As we reported a few months ago, writer Larry Hama and IDW are picking up were the classic 80's Marvel comic based G.I.Joe series left off with issue number 155 1/2. This issue will be made available to fans for FREE on "Free Comic Book Day" which takes place on May 1st. Check your local comic shop for availability.

After that, starting in July, IDW will relaunch a new on-going series staring with issue #156 that will be written by Larry Hama as well.

Hama became well known by many Joe fans with his run on the old Marvel series and in a article in the USAToday, Hama is quoted as saying;

"It's like coming home again," Hama says in an exclusive interview. "It's comfortable and it's like, hey, I know these guys. I don't have to do tons of research and read tons of back issues."

The new book titled "G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero" will join IDW's other titles of monthly G.I.Joe based comic books including the core title simply called "G.I.Joe," which is written by Chuck Dixon. There is also "G.I.Joe: Origins" & "G.I.Joe: Cobra" which focuses more on the bad guys of the G.I.Joe universe.

Spanish artist Agustin Padilla will joining Hama to do the art for "G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero." For those who never read the old Marvel series or forgot what transpired in it, fear not because IDW is in the process of collecting them into a new trade paperback series.

To check out the full article in the USAToday about Hama's return to G.I.Joe, click here.