Traviss' first issue contains lots of characters, whether good or bad, and while it is nice to see such an ensemble cast, sometimes it was easy to get lost in it as well since the characterization of particular characters never really gathered steam. I love seeing Scarlett in a leadership role within the team, and the same for Tomax as well since I mark him as a real smooth manipulator of people, but I wanted to see much more of them. Hopefully, as the title develops, Traviss is able to focus more and more on the characters. Read Full Review

To sum up, this is a rather enjoyable release, with a successful blend of both words and art. The writer and the artist are both working at a high level, and the reader reaps the rewards. Both intriguing and satisfying, this first issue sets up an ongoing storyline that will bear watching. The story definitely has a unique identity, and could veer off in any number of different directions. This quality is highly appreciated, and should keep the readers guessing. Karen Traviss and Steve Kurth are building a new take on the Joe team that long term fans, along with new readers, will be able to appreciate. An excellent new story-arc that bears watching. Read Full Review

Karen Traviss is weaving anintriguing story that is quite captivating and one reading will not do. When you get this issue read it and walk away. Come back in a few hours and read it again. Karen is setting up some major story elements that will last for months to come. This new direction is welcomed andI do hope the political themes hold readers in place for a while as the payoff is going to be huge. The art is also something new unique and Steve Kurth depectics these characters in a new light. Overall this new season of GI Joe is going to be awesome and the winners in this will be the readers. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book and get ready to embark on an intriguing story that will last for months to come. Yo Joe. Read Full Review

Not much action, but with an intricate plot and real-world intrigue, this is shaping up to be something great. Read Full Review

This was super cool and I want to see what happens next! Check it out! Read Full Review

While it isn't a spectacular read, it does have me intrigued to know what happens next. And I think that's exactly what a first issue should do. Read Full Review

While I hope the action does come soon (issue #2 looks like it will deliver), I really hope Kurth can handle the action set-pieces just as well as he does the political stuff. If you are a fan of Gi.I. Joe then this is an easy recommendation and if you have long thought the series to be silly camp tailored towards kids, then this book might just change your mind. Read Full Review

Traviss and Kurth have built the framework for a strong series going forward with G.I. JOE #1, and I recommend giving it a shot to see if the tone is right for your tastes. Fans of Mike Costa's G.I. JOE/Cobra work will be right at home here and I look forward to reading more. Read Full Review

"GI Joe" #1 doesn't blow the doors down, but it promises strong characterization, an engaging voice for a potentially complicated and dry plot, and some of the best Steve Kurth art ever put on the page. That's enough to earn a few more months goodwill. Hopefully it actually starts to feel more like "Joe" soon. Read Full Review

Although I do prefer a more action-oriented slant to G.I. Joe, this re-launch has me intrigued. Its serious tone requires a fair degree of patience and might not be for everyone, but I have a feeling the investment might just be worth it. Read Full Review

New York Times best-selling author Karen Traviss begins to lay a foundation for the series here but by the nature of the story is forced to be unnecessarily vague about the real intentions of all the players. The art on IDW's JOE books has always been hit-and-miss. Steve Kurth's work matches Traviss expositional storytelling but a little more traditional comic style would go a long way to help sell the storyline. For fans. Read Full Review

This is one of those tough times as a reviewer when I was looking forward to a book and recognize that the creators put a lot into, but it just didn't produce an enjoyable comic experience. Since the failure wasn't due to a lack of effort or talent, though, I will check out G.I. Joe #2 and won't be surprised if it is dynamite. Read Full Review

All in all, "G.I. Joe" #1 suffers from very fixable problems. Some issues can create an enjoyable experience with sheer technical expertise, but lack the storytelling risks or material to build a longer series. "G.I. Joe" has the opposite problem, but the team shows enough skill that I'm hopeful it can be fixed going forward. Read Full Review

From a writing standpoint, this book is what the debut issue of a beloved action franchise should never be: boring. Read Full Review

There's a clear vision in this book, and some decent artwork to be had, but I feel like Traviss has stripped out too much of the central conceit for this to be a really successful relaunch of G.I. Joe. With different characters in play but the same story and art, I might have found it more succcessful, but as it stands, G.I. Joe #1 is a little too grim, a little too real-world and a little too morally gray for me. Read Full Review

Lengthy political conversations of the funding future of the Joes unfortunately is not why we buy these comics. And the overall lack of Joes in the series has me questioning things. The one saving grace is the stunning line art thanks to ole X-Men Legacy artist Kurth. His work alone will bring me back for a second issue; let's just hope the storyline starts moving somewhere fast. Read Full Review

All in all, while it is early days, an issue like this should look to set an example, not promise one in the future. I appreciate what they're doing, but this issue jumps straight into the deep end of boring. If it took time to re-cap events, or set the situation up, I might enjoy it more but, as it is, I feel it was rushed and poorly thought out. Read Full Review

Steve Kurth's art is solid, and he does well with what he's given, but the real star of the show for me is the cover by Jeffery Veregge. It's very Saul-Bass-y, which is awesome, and it gives the readers a heads up that hey, this isn't going to be the everyday G.I. Joe with hyperrealistic covers of explosions, it's going to have a little more intrigue. It's a stylistic choice I like for a story I'm not crazy about. Read Full Review

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This entire issue is way too drawn out and dull for me. It takes far too long for anything to happen. I miss all the crazy-looking vehicles, the evil Cobra and their crazy plans for world domination. I think theres another series out there with Joes andTransformersthat is more of what I think of when I hearG.I. Joe.If you want to see your childhood heroes old and neutered, alaThe Expendablesfilms, this is the series for you. Read Full Review

GI Joe is a tough franchise to find something new to cover. Over thirty years the stories have run the full array. IDW continues to try to set the Joes in a real world setting but the cornerstones that made this franchise appealing are action, characters and ninjas. You can wrap the politics around those cornerstones but when you lack them you have to wonder why this is a GI Joe comic book. We'll see where this is all heading. Not a great start but there are some items in here that have potential. Read Full Review

We want over the top good guys fighting over the top bad guys and no one really dies, but occasionally you kill a great character and make it count towards the bigger story. There's fucking future tech that we'll never see in real life and both sides fight in areas that aren't populated. Hell, throw in some new characters, but remember that they need to be as cool as The Baroness, Lady Jaye, Snake Eyes or Destro. I know it seems like a dumb formula, but it works and the saying goes, "if it ain't broke" don't fix it." If like me you were looking forward to another chance to jump on G.I. Joe" don't bother. Read Full Review