G.I. Joe: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1

----------Spoilers Ahead----------G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Comic Series, debuted in the Summer of 1982 with its first issue, Operation Lady Doomsday, selling out in less than 48 hours.This was only a sign of things to come.Written by Asian-American, Vietnam War Vet, Larry Hama, Joe quickly rose to the top of the best-selling comic books charts. It would be Marvel Comics' second best selling title of the 1980s, and at times would even surpass The X-Men and The Amazing Spiderman to take over the "#1" spot.Please do not be misled by its title (or silly television show): this was decidedly not a "kiddie comic book." And, it is considered the "official canon," if you will, of the Joe universe.Larry Hama, in the early 80s, wanted to do a "war comic" and pitched a revamped SHIELD (Yes, that SHIELD currently seen in The Avengers--and on ABC this Fall) storyline to Marvel's editors.He was promptly turned down.However, not too long afterwards, Hasbro decided to relaunch its popular 1970s G.I. Joe toyline (3 and 3/4 inches this time around), and Hama quickly re-packaged his SHIELD storyline into a Joe storyline and this time Marvel's editors granted him the go-ahead.* Special recognition and consideration should also be given to Marvel Comics executive, James Galton, and Marvel's legendary Editor-In-Chief, Jim Shooter, for their part in Marvel's acquiring the Joe brand.Hama has stated several times he (also) got the writer's duties because no one else at Marvel wanted it. You see, toy comics only lasted--on average--for three years, and most of Marvel's senior writers didn't want to bother with it.Hama's Joe would run for 12 years...before low sales (due to an over-populated Joe universe) forced its cancellation. Larry Hama has said that Hasbro always gave him complete freedom to write whatever stories he wished (something that Marvel did not--see below), but the one catch was current toy figures and vehicles had to be incorporated into the story lines. By 1994, the small, elite counter-terrorist unit had developed into quite the small army...and sales plummeted with each new figure's release...forcing Joe's cancellation at issue 155: with the famous shot of the team "folding up the flag" on the issue's cover.However, IDW Comics acquired the rights to the Joe franchise in 2009, and "The Real American Hero" storyline, still written by Hama, continues today.IDW apparently (I only found out about this a week ago!) decided to start re-issuing the entire series in a "hard cover," trade paperback form. And, they have gone all out. The cover and binding are professional grade, done in (what else?) camouflage with a white, iconic "Joe" logo splashed all across its front.This Volume One Edition recollects issues 1-12, and they have never looked better. The stories almost glow--the paper quality is that good. And, IDW had been criticized in the past for producing some less-than-standard, less-expensive, soft-cover Joe TPB's when it first acquired Joe's rights. Lots of typos, primarily......but these problems appear to have been corrected with this new edition. So let's discuss the reprinted issues and the collection's special features.Yes, special features.Issue 1: Operation Lady DoomsdayThe debut Joe story. It picks up with our being introduced to the entire Joe team, who are housed in their secret underground headquarters (underneath the Chaplain's Assistant School at Ft. Wadsworth, Staten Island): The Pit. All of the Joe team is featured in this debut issue, and I like that this is not their very first mission. Apparently they have been around for a couple of years. An American anti-military objector--and nuclear physicist, Dr. Adele Burkhart, has been kidnapped by Cobra, a terrorist organization (created by longtime Marvel editor, Archie Goodwin) led by Cobra Commander (yeah, I know: how original...but it works) that wishes to glean information--nuclear secrets--from her. Or, perhaps even worse, force the United States to rescue her.Either way, the United States is going to be embarrassed.The Joe team is called in to attempt the black-ops rescue. As I said, we meet all of the team's characters in this debut issue, among whom are Col. Clayton S. "Hawk" Abernathy, the Joe team field leader. Stalker (A Ranger, and the team's lone African American member), Scarlett (the lone female Joe), and the series' central figure, Snake-Eyes: the masked, mysterious, silent commando. More on his backstory will be revealed in the future.Snake-Eyes "asks" why not simply drop a bomb on Cobra's headquarters? (the "how does one life count for millions of them" question) Hawk's reply is that the team's job is to "follow orders...do the impossible...and make it look easy."* It turns out Larry Hama's actual line was "do the unthinkable, and then be forgotten." Marvel's editors changed it.The Joe team is forced to embark on a rescue mission for someone who hates their very existence...against an enemy that is holed up on a remote, unpopulated island--save for the island's fishing village community...that Cobra has just completely and totally murdered.Things go even worse from here.* The Baroness, one of Cobra's highest ranking agents, makes her first appearance in this issue.* IDW has also included Issue One's bonus story, Hot Potato, plus all of the team member and vehicle pin-ups that were included in Issue One.(Stalker, Scarlett and Flash's--the team's laser expert--pin-ups are my personal favorites)I have not seen these Issue 1 extras reprinted before. Anywhere.Issue 2: Panic At The North PoleAn American research team at the North Pole has been murdered. So has a Russian scientific team. Snake-Eyes, Stalker, Scarlett and Breaker (the team's communications officer) are sent North to probe the messy situation and run into trouble not from Cobra, but the mysterious Eskimo mercenary, Kwinn...who has the counter for every move the Joes make. This issue reminds me a lot of Batman Begins, as it deals with the subject of fear. A great story with an ingenius ending.* Due to a short printing run, this (for several years) was the most valued Joe comic. I have never understood why this issue was short-printed after the initial issue sold out so quickly.* We learn the reason why Snake-Eyes always wears a mask: he is horribly disfigured.Issue 3: The Trojan GambitCobra Commander is obsessed with finding the location of the Joe's headquarters, so he sacrifices one of his own garrisons to plant "a trojan horse" deep within The Pit. And, of course, this is the day the Chaplain's Assistants at Ft. Wadsworth are having their annual get-together...directly above said secret base!Issue 4: Operation WingfieldAnother Joe story not to feature Cobra...well, at least not directly. A para-military group located deep within the hills of Montana, commanded by one Vance Wingfield, is rumored to potentially have a nuclear warhead (or two). It also turns out Wingfield's group may be receiving funding from Cobra. Col. Abernathy and Grunt (the team's infantry soldier) infiltrate the para-military group as new recruits, with Snake-Eyes running reconnaissance on the base's outer perimeter.When the Joes arrive, Grunt notices that the complex's soldiers have their families quartered with them. Hawk comments that it makes sense: "If you control the man's family, you control the man."Hawk and Grunt find out about said nuclear warheads--and Wingfield's plan to start World War III between the United States and Russia.Yikes.* We get some more insight into Snake-Eyes'--who only speaks one time throughout the entire series' run--personality as we get a glimpse of the notes he takes while on said reconnaissance.Issue 5: Tanks For The MemoriesCobra has plans to hijack and learn the secrets of a very high-tech, very top secret "hidden-in-plain-sight" piece of Joe weaponry. They plan to steal it at a Veterans Parade in NYC. Why do the Joes have this top secret piece of weaponry on display at a parade? I'm not going to tell you. However, Cobra Commander ends up going one-on-one with the Joe's Pentagon Director, General Flagg (Hawk's CO), with a heavy moral dilemma presenting itself at the issue's end, to boot.* The mysterious town of "Springfield" is first mentioned in this issue: Hama is moving away from "one-shot" stories and planting the seeds of an all-encompassing storyline.Issues 6 and 7: To Fail Is To Conquer... To Succeed Is To Die & Walls Of DeathThe first multi-issue storyline. A top secret CIA aircraft has crash-landed in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan, and the Joe team is sent in to retrieve it. However, not only do they have to contend with Cobra...they also have to deal with their Russian equivalent: The October Guard.The October Guard sneak-attacks the Joes, who fight back and gain the upper hand...only to then, along with the October Guard, be ambushed by Cobra. Both units are left to their doom--execution in the desert--only a "miracle rescue" by Clutch (the Joe team's driver--and fantastic character who unfortunately was lost in the glut of mass-produced Joe action figures in the mid-1980s) saves the day...momentarily.The Joes now team up--reluctantly--with the Russians and go after Cobra. Alone. In Iran. With no support coming from back home. And, Hama throws a curve ball right between our eyes at story's end. Two curve balls, actually.A great story.Issue 8: Code-Name: Sea StrikeHama goes on furlough this month. The Joes journey to Cape Canaveral in a one-shot adventure featuring the space shuttle. A solid, fun story that features "Joes in space" delivered by writer Herb Trimpe. Cobra rolls out some (quite) over-the-top weaponry, too.Issue 9: The DiplomatLarry Hama remains on furlough, but writer Steven Grant delivers a solid political thriller that gives us a glimpse into just how far Cobra has entrenched itself inside the American government. Yes, Cobra is a terrorist organization, but we now see how they also legally manipulate their organization throughout the system. Clutch and Scarlett are given orders to act as bodyguards to an American diplomat, Brian Hassell. Hassell is currently in talks with the fictional Middle Eastern nation of Al-Alawi, and US influence in the region is dependent on said talks.Brian Hassell turns out to be a Cobra agent, and Cobra Commander wants him to assassinate the president of Al-Alawi.Let's see: an American State Department diplomat assassinating a Middle Eastern leader? "All hell breaking loose" just doesn't cover this...and remember, the Joes are protecting this guy.Uh-oh.This issue gives us even more insight into the ruthlessness--and total lack of scruples--of Cobra Commander. This isn't the blithering idiot we get on the cartoon show...rather, this is a man who is willing to kill his own--devoted--men to achieve his ends...even if their killing is only to make things look more authentic.The terror-hold Cobra Commander has on his minions is also well-represented here, as they cower in fear every time CC receives bad news...fearing for their lives. At the story's end, we are given perhaps this story's most chilling insight into Cobra Commander's psyche, but I won't spoil it here.Issue 10: A Nice Little Town Like OursLarry Hama returns, and we finally get a (very much limited) backstory for Snake-Eyes. It turns out that he has received martial arts training at an Eastern Buddhist temple. He has also had a most painful past. We learn all of this thanks to the introduction of a new Cobra interrogation agent, Dr. Venom: who can give Cobra Commander a run for his money in the evil department. Dr. Venom is able to extract information out of Snake-Eyes about his painful past thanks to an invention of his, the painful brainwave scanner. Dr. Venom is actually wanting information on the location of G.I. Joe's headquarters, but Snake-Eyes blocks Venom's mind probes by concentrating on his tormented past...doubling the scanner's pain. However, Snake-Eyes is (despite rumors to the contrary) human so, before he "cracks," he slows his heart-beat down to the point that he "flat-lines," and uses this ruse to escape.All of this action takes place in Springfield, Vermont...a town that has a dirty little secret. Unfortunately for Snake-Eyes...and Scarlett and Clutch...they have no idea where said town is located!Sounds strange, perhaps, but it really isn't.This issue also introduces us to the mysterious youth, Billy, who has a few secrets of his own...Issue 11: The Pipeline PloyThe action in this issue takes place in Alaska as Cobra runs an assault on America's oil pipelines. However, stealing the United States' oil is not what the terrorist organization is up to--they have a far more sinister play up their sleeves...This issue features the appearances of several new Joes: Wild Bill, Airborne, Gung-Ho, Doc and Snow-Job (at issue's ending we find out how--and why--Snow-Job received his code name).This episode also gives us the first hints (his face and a name are not revealed) at a new Cobra agent, Destro (an arms supplier) who will become one of the most major players in the Joe storyline...and he remains so to this day.Issue 12: Three Strikes For Snake-EyesWhat an issue. The action begins on the streets of San Francisco and winds up with mayhem galore in Central America (the fictional country of Rio Lindo).We are introduced to the Cobra courier, Scar-Face (the movie had just come out), in this issue. And--Hama has been planting the seeds for several issues--the ongoing storyline is now in full swing.Dr. Venom is up to no good (as usual) in Central America. Snake-Eyes, Breaker, Stalker and Gung-Ho (a Marine) investigate. However, the danger they face in Rio Lindo is doubled when the mercenary Kwinn re-appears on the scene (he is simply too good a character not to bring back).And, the issue ends with a cliffhanger that will play out over the next several issues.**********As I said, this collection comes with its own unique set of "special features." We get excerpts of Larry Hama's (the aforementioned) original pitch to Marvel Comics to develop Fury Force (a special forces team, featuring several elements Hama's Joe team would retain), led by the son of Nick Fury, that utilized Next-Gen hardware and weaponry. Once again, Hama's pitch was turned down, but...fortunately for Joe fans everywhere, Hasbro was having troubles of their own bringing their new set of action figures "to life" so they turned to Marvel's creative team for help. Hama's "Fury Force" idea was re-packaged by the writer into G.I. Joe, and Marvel would go on to have a major comics hit on their hands.A lot of great "inside info" is related here, much of which I, myself, only learned about for the first time.Speaking of bringing action figures to life...the other special feature we get is a very in-depth look into the processes Larry Hama used in developing the file cards that were included on the action figures' packaging. Hama did not simply sit down and write, "Dude's name is Grunt (the first action figure file card Hama developed). He speaks seven languages. Can win a fight against five other people at a time. Plays the piano and composes beautiful symphonies in his spare time. Etc, etc."Rather, Hama used a four-part process:1) Hard Data and Facts--Soldier is given a code name, speciality, background (home town), rank and secondary speciality. I noticed as a child that Scarlett, the lone (red-headed) female member of the team was from Atlanta. And, her real last name is "O'Hara." Steeler, the tank driver, was from Pittsburgh. I liked the subtle humor.2) Soldier's Background and Military Training--the weaponry said soldier is licensed to operate; schooling, etc.3) Psychological Assessment--a military psychologist would relate info into the soldier's psyche. Hama aparently liked (as an inside joke) to use the names of actual Marvel editors as those of the fictional doctors but this would be edited out before final product was developed.4) Personality Assessment--usually the soldier's strength while under fire...and delivered many time via a "teammate's testimonial." A great way of giving depth to 3 and 3/4 inch action figures.Please Note: In Larry Hama's G.I. Joe, the soldiers fired bullets--not laser pistols. People got hurt. People, some of whom were very popular, died. All of the Joes stuck to their specialities. Unlike the cartoon, only the (handful of) pilots (they had) could fly F-16s. One member, Zap (the Joe team's bomb disposal specialist), could--barely--pilot a helicopter...and he dreaded the few times he was asked to do so. So......in conclusion, I believe all of the aforementioned is the reason(s) why G.I. Joe became not only the most successful "toy comic" of all time, but one of Marvel's (now IDW's) most successful brands...with new issues of Real American Hero still being published today. This comic brand was fortunate enough to have a Vietnam War vet who had "been there, done that" and refused to "dumb down" his writing and characters for his audience. Instead, Larry Hama respected his audience enough to write stories on an adult level...in a way all age groups could understand...stories that accurately depicted the totality of warfare: honor, valor and yes, the atrocity of it all.Thanks for reading.G.I. Joe The Complete Collection, Volume 1* www.idwpublishing.com* ISBN-13: 9781613773963* 312 Pages* Written by Larry Hama (Trimpe and Grant)* Art by Mike Vosberg, Jon D'Agostino, Don Perlin, Herb Trimpe, Jack Abel, Bob McLeod (and several other talented artists)* Book's "special features" developed by Joe Historian, Mark W. Bellomo* This IDW special collection is Edited by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon; Designed by Shawn Lee

Definition:1. G.I. Joe = a slang name for someone who is or was in the military; esp. during WWII.2. G.I. -- is short for 'Government Issue', a descriptive term for supplies distributed by the government.3. Joe = an ordinary man.G.I. Joe is no ordinary Joe/man -- G.I. Joe: The Complete Collection (Vol.1) is no ordinary book/tome.Much like the toy line of the 80's, my brother and I were never able to collate every issue of the Joe comic-line either. These hardcover book collections of the classic G.I. Joe comics are nearly library bound quality; sturdy and spectacular, measuring an extensive length of 11x7x1, with re-mastered color on high-quality pages.I recently purchased the first four volumes (x2) after an extended weekend visiting my brother, going over the golden age of toys and cartoons from the 80's, re-living our wonder years, and reminiscing ad nauseum about G.I. Joe and wishing we had read through all of the comics of yesteryears. He was floored to receive the surprise and we have been going back-and-forth constantly over text regarding the stories and characters. It's been like jumping into a time-machine and landing in an 80's time capsule of our childhood.Volume 1 covers the first 12 comic issues plus the "Hot Potato" short-story in glorious presentation, in chronological order, and has held up well to the age of time. There are some 'dated' one-liners and zingers that only reiterate the feeling of nostalgia surrounding every ones' favorite figurines. Issues #1-10 (+ "Hot Potato") introduce you to the G.I. Joe universe and character canon, showcasing the 1982 Series 1 G.I. Joe toy line.If you jumped on the G.I. Joe comic book bandwagon a little late -- like myself, collecting the G.I. Joe regular comic along with "Special Missions" and "Tales" issues here and there, the "Tales of G.I. Joe" were reprinted issues of the first 15 original Joe comics; so this volume contains the first 12 "Tales" stories. Issues #11 and 12 slowly introduce us to the 1983 Series 2 G.I. Joe toy line mixed in with the original Joes.I cannot stress how impressive these graphic novel-like books are; with first-time printed bonus material, a knowledgeable forward, and additional author fun-facts and notes. The only thing missing from these reprints are the old Marvel indices inside and that iconic B&W Spiderman headshot (sometimes web-slinging body-shot) or the UPC code on the cover.For completists, there does exist a limited edition "Red Label" Vol.1 copy numbered to 250 signed by Hama & Trimpe with slipcase.

G.I. JOE: The Complete Collection Volume 1 If you are sitting there wondering whether you need ANOTHER collection of the G.I.Joe comics by Larry Hama, the answer is definitely YES!The enlarged size is brilliant, ALL the stories (including never before reprinted back up tales), fact files, character profiles and covers are included. Worth the price alone is the introduction by the amazing Mark Bellomo (Author of The Ultimate Guide to G.I.Joe) detailing exactly how Larry Hama went about writing the File Cards for new characters. It's just brilliant and it has to be owned by anyone claiming to be a Joe fan...Yo Joe!!!Role on the next volumes!!!! G.I. JOE: The Complete Collection Volume 1

Lots of nostalgic action with the Joes

top draw

As a life long fan of G.I Joe it's good to be able to by collections of the comics. A little pricy byut nice quality and hardback makes it worth.

Firstly I received this insanely fast! Second; this is just awesome. Gijoe was my favorite toy as a kid and I still have my beat up original Gijoe comics cause I read them so often. I can't wait to own the entire collection.