G.I. JOE #27 (SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT/IMAGE COMICS)
Zartan’s manipulations continue to raise havoc for G.I. Joe.
After framing The Baroness for murder, Night Force was sent to apprehend the dangerous G.I. Joe. When Duke and company went to stop them, a wild card was introduced with bad intentions.
A reprogrammed BAT soldier has broken rank and attempts to kill Duke!
G.I. Joe #27 by Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Lee Loughridge & Rus Wooten continues its’ “Night Force” storyline!
Let’s take a closer look at the action.
G.I. Joe #27 by Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Lee Loughridge & Rus Wooten (Skybound/Image Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
WRITING:
Williamson never lets up on bringing the heat with this issue. The fallout from G.I. Bat’s vicious attack causes more friction between both squads. With Duke taken down, the writing shows the defeat start sinking in. This moves events onto Baroness and her attempts to evade capture. The espionage feel is exploding as Baroness works away to keep off the grid. A quick humor piece is thrown in before pages circle back to the dire times for the Joes.
Adding General Flagg into the mix adds a new dynamic into play. Knowing the M.A.S.K. connection, Readers can sense the larger impact of Zartan’s moves. The dialogue cuts right to the point while establishing a believable story covering his framing of Baroness. Tensions continue t simmer as the writing shows how the Joes are handling their interrogations. This leads into more dangerous games for Zartan while staging a wild finish. Williamson throws in a major swerve to raise some eyebrows as the event hits its’ halfway point. Another excellent ride on display here.
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ART & LETTERING:
Reilly & Loughridge unleash the Bat’s attack with a thunderous start. The half page panel shows its’ brutal attack on Duke up close and personal. This gives way to smaller panels, focusing on the tightrope both teams are walking. Expressions show the pressures getting to both before transitioning out to Baroness. The stealth moves carry the audience further into mystery while pushing events forward.
A creative none panel grid spotlights “Hawk’s” presentation to Flagg. Their expressions never rattle, creating a cold feeling concerning what happens next. Zartan starts breaking away from this persona when dealing with Night Force. The pushback given shows small breaks in his facade. Readers get more cat and mouse panels, which the art team gives plenty of page time to become fully invested with. The closing pages let Baroness take over as she looks for more clues. They also allow for more secrets to come into the light. The last page shakes everything up as the final panels send a strong message to follow.
FINAL GRADE: 9.3
Zartan’s schemes continue to tear apart G.I. Joe from the inside as “Night Force” goes forward! Williamson keeps up an extremely high pace as events play out. Reilly and the team continue to impress at every stage of the art. There’s few series even coming close to this level of storytelling.
Let us know your thoughts on G.I. Joe #27 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
