Before reading this issue, I decided to drop G. I. Joe from my pull list.  The stories were o.k, but this was just taking too long.  We complain about Bendis stretching a story 6 or 7 issues, but this storyline has been going on for 27 ISSUES!. 

After I finished it, though, I regretted my decision.  This story line ended on such a great fashion even though the art was pretty much as it always has been.  But then G.I. Joe was never really about the art, it was always the text of the story.  This was no exception: we get fun action with a captured COBRA tank being turned on its allies in every which way, we get intrigue with various COBRA high-ups jockeying for position and trying to salvage the wreckage of the M.A.S.S. device, and we get suspense as Snake-Eyes and Helix race across the cracking ice to safety.  If each issue was as jam-packed with action and story, I would still be hanging around for future issues.  As is it is, I'm afraid this will go back to very decompressed storytelling while ramping up to the next big conclusion.  But this issue is a great blueprint of what a good G.I. Joe issue is.