G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: The Essential Guide 1982-2008

'G.I Joe vs Cobra' is probably the best guide to the G.I Joe characters and comic-book history available at the current time.Just short of 200 pages long, and published in UK magazine-style format, the book contains detailed entries on the most prominent Joe characters, including Hawk, Duke, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Roadblock, Flint, Lady Jaye and various others, as well as similar entries on the key agents of Cobra, such as Cobra Commander, Destro, Storm Shadow, Zartan and the Baroness.Each entry contains 'fact-file' information such as identity, military speciality and training, rank and birthplace, as well as detailed character origins and history (which refers primarily to the events of Marvels G.I Joe comic series of the 1980's to early 1990's). In addition to these detailed entries, there are numerous entries for many of the lesser known Joe and Cobra personnel - perhaps 30 entries for each faction - and also a complete roster of both the Joe and Cobra organisations.Also included are entries on many of the vehicles used by the Joe and Cobras over land, sea and air (and even space), with each entry including information such as weaponry, range, top speed and special equipment. As with the personnel files, there is also a summary of all of the Joe and Cobra vehicles that appeared during the series.Finally we have Joe 'Mission Reports', which detail a number of prominent stories and events occurring across both the comic-book and animated series, such as the invasion of Springfield, the Cobra Island civil War and the Weather Dominator.In all circumstances each entry is illustrated with a combination of either original artwork commissioned just for this book, stills taken from the animated series, art lifted from the pages of the comics book, or packaging art taken from the G.I Joe toy line. The information in the book is accurate up to the beginning of the IDW comic book series, first published in about 2009.In terms of criticism there are a couple. Firstly, whilst it is probably the best guide available, it is still far from definitive as it only contains specific entries on about 50% of the Joe and Cobra characters. Secondly, the mission reports section confusingly mixes up examples of stories from both the comic book and animated series, despite the fact that it is well known that the two had no direct influence on each other and never crossed over in any official capacity. As well as the only fleeting reference to the animated series, there is no reference what so ever to the Joe toy line - sections on both of which would have made this a much more conclusive guide to the franchise.So whilst the book does have a somewhat amateur feel about it in some respects, it is still an admirable effort and an entertaining read - although almost all of its content refers to the original G.I Joe comic series, so it may be of limited interest to those who arrived late to the Joe franchise.

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