It should be no secret that we, like a lot of our fellow members of the media, get a lot of press releases. It's how we get the news that we bring to you and keep you informed on what's coming up. Usually I'll read them, pick out the key points and then either post them here or tell you about it on the podcast. I never like to post entire press releases, but this one from IDW was too good and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
To sum up, a new G.I. Joe title is coming from writer Paul Allor and artist Chris Evenhuis. That's very exciting news, not only because this is an amazing creative pairing, but I really enjoyed Allor's working with TMNT Universe not too long ago. I have every confidence that this will be an amazing book, and the press release makes me feel that way even more. The entire thing reads like a Cobra anti-propoganda release. Here it is in it's entirety, unedited:
G.I. Joe Malcontents Recruit Citizens as Spies to Sow Chaos
SAN DIEGO, CA (June 17, 2019) – Loyal citizens of Cobra, take heed: our glorious Commander has warned that IDW Publishing, the outlawed propagandist organization, will launch a new campaign of disinformation in September, peddling a wave of new anarchist pamphlets simply entitled G.I. Joe!
Inspired by fugitives including Conrad S. Hauser (Code Name: DUKE) and Shana M. O’Hara (Code Name: SCARLETT), the insurrectionist duo of writer Paul Allor and artist Chris Evenhuis seek to poison the hearts and souls of our populace – brainwashing individuals into committing acts of espionage and sabotage.
Make no mistake: There will be dire consequences for the weak-minded fools who fall under G.I. Joe’s sway and disobey the Cobra World Order!
Our vigilant Tele-Vipers have intercepted two communications from the revolutionary named Paul Allor:
“This story is inspired both by modern warfare – where non-state actors fight vastly overpowered militaries to a perpetual standstill – and World War II, where Great Britain’s SOE recruited civilians behind enemy lines.”
“Old-school G.I. Joe fans will absolutely love it and find it true to everything G.I. Joe stands for, and new folks will be attracted to a deeply character-driven tale of hope and humanity, and about the power of resilience in an increasingly unraveling world.”
Citizens, you are reminded: Cobra demands total loyalty and allegiance. Independent thought and personal freedoms must be sacrificed to preserve the magnificent society granted to you through Cobra’s magnanimous graces.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COBRA OPERATIVES: Our intelligence officers indicate that copies of the subversive G.I. Joe comic book may be dispersed at local comic shops beginning in September. It is your duty to seek out cover variants from Chris Evenhuis, Dustin Weaver, and Eleanora Carlini, and collect these copies to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.
This just feels like the start of something great, doesn't it? I have certainly enjoyed reading G.I. Joe recently, but I feel like IDW has needed something to really get excited about after so many reports of behind the scenes turmoil at the publisher. I feel like this story could not be coming at a better time. It's a continuation, sure, but it also feels like a bit of a fresh start. At the very least, maybe the dawning of a new age? Only time will tell, but I'm very confident that IDW has something very exciting in store.