Review: One Step At A Time With ‘G. I. Joe’ #7

Warning of spoilers!

Trigger warning for those with mental health issues such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder!

The regular cover by artist Chris Evenhuis is arguably the best of the covers in terms of characterization. It also has a more overt connection to the actual story than the other two. Though the retailer incentive cover artist by Sara Richard has what one assumes is a subtle connection to the story, mainly in how it plays up the Cobra as overlords angle that is this series premise. Also, Richards’s cover has one of the most unique designs from any comic cover this year. The KRS Comics exclusive cover by artist Ariel Diaz is overtly sexual, specifically around the privates, due to the leather looking like it is molding to the Baroness’s skin. Also, the Baroness’s chest and bottom are seemingly going in different directions resulting in a broken back type look.

As for the interior art Chris Evenhuis provides for this issue, there is some fantastically confident line work. However, there are a few moments such as the first two panels on page one where the sequencing feels a little off. In this case, it is due to the amount of depth in the second panel versus the first. Though Evenhuis provides great art, it is nothing without the brilliant coloring by colorist Brittany Peer. In this case, Peer’s color selections for the PTSD moments really drive home how suddenly they can happen. Another good moment is when Cobra takes over the United States Of America. Specifically how the art and colors subtly reference dictatorship propaganda during this panel.

Unfortunately, writer Paul Allor does not provide a truly apt story title for this issue of the series. A more apt title would possibly involve the words “health” or “mind.” However, this is more of a nitpick than anything. As for the rest of the script it is very reliant on readers actually paying attention to every creative element, meaning that even the lettering by Neil Uyetake is given equal importance to the visuals. This is due to how Allor Neil, Peer, and Evenhuis are exploring a large time frame while also doing a PSA character study. Lastly, this is one of the best PSAs involving the G.I. Joe franchise.