By Dustin Cabeal

Never let it be said that I don’t give things more than one chance. More than two… probably not. I don’t particularly know what’s supposed to be enjoyable about this series or issue in particular. All the moments catered to the fans have all been done before, and there’s something about the pacing of the story that’s off. The whole story is just off.

There’s a bit too much of reality bleeding into the story. Roadblock is a double agent, but we “don’t know” who he’s talking to, it couldn’t possibly be a blonde ex-Joe with a crew cut… definitely not. He’s not the only one keeping secrets as Scarlett has a secret prisoner… who the fuck do you even do that when everyone is paying so much attention to the food? Whatever the case, the questions asked of the prisoner made very little sense. Oh, and clearly, they have a Wraith in their midst, but everyone is apparently too stupid to figure it out. I keep pointing this at the same guy and getting a “false positive” … I mean… come on.

The story is all over the place. I mean that in any way it can be taken. It checks in with every character; the team is running multiple and boring operations. The eight Joes shown in the beginning all get ample page time but thank God; it’s not all together. Half of these characters sound the same. They all have the same jokes, but that’s the writing for giving them all the same pacing for their jokes. The dialogue still comes across as mostly exposition which gets old by the end of the issue.

“I thought you were (insert important part of the plot here)”

“I was, but (insert reveal that updates the reader here)”

While I enjoyed the art on the first issue, the second issue is a different story. It’s sloppier and not in a stylish way, rather the rushed way. It also kills all the drama. I like the look, but it’s not a great fit for the Joes. It makes this look like an action comedy rather than an action drama. Maybe that’s the intent, but if it is, it’s not working. You can do action/comedy/drama, but you have to make it flawless.

I made it further on this G.I. Joe series than I did the last one, I guess that says something. Frankly, the take isn’t interesting, and I find myself not caring about the world the Joes are fighting for which is the opposite feeling I should have. Worst of all, I don’t care if these characters win or survive the day. There are no consequences to their actions because they’re a brand and just needs to checked box XYZ. Listen, if you hated the last series, yes this is leaps and bounds better. But those leaps and bounds barely make it tolerable. That’s just how far this franchise has sunk with all its relaunches and erratic changes in tone and direction, and this series isn’t the exception to the rule.

I gave it a shot, though, some of you will just write me off as jaded, but there are fundamental problems with the franchise. Not all of it is on the creators, but sure at the end of the day the art should fit and help the book, and the writing should still be enjoyable, and it’s not.

Score: 2/5

G.I. Joe #2
Writer: Aubrey Sitterson
Artist: Giannis Milonogiannis
Publisher: IDW Publishin