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes #4 is, quite simply, not a good G.I. Joe comic, and not a good comic period.The art is bad. The writing is bad. The plotting is bad. It's bad. It's practically an exemplar of badness. To borrow from P. Opus, "Maybe it wasn't that bad, but Lord, it wasn't good."
And really, it isn't. A Snake-Eyes comic should, probably, prominently feature action, particularly of the ninja variety. This does, only the actual action moments are drawn with the focus so closely on faces, hands, or feet (or the meeting between faces, hands, or feet) that it is very difficult to get a sense of how the fight actually flows. There's no grace in the martial arts here. There also is not much continuity in what happens from panel to panel; one moment, an opponent is wearing an orange robe and is unarmed. The next time Snake-Eyes sees him, a few panels later, with certainly no more than a few seconds passing, he's wearing a black outfit identical to Snake-Eyes', and carrying a sword. That was a quick change. It is even worth mentioning that, in the interim, Snake-Eyes has more or less randomly sprayed bullets around in the area the opponent disappeared to? Is that something a highly trained ninja-commando does?
Later, Snake-Eyes unveils a hand-held EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) device, something which, if he has access to, would be awfully handy against enemy equipment of pretty much any kind. Going to be quite a poser when he and the rest of the Joe team do not just pop those out the next time they are staring down an attack from all that fancy, high-tech Cobra gear, no? It's not that I'm not accepting the sci-fi elements here; they've always been a part of G.I. Joe. I am not accepting that the best use of it is against a single, non-military opponent.
The writing is, as I mentioned, expository, and simplistic. In one panel, the narrative voice actually says that Snake-Eyes' "identity [is] virtually unknown...even to some members of his own team."
That's fan-fiction style. It's not professional. And neither is this comic.
IDW is doing fantastic work with the rest of its Joe titles. G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe: Origins and, especially G.I. Joe Cobra, are great. They are a breath of reviving, original, and sometimes surprisingly gritty air into an old, proud, and occasionally musty franchise that is my oldest favorite. Save your money for the next issue of any of those, or for the trade collections; don't spend it on this.
Written by Ray Park & Kevin VanHook
Drawn by Lee Ferguson
Dan Ford
Staff Reviewer
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G.I. JOE: Operation H.I.S.S. Comic Launches in February
IDW releases story continuation of 2009 blockbuster movie
This February, IDW explores what follows the dramatic ending of this summer's smash-hit movie, G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra. Under license by Hasbro, Inc., G.I. JOE: Operation H.I.S.S. focuses on two of the brand’s main characters, SCARLETT and SNAKE EYES, as they combat the latest plot of the evil and menacing COBRA organization.
The war against COBRA has only just begun as writer Brian Reed (G.I. JOE Special: Agent Helix) unveils the return of the wildly popular STORM SHADOW character and introduces a sinister new character, brought to life by the dynamic art team of Augustin Padilla and Alex Cal, from the popular G.I. JOE: Origins series. G.I. JOE: Operation H.I.S.S., a five-part miniseries, draws readers into a world of danger that threatens to corrupt the heroic G.I. JOE team member, DUKE. Joe Corroney (Star Trek: Mirror Images) provides the variant covers to the hottest title yet to spin out of G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra.
“The G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra publishing program has been one avenue of support for the film’s storyline—until now. With Operation H.I.S.S., we chart new territory and are adding to the strong mythology developed for the film,” said Andy Schmidt, IDW’s G.I. JOE editor. “This series is not about filling in holes and tying up loose ends, it’s about big, over-the-top action while emphasizing what makes these characters great.”
In this latest G.I. JOE adventure, DUKE goes undercover to infiltrate COBRA and encounters MAJOR BLUDD, who makes his first appearance in IDW’s comics.
G.I. JOE: Operation H.I.S.S. #1 (of 5) ($3.99, 32 pages) debuts in February. Diamond order code: DEC09 0888.
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