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Originally posted by: Shin Densetsu @ Hisstank.com

Quote:

Comic Book Resources was able to catch up with Larry Hama and discussed his return to the GI Joe A Real American Hero comic. He returns with GI Joe #155 1/2, which will be given away on Free Comic Book Day 2010! So far he has 5 issues planned out for the series which becomes an ongoing title with GI Joe #156.

The Joes will be on the run as martial law has gone into effect, and Cobra has risen to power in a position as a civilian contractor:

"There's this interim issue in the free issue that's the Cobra setup issue," Hama said of his new story. "Cobra has created a situation of a fraudulent terror alert and created these situations that make it seem like there's a huge terrorist uprising going on [in America.] And now, Cobra has stepped forward as a civilian contractor to augment the police and the national guard. It's sort of riffing on current events. They're in a position where they've got this power that's been given to them, because basic rights have been overtaken thanks to the fear of the populous. I think it's a very real fear."

When it came to casting the series, Hama found all his favorites from the original run ready to work with and often on the sides that the general public expects them to be on thanks to some late-series brainwashing that brought Storm Shadow back to Cobra. "It's my core cast that I like: Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Duke, Storm Shadow, Cobra Commander, Destro, Baroness, Billy, Rock N Roll, Roadblock, Stalker...this basic core. The characters are ones I don't have to think about. They're already standing up and walking around."

And while he normally plots his comics as he goes, issue-by-issue, Hama explained that he had the basic idea of an arc shaping up for how the G.I. Joes would come out of retirement. "The whole point is that Cobra puts themselves into this situation of civilian contractors and are protecting the country, but they're also trying to hunt down the Joes and eliminate them because they're a real threat. It's their first strike. Not only do the Joes have to reunite, but they have to escape and evade. The first half of the arc is that escape and evasion. They're being hunted down, and then it's regroup and take the offensive. And that's as far ahead as I am. That's my basic outline. That's as much as I've got. These five issues are the most I've ever projected in my entire life.

Hama also spoke of the plot being subservient to the characters, something he shares in common with famed comic writer Kazuo Koike(of Lone Wolf & Cub):

"The plot was always subservient to the characters. I can't remember a single plot. They're not important to me. But I remember who the characters are, and if you get that down on paper, that's really the important thing. People don't walk away from it liking the plot - they walk away liking the characters. That's everything."

Hama also likes the work of Agustin Padilla, the artist whose work is currently featured in the OPERATION HISS comics, and is Hama's partner in crime for GI Joe A Real American Hero:

"I really like his artwork. It's very fresh and dynamic" while lamenting that more artists can't take the strong visual approach he appreciates as an artist turned writer. "Nobody does 'Marvel Style' plot and script anymore. All they do is full script. The artists aren't used to it. They don't know what to do when they're handed a plot and the methodology and storytelling is left up to them.

So who else is looking forward to the return of Larry Hama to GI Joe A Real America Hero? Let us know by hitting the discuss button!

Read More: Larry Hama Talks More About His Return To GI Joe A Real American Hero @ G.I. Joe - HissTank.com.