CBR: Marching Orders: Schmidt Talks G.I. JOE

[CBR News]

The classic G.I. JOE/COBRA conflict begins anew this month in IDW Publishing's
“G.I. JOE” #0. CBR speaks with editor Andy Schmidt about what fans can expect
from the line, and previews <b>exclusive artwork</b> by Gabriele Dell'Otto.


Full article here.

[TheRealOblivion]

I want to get excited about this, but I just can't. I'm all for the reboot, but launching with 3 titles is overkill and will be both confusing and off-putting to the casual buyer.

For instance, I'm a hardcore Transformers fanatic and I have to spend a lot of time on the internet figuring out what order IDW's TF books go in, which books are reprints, etc. There's so much product out there that it seems overwhelming at times, and trying to follow the books feels more like a chore than a hobby. Now it seems that they are going the same route with Joe.

[Sanity or Madness?]

...and then, in a couple of years, they say it's all got too complicated, shove the intended-for-twelve-to-eighteen-issues wrap-up of the ongoing story into a four-issue mini, and go for a cartoon-plus level of cheese on their main title.

[And didn't Devil's Due try a "relevant" reboot of GIJoe to go alongside their Marvel-continuity title, which tanked completely?]

[rogerio]

Great Cover...

[CMBMOOL]

I must say that this may be the start of something good for the GI Joe property.

[justinius23]

I must say that this may be the start of something good for the GI Joe property.

i genuinely hope so.

[Andy Schmidt]

I want to get excited about this, but I just can't. I'm all for the reboot, but launching with 3 titles is overkill and will be both confusing and off-putting to the casual buyer.

For instance, I'm a hardcore Transformers fanatic and I have to spend a lot of time on the internet figuring out what order IDW's TF books go in, which books are reprints, etc. There's so much product out there that it seems overwhelming at times, and trying to follow the books feels more like a chore than a hobby. Now it seems that they are going the same route with Joe.

I hear what you're saying about the confusion of reprints and different continuities. I really do. The difference here is that there's the comic continuity and then there's movie continuity and the difference is going to be obvious. They've got different logos and a different style altogether.

Any reprinted material is being done in trades only.

That's it. If you're buying a G.I. JOE comic that doesn't carry the movie logo on it, then it's the comic continuity. It's pretty simple.

As for three series being overkill, maybe it is for you, I don't know. But what I do know is that the work being done on these books is amazing. I think many people will want to get and read all three, but as I hope I've made clear, no one is asking people to buy all three if they don't want to. We're keeping each series self-contained. So if you only like the COBRA book, that's fine. Just buy that one and you'll be fine.

By that same token, the casual buyer should be okay. These books are aimed at an older audience, so I think it's reasonable to think they understand that buying G.I. JOE; ORIGINS #2 is not the same series as G.I. JOE: COBRA #2. I think we can give readers a bit more credit.

I understand your reaction, but I hope you'll give the #0 issue a try for just a buck. You'll get a taste of all three there and then see if any of them speak to you.

Thanks for reading the article and I hope you can excited about G.I. JOE again!

[Andy Schmidt]

...and then, in a couple of years, they say it's all got too complicated, shove the intended-for-twelve-to-eighteen-issues wrap-up of the ongoing story into a four-issue mini, and go for a cartoon-plus level of cheese on their main title.

[And didn't Devil's Due try a "relevant" reboot of GIJoe to go alongside their Marvel-continuity title, which tanked completely?]

Now that's just rude!

We're not going to do that. This is really good stuff (not that what you're referring to wasn't), but there's a consistency of vision on these that I don't see going away for a long time. The creators, myself, the good folks here at IDW, and the people I've met and interact with at Hasbro are all on the same page.

That said, sure there will be shake ups from time to time--that's part of comics and ongoing stories and a big part of the fun!

[Nakomah]

Looking forward to it and will give them a try!

[Muadib]

Larry Hama back on GI JOE?

Chuck Dixon on GI JOE?

Man i dont care if these books arent the jazz, i am so there!

[Blade X]

By that same token, the casual buyer should be okay. These books are aimed at an older audience, so I think it's reasonable to think they understand that buying G.I. JOE; ORIGINS #2 is not the same series as G.I. JOE: COBRA #2. I think we can give readers a bit more credit.

It is this kind of thinking that has caused the comic book industry to shrink and die a slow painful death. G.I. JOE should be aimed at kids/all ages (the audience that it was ORIGINALLY created for), and NOT exclusively at the existing aging and shrinking adult audience. Instead of trying to and/or placing all hope on attracting (I assume) casual ADULT readers, you guys should be trying to attract brand new KIDS/ALL AGES readership.

And today's "older audience" isn't as smart as you give them credit for. Remember, many of these same older readers think that because Wolverine appears in 4 different comics in the same month that it is a continuity disaster and/or mistake. They can't accept the fact or possibility that the story's Wolverine is appearing in are not taking place at the exact same time. MOST kids can either dismiss or wrap their minds around this little concept, MANY (not all) adult anal retentive comic book readers can't or refuse to accept this little fact of comics.

[Stevens]

I stopped reading JOE back in the late 1980's when Serpentor, or whatever the **** his name is, was forced onto Larry Hama into the pages of the comic book. That was it for me. GOOD BYE and have not looked back since.

Still love issues 21-31 though. That ten issue spread was just golden.

[Papa.Bois]

I am real excited about these new Joe series. They look like they will be great but when will we get to know what Joes will be spotlighted as main characters in the two (non Cobra) series? Duke, Scarlett, Hawk and of course Snake Eyes were mentioned in the article but what about the others? I am hoping Stalker, Roadblock and Shipwreck will be included in the spotlight.