The History of G.I.Joe ARAH 21 Kickstarter Campaign Update

SITREP –

The History of G.I.Joe A Real American Hero #21 from the AAR team is going strong! With 30 days left, the campaign has reached 73% if its initial funding goal, with plenty of time left to hit the finish line!

For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the campaign (GASP!), here’s the scoop –

After Action Report Guide Book Series now includes a single book about a single issue. The SILENT ISSUE, G.I. Joe #21 “Silent Interlude”

The History of G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #21, An After Action Report Book

By Josh Eggebeen with Roger Taft

Unofficial (not sponsored by Hasbro)

Quick summary: G.I. Joe ARAH #21, written by Larry Hama, is a singularly important issue in the history of comics. It propelled G.I. Joe into the next level of comics and created an entire generation of fans that never stopped loving G.I. Joe.

This book is all about one issue and the many story off shoots, like the Hasbro-released #21B. This remarkable AAR volume contains:

1) a full biography of each creator;
2) Larry Hama’s, “the history of how it was made” – with detailed analysis of Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow and the Arashikage Ninja Clan;
3) the cultural impact and social value of a “silent” comic; and
4) the hunt for the very elusive #21 2nd Printing.

The creators of this important addition to the AAR book collection will closely examine the key pages in #21 and comment on their impact and meaning. And, the frosting on the cake, all of the international versions are represented.

And, FINALLY (we didn’t forget) – in After Action Report tradition, we give the reader the valuable guide pages and a checklist for every version (or homage) in which #21 appeared – to help the collector collect them ALL!

The Index of The History of #21: (see the bottom for examples of the pages)

Introduction by G.I. Joe podcaster, author & comic shop owner Tim Finn.
Page breakdown and commentary of the most important pages of #21.
The origin of the creation of #21 told by Larry Hama.
The importance of how revolutionary the issue being wordless or silent is in the context of comic book history.
The Creators: spotlight pages on the biographies of the creators of #21 & #21B which includes Larry Hama, Steve Leialoha, George Roussos, Denny O’Neil, Jim Shooter, Klaus Janson, Ed Hannigan and Jeremy Dale.
- The origin of G.I. Joe from Jim Shooter, as well as the character of Shooter.
- Reprinted stories from JimShooter.com about the creators and Marvel Comics during his time as Editor in Chief.
Explanations of Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow and the Arashikage Ninja Clan.
The “other” #21 stories aka the few additional pages that have been created that surround the #21 story from Action Force, Devil’s Due TPBs and more.
The #21 G.I. Joe Comic Guide book pages including every known American version of a reprint of #21, TPB’s and from all over the world with an international section plus the many homage covers.
The Hunt for #21 2nd Printing with contributions by Tommy Hazleton. This section tracks the history of the hunt for the elusive 2nd Printing that was first reported in AAR books in 2020 and with further updates here.
Checklist for your collecting NEEDS.

As of Jan 22nd, this is the Table of Contents of The History of #21, there are a couple of pages empty that are planned but not ready. The rest of the pages are completed

All of the above is in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the release of #21 in Dec of 1983, with a cover date of March 1984.

One of the most important comics in all of comic history has a story to tell, and does so without words, aka the Silent Issue. The new After Action Report about this singularly unique comic will fill in the blanks with a lot of carefully-choosen words! For your entertainment, enlightenment, and reading pleasure.

— Book Specs: (Exact same as Previous AAR Books, except Page Count)

The History of G.I. Joe ARAH #21 will be a full colored book printed on 100# paper in a Soft Cover Perfect Binding format with a visible spine.

Size: 8.5×11

Binding: Perfect Binding (Softcover)

Paper Quality: 100# paper

Pages: 80, BUT likely to increase before completion

Design: Mirrors the other AAR Comic Guide Books in page format and quality

Authors:

Josh Eggebeen with Roger Taft

Contributors Tim Finn & Tommy Hazleton

Author Josh Eggebeen is ready to jump. COBRA!!!

The authors and contributors of The History of #21 have been long-time G.I. Joe fans – spending thousands of hours, over several decades now, researching and offering education to the G.I. Joe community. Some call us “experts” – maybe we are, but as always, there’s more to learn, more to research, more interviews to conduct, and a lot more fun ahead for all of us. We’re glad you’re on board.

Beginning when Josh & Roger collaborated on the YoJoe.com Comic Book section in the early 2000’s, as they cataloged as many comics as they could find, including the International Comic Section, all the way to 2020 when they led a search for the #21 2nd Printing. At that point, Roger called Josh with a life-changing invitation: “Wanna do a project that will take a year?” That was during the Co-Vid shutdown of 2020. And what a “year” it’s been, turning into years, and many more projects.

Some call us “experts,” and we’re glad to wear that title: with three published volumes about G.I. Joe comics behind us, and more on the way … covering G.I. Joe A Real American Hero continuity from 1982 to 2022 (#1-#300) and even more beyond these issues. Your support means the world to us, and we hope everything we’ve done so far, and plan to do tomorrow, will help you in your G.I. Joe collecting adventures.

Roger with his ever-ready writing partner, Apollo.

See our website for more information about our other books. AAR Comic Guide Books Vol #1,2 & 3 are available as ADD ONS or as a combo pledge. The AAR Command Files G.I. Joe Character Guide is also available as a separate combo pledge or an ADD ON.

All pledges or Add ons will ship at the same time as History of #21. If your interested AAR Comic Guide Vol#1 & #2 are available to be purchased on our website and will ship immediately.