G.I Joe: A Real American Hero #191 Review


G.I Joe: A Real American Hero #191 is one of those issues that manages to make the larger set pieces work. Its action heavy, yet fluid. That said, it’s still A Real American Hero, so there’s a certain amount of corny, cheesy one-liners.. and ninjas. Always ninjas.

The official description from IDW:

G.I. JOE goes to the jungle! LADY JAYE’s team is led into the jungles of southeast Asia for a mission that will pit G.I. JOE against an enemy they thought long gone: MAJOR BLUDD! Will fortune smile on LADY JAYE and her team or will the ruthless mercenary gain the upper hand? It’s kill or be killed in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #191!

This issue is very action-orientated and get’s straight to the point. Whilst it is explosive, it’s also fairly well thought out. The action is fluid, although it does overbear on character development and anything else. Major Bludd, for instance, does very little in this. His presence is shown but he doesn’t actively enter the fight much – his role is mainly to provide angry dialogue.

That said, the writing is still good. There are some typical one liners that kind of fits A Real American Hero, and Larry Hama doesn’t take everything too seriously through the dialogue. The action can speak for itself, so I guess it’s all about having fun whilst reading. That said, the ending of this issue has a lot to offer, rather than a typical ‘we saved the day’ fanfare.

As for the art, S L Gallant offers, once again, plenty of definition and detail. His attention on detail makes sure the issue is easy to follow. Everyone is recognizable and the detail work in location further makes it clear where you are on each panel. This is further helped by the vibrant colors of J. Brown and Joana Lafuente, whom help bring the exotic location to life. The variety of color stops this issue from being dull neutral browns with occasional gunfire.

All in all, I’d say this is one of the more satisfying issues for A Real American Hero. I’m disappointed Bludd didn’t do much ( I feel he’s being held back from a writing stand point) but maybe that’s just the art of good storytelling and timing.

4/5

 

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