USA Today interviewed longtime GI Joe writer Larry Hama recently. In this interview, USA Today went over details surrounding the return of the original GI Joe comic continuity, started in the 1980’s by Marvel and will be continued starting on Free Comic Book Day 2010, with GI Joe #155-1/2, by IDW. Afterwards, starting with GI Joe #156, GI Joe A Real American Hero will become an ongoing title.
Here’s what IDW editor Andy Schmidt has to say:
“It just made good sense to go back to the original continuity for the older fans and to give us an opportunity to show the newer fans how we got here in the first place,” says Andy Schmidt, editor on all IDW’s G.I. Joe titles. “Larry built that continuity up for years. It’s a shame for it to be shelved permanently.”With this comic in particular, Schmidt says, “I think it’s best to let Larry guide me. I don’t force anything on him. He wrote this book for 15 years. I’ve been here five minutes. Larry leads, I follow.”
Hama spoke about his creative freedom enjoyed on GI Joe Origins:
Hama’s run on a few of the initial Origins issues sparked his interest to do more. “It was the first time someone had said, ‘Hey, do what you want to do,’ ” he says. “Other times, they’d be like, ‘We want it like old school.’ My comment on that was, ‘Well, I don’t do it that way anymore.’ Doing Origins, they said, ‘Just do it the way you do it now.’ So I had a bit more leeway.”Hama also gives some small hints on what to expect with the ongoing series:
Will there be anything huge that early on in the new Real American Hero? “There’s a few big reveals and a few little shocks,” Hama teases. “But it’s more shocks about, ‘Is that what was really going in with those characters?’ or ‘He’s doing what to who?!’ I try to come up with stuff like that, and then work back from it.”Be sure to check out your local comic stores and see if they are participating on Free Comic Book Day 2010, on May 1st!
DarthBryn says
I am sure that if a thread like this already is on the 'Tank this one can be deleted but, Larry Hama is returning to GI JOE
Larry Hama relaunches his '80s 'G.I. Joe 'series - USATODAY.com
Zefram says
WTF?! So they're going back and picking up where the Marvel series left off?!
gunslingercbr says
doesn't Hama already write the other ongoing Joe series as well?
DarthBryn says
gunslingercbr says
Zefram says
And thousands of Lady Jaye fans everywhere give a cry of triumph as Devils Due continuity is quietly swept under the rug.
rip_cord says
Wow, that's cool!
I'm only reading the original Marvel run for the first time per the IDW TPB's. I don't even know how 1-155 fully pans out but I'm excited for 155 1/2 on Free Comic Day - should be fun to keep the series going, expecially w/ Hama at the helm!
Guess I'll be reading these in tandem if the continuation is starting in July???
DarthBryn says
I have never read any of the Marvel run myself, but I could start picking these up, granted my employment situation turns around in the next couple of months.
Irid70 says
Hama has written some issues of Origins, but the news about issue 155 1/2 and 156 have been out for some time, I thought. I have known for a long time that 155 1/2 is coming for FCBD.
CVdelgado says
wahoo!
Keep reading: Hama to return to GI Joe Comics - Page 2
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