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G.I. Joe Reloaded

    (Devil’s Due, 2004-2005)
™ and © 2004 Hasbro, Inc.

Devil’s Due relaunches G.I. Joe and Cobra for the 21st century and in the process eliminates a lot of dated character designs, motivations, and histories that had been grounded firmly in 1980s politics. The new G.I. Joe is a counter-terrorist unit with no official government ties, and Cobra, instead of being stereotypically evil, says it aims to bring a promise of utopia to the world. Cobra Commander seems almost like an Antichrist figure in his attempt to deceive the entire world.

A great premise is brought down by confusing, muddled action scenes and poor dialogue. Ostensibly, a relaunch is a good time to eliminate clichés and stereotypes; unfortunately, this universe’s Roadblock is just as much of an offensive black stereotype as the last one. Why is it that the token black character is always the gun-crazy loose cannon?

It’s unsurprising that this new take on the G.I. Joe mythos involves terrorism; that was also writer John Ney Rieber’s main subject in his short-lived run on Captain America. This time around, he’s not nearly as heavy-handed in his political allegories, meaning the plot won’t be dated by next week.

— Steve Horton
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Mar 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Eddy Barrows, Javier Saltares
    6 copies from $0.75
  • 2
    #2
    Apr 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Javier Saltares
    3 copies from $1.15
  • 3
    #3
    May 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Javier Saltares, Ron Lim, Jason Millet
    3 copies from $2.00
  • 4
    #4
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Javier Saltares, Ron Lim, Jason Millet
    4 copies from $1.75
  • 5
    #5
    Jul 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Javier Saltares
    3 copies from $0.65
  • 6
    #6
    Aug 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Javier Saltares
    4 copies from $2.50
  • 7
    #7
    Sep 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Darryl Banks, Jason Millet
    2 copies from $1.50
  • 8
    #8
    Oct 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Darryl Banks
    1 copy for $2.50
  • 9
    #9
    Nov 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Darryl Banks
    2 copies from $2.00
  • 10
    #10
    Dec 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: John Ney Rieber  ·  A: Javier Saltares, Jason Millet
    3 copies from $1.75
  • 11
    #11
    Jan 2005
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Nelson Blake III
    1 copy for $3.98
  • 12
    #12
    Feb 2005
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Nelson Blake III
    2 copies from $0.30
  • 13
    #13
    Mar 2005
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Nelson Blake III
    3 copies from $1.25
  • 14
    #14
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Nelson Blake III
    2 copies from $0.40