Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, revealed the connecting variant cover series from superstar cover artist David Nakayama for the highly anticipated launch of G.I. JOE. From the chart-topping, acclaimed creative team of writer Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), artist Tom Reilly (Duke) and colorist Jordie Bellaire (Duke, W0rldtr33), the history-making comic book series kicks off on Wednesday, November 13.
Spanning issues #1-4, Nakayama’s connecting covers showcase a dynamic battle scene featuring the women of G.I. Joe and Cobra.
“David is one of the hottest and most in-demand cover artists working today, and we’re thrilled he was able to do not one, but four covers for this connecting set,” said Ben Abernathy, Executive Editor at Skybound. “The exuberance that comes across in these covers is just a taste of what’s to come when readers finally get to devour the all-new G.I. JOE.”
In addition to the kickoff of Nakayama’s connecting cover series, the extra-length debut issue will feature a wraparound main cover by Reilly, along with variant covers by other superstar artists Jerome Opeña & Dave Stewart; Brett Booth, Livesay & Andrew Dalhouse; David Finch, Danny Miki & Dave McCaig; Lee Bermejo; Sozomaika; Jenny Frison; Jeff Spokes, E.J. Su; Jonboy Meyers; and Andrea Milana.
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!
Skybound and Hasbro have recently announced a bevy of promotional initiatives in support of G.I. JOE #1, including the Skybound Insiders “Choose Your Side” initiative that is offering readers the opportunity to see themselves on the pages of G.I. JOE in the series’ house ads, which will begin running in issue #1 on November 13. Also recently announced are Los Angeles events on November 13, including a Joshua Williamson signing at Things from Another World at Universal CityWalk Hollywood, paired with an exclusive Skybound Insiders screening of G.I. JOE: The Movie (1987) and Q&A. Williamson will be making additional signing stops at Collector’s Paradise in Los Angeles and Third Eye Comics in Annapolis on November 14 and 16, respectively. Fans of G.I. JOE will want to make sure they are locked in as Insiders, so as not to miss upcoming events and activations to be announced.
The all-new series will become another tentpole of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Energon Universe titles include the ongoing series Void Rivals by writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country) and the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). The Energon Universe also includes G.I. JOE miniseries Duke, from Joshua Williamson , Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire; Cobra Commander from Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook) and Annalisa Leoni (Oblivion Song); Scarlett, from writer Kelly Thompson (Black Widow, Birds of Prey), artist Marco Ferrari (Frontiersman), and colorist Lee Loughridge (I Hate This Place, Killadelphia); and Destro, from writer Dan Watters (Loki, Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!), artist Andrei Bressan (Dark Ride, Birthright), and colorist Adriano Lucas (Dark Ride, Birthright), which introduce the iconic characters of the G.I. JOE and Cobra factions to the Energon Universe. Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.
The full list of variant covers is below:
- G.I. JOE #1 Cover H (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by David Nakayama (Lunar Code 0924IM254) – available November 13, Final Order Cutoff October 21
- G.I. JOE #2 Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by David Nakayama (Lunar Code 1024IM350) – available December 18, Final Order Cutoff November 11
- G.I. JOE #3 Cover D (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by David Nakayama (Lunar Code Coming Soon)
- G.I. JOE #4 Cover D (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by David Nakayama (Lunar Code Coming Soon)
G.I. JOE #1 ($4.99, unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
Author Profile
- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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