G I Joe #4 Review

 

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.