Opening with a note from original GI Joe writer Larry Hama himself – explaining that this issue features the original speech he wrote for one of the characters, toning down its hardline, jingoistic flag-waving that ended up being printed in the 1982 publication – this immediately doesn’t feel like a ‘standard’ reprint.

Yet, for the most part, it is.

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course.

The GI Joe comic, despite being published to promote a Hasbro toy line, always felt like it went the extra mile to justify its existence beyond just being an extended advert.

Vietnam veteran Larry Hama, who wrote most of the GI Joe comics for Marvel in the 80s and early 90s, was a big part of that and, therefore, the success of the comic.

Despite the silliness of much of the cast – including their heavy-handed code names – and the frequently daft plot elements, GI Joe was a long running soap opera that felt much more gritty and politically aware than readers may have expected back in the day.

Even now – especially in the first story reprinted here, Operation: Lady Doomsday – it’s surprising to find the moral quandary facing the Joes over the course of their mission, with them sent to rescue someone who could be considered a traitor to the US Government and military.

The second, much shorter, story is less successful and has some questionable, early 80s potential xenophobia – despite this, it’s an effective and brisk thriller in which a few of our main cast need rescuing themselves, from a seemingly impossible situation.

Dotted throughout are some technical readouts of Joe gear and their base, showcasing equipment and settings in a classic, 80s cutaway style (I always loved these, so it’s a joy to have them to pore over again).

Though dated, this is a surprisingly fun read – and does a much better job of launching the Joes than the current continuation by Skybound.