Transformers Versus GI JOE #11“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!”
-Rocky Balboa- 
"Yo Jo...Adrianne!!!!!!"Story so far:Earth is gone. The last remnants of humanity- the G.I.Joe team- joins forces with the heroic Autobots to battle Earth’s destroyers- the Decepti-Cobra alliance. Whatever hope remains races from the center of Cybertron- into an uncertain future!
Recap: Deceptions starting to eat humans as a delicacy, the planet Cybertron coming alive, and the Earth is gone… this shift just got real, and it’s about to get realer (well next issue, maybe).
Spoiler free review (try anyway):It’s time for a BRO-mance. Bro-hugs around. Brobots before Deceptifoes!
Get to the chopper!Sadly, this issue is very, very JOE-centric (sad to the TRANSFORMERS FAN anyway). The meat of the story is about DUKE and his relationship with his brother (step), one Lt. Falcon. DUKE leads the next generation of
greenies through the Joe’s Decepticon stomping boot camp, told in a flashback—
which writer Scioli states he was not going to have in his stories, and yes, he admitted to breaking his own rule- and his little brother is recipient numero uno of all of his angst, fear, frustration and love. The growth of their relationship, the motivations, and some heavy realizations make this possibly resonate with those with a sibling or two that they have either tried to live up to their older sib’s accomplishments, or tried to teach the younger sib the ways of the world along with a heaping dose of humility. DUKE meet FALCON. FALCON…DUKE.
Oww, Oww, Oww...painful childhood memories relived. Thanks bro. (
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES: Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Topspin, Twintwist, or Tracks and Needlenose- none to be seen though-.)
Part ‘Rocky’, part ‘Patton’, part ‘Stripes’, we see Scioli once again shine in the writing and art as he takes a break from homaging his favorite comic artists and writers to now pay tribute to some of his favorite inspirational war/combat related movies. The only problem is, unless you’re big fan of those things, you don’t really catch the subtleties until you read his recap of the the pages at the end (a welcome piece to the experience, as always).
This gag never gets old...and you thought they called him Cutter because he was in the Coast Guard! Ha hah.And as I mentioned, Transformers fans may be bored for about 10 of the middle pages or so ‘cause it’s all JOE and mainly DUKE (and I loathe the Duke character, even though I'm a big fan of Michael Bell's Prowl). But the beginning (as seen in the preview pages) and most certainly the events happening in the end involving both franchises, continues the epic
NOW BECOMING COSMIC implications of Megatron’s ambitious desires… And I’m not sure where it will all head…
seriously.
Nightmare inducing.
Where are we going next?Rating:I give this issue a pretty average rating. It’s an issue that slows down a bit from what’s been happening lately, focuses mainly into one or two Joe characters, and the story progression…well, it makes it look like the next issue is going to be HUGE anyway! I’ve never been a huge DUKE fan, but
I do love me some obstacle course action! 
"Dunk this, Big Lob!--Meowwwwrr!!!!"There are always great easter eggs here and there for both the Transformers fans and G.I.Joe fans to enjoy, and for those who know the G.I.Joe movie, and the squad of guys that Lt. Falcon was training with in it, you’ll have some fun. It’s nice to see Springer, becoming a part of the story. His alt mode is something between fan-favorite helicopter the Tomahawk, and Springer’s Cybertronian helicopter mode.
The series still feels like something I wanted to cook up as a kid and a fan--
with much more thought put into it-- and that’s why I’m still reading it. I also really like reading what Scioli thinks and does in his creation of each story.
*I really wish Colonel Flagg would lose the VERY slouched cap, though. Please.*
Hmmm... 
out of
This picture of Quarrel reminds me of some portrait of a female before, I just can't place it.
), and the commentary about a love-it or hate-it classic generation one gimmick(most of 'us' dislike it anyway)! Some perfect examples of fun/creative ways to rethink what has been thought before.
