G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol. 1

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1

by Larry Hama

The original G.I. JOE comic is back - and so is Larry Hama! After the Joes were disbanded, COBRA made their move - with no G.I. JOE to stop them! The Reign of COBRA begins! This trade collects #155.5 thru #160.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Adventure, War, Fiction, Comic Book

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Larry Hama is an American writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s.

During the 1970s, he was seen in minor roles on the TV shows M*A*S*H and Saturday Night Live, and appeared on Broadway in two roles in the original 1976 production of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures.

He is best known to American comic book readers as a writer and editor for Marvel Comics, where he wrote the licensed comic book series G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, based on the Hasbro action figures. He has also written for the series Wolverine, Nth Man: the Ultimate Ninja, and Elektra. He created the character Bucky O'Hare, which was developed into a comic book, a toy line and television cartoon.

Reviews

[Nicolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

When IDW continued the numbering from the long running original Marvel comic with new stories, it made sure that particular flavor of tales with continue under the stewardship of Larry Hama, the former Marvel editor who made up the bios of the original toys and comic books.

It was awesome IDW made available for free on Comixology the first trade from that revival. It's making it easier for me to go digital with the free stuff just waiting to be read.

As for the stories, Hama picked up from where he left off and he gave the staples of G.I. Joe storytelling, ninjas, betrayal and lots of bullets.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great return to a childhood love

I was a huge G.I. Joe fan as a kid. Cartoons, toys, whatever, I loved it all. This updated series written by the original series writer Larry Hama is exactly what the kid version of me would have loved. All the best characters are here and the action never stops. The art fits the mood and character really good as well. The only quibble I have with the book is maybe the dialogue and storytelling is a little outdated for what comics are like these days. But its a small critique. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this as well as the inner kid in me.

[Alex Sarll]

Not a Volume 1 in any sane sense, with Larry Hama picking up a story he's been telling for decades - but still easy enough to follow if, like me, you've not checked in for most of that time. The Joes have been disavowed, and Cobra hired as private security by a USA only too eager to trade liberty for the illusion of security; there's one particularly good/horrible scene where MAGA types find Cobra troops too soppy and invested in due process for their tastes. But even as Hama uses toys from the eighties to tell a serious story, he knows better than to be entirely serious about it: Cobra Commander still refers to his enemies as "pesky", and when his son Billy* gets a brainwash refresher, Dr Mindbender throws in a reminder to floss daily. All this plus ninjas! Explosions! And the sort of military geeking which leads to characters arguing the relative merits of katana and European sabre as they fight with them. There's almost no chance I will ever read the whole of this run, let alone what I've missed in between, but I love that everyone involved is happy to let Hama just keep on doing his thing.

*The lack of a cool codename threw me too.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve finally made my way back to the original Larry Hama GI Joe continuity after reading all the others. Issues #155 1/2 - 160. Awesome kick start to the new story line. GI Joe is disbanded and underground while Cobra security forces have spread everywhere. Time to root out evil!!

[Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5. It's alive! Love the new artwork.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read G.I. Joe comics in the 80s and early 90s so the prospect of picking up this volume in which the legendary Larry Hama returned as writer intrigued me. It was just okay. There is a big subplot involving brainwashing that is very cartoonish. Not that G.I. Joe is above such storylines but the old comics I remember where more gritty and grounded. The main plot involves G.I. Joe being disbanded and replaced with a new peacekeeping force: Cobra. Yeah. The U.S. government, and world's populace, have just somehow forgotten everything that Cobra has done and stands for and is cool with it. I decided to roll with it too for the sake of the story, but it is undone by the end of this volume so it felt like an opportunity squandered. Seeing the Joes on the run, operating in the shadows, with little resources and even less backup and support while still trying to thwart what is now a government-sanctioned paramilitary organization would be kind of cool. Bummer.

So if you are looking for silly G.I. Joe comic romp dig in, but if you are looking for a return to form akin to the S.A.W. Viper mowing down a bunch of Joe prisoners this is not it. And now you know...

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of the original Marvel Comics GI Joe run. I loved the cartoon and I had most of the toys. I was excited when Hama took the reigns again to start where he left off. The problem is...it's missing something. the story is alright but it almost feels he wasn't really ready to continue and didn't know how to get the Joes out of the trouble the ended with in 155. Also, the guy doing the pencils for the books has no idea how to draw the characters. The art is pretty mediocre at best. It's still classic GI Joe though so I enjoy it well enough but it could have been better. Maybe as the volumes go on they will hit their stride.

[James Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was never into G.I. Joe growing up, it was something I only knew of due to the films and TV parodies courtesy of Family Guy and Community. With the exception of Snake Eyes, I can't say I know who these characters are or their roles, so I could've benefitted from them receiving more characterisation here. This series kicks off with the heroes being disbanded and the villains getting prime position in the US government, making for an interesting tale delivered with mismatched artwork. It's an interesting idea, but I ultimately just don't care, although Cobra Commander being pathetic put a smile on my face.

[Rachel Friedland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this series to prepare for the Snake Eyes movie. I will say this is a fun read if you're already familiar with the Joes and their mission. As this starts they have already disbanded, but need to regroup in order to combat Cobra's sudden rise to power.

This is pretty introductory for the series; it has to track down where all of the team members have been and how they come back together, but it was a great set up for the series and I'm really looking forward to the rest of it.

[John Parungao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 1 of the collection of the current ongoing GI JOE title produced by IDW. IDW has gone on to produce other GI JOE related titles, but the selling point of this edition is it is a continuation of the original storylines featured in the Marvel title. There's no sense of transition from Marvel to IDW, it just feels like the same story with the same characters from the book that originally ended the Marvel run in the 90's. Fans of that comic will enjoy this edition.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good return to RAH Joe

I’ve known about this collection for a while and just finally got around to reading it. Very good if you’re a fan of the old comics from the 80s and 90s. If you haven’t read those, you will probably be a little lost as it picks up the story where it left off years ago.

[David Finger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent reboot of G.I. Joe, but not a knockout

Nothing special, but a fun “sequel” to the original GI Joe comic series with an interesting twist to start things off. The idea of GI Joe being renegade criminals and Cobra being a Blackwater like private military group that gets hired by the US government was an interesting start to the series.

[Ian Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Astounding story and superb writing. The artwork was hard to interpret at times but nonetheless beautiful. I'm interested to see where this goes and can't wait to read the next volume.

[Ian Tweedie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I thought

Having watched a lot of the cartoons from the 80s this is a very modern update. The story is an interesting concept and it has got me gripped and I need to find out what happens next.

[Hellmuth Brikisak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Super fun, well written and well drawn comic. Love the colours and the inks. The story is fast paced and there's never a dull time. Highly recommended for G.I. Joe fans!!!

[Donavon · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARAH was what got me reading comics in 80s. I missed all of IDW's run, so I started here hoping would be good jumping on point...

Not a lot of hand holding, just have to go with it and hope it makes sense later.

overall, enjoyed it but would have liked a bit more "previously on" recaps....

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Joe

This comic brings me back to a good child good of mine where Snake Eyes would always battle Storm Shadow and the fighting was good .

[Dennis Te · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Nice twist ending.

Plenty of action and drama. The ending of this volume was a nice twist too. So much so that I bought the next volume. :-)

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, romping continuation of the old Marvel series, with legendary Larry Hama back on the word cannon. I'm here for it.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takeover , take cover!

Good color artwork. Cobra is running the US government and has declared g I joe to be public enemies and rogue agents. Joe must shoot their way out.

[Matthew Vanderhevel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent not a great introduction into the series

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for fans of Larry Hama, and the original run of G.I.Joe!

Reread in 2025

Picking right back up where he left us some 16 years ago Larry Hama returns to the title he is probably best known for.

It's a solid start. Cobra has a devious new plot and the Joes are there to stop them.

I am not thrilled to see the Brain Wave Scanner again, but as this is a continuation of the original series I understand that it must be dealt with. Hama is at least trying to use it in a new and interesting way.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sort of the bad elements of Hama's later run on the original series with very few of the good. Brainwave scanner? Really? Wasn't that nearly universally hated? So we make it nearly the true center of the story? Ugh.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Larry Hama writing GI Joe is the reason to read this book. I would have given this four stars but I found some of the artwork and storyboards disjointed. All the best characters are included and are given significant "screen" time. I recommend this for anyone that loves GI Joe.

[Craig Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a continuation of the original storyline - it is fantastic. I love Larry Hama's writing style.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised at how well this picks up from the end of the last series. It feels like old times.