The Best of Larry Hama? Not quite

Details of the long anticipated "G.I. Joe: The Best of Larry Hama," a forthcoming tome collecting several classic G.I. Joe tales, have finally been revealed. And unfortunately, this selection of stories falls short.

According to product details posted at Amazon.com, the hardcover volume set to publish in April 2009 includes these old-school "G.I. Joe" comics:

• Issue 21, "Silent Interlude," a visceral tale told without dialogue and often heralded as the finest G.I. Joe story ever told
• Issue 24, "The Commander Escapes," which shows just how difficult it is to keep the villainous leader under lock and key
• Issue 26, "Snake Eyes: The Origin," the first in a two-part series exploring the story behind the Joe team's most mysterious member
• Issue 34, "Shake Down," an inspired tale showing a showdown between two great pilots
• Issue 63, "Going Under," which demonstrates the lengths to which Joe team members will go to rescue one of their own
• Issue 85, "SFX," an encore of the famed silent issue that again goes quiet to tell the story of a ninja showdown
• Issue 86, "Not Fade Away," a special issue that introduces the original Joe, Joseph Colton, into the mythos
• Issue 91, "No Simple Solutions," which follows on plot themes introduced in the origin of Snake Eyes
• Issue 104, "Hero of the People," a tale showing Snake Eyes going undercover to rescue his dead sister's former fiancee
• G.I. Joe: Special Missions 17, "All In a Night's Work," where Joe team members resolve a delicate hostage situation

I wholeheartedly approve of the tome including issues 21, 26, 34 and 86. Issues 24 and 85, while well written, are not necessary for this collection. And having not seen issues 63, 104, and Special Missions issue 17, I can't vouch for them, but they have little renown and I cannot explain why they're included.

I also cannot explain why this collection does not include issue 27, the second half of the Snake Eyes origin story; any part of the monumental, four-issue Cobra civil war story; or the hard-to-find final issue. These were missed opportunities, to be sure, and the publisher's failure to include these issues will stop me from buying the book.

Although it's likely too late, IDW Publishing should reconsider its choices before sending this book to print. Subtract issues 24, 63, 85, 104 and SM 17, add issues 27, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 155, and make this volume all it can be.