Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Cover Artists: Tom Reilly; David Finch & Adriano Lucas; Derrick
Chew; David Nakayama; Travis Moore & Adriano Lucas; E J Su; Tyler Kirkham
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Publication Design: Andres Juarez
Production: Ashby Florence
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 19, 2025
Cobra Commander holds the world’s supply of Energon. His
scientists have the alien technology of the shard of Cybertron. Now, Cobra
Commander set his sights on Dr Monev and his brainwave scanner.
Rock 'N Roll's shadow hangs heavy over Duke's team. Clutch
hides out in Springfield. Risk wants to take command. Can Duke and his unhappy
and distracted team prevent Cobra from capturing Dr Monev and his
mind-controlling invention? Let's grab our rifles, leap into G I Joe #4, and
find out!
Story
When Cover Girl catches Clutch’s transmission, Duke must
make a snap decision. Cobra is making a move for Dr Monev and his experimental
brainwave scanner. The inventor is in Washington, DC. His invention is in
Virginia. They’re not worlds apart. Still, Duke opts to split up the team. As
Duke, Risk, and Baroness try to rescue Dr Monev, Stalker and Cover Girl seek to
secure the mind-alteration machine. Both groups come under fire from Cobra
forces. And no one on either team is happy with Duke’s leadership.
After losing people and the Cybertronian shard, the Joes are
hungry for a win in G I Joe #4. Aside from their differences and waning
confidence in Duke, the team faces another obstacle. The Joes are a secret
team. Few in the military know they exist, forcing them to fight their fellow
soldiers when they need to work together to protect the USA from Cobra.
While Duke's team threatens to burst and bleed out like one
of Stalker's stitches, Destro's forces align under Cobra Commander. Destro
insists he is a co-leader of Cobra. But the Commander calls the shots in Joshua
Williamson’s story. As Cobra Commander folds Extensive Enterprises and the
remnants of the Dreadnoks under his umbrella, he treats MARS personnel and
facilities like his own. Perhaps Destro can still count on Chameleon and Hybrid
Technologies. Still, he must scramble to keep up with Cobra Commander's moves
and discover his partner's weaknesses.
Art
Tom Reilly shows Dr Monev’s fright as he clutches Duke's
collar on the speeding motorcycle with his wrists bound by handcuffs. Baroness
shows her disgust while glancing back on her cycle to fire at their pursuers.
Duke grits his teeth as he struggles to make his plan work. An explosion hurls
his team to the ground in G I Joe #4, evoking their failure to protect the
Cybertronian shard. Duke believes they still have options. But when civilians
flee another explosion, and a father clutches his frightened child, Duke drops
his gun.
Blue, green, and pink energize the Crimson Twins' pursuit as
their armored jeep rams aside white vehicles. Xamot and Tomax’s gray skin
contrasts with their fluorescent red uniforms and the intense green and blue
air. Blue-white lasers distort the Joes’ perceptions as explosions from stinger
missiles threaten to white out Washington, DC.
Orange, purple, gray, and green enliven a sniper in
Shenandoah National Park. After a familiar silhouette emerges from the blue and
orange smoke, Jordie Bellaire grants him lifelike coloring as he carries out
vehicular carnage. Then he points a laser rifle with a curved bayonet at
Stalker and Cover Girl.
Rus Wooton fires black uppercase letters into white dialogue
balloons and narrative boxes. His letters shrink for lowered voices, grow bold
for intonation, and swell for raised voices in G I Joe #4. Sound effects enliven
knockout blows, bursting brains, grinding gears, sheering metal, and alarms
bathing Springfield in crimson. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound, and Hasbro
for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
Firefights in National Parks and the nation's capital leave
Duke's team defeated. Like Captain Kirk after V’ger swallows the USS
Enterprise, Duke insists they're down but not out. But the Cobra Commander is
gathering all the components to complete his plans. Once, he worked to make
Cobra-La a world power. Now, if the Cobra Commander's plan is successful, all
will bow at his feet.
Rating 9.2/10
For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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