G.I. JOE #1 is going to be finally out this Wednesday! This series has been over a year in the making. As soon as the Energon Universe was unveiled in Void Rivals #1 the question was when we would get new G.I. JOE and Transformers comic books set in this universe. That was answered very quickly as Transformers released a new ongoing series not long after. For the G.I. JOE series it took longer as first we got four series led by Duke, Cobra Commander, Scarlett, and Destro to build up the franchise’s corner of the Energon Universe. Now after all the build up G.I. JOE #1 is here. Find out how it turned out with our advance review of this issue.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Rus Wooton
G.I. JOE #1 SOLICITATION
“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 chart topping Energon Universe dream team of JOSHUA WILLIAMSON and TOM REILLY” – Skybound and Image Comics
REVIEW
At this point you would think as a fan of the Energon Universe I would know to expect the unexpected. Even coming in knowing that Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, and Jordie Bellaire find cool new ways to deliver surprises with G.I. JOE #1. They are surprises that create so many different emotions from smiles to jaw dropping.
In reading G.I. JOE #1 we have yet another example of how the synergy of the Energon Universe has strengthened all three franchises involved. The quality of Void Rivals and Transformers helped create a foundation for G.I. JOE to hit the ground running as soon as this series launched. By the time you finish reading this series there is a vibe that now all three series will be competing to be the best. The great thing about having this vibe is that is a friendly competition as G.I. JOE, Transformers, and Void Rivals are complementing one another with them one upping each other in the process.
As much as Transformers and Void Rivals set the foundation for this series the pillars for this series are the Duke, Cobra Commander, Scarlett, and Destro mini-series. G.I. JOE #1 provides immediate payoff to what its four predecessors in the franchise built for them. It is all done through how Williamson and Reilly has the cast interact from both the G.I. JOE and Cobra side of things.
There is a weight to the dialogue that gives the reader a sense of history for these characters. At the same time, Williamson is very careful to make sure the dialogue is written in a way that doesn’t leave out new readers. This is accomplished through the natural chemistry created by the various characters. The cast chemistry is contained to how the events of this issue challenge all the characters in different ways.
The characters that certainly stood out most in G.I. JOE #1 are Duke and Baroness. Duke is obviously the star in this debut issue as the leader of the team. Meanwhile Baroness provides a unique wild card within the G.I. JOE team. In the process Duke and Baroness have different outlooks and that impacts the way the team operates throughout this first issue.
All of this highlights how the two sides of this series conflicts are beginning in two very different spots. G.I. JOE are just starting out as a team while Cobra has been an organization that’s existed for a long-time. That is shown throughout G.I. JOE #1. It leads to many surprises that when you think about it after reading this issue aren’t because of where both organizations are right now.
FINAL THOUGHTS
G.I. JOE #1 grabs your attention as soon as you open the comic book and does not let it go until you reach the shocking final page. It is an experience that expertly builds off its Energon Universe siblings. The experience is such that it will grab both new and long-time fans all the same. A must-read for sure.
Story Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
Check out a preview of G.I. JOE #1 ahead of its release on Wednesday by clicking here.
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