G.I. JOE: MASTER AND APPRENTICE #4 REVIEW

[Nathan P. Mahney]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/ind/dd/0804/MnA_04_NOT_Actual.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/ind/dd/0804/MnA_04_NOT_Actualt.jpg" align=left alt="G.I. Joe: Master & Apprentice #4"></a>Reviewer: Nathan P. Mahney, npmahney@yahoo.com.au
Quick Rating: Above Average
Story Title: Master & Apprentice

Joe by numbers.

Story: Brandon Jerwa
Artwork: Stefano Caselli and Sunder Raj
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Editor: Mark Powers

G.I. Joe: Master and Apprentice wraps up this month with a solid issue. It's never going to win any awards, but all of the various threads are wrapped up with fairly satisfying results.

The Nowhere Man, a former team-mate of our ninja apprentice Sean Collins, is recruiting various agents for his private army. He's managed to recruit Sean's father Wade. Wade is a former Cobra operative, and the Nowhere Man needs him to access a cache of Cobra weaponry. Sean, his master Snake-Eyes, and the Joes Duke and Chuckles are making a raid to stop them. Throw in saboteur Firefly on the side of the bad guys and ninja Storm Shadow helping the Joes, and you get an action-packed issue.

Aside from the action, you also get quite a lot of emotional sub-plots resolved. From Sean, to his father, to Snake-Eyes, to Storm Shadow, every one of these characters has an inner journey to take. Unfortunately, while they're adequately done, none really jump out and grab your attention. The only one I found really interesting was the speech that Storm Shadow gives to Snake-Eyes, and even then I'm not certain how to reconcile it with events in the regular series.

Where this issue really falls down, though I hate to say it, is the art. Caselli and Raj are excellent in the quiet, conversational scenes, and very good when the action sequences are simple. When things get complicated with a lot of different combatants, a lot of weaknesses start to show up. The scene transitions were particularly hard to follow, and at times I had difficulty telling characters apart. I really did have to focus my mind to follow the action.

The series as a whole does work very well as an origin for Kamakura, though. He's a far more well-realised, fleshed out and interesting character than he was before, and on that level the mini can be called a success. The final issue is solid without ever rising above that, which is unfortunate after what was a promising start.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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[Jason Grasso]

I've had that problem the entire run of the series. Everyone from Duke to Snake Eyes (unmasked) to Collins to Snake Eyes and any other ninja...the art is very dirty and difficult to figure out.

The only person i could easily distinguish was Chuckles who looked like a cross between an ape and a hair metal lead singer.

I'm confused about the Storm Shadow part. Am I the only one who just wants to see the poor guy get his mind back and side by side with Snakes?

[Nathan P. Mahney]

I've liked the art in the whole series, except for the big action sequences. The one on one duels have looked pretty good.

As for Storm Shadow, keep him as a bad guy! We need someone on the side of evil who can give Snake-Eyes an arse-kicking.

[QBBEADLE]

As for Storm Shadow, keep him as a bad guy! We need someone on the side of evil who can give Snake-Eyes an arse-kicking.

I agree, just look at the second story arc for proof ( I think it was 5-8 or something). Storm Shadow tearing through the Joe team and then escaping past Snake-Eyes and scarring him again was great. I just wish someone could come up with a more credible motivation for Storm Shadow to side with Cobra. I'm getting tired of the whole "Is he brainwashed or not?" stories.

On a side note, does anyone think this series really warrants a sequel?? It was nice to get the origin of Kamakura, but any other stories can really just be told in the monthly.

[Jason Grasso]

As for Storm Shadow, keep him as a bad guy! We need someone on the side of evil who can give Snake-Eyes an arse-kicking.

Then Devils Due should create a new character or expand the abilities of an existing character. They seems so desperate to revert all the characters to how they were during the Marvel series' early run. Storm Shadow as an evil character just seems to go against all the characterization that Hama created. If we need someone to kick Snake Eyes' arse, then why don't they actually start doing something new. Not just with the ninjas, but with both Cobra and G.I. Joe.

[Nathan P. Mahney]

I agree, just look at the second story arc for proof ( I think it was 5-8 or something). Storm Shadow tearing through the Joe team and then escaping past Snake-Eyes and scarring him again was great. I just wish someone could come up with a more credible motivation for Storm Shadow to side with Cobra. I'm getting tired of the whole "Is he brainwashed or not?" stories.

On a side note, does anyone think this series really warrants a sequel?? It was nice to get the origin of Kamakura, but any other stories can really just be told in the monthly.

Nope, I don't think this warrants a sequel, and it'll be a toss-up whether I buy it or not. I wouldn't mind more stuff set in the gap between the Marvel and Devil's Due series, but enough with the ninjas! I'd love a series that details Cobra Commanders fall and rise to power. Get into that guy's head and tell us what he's all about!