Heck of a way to welch on a bet.
GI Joe Vol 2 #4
FINAL ISSUE
COLORIST: David Nestell COVER ART: Joel Naprstek LETTERER: Tracey Hampton-Munsey DESIGNER: Cary Grazzini EDITOR: Philip Amara “All This And World War II WRITER: Mike W. Barr PENCILER/CO-INKER: Joel Naprstek CO-INKER: Carlos Garzon “The Last, Wild Heart” Part 1: “The Fourth Man” WRITER: Nathaniel Lachenmeyer ARTIST: Frank Teran
In the first tale, Sargent Savage, Mayday, Quick Strike, and Eagle Eye (who for some reason had his name changed from Ballistic at this point in the franchise) test out Metalhead’s VR trainer. Naturally the thing malfunctions after a lightning strike, which is cliched as all heck, and I don’t think that was necessary. A full-length story of the Joes in a World War II mission, even if we know it was a simulation, could be interesting if done right. Instead it has the old cliche of every VR/holodeck story ever and was disappointing because of it. This could have been better.
The second tale setup a story that never happened since the comic “went on hiatus” permanently but I guess nobody knew about that when the comic was being worked on. Clancy shows Stone some found jungle footage showing some doctor named Christie. We don’t know who he is or why we should care so it’s not a very good setup. I’m also not a fan of the art style used, but it was either in a dark room or grainy black-and-white footage so I understand the theory at least.
Overall, not a great sendoff for the comic. This was intended as an ongoing but the toys didn’t succeed in revitalizing the line (which might have had something do with losing everything that made the original, Adventure Team, and A Real American Hero lines work and a terrible TV show) and the comic folded with them. Barr’s stories (not counting the one here) showed that this could have been a good series with the right writer or writers. Instead it failed and I don’t know anybody who misses it.
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