Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artwork: Tom Reilly
Colours: Jordie Bellaire
Lettering: Rus Wooton
Release Date: 13th November 2024

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Around a year and half after the launch of Skybound Entertainment’s ‘Energon Universe’ in the pages of Void Rivals # 1, the publisher has hit its first major storyline milestone in the form of G.I. Joe # 1, a super-sized debut issue that brings all the tangled threads from their Duke, Scarlet, Destro and Cobra Commander solo series into one new ongoing title. And as you might expect, series writer Joshua Williamson hits the ground running with an action and drama-packed opening chapter.

The story itself here is fairly straightforward, with the newly-assembled Joes getting their first real mission as they attempt to protect a valuable shard of Cybertronian technology from what seems like an inevitable attempt by Cobra to steal it. Cue lots of action, gunplay, villainous dialogue and ‘heavy is the crown’ hand-wringing from reluctant leader Duke. While I found myself enjoying the majority of this issue, I also found myself thinking that the creators were perhaps holding back just a little. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of thoroughly entertaining action and drama here, but nothing truly unexpected for the most part.

I was also impressed with just how accessible this new series was for new readers. Sure, if you’ve read the various solo series’ (and you absolutely should because they’re pretty much uniformly awesome) then you’ll get a little extra flavour, but it’s far from essential if you want to pick this one up and dive right in. The story itself is fairly straightforward and definitely familiar territory if you’re a G.I. Joe fan, with our rag-tag band of good guys with colourful codenames facing a technically superior adversary, and it all sprints along in somewhat predictable fashion… until the final page, that is.  No spoilers, but damn.

On the visual side of things, Reilly – who provided the artwork for the Duke solo series – feels like the perfect fit for this military-heavy storytelling, backing the pages with blockbuster-worthy dynamism and suitably expressive and characters.  The designs are all familiar enough to be recognised but given slightly additional wrinkles, and the whole thing whips along at a brisk visual pace, with Reilly ably assisted by colourist Jordie Bellaire and letterer Rus Wooton.

The “new character” that was hinted at in the solicitation info is introduced with a real flair during a striking four-page sequence bathed in yellows and purples courtesy of some typically strong colour work from Bellaire. His origins and motivations remain unknown for the time being, but he definitely looks like an intriguing addition who has the potential to stand out in this already jam-packed universe.

As I hinted at above, the final pages throw a jaw-dropping wrinkle into the proceedings, hinting that Williamson and Reilly aren’t afraid to get a little wild if the situation warrants it.  I like that approach, and it adds some additional excitement for the series as it continues to unfold.

Whether you’re a long-time G.I. Joe diehard or a curious newcomer, this action-packed series comes highly recommended. And if you’ve been following the Energon Universe to this point, then it should be considered downright essential reading. Go Joe!

Rating: 4.5/5.

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[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]

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The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson-Adams (aka Ceej)
Article Archive: Ceej Says
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