G.I. Joe is back! This is a 'zero' issue so maybe it shouldn't be my pick of the week, but I cannot contain my excitement for IDW's launch of the main book along with G.I. Joe Origins, and the G.I. Joe - Cobra (mini). The book itself had multiple covers offered of which I got the "Duke Parachuting" cover and the "Red Cobra insignia on Snake Eyes Visor" cover. The wraparound cover looks amazing and if I find it, I will own it. The book breaks down into three vignettes and finishes with concept art and a printing of interview questions with the creative team. 1st Vignette - A zero issue, or a first story arc in any ongoing series has to be good and has to contain a hook, and IDW did not disappoint. In the first page, the action is described in an after action report by Duke and it came across as a perfect blend of G.I. Joe style action (meaning we can go anywhere and do anything) and real military feel like you would see in HBO's Generation Kill. The art in this 1st part was stellar, the faces were amazing and the gun detail was better than any Joe book I have ever seen. 2nd Vignette - This gave us some insight into the G.I. Joe origins line being written by G.I. Joe's favorite son, Larry Hama. It shows us Duke's first meeting with Hawk in which he is given a simple offer; "Are you in, or are you out?" It was over the top with tension as Hawk puts together and loads a pistol during the conversation leading everyone including Duke to believe that the out option has dire consequence. This is the proof IDW needed to show that we are looking at a genuine reboot of the franchise. I am sold, in order to do their job, you need to leave everything behind. It also was campy in a good way by having Hawk assign Duke his codename on the spot. 3rd Vignette - The Cobra mini was introduced by following Chuckles who had spent time earning a reputation that would get him recognized and recruited by Cobra. It makes me think that instead of a short series from Cobra's point of view it is going to give us a glimps of the early stages of Cobra's emergence from a spies view for the Joes. I like the idea a lot, and it definitely carries the same feel as the 2nd vignette when in the final frames Chuckles is seen burning his U.S. Passport in order to go deep undercover. Like I said earlier, in order to do their job, you need to leave everything behind. The concept art was good, my one and only gripe is that I don't understand how Heavy Duty (roadblocks cousin according to wiki) gets in and Roadblock is left out. Even if you don't include Roadblock, I could pick 20 or 30 guys I want on the squad before Heavy Duty. That said, I am basing my opinion on old cartoons, and memories of my once epic toy collection, and I am sure that once are start reading stories including Heavy Duty, I will like him too. G.I. Joe is a character driven franchise, with stories that give us characters to cheer for on both sides of the conflict. The action is important but is secondary in my opinion and I think IDW is demonstrating that they agree with me. Pick up this book if you like G.I. Joe, if you like characters worth reading about or even if you just like comics.