Review: Cobra #9 - "Cobra Command Part 3"

It’s not often that I review a licensed book from afranchise started during my childhood, but I’m actually enjoying G.I. Joe forthe first time since Hawk was crippled during Devil’s Due’s stint with thelicense. The strange thing is that we’ve inadvertently covered the new “CobraCommand” storyline from the beginning. You may Eric’s review of the conclusionof the new Cobra Commander and then last week Carl’s review of Snake Eyes. Well this is part three and I may even go back and review part oneso that we’re all caught up.

This is the first series I’ve read that wasn’t written byChuck Dixon, which is probably why I enjoyed it a bit more. Mike Costaconcludes the battle between the Avatar/Aliens machines and Snakes Eyes withthis issue. Frankly I tend to like stories that literally run from one issue ofa series into another. After Snakes Eye’s and the white haired chick bring downthe fleet they skedaddle on out of there. This leaves Cobra to look at the surveillancevideos of their newest tech being destroyed by one “blind man with a sword.” Bluddis full of great lines as he bashes on Cobra and their operations that is untilthe Baroness kicks him out of the room.

I can’t say that I have a good feel for the new CobraCommander and having no idea how the original was acting prior to beingdethroned, I can’t say if he’s cooler or not. I will say that he comes across alot like the Devil’s Due Commander was, which was no nonsense and all businessall of the time. I think that’s what has always being jacked up with the Joes, everyone thinks of the bumblingCobra Commander from the cartoon that had to loose every week in order tocontinue being appropriate for children. Now with the comics, everyone wantsCobra to be the dominating force and they make them too big and too strong.

Right now Costa and IDW have a good balance. Cobra seemsstrong, but sort of like Hydra was in SecretWarriors. They have this large hidden infrastructure, but all it takes isthe Joe’s getting organized and kicking their ass to win. Costa does a greatjob with the dialog, everyone is pretty sharp with their tongues but not in anannoying way. Also it’s important that every not sound the same and Costamanages that. My only grip is that there is really no sense of the voice for thenew Cobra Commander. Left to my own imagination I just pictured him soundinglike a British guy from Star Wars…why not right?

The book looks good for the most part; there are a fewhiccups in art department but nothing major. There is something actuallyentertaining about this book. It’s mindless and full of one-liners andexplosions, but is still pretty good. At the very least it’s better than thatshitty trailer for the second movie coming out this year. Lastly, you don’treally need to have read the first two parts to know what’s going on, but it wouldprobably help in the long run of the story line.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Mike Costa

Artist: Alex Cal

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 1/18/2012