Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
GI Joe Cobra #2
IDW Comics
Gage, Costa & Fuso
Chuckles gains some trust within Cobra. He also shows off his one weakness: women. This issue is more of a portrayal of Chuckles and his mindset and really doesn’t show the inside of Cobra. Based on where last issue left off and what the solicitations stated about the issue and the series I found the issue to be largely unsatisfying.
Last issue left off with Chuckles about to get a tour of the Cobra headquarters. However, instead of picking up there, this issue only addresses that scene in a one blurb dialogue box. Instead, the issue begins with Chuckles showing how he makes contact with Jinx, his Joe contact. What isn’t fully clear is if he wants to contact her because he needs information or because he simply wants to see her. From this perspective, the issue is interesting because it reveals some layers to Chuckles we really didn’t see in the first issue.
As the issue progresses Chuckles is put through some tests to prove his worth. It’s obvious he isn’t thrilled to take part in the acts but he does them because of the mission. There is a level of honor in how he acts as he shows some remorse. The only real problem here is that his trust really doesn’t get him anything that leads him into better positions. Sure, he ends up sitting at the dinner table with Cobra Commander, but what’s his role? What does he now know about Cobra? These are answers that just aren’t clear at this point making his promotions larger superficial.
The issue has some excellent spy elements. Right down to Chuckles getting a transmitter implanted into his skull, this comic pulls out a lot of James Bond type stops. However, what I was hoping for in this issue and series was a look at Cobra from the ground up. Instead all we see are a couple of thugs that Chuckles works with and one or two conversations about lower profile operations with Cobra Commander (who is not hooded at this point). It’s fine to see a grunt in action, driving a car and getting shot at, but is this really a ground up look at an organization trying to take over the world?
The artwork has its highs and lows. The colors are so muted at times it appears my pages were sun-baked. However, the comic does capture a dark feeling that brings out the espionage element very well. On the other hand I found it difficult to distinguish Jinx from the woman at the end of the issue. So the art is really a mixture of good and not so good.
This issue definitely caters to those really into crime dramas. However, I don’t know that the die hard GI Joe fan will find this 100% fulfilling. Sure, the Chuckles fan will love it and those Joe fans looking for a story that’s a little different might like it. However, for me, I was hoping for more of a journey through the lowest level of the organization all the way up to the top. Instead we get a very good characterization and character growth for Chuckles with, what seems to be, very little to do with the Cobra organization. I’m finding this series to miss the mark that had been advertised.
2.5 out of 5 geek goggles
