IDW G.I. Joe Origins 4 Reviewed

G.I. Joe Origins #4 Review

This issue has the Joe team fighting together, in an action packed installment of G.I. Joe Origins. This issue is brought to us once again by the team of Larry Hama and Mike Hawthorne.

In previous issues, we’ve seen the origins of some of the Joe team members. We’ve seen the origin of Chimera, and his rather quick build up of his own militia. The last issue saw the Joes about to invade Chimera’s hideout(an abandoned military base).

The Joes invade Chimera’s hideout, and we get to see how they function as a team, in battle. The backgrounds, lighting, and page layout switch from light to dark, accentuating the calm moments outdoor, and the intense action indoor, within the base.

The page borders are switched from white to black when showcasing the battle within the base. This is a design element used very well, enhancing the sense of atmosphere within the panels.

Chimera’s henchmen, though in plain clothes rather than uniforms/costumes, manage to look evil at first sight. The heroes and villains are obvious in this book, just by looks alone. Good work by Mike Hawthorne on facial expressions and on the designs of the henchmen.

Chimera’s men include a trigger happy guy named Cahill. He wants to throw a grenade at the Joes, but another henchman warns him that the crates around them all contain explosives.

This issue shows a few deaths, enhancing the sense of realism in battle, and the villainy of Chimera. We see Stalker, and other Joes taking out Chimera’s henchmen in quick, and brutal succession. Scarlett even shoots one in the eye with her crossbow. A hostage situation is shown, that ends rather quick…proving that the government and the Joe team are dealing with a foe unlike any other.

Scarlett, unaware that the place is surrounded by explosives, is about to throw a grenade at Chimera’s men but is cornered by him at gunpoint. A hand to hand battle ensues, and it looks like Snake Eyes might end up saving the day for her(judging by his arrival onbase immediately afterwards, and might explain why she is attached to him in the G.I. Joe book by Chuck Dixon).

For you Snake Eyes fans, he does appear in this issue, but isn’t involved in the action…yet. He is shown springing into action, at a personal cost….

Nonetheless, I can already see fans wanting to customize Snake Eyes as he appears in this issue. It’s definitely a different look, but still immediately recognizable as Snake Eyes. It’s a neat “costume”, and I like how it came together in this issue.

The issue ends with a cliffhanger. It’s a solid issue, the clarity and quality of artwork shown in the last issue, is consistent here. The switch from dark to light colors for the pages and borders was a brilliant decision and timed well with sequences shown in the panels. This is the most action packed issue yet, and definitely worth picking up.

..........confederate snake eyes?

why snakey look like the red baron?
is he selling pizza in this issue...

He is dressed up last minute by the flight crew taking him to regroup with the joes, he needs more than a patient's suit...clothes from a pilot mannequin are the only clothes around for him to use.

Hmmmmm. interesting.

hmmm...very interesting; thanks for sharing that with us

All I have to say is,
Page 17
Joe as you've never seen in a comic.

I'm really enjoying Origins! It's still a little far-fetched, but not nearly as far-fetched as the original series. Snake Eyes jumping out of a plane at 120 knots--yeah, c'mon. But I love how the Joes operate like a real military team, using squad tactics and maneuvers. Although I'm starting to see a pattern--is every issue going to end with a cliffhanger?

Any chance someone could scan an image for those of us that can't get this issue for a bit?

No need to, it's the costume Snake Eyes is shown in on the frontpage.