Now it resembles the cartoon.
GI Joe #4
FINAL ISSUE
WRITER: Mike W. Barr COVER ARTIST: Frank Teran COLORIST: David Nestelle COVER CO-COLORIST: Jim Johns LETTERER: Tracey Hampton-Munsey DESIGNER: Cary Grazzini EDITOR: Philip Amara “The Ultimate Price” PENCILER: Tatsuya Ishida INKER: Scott Reed “From The Ashes” part 4 STORY: Mike Richardson PENCILER: Jerry Bingham INKER: Steve Mitchell
The Joes meet Inferno, Rampage, and Wreckage, with a mysterious person helping rescue Quick Stryke. After defeating the trio, the team explores the base, finds the dead Duchess, and uncovers the poisoned Ferti-Gel. Realizing Iron Klaw is going to poison the world’s food supply enhancement, our heroes race to defeat the villain’s plan, with Tall Sally and Short Fuse blowing up the poisoned tanks, but are killed in the flooding Ferti-Gel. This only drives the Joes to further take down SKAR once and for all.
What they got right: It’s a good finale. We also get a teaser in the future with the mysterious man (although I don’t have to remember the next mini to know that’s our “G.I. Joe” from the backup stories), and the villains get a good introduction. If you have to kill characters off, make sure the death is meaningful.
What they got wrong: That doesn’t making any less disappointing, though I admit it’s more the modern fridge-crazy writing making a man with a baby on the way and the girlfriend of a main character being created just to die bugging me.
Back in the past “G.I. Joe” figures out the bomber’s next move, a funeral for the other Project: GI soldiers killed in the bombing that the President is attending. Assuming Clancy’s identity, Joe stopped the bombing and reveals he’s still alive. The President decides having an agent like G.I. Joe is a good idea. Meanwhile the bomber is released by who appears to be an unmasked Iron Klaw to become his special assassin, who he dubs Inferno.
Inferno doesn’t act like he does in the other story, and it’s the same writer. Otherwise, it’s a good origin story for a secret agent.
Recommendation: Forget the cartoon comparisons I’ve done, this was a good story in its own right. This miniseries is worth picking up.
