Nathan P. Mahney
Feb 27, 2004, 09:02 am
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ind/gijoe27.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ind/gijoe27t.jpg" align=left alt="G.I. Joe #27"></a>Reviewer: Nathan P. Mahney, npmahney@yahoo.com.au
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: "Paradigm Shift"
A ninja in the hand is worth two on the end of your sword...
Story: Brandon Jerwa
Pencils: Tim Seeley
Inks: Cory Hamscher
Coloring: Brett R. Smith
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Brandon Jerwa and the team at Devil's Due must hate me. My ego is big enough to assume that they've been reading my reviews for the past few months, and I can't say I've been all that flattering to their work. To them I say: relax, guys! This month, things will be different.
Jerwa's second issue, G.I. Joe #27, is a remarkable improvement on his previous work. This title is interesting again, which it hasn't really been for some time. I have to say that I was surprised; I wasn't expecting a great deal. But Jerwa delivers, with an entertaining main plot and a whole host of subplots just waiting to surface.
Cobra Commander has crawled out from under his rock, accompanied by Storm Shadow, and taken refuge with the Red Ninja clan. The Joes catch wind of this, and send a team in to capture the head snake. The snag is that this will throw Snake-Eyes once more into conflict with his former friend Storm Shadow. Can Snake-Eyes put aside his doubts and get the job done? Don't ask me, buy the damn book!
So yes, Snake-Eyes is once again the focus of the story. I love the guy, but I have to admit that I'd grown a little bored with him. He has no mystery left. We've seen his face, heard his voice, learned his past. I'm happy to report that there is still good material to be explored within the character. Aside from his conflict with Storm Shadow, there is a scene with Hawk that I never knew I wanted to see until I saw it. And the surprise ending opens up all sorts of intriguing territory.
As for the other character, we get a good mixture of the majors and the minors. I've complained before about Jerwa's seeming to desire to expand the Joe team beyond what I'm comfortable with, but I'm starting to see his pattern. He uses the major characters who are important to the plot, the mainstays like Snake-Eyes, Scarlett and Cobra Commander, and develops their personalities. The minor characters used are selected logically for the mission at hand, and left as background so that they don't take the limelight from the big guns. Now that I've identified the approach, I find that I like it.
Tim Seeley's pencils are growing on me. They still retain a somewhat flat look, and there are some points where the storytelling is a bit dodgy, but I'm beginning to like it. The art in the first half of the book was quite likeable, but once the Joes enter the Red Ninja temple, it starts to fall apart slightly. I think the fault lies with the colourist; the combination of overly bright flames with overly murky shadows obscures some of the details. It's only a minor complaint though, and certainly not enough to lessen my enjoyment of the story.
Aside from the art, G.I. Joe #27 is a fine-looking product. The cover and paper stock are thick and glossy; the comic feels very sturdy. It's a wonderful package for the price.
It's great to see a return to form for G.I. Joe. Entertaining story, good art, and the main plot's all wrapped up inside of a single issue. Bravo Devil's Due. See, I like you now!
ART:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gihalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg
STORY:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gihalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1099&cat=GI+JOE+%28DEVILS+DUE%29)
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: "Paradigm Shift"
A ninja in the hand is worth two on the end of your sword...
Story: Brandon Jerwa
Pencils: Tim Seeley
Inks: Cory Hamscher
Coloring: Brett R. Smith
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Brandon Jerwa and the team at Devil's Due must hate me. My ego is big enough to assume that they've been reading my reviews for the past few months, and I can't say I've been all that flattering to their work. To them I say: relax, guys! This month, things will be different.
Jerwa's second issue, G.I. Joe #27, is a remarkable improvement on his previous work. This title is interesting again, which it hasn't really been for some time. I have to say that I was surprised; I wasn't expecting a great deal. But Jerwa delivers, with an entertaining main plot and a whole host of subplots just waiting to surface.
Cobra Commander has crawled out from under his rock, accompanied by Storm Shadow, and taken refuge with the Red Ninja clan. The Joes catch wind of this, and send a team in to capture the head snake. The snag is that this will throw Snake-Eyes once more into conflict with his former friend Storm Shadow. Can Snake-Eyes put aside his doubts and get the job done? Don't ask me, buy the damn book!
So yes, Snake-Eyes is once again the focus of the story. I love the guy, but I have to admit that I'd grown a little bored with him. He has no mystery left. We've seen his face, heard his voice, learned his past. I'm happy to report that there is still good material to be explored within the character. Aside from his conflict with Storm Shadow, there is a scene with Hawk that I never knew I wanted to see until I saw it. And the surprise ending opens up all sorts of intriguing territory.
As for the other character, we get a good mixture of the majors and the minors. I've complained before about Jerwa's seeming to desire to expand the Joe team beyond what I'm comfortable with, but I'm starting to see his pattern. He uses the major characters who are important to the plot, the mainstays like Snake-Eyes, Scarlett and Cobra Commander, and develops their personalities. The minor characters used are selected logically for the mission at hand, and left as background so that they don't take the limelight from the big guns. Now that I've identified the approach, I find that I like it.
Tim Seeley's pencils are growing on me. They still retain a somewhat flat look, and there are some points where the storytelling is a bit dodgy, but I'm beginning to like it. The art in the first half of the book was quite likeable, but once the Joes enter the Red Ninja temple, it starts to fall apart slightly. I think the fault lies with the colourist; the combination of overly bright flames with overly murky shadows obscures some of the details. It's only a minor complaint though, and certainly not enough to lessen my enjoyment of the story.
Aside from the art, G.I. Joe #27 is a fine-looking product. The cover and paper stock are thick and glossy; the comic feels very sturdy. It's a wonderful package for the price.
It's great to see a return to form for G.I. Joe. Entertaining story, good art, and the main plot's all wrapped up inside of a single issue. Bravo Devil's Due. See, I like you now!
ART:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gihalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg
STORY:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gihalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ginone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1099&cat=GI+JOE+%28DEVILS+DUE%29)