Snake Eyes: Deadgame #3
(W) Rob Liefeld, Chad Bowers (A/CA) Rob Liefeld
In Shops: Nov 25, 2020
SRP: $4.99
Superstar creator Rob Liefeld takes on fan-favorite Snake Eyes! Snake Eyes is caught in the crosshairs. Will he be able to escape this lethal challenge? Or will he, like others before him, fall to the power of… the Deadgame?
Snake Eyes: Deadgame #2
(W) Rob Liefeld, Chad Bowers (A/CA) Rob Liefeld
In Shops: Oct 07, 2020
SRP: $4.99
Superstar creator Rob Liefeld’s action epic hits a new high! Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow race against time… and each other. There can be only one winner, but no limit on those who fall to-the Deadgame!
Hasbro has hooked us up with the first releases from their G.I. Joe Classified line of figures. Duke! Roadblock! Scarlet! Destro! Snake Eyes! The classics are back in an all-new scale with lots of detail.
After our initial look at all of the figures, we dive in and check out Snake Eyes, #02 of the series!
Hasbro provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
Rob Liefeld shows that he can still draw one hell of an action sequence in Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1, which is non-stop guns, blades, and ninjas with guest appearances from other G.I. Joe characters like Scarlett and Roadblock. I’m not super familiar with the G.I. Joe franchise except for catching the first Channing Tatum movie on cable a while ago. However, that isn’t a problem as Liefeld and scripter Chad Bowers set up all the life vs death, immortal vs mortal, good vs. evil, and best of all, ninja vs ninja context and fixings you need throughout the story. Throw in Adelso Corona’s enhancements to Liefeld’s disciplined linework and bulky, yet restrained figures, and Federico Blee’s spot-on colors, and Snake Eyes is a popcorn action flick in a summer sadly bereft of them because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But back to the comic! People shit on Rob Liefeld’s art style (Especially his anatomy) everywhere from Tumblr to fly-by-night YouTube channels, but they forgot that comics aren’t about photorealism or perfectly rendering the human form: they’re about storytelling. And Liefeld is one hell of a storyteller, especially when it comes to dynamic, boisterous action layouts. (See his collaboration with Mike Mignola on X-Force #8.) This is evident from the first page of Snake Eyes where two immortal beings face each other with Blee using a scarlet background to hint at the mayhem to come. Utilizing a single page, Liefeld and Chad Bowers establish the main thrust of the plot and the MacGuffin before getting to the good stuff: Snake Eyes wordlessly infiltrating a secret base. Liefeld uses a variety of types of shots to show him breaking in before unleashing his inner martial arts filmmaker and using tight close-ups as Snake Eyes takes down the baddies using a full page pin-up shot to let the story breathe and give some the old Wizard reading fans something to smile at.
Rob Liefeld doesn’t use double page spreads until later in the story when Snake Eyes fights against the series’ Big Bad. Everything has been a walk in the park up to this point, and the wide screen layouts coupled with Federico Blee’s red and black and Bowers’ taunting dialogue raise the stakes for Snake Eyes. Also, Snake Eyes whips out his dual pistols for the first time giving his enemy a little taste of the 21st century. The variety of combat techniques keeps the fights interesting as Snake Eyes’ opponent shows a little bit of a horror side to go with the bloody katanas, guns a-fucking-kimbo action of the majority of the comic. He’s connected to Snake Eyes’ past, but not in an annoying way, and mostly his purpose is to show that this badass ninja might need a little help from his bros, er, the Joes moving forward.
In a reversal from a lot of comic book reviews, I feel like I’ve focused a lot on the Snake Eyes’ visuals and want to discuss Chad Bowers’ skill at capturing the voice of a character, who doesn’t have vocal cords. Bowers’ captions never overwhelm Liefeld, Corona, and Blee’s art adding just the right amount of flavor and context to Snake Eyes’ actions. In fact, they remind of a less verbose Chris Claremont in the first Wolverine miniseries that with Frank Miller and Joe Rubinstein’s art truly established him as both a force of nature and a noble warrior. Snake Eyes has a mission to fulfill (That might be connected to destiny and all that fun stuff.), and he only commits acts of violence in service of that mission, which is actually a rescue to start out with. The full balaclava and visor get-up that he wears reinforces this efficient, non-sadistic approach as Snake Eyes is a smooth killer and not raging out all over the place. In contrast, Bowers writes quippier dialogue for the other Joe’s more in line with a traditional action movie.
In the final analysis, Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1 is a damn good ninja comic, a showcase for Rob Liefeld’s action storytelling, and in my case, a strong introduction to the G.I. Joe universe. This first issue shows Snake Eyes’ strength as a solo act, and I’m interested to see what Liefeld, Chad Bowers, Adelso Corona, and Federico Blee do with an ensemble cast in subsequent issues.
Story/Art: Rob Liefeld Script/Dialogue: Chad Bowers
Additional Inks: Adelso Corona Colors: Federico Blee
Letters: Andworld Design
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy
IDW provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics
The highly anticipated Snake Eyes: Deadgame comic book series written and illustrated by superstar creator Rob Liefeld is almost here! Hitting stores next Wednesday, the first issue of IDW Publishing’s G.I. JOE comic book spin-off is being supported by a combined 36 Retailer and Convention Exclusive covers, including 9 covers illustrated by Liefeld himself!
Snake Eyes has long been the most mysterious member of the G.I. JOE team, but within the pages of DEADGAME, he’ll finally be forced to play his hand! How long can he keep his past classified… and what deadly secrets will come back to haunt him?
The first issue of Snake Eyes: Deadgame will arrive in stores on July 15.
After kicking off Hasbro‘s new G.I. Joe: Classified line of figures with a special deluxe edition release, Snake Eyes is getting another release in the regular figure packaging. Check out the details below.
G.I. JOE Classified Series Snake Eyes Action Figure
(Ages 4 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $19.99 / Available: July 1, 2020)
The G.I. JOE Classified Series Snake Eyes Action Figure features a classic design updated to bring the iconic hybrid ninja-commando, a natural born fighter with abilities that border on the supernatural, into the modern era. The figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation making it highly poseable and accessories inspired by the character’s rich history, including the ninja’s signature katana. The G.I. JOE Classified Series Snake Eyes Action Figure collectible package will also make a mark on shelves, featuring display-worthy custom artwork from Tracie Ching.
The G.I. JOE Classified Series Snake Eyes Action Figure will be available at most major toy retailers and now available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and Entertainment Earth.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
Following up on Major X for Marvel, Major X and Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld is bringing his brand to the iconic G.I. Joe franchise at IDW!
Snake Eyes: Deadgame, coming in early 2020, will mark Liefeld’s first G.I. Joe story. Details of the storyline remain under wraps for now but the legendary creator promises the most action-packed epic of his career.
The project is a “bucket list” item for Liefeld who describes Snake Eyes as an “icon.” Snake Eyes is “Wolverine, Deadpool, and Spider-man rolled into one amazing character…”
Check out the art for a taste of what’s to come and stay tuned for further details!
Hasbro has announced a collaboration with footwear brand ASICS to create all-new colorways inspired by two fan-favorite G.I. Joe characters: Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes. The special edition GEL-LYTE III shoes and coordinating apparel and accessories from New Era and Hex will be available exclusively at Foot Locker stores worldwide February 22, 2019.
The line is inspired by an epic chapter in the G.I. Joe lore: the rivalry between Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes. Once brothers in arms as part of the Arashikage Clan, they find themselves on opposing sides of the struggle between G.I. Joe and Cobra. Now Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes each adorn their own GEL-LYTE III shoe designed by world renowned pop artist Anderson Bluu. Uncompromising on style and comfort, the GEL-LYTE III boasts iconic and innovative design that wouldn’t be complete without the split tongue and ASICS’ famous GEL technology cushioning; a silicone-like material that effectively absorbs shock and protects the feet from high-impact strikes.
The black Snake Eyes model features a crystal rubber outsole with a discovery element, premium emblem and reflective detailing with black leather; the model is elevated and modernized with custom art on the insert. The white Storm Shadow model features a crystal rubber outsole which masks the character beneath while the premium emblem detailing grounds the model in the story. Through the intertwining of story and design aesthetic the model is elevated and modernized with custom art on the insert. On the bottom of both shoe models is an iced outsole revealing Zartan – a shadowy figure who plays a key part in the Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow story.
The ASICS x G.I. JOE shoes will be sold exclusively at FootLocker.com and select POP by Foot Locker doors because Knowing is Half the Battle.
Danger Girl: Revolver #4 (of 4)
Andy Hartnell (w) • Chris Madden (a) • J. Scott Campbell, Madden (c)
It all comes down to this! Join us in our action-packed, final issue as Abbey, Sydney and the rest of the Danger Girl team finally track down the mysterious Peruvian treasure. But when our heroes infiltrate the enemy’s fortress – only to find themselves facing a surprise fraternity of villains – will they ever manage to fight their way out? Find out as the year’s sexiest and most dangerous event concludes!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Frank Frazetta’s Funny Stuff
Frank Frazetta (w & a & c)
Frank Frazetta! He’s been rightfully called “The Grand Master of Fantasy Art”!
But, it’s little known that Frazetta also conquered other worlds in the Golden Age of Comics, as shown in his Donald Duck-ish funny animal and hilarious hillbilly comic book stories. Even those aware of this wonderful Frazetta art don’t know the extent–this book is a whopping 256 page, large-format pages!
Did we mention ferocious, terrifying wolves and swampland creatures in the plethora of animal stories illustrations as only Frazetta could draw them? There’s also lions and tigers and bears–oh my!–before Frazetta’s famous paintings captured the same subjects.
But wait, there’s more! (As they say.) You’ll see the roots of the Frazetta Girl in the sexy Kathy teenage girl adventures. And there’s the hot Daisy Mae-look-alike, Clarabelle, in the hillbilly hi-jinks stories of her beau, Looey Lazybones (Holy Li’l Abner!).
The introduction is by the famed cartoon director Ralph Bakshi who well knew Frazetta and closely worked with him when they co-produced the animated feature film, “Fire and Ice.” Bakshi shares rare insights, anecdotes, photos and Frazetta drawings. And Bakshi has created a special painting of Frazetta and himself as funny animals for this beautiful hardcover full-color coffee table book! Frank Frazetta’s Funny Stuff is edited and designed by Eisner award-winner Craig Yoe.
HC · FC · $49.99 · 256 pages · 8.5” x 12” • ISBN 978-1-61377-167-9
G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation #4 (of 4)
John Barber (w) • Salvador Navarro (a & c)
The final battle! STORM SHADOW leads his ninja on an attack that threatens to cripple America’s national security! The only men who can stop him are SNAKE EYES and ROADBLOCK—but can they put aside their differences and learn from each other in time? It’s ninja and commando action in the frantic G.I. JOE manner, leading ino the hottest movie of 2012!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Popeye #1 (of 4)
Roger Landridge (w) • Bruce Ozella (a & c)
Popeye the Sailor Man sails again! E.C Segar’s classic creation is back, with his first original comic in over 30 years! Written by the Eisner Award-winning Roger Landridge (The Muppets), with pitch-perfect art from rising star Bruce Ozella, it’s a new take on the classic character that’s true to its roots! With a rare incentive cover from legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Road Rage #3 (of 4)
Richard Matheson, Chris Ryall (w) • Rafa Garres (a & c)
The focus turns to the inspiration behind Throttle, Richard Matheson’s classic tale of isolation and terror, Duel! See the story that inspired Steven Spielberg’s movie come to vivid life here, courtesy of adapter Chris Ryall and artist Rafa Garres!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Snake Eyes Ongoing #12
Chuck Dixon (w) • Bennie Lobel (a) • Robert Atkins, Andrew Griffith (c)
COBRA COMMAND AFTERMATH! The most dangerous Joe is presumed K.I.A.—but we know different! SNAKE EYES returns to the HARD MASTER to deliver some shocking news as only the silent JOE can. But someone SNAKE EYES cares deeply about has been harmed and someone else is going to have to pay for that. It’s ninja action in the urban jungle and plenty of new surprises!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #9
Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman (w) • Dan Duncan (a) • Duncan, Eastman (c)
You’d think that General Krang’s arrival in New York City would be bad enough news, right? Oh no, there’s still plenty more misery to go around! The Turtle’s home in the sewers is destroyed thanks to a sinister team-up between Baxter Stockman and Old Hob. Now that the Turtles are homeless, with one of their own captured, things have never looked bleaker for our heroes. The key to their salvation may lie with… April O’Neil??
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Archie 100 Page Spectacular
Michael Dooney (w & a & c)
Heroes in a half-shell for all ages! Representing the three-issue mini-series that adapted the first five episodes of the original animated TMNT series! Featuring the origins of the Turtles, Splinter, Bebop and Rocksteady… and the first Archie appearances of Shredder and the Foot Clan!
FC • 100 pages • $7.99
Transformers: Robots in Disguise Ongoing #4
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a) • Casey Coller, Griffith (c)
PROWL UNCHAINED! In what’s sure to be the most shocking Transformers comic of 2012—PROWL defends the fledgling government of CYBERTRON against the DECEPTICONS. But how far will he go—and who will chose to stand by his side? The answers will shock you!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Transformers: Autocracy #8
Chris Metzen & Flint Dille (w) • Livio Ramondelli (a)
12 CHAPTER DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE SERIES! ORION PAX—Autobot hero and one-day OPTIMUS PRIME—stands side-by-side with MEGATRON, leader of the DECEPTICONS! But even together, will they be able to defeat ZETA PRIME and his forces?
Cartoon Monarch: Otto Soglow and the Little King
Otto Soglow (w & a & c)
A BIG BOOK FOR A LITTLE KING! A long-overdue examination of the unique pantomime cartoons of Otto Soglow, who entertained millions for more than fifty years and whose influence remains current in the works of Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, Ivan Brunetti, and others. This compendium features hundreds of pages of Soglow’s most famous creation, The Little King–plus copious examples of his other work and a fascinating account by Jared Gardner of Soglow’s long career that ranged from the socialist magazines of the 1920s to his long association with The New Yorker, which continues to use Soglow’s art thirty-five years after his death.
Soglow began experimenting with eliminating lines that weren’t necessary while at The New Yorker, where he created The Little King in 1931. Lured by William Randolph Hearst, Soglow moved to the Sunday comic’s section with The Ambassador until his contract with The New Yorker ended in 1934. The Ambassador led the way–in more ways than one–for the King, who remained a Sunday funnies mainstay until Soglow’s death in 1975.
Much of the humor in The Little King is aimed at puncturing pomposity, and Soglow accomplishes it with drawings that are, as Brunetti points out, tightly composed, exquisitely timed, carefully structured pieces of machinery.
Otto Soglow’s process of streamlining is at the root of why his cartoons have a timeless sophistication and elegance, and continue to entice new readers and cartoonists. It’s high time for such a fitting tribute to this cartoon monarch.
HC w/ DJ PC $49.99 432 pages • 9.25″ x 7.5″ ISBN 978-1-61377-148-8
Ghostbusters #7
Erik Burnham (w) • Dan Schoening (a) • Schoening, Nick Runge (c)
It’s a nasty case of possession by a greed-driven ghost, and one of the Ghostbusters is its new vessel! It’s a battle of wills on the mental plane in this latest issue of the hit ongoing Ghostbusters series!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 (of 2)
Tristan Jones (w) • Mark Torres (a) • menton3 (c)
One of the Turtles have been taken by the things in the dark depths of the sewers, and it’s up to the other brothers to save him. To do so, they will have to navigate the labyrinthine passage ways of the lost sewers and do battle with mind-bending monstrosities. If they fail, not only will their brother be lost, but the entire world as well!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Memorial #4 (of 6)
Chris Roberson (w) • Rich Ellis (a) • Michael WM Kaluta (c)
Em finds herself stranded in the Everlands with no way home, with no one but a lost little girl to guide her. Together, the two make their way across the “Stolen Moments,” encountering people and places that have been forgotten by history, or remembered only as stories. But with the Shadows and an army of living statues dogging her heels, and even greater dangers ahead, can Em survive long enough to find a way back to the only life she knows?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Monocyte #3 (of 4)
menton3, Kasra Ghanbari (w) • menton3 (a) • menton3, Ben Templesmith (c)
The penultimate issue of the series Ain’t It Cool News calls “one of those books you experience and return to again and again finding new things every time.”
The Olignostics are dying, and their fate now rests with the excommunicated Grod. Monocyte turns his attention to the Antedeluvian metropolis and their leader, the Green Man, but is confronted by the Antedeluvian elite guard, who test Monocyte against his greatest foes, light and life. Meanwhile, the liberated Olignostic slaves strike back at their former masters. Also features a cover by Ben Templesmith, an incentive cover by Eisner Award-winner George Pratt, and side stories by the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz and Pratt.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Road Rage #2 (of 4)
Stephen King & Joe Hill, Chris Ryall (w) • Nelson Daniel (a) • Daniel, Phil Noto (c)
The Tribe have done some baaaad things in their time as a motorcyle club, but surely nothing deserving the full-on assault by an insane trucker in an oil rig! Throttle, the story by acclaimed novelist/Eisner-winning graphic novelist Joe Hill and his father, Stephen King, ensure that the road will run red before it’s all over!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Rocketeer Adventures 2 #1 (of 4)
Marc Guggenheim, Peter David, Stan Sakai (w) • Sandy Plunkett, Bill Sienkiewicz, Stan Sakai (a) • Darwyn Cooke, Dave Stevens (c)
The second volume of Dave Stevens’ Rocketeer blasts off with an all-new selection of great stories by some of the best in the biz! This issue starts off with a bang as Cliff finds himself in a dogfight, followed by a screening of everyone’s favorite cartoon character, and ending on a high-note with a lovely and somewhat familiar story—plus a gorgeous pin-up by Arthur Adams! That’s 25—count ’em, TWO FIVE—pages of topnotch comics!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Smoke and Mirrors #1 (of 5)
Mike Costa & Jon Armstrong (w) Ryan Browne (a) Browne, Fiona Staples (c)
From the company that brought you Locke & Key and Memorial! Mike Costa (COBRA, Blackhawks) teams with sleight-of-hand artist Jon Armstrong (also a consulting Imagineer for Disney) and acclaimed artist Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts)! A stage magician is thrust into a world where magic—not technology—rules, and forced to use trickery and illusions to survive!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Snake Eyes Ongoing #11
Chuck Dixon (w) • Alex Cal (a) • Dave Wilkins, Robert Atkins (c)
The Commander demands satisfaction! COBRA’s war on a helpless sovereign nation roars toward its conclusion. Snake Eyes is alone against the Red Ninjas led by Storm Shadow in the Temple of the Bells as weapons of mass destruction fall over Nanzhao. The Joes are in jeopardy at a border crossing against a squadron of B.A.T.s. Storm Shadow offers Snake Eyes a devil’s deal; the key to the heart of COBRA. Will the most dangerous Joe accept?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Star Trek #7
Mike Johnson (w) • Joe Corroney (a) • Tim Bradstreet (c)
The adventures of the new crew of the Enterprise continue in this all new two-part story that takes place soon after the events of the last film! While Vulcans struggle to survive in the wake of their homeworld’s destruction at the hands of rogue Romulans, and some Vulcans believe that the logical response can be summed up in one word: revenge! STAR TREK writer/producer Roberto Orci oversees this original story set in the timeline leading up to the blockbuster film sequel!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes #6 (of 6)
Chris Roberson (w) • Jeffrey Moy & Philip Moy (a) • Phil Jimenez, Jeffrey Moy (c)
It’s all been building up to this. Captain Kirk, Cosmic Boy, and the rest of the timelost Legionnaires and Starfleet officers have reached the end of the line, and are confronted with the powerful forces which have unwritten their respective histories. But with half of their teams stranded in the past and the other half held prisoner in the future, what chance do they have of overcoming the odds and restoring the worlds they once knew?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Transformers: Robots in Disguise Ongoing #3
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a) • Casey Coller, Griffith (c)
CYBERTRON IN CRISIS! An explosion in the middle of the capitol city strikes. Was it a DECEPTICON attack? Suspicions run high, and the uneasy peace unravels! Only Wheeljack can solve the puzzle—but will he do it before Starscream takes advantage of the AUTOBOTS weakness! The bold new direction in Transformers storytelling continues!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
