Marvel Comics released four G. I. Joe Yearbooks during the title’s 12 year run.
Essentially the series’ Annuals, the G. I. Joe Yearbooks were more like 64 page magazines, containing not only a main and occasionally) a back up story, but also a yearly review and write ups on the then popular Marvel-Sunbow animated series, giving updates on upcoming episodes.
Of the four G. I. Joe Yearbooks released by Marvel (oddly, neither DDP nor IDW ever released their versions of the format), G. I. Joe Yearbook #2 remains a favorite for the following reasons:
- The cover by Mike Golden. Its too bad he never rendered this in airbrush as he did for the covers for G. I. Joe #s 23, 27, 29, 36 & Yearbook #1. Its near perfect in terms of personnel…Plus the American flag background makes it one of the four ‘Patriotic covers’ used in the Marvel run: G. I. Joe #s 4, 152, and Yearbooks 1 and 2.
- It featured the return of the October Guard, the Warsaw Pact counterpart of the G. I. Joe Team.
- The article on the G. I. Joe cartoon which explains how an episode is created, a preview of then new Joes Low-Light, Slipstream and Mainframe, the then new Cobra Emperor and a few others.
- The then up to date Marvel G. I. Joe Cover Gallery from G. I. Joe #1-44 (Operation: Lady Doomsday/Hot Potato to Improvisations Upon A Theme), complete with titles. •
Its too bad neither DDP nor IDW released their own versions though. These were mostly good annuals, with Yearbooks #1 and 2 as the standouts.
• Given that Snake-Eyes, Torpedo, Ripcord, and Lady J essentially represent the elite members of the team (Commando, US Navy SEALs (SEa-Air-Land), H. A. L. O. (High-Altitude Low Opening) Jumper and Intelligence (Covert Operations), its too bad Roadblock was added as the fifth Joe rep. Stalker (as a Ranger) would’ve made more sense.
• IDW reprinted the G. I. Joe Yearbooks, but Unlike Marvel and DC’s true Facsimile Editions which do reprint original tales completely, along with the ads of the era, IDW’s (excepting the reprint of Yearbook #1) cut back on the original content. In the case of Yearbook #2, the Marvel Joe Cover Gallery was severely truncated. Besides, all the reprints sport new covers- hardly real Facsimile editions.
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