This week I had the opportunity to get an early look at one of the most anticipated comic releases of the year. After a year of mini-series such as Cobra Commander, Duke, Destro, and Scarlett, the Energon universe was finally ready to unveil its new G.I. Joe series.

While the Transformers’ side of the universe started off immediately with a Transformers ongoing series, Skybound followed the MCU playbook and introduced its core characters in individual mini-series, building excitement for the eventual moment when they would all be united. These early mini-series also set up the framework for a comics universe in which Transformers and G.I. Joe would be inextricably connected and where writers could seamlessly construct crossover narratives between the two properties. The main connective tissue is the source of power and life for the Transformers: Energon. The discovery by various factions on Earth of Energon and the Transformers directly leads to the creation of both Cobra and G.I. Joe, with Cobra seeking to exploit the new resource and the Joes united to prevent the proliferation of dangerous, new technologies that have spread throughout the world, thanks to the prevalence of Energon. What impressed me the most about this first issue was how easily a reader who had never read any of the mini-series could instantly be drawn into the story being told and not feel lost. Of course, I would recommend anyone interested to pick up those earlier series, as they are excellent reads and they place the action of this issue into a greater context.

Josh Williamson gathers an intriguing initial cast of Joes for this first adventure. Led by Duke and General Hawk, the cast includes Stalker, Rock ‘N ‘Roll, Cover Girl, Clutch, and surprise addition Baroness. The Baroness in particular leads to an interesting group dynamic, as most of her fellow teammates find it worrisome to have a war criminal on the team and question Duke’s decision to bring her on board. This distrust is echoed in the reader who might know that the Baroness was a key operative for Cobra in previous continuities. Her inclusion on the team creates narrative tension as we wonder if this version of the Baroness is destined for the same evil fate.

This new team is quickly thrown into their first mission which involves Transformer technology that had been recovered by the United States government and must be protected by the Joes. I thought it was a great choice to jump right into the action, one of the main reasons to read a G.I. Joe comic after all. Williamson allows us to get to know these Joes through their banter with each other, which allowed for each of their individual personalities to shine. This all leads to their first encounter with Cobra, as Cobra Commander and Destro want to acquire any new pieces of Cybertronian technology. The Cobra Commander mini-series did a great job of establishing that this Cobra Commander was a man to be feared. In the 1980s cartoon, he would usually come off as buffoonish and I always wondered why anyone would follow the Commander and join Cobra. Here, Joshua Williamson continues the strong characterization from the Cobra Commander mini-series, giving a sense of this Commander as a capable and terrifying presence. This is the scariest and most evil Cobra Commander has ever been. As he began in the Duke mini-series, Williamson presents a more conflicted Duke who has been shaken to his core by his first interaction with the Transformers. This is a Duke who feels powerless in the face of such giants and yet stubbornly dares to hope that this new threat can be overcome. I appreciate the deeper layers the Energon universe has given to these characters, proving even after decades that there are plenty of new stories to tell.

Tom Reilly returns from the Duke mini-series to take on the artist duties for G.I. Joe and proves again that he and Williamson are a great pairing for this material. The first splash page of the Joes in action, streaking through the air on jet packs no less, brought to mind the opening sequence of G.I. Joe the Movie from the 1980s and immediately imbued the issue with a cozy blanket of nostalgia. His character designs nicely evoke the old Hasbro action figures and older cartoons with a new modern twist. Combined with Jody Bellaire’s colors, the art almost feels like an old Steranko Agents of Shield comic from the 1970s with monochromatic panels of orange and green.

There is a lot of anticipation for this book, especially after the high quality of the mini-series that preceded it. I can safely say that G.I. Joe has been worth the wait. This feels like the beginning of a cinematic experience, the G.I. Joe version of Marvel’s Avengers movies. G.I. Joe #1 is a natural extension of what has come before, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Creative Team: Joshua Williamson (writer), Tom Reilly (Artist), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Rus Wooton (Letterer).
Publisher: Image Comics / Skybound
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