GI Joe Vol. 1: Reinstated [Paperback]

Josh Blaylock (Author), Steve Kurth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2002

After almost a decade of inactivity, the U.S. government is forced to call the daring, highly trained, special missions force known as G.I. Joe back into action! The threat? Their mortal enemies, the ruthless terrorist organization known as Cobra, have returned after apparently being dissolved in the 1990's. But how have the lives and relationships of those on both sides of the conflict changed after so long?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Joshua Blaylock is the writer and layout artist of GI Joe, and president and founder of Devil's Due Publishing. The company is based in the heart of Chicago, recently moving from Cincinnati, Ohio, and was founded by Blaylock in 1999, in an effort to enter the comic book publishing arena, and channel commercial art assignments. Before Devil's Due, Blaylock was instrumental in creating many of the 1980's T-shirt lines found in malls throughout the country, and toiled in the small press comic book circuits on the side. Blaylock made waves in the comic book industry with his acquisition of the GI Joe license - based on the line of toys from Hasbro, Inc.. And is turning heads once again with the announcement of a new series based on the famous Micronauts toys of the 1970's and 80's. As a fan of 80's toys, comic books, and cartoons growing up, Blaylock is thrilled to be working on such tremendously well known American Icons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Devil's Due Publishing (June 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582402523
• ISBN-13: 978-1582402529
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,301,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE TRIMPHANT RETURN OF G.I. JOE, April 26, 2005

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: GI Joe Vol. 1: Reinstated (Paperback)

Marvel Comics began producing a G.I. Joe comic book back in 1982, the same year Hasbro rolled out the new 3 ¾" line of Joe action figures. The series was a big hit and would be one of Marvel's top sellers for many years and spawn several companion titles such as G.I. Joe Special Missions and G.I. Joe European Missions. But as the popularity of the toy line waned, so did the popularity of the comic and the title was finally canceled in 1994 after 155 issues. G.I. Joe lay dormant for seven years until resurrected by Devil's Due in 2001. "G.I. Joe Reinstated" re-prints those first four issues where we see the Joe team brought out of the mothballs to once again face off against arch-nemesis, Cobra. But this was not the G.I. Joe of twenty years ago which was squarely aimed at the young boys who played with the action figures. This was a grittier, edgier Joe, fully immersed in our modern world of terrorism and 9/11.

Reinstated begins deep in the Florida Everglades at the base of Dreadnok leader Zartan. Zartan hosts a meeting of Cobra dignitaries including the Cobra Commander, the Baroness, Major Bludd, Destro, Dr. Mindbender, Tomax, and Xamot. These diverse and ego-maniacal personalities instantly begin squabbling over power as the Cobra Commander presents Cobra's newest weapon...nanite technology which he claims will infect and destroy virtually anything it's introduced into, whether it's mechanical or organic. Destro manages to usurp power and imprison the Cobra Commander. But military has been keeping an eye on Zartan in the form of Snake Eyes' apprentice Kamakura, who relays his information to Joe command. After seven years the Joe team is reassembled with Duke, Flint, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Roadblock, Shipwreck, Gung Ho, Mainframe, Spirit, and more...We catch up with the Joe team and learn that Snake Eyes and Scarlett were to be married but Snake left three weeks before the wedding. We also learn rather humorously that Bazooka is no longer quite fit for active duty.

The Joe team begins their assault on Zartan's base but it is all a ruse to draw the Joe team in. Scarlett and Snake Eyes are captured and several members of the Joe team, including many new recruits are infected with the nanites. Furthermore, Cobra has begun infecting infrastructure in the U.S., hitting government installations, communications networks, and other targets, resulting in widespread damage and chaos. Cobra's plan is then to play the good guy and save the day so the government will be in their debt. The Joe team must now find a way to battle this new technology and save the men and the nation from Cobra's latest threat.

Reinstated was an extraordinary story and a great way to bring back the Joe team. Far from the more implausible Marvel stories, Reinstated handled the seven year absence logically with the various Cobra members quibbling over power. Meanwhile on the Joe side we are given some meat to the past seven years that the Joe team had been disbanded. While it would have been great to see a bit more of what's happened to the team in that time, it was at least nice to see the subject handled intelligently. And in a plot right out of today's headlines we hear that people are protesting in Washington over the Joe Teams attack on the Cobra base. Kudos to Josh Blaylock for playing up the whole sympathizing with the terrorists angle as many people today have done with Al-Quida. Steve Kurth and John Larter provide the striking artwork putting the finishing touches on this great trade collection. Devil's Due had done a great job of balancing staying true to the characters Marvel and Hasbro introduced and updating them for 21st century readers. I like having the stories aimed at a more mature audience than the "G" rated Marvel material. Clearly, G.I. Joe is in good hands at Devil's Due.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And Knowing is Half the Battle!!!!!, August 21, 2002

By 

Scott Sloan (Vacaville, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: GI Joe Vol. 1: Reinstated (Paperback)

No one was more happy to see the return of GI Joe then i was. I grew up with them. I read their comic, I played with their toys, and I watched their cartoon show. i am not ashamed and enjoyed all three immensely. Even now I am older, with less free time, and fewer toys to play with, but still the return of GI Joe left me very excited. This Volume contains the first 4 issues of the new Image comic being published by Devil's Due and I have to say that it is just great!!! The comic brings us up to speed with the GI Joe team who must once again stop Cobra, and Destro, and everyone's favorite maser of disguise Zartan. The stories are all well done, and the art is simply beautiful. Mind you this not a reprint, but all brand new first run stories. So if you are a closet Joe like me. Then do yourself a favor, and pick this one up!!!! Now drop and give me 20!!
Yo JOE!!!!

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yo Joe!, October 7, 2003

By 

Chris (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GI Joe Vol. 1: Reinstated (Paperback)

A great book for GI Joe fans worldwide. Definitely a Collector's Item!