G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #302 - Image Comics

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO No. 302, January 2024

Considering the serious nature of one of this comic’s central plot threads – namely the burial of a fallen G.I. Joe, it’s incredible to see that Larry Hama also managed to imbue this twenty-page periodical with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments too. Indeed, the outbreak of cannibal zombies throughout Cobra Island is clearly penned by “one of the all-time greats” with some tongue-in-cheek interactions in mind, such as when Serpentor Khan nonchalantly guns down one of his more disgruntled minions and subsequently proposes that the rest of his heavily mutated forces mercilessly munch upon the still gurgling cadaver; “Lunch is served.”

In addition the Inkpot Award-winner also provides the audience with a rather romantic scene between Snake Eyes and Scarlett set in the Sierras, where the pair are about to enjoy some rabbit stew together. This scene is quite touchingly written and proves especially memorable as one of Timber’s progeny comes bearing the ninja a special gift in the guise of a young wolf cub.

Disappointingly though, all of this dialogue and character development does mean that Issue Three Hundred and Two of “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” frustratingly lacks much in the way of pulse-pounding action or even a simple gun-fight for that matter. This imbalance is potentially off-set by Khan’s aforementioned ‘mercy killing’ and Stalker’s recollection as to how former Cobra Crimson Guard Wade Collins was once captured by enemy forces “in a jungle half around the world.” But none of this extremely limited, sporadic violence is arguably what fans of a publication based upon a military-themed toy franchise would probably be hoping for.

Happily, artist Chris Mooneyham is on top form when it comes to pencilling the comic’s layouts. Easily moving from the cartoon-nature of Cobra Island’s meat-eating inhabitants over to the sobering solemnity of a rain-soaked funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, it’s crystal clear just why Editor Alex Antone would feel the illustrator is “doing some of his career-best work on this book”, and there’s even a palpable physical tenderness between Snake Eyes and Shana O'Hara which is ordinarily quite difficult to depict when drawing any sort of bedroom scene.

The regular cover art of "G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO" #302 by Andy Kubert & Brad Anderson