BotTalk Reviews

Creators : Larry Hama (writer), Andrew Krahnke (artist), Francesco Segala (colorist), Sabrin Del Grosso (flatter), Pat Brosseau (letterer) Story : In the Arabian Sea, a Tomahawk lifts off with Tunnel Rat, Tripwire and Sherlock going on a mission to rescue a 15-year-old activist/daughter of an opposition leader.   The leader of the kidnappers is also a "Fred Series" former Crimson Guardsman and operative for Cobra.  The team lands and meets up with Mongoose who was inserted the night before.  They find the tunnel system where the kidnappers are and go in guns blazing.  When they finally rescue the girl, she's upset that they ruined her plan and she goes off after the kidnappers as well; ends up the real daughter is elsewhere and the one they rescued is a special forces operative made to look like her who has a grudge against the Crimson Guardsman.  The Joes are able to talk her down from killing him and instead bringing him to trial for his crimes (beyond the kid...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Tom Reilly (artist), Jordie Bellaire (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story :  The Joe team sent to retrieve Doctor Monev/Doctor Venom try to outrun the Crimson Twins in the Stinger but Duke eventually surrenders in order to keep civilians from getting hurt or killed.  Meanwhile, Stalker and Cover Girl try to retrieve the brainwave scanner but they too are unsuccessful and captured.  In Springfield, Destro and Mercer are examining the body of the Cobra-La assassin Cobra Commander killed and are curious about it and its weapons, though they wish to keep it a secret that they have the body.  Clutch, meanwhile, looks on.  The city is evacuated to Destro's compound (with Clutch leaving also) and Destro is upset about it.  Cobra Commander reassures him that his plans are progressing, with Dr. Monev and his Brainwave Scanner, they can make a "brainwave bomb" to make people obey Cobra and the test subjects will be the G.I. J...

Creators : Larry Hama (writer), Chris Mooneyham (artist), Francesco Segala (colorist), Sabrina Del Grosso (flatter), Pat Brosseau (letterer). Story : As the G.I. Joe Ninja Force and Dreadnoks wait outside a building, Destro makes his way in, intent on facing Cobra Commander, who sits behind an armoured door, protected by H.E.A.T. (High Explosive Anti-Tank) and Alley Vipers.  Destro tosses smoke grenades, reduces his body heat and takes out the Vipers, all the while Cobra Commander looks on and dons his new battle armour.  Destro then blows the door off and he and Cobra Commander duke it out, with Destro eventually getting the upper hand and dragging the Commander out to the Joe team.   Writing : This story serves one purpose and that's to remind us how awesome Destro is.  Not only does he have the cool gadgets (smoke grenades, refrigerated suit, etc.), he can get his hands dirty as well and duke it out one on one when needed.  The overarching plot doesn't move f...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Tom Reilly (artist), Jordie Bellaire (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Clutch is trying to gather his bearings in the Cobra base and contact the Joe team when he ends up in line and hearing the next part of Cobra Commander's plan - to kidnap Dr. Venom/Dr. Archibald Monev who is slated to testify before Congress on his Brainwave Scanner.  Cobra Commander claims there is a mole and he is attacked but he fends off the assailant and drops him into a (literal) snake pit (and he knows it's an agent from Cobra-La, unknown to the rest) and Cobra Commander claims he already has allies picking up the doctor.  At the Pit, Duke and Risk are still fighting till Stalker stops them and reminds them they are a team (and putting out the classic Stalker leadership).  They receive a message from Clutch informing the Joes of what Cobra is doing.  In D.C., it ends up the Doctor is already in the hands of Cobra but the Joes are able to stop t...

Creators : Larry Hama (writer), Chris Mooneyham (artist), Francesco Segala (colorist), Sabrina Del Grosso (flatter), Pat Brosseau (Letterer) Story : Serpentor-Khan and Destro fight it out in the streets, with Destro getting the upper hand.  Serpentor-Khan's troops head to the hospital and fight both the G.I. Joe Ninja Force and the Dreadnoks, working together.  Destro shows up and sends the Baroness away.  At the community center, Cobra Commander's stand-in fights off Destro, who easily sees through the ploy and heads inside, with the Ninja Force and Dreadnoks backing him up. Writing :  Not a lot of plot advancement here as 2/3's of the issue are pretty much fights between Destro and his enemies.  However, they are some pretty neat fights, with Destro getting to get some quips into his opponents and prove how tough and resourceful he truly is.  It does feel as if Hama is winding down this arc with another issue or two left before going into his next arcs....

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Tom Reilly (artist), Jordie Bellaire (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Picking right up after last issue, Rock 'n Roll is down and the Joes are cornered but Duke comes in on a Cobra F.A.N.G. to help out.  Despite a valiant fight, Cobra is able to head off with the Shard/Energon Tech, though Duke is able to recognize Mercer. Cobra Commander sends in his elite "Valkyries" to finish the job (who kill any wounded) and remote detonates the laser guns so they aren't captured (upsetting Destro as he didn't know that feature was built in).   In the hospital, we find out Stalker and Cover Girl have pretty serious injuries, Rock 'n Roll is dead and Clutch is missing in the rubble.  General Hawk introduces Guerrero La Caza aka Risk, a CIA operative (seen last issue) to the team, upsetting Duke and they get into a fight.  Back at Springfield, Destro would like some more answers about the origin  of the Energon Tech but Cobra...

Creators : Larry Hama (Writer), Chris Mooneyham (Artist), Francesco Segala (Colorist), Sabrina Del Grosso (Flatter), Pat Brosseau (Letterer) Story : The battle for Springfield rages on with Cobra forces leading  Serpentor-Khan's forces into a trap.  The Dreadnoks and the Joe Ninja Force bring the Baroness to the hospital so he can be healed, with Zartan pretending to be Cobra Commander.  Meanwhile, Serpentor-Khan arrives, changing the tide of the battle and the Cobra forces retreat.  Just as Serpentor-Khan believes he has the upper hand, Destro's forces arrive. Writing : This is a fast-paced battle issue. All the action takes place in Springfield and it's a back and forth between a ground battle, air battle, and the commanding forces figuring out what to do. I felt that it flowed really well and even though the perspective changed to different areas, the pace never let up.  I also enjoyed that the story didn't switch to the Joe's command team at the Pit, as I fe...

Creators : Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire Story :  Duke is leading the G.I. Joe team on some training exercises - Clutch, Stalker, Cover Girl, Rock 'n Roll and the Baroness, while giving a bit of background on each.  The Baroness does struggle working with the crew and Duke feels they are not ready yet. In Springfield, Destro shows off his newest gun to Cobra Commander who is very impressed with it.  In Abu Dhabi, G.I. Joe agent Risk (the one missing a part of his left pinkie) beats up some people and tells them not to sell to M.A.R.S. Industries.  Back at the Pit, Hawk and Duke talk it over on what it means to be a leader and what the team needs. They then get their first mission; to retrieve a piece of Cybertronian tech while at the same time Cobra is going after it.  While the Joes are retrieving the tech, they come under attack by Cobra forces, who seem to have them outgunned and out-technologized with their new laser rifles.   Writing ...

Creators : Dan Watters (Writer), Andrei Bressan (Artist), Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Rus Wooton (Letterer). Story : Tomax and Xamot are showing Cobra Commander around their newly acquired M.A.R.S. Corporation and what they can do with it when they come across Destro and a fight breaks out.  Outside, Scrap-Iron, Chameleon and Mercer take on the Crimson Guard.  During their fight, Destro and the Twins talk about the future, all the while Cobra Commander looks on.  Finally, the Overkill system is activated but Destro keeps it from killing the Twins.  He proposes they work together, under Cobra, because of the changes the world is going to see.  They agree.  Later, Destro and Astoria Carlton-Ritz are eating dinner while Destro launches a missile to take out the Overkill system. Later, Destro and distant cousin Darklon are at their ancestral tomb and Darklon apologizes for selling M.A.R.S. but Destro says the Evader Driver needs to wear a family mask, like the f...

Creators : Kelly Thomas (Writer), Marco Ferrari (Artist), Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Rus Wooton (Letterer) Story : Scarlett, Jinx, and Storm Shadow have possession of the sword and Storm Shadow uses it to defeat a foe but then they see Cobra arrive and take cover. They ponder how to escape (with only two parachutes)  but Cobra Commander can detect the Energon the sword gives off and they get fired upon.  Scarlett gets injured and pushes Jinx out of the building (with the parachute) and jumps after her. The three split up to rendezvous later and Scarlett is able to touch base with Snow Job.  She decides to stay in to help Jinx.  Back at the Arashikage stronghold, Storm Shadow presents the sword to the Hard Master who gives it back and Storm Shadow raises it while the clan cheers on, surprising both Jinx and Scarlett.  Writing : Another good solid issue.  We start out with some good action and getting the trio to engage Cobra a bit was fun.  It was also ...