Customer Reviews

Classic G.I. Joe Vol. 3 (v. 3)

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Having read these back when they first came out back in the early 80s, I was captivated by the whole ninja thing (so big at the time) and the nuanced story line of Larry Hama with its sympathetic treatment of Vietnam vets, seemingly prescient look at terrorism and just good overall artwork. Volume three was especially exciting to read because it contains issues 21, 24, 25 and 26, which present the background to the mysterious Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow (Arashikage). Very cool if you `get it' and probably a little juvenile if you do not `get it' (in which case I wonder why you are reading this at all).

Certainly some good 1980s story-telling here and the artwork jumps off the glossy pages. Very much worth having to enjoy it all over again.

Here are a couple books that might make the ninja story line even more interesting and meaningful: The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art and Secrets from the Ninja Grandmaster: Revised and Updated Edition

Volume 3 is a collection of the Marvel comic issues 21-30 from March 1984 - December 1984. This volume is very beautiful with great, bold colors on each page.
These 10 comics introduce the following characters: Storm Shadow, Duke, Roadblock, Firefly, Wild Weasel, Zartan, Buzzer, Ripper, Torch, Cutter, Mutt & Junkyard, Tripwire, Deep Six, Timber, Crimson Guard, and Spirit(yes, there could be others I missed). Larry Hamma was the scripter on all the issues in this volume.
Issue 21 is "the silent issue" and it is without a word. A lot of ninja stuff going on. Pretty cool issue.
Overall I see no errors or missing pages. If you grew up in the 80s like me and want to reconnect with the comics, check out this volume. I have the original comics and so this is a great way to read them without messing up the originals.
Keep in mind to those that may think these collect newer comics; they are not. These comics are around 25 years old and this volume brings them back to life beautifully.

This full-color IDW 240-page trade paperback reprints the issues #21-30 of the 1980s Marvel Comics "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" series with original cover dates of March to December 1984. G.I. Joe is an elite US counterterrorism strike force that are secretly headquartered beneath an army chaplain's motor pool and locked in a struggle against the stateless terrorist organization Cobra. Creator Larry Hama wrote all issues and provided the art breakdowns for the famous "silent" issue #21. The varied team of artists includes Mike Vosburg, Frank Springer, Steve Leialoha, Russ Heath and Marie Severin, and Dennis O' Neal edited this run.
The story starts with the aforementioned "silent issue" featuring Snake Eyes' infiltration of a Cobra base to save the kidnapped Scarlett and the introduction of Cobra ninja Storm Shadow. It continues with General Flagg's funeral, reconstruction of The Pit (#22 shows a full-page diagram of the Joes' new HQ) and the debuts of Duke and Roadblock. #23-24 has the capture of Cobra Commander and the recovery of the Baroness in Switzerland. Illusionist mercenary Zartan makes his first full appearance in #25 as a Joe team heads to the Everglades to battle Cobra. Meanwhile, Cobra Commander introduces an elite Crimson Guard to infiltrate American society, and Destro and Firefly plot revenge after being abandoned. The origins of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow unfold across the latter half of these issues.

By the time the 2nd year of GI Joe rolled around writer Larry Hama really his stride. This book has some important issues that set the stage for years of stories. This volume reprints issues 21-30 of the original Marvel comics series.

The first story is the famous 'Silent Interlude'. I've read that deadlines were tight and Hama had to find a way to get an issue out faster than usual, so he wrote a 'silent' issue with no dialogue and penciled it himself. While Japanese comics have a tradition of long periods without dialogue, American comics tended to fill every panel with words. Even in the middle of a fight characters would recite their life stories or debate ethics. Silent Interlude gave audiences 22 pages of ninjas fighting without a word to break the action. I have to admit as a kid this was an issue I refused to buy (no words! what a ripoff!) but as an adult I really admire Hama for challenging convention.

This volume also has the two-part origin of Snakes Eyes and Storm Shadow, creating an epic story of the Vietnam War, ninja clans, assassination and secrets that would run through the rest of the series.

The book also has the capture (and escape) of Cobra Commander and swamp warfare in the Everglades.

The one weak point is the art. Deadlines must have been rough on this book, artists change almost every issue and most of them are mediocre.

But overall these are some great stories that rise far above the level you would expect from a toy-tie-in comic.

You cant go wrong with the REAL origin of Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow, PLUS, the introduction of Zartan and the Dreadnoks!!!

This is a lot of fun, to see the old comics for someone who only watched the show. The comics are a lot more in depth...despite little quirks here or there...don't get too bent out of shape over little things! Just enjoy it!