In 1984, along with all of the awesomeness on the radio, in the arcades and in movie theaters, there was something else, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. It was the latest iteration of a classic toy that made the leap to comics and animated series. This was all well and good, but then issue 21 happened and it became a paradigm shift for comics, in my opinion. Why, you may ask? Because it was silent, no words, sans dialogue! How did this tell a story? Well, you know the saying “A picture is worth 1,000 words”? This proved it! 

The issue itself is a self-contained story. Basically it details the rescue of Scarlet from Cobra in a mountain fortress, which should be awesome enough. But you have commandos and ninjas fighting it out, along with the introduction of Storm Shadow and the Arashikage Clan! It also gives you some additional insight into one of the most enigmatic characters in the G.I. Joe universe – Snake Eyes –and a piece of the puzzle to his past. But it is all told in images… and it could not have been told any other way!

Prior to this, comics would have a few panels without dialogue. Jim Steranko used the technique in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. But, Larry Hama expanded it to a whole issue. He was influenced by Steranko and found that style of storytelling to be powerful. I agree. He has gone on to use silent issues periodically through the G.I. Joe series, even as it moved from one publisher to another. But the most effective issue, excluding Issue #21, is the Funeral of Snake Eyes. It is gut wrenching and beautiful. Personally, I hope to not read any other issues in this style after reading this.