UFC (Ultimate Fighting Cobra): IDW / Hasbro’s G.I. Joe COBRA CIVIL WAR Best Storyline Of 2011!

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IDW Publishing produces G.I. Joe comics. Hasbro toys still owns the license. The comic books include a line of comics different yet similar to the 1980s TV series. They are a more adult take on Hasbro’s Real American Heroes and their terrorist enemies part of Cobra.

In 2011 they kicked of a seemingly unthinkable shake-up of Cobra.

Here’s what you should know:

  • A redesigned Cobra Commander tangles with G.I. Joe.
  • He is killed.
  • Several people vie to become the new Cobra Commander (see logo-less G.I. Joe #8 cover below for the candidates; third from the left). Whomever kills the most G.I. Joe’s wins.
  • A new Cobra Commander is crowned. It is not whom you’d expect. This person may be the most dangerous yet.

I won’t spoil who is under the mask and mantle in this column, but if you read the very recent G.I. Joe #8 or click HERE, you will know.

However, while I have revealed these key story-elements, which aren’t a surprise as they’ve been a part of IDW Publishing’s advertising, what I can say is that there is a lot more going on between these key plot points. The journey and not just these plot point destinations will entertain new and old G.I. Joe fans alike.

With Christmas coming, I HIGHLY recommend the existing trade paperbacks (IN STORES NOW) leading up to and making up part of Cobra Civil War. They are:

  • Cobra: Volume 4: Death of Cobra Commander
  • G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War Volume 1
  • Snake Eyes: Cobra Civil War Volume 1
  • Cobra: Cobra Civil War Volume 1

You can grab the trade paperbacks I mentioned above OR you can head to your local comic book shop and pick up the individual comic book issues.

If you want to wait for the volume 2 trade paperbacks, they are coming in 2012 as is a Cobra Annual chronicling the background of the newest Cobra Commander.

The shipping schedule is below as are the covers (for now) of each. I hope that the trade paperback covers change and that they are more interlocking in nature like the three volume 1’s. See below for the 2012 goodies:

  • The new Commander’s origins will be explored in an IDW Cobra Annual 2012 – Ships January 2012
  • G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War Volume 2 – Ships February 2012
  • Snake Eyes: Cobra Civil War Volume 2 – Ships March 2012
  • Cobra: Cobra Civil War Volume 2 – Ships April 2012

Naturally, if you can wait for the early 2012 shipping trade paperbacks, your local comic shop is where it’s at to keep up with the Cobra Civil War goings on.

As many of you know, I am predominantly a reader of the Big 2 comic book publishers, with more DC Comics in my monthly pull list. So, I will tell you that I literally just got into this Cobra Civil War stuff from IDW in the last few weeks. It all started when I picked up G.I. Joe #8 and loved the tone of the book and the new, yet different take on the characters I remembered from the 1980s animated TV series. There were also a fair bit of interesting new characters too. After devouring G.I. Joe #8, which reveals who becomes the new Cobra Commander, I went back and picked up the four trade paperbacks identified in the middle of this column. I got them all on discounted prices due to the holidays and read them after work in three days.

I HIGHLY recommend them. I’ll do a more thoughtful review in the coming weeks of the four trade paperbacks in stores now, but trust me… YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED. The Cobra Civil War storyline is the best storyline I have read in all of 2011 including many of the DC Comics Relaunch’s New 52 offerings I am so enjoying.

I haven’t decided if I will trade-wait for the volume 2’s, but I like having these on my book shelf with my other tpbs. They have a depth and strong characterization that would be the envy of many a comic book company. So, maybe I’ll get the floppy comic books and trade paperbacks.

Cobra Civil War is well written, accessible, and heaps of mature fun. All three concurrent series, G.I. Joe, Snake Eyes, and Cobra are well worth your hard earned dollars in these tough economic times.

Escape into this world of G.I. Joe vs. Cobra and, um, Cobra vs. Cobra too. You’ll be glad you did.

What follows Cobra Civil War? Well January 2012 kicks off the 9-part “Cobra Command” across all three concurrent G.I. Joe series. Well, that sounds like fodder for another column. ;)

P.S. After I wrote the first draft of this column, I picked up the first three volumes of the Cobra series of mini-series. I loved the idea of a G.I. Joe mole in Cobra. I’ve actually just read volume one and two in one evening and am starting the third. Loving them so far.

I also want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and all the best over this holiday season. Hoping for a prosperous New Year for all!


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John is a long-time pop culture fan, comics historian, and blogger. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief at Comics Nexus. Prior to being EIC he has produced several column series including DEMYTHIFY, NEAR MINT MEMORIES and the ONE FAN'S TRIALS at the Nexus plus a stint at Bleeding Cool producing the COMICS REALISM column. As BabosScribe, John is active on his twitter account, his facebook page, his instagram feed and welcomes any and all feedback. Bring it on!