Comicography: The Many Works of G.I. Joe's Larry Hama
Jan 10, 2022
Bio by Jem Huseman
Writer-artist-editor Larry Hama began his long association with the comic book incarnation of G.I. Joe almost immediately following then Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter’s meeting with Hasbro. “It was Larry’s book all the way,” Shooter said. And in the minds of many fans, that’s how it has remained.
During the title’s 155-issue run at Marvel, subsequent appearance at Devil’s Due Publishing, and revival at IDW Publishing, Hama’s portrayal of the characters defined many of them permanently for their fans. He has, however, been far from all G.I. Joe.
Hama broke into comics as an assistant for Wally Wood, served as editor for Marvel’s Conan line and The ‘Nam, created Bucky O’Hare, wrote such titles as Kitty Pryde, Agent of SHIELD, Punisher: War Zone and Weapon X, among others. He has also written video games, consulted for G.I Joe in feature films, and even appeared as an actor on M*A*S*H, but it’s his work on G.I. Joe – including the acclaimed “Silent Interlude” in G.I. Joe #21, which he wrote and penciled – that continues to demand attention.
ALL-NEW action, intrigue and espionage awaits you as legendary creator Larry Hama returns with a story set before his original run on WOLVERINE! The mutant known as LOGAN has made a name for himself on the mysterious island of MADRIPOOR, where the locals know him as PATCH. From their haunt at the PRINCESS BAR, what starts as a simple recon mission lands PATCH and ARCHIE knee-deep in a paramilitary struggle that will surface some SURPRISE REVELATIONS and characters! And is that NICK FURY, DIRECTOR OF S.H.I.E.L.D.? Yes, two patches for the price of one! A must-have for long-standing readers, and a welcome entry point for new readers of WOLVERINE!
RATED T+
In "Untold Tales," take an extended look behind some of the most important moments in G.I. JOE history through the eyes of some of your favorite characters. Join Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, and Torpedo in a desperate mission to Crucial Abysmia; experience the counter-assault in The Pit with MP Law and his sidekick, Order; feel the frigid temperatures of Fusenland with Snow Job, Blizzard, Iceberg, Cover Girl, Frostbite, and Lowlight; fly with Ace and Slip Stream on a mission against the Terror Drome; and be wary of the bespectacled, beautiful, brilliant, and bombastic Baroness!
Then, in the aftermath of the chaotic events of "Snake Hunt" (Volume 24), the JOEs are in a tough spot with the brass in Washington, D.C. Called to testify before a confidential sub-committee intent on investigating the off-the-books mission, a small group of JOEs find themselves embroiled in an entirely different kind of investigation... the murder/mystery kind, featuring brand-new JOEs Sherlock, Multo, and Black Hat in "Murder by Assassination!" Collects G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero issues #276-285.
CLASSIC G.I. JOE VOL. 12 continues the original run of A REAL AMERICAN HERO, featuring issues like "Probe and Feint," "Previous Agreement," "Counting Coup," and "Double Trouble." The JOEs land in Benzheen to square off against a massive force assembled by COBRA COMMANDER, DESTRO gets a bounty on his head, BARONESS is captured, enter the NINJA FORCE, and more great action remind how A Real American Hero is hard to match.
WOLVERINE vs. LADY DEATHSTRIKE vs. OMEGA RED vs. SABRETOOTH!
This is the showdown you've waited decades for, brought to you as only the legendary Larry Hama can!
RATED T+
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Jem Huesman writes for PREVIEWSworld and Gemstone Publishing. Her other works include The Overstreet Price Guide to Forbush Man and Fingering The Bat: The Incomplete Works of Bob Kane. It's very possible that she owns too many cats.