G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 Closes the Marvel Run With “A Letter from Snake-Eyes”

Some final issues feel like an ending. Others feel like a farewell.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 is both.

Published by Marvel Comics in December 1994, G.I. Joe #155, titled “A Letter from Snake-Eyes,” closed out the original Marvel run of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. Written by Larry Hama with pencils by Phil Gosier, inks by Scott Koblish, colors by Chia-Chi Wang, and letters by Vickie Williams, the issue became one of the most memorable finales in licensed comic book history.

For longtime fans of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, this is not just issue #155. It is the emotional endpoint of the Marvel Comics era.

A Letter from Snake-Eyes

The title alone gives the issue its weight: “A Letter from Snake-Eyes.”

Snake-Eyes is one of the most iconic characters in the G.I. Joe franchise, but he is also one of the quietest. His silence is part of his identity. That makes the idea of a letter from Snake-Eyes immediately powerful. It gives the final issue a reflective tone instead of turning the ending into only another battlefield chapter.

Larry Hama understood these characters better than almost anyone. Across the Marvel run, he turned what could have been a toy tie-in into a long-running military action drama filled with loyalty, trauma, honor, betrayal, friendship, and sacrifice.

That is why G.I. Joe #155 still matters. It does not simply end the series. It gives readers a moment to look back on what the series had become.

The End of the Original Marvel Run

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 served as the final issue of the original Marvel Comics series. It followed G.I. Joe RAH #154 and was later followed in continuity by G.I. Joe RAH #155½, but as the original Marvel publication endpoint, issue #155 carries special collector and fan significance.

That status makes the issue especially important for readers who followed the series from its early days through the end of the 1994 run. A comic like this is not just a key because of a first appearance or a major death. It is a key because it represents the closing chapter of a long era.

Collectors can find more issue background through the Marvel Database entry, which tracks the book’s publication and continuity details.

Larry Hama’s Defining G.I. Joe Legacy

The Marvel G.I. Joe run is inseparable from Larry Hama. His work shaped the tone, voices, and emotional stakes of the comic in a way that still defines the franchise for many fans.

With “A Letter from Snake-Eyes,” Hama brought the original series to a close in a way that felt personal. The issue gives weight to the relationships and sacrifices built across the run. It also reinforces why Snake-Eyes became such a powerful figure in G.I. Joe mythology.

The best G.I. Joe stories are not only about missions. They are about the people who survive them, the bonds formed in combat, and the scars left behind. Issue #155 understands that.

The Creative Team Behind G.I. Joe #155

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 was created by a team deeply tied to the final Marvel-era presentation of the book.

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciller: Phil Gosier
Inker: Scott Koblish
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Colorist: Chia-Chi Wang
Cover Artists: Phil Gosier and Scott Koblish
Editor: Mike Lackey

The issue runs 22 pages and belongs to the A Real American Hero comics continuity. It is a direct continuation of the original Marvel series and remains one of the most discussed late-run G.I. Joe comics among dedicated fans.

A collector-focused look at the issue can also be found through Forgotten Figures, which highlights why the final Marvel issue continues to stand out.

Why G.I. Joe #155 Matters to Collectors

For collectors, G.I. Joe #155 has several important points of appeal.

It is the final issue of the original Marvel run.
It is written by Larry Hama.
It features Snake-Eyes in a central emotional role.
It has lasting importance to the A Real American Hero continuity.
It is a late-run 1990s issue, which can be tougher to find in high grade than some earlier, more heavily circulated issues.
It directly precedes G.I. Joe RAH #155½, a later continuation point for fans tracking the extended Hama continuity.

Because of that, G.I. Joe #155 is one of the books collectors often watch when building a serious Marvel-era G.I. Joe run.

The Importance of Final Issues

Final issues can be tricky in comic collecting. Some become major keys immediately. Others take years to gain attention. G.I. Joe #155 has long-term importance because it represents closure for one of Marvel’s most successful licensed titles.

A series ending after 155 issues carries weight. It shows how deeply the book connected with readers over time. It also gives the final issue a special place for completionists.

Collectors and readers who want broader context for Marvel’s G.I. Joe publishing history can also explore this Marvel’s G.I. Joe overview.

Snake-Eyes and the Emotional Core of the Series

Snake-Eyes is often remembered for the ninja action, the mask, the silence, and the connection to Storm Shadow. But G.I. Joe #155 reminds readers that the character also carried much of the emotional weight of the Marvel series.

A letter from Snake-Eyes is meaningful because it breaks through the silence without breaking the character. It gives the final issue a human center.

That is what helped Larry Hama’s run last beyond its original publication window. The characters were not just action figures placed into missions. They had histories, grief, loyalties, and complicated relationships.

The Continuity Continues With G.I. Joe #155½

Although G.I. Joe #155 ended the original Marvel run, the story did not completely disappear. The continuity later continued with G.I. Joe RAH #155½, giving fans another bridge into the extended legacy of Larry Hama’s version of the franchise.

That follow-up makes issue #155 even more interesting. It is both an ending and a hinge point. For Marvel-era purists, it is the final issue. For continuity-focused readers, it is part of a larger path that would keep Hama’s G.I. Joe alive.

CGC and Graded Comic Appeal

Because of its final-issue status, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 is also a book that graded-comic collectors continue to watch.

High-grade copies can be appealing because late-run issues from long-running titles often had lower visibility than earlier issues. Copies may also show typical handling wear from readers who bought them as part of a run rather than as protected collectibles.

Collectors interested in certified examples can review CGC’s gallery-style information for G.I. Joe #155 to see how the issue is tracked in the graded market.

Why New Readers Should Care

Newer G.I. Joe fans should care about G.I. Joe #155 because it shows why the Marvel run remains so respected.

This was not just a comic based on a toy line. Under Larry Hama, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero became a long-form action series with real continuity and character investment. Issue #155 represents the end of that first long journey.

Readers coming in through modern G.I. Joe comics, the Energon Universe, collected editions, or back-issue hunting can use this issue as a reminder of how deep the original Marvel run became.

Final Thoughts

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 is one of the most important issues in the Marvel G.I. Joe run because it gives the original series its ending.

With Larry Hama writing, Phil Gosier penciling, Scott Koblish inking, and Snake-Eyes at the emotional center, “A Letter from Snake-Eyes” remains a powerful farewell to the Marvel era of A Real American Hero.

For collectors, it is a final issue worth watching. For fans, it is a meaningful goodbye. For G.I. Joe history, it is essential.

Book Information

Title: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155
Story Title: A Letter from Snake-Eyes
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: December 1994
Pages: 22
Continuity: A Real American Hero comics continuity
Series: G.I. Joe
Preceded By: G.I. Joe RAH #154
Followed By: G.I. Joe RAH #155½

Creative Team

Join the Discussion

Is G.I. Joe #155 one of the best final issues from Marvel’s licensed comics era? Do you consider “A Letter from Snake-Eyes” essential reading for G.I. Joe fans?

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