When I was growing up, you were either a G.I.Joe fan or a Transformers fan. I mean, you could read and collect from both franchises, but when it came down to brass tacks, you had to pick one or the other. I always fell on the G.I.Joe side of the discussion and still do to this day. A large part of the reason for that was, and is, the G.I.Joe comic books. The television ads for the comics were just so cool, how could you not want to run out and buy them? Plus, Larry Hama created not just a toy tie-in comic with the series, but a military soap opera with plotlines that went on for years and years. That and Storm Shadow is the shit, hands down. I would take him against Batman and Wolverine any day.

So when IDW relaunced the Marvel continuity Hama at the wheel, my inner 12 year old squealed with delight and I was reading G.I.Joe comic books again, something I never thought would happen.

Issue #175 is another fine example of why Hama is such a mastermind with these characters. The issue spotlights Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow as they go after the Blue Ninja Clan which is responsible for the killing of Cobra Commander’s son Billy (If you’re completely lost by that statement, read the trades. You will not be sorry). It’s a fun, action filled issue that shows why the two ninjas work so well together and are by far the most popular characters in the series.

When S.L. Gallant first came on board as penciller, I was lukewarm to him at best. His style just didn’t seem to fit the personality of the book. However, over time he has really come to get a grip on the cast and has improved with each issue. Now I honestly can’t picture anyone else drawing the book. His Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow look great and he does a fine job with all the military high tech equipment.

IDW’s current G.I.Joe books may have more splash and get the lion’s share of the attention, but for old school fanboys like me, the original is the only way to go. If you are over the age of 30, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Let the countdown to G.I.Joe #200 begin!