Its confusion abound as the facility holding Tomax captive has been compromised and all hell has broken loose. It’s now up to the Joes (and unfortunately us) to figure out what has happened. Along the way, we see shootouts, fistfights, and lots of trash talking. Who succeeds in the end? ….Well you will have to wait until next month’s issue. This is the issue before the final issue of the story arc and like any good “pre” last issue, there are lots of big set ups preparing to be played out in a finale that promises to be intense with some characters dying, some characters living to face another day, and friend/ foes being revealed. That’s the nice part of the book. That and the cover art as the “tic, tic, tic BOOM” and countdown cover is sweet (nice job of art Antonio Fuso with exceptional coloring Stefano Simeone). As for the setting of everything up for this after you turn the page, I fear that the creators “overdid” it in many ways making for a convoluted and puzzling issue.

Panels in this book are littered with black outs, fighting in darkness, heavy shootouts showing participants separately, combatants coming out of nowhere to attack people, and more trash talk than is truly necessary, even for a G.I. Joe story in which bravado and swagger are the norms. It makes for a story that is truly hard to follow with choppy dialogue. It all feels like a bad action movie… which is disappointing.

When I participated in the group review for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ City Fall “Pre” finale issue last week, I really enjoyed it. The pacing and the art were smooth, and despite dealing with several different characters in different locations, the creators were able to make for an entertaining build-up where everything was well paced. With G.I. Joe: Cobra Files #8 however, I feel that the creators simply missed the boat and failed to keep a smooth and structured pace trying to show action…action…ACTION, when some additional (or definitely some better lit) panels would have made for better excitement.

It does look like we will have answers next month as Tomax, Chameleon, and Flint look to play prominently in the finale. My hope is that it can deliver better than this one did. I’m pulling for you guys .

Score: 2/5

Writer: Mike Costa Artist: Antonio Fuso Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 11/06/13