iFanboy - Comic Books Pick of the Week #998 – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #321
Oct 12, 2025
Celebrating 20 years of podcasting, the hosts dive into the craftsmanship of G.I. Joe's silent storytelling. They explore the melodrama of the DC K.O. tournament and critique the gritty art of the new Punisher release. Historical insights emerge with Death to Pachuca's take on the Zoot Suit Riots, while the Transformers saga takes a new direction under a fresh creative team. Reflecting on the finale of Farmhand, they also discuss the haunting beauty in Batman's latest issue and Cold War UFO mysteries in Red Book.
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Silent Storytelling Masterclass
- Larry Hama and Chris Mooneyham's silent G.I. Joe issue proves comics can tell full, cinematic stories without dialogue.
- The issue uses careful sequential craft and visual beats to deliver stakes, pacing, and character emotion as effectively as a worded script.
Visual Beats Build Tension
- The sonic weapon sequence highlights how visual constraints can enhance narrative logic and pacing.
- Small visual progressions (a hand reaching, shaky lines, a grimacing face) create palpable effort and tension without words.
Ad Reads Anchor Episode Rhythm
- The hosts repeatedly read Found and Shopify ad copy and joke around the reads during breaks.
- These ad segments punctuate the show and act as familiar rhythm points between segments.
