G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301

COMICON

‘GI Joe: A Real American Hero’ #301 hits the floor running and never lets up. A great first issue that promises fans old and new a series that’s a high-octane, high-stakes ride from cover to cover.

Lyles Movie Files

It was going to be tough for this issue to disappoint. Hama remains sharp with the dialogue and wild new scenarios. With his new collaborators, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is in stellar hands as this new era gets underway.

Nerd Initiative

The return of the long-running fandom doesn’t miss staking its claim as a must-read series. With Hama’s legendary writing backed by Mooneyham’s superb visuals, the saga of G.I. Joe strikes back to win over fans new and old alike. Don’t leave the comic shops without this in your possession!

First Comics News

The beloved franchise gets a new lease on life thanks to Skybound/Image and what’s more exciting?!- Larry Hama is back on board as the writer, picking up where # 300 left off but Hama makes the bold decision to catch up with readers while bringing in new ones with a quick recap of the Joes and the Cobras; Hama once again shows why he’s been chronicling the Joes’ story for decades with his script that sweeps everyone away with the action-packed overtones and even of the story itself isn’t clear-cut for new readers just picking up this title for the first time, it’s still an enjoyable read, especially for the 80s babies; The artwork by Chris Mooneyham has that distinctive mixture of classic and modern that I feel is the perfect addition for this title. This issue bridges the gap between the end of an era and the beginning of a new one with perfection so fans old and new will have no problem celebrating it.

The Comic Book Spot

An action packed entrance of the G.I. Joe story into Skybound comics. I was able to follow the action without having to read the IDW run. However, I did grow up with the original Marvel Comics run of G.I. Joe.

Graphic Policy

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301 is good in that it continues the storyline that’s been going on for so long and delivers the conclusion to the celebration that was the previous issue. It wraps things up in some ways and sets the series off into the next arc with a new look but same classic storytelling. While this is a bit of an oddity in that it doesn’t feel like it’s part of Skybound’s new “Energon Universe” and might create confusion, it is a hell of a start that’s full of action. Basically, it’s not the best place to start for new readers but fans of the run that were reading will want to return and see where it all goes from here.

ComicBook.com

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero begins its third life (or fourth, if you count the Devil's Due Publishing era) with issue #301. Larry Hama returns to continue writing the series, which exists separate from the G.I. Joe stories being told as part of Skybound's burgeoning Energon Universe. While Skybound emphasizes the "1st issue" part of the "301st issue" on the cover, the story inside this comic picks up right where #300 left off. Efforts are made to quickly familiarize potential new readers with the basic concept of the G.I. Joe team and Cobra, and one's reaction to the latter being described as a terrorist organization that started life a pyramid scheme with a rogue orthodontist as its second-in-command will likely serve as a suitable litmus test for whether or not this comic book is for them. With introductions out of the way, it's easy to get swept up in the atmosphere and dramatics of the story even if the specifics may be unclear to newcomers. Chris Mooneyham's artwork feels classic in a way that makes it suit this 40-year-old ongoing series while still having a modern touch that keeps it from falling into pastiche territory. Francesco Segala's golden hour colors add a warmth and gravitas that elevates the tragic ending and signifies the transition from the old era to the new, not only because of the move to a different publisher but because the rogue orthodontist's rebellious clone of Genghis Kahn set off a silent nuke that turned them all into mutant cannibals. Yeah, this comic rules.

Comical Opinions

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #301 is a welcome return to form for Larry Hama and the Joes with an explosive finale that sets up a new era for the American heroes and their enemies. The action, both in writing and art, is fierce, but it helps if you have some background knowledge of the characters before diving in.

Razorfine

While the tale felt wrapped up, there were plenty of loose ends left dangling and Larry Hama gets a change to continue expanding this world. Our heroes make it out, although not without casualties and loosing Cobra Commander who manages to make his escape. The larger question is what becomes of the mutated core characters of Cobra at ground zero in the explosion of the Mutant Virus Bomb? At how do events play into the long teased plans of Revanche?