Scott's Take: G.I. Joe Vol 1: The Cobra Strikes by Joshua Williamson and illustrator Tom Reilly

  

G.I. Joe Vol 1: The Cobra Strikes by Joshua Williamson and illustrator Tom Reilly takes place after the Duke Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle series I reviewed last July that saw Duke forming the G.I. Joes and trying to create a team to stop Cobra. Duke does not know the group is called Cobra until later in the volume he just knows bad people are doing bad things. Duke ended implying that the Joes would be going after Optimus Prime, but nope, that is completely ignored.  I read this G.I. Joe volume through Hoopla.

 

Instead, this sees the Joes, outmatched in numbers, technology, and resources struggling to stop Cobra from taking over the world. Somehow the U.S. Military’s plan to stop Cobra and M.A.R.S. industries is to use five special forces soldiers to stop a small army. There is an attempt to justify that idea by referencing someone with diplomatic immunity, but that really does not work. Cobra Commander is using the energon and technology he harvested from Megatron and others to arm the troops provided by Destro and his arms/security company/country.

 

Cobra Commander, Destro, Duke, and Baroness are the main characters in this volume. There are attempts to grow the supporting cast, but I don’t think they are fleshed out more than their architypes. Making the Baroness a Joe has been a good addition since it allows her more pragmatic approach to bang against Duke’s more heroic approach.

 

The art is great and this is a mature action story with a classic world domination plot. There is plenty of violence and several character deaths including one supporting character. Cobra Commander does something evil, but also short sighted. That is typical Cobra Commander behavior, but I was hoping we would get a smarter Cobra Commander.  The ending is abrupt and promises to tie this series in with the Transformers main series more. However, considering how Duke ended and was glossed over, I have doubts.

 

I could not find volume 2 for this series listed anywhere on goggle. I hope it stays good. In my opinion, the Transformers book started off strong, but got too bloated cast wise and plot wise.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4kyZ6ro

 

 

My reading copy was a Hoopla digital eBook via the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2025

Scott's Take: Cobra Commander Volume 1: Determined to Rule the World by Joshua Willamson, illustrator Andrea Milana

Cobra Commander Volume 1: Determined to Rule the World by Joshua Willamson, illustrator Andrea Milana, is the origin story for Cobra Commander and Cobra as a whole in the Energon Universe. Cobra Commander is exiled from a highly advance society that values nature over technology. To make up for his transgressions, he is sent out to retrieve Energon and along the way encounters a criminal faction that is already using the Energon themselves. They won’t give it up without a fight.

 

This is a very horror themed story as Cobra Commander does horrific things along his journey. There is a lengthy graphic torture scene in the book. There is a lot of blood spilled throughout this book. The author does a good job of establishing Cobra Commander as a unique leader. He is manipulative, he is a brilliant scientist, and he does not value human life. He seeks to bring order to the world.

 

This version of the Cobra Commander character seems way more dangerous and more intelligent than most. Some of the technology Cobra Commander creates is reminiscent of Tony Stark has used in recent years. I don’t know if that is just a coincidence or a deliberate homage.

 

Megatron is not in this book as much as one would expect after the first issue. He is part in this universe. The art is excellent and bloody.

 

This miniseries was rather good if a bit rushed. The next book to read is either Scarlet or Destro. They are both getting miniseries about the same time. Destro is the arms dealer for Cobra while Scarlet is the red headed lead female of the G.I. Joe who wields a crossbow and is usually depicted in a relationship with Snake Eyes the mute ninja.

 

So, I guess I will read whichever comes out in trade first. I think with all these miniseries, there should be some sort of reading guide included in this book. Of course one can find one online, but I would have done something here to help readers follow along.

 

A related title in this universe is Duke Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle by Joshua Williamson.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3LA3Pcu

 

My digital reading copy came by way of the Hoopla App via the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Finally Back Home

Things ran very far behind today for a variety of reasons. One of which being they decided we have to pay a lot more upfront than we have been each month as insurance is taking longer and longer to process payments while attempting to cut back on what they will cover and and arguing bills. I don't think this is a coincidence. I have no doubt these problems have been caused by Wal-Mart termianting her unpaid medical leave and Atnea handling  her COBRA coverage.

Sandi's blood work is not any worse than it was last week so the decision was made to go ahead and start with the first round of immunizations. Her immunizations are way late, but the delays have been caused because of the fragility of her immune system and everything that goes along with that. She received six injections for that. They also want to add another drug for her lung function deal and since it is very expensive that has to approved first by insurance.

Assuming nothing bad happens, we go back in two weeks for more blood work and a doctor visit.

Sandi and Wal-Mart

Sandi is done at Wal-Mart. They notified her via certified mail just now that they will NOT be extending her unpaid medical leave. Not surprised. Her leave ended March 20th and that will probably be her termination date. No idea yet how much COBRA will be.

Sandi Back Home

Sandi is back home from the cancer doctor. Her blood work is okay so they plan on doing the second round of IVIG next Friday. That will be another multi hour infusion event deal that will occupy us most of the day. The doctor also did the paperwork to try and extend Sandi's unpaid medical leave for another six months. We have no idea if this will be approved, but we hope so. If it is not she is looking at COBRA to maintain her insurance and that is going to be insanely expensive.

Unfortunately, I was way too sick to go with her today. I have never ever missed one of her appointments before, but my stomach was a bit too shaky to be going out. I don't know if I had gotten the stomach virus that seems to be around here or if it is my colitis a bit worse than normal. Time will tell.