G.I Joe: Cobra Files #7 Review


It’s been teasing stuff for a while now, but G.I Joe: Cobra Files #7 sees the start of some delivery. Only one question remains – was it worth the wait?

The official description from IDW:

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE – PART 1! FLINT is ready to disband the COBRA FILES team, but CHAMELEON will have none of it. But what neither one suspects is that TOMAX, the captive COBRA member, has an ace up his sleeve that will rock the team to their core. No punches are pulled in G.I. Joe: The Cobra Files #7!

Short answer? Kinda. Cobra Files #7 is good and full of drama (more so than action) that helps sell the story. It’s a very internal, personal arc, and the whole issue has that sense of a team divided and betrayal down pretty well. The story looks like it will deliver on quite a few fronts, but we’re not entirely there yet – Cobra Files #7 is still teasing us along, but in a good way.

If there’s one aspect that gets this issues ideas across, it’s the writing. Mike Costa is always good at balancing different sub-plots and dancing them around each other – when it comes to this issue, this is a talent that is sorely needed. The dialogue gets across plenty of emotion that saves Cobra Files #7 from feeling flat.

The art however, isn’t holding up as well. This issue has a lot of close ups and the large rigid lines of Antonio Fuso don’t work – some of the large close-ups (especially Clockspring) look horrible. This detail was fine in long-pan shots or zoomed out, but up close it comes across as sloppy and uninspiring.

All in all this has an interesting premise, some solid writing and some artwork that could be better. Two out of three isn’t bad – readers already invested in this title are going to want to read this one through.

3/5

 

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