The G.I. JOE side of the Energon Universe has taken a different direction for its start from the Transformers. Rather than an ongoing series right out of the gate we’ve had several mini-series to build out the G.I. JOE corner of the Energon Universe. But now after a year of world-building, we have a firm date of November 13 for the release of the new G.I. JOE ongoing series. Now ahead of its release Skybound and Image Comics have provided us with a first look at Joshua Williamson, artist Tom Reilly, and colorist Jordie Bellaire ‘s G.I. JOE #1 to share.
The creative team for the new G.I. JOE series will be Joshua Williamson, artist Tom Reilly, and colorist Jordie Bellaire. This will not be Williamson, Reilly, and Bellaire’s first G.I. JOE-related series. The creative trio previously worked on the Duke mini-series that wrapped up earlier this year.
Given how Duke ended, it is unsurprising that Williamson, Reilly, and Bellaire are the creative team for the ongoing new G.I. JOE. They laid the foundation for a lot of what this new ongoing series will be. And as the teaser for the first issue shows they will not just be building off their work on Duke. They will also be factoring in the developments from the Cobra Commander, Scarlett, and Destro mini-series their Energon Universe collaborators have done.
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!
In addition to the teaser series editor Ben Abernathy had the following to say about the new ongoing Energon Universe series.
“Our epic new G.I. JOE monthly series is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of passionate, talented people….If you loved Duke, just know that was a warm-up to the amazing ideas and visuals Joshua, Tom and Jordie are bringing to this series!”
G.I. JOE #1 will arrive in stores with its main wraparound cover being handled by Tom Reilly. Additionally variant covers from an all-star line-up of artists that include Jerome Opeña & Dave Stewart; Brett Booth, Livesay & Andrew Dalhouse, David Finch, Danny Miki & Dave McCaig, Lee Bermejo, Sozomaika, Jenny Frison, David Nakayama, Jeff Spokes, E.J. Su, Jonboy Meyers, and Andrea Milana. You can check out the covers and five-page preview below.
G.I. JOE #1 is scheduled to be released in comic book shops and digital storefronts on November 13, 2024. Learn more about the comic book in Skybound and Image Comics press release below.
The Biggest First Look of The Year: Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly & Jordie Bellaire’s G.I. JOE #1
LOS ANGELES 08/13/2024 — Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, revealed interior pages and the stacked lineup of variant covers for G.I. JOE #1 from the chart-topping, critically acclaimed creative team of writer Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), artist Tom Reilly (Duke) and colorist Jordie Bellaire (Duke, W0rldtr33). The history-making comic book launch, which promises to introduce a bold new vision of G.I. JOE and Cobra to the Energon Universe, hits comic book shelves 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!
“Our epic new G.I. JOE monthly series is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of passionate, talented people,” noted series editor Ben Abernathy. “If you loved Duke, just know that was a warm-up to the amazing ideas and visuals Joshua, Tom, and Jordie are bringing to this series!”
This extra-length debut issue will feature a wraparound main cover by Reilly, along with variant covers by superstar artists Jerome Opeña & Dave Stewart; Brett Booth, Livesay & Andrew Dalhouse; David Finch, Danny Miki & Dave McCaig; Lee Bermejo; Sozomaika; Jenny Frison; David Nakayama; Jeff Spokes, E.J. Su; Jonboy Meyers; and Andrea Milana.
Skybound is currently running a “Choose Your Side” initiative that offers readers the opportunity to see themselves on the pages of G.I. JOE by publicly declaring their loyalty to either G.I. Joe or Cobra, to be featured alongside other Insiders in the series’ house ads. Readers can pledge their affiliation by submitting a photo of themselves, along with their stated allegiance to the “Choose Your Side” page on the Skybound Insiders website by visiting www.GIJoeChooseYourSide.com. The photo submission portal on Skybound Insiders is open now and will close on September 8, 2024. To be eligible, users must have a verified Skybound Insiders account, and be 18+ and a legal resident of the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada (excluding Quebec).
The all-new series will become another tentpole of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Energon Universe titles include the ongoing series Void Rivals by writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country) and the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). The Energon Universe also includes G.I. JOE miniseries Duke, from Joshua Williamson , Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire; Cobra Commander from Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook) and Annalisa Leoni (Oblivion Song); Scarlett, from writer Kelly Thompson (Black Widow, Birds of Prey), artist Marco Ferrari (Frontiersman), and colorist Lee Loughridge (I Hate This Place, Killadelphia); and Destro, from writer Dan Watters (Loki, Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!), artist Andrei Bressan (Dark Ride, Birthright), and colorist Adriano Lucas (Dark Ride, Birthright), which introduce the iconic characters of the G.I. JOE and Cobra factions to the Energon Universe. Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.
G.I. JOE #1 ($4.99, unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
The full list of variant covers is below:
- I. JOE #1 Cover A (Wraparound) by Tom Reilly
- I. JOE #1 Cover B by Jerome Opeña & Dave Stewart
- I. JOE #1 Cover C by Brett Booth, Livesay & Andrew Dalhouse
- I. JOE #1 Cover D by David Finch, Danny Miki & Dave McCaig
- I. JOE #1 Cover E by Lee Bermejo
- I. JOE #1 Cover F by Sozomaika
- I. JOE #1 Cover G by Jenny Frison
- I. JOE #1 Cover H (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by David Nakayama
- I. JOE #1 Cover I (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Jeff Spokes
- I. JOE #1 Cover J (1:50 Copy Incentive) by E.J. Su
- I. JOE #1 Cover K (1:100 Copy Incentive) (Foil, Cardstock) by Jonboy Meyers
- I. JOE #1 Cover L (1:250 Copy Incentive) (Cardstock) by Tom Reilly
- I. JOE #1 Cover M (1:500 Copy Incentive) (Cardstock) by David Finch
- I. JOE #1 Cover N Blank Sketch Cover (G.I. JOE)
- I. JOE #1 Cover O Blank Sketch Cover (COBRA)
- I. JOE #1 Cover P (Wraparound) (Foil, Cardstock) by Tom Reilly ($5.99)
- I. JOE #1 Cover Q (Foil, Cardstock) by Jenny Frison ($5.99)
- I. JOE #1 Cover R (Die Cut Cobra Commander Mask Cover) (Foil, Cardstock) by Andrea Milana ($5.99)
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