G.I. Joe (Skybound Entertainment)

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G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe, issue 1, cover A, Skybound, Jun 2024.jpeg
G.I. Joe vol. 7 issue #1, cover A (extended).
Publication information
Publisher
Publication dateNovember 15, 2023 – present
Editor(s)

G.I. Joe is an ongoing line of American comic books published by Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment based on the toy line of the same name by Donald Levine and Hasbro.

Contents

It is a successor of IDW Publishing's previous relaunch of G.I. Joe comics. [1] [2]

Publication history

After IDW Publishing lost the licenses to produce Transformers and G.I. Joe comics by the end of 2022, [3] Hasbro announced in June 2023 that Skybound Entertainment, an imprint of Image Comics, would acquire those licenses. [4]

Since November 2023, Skybound began publishing four limited series of the Energon Universe franchise, as well as continuing IDW's A Real American Hero series, which originated from Marvel Comics. [1] [2]

During San Diego Comic-Con 2023, it was revealed that Skybound has plans to reprint both the Marvel and IDW comics based on G.I. Joe, with more info set to release later. [5]

List of publications

Energon Universe series

Premise

In response to the arrival of Cybertronians on Earth, G.I. Joe wants to investigate their origins while Cobra wants to harness the power of Energon. [2]

Overview

TitleIssue(s)Writer(s)Artist(s)Colorist(s)Premiere dateFinale date
First series
Duke 1–5Joshua WilliamsonTom Reilly Jordie Bellaire December 27, 2023 [2] April 24, 2024
Cobra Commander Andrea MilanaAnnalisa LeoniJanuary 17, 2024 [2] May 15, 2024
Energon Universe 2024 SpecialOne-shot Daniel Warren Johnson
Robert Kirkman
Joshua Williamson
Lorenzo De Felici
Ryan Ottley
Jason Howard
Annalisa Leoni
Matheus Lopes
Mike Spicer
May 4, 2024 (Free Comic Book Day) [6] [7]
Scarlett 1–5 Kelly Thompson Marco Ferrari Lee Loughridge June 5, 2024 [8] October 2, 2024
Destro Dan WattersAndrei Bressan (1–2, 4–5)
Andrea Milana (3)
Adriano LucasJune 19, 2024 [8] October 16, 2024
G.I. Joe (vol. 7)1–Joshua WilliamsonTom ReillyJordie BellaireNovember 13, 2024 [9] Present
Energon Universe 2025 SpecialOne-shotDaniel Warren Johnson
Robert Kirkman
Joshua Williamson
Conor Hughes
Daniel Warren Johnson
Andrea Milana
TBAMay 3, 2025 (Free Comic Book Day)

First series

Duke issue #1, cover A. Duke, issue 1, cover A, Skybound Entertainment.jpg
Duke issue #1, cover A.

Starting in December 2023, Skybound began publishing four limited series set in the Energon Universe, starting with Duke and Cobra Commander , being written by Joshua Williamsonn, with art and colors by Tom Reilly, Andrea Milana, Jordie Bellaire and Annalisa Leoni respectively. [2]

Williamson said, “Childhood dreams come true! Get hyped! Tom and I are bringing you a new take on Duke and the formation of G.I. Joe that honors all that we love about the characters but takes it into a new and exciting direction. It’s been awesome working with Skybound and Hasbro to bring this new take on the G.I. Joe franchise. For the last few years, I’ve been picking up all of the new G.I. Classified figures, so I am pumped to contribute to this new world of G.I. Joe and Transformers!” [10]

In October 2023, Skybound announced that the main roster of G.I. Joe features Duke, Hawk, Stalker and Baroness, [11] while the main roster of Cobra features Cobra Commander, Destro, Zarana and Mercer. [12]

In March 2024, Skybound announced the last two of the four initial limited series: Scarlett , written by Kelly Thompson, drawn by Marco Ferrari and colored by Lee Loughridge; and Destro, written by Dan Watters, drawn by Andrei Bressan and colored by Adriano Lucas. [13]

Thompson said, “I’m fortunate that, thanks to my job, I often get to dig into characters and worlds that I’ve loved for a long time, but G.I. Joe’s Scarlett is truly one of my first geek loves as a kid, and I am absolutely thrilled to have a hand in building her for this new, incredibly cool and rich universe at Skybound.” [14]

Watters added, “I’m incredibly excited to bring Destro to life with Andrei. This is going to be a visceral, explosive thriller in which he [Destro] isn’t very nice to anyone at all — everything you’d want from your favorite amoral arms trafficker.” [15]

As announced in the Energon Universe 2024 Special, a new ongoing G.I. Joe series in being planned for development, being a direct continuation of the Duke, Cobra Commander, Scarlett and Destro limited series. The series will feature the Duke creative team, with Williamson returning as writer, Reilly as illustrator, and Bellaire as colorist. The first issue is set to debut November 13, 2024. [16]

To promote the debut issue, Skybound announced a fan initiative titled "Choose Your Side", in which readers submit photos and publicly declare their loyalty to either the G.I. Joe or Cobra factions. [17] [18] Additionally, on the same publishing date of issue #1, there will be a screening of G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987) in AMC City Walk, in Los Angeles, which includes a panel discussion featuring Williamson. [19]

A Real American Hero series

An ongoing series written by Larry Hama, drawn by Chris Mooneyham and colored by Francesco Segala, which continues the run left in the Marvel and IDW series, starting with issue #301. [20]

TitleIssue(s)Writer(s)Artist(s)Colorist(s)Premiere date
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (vol. 4)301– Larry Hama Chris Mooneyham (#301–305, 311–)
Paul Pelletier (penciller, #306–310)
Tony Kordos (inker, #306–310)
Francesco SegalaNovember 15, 2023 [20]

Reprints

TitleIssue(s)Writer(s)Artist(s)Colorist(s)Release schedule
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 Larry Hama Cut One-shot Larry Hama Herb Trimpe
Bob McLeod
Glynis WeinNovember 15, 2023 [21]

Collected editions

Energon Universe

TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Trade paperback
Duke, Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle
  • Duke #1–5
  • Energon Universe 2024 Special (G.I. Joe story)
112June 4, 2024 ISBN   978-1534398160
Cobra Commander, Volume 1: Determined to Rule the World
  • Cobra Commander #1–5
June 11, 2024 ISBN   978-1534398153
Scarlett, Volume 1: Special Mission
  • Scarlett #1–5
120November 5, 2024 ISBN   978-1534329553
Destro, Volume 1: The Enemy
  • Destro #1–5
November 19, 2024 ISBN   978-1534357686
G.I. Joe, Volume 1: The Cobra Strikes!
  • G.I. Joe #1–6
160June 17, 2025 ISBN   978-1534328075
Deluxe
Codename: G.I. Joe: Deluxe Edition, Book 1
  • Duke #1–5
  • Cobra Commander #1–5
  • Energon Universe 2024 Special (G.I. Joe story)
256June 24, 2025 ISBN   978-1534328228

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Volume 1120September 17, 2024 1534373683 , 978-1534373686
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Volume 2
  • G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (vol. 4) #306–310
112January 28, 2025 153434554X , 978-1534345546

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium

TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium, Volume 11168October 1, 2024 ISBN   978-1534371507
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium, Volume 2
  • G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol. 1 #51–78
  • G.I. Joe Yearbook #1–4
  • G.I. Joe: Special Missions #1–15
1230December 1, 2024TBA
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium, Volume 3
  • G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol. 1 #79–115
  • G.I. Joe: Special Missions #15–28
TBATBATBA
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium, Volume 4
  • G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol. 1 #116–155
  • G.I. Joe and the Transformers #1–4
  • G.I. Joe: Order of Battle #1–4
  • G.I. Joe Special #1
TBATBATBA

See also

Related Research Articles

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Snake Eyes is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and animated series, created by Larry Hama. He is one of the original and most popular members of the G.I. Joe Team, and is most known for his relationships with Scarlett and Storm Shadow. Snake Eyes is one of the most prominent characters in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero franchise, having appeared in every series of the franchise since its inception. He is portrayed by Ray Park in the 2009 live-action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and the 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Henry Golding portrays the titular character in the 2021 reboot Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins.

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References

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