G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero – Murder By Assassination [IDW, 2021]

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero – Murder By Assassination (Issue #281-285)

by

Larry Hama (writer), Andrew Lee Griffith (artist), S.L. Gallant (artist), J. Brown (colours), Neil Uyetake (letters)

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #281

Picking up a new story-arc after the big “Snake Hunt” arc, this time we open our story with Joe top-honcho Hawk over in Trucial Abysmia with Stalker to investigate infiltration and disruption attempts into U.S efforts in the area. While there, they encounter an M.P. (Military Police) investigator named Sgt. Regina Allen, a.k.a., Sherlock – she in turn is leading and deep into the investigation of the same enemy actions and their leader Al-Kawbra (yeah, I know, I chuckled too!).

The issue is essentially an introduction to Sherlock as the newest member of the Joe team and the first major M.P on the team outside of Law and Order. The story itself is about a convoy and the attack on the same and is a very action-heavy issue but it’s handled in a slick and entertaining way and is a solid introduction to a new character that tries to show why she is worthy of joining this squad of elite soldiers.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #282

After an explosive but otherwise minimal introduction to the new Sherlock character, Larry Hama and artist Andrew Lee Griffith bring the action to (of all things) a closed door hearing at the Senate where the Joe team is being questioned regarding Operation Snake Hunt (the last main story arc) during which part of the team went aon a covert operation without permission – technically speaking.

Representing the team are General Hawk, Scarlett, Snake Eyes (Sean), Bottom Line and their JAG representative, Caseload as three senators begin the grilling. But more is afoot as the Joe leaders suspect that machinations may be there that can’t be seen and on top of this job and keeping an eye on things from the outside are covert operative Chuckles and Sherlock. Their suspicions obviously prove true and Cobra has nefarious plans to undermine their longtime adversaries – the question now is simply whether the heroes can come of this in relatively good shape or the plans of their enemies bear fruit and hamstring the Joes, or worse! And what further plans do Cobra and Al-Kawbra have for our heroes?

Definitely an improvement over the last issue. Hama continues to show his command over the characters and this world as well as a good hand even now, at making what could be simple good guys vs bad guys stories as more nuanced than you’d expect with politics, power-plays, subterfuge and more being present – something that has been a strong hallmark of why this series has such longevity and has long been considered (by me at least) to be the best iteration of this franchise in any medium.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #283

Definitely the high-point of this story arc so far, we continue to follow the Joe teams investigations into the joint machinations of Cobra and their newest ally, Al Kawbra – an investigation that leads them to the far-eastern nation of Phan Chang. This time it’s a recon mission with Lady Jaye and new recruit Multo (ex-Philippines Special Forces) going undercover as black market weapons dealers, with backup provided by Chuckles, Roadblock and Black Hat.

The chase leads the team to another encounter with Al Kawbra but things escalate from bad to worse as his chess-move style plannings keep them scrambling to keep up while the stakes are as high as they can be with Nuclear Warheads as the prize to be captured + a surprise addition of chaos brought by some very familiar faces who seem to be playing their own game. All of this makes for a tense and thrilling chapter that moves at a very fast pace and keeps you on your toes as you wait to see who will come out on top and if the slippery new villain is finally captured or not.

Another highlight is the artwork by Gallant – he is a stellar artist and for sure improves on the previous issues. It’s not a knock against his predecessor but I personally prefer his quality and style for these stories and he seems to have a better finish to his pages and panels.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #284

Another solid entry into this story arc as the action ramps up and the stakes stay high as ever. Picking up right after the last issue, the Joe team, still in the far-east nation of Phan Chang, are joined by new member Sherlock as she takes the lead into the investigation and hunt for arms dealer and general villain Al Kawbra. The story follows him on the run and possibly more Nuclear warheads being unaccounted for and the clock is ticking as he is trying to get out of the country – so the race is on to see whether he can or will Sherlock and her team catch him first?

This edge-of-your-seat game of cat and mouse (snake?) is a definite change from the usual G.I. Joe story and it is handled well – the focus is very much on how the team tries to piece together the movements of their quarry before they found him in the last issue and try and extrapolate where all he might go to escape; side by side we get to see the sneaky smarts of their new adversary as he seems to be out-thinking them at every step and seems to have several buffers and misdirections to keep his foes at bay.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #285

The “Murder By Assassination” story arc comes to a bombastic conclusion in this final chapter as the hunt for Al Kawbra leads the Joe team to the jungles of a place called Amara Wapoor, somewhere in south-east Asia. Slogging in the dark jungles on this covert-op are Rock & Roll, Muskrat, Falcon, Sherlock, Multo, Wet Suit and Recoil.

This chapter serves as a step away from the more investigation and intrigue aspects of the previous issues as it goes for full-bore jungle warfare as the team comes face to face with their target in a hidden Cobra base deep in the jungle. It’s definitely the best artwork of the arc by Griffith and is a solidly entertaining and explosive finale that brings Sherlocks investigation to a head where we hopefully ask, for the last time, whether the team can catch Al Kawbra or he will give them the slip again to cause more trouble for them ahead – this hunt has been a personal journey for Sherlock in particular, as Al Kawbra is the one responsible for the loss of her arm 5 issues ago.

Full of actions and giving nice closure to some plot-threads, we can also see Larry Hama using the goings-on in the jungle base as breadcrumbs for what it is that Cobra has been up to all this time and we start hereon the real build toward the 300th issue of the series. This arc was both a nice diversion from the usual high-drama Joe adventures in preceding arcs to a more taut and focussed thriller that laid the groundwork for what comes next.