Nathan P. Mahney
May 23, 2004, 09:40 am
<a href="http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/images/content/Master_n_App_01t.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/images/content/Master_n_App_01t.jpg" align=left alt="G.I. Joe: Master & Apprentice #1"></a>Reviewer: Nathan P. Mahney, npmahney@yahoo.com.au
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Master & Apprentice
Here comes the bride... but where is Snake-Eyes?
Story: Brandon Jerwa
Artwork: Stefano Caselli and Sunder Raj
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Editor: Marshall Dillon w/ Mark Powers
One of the things that I loved when the G.I. Joe series returned was the number of mysteries that were introduced right off the bat. With a seven year gap between the recent series and the Marvel one, a lot should have happened to all of the characters in the interim. And it did. Some of these events have yet to be detailed, but G.I. Joe: Master & Apprentice sheds light on two of them - the wedding of Snake-Eyes and Scarlett and the identity of Snake-Eyes' apprentice, Kamakura.
When the series begins, there is a year to go until the wedding. Snake-Eyes is training a new apprentice in the ways of his ninja clan. No, it's not Kamakura. It is a girl named Ophelia, and her final test is approaching. As the wedding gets nearer, Snake-Eyes' training gets more intensive, until the final test arrives - Firefly!
I've always loved Firefly as a villain, and this issue just adds more to the history between him and Snake-Eyes. He's always a lot of fun, in a very self-serving and sinister way, and sometimes I just want to read stuff where the bad guys are bad guys. Though Firefly doesn't get a lot of page time, the confrontation near the end sets him up well as the villain of the series, and I couldn't be happier.
The real event here, though, is the revelation of Kamakura's identity, and it's a kicker. It makes so much sense, but only if you were a stalwart fan of the Marvel series. There is a danger in relying so heavily on ancient continuity, as newer readers won't get quite the effect that I did, but Jerwa gives enough background to get them up to speed. They can just get on with the rest of the story while we old fogeys geek out.
Brandon Jerwa continues to show potential. His work is impressive for someone with such a small amount of published work. There are some awkward moments of dialogue, but aside from that the plot hangs together very nicely, and Jerwa completely nails most of the characters. I'm not sure about how he handles Scarlett, though. She seems a lot softer than she once was, but that's been the case throughout all of the Devil's Due comics. I'll just assume that she's changed a bit since the old days, because at least the characterization has been consistent.
The team of Stefano Caselli and Sunder Raj are on artistic duties for this series. I've never seen their work before, but it really is gorgeous. The mix of rough lines and muted colouring blends quite effectively, and suits the tone of the story very well. They do seem more at home on the quiet scenes than the action, and that could be a detriment later in the series, but on this issue they work. It's a shame that their style isn't really suitable for the main title, because it really has a distinctive look that might garner some attention.
With the mysteries and revelations out of the way, and the rivalries set up, I'm all amped for some action next issue. Fans of the regular series do not want to miss this one.
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/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gihalf.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/ginone.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/gihalf.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: Master & Apprentice
Here comes the bride... but where is Snake-Eyes?
Story: Brandon Jerwa
Artwork: Stefano Caselli and Sunder Raj
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Editor: Marshall Dillon w/ Mark Powers
One of the things that I loved when the G.I. Joe series returned was the number of mysteries that were introduced right off the bat. With a seven year gap between the recent series and the Marvel one, a lot should have happened to all of the characters in the interim. And it did. Some of these events have yet to be detailed, but G.I. Joe: Master & Apprentice sheds light on two of them - the wedding of Snake-Eyes and Scarlett and the identity of Snake-Eyes' apprentice, Kamakura.
When the series begins, there is a year to go until the wedding. Snake-Eyes is training a new apprentice in the ways of his ninja clan. No, it's not Kamakura. It is a girl named Ophelia, and her final test is approaching. As the wedding gets nearer, Snake-Eyes' training gets more intensive, until the final test arrives - Firefly!
I've always loved Firefly as a villain, and this issue just adds more to the history between him and Snake-Eyes. He's always a lot of fun, in a very self-serving and sinister way, and sometimes I just want to read stuff where the bad guys are bad guys. Though Firefly doesn't get a lot of page time, the confrontation near the end sets him up well as the villain of the series, and I couldn't be happier.
The real event here, though, is the revelation of Kamakura's identity, and it's a kicker. It makes so much sense, but only if you were a stalwart fan of the Marvel series. There is a danger in relying so heavily on ancient continuity, as newer readers won't get quite the effect that I did, but Jerwa gives enough background to get them up to speed. They can just get on with the rest of the story while we old fogeys geek out.
Brandon Jerwa continues to show potential. His work is impressive for someone with such a small amount of published work. There are some awkward moments of dialogue, but aside from that the plot hangs together very nicely, and Jerwa completely nails most of the characters. I'm not sure about how he handles Scarlett, though. She seems a lot softer than she once was, but that's been the case throughout all of the Devil's Due comics. I'll just assume that she's changed a bit since the old days, because at least the characterization has been consistent.
The team of Stefano Caselli and Sunder Raj are on artistic duties for this series. I've never seen their work before, but it really is gorgeous. The mix of rough lines and muted colouring blends quite effectively, and suits the tone of the story very well. They do seem more at home on the quiet scenes than the action, and that could be a detriment later in the series, but on this issue they work. It's a shame that their style isn't really suitable for the main title, because it really has a distinctive look that might garner some attention.
With the mysteries and revelations out of the way, and the rivalries set up, I'm all amped for some action next issue. Fans of the regular series do not want to miss this one.
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/gifull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/gihalf.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/ginone.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/gihalf.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)