G.I. JOE #19 (IMAGE COMICS/SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT)
The Dreadnok War left its’ mark in the Energon Universe. It also revealed a secret to Duke that he’s not ready for.
Hound, an Autobot Transformer, has been working with Clutch for months. During the War, Hound revealed himself to save the Joes from attack. It is well known Duke doesn’t like Transformers. One in particular killed his friend. Having one hiding underneath his watch isn’t making things better.
G.I. Joe #19 by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, Lee Loughridge & Rus Wooten delivers an explosive round to the EU’s growing history.
Let’s see what transpires now between Duke and his team.
G.I. Joe #19 by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, Lee Loughridge & Rus Wooten ( IMAGE Comics/Skybound)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Williamson juggles a few storylines with this chapter. Each have their own time to shine but one is the obvious leader of the pack. The first is a tease to the huge reveal from the Dreadnok War. Zartan’s scheming comes into better focus in the opening pages. It hints at a larger purpose to be named. The portion serves as a solid lead-in for the meeting everyone has been waiting for.
Duke’s meeting with Hound carries its’ fair share of fireworks. The writing gets the pent-up rage out of the franchise Joe. It creates a sense of friction between him and his allies. This bodes well for Duke’s character. When he’s pressed against a wall, he excels. His dialogue is spot-on to the situation. There is very little held back. Readers can easily grasp his anger. Even when events move back to the Pit, the mood never changes. Stance may soften a fraction but it’s definitively not a friendly conversation.
The third aspect has been the quiet building of the M.A.S.K. universe into the EU. Matt Trakker has been moving behind the scenes. this portion showcases the espionage factor the series thrives in. It leads to an interesting finish. The moment is not without another surprise to shake things up. It’s a building block for something greater on the way.
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Milana & Loughridge welcomes Zartan into the issue with a solid two page spread. It serves its’ purpose before moving onto Duke and Hound. The half page panel presents its case of impact. Duke’s anger never leaves his face during his sequence. Even as the other Joes try being voices of reason, it proves futile. The interaction with Clutch leads to a somewhat pause of the conflict. This revs up again in the Pit. Hounds’ mannerisms attempt to make peace. Duke’s face never breaks but slows down the pace long enough to send things to the closing portion.
Trakker’s portion serves up the most visual differences. This is due to Loughridge’s coloring during the flashbacks. Grey tones convey the change in direction. It allows some mystery to grow with Trakker’s journey. Once in the final pages, the move to a public place leads to danger. A great two page splash shows a party crasher entering the fray. Readers watch as the dangerous figure reveals himself to the crowd. Knowing said person’s history, this does bode well for Trakker’s mission.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
Secrets and lies threaten the structure of G.I. Joe in this latest chapter. Williamson’s writing weaves in the complex plots flawlessly, giving enough time to all. Milana & Loughridge deliver on key moments and setting the stage for what’s next. It is never “just another issue” with this series.
Let us know your thoughts on G.I. Joe #19 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
