Gary Collinson reviews G.I. Joe: The Cobra Files #5…
“Everyone on the COBRA FILES team is reeling from the previous mission. Everyone but CLOCKSPRING. He’s got other things on his mind. Dejected and bitter over FLINT and CHAMELEON’s recent tryst, he’s starting to listen to TOMAX’s sinister advice… and thinking of taking matters into his own hands.“
With the first story arc of G.I. Joe: The Cobra Files coming to an end last issue, writer Mike Costa takes the opportunity to present the first of a two-part origin story entitled ‘The Boy Most Likely To…’, shifting the focus from Flint, Chameleon and company to get inside the mind of Clockspring and show us what makes this lowly analyst tick.
If you’ve been reading this series so far, you’ll be all too aware that former Cobra agent Tomax has spent much of his time lurking in the shadows and getting into the head of Clockspring, twisting his feelings for Chameleon and turning him against the Joes team leader Flint. This storyline has been built up superbly and that continues here as Costa delves into Clockspring’s back-story, setting him up as a sympathetic character whilst foreshadowing the presumably tragic events to come.
Taking over pencils from regular artist Antonio Fuso for this two-part story is artist Werther Dell’edra, and while Dell’edra’s art doesn’t quite manage to live up to Fuso’s work on the series (especially coming off the back of the last issue), it’s certainly in keeping with the visual style of The Cobra Files. But with very little action on offer, this issue is really all about characterisation and set-up; that’s where this book has excelled so far, and it continues to do so here. Let’s just hope the pay-off manages to live up to the build…
Gary Collinson is a writer and lecturer from the North East of England. He is the editor-in-chief of FlickeringMyth.com and the author of Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.
Originally published August 8, 2013. Updated April 12, 2018.
