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Phil Kost
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 Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:07 pm |
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Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2003 2:43 pm
Posts: 5299
Location: Austin, TX
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Attachment:
GIJOE_Real_American_Hero160.jpg [ 103.39 KiB | Viewed 2651 times ]
Quote: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #160
Larry Hama (w) • Agustin Padilla (a) • Padilla, Rod Whigham (c)
Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow switch sides. Baroness gets deprogrammed.
Billy gets taken over completely by Dr. Venom. Blame it all on the Brainwave Scanner! _________________ 
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jamarmiller
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:22 pm |
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Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:00 am
Posts: 1540
Location: Fukuoka, Japan / Port Richey, Florida
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scryptic
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:21 pm |
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Joined: Sun May 09, 2004 10:27 pm
Posts: 3597
Location: QC
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Why do they give out all the events in this issue?
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䷾ scryptic
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"The only way to bear the snakes is to become one." - Cobra Commander, Cobra Reborn
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Quickick
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:36 pm |
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Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:08 pm
Posts: 81
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I'm not enjoying where Larry is taking this series. I don't agree with Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow switching sides. And having Billy being completely taken over by Dr. Venom is beyond ridiculous. I'm starting to think I might just drop ARAH and just go back and re-read the original Marvel series. Some things are better left the way they are. The Marvel run ended on top and this series looks like it soon might bring it crashing down. Part of me is enjoying Dixon's story a lot more. Dixon has kicked his series up a notch during the past few issues. I guess I'll stay with Hama at least through 160 and see where he takes it. But right now I'm skeptical. 
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jmmcfadd
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 6:58 am |
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| THE GI Joe Comic Guru |
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Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:32 am
Posts: 706
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While I have to say I grew tired of the Brain-wave Scanner antics that were happening at the end of the series, but you have to admit, Hama is definitely continuing from where he left off. Though #155 was the last issue, the real last issue of the series' storyline was #151, that left everybody brainwashed. I like the Joes as fugitives angle, but I'm not thrilled with the B-w scanner stuff.
JMM
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Darth Cujo
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:13 am |
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Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2004 11:21 am
Posts: 1229
Location: ON
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Here I am giving in to temptation and reading solicits again! UGH! Anyways, as jmm said he certainly is picking up where he left off. I just hope it veers back away from the brainwave scanner stuff asap. I really like the idea of something dr. Venom did coming back to haunt characters now, but I'm just not digging the execution of it. Despite the brainwave scanner's presence, I do really like the cover image. Looks like another Whigham cover for me! 
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Sgt Major Haley
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 4:27 pm |
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Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:33 pm
Posts: 988
Location: Pittsburgh
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I dunno, I think this is going the right way to keep the DDP stories as cannon.
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Overlord
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:25 pm |
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Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2004 7:42 pm
Posts: 1073
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I'm okay with Larry starting with something of a "Last Gasp of Vengeance from Doctor Venom" using the Brainwave Scanner as the tool. I have a feeling once it's destroyed/defeated, that'll sort of be the End of Venom's legacy.
What began as a battle of wills with Venom vs. Snake Eyes all those years ago in Springfield will end with Snake Eyes, maybe using sheer force of will (or the Arashikage Mindset) to defeat Billy-Venom. At the same time ... "Venom" as a code-name would be VERY suitable for Billy as son of Cobra Commander and a ninja. He'd be "Venom II", of course, since Doc Venom is "Venom I".
I imagine with Storm Shadow's help Billy will have to meditate and purge the Venom brainwashing from his mind. I love how baffled and useless Mindbender has been so far, but here's hoping he can prove his storybook value here as well and finally surpass Doctor Venom.
And of course, this is Hama - you pretty much KNOW that "Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow switch sides" means Storm Shadow shakes off the brainwashing thanks to Snake Eyes "taking the bullet" for him. But that anything like that to Snake Eyes won't last long. (Sort of like Snake Eyes "dying" when saving Storm Shadow on Destro's submarine, resulting in Snake Eyes being brainwashed by the Red Ninjas ... but it'll have better dialogue and more imaginative ideas).
And THAT is just the Brainwave Scanner storyline! Hama won't shirk the main storyline of Legitimate Cobra vs. Fugitive Joes - so far, while he's hinted at the Brainwashing, the deceptive nature of Cobra High Command (Especially CLASSIC rebellious types like Destro, Zartan and Stormy) and has Storm Shadow hunting down Snake Eyes ... so far that's just the B-Plot!!!
As long as the A-Plot is Hawk and the best of the Joes trying to kick Cobra's ass with extreme prejudice, I can stomach a little ninja drama in the b-plot. And I'm curious what kind of "mystic/meditative mind" vs. "technology" message he might have in the offering. Will we get a subtle "Eastern/Buddhist" beats "Western/Playing god with machines" message?
I do hope this is the "Last Hurrah of Doctor Venom & the Brainwave Scanner". It'll be different than the way DDP phased it out, because it's Larry going back to the source - G.I. Joe # 10 - and bringing things full-circle.
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Eagleyes
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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:50 pm |
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Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:34 pm
Posts: 220
Location: Atlanta
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Baroness deprogrammed sounds good.
Dr. Venom completely taking over Billy sounds awful.
Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes switching sides sounds interesting...if it wasnt tied to the BWS.
I really hope this is the climatic end to the BWS.
It works fine as a torture device scanning brain waves and even far out memory flashbacks onto screens. I know that sounds silly, but if you can visualize past memories in your mind, then i guess enough high-tech equipment could picture your visuals; however, I always HATED the brainwashing part of the BWS. Even if it is possible, its too much sci fi, just like I hate the MASS device. And I was really hoping for the best of Hama with IDW's classic GIJOE, not the worst of Hama.
And I'd be complaining if this was Dixon, so I gotta stay fair and complain about Hama.
I am sick and tired of the heavy sci-fi in IDW's MASS device in the main run, X-men Zartain in origins, and now the BWS in the classic run. Where are the good ole days of real American heroes actually fighting terrorits named Cobra on land, sea, and air?
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scryptic
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 10:00 am |
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Joined: Sun May 09, 2004 10:27 pm
Posts: 3597
Location: QC
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out Nov 10!
_________________
䷾ scryptic
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"The only way to bear the snakes is to become one." - Cobra Commander, Cobra Reborn
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The Doomworm
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:00 am |
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Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:39 am
Posts: 301
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Oh, this was super fun.
It was definitely a throwback take on the bw scanner, with mazes, sledgehammers, and all that goofiness. I was laughing so hard at the childhood memories being destroyed, that I got quite shocked to see what went next. That's really dramatic for Larry to do, maybe it's all a sign of him trying to move forward after rehashing and tying up all the old stuff. This was, literally, "forget what you know from your childhood."
This was not the first time in this brief run that we've seen pokes directly at the audience (and that's how I took this) so I'm excited to see where this is going. I feel like this is part of the process of putting the old series back to relevancy, and honestly I feel that it will blend in just fine with all that came before it.
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michaelpatrick
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:32 pm |
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Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 10:14 pm
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Location: tampa
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I felt this was a much better issue than the couple of previous ones. While I'm not super excited about the Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow switching sides storyline (it feels like we have seen this so many times before), I do feel like things are starting to move in a better direction. I am also really excited to see what SL Gallant brings to the table. I am hoping some better artwork helps pick up the pace a little. For now, I am still on board.
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shanecdavis
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:41 pm |
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Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:24 am
Posts: 737
Location: Orem, UT
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My post from the IDW board: shanecdavis wrote: Before I say anything, I want to reiterate that from Padilla's past work on IDW Joe I know he is a good competent artist. That said, I am soooooooooo happy that this is the last issue with him inking ARAH!! Bring on Shannon!! WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Apart from the BWS and the verbose vocabulary of the COBRA High Command, the art was a HUGE distraction for me with this current storyline. Specific examples have already been pointed out, but I want to add the less than stellar job done on the last few pages as a whole. The "mailing it in" comment really hit home for me. Just bad.
I was really hoping to get the Whigham cover (which is AWESOME!!), but my NSLCS owner knows of my affinity for Thomas S. Arashikage, so he thought the Padilla cover would be more to my liking and since I didn't get to my NSLCS until today, all the other copies were already sold. Bummer. I will say I really do like the Padilla cover, but it just doesn't hold a candle to one of the masters. Is there ANY way that we can talk Mr. Whigham into inking just one issue? Just one?? Okay, maybe two. Three????
The first few pages with CC going into Snake-Eyes' memory was really a trip back to Memory Lane. That isn't necessarily a good thing in this case. It reminded me of the goofy sequence used back in the Milville storyline, which I didn't really care for. But it certainly does fit into the overall tone of the comic back then, unfortunately. I admit I did enjoy the BWS when it was actually used as a brain wave scanner. When it was changed to a brain washing machine, the good thoughts faded and were replaced with "are you kidding me???" thoughts. Then after the 15th time it was done towards the end of the Marvel run, I was done. Seeing it used here again is definitely lessening my enjoyment of what would otherwise be a really good story.
The scene with Tommy and the locals though brought me back from tossing this issue into the trash. Thankfully. He is definitely the nephew of the Soft Master, that is for sure! Not to mention the 'I'm waiting'. Very reminiscent of Marvel #38 and the DDP Storm Shadow series.
The bus scene also took me back to the Marvel run, but in a much better way. This was one of many Hama gems over the years. We see a clandestine unit often left to their own devices and actually trying to work within the scope of the mission. I also had to laugh at the old lady's answer to the officer's question.
Okay, now I have to wonder if Mr. Hama is purposely dropping Zartan down a few notches. First he gets clocked by Duke, then his face gets mashed by Tommy, and then Tommy lays him out again. This is the same Zartan that fought toe to toe with the Blind Master. I am not a fan of Zartan by any stretch of the imagination, but even I am feeling sorry for the poor sap.
After more painful BWS panels, we are back to the team trying to get out of Dodge. Wild Bill! Now there is a sight for sore eyes! Personally I don't like that neither Duke nor Stalker were up to going back to get Snake-Eyes. They were toeing the letter of the law too much I think, although by not trusting Tommy I can buy it. I also didn't like Tommy giving in to going into custody with only two handguns pointed at him. But, if that is what it takes to get them to trust him. His last comment though was very fitting.
This is where the wheels came off for me. The art got really bad, and the script wasn't much better. Snake-Eyes jumps up and that somehow prevents the BATs from accurately targeting him? Really??? COBRA should really look into the targeting systems used by Terminators. Snake-Eyes being brainwashed as a COBRA operative is stupid, though again it fits into the overall tone of the end of the Marvel run. I will say I hate having Snake-Eyes brainwashed as a COBRA less than Tommy. So if Tommy was able to be brainwashed, Snake-Eyes certainly could be. Still, as nice as it is to have Tommy back to his normal morally grey self, I just want this BWS story to come to a swift conclusion. PLEASE!!!
Overall I thought this issue was much stronger than the past few and hopefully the next issue will be another step forward. Did anyone catch the cover for the next issue? Mr. Hawaiian shirt himself! Sweet! Can't wait to see what the next issue holds and to see Shannon's work on the interior.
BTW - I read the solicit for this issue and found it to be quite misleading. I still think we need a separate GI Joe: ARAH section.
_________________
"He is a legend - his name whispered under the breath of a thousand enemies: SNAKE-EYES"
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Overlord
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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:51 pm |
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Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2004 7:42 pm
Posts: 1073
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I really dug this issue.
As for dropping Zartan down a few pegs - remember that Zartan, too, is brainwashed. And BWS-Zartan isn't going to be as A-Game as Non-BWS-Zartan. He too is a loose cannon, highly independent guy - who had QUIT Cobra and is being forced to do their bidding. Therefore, getting chumped by a broken-free Storm Shadow is no biggie. Storm Shadow consistently is one of the guys who can hand it to Zartan, always has been ... although it's fairly common knowledge that Zartan might be a better bowman. But remember even his fast-hands with a bow-string didn't help Zartan during Larry's 4-part "Storm Shadow Solo" arc in the SS limited series. Hopefully, with Storm Shadow progressing more toward the guy we saw in that all-too-brief 7-issue run (The badass covert ops, heir to the Hard & Soft Masters, and kind of smart-ass agent) we'll see Zartan be used more effectively as well. It's pretty crazy that the "Best Three" Cobra characters (Storm Shadow, Destro and Zartan) are all far stronger characters when they're NOT with Cobra. Harder to say with Baroness and Billy.
I still like the Billy-Venom thing for its full-circle "dealing with" the Pandora's box of headaches that G.I. Joe # 10 ultimately brought to the franchise. I'm hoping when the resolution comes and the BWS is taken out of the picture, it's truly full circle. (Or ... dare I say ... the hexagram completed?)
Larry's handling of the non-lone wolf, core unit of the Joes is still stellar. Now that he's got a handle on Duke, it's awesome the way Duke and Stalker are so in-sync, the honcho field leaders of the team - A-Squad leader and B-Squad leader ... trading dialogue effortlessly like they've been working together for quite a while.
Meanwhile ... you had to know that Hawk being basically "Flagg 2.0" wasn't going to be boring. Pentagon break-ins, government gut-wrenching phone-calls, saving his team's ass, and now personally hunting down all the Siegies in Washington, D.C.? Who says being stuck back in D.C. was a desk job?
So yeah ... while I'm looking for a more solid Cobra scheme, with a solid Cobra agenda (I thought their latest plot was cool - but at the very least, in a "big picture" way, a great start toward more serious modern threats), hopefully the key Cobra "hero" characters can break away and provide better "wild card" roles.
And I wonder what kind of twist or shake-up Larry has in mind for this trope-ish Snake Eyes heel turn ... like ... he's faking it the whole time and plays it cool? Or Tommy learns that the Arashikage Mindset can break the BWS hold on everyone - and thus uses it on Destro and even his rival, Zartan ... etc ...
(And the sooner some B-List Cobras like Firefly and Scrap-Iron show up, the better as well.)
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caboose
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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:26 am |
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Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:13 pm
Posts: 185
Location: Perth, W.A., Australia
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So far, I'm really disappointed with Hama's return and the book in general. The brainwave scanner has just become too much of a crutch IMO, and the mad scientist's personality digitized and locked in the machine is just too cliche. Cobra Commander seems more concerned with getting in his word-of-the-day than actually being a threat. The CC I remember from the Marvel series was formidable. I like the disgruntled everyman who decided he couldn't take it anymore. So far, I haven't been able to take the ARAH/IDW Commander seriously.
I think I've been on record as saying that I think the SE/SS stories are about done. I know they're awesome characters, but honestly haven't we seen everything that can be done between the two? The idea of them each switching sides is somewhat interesting, but I just wish it was organic. It seems to me the brainwave scanner does whatever the plot needs it to do.
I'm really sorry to be so negative on this series, and I look forward to hearing from people who can be more positive. I'm getting to the point where I'm just skimming the book to get through it, rather than really enjoying it; the only thing keeping me buying it is the completist in me.
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