G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #306 - Image Comics

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO No. 306, May 2024

There’s so many plot-threads, character development arcs and treacherous treble-dealing taking place inside Larry Hama’s storyline for Issue Three Hundred and Six of “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” that doubtless a fair few franchise fans’ heads were left spinning in May 2024. Indeed, considering the sheer scope of the numerous plot-threads on show within an ordinary twenty-page periodical, it’s incredibly impressive that the Inkpot Award-winner is able to pen so many utterly enthralling moments – not least of which is the incredibly gut-wrenching demise of poor Dawn Moreno’s well-meaning parents at the hands of some super-jumpy Cobra guards; “She’s going for a weapon!! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!”

Perhaps foremost of these pulls is just how overconfident Serpentor Khan has become in his covert dealings with both Alpha-001 at Revanche and Destro. “The resurrected being of Genghis Khan and leader of Cobra” is shown to be so bombastic that he arguably verges on the comedic. But that shouldn’t arguably stop many a bibliophile from genuinely looking forward to seeing the physically-malformed monster get his just comeuppance in a future edition.

Quite possibly this book’s best action-orientated moment though comes with witnessing Snake Eyes absolutely annihilating his wooden opponents whilst acing the Urban Interior Combat Simulation range. This adrenalin-drenched sequence is wonderfully paced, and provides Scarlett an opportunity to (admittedly somewhat clunkily) list all the various state-of-the-art weaponry, as well as an “old Uzi”, which the faceless ninja currently carries with him into combat.

Impressively adding an extra layer of exhilaration to all of Hama’s sense-shattering shenanigans is penciler Paul Pelletier, whose ability to imbue all of this publication’s considerable cast with plenty of emotion is absolutely first-rate. In fact, one of the highlights of this comic is being able to actually see the nervous tension taking place within a panel by the uneasy, physical movements of the figures filling them. This element really helps convince the audience that the events they are are witnessing have an actual physical consequence for its participants - for example the terrified, haunted look in the somewhat elderly Mister Moreno’s eyes when he’s suddenly stopped in Springfield on a routine police check, or Zartan’s almost nonchalant, matter-of-fact reaction to being sicced by a cruise missile whilst speeding through the Bayou.

The regular cover art of "G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO" #306 by Andy Kubert & Brad Anderson