So to get the lowdown on IDW’s new line of G.I. JOE comics, CraveOnline went to the man with the plan, the “General Hawk” of the relaunch and reboot, Andy Schmidt, to talk about what fans can expect in the up-coming series and what the company has planned to bring G.I. JOE back to its former glory.
While several publishers have taken a crack at bringing the boys back to comics, Schmidt believes the Joes’ new home at IDW has what it takes to bring G.I. JOE back to its former glory.
“We’ve got a track record of taking properties and galvanizing them into entertaining, modern, and intelligent comic books,” Schmidt says of IDW. “G.I. JOE is no different. In this case, G.I. JOE has a long and celebrated history as both a toy line and a comic book (and cartoon for that matter) and so the job is tricky. IDW has the experience to take all of those elements and push them forward, refreshing them and also keeping them familiar at the same time, so that both long-time fans and new readers can enjoy the book.”
A veteran of the industry, having worked on nearly every character in the Marvel Universe during his time as an editor at the House of Ideas and founder of the Comics Experience, a school designed to strengthen the skills of aspiring comic writers and artists, Schmidt has the skills and experience to get Joes back in action.
Never-the-less, Schmidt confesses that spearheading the launch of an all-new G.I. JOE universe has been “Daunting. Just plain daunting. It’s both an honor and a huge burden. The pressure not to alienate anyone who loves G.I. JOE is huge but I’ve also got to push forward and try new things or we’ll wind up with more of the same-old-same-old and Hasbro, IDW, and myself all believe that’s not in G.I. JOE’s best interest.”
“Fortunately, the pressure isn’t all on me,” Schmidt continues. “The guys at Hasbro and my co-workers here have been extremely helpful. And best of all, look at the creative teams. Once we had our four writers and three artists on board, I knew it would be easy because these guys are all familiar with G.I. JOE and consummate professionals. They’re harder on their work than I am most of the time!”
And for those who can’t wait for their first look at what IDW has in store for the Joes, the wait is nearly over.
“We kick it off with G. I. JOE #0 in October,” Schmidt announces. “It’s only a buck, so worth a try for 16 pages of story—three brand new stories that lay the groundwork for the books, and 8 pages of bonus material like interviews and such. But more importantly, you get a taste of all three of the books we’re launching and I honestly believe if you’re an old fan or a new one looking to test the waters, that you won’t be disappointed.”
After that, the stories begun in the #0 issue continue just after the start of the New Year, and Schmidt has the run down right here:
“G. I. JOE #1 launches in January by Chuck Dixon and Robert Atkins with covers by Dave Johnson. This is your meat and potatoes G.I. JOE book.
G. I. JOE: ORIGINS #1 hits stands in February and it’s by Larry Hama and Tom Feister with covers by Andrea DiVito. Larry and Tom are revealing the beginning of G.I. JOE and telling a more psychological and character driven story.
Lastly, G. I. JOE: COBRA #1 launches in March and it’s written by Christos Gage and Mike Costa with art by Antonio Fuso and covers by Howard Chaykin. This book defies all expectations by bringing the reader right into the heart of Cobra and showing what this kind of under cover work can do to a man and to his soul.”
Even as just the basest glance, anyone with even the slightest comics’ knowledge will recognize many of those names as some of the most respected and talent individuals in the industry. Taking a minute to talk about what makes these writers the right men to reintroduce G.I. JOE, Schmidt finds it challenge to narrow down just a few of the qualities each brings to the table “mainly because they’re all such complete packages.”
But with a little nagging, Schmidt gives, and then can’t say enough about the men penning the Joes and how each of their backgrounds enhances a different corner of the Joe-verse while also complimenting the tapestry woven by the whole creative force.
“Larry is the expert. He knows more about G.I. JOE than I think I could ever hold in my brain,” Schmidt remarks of the ORIGIN scribe. “And he’s the one with the experience with these characters. But more than that, he’s proved time and time again that he tells kick-ass action stories that are character driven.”
“Chuck’s the pro who knows all the military stuff backward and forwards (as does Larry) and he knows how to take the notes from all corners and combine them seamlessly into a coherent and engaging story,” he continues, noting of the veteran writer. “Bottom line, he writes the “man’s man” stories better than anyone else in the business.
“Mike Costa is a fresh young talent that you’ll want to keep your eye on,” the editor says of one-half of the COBRA writing team. “He’s awesome. And he’s a big G.I. JOE fan which is great for the COBRA book since Chris Gage didn’t grow up a huge fan. Chris is an old pro and someone I’ve know for a long time and trust completely so these two are a match made in heaven. Their book is shockingly good.”
But just as reboots do, some things change. It’s the nature of that beast. But for Schmidt, it was never so much a matter of changing or improving on the property, but an issue of expanding and layering on the already strong characterizations from the Joe’s long history.
“I think you want to keep the characters pretty consistent,” Schmidt tells. “You don’t want them to feel like completely new people. You want them to be engaging, to have hidden things in their past, and those things can be new, but you don’t want them to act out of character. It’s the characters that make G.I. JOE work.”
For one example of how the crew at IDW are taking familiar Joe element and expanding it, fans need look no further than the greatest threat the heroes have ever faced.
“COBRA is kind of new,” Schmidt begins. “By that I mean, it’s more fleshed out and its agenda is a bit different. But we can play COBRA differently in a more modern way, which I think is really good. COBRA is more sinister and it’s not just armies fighting, the game is more in people’s heads. You’re going to feel the weight of the decisions our characters make and what it means to be a part of G.I. JOE or COBRA. Neither one is easy.”
But maybe most important, the key to G.I. JOE has always resided in the essence of the property; the battle of good verses evil, of never knowing what’s going to happen next, and watching these characters overcome incredible odds, both personal and physical. An essence that Schmidt believes IDW has successfully and respectfully re-infused to America’s most famous black-ops unit:
“I think all involved have managed to recapture that original feeling from my childhood. The mystery is back and even though the characters feel like my old friends, I know there’s more going on under the surface, and I’m not completely sure what lurks around every corner—and I KNOW what lurks behind every corner!
What I’m saying is, I know the plan, I’ve got the map, but these guys are so good that when I’m reading the script or the final books with art, I FEEL like I don’t know and that’s a big deal.
I think old and new fans are going to react very positively to this.”
And though Schmidt has no intention of hiding his excitement for G.I. JOE, he’s not revealing any juicy story-specifics anytime soon.
“I could, but what’s the fun in that,” he teases. “Folks, read the books. Recapture that feeling of being a kid and meeting these characters for the first time again. You won’t be disappointed. And the surprises and twists and turns are all part of the fun!”
Look for G.I. JOE #0 in stores Wednesday, October 22. For more information on IDW Publishing and G.I. JOE, visit idwpublishing.com. For information on Andy’s classes on writing and drawing comics, visit comicsexperience.com.
