G.I Joe #9 tries to kick the series up  a notch, showing what it can do when showcasing bigger plans and some of the wider politics of the franchise (this guy likes that guy, these two want to kill each and this person etc etc…). So, new series, new look, same old complex web of complications?

The official description from IDW:

THREAT MATRIX! Below the streets and above the high rises of the New York City, the G.I. Joe team is strained to the brink fighting back THE MAD MONK’s all-out assault on the Big Apple! But… is that playing right into his hands to ultimately destroy DUKE?

For the most part, this issue works well. G.I Joe #9 combines many quick and fluid moments with enough pauses – at just the right time – to make the biggest impacts where needed. It has a sense of urgency and importance that gives credit to the actions, rather than simply creating drama for drama’s sake. The final few pages are also very climatic with, while not entirely original, satisfying cliffhanger.

Fred Van Lente flexes the writing muscles in this one, as the issue walks a precarious line between engaging and melodramatic over-zealousness. Fortunately, the issue manages to balance something that many G.I Joe titles previously struggled with – having the good guys save the day, yet still making the bad guys appear as a plausible threat worth fearing.

Of course, G.I Joe is also good at giving way to the art when it helps. In this issue there are a few examples that certainly make this point clear, whether it’s one characters entry or a simple panel that needs the extra room and emphasis. Steve Kurth is very talented when it comes to pencils, as a series that focuses on small scale and character needs someone who can handle humans – especially in fluid and dynamic poses. Likewise the colors from Joanna Lafuente add vibrancy and impact where needed, whilst making sure nothing looks drab, boring and shippable.

All in all, this is a strong issue in the series and suggests an effective direction to take the series.

4.5