G.I Joe #15 Review

It looks like this could be the last issue of the current series for a while so, if it is an impromptu end, how does G.I Joe #15 wrap things up?

The official description from IDW:

THE SEARCH FOR SIREN! The G.I. Joe team is on the hunt for the mysterious COBRA operative codenamed SIREN—but is her song luring them to their doom?

It’s a tense enough issue and definitely full of action, but it might be going a bit too fast. There are small arcs and developments that get crammed into this space. Hashtag, for instance, doesn’t get enough time to develop and the twists and turns of this issue feel as if two or three issues were pushed into one. I’m not saying the end result isn’t enjoyable – it’s definitely a thrill ride of tense action – but the end note is a bit sour. After all the action, G.I Joe #15 ends on a very sad, anti-climatic conclusion.

I’m not saying Paul Allor doesn’t try, but after taking a slow issue to get to this point, his script barrels through the relevant processes to get to this ending. As I said, the choice of ending is questionable and while I prefer it to something that is overoptimistic and perfect, it’s message and themes are a little too dark for this title.

Visually, this issue looks as strong as the series ever has. Steve Kurth can draw plenty of fluid action scenes. Even when it comes to small, crowded panels, he doesn’t let up and the quality always ensures a dynamic read from page to page. Throw in some vibrant colors from Joana Lafuente and you have an issue that at least looks as strong and great as the rest of G.I Joe.

In closing, I don’t mind this issue, but it’s not a way to end something. Both Cobra Files and Special Missions before it ended on dry, ambiguous notes and going for the depressing hat trick isn’t an achievement to be proud of.