G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero! Compendium One Overview | The Original G.I. Joe Marvel Comics!

[@quack34]

I got this in the mail Monday and was surprised how much I am enjoying the old newsprint feel and weight of the book. I know others don't share my views on this, but here's one happy customer!

[@nivekleveb8872]

Well I agree with you. Glossy paper for older material always feels weird and wrong to me

[@indieprime]

Newsprint has so much more depth!

[@mister-matic]

Can't wait to get mine

[@jarrettreynolds4560]

I got the variant edition of the compendium and I love it. The recycle paper worries me though. It’s very easy to bend or damage if you are not careful. This is where I rather have a glossy thick paper.

[@bobfishpresents]

❤ Amen! 🙏

[@teddybeer6206]

I'm pretty sure that in the show, Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow never actually faced each other, let alone fight.

[@jamestbrown6317]

Along with issue 21 is issue 34 with the Ace vs Wild Weasel showdown. Just fantastic.

[@MaximumWarp2099]

Let’s not forget issue 24 drawn by the great Russ Heath.

[@Carlos-xz3vi]

How are the stories on these? Silly? Or more serious in tone? I read some Wolverine comics by Larry Hama and didn’t like them. Too silly for my taste.

[@michaelemond7315]

@@Carlos-xz3vi reading them back in the day I was happy with how serious the tone was. Especially compared to the cartoon series. It's a matter of taste because it is still a comic and you have to suspend your disbelief but I liked how COBRA wasn't just a paper tiger for GI Joe to beat up on.

[@paulmcgrew2932]

​@@Carlos-xz3viI have read the first 30 issues. They are not very goofy. There are jokes for sure, but some pretty serious stuff happens. There is a pretty significant death early on. Snake Eyes origin story is pretty intense. I was actually really impressed by it when I reread this material this summer.

[@Dthamilaye]

About gutter loss, this is taken from the kickstarter page FAQ: "These books have so many pages! Have you accounted for gutter loss?" "Yes! Unlike previous publishers, we've painstakingly formatted all 4800+ pages in these collections to provide little to no gutter loss."

[@TheCZO]

Can’t wait to get the kickstart hardcover of volume 1. December can’t come sooner.

[@fabrichenric30]

That newsprint will turn yellow, but that might just add to the charm of it.

[@xposhboyx]

Keep it in a comic book bag, y'all.

[@XXXenophile]

@@xposhboyxthey’ll still yellow, it’s just much slower

[@jarrettreynolds4560]

After ten years it will be yellowish or brownish.

[@red40hood95]

Issues 26 and 27 the Origin of Snake Eyes was a classic of the GI Joe….. my favorite two parter of the series.

[@MatthewNovak]

I saw a copy of this at my LCS and was shocked by how big it was

[@kingmob1972]

I remember riding my space invaders bike down to the local drug store to GI Joe yearbook 1 in a blizzard way back in the day!! YO JOE!!!

[@xposhboyx]

Reading it now and I wasn't expecting such sharp dialogue. I love the military slang and authentic attitudes of the characters.

[@TokuAndAnimationNewsNetwork]

I did the Kickstarter for this set as I wanted them in hardcover form. I am so excited to replace my IDW books.

[@samhoward8573]

Ordered it but haven't gotten it yet. Actually looking forward to the newsprint as I'm tired of how reflective of light all the glossy paper is. I'm ready for some old school feel.

[@GrayskullPrime]

I despise glossy paper. It's a battle trying to angle my reading lamp just the right way that it doesn't blow out glossy pages.

[@arch6921]

Yeah call me crazy but I deliberately went with this compendium over backing the Kickstarter, as gorgeous as that box set was. Much prefer 80s comics on a paper stock closer to the original issues. Fingers crossed I don't regret my decision

[@Rodimusprimerib]

Cant wait for my copy to arrive! This looks great and i am a lover of glossy paper but this newsprint was a great idea especially with the weight and build of such a chunky compendium

[@BiggestDawgEver]

Hey Omar, you missed a step in the evolution of GIJOE. After the full size JOES lost favor post Vietnam, the figure construction was licensed to a Japanese toy company. Because the trend in Japan was for smaller toys, they scaled them down, and those toys were then licensed back to the US as the Micronauts. When Hasbro sought to capitalize on the 3.75" scale, they basically bought back the new construction from Japan to make the Real American Hero line.

[@stephentheshywarrior2759]

This looks magnificent. Happy its a compendium. Never read the stories before

[@jakeproven256]

I've been reading the Larry Hama G.I.Joe comics since high school, I've been reading the old ones and reading the new issues when they come out, and I must say Larry Hama has been becoming one of my favorite writers. I feel his G.I.Joe comics should be brought up more in conversation when discussing great comics. Of course the only reason they're not is because it's related to toys, and we all know how critics scoff at those and never look back. I've learned from a young age that the best things can often be found in the most unlikley of places.

[@GuardianKyle]

I went with the DM cover featuring issue #1!

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

A couple things to add to this because I'm a nerd. For one thing, they're not the exact same. The Classic GI Joe Vol 1 (initially published by Marvel and then reprinted by IDW) did not reprint anything from issue 1 except the main story. Didn't reprint the pin ups or the Hot Potato back up. And also, there was no cartoon initially because it was illegal. Making a cartoon based on a toy was illegal at the time (and I think toy advertisements were also pretty strictly regulated, but I don't know details on that as much) so the advertisement for the comic book was their way of sneaking around that. Ronald Reagan never saw a chance for corporate profits that he didn't like so he got that lifted. It was the one thing he did that benefited us (although that can be debatable lol). After he lifted that, it opened the door for Masters of the Universe and after that was a massive hit, that was what lead to GI Joe and Transformers (and Thundercats and really everything else, but GI Joe and Transformers were of course the only important ones)

[@giorgiogirardi4661]

I wasn't gonna get this because Skybound Tpbs have no covers. But seeing the covers are there and the charming newsprint paper changed my mind. Thanks for the video!

[@ramiroamorena2352]

Beautiful, newsprint is superior

[@xposhboyx]

Says you. Thank God this is not an industry standard. I bought the book, I'm reading the book, but yeah I don't need more collected editions printed on this type of paper.

[@bobfishpresents]

Absolutely! Love this! Newsprint FTW 🙌

[@rongee7337]

THANKS AFTER WATCHING THIS I WENT ON AMAZON AND ORDERED IT!

[@TwistedKISSter]

I'm two issues in and enjoying it, never ready any of it before, was just a toy and cartoon fan. I also backed the Kickstarter, but I couldn't pass this version up especially with the discount IST had on it.

[@XXXenophile]

Oh you’re gonna have some fun reading these! I didn’t start the series till the Image relaunch and then started with the five collections Marvel did before IDW took over but got all that way. (Well not all. Transformers/GI Joe, Order of Battle, and the Yearbooks I bought in regular format).

[@TheBLAMwithoutFear]

Mine came in today. I was surprised at how thick it is. My order also included the Jeb MacKay Moon Knight Omni and the Micheline and Larsen Spider-Man Omni. The GI Joe compendium is the same thickness as both those combined. Paper quality is not quite as good as the DC compact editions….but for $45 from Cheap Graphic Novels….i have no complaints.

[@adamhaught9667]

Thanks for reviewing this! Ill be picking this up for sure !

[@TheYoungDoctor]

Mine came Saturday. Being English I knew it better as Action Force before it became G.I. Joe the Action Force then just G.I. Joe.

[@kyletonarella4353]

Mine arrives next Tuesday!

[@Justin-l6z9n]

Hi, so the first 50 issues of gi joe comics are now out, how long does it take for them to release the next book of comics. Like months or years.

[@pdxkid6969]

Great question I need to know the same thing, I want the whole collection!!

[@andyapsay8220]

Newsprint paper and GI ARAH for the WIN!!!!!!

[@jamesperry8101]

Love getting tpb with newsprint....looks and feels great

[@jakeproven256]

The people who only know G.I.Joe through the original cartoon have no idea what they are in for going into the Larry Hama comics. Here we have, the joes killing cobra agents, Cobra is actually scary, Cobra Commander is compitent, and characters get badly wounded in battle.

[@festo512]

Cobra isn't scary or competent in those comics. They are just generic 80s bad guys in generic stories by hama

[@jakeproven256]

@@festo512 You either never read these comics or your a devils due shill.

[@festo512]

​@@jakeproven256I've read them because people like you were going on about how adult the comics are. I read the original run about halfway before I got bored and just gave comic away to some kid.

[@michaelemond7315]

Thanks for the review, Omar. Looking forward to this one.

[@andrewheard3099]

Are they going to do a compendium set for Transformers? I love GI Joe but Transformers was more of my jam in the 80s and 90s. I'm missing a couple of the volumes of IDW's Transformers Classics, I don't have $300 to spend on missing vol 6...woof! I did pick up the OG art GI Joe compendium, great decision!

[@XXXenophile]

Yes they are. Catalogs have already mentioned it for 2025. But it hasn’t been solicited yet.

[@collectingmemoriesyt]

Yes, Transformers compendium 1 is up for pre-order now.

[@maverator]

I've been conditioned by the DC compendiums, so ngl I was definitely disappointed by the newsprint and lack of heft to the build. But then I remembered why I bought it and realized what a great value it really is, assuming it doesn't fall apart or turn yellow, which i am kinda worried about.

[@teddybeer6206]

I've yet to see newsprint that hasn't turned yellow with time, but that's just me.

[@collectingmemoriesyt]

Just got my copy in today. Its hilarious how thick it is. I knew it would be big, but not this big! Its thicker than the Blackest Night omni!

[@michaeloffgrid]

Newsprint makes me want to buy this, and I don't even care about GI Joe.

[@brianng8350]

I had most of the original 100 issues, but my favorites are all the Snake-eyes issues, 21, 26 , and 27.

[@carlosMorales-pw1vl]

My brother in law loves GI Joe so he’ll love this!

[@TheComicBookReport]

That book is enormous wow

[@the_marvel_omnivore]

I have the eight OHC volumes that IDW released awhile back that cover almost the entirety of the first two volumes of this softcover compendium. If anything, I'll start with volume 3, but I'm still on the fence. I'd much rather have something more similar to what IDW published.

[@oldschoolrivethead]

I'm still unsure if using newsprint is a good or bad thing, but anxiously awaiting my Cobra kickstarter!

[@thecaterpillarlives]

Thanks for the video. I'm definitely a fan of newsprint for that authentic look, though I'm not thrilled about how huge the book is. I find smaller books are easier to pull of the shelf. I'm not a fan of 1000+ page volumes.

[@DevilzFan]

I did the Kickstarter, so have to wait a little longer to get my hardcover version. Can't wait though! Thanks as always for the overview!

[@ampatrao]

I hope this comes out in digital as well. The first 50 issues are awesome.

[@shogunfox7141]

So this will be the 1st of how many compendiums? 3? 4?

[@TwistedKISSter]

Is it just me, or do the colors seem to pop more on video than in person?

[@ljkelty1766]

I'm kind of excited for this after seeing it in my LCS. I like the feel of the newsprint. That said I hope the paper doesn't start yellowing in two years. The major issue I have with this is the size. Skybound should have gone with 25 - 30 issues per compendium. Also, the gutter loss is really bad. They should have made the book slightly wider to accommodate a centered page. So glad I only backed the Vol hardcover.

[@bryanbigham3761]

Backed the Cobra set on kickstarter. Wanted it in hardcover. Wished it were oversized but I'll take what I can get. Maybe one day they'll put it in omni format.

[@georgefeliu2383]

I checked it out at Barnes and Noble. For the price, it's not bad. I'm looking forward to my Kickstarter edition.

[@johnmcmenamy4180]

Thankfully I was able to purchase the kickstarter set, now I just have to wait until December.

[@bronxlongboardernyc]

It’s a beautiful book, but we need an omnibus like the ninja turtles…. The front cover Will always be bent

[@pEeNuT2624]

Got the DM cover

[@mikegould410]

Thumbs up!

[@Laughwithmelol]

Does it have the story rise, serpentor rise?

[@CarlC259]

Can’t wait to read this. IST is taking a little bit of time to ship my order though.

[@westernman7032]

Thank you for this. I know they had to shrink the size of the pages because of something to do with the file size they were dealing with from the original. How big is the text? is it easy to read?

[@pdxkid6969]

I love it, I need more!!!!

[@youcoulddoworse4056]

When is Vol. 2 coming out??

[@GoldenDogs514]

Saw it at the comic shop. Looked cool! But I'm not double dipping. Marvel's Transformers I will double dip on! 80s rules!

[@gabrielcarrasco9078]

Is the Kickstarter the hardcover compendium box set. If so I love that I get to try out the stories in the soft cover first before dedicating 300 dollars.

[@thegreenlaser215]

Omar, when you compared earlier trades to this compendium, I noticed the pages were on opposite sides of the book. Which book(s) are correct when compared to the original comic? This could be important for two page spreads and also for plot reveals within the books. Is the compendium correct, or the earlier trades?

[@SaffireAnimation]

Can anyone please reiterate - Why is the compendium thicker than the TPBs? I might have missed it in the video.

[@humanavatar7]

Awesome! Quick question, is the Lobo compendium already out of print?

[@sharkchomp-bs9617]

I don't think so

[@peter-mf5lh]

You show the best books thank you👍🏻

[@1nayrp]

The spreads are different than the IDW. Which reflects the original comic spreads?

[@CarlosDias-er6dd]

As a child I only had some GI Joe toys, haven't read the comics or haven't watched the show. But I have interest in the franchise. Should I read this book or watch the show first?

[@terrakio]

Can’t wait the hardcover book

[@jocool7370]

John Byrne pencilled on this??? I'm ordering one! What's a G.I. Joe, anyway?? 😂😂😂

[@teddybeer6206]

It's a toyline that started in the 60s about a 12" doll soldier that was very successful. Then more toys and some vehicles came out. Then the franchise got rebooted in the 80s and it got completely revamped. The 12" dolls got replaced by 3 1/2" action figures and some kickass vehicles. The comics in the video were created to sell these toys. G.I.Joe became a sensation in the 80s.

[@xjxh7981]

where can I buy the gijoe Omnibus? Could give me a address on line?

[@moonknight1985]

With any look we get a transformer compendium

[@paulmcgrew2932]

That is coming out in June of next year last I checked.

[@moonknight1985]

@@paulmcgrew2932 nice

[@therealunclassified]

Shooter came out few months ago

[@RyanRoemer8624]

Nice

[@steverogers7611]

Will they make more than volume 1 ?

[@siniquezu]

Did you back the Kickstarter?

[@oddcreatureX]

It’s ok for the IST sale price, but I would have preferred 25 issues a volume. Will be interesting to see how long some kind of oversized deluxe volume is released.

[@Elite-0Zero]

Nice review, Omar. Do you have any tips for reading compendiums without breaking the spine?

[@inesrios3753]

cool review and it's on my list of must buy books now. Hate to be that guy, but I cringed with every mention of "SerPANTHOR" Lol

[@Quiro26]

This channel is ruining my wallet but I love it!

[@Parasyte316]

I got my copy today. I adore the newspaper feel but holy cow is this thing a brick.

[@yunoyuluvit]

Is Marvel GI Joe considered part of 616?

[@Rocket1377]

No, it's Earth-91274. The same universe as Marvel Transformers. The UK Transformers/Action Force comics take place on a similar Earth, Earth-120185.

[@xodox2505]

This comics slaps🔥

[@SAFFRONINFERNO]

Will they be reprinting the CIVIL WAR series too ?

[@TokuAndAnimationNewsNetwork]

Which Civil War series?

[@SAFFRONINFERNO]

@@TokuAndAnimationNewsNetwork IDW series

[@SAFFRONINFERNO]

@@TokuAndAnimationNewsNetwork The compendium goes for crazy prices now

[@fortcastellan1730]

These look cool (the kickstarter hardcovers even moreso) but my shelves are filling up, and there are comics I care about more than these.

[@kuzyn_kitaszeski]

Great choice of paper for the material, wish other publishers (esp Marvel) would go this way. Wasn't going to get it, now it's on the shopping list.

[@rickgear2579]

I hope you don’t get what you want. Unbelievable that you love this crappy paper. Stick with what they use for epics.

[@KJ-tz7vc]

Yo, Joe!

[@Joseph-cp6du]

G.I. No. No'ing is half the battle.

[@westernman7032]

This look nice but I’m holding out until Marvel puts out a HC omni.

[@teddybeer6206]

Marvel doesn't own this series anymore.

[@teddybeer6206]

This is printed on newsprint? SOLD!!!

[@deadmousyplutaprestige8771]

I only collect hardcovers. Never a fan of the Marvel comic, but if it gets collected in hardcover format, I would get it.

[@GrayskullPrime]

They did a kickstarter for the complete collection in hardcovers. I believe you can still purchase them on there. Mine should be arriving in December.

[@yolteotl]

Yo Joe!

[@kennystasteck4724]

I GOT THIS TODAY & HAVE THE SINGLE ISSUES BY THEMSELVES

[@nicktroisi6347]

Holy hell, that is THICK 😂

[@mehernoshtarapore8902]

Dc comics hint hint jonah hex horror war titles in this format

[@Jdogg1976]

I still don’t understand why image didn’t do these in oversized format

[@paulmcgrew2932]

In Omar's interview with the current GI Joe editor, it was said that sky bound has to work with the files hasbro gives them. Those files aren't going to work in for an oversized format. Still, wouldn't be surprised if hasbro does a full on remaster for deluxe editions.

[@albertmoreno1682]

Wish they made this into a omnibus instead

[@TheElectricCity]

I'm a little nervous about how quickly this paper will yellow...but I suppose Compendiums are a "here for a good time not for a long time" format

[@goosey235]

I'm a bit torn on this - G.I. Joe is one of my favorite comics ever, I've been there since the beginning when I was 6 years old - but I'm not sure I'm into these gigantic compendiums. I may get it, but with hopes of some kind of oversize HC (with more manageable page count) at some point. I actually do like the idea of this kind of the newsprint though.

[@GrayskullPrime]

I was strictly a trade paperback guy for the longest time for that reason. But after picking up a few omnibus I quite liked having all those issues in one volume and now that's all I want. Yeah, they're kinda heavy but I got used to it quick. I'm more iffy on Compendiums because I've had books come unglued on me. I much prefer the sturdier construction of an omnibus when carrying all that weight.

[@goosey235]

@@GrayskullPrime I agree - for me, If this were two volumes of omnis, that would amazing

[@xposhboyx]

I'm still laughing at some of the comments on here in favor of raw untreated, and soon-to-yellow newsprint. It's acceptable for the sake of saving some money, but it's nothing to be excited about as if these comics actually look good on gray, spotty paper that will soon be even dingier looking!

[@teddybeer6206]

Actually I think that's the idea. Cheap looking art with flat colors like this comic from the 80s contains would look TERRIBLE on glossy paper. Everything would look so flat. The newsprint compliments the artstyle and colors very well. But that's just my opinion.

[@raulzavala9061]

G.I.Joe and Transformers for a brief time were considered Marvel's specialty titles and printed on what was coined Mando or Baxter paper at the time I was buying cost 75 cents while Marvel's regular line was at 60 cents up until 1990 when all titles were upped to $1.00. I don't mind the flimsy paper but Image could have easily printed it on glossier paper if the Invincible Compendium and DC's recent Robin Compendium are any indication.

[@DoctorZer0]

And we thought the Cerebus "phone books" were thick back in the day! I'm waiting on my Kickstarter hardcovers, but the colors here seem awfully bright for newsprint.

[@rickgear2579]

I own it and it's every bit as shitty as you would expect from newsprint.

[@cecillbill]

Really want this, but not very sold on its longtime durability due to paperstock at that size. But, probably gonna get it anyway lol.