G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301 - Image Comics

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO No. 301, March 2024

Described as the start of “a new era for G.I. Joe”, this twenty-two page periodical must surely have excited fans of the action figure media franchise – both new and old, with its incredibly tense insight into an unsuccessful assault upon Cobra Island by the “ultra hush-hush” task force. In fact, it will arguably be difficult for many a bibliophile to recollect a more furiously paced narrative than the one Larry Hama provides for this comic, as Wild Bill desperately wrestles at the controls of a partially burning four-engine turboprop plane, and the rest of the team’s “capable operatives” prepare to penetrate Doctor Mindbenders laboratory from the sea.

Foremost of these pulse-pounding predicaments is undoubtedly William Hardy’s dramatic attempt to stop the military transporter he’s flying from catastrophically crashing into the water at a terminal velocity. Every time the chief warrant officer appears to have got his vehicle’s hydraulic pressure back to some semblance of working order, the American author quite beautifully throws another spanner in the works – whether it be the weight of the plane’s passengers and cargo, or a Cobra Cruise Ship with a pair of missile firing androids on board; “Bzzt! Aircraft targeting suite activated. Beep. Target locked.”

Just as nail-biting though is also the Inkpot Award-winner’s depiction of the Killer W.H.A.L.E. and the hovercraft’s dangerous dash across the waves. Determined to put as much distance between his comrades-in-arms and Serpentor Khan’s imminently-exploding biological weapon, Cutter’s grim-faced character proves incredibly captivating; especially once Cobra Commander escape’s Laura’s custody and lowers the jet sled ramp, causing the ACV to start taking on copious amounts of water. 

Joining Hama for this “series premiere” is Chris Mooneyham, whose excitement “to be working on such an enduring property with [its] original writer” is clear to see from his astonishingly dynamic layouts. The idea of having a countdown timer continually ticking down to detonation is particularly impactful, and genuinely helps put the audience’s hearts in their mouths as it approaches zero hour. Whilst even the likes of Wild Bill, neatly nestled in his pilot’s seat, are still able to show an incredible amount of dynamism, courtesy of the Kubert School graduate’s ability to have his face reflect all the exhilarating emotions Hardy is currently experiencing.

The regular cover art of "G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO" #301 by Andy Kubert & Brad Anderson