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G.I. Joe Vol. 1: The Cobra Strikes!
An ALL-NEW beginning for G.I. Joe and Cobra kicks off in the biggest comic book launch of the decade from Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, and Jordie Bellaire.
THE BIGGEST COMIC BOOK LAUNCH OF THE DECADE!
In the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons’ arrival on Earth, the mysterious organization known as Cobra begins their rise to power.
Conrad Hauser, Codename: Duke, leads a special forces team known as G.I. Joe to combat them. But what will the newly formed group do when the enigmatic Cobra Commander unleashes the terrifying power of Energon on humanity?
Find out in the comic that will change everything you think you know about G.I. Joe from the chart topping Energon Universe team of Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), Tom Reilly (Duke), and Jordie Bellaire (Duke).
Collects G.I. Joe issues #1-6.
THE BIGGEST COMIC BOOK LAUNCH OF THE DECADE!
In the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons’ arrival on Earth, the mysterious organization known as Cobra begins their rise to power.
Conrad Hauser, Codename: Duke, leads a special forces team known as G.I. Joe to combat them. But what will the newly formed group do when the enigmatic Cobra Commander unleashes the terrifying power of Energon on humanity?
Find out in the comic that will change everything you think you know about G.I. Joe from the chart topping Energon Universe team of Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), Tom Reilly (Duke), and Jordie Bellaire (Duke).
Collects G.I. Joe issues #1-6.
136 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2025
13 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 22, 2025
A phenomenal start to the series. I was wondering if they would be able to keep up the excitement and enthusiasm of the miniseries and they did not disappoint. I’m eagerly looking forward to the future of all series in the Energon Universe.
November 8, 2025
EN I’ve said it before in other reviews about this franchise, and I stand by it: it’s not easy to craft a good story within this universe.
That said, the one we get here is quite solid and engaging. I doubt we’ll see anything much better than this. Joshua Williamson manages to bring out the best of the franchise without falling into the trap of creating a hollow narrative.
Still, despite being a fun read, everything ends up feeling somewhat predictable and straightforward.
--
PT Já o disse noutras opiniões sobre esta franquia, e mantenho: não é nada fácil criar uma boa história dentro deste universo.
Dito isto, a que nos é apresentada aqui é bastante sólida e envolvente. Duvido que vejamos algo muito melhor do que isto. Joshua Williamson consegue captar o melhor da franquia sem cair no erro de construir uma narrativa vazia.
Ainda assim, apesar de ser uma leitura divertida, tudo acaba por ser relativamente previsível e linear.
That said, the one we get here is quite solid and engaging. I doubt we’ll see anything much better than this. Joshua Williamson manages to bring out the best of the franchise without falling into the trap of creating a hollow narrative.
Still, despite being a fun read, everything ends up feeling somewhat predictable and straightforward.
--
PT Já o disse noutras opiniões sobre esta franquia, e mantenho: não é nada fácil criar uma boa história dentro deste universo.
Dito isto, a que nos é apresentada aqui é bastante sólida e envolvente. Duvido que vejamos algo muito melhor do que isto. Joshua Williamson consegue captar o melhor da franquia sem cair no erro de construir uma narrativa vazia.
Ainda assim, apesar de ser uma leitura divertida, tudo acaba por ser relativamente previsível e linear.
August 17, 2025
So, G.I. Joe is not a series I grew up with. I never had the toys and the characters didn't really resonate with me. My allegiance was more with the Transformers, a series I enjoyed quite a bit, even if I wasn't as big a fan as some. Flashforward years and years later, and now we have the new Energon Universe that'll combine G.I. Joe, Transformers, and even newer series like Void Rivals.
I've personally enjoyed the new Energon Universe so far, with Void Rivals being a great, welcoming entry point and the new Transformers series being nothing short of amazing. While G.I. Joe Vol. 1: The Cobra Strikes! may lack the immediate high stakes of the Transformers or the fresh feeling of Void Rivals, it's still a solid read.
The volume acts as a soft reboot and a new starting point for the G.I. Joe team. The plot centers on Conrad Hauser, a.k.a. Duke, who is driven by a personal mission to avenge the death of his friend at the hands of a transforming robot. This quest leads him into the path of Destro, M.A.R.S. Industries, and a number of familiar faces from the G.I. Joe universe, including Clutch, Stalker, Rock 'n Roll, and the Baroness. The story does a good job of introducing these characters and establishing their roles in the nascent G.I. Joe team.
As the story unfolds, we see the true antagonist, Cobra, rise to power. The organization is a serious threat, and its leader, Cobra Commander, is a menacing presence who "really does fuck shit up." The central conflict involves Cobra's plan to harness the power of Energon to fuel their ultimate weapon, the M.A.S.S. Device. This focus on a shared power source helps tie the series directly into the larger Energon Universe.
Overall, through the volume, you learn what each character brings to the table. It’s a solid setup issue with a satisfying enough payoff and even a death or two. I enjoyed it but didn't absolutely love it, which is why I'd give it a 3 out of 5. It's an entertaining start, and I'm definitely curious to see where Volume 2 takes the team.
I've personally enjoyed the new Energon Universe so far, with Void Rivals being a great, welcoming entry point and the new Transformers series being nothing short of amazing. While G.I. Joe Vol. 1: The Cobra Strikes! may lack the immediate high stakes of the Transformers or the fresh feeling of Void Rivals, it's still a solid read.
The volume acts as a soft reboot and a new starting point for the G.I. Joe team. The plot centers on Conrad Hauser, a.k.a. Duke, who is driven by a personal mission to avenge the death of his friend at the hands of a transforming robot. This quest leads him into the path of Destro, M.A.R.S. Industries, and a number of familiar faces from the G.I. Joe universe, including Clutch, Stalker, Rock 'n Roll, and the Baroness. The story does a good job of introducing these characters and establishing their roles in the nascent G.I. Joe team.
As the story unfolds, we see the true antagonist, Cobra, rise to power. The organization is a serious threat, and its leader, Cobra Commander, is a menacing presence who "really does fuck shit up." The central conflict involves Cobra's plan to harness the power of Energon to fuel their ultimate weapon, the M.A.S.S. Device. This focus on a shared power source helps tie the series directly into the larger Energon Universe.
Overall, through the volume, you learn what each character brings to the table. It’s a solid setup issue with a satisfying enough payoff and even a death or two. I enjoyed it but didn't absolutely love it, which is why I'd give it a 3 out of 5. It's an entertaining start, and I'm definitely curious to see where Volume 2 takes the team.
August 7, 2025
"My name is Cobra Commander."
June 13, 2025
For two full years, Skybound Entertainment’s Energon Universe has been one of the most exciting things currently happening in comics, starting with Robert Kirkman writing Void Rivals which serves as a cosmic introduction to this shared universe. And taking place on Earth, there have been a number of titles that have put their own spin on Hasbro’s toy-lines, Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers to the four miniseries that serve as a prequel to Skybound’s G.I. Joe, of which its first volume has finally arrived.
At the end of the Duke miniseries, Conrad Hauser is appointed to lead a highly trained special mission force capable of handling a variety of new emerging threats, including a war between transforming alien robots that is occurring on Earth. However, a new threat rises as the mysterious organisation known as Cobra, led by the enigmatic Cobra Commander, plans to unleash the terrifying power of Energon on humanity.
Whilst Larry Hama continues with his run following its time at Marvel and IDW – with now over three hundred issues under its belt – this new version written by Joshua Williamson who previously wrote the Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries updates the G.I. Joe mythos for a new readership. Although you can read this with no preexisting knowledge of what came before – the opening pages do plenty of introductions from – it builds upon the events from the prequel titles, with a great deal of characters popping up throughout these six issues. It may sound like homework going through those books, which for the most part are a fun read, but you will have a greater appreciation when you jump into this.
There are internal conflicts going on in both G.I. Joe and Cobra, from the former still working out what it means to be in a team with each member possessing their own skills and personalities, whilst there is some power play going on with the latter group. That said, Williamson doesn’t flesh out every character through these issues, but when he does focus on the likes of Duke, Baroness and Cobra Commander, the characterisation is spot-on. One thing I do appreciate is that Williamson is not going for the most popular characters (like Snake Eyes) but leaves enough of an impression with the roster he’s chosen, even if some of them could meet a sticky end, like how Daniel Warren Johnson treats his Transformers cast.
Considering its role as an action series, G.I. Joe can feel like a balancing act between the drama and spectacle. As much as I would like these characters just hanging out, the mission comes first, and it’s pretty spectacular. From the same artistic team behind Duke, artist Tom Reilly and colourist Jordie Bellaire embrace the toyetic nature of this franchise, from the amount of characters that appear, as well as the high-tech vehicles and weaponry, including jetpacks and laser guns. The action by Reilly and Bellaire is so well-crafted through dynamic panelling and striking colouring, but much like Transformers, it does not shy away from showing some brutal violence.
There may be a few references to the wider Energon Universe, including a cliff-hanging final page, this is purely a G.I. Joe versus Cobra story that embraces the origins of its toy-based franchise, as well as moving forward with what it can do within this comics universe that is delivering more than just nostalgia.
At the end of the Duke miniseries, Conrad Hauser is appointed to lead a highly trained special mission force capable of handling a variety of new emerging threats, including a war between transforming alien robots that is occurring on Earth. However, a new threat rises as the mysterious organisation known as Cobra, led by the enigmatic Cobra Commander, plans to unleash the terrifying power of Energon on humanity.
Whilst Larry Hama continues with his run following its time at Marvel and IDW – with now over three hundred issues under its belt – this new version written by Joshua Williamson who previously wrote the Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries updates the G.I. Joe mythos for a new readership. Although you can read this with no preexisting knowledge of what came before – the opening pages do plenty of introductions from – it builds upon the events from the prequel titles, with a great deal of characters popping up throughout these six issues. It may sound like homework going through those books, which for the most part are a fun read, but you will have a greater appreciation when you jump into this.
There are internal conflicts going on in both G.I. Joe and Cobra, from the former still working out what it means to be in a team with each member possessing their own skills and personalities, whilst there is some power play going on with the latter group. That said, Williamson doesn’t flesh out every character through these issues, but when he does focus on the likes of Duke, Baroness and Cobra Commander, the characterisation is spot-on. One thing I do appreciate is that Williamson is not going for the most popular characters (like Snake Eyes) but leaves enough of an impression with the roster he’s chosen, even if some of them could meet a sticky end, like how Daniel Warren Johnson treats his Transformers cast.
Considering its role as an action series, G.I. Joe can feel like a balancing act between the drama and spectacle. As much as I would like these characters just hanging out, the mission comes first, and it’s pretty spectacular. From the same artistic team behind Duke, artist Tom Reilly and colourist Jordie Bellaire embrace the toyetic nature of this franchise, from the amount of characters that appear, as well as the high-tech vehicles and weaponry, including jetpacks and laser guns. The action by Reilly and Bellaire is so well-crafted through dynamic panelling and striking colouring, but much like Transformers, it does not shy away from showing some brutal violence.
There may be a few references to the wider Energon Universe, including a cliff-hanging final page, this is purely a G.I. Joe versus Cobra story that embraces the origins of its toy-based franchise, as well as moving forward with what it can do within this comics universe that is delivering more than just nostalgia.
June 16, 2025
After being teased and set-up across all of the other Energon Universe books thus far, GI Joe finally gets off the ground with Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly on board once again.
I'm not massively familiar with the GI Joe world in general, I've said that before, but I'm really impressed with how much I give a crap about most of the characters here after such a short time, to the point that a first issue death actually took me aback.
I will say that there are a few of the Joes that I don't feel that connected to, like Cover Girl, but the villains, Destro and Cobra Commander, are incredibly compelling and fun to watch, and the final page reveal as to how this is all going to link in with Transformers sets the stage well for the second arc.
Tom Reilly's art works for a book like this, that straddles so many lines. It's a war book, it's a sci-fi book, it's got explosions and punch-ups and heartfelt talks and giant robots, and Reilly handles them all with a style that's timeless, evoking the Silver Age will being distinctly modern. I think I said something similar on his Duke book with Williamson before, and it still holds true.
Call me a convert. Yo, Joe!
I'm not massively familiar with the GI Joe world in general, I've said that before, but I'm really impressed with how much I give a crap about most of the characters here after such a short time, to the point that a first issue death actually took me aback.
I will say that there are a few of the Joes that I don't feel that connected to, like Cover Girl, but the villains, Destro and Cobra Commander, are incredibly compelling and fun to watch, and the final page reveal as to how this is all going to link in with Transformers sets the stage well for the second arc.
Tom Reilly's art works for a book like this, that straddles so many lines. It's a war book, it's a sci-fi book, it's got explosions and punch-ups and heartfelt talks and giant robots, and Reilly handles them all with a style that's timeless, evoking the Silver Age will being distinctly modern. I think I said something similar on his Duke book with Williamson before, and it still holds true.
Call me a convert. Yo, Joe!
October 10, 2025
In case the exclamation point in the title wasn't evidence enough, let me be the first to tell you that The Cobra Strikes! is an exceptionally comic book-y comic book. Praise! It's fast, extremely fun, exuberantly silly. There are loads of characters doing crazy comic book things like stealing helicopters mid-air, heisting mind control devices, fighting against way too many foot soldiers.
I guess the plot is "the newly formed GI Joe team takes on Cobra Commander and Destro for the first time." CC is using Energon from the crashed Cybertron in the ocean in laser weapons, and he's also trying to like, mind control everyone in DC for some reason. It's probably not supposed to make sense! The battle scenes are fun, the characters are just interesting enough to care about, and the whole thing feels like a 30 minute cartoon episode, complete with a "we'll meet again!" ending.
I guess the plot is "the newly formed GI Joe team takes on Cobra Commander and Destro for the first time." CC is using Energon from the crashed Cybertron in the ocean in laser weapons, and he's also trying to like, mind control everyone in DC for some reason. It's probably not supposed to make sense! The battle scenes are fun, the characters are just interesting enough to care about, and the whole thing feels like a 30 minute cartoon episode, complete with a "we'll meet again!" ending.
August 27, 2025
Fast, fun read! I enjoyed the mini series leading into this and have been enjoying the energon universe. Looking forward to the next volume.
April 27, 2025
Perfectly average, which feels fitting for a franchise that's always existed as a direct example of what happens when you take 80s cheesy action and make it serious. It's fun to read, looks beautiful, but the stakes, no matter how hard the comic tries to say otherwise, remain very low.
June 18, 2025
GI Joe, a toy that became a cartoon and a comic and is now a newer comic aimed at the same audience from back in the ‘80s except they’re old men now getting nostalgic for garbage that was never good - yo poo!
It has to be only old men who are into GI Joe, right? Not that I would know but are kids really into this? Maybe if it was AI Joe or the “Trans”-formers were something JK Rowling would get steamed up over. But laughably macho soldiers fighting a serpent-themed army led by a pair of gay robots?
So the totally creative storyline for this book: Transformers have left behind some energon that Cobra’s turning into a doomsday weapon and GI Joe gotta stop ‘em - it’s GI Joe vs Cobra. Woohoo…
If you had asked me what a generic GI Joe comic would look like, I’d say GI Joe fighting Cobra over something dumb - and that’s exactly what GI Joe, Volume 1: The Cobra Sucks! is. Because Joshua Williamson only delivers the most generic, unimaginative pap that you’ll forget as you read it and he’s done it again here.
Nothing special about the writing or art, this is the least impressive beginning to a series there’s been in some time - the Energon Universe is losing steam fast. Boooorrrriiiinnnngggg!!
It has to be only old men who are into GI Joe, right? Not that I would know but are kids really into this? Maybe if it was AI Joe or the “Trans”-formers were something JK Rowling would get steamed up over. But laughably macho soldiers fighting a serpent-themed army led by a pair of gay robots?
So the totally creative storyline for this book: Transformers have left behind some energon that Cobra’s turning into a doomsday weapon and GI Joe gotta stop ‘em - it’s GI Joe vs Cobra. Woohoo…
If you had asked me what a generic GI Joe comic would look like, I’d say GI Joe fighting Cobra over something dumb - and that’s exactly what GI Joe, Volume 1: The Cobra Sucks! is. Because Joshua Williamson only delivers the most generic, unimaginative pap that you’ll forget as you read it and he’s done it again here.
Nothing special about the writing or art, this is the least impressive beginning to a series there’s been in some time - the Energon Universe is losing steam fast. Boooorrrriiiinnnngggg!!
April 27, 2025
Cobra is prepared this go around at Image. They've got a ton of manpower and tech. G.I. Joe consists of 6 or 7 people. Plus, we've got Energon in the mix now as well. The one thing I was really surprised by was how let down by the art I was. Jordie Bellaire is a top-notch color artist but it looks atrocious. It's so monotone and one note. It would have been better off in black and white than how drab this is and how it takes away from the look of the book. Tom Reilly's lack of backgrounds really sticks out like a sore thumb too. Most of the time it looks like each panel is just floating in space. The art needs to turn around quickly or I'll be dropping the book no matter how much I'm interested in the Energon universe.
June 21, 2025
Yo, Joe!
So a really good and a couple mediocre mini's have lead up to this. The debut of the new "Energon Universe" or "Image" G.I. Joe and was it worth it? Heck, yeah.
This was a fun read. the Joes finally meet Cobra and sparks fly. My only complaint with collection is with the colorist. The writing is fun. The art is spectacular. The coloring is...trash. It blurs out the artwork like it is trying to make it 3D, but, also, not.
However, despite despising the colorist, the artwork was still pretty solid.
So a really good and a couple mediocre mini's have lead up to this. The debut of the new "Energon Universe" or "Image" G.I. Joe and was it worth it? Heck, yeah.
This was a fun read. the Joes finally meet Cobra and sparks fly. My only complaint with collection is with the colorist. The writing is fun. The art is spectacular. The coloring is...trash. It blurs out the artwork like it is trying to make it 3D, but, also, not.
However, despite despising the colorist, the artwork was still pretty solid.
August 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book ot is a fast-paced story. It almost becomes a quick read. Warning not everyone survives their first encounter as a team.
Duke knows the threat out there or does he? Though he is training his team to fight giant robots. This outing shows just how unprepared they are against a technologically more advanced foe. The Joes are continuously on the back foot. If they survive the only way is forward.
The book does not pull any punches. People are injured and killed. This is the battle beginning.
Duke knows the threat out there or does he? Though he is training his team to fight giant robots. This outing shows just how unprepared they are against a technologically more advanced foe. The Joes are continuously on the back foot. If they survive the only way is forward.
The book does not pull any punches. People are injured and killed. This is the battle beginning.
September 25, 2025
This is another franchise that was a big part of my childhood. I had tons of the toys and vehicles. I watched the cartoon all the time. I was so excited to see how this would turn out being part of the Energon universe. It is a great start. The action is full throttle and the characters are diverse and each brings something to the table. Cobra Commander is a total bad ass here that cliffhanger was a dream come true. I used to always play G.I. Joe and Transformer battles as a kid and now that youthful fantasy is being lived out again.
July 4, 2025
Starting where the previous individual miniseries ended, the G.I Joe series further develops the Energon Universe. Cobra show themselves and they are deadly, and we get a competent, intelligent, and ruthless version of Cobra Commander for once. Nothing is sacred and characters are going to die. This is probably my most favorite shared universe at the moment, let's hope they will keep the momentum.
November 3, 2025
The first volume of the main G.I Joe series (which was setup by several mini-series) showcases just how unprepared the team is for fighting Cobra. In this book, Cobra Commander utilizes his knowledge of Energon to create...wait for it...the blue lasers. Despite being a call back to the 80s cartoon, this volume makes a point to showcase just how deadly these weapons are. The volume ends with a cliffhanger which makes the reader long for the next volume to come out immediately.
July 1, 2025
Solid “start” for the series, though it felt a bit week with a couple points or moments. Motivations or full circle moments seemed to be a bit lacking, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this. Art was great, the way things are being built up in here were really awesome, and I overall really did enjoy the story a lot.
July 28, 2025
This had its ups and downs, but overall it was a fast paced action title that kept me interested. The tie in to the Energon universe is cool when it's used to explain some cool stuff, like why the GI Joe cartoon had lasers :-) It's hard to reimagine a title with this much history, but it was done very nicely.
August 24, 2025
My only experience with G. I Joe was the cartoons I watched as a kid back in the 1980s. I know there was a nightly regarded comic series written by Larry Hama, but I never gave that a try. But when this new series was launched and received plenty of positive praise, I thought I would give it a try.
They do a pretty great job of reimagining G. I. Joe. I recognize characters from the 80’s cartoon days, but they certainly behave a whole lot differently. It is also clear that G. I. Joe is intended to be wrapped up together with whatever new vision they have for the Transformers franchise. They are putting both 80’s properties into their same comic book universe. That could make for some pretty fun and crazy comics.
Writing is solid. Great characterizations and swiftly moving plot always keep you entertained. THe artwork looks fantastic, bringing plenty of excitement to the action sequences.
They do a pretty great job of reimagining G. I. Joe. I recognize characters from the 80’s cartoon days, but they certainly behave a whole lot differently. It is also clear that G. I. Joe is intended to be wrapped up together with whatever new vision they have for the Transformers franchise. They are putting both 80’s properties into their same comic book universe. That could make for some pretty fun and crazy comics.
Writing is solid. Great characterizations and swiftly moving plot always keep you entertained. THe artwork looks fantastic, bringing plenty of excitement to the action sequences.
October 21, 2025
I was expecting a bit more of a grown up version of our beloved Joes, like we got with transformers, but alas it is pretty tame. It focuses more on the battles and less on the formation of g.i. Joe. While we see how Duke forms the team, it is just bland. The story is pretty cookie cutter as well and just did not impact me that much. I was hoping for more.
November 9, 2025
GI Joe comes out strong in there first volume with an action-packed adventure in which the Joes and Cobra win some, lose some, and generally remind me of my childhood. Sure, the comic is a little darker than its cartoon predecessor, but it’s still fun. And sometimes a little bit of nostalgia is good for you.
June 22, 2025
After a bunch of paperbacks about the back stories of some of the main characters, this is the first full on Joe comic in the Energon Universe and man does it rock like a big ass summer blockbuster.
I never had Joe toys and did'nt care for it, but damn this is fun!
I never had Joe toys and did'nt care for it, but damn this is fun!
April 30, 2025
The Energon Universe continues to deliver great comics.
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June 4, 2025
a fun reintroduction
i vaguely knew of this franchise from a previous cartoon so i found this to be a fun reintroduction.
it works as a fun action movie in comic form.
i vaguely knew of this franchise from a previous cartoon so i found this to be a fun reintroduction.
it works as a fun action movie in comic form.
July 6, 2025
The Energon Universe continues unabated. I’ve gotta say, I am not the biggest fan of the Joe side of this universe. The art is extremely iffy. The writing is choppy sometimes.
July 29, 2025
Ably builds on the foundations laid in the other series, hopefully it pays off in the next volume and doesn't get stretched out interminably.
August 24, 2025
It's not bad. Probably would have liked it more if I had been a Joe kid rather than a Transformers kid.
August 27, 2025
3,5 - 08.2025
September 12, 2025
solid start, nothing crazy, but should get a bit more wild going forward
September 26, 2025
I'm really not a big gi Joe fan, not a hater just haven't engaged with it before now, but this book was awesome. I am very interested in the story going forward and the characters were all cool.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews