G.I Joe: A Real American Hero #200 Review


G.I Joe A Real American Hero 200 alternativeWhen a comic reaches it’s 200th issues, your big issue needs to do something special. G.I Joe: A Real American Hero #200 is a big milestone and it’s been building up for some time. So, after such a long wait, how does it feel after 200 publications?

The official description from IDW:

This is it: the landmark 200th issue in this long-running series! G.I. JOE returns to the Pit, but things are not as they expected at their homebase. HAWK and DUKE prepare to take the team into a new era, as COBRA’s plans and new threats require a fresh approach. Join the adventure in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #200 and prepare for the next 200!

In terms of action, this issue doesn’t disappoint. However, it is a bit slow to get going. The 200th doesn’t open all guns blazing, but it does build up to a big hurray halfway through, with a quick, fluid action piece that has all the hallmarks of G.I Joe: secret bases, tanks, guns and cat-and-mouse twists.

That said, the writing does struggle a little different towards the end. Larry Hill really gets into the swing of things in the middle, with some dynamic writing that celebrates everything G.I Joe is all about. However, the last arc is an epilogue of sorts, almost forced in its delivery. Throw in a disappointing cliffhanger for issue 201 and the ending doesn’t hold up as much as the middle. Is that enough to ruin the issue? Probably not, but it’s a small disappointment nonetheless.

Visually, there really isn’t anything new here. S L Gallant provides the usual art style readers expect, alongside J Brown’s colors. It’s clean, crisp and vibrant, going hand in hand with the smooth action and large scale depicted. It’s the same treatment the issue always has, so there really isn’t anything special here.

All in all, this is a good issue for the series – it has plenty to read into and has enough character development and significant plot elements that it’s something long time readers will want to pay attention to. That said, for a 200th issue, it could’ve been a bit more special.

 

 

OUR RATING
8.5
  • + Larry Hill delivers plenty of action!
  • + There's a lot to take in
  • - The ending is slow and dull
  • - Not the greatest cliffhanger

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