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It’s a good time to be a G.I. Joe fan. Transformers as well as Image Comics via Skybound Entertainment is rocking both IP’s as of late with some sensational comic book runs. The Energon Universe which sees the combination and reuniting of the Joes and Transformers just like Marvel did in the 80’s is hot right now amongst fans and especially G.I. Joe which has seen success with their limited series Energon titles Duke, Cobra Commander and now Scarlett and Destro. Throw in the mix the continuation of Larry Hama’s original series that has been reactivated for duty with issue 301 and beyond and I have been smiling ear to ear like I was 9 years old all over again. Did I forget to mention that we are finally getting an epic Joe/Transformers crossover movie starring Chris Hemsworth and lord knows who else? Yep, there’s that as well. Oh, and let’s not forget the G.I. Joe compendium set that became the most successful comic book Kickstarter campaign of all time. I ordered mine on the last day. Christmas will be sweet this year for me.
Yo Joe June is almost over but Skybound and Image have made their biggest announcement to date which is an all-new G.I. Joe comic series which will continue the Energon Universe seen in the limited series. This is a full-blown new series with old and new faces alike and we have the official press announcement below along with cover art for issue #1 which I will comment on below!
In celebration of Yo Joe June, today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, announced the debut of all-new ongoing series G.I. JOE #1 from the superstar creative team of writer Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), artist Tom Reilly (Duke) and colorist Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33). The biggest comic book launch of the decade will introduce a bold new vision of G.I. JOE and Cobra to the Energon Universe on Wednesday, November 13.
Conrad Hauser, Codename DUKE, has assembled a special force known as G.I. Joe to battle the rising power of the mysterious COBRA in the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons’ arrival on Earth. But the enigmatic Cobra Commander has unleashed the power of Energon like never before!
Featuring the First Appearance of an ALL-NEW character and many familiar faces, this is the comic that will change everything you think you know about G.I. JOE…and that’s only half the surprises in store!
From the awesome cover art for the premiere issue, a lot of the usual suspects are in tow including Duke, Scarlett, Stalker and Rock N Roll. Is that Clutch I see sitting on top of his iconic Vamp as well? By the way, who’s the Texas Ranger looking Joe sporting the old school western era rifle? Intriguing to say the least. A big takeaway is that Baroness is sporting Joe colors on the cover so do I detect a defection amongst Cobra ranks? Cobra Commander, Destro, Tomax and Zamot round out the Cobra forces along with some new faces including one bad ass looking chic sporting a heavy powered rifle. One minor gripe I have is that there is no Snake-Eyes or Storm Shadow present on the wrap around cover of the premiere issue. I feel that they will surface soon enough but not to include two of the most iconic G.I. Joe characters would be a grave injustice. Hopefully our two Ninja warriors will make a nice, grand entrance as only they can when the series gets started in November. I feel they will show up in issue #2. Fingers crossed. The artwork is stellar, and I’m digging the look and feel of this new series, and it would be killer if they incorporated a new animated series to go along with this and the movie. I expect that to happen too.
Interesting of note is that the Joes and Cobra are standing over a Transformers graveyard which suggests that things are not going good for the Autobots and Decepticons.
“Finally! The team is together! The response to the mini-series that led to this moment has been phenomenal, it’s been exciting to see lifelong fans of the iconic series and new readers come together to support G.I. JOE in the Energon Universe,” said Joshua Williamson in an interview. “What has come before was just a glimpse into the massive world full of action and drama that we’re bringing with the new ongoing series. Now it’s time to amp up the story as newly formed G.I. Joe and Cobra meet for the first time! Our first issue rocks the Energon Universe in major ways with big moments we’ve been dying to unleash. Tom and Jordie are killing it and bringing the heat with every page. You do not want to miss G.I. JOE #1. Yo Joe!”
Artist Tom Reilly added, “I’m very excited to return to the Energon Universe with my DUKE squad mates, Josh and Jordie. It’s not every day you get to help build something this big, let alone with some of the best talent the industry has to offer. To be asked to continue building with them is a challenge that I happily accept. We’re going to bring you G.I. JOE like you’ve never seen them before, so get ready for a wild ride! “
The new G.I. Joe series will be yet another installment of the Energon Universe which is the bread and butter for Hasbro and Skybound. Other titles in the universe include Void Rivals which hails from Walking Dead creator and writer Robert Kirkman along with artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country). Of course, there is also the new TRANSFORMERS which has hit via writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). The G.I. Joe limited series that I mentioned above also resonates within the shared universe.
It’s important to note that Larry Hama’s run also with Image and Skybound is a separate entity and is a continuation of the run that started with Marvel all the way back in 1982. That series will continue as well so jock up and tack up because it’s time to go to war. The new series will launch this fall on Wednesday, November 13th! Yooooooo JOE!!!!!
Source: Skybound Entertainment
