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G.I. JOE Universe
The Most Dangerous Man in the World
Buzz Dixon was one of the original writers and story editors for the classic G.I. JOE animated series, writing such well remembered episodes as "20 Questions", "The Traitor", "Haul Down The Heavens", "My Brother's Keeper", and the mini-series "Arise, Serpentor, Arise!" "The Most Dangerous Man In The World" was to have been his explanation of the origin of Cobra...until the addition of Serpentor and Cobra-la rendered this concept inoperative. Now, 30 years later, he's presenting an alternate G.I. JOE timeline -- and one in which "The Most Dangerous Man In The World" is on the loose!
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2016
3 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Buzz Dixon
34 books9 followersI write oddball TV / movies / games / comics / novels, putting words in the mouths of Superman, Batman, Conan, The Terminator, Optimus Prime, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mork & Mindy, Scrooge McDuck, Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, plus more G.I. Joes and My Little Ponies than you can shake a stick at. Besides creating and packaging Serenity, the best selling Christian manga (not to be confused with the TV show), my short fiction appears in Mike Shayne’s Mystery Magazine, the Pan Book Of Horror stories, National Lampoon, Analog, and numerous original and “best of” anthologies. Currently my new novel Cheeky is unfolding on Kindle Vella, soon to be followed by several other works all completed and rarin' to go!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2021
While not the most polished of novels, this is still a fascinating what-if premise as Buzz builds on a discarded concept intended for the second season of the tv show. The book is exciting and snappy. The history of Cobra and exploration of Professor Hix is fun and juicy. I like how the acts of the story are structured like a multi-episode miniseries, and how Buzz uses the freedom from parents groups to let the violent be real, with the harmless lasers and convenient parachutes being replaced by genuine death and loss as the battles keep escalating until both sides are just burned out. The two major setpieces - the chase through the school library and the all-out invasion of a Joe base - are genuinely spectacular and exciting. And it's always a joy reading Cobra Commander scream at people.
Unfortunately, it also suffers from the lack of editorial involvement in how it was published. Not just in terms of the frequent typos and grammatical errors, but in ways it structures the story. Shipwreck is retconned into being an ND (non-descript) Joe still going through his training and trials. It's an amusing play on how redshirts are used in the story, and an interesting concept of him still being an unofficial player settling into the team. But after this is introduced, he doesn't come back into play again until the final quarter of the book, which feels too little too late, and focuses more on his shenanigans and quip than any actual character or storytelling, and why it means what it does that he wants to be a Joe. Elements of this are present in the character of Lifeline, but after his intriguing if brief arc, he largely disappears for the final stretch, when either he could have carried on in Shipwreck's place, or Shipwreck could have filled Lifeline's role to bring in him earlier. Or expand both and let them mirror each other in contrast. The epilogue to the big climactic battle also feels too open and unsatisfying, leading us into more story that we never ultimately get.
I also dislike how little description we get of the characters. Yes, this is an established world and setting, but even being a fan and having just re-watched all of season 1, characters are still dropped in out of the blue without any context for who they are, and having to pop over to a wiki guide is more a con for me while reading than a pro. I don't even know if this is the blonde version of Cover Girl or her red-head look!
Still, this was a fun read. Buzz has long been one of my favorite toon writers for his pulpy plots and witty action, and has been a delight to interview, so I'm glad he was able to put this together for those interested. Even if a bit messy in publication, it's still a solid GI Joe story with lots of excitement and humor, a bit of emotional punch from time to time, and his afterward is filled with tasty nuggets of history that make it even stronger in context.
Unfortunately, it also suffers from the lack of editorial involvement in how it was published. Not just in terms of the frequent typos and grammatical errors, but in ways it structures the story. Shipwreck is retconned into being an ND (non-descript) Joe still going through his training and trials. It's an amusing play on how redshirts are used in the story, and an interesting concept of him still being an unofficial player settling into the team. But after this is introduced, he doesn't come back into play again until the final quarter of the book, which feels too little too late, and focuses more on his shenanigans and quip than any actual character or storytelling, and why it means what it does that he wants to be a Joe. Elements of this are present in the character of Lifeline, but after his intriguing if brief arc, he largely disappears for the final stretch, when either he could have carried on in Shipwreck's place, or Shipwreck could have filled Lifeline's role to bring in him earlier. Or expand both and let them mirror each other in contrast. The epilogue to the big climactic battle also feels too open and unsatisfying, leading us into more story that we never ultimately get.
I also dislike how little description we get of the characters. Yes, this is an established world and setting, but even being a fan and having just re-watched all of season 1, characters are still dropped in out of the blue without any context for who they are, and having to pop over to a wiki guide is more a con for me while reading than a pro. I don't even know if this is the blonde version of Cover Girl or her red-head look!
Still, this was a fun read. Buzz has long been one of my favorite toon writers for his pulpy plots and witty action, and has been a delight to interview, so I'm glad he was able to put this together for those interested. Even if a bit messy in publication, it's still a solid GI Joe story with lots of excitement and humor, a bit of emotional punch from time to time, and his afterward is filled with tasty nuggets of history that make it even stronger in context.
November 6, 2020
“The Most Dangerous Man In the World” is a G.I. Joe tale written by Buzz Dixon, one of the screenwriters of the original animated series, and based on a story he had wanted to do back in the day, revealing the origins of Cobra.
After all, it’s hard to raise money or troops with just the slogan, “Hi, we’re an evil terrorist organization determined the rule the world!” Dixon’s idea was that, like real world movements, Cobra was based on the ideas of a political philosopher — one whose theories most of us would still call evil or certainly undemocratic, but which were more nuanced than the blunt cult of personality Cobra Commander had turned Cobra into, and one which you could actually see recruits signing up for. When Cobra’s long lost founder actually resurfaces, the Commander naturally sees him as a dire threat to his rule, and expends all his efforts to deal with him, while the Joes (who had been unaware of his existence) have to figure out just what’s going on.
As fans know, the studio eventually went in a completely different direction, introducing Serpentor and the Lovecraftian Cobra-La as the true force behind Cobra (this also was Dixon’s idea, but certainly not his preferred one), and the original idea got shelved; but when Amazon debuted the Kindle Worlds fanfiction platform, Dixon’s story finally got to see the light of day — and in the process, we fans got an honest-to-gosh G.I. Joe prose novel, and a really cool one at that.
Continuity purists may notice that it does take a few liberties — we see Zartan operating in sunlight without pain; and Shipwreck’s story, while not openly contradicting his origin in “The Revenge of Cobra,” does fudge it a bit, but that’s okay because this version is fun.
Amazon has since discontinued Kindle Worlds, so the ebook is no longer available for purchase (I still have my copy in my Kindle library), but my understanding is that Dixon does plan to reissue an edited version of the story that is not overtly G.I. Joe. I look forward to it and I suggest everyone check it out. It is well written and fun.
After all, it’s hard to raise money or troops with just the slogan, “Hi, we’re an evil terrorist organization determined the rule the world!” Dixon’s idea was that, like real world movements, Cobra was based on the ideas of a political philosopher — one whose theories most of us would still call evil or certainly undemocratic, but which were more nuanced than the blunt cult of personality Cobra Commander had turned Cobra into, and one which you could actually see recruits signing up for. When Cobra’s long lost founder actually resurfaces, the Commander naturally sees him as a dire threat to his rule, and expends all his efforts to deal with him, while the Joes (who had been unaware of his existence) have to figure out just what’s going on.
As fans know, the studio eventually went in a completely different direction, introducing Serpentor and the Lovecraftian Cobra-La as the true force behind Cobra (this also was Dixon’s idea, but certainly not his preferred one), and the original idea got shelved; but when Amazon debuted the Kindle Worlds fanfiction platform, Dixon’s story finally got to see the light of day — and in the process, we fans got an honest-to-gosh G.I. Joe prose novel, and a really cool one at that.
Continuity purists may notice that it does take a few liberties — we see Zartan operating in sunlight without pain; and Shipwreck’s story, while not openly contradicting his origin in “The Revenge of Cobra,” does fudge it a bit, but that’s okay because this version is fun.
Amazon has since discontinued Kindle Worlds, so the ebook is no longer available for purchase (I still have my copy in my Kindle library), but my understanding is that Dixon does plan to reissue an edited version of the story that is not overtly G.I. Joe. I look forward to it and I suggest everyone check it out. It is well written and fun.
September 22, 2017
While I will be doing a full review of this book on one of my podcasts, I will say that not only is Buzz a great guy (that I've recently had the pleasure of talking with), but he's a hell of a writer.
While in a universe or two removed from the cartoon, this book had a great story line and all of the characters were very true to their cartoon selves. Buzz crafted an alternate origin to Cobra, which left some questions, but in my opinion, was much better than the Cobra La stuff the Movie gave us.
Buzz introduced a great, new character to the G.I. Joe mythos and played well (as he would) with the pre-existing characters.
I really love the way that he even was able to tangentially work in one of the "Mail A Way" characters and one that was never actually a member of the team (but was according to the first (or second) Order of Battle.
In my opinion, this book is great for any fan of G.I. Joe, whether it's the cartoon, comics, or toys.
Check this book out.
While in a universe or two removed from the cartoon, this book had a great story line and all of the characters were very true to their cartoon selves. Buzz crafted an alternate origin to Cobra, which left some questions, but in my opinion, was much better than the Cobra La stuff the Movie gave us.
Buzz introduced a great, new character to the G.I. Joe mythos and played well (as he would) with the pre-existing characters.
I really love the way that he even was able to tangentially work in one of the "Mail A Way" characters and one that was never actually a member of the team (but was according to the first (or second) Order of Battle.
In my opinion, this book is great for any fan of G.I. Joe, whether it's the cartoon, comics, or toys.
Check this book out.
September 22, 2022
Let's call this 3.5 stars.
I know my review is meaningless, as Kindle Worlds got cancelled and you can't buy this book. Oh, well.
I enjoyed this. It's for sure like the novelization of an episode - or a multi-part group of episodes. It doesn't dig deeper in any of the characters, including the title character, than one might have expected on such a story. It does include a few minor bits that Standards & Practices would certainly have not have let through, if that matters.
From that perspective, I enjoyed it pretty well. I was a little old for the cartoon series when it came out, so this didn't have any nostalgia value for me. I like this storyline. It was an interesting direction to take it. I'd be particularly be interested in how this would have affected future stories.
I know my review is meaningless, as Kindle Worlds got cancelled and you can't buy this book. Oh, well.
I enjoyed this. It's for sure like the novelization of an episode - or a multi-part group of episodes. It doesn't dig deeper in any of the characters, including the title character, than one might have expected on such a story. It does include a few minor bits that Standards & Practices would certainly have not have let through, if that matters.
From that perspective, I enjoyed it pretty well. I was a little old for the cartoon series when it came out, so this didn't have any nostalgia value for me. I like this storyline. It was an interesting direction to take it. I'd be particularly be interested in how this would have affected future stories.
October 6, 2016
Good to see what one of the original series writers of the cartoon thought an origin for Cobra could be but this didn't feel like an episode of the cartoon. And the editing was bad. So many misspelled words, even key characters, as well as verb tense issues.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews