More Info On Skybound Entertainment’s Future Plans For G.I. Joe Comic Book License

Speaking to multiple press outlets, Hasbro and Skybound Entertainment are giving fans ample amounts of info on their future plans for the G.I. Joe comic book license.

Info via Popverse:

“When we first discussed plan for the surprise reveal in Void Rivals #1, I never expected it would be a secret we could keep for over a year,” Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s VP of global publishing, says in a statement. “Now that it is finally here, we are all excited to finally be able to talk about all the amazing stories to come from our great new partners at Skybound.”

Skybound will also continue Larry Hama’s A Real American Hero series with issue #301:

Two further Joe minis are planned as part of this first wave of releases — but that’s not all: Skybound and Image will also be continuing Larry Hama’s acclaimed G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, picking up directly where the IDW run left off with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301 this November; Hama continues as series writer for the title set in the original continuity of the series as established in the 1980s Marvel comic book series, with Chris Mooneyham joining as interior artist and Andy Hubert signing on for a tour of duty as cover artist.

“I am delighted to be continuing the saga of G.I. Joe with the good folks at Skybound and totally amped to be taking the G.I. Joe team to issue #301 and beyond,” said Larry Hama. “Little did I know back in 1982 that I would be associated with the Real American Hero for over 40 years. My thanks to the whole crew at Skybound for allowing me to continue to chronicle the exploits of characters who have become like a family to me.”

Speaking to CBR, Robert Kirkman had this to say:

“The Energon Universe is kind of like an origin story. We’re going back to square one with both Transformers and G.I. Joe and introducing the readers to this universe from the ground floor. We’re gonna get to see them interact and grow in an organic way because these are massive universes with massive casts of characters. We’re going to start small and grow into the cast. So there’s a lot of characters that people are going to be dying to see. You know, “When’s this character gonna show up? When’s this character gonna show up?” It’s going to be a very methodical rollout that — I keep saying “roll out” in these interviews, and it always throws me — but we’re going to transform and roll out these characters in a really cool way.”

In a lengthy interview with APIT Comics, Mr. Kirkman stated that in this comic universe, the G.I. Joe team was formed as a response to the existence of the Cybertronians.:

“We’re gonna try to do this in a different way than things have been done before. I know these characters have interacted a lot in the past but we’re trying to do an organic rollout where the existence of Transformers on Earth kind of leads to the formation of G.I. Joe in some interesting ways and, and kind of tying them together and hopefully in a new and startling way that excites longtime fans and brings in new time fans.”

Issuing a press release, Skybound summarizes what to expect in the upcoming releases:

The new Energon Universe expands in December with Duke #1, a limited series from Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride) and Tom Reilly (The Thing), that tells the story you’ve never read before – the origins of G.I. Joe and Cobra in a world grappling with the arrival of the Autobots and Decepticons. When Conrad S. Hauser (codename DUKE) investigates the mysteries behind The Transformers, the answers will lead to the birth of forces for good and evil that the world never imagined.

Duke will be the first of four G.I. Joe limited series coming from Skybound, setting the stage for a fresh new take on G.I. Joe, Cobra and the iconic characters that you only think you know!

“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,” said Joshua Williamson. “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!”

his will be followed by the launch of Cobra Commander #1 in January 2024, from Joshua Williamson and Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook). In a world where Cobra doesn’t exist, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon will send shockwaves across the globe.

You can read the full press release, after the jump.

TRANSFORMERS AND G.I. JOE LAUNCH NEW SHARED COMIC BOOK UNIVERSE!

One of the best-kept secrets in comic-book history has finally been revealed. With today’s release of writer Robert Kirkman and artist Lorenzo De Felici’s Void Rivals #1, Skybound has stealth-launched the “Energon Universe,” a universe shared by the ever-popular Transformers and G.I. Joe! In October, that universe expands with Transformers #1 from creator Daniel Warren Johnson. December will bring the first of four G.I. Joe limited series, Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly’s Duke #1 (exploring the origins of the Joes and Cobra). And January 2024 will witness the arrival of Williamson and Andrea Milana’s Cobra Commander #1. Read on for all the official details and a look at the full cover of Transformers #1 by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer — featuring everyone’s favorite Autobot, Optimus Prime!

Today, it was announced that two of the world’s most popular franchises – Transformers and G.I. Joe – have a new comic book home as part of the historic partnership between toy and game company Hasbro and Skybound, effective immediately.

Comic book fans who picked up their copies of Void Rivals #1 in comic shops today were the first to learn the news, as the blockbuster Oblivion Song team of writers Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), along with colorist Matheus Lopes (Step By Bloody Step) and letterer Rus Wooton, revealed that the highly anticipated series was actually a stealth launch of this new shared “Energon Universe” with the surprise first appearance of iconic Transformers character Jetfire.

Three upcoming releases, alongside Void Rivals, mark the beginning of the interconnected “Energon Universe” featuring both the characters and franchises you know and love, along with entirely new concepts developed in partnership by Hasbro and Skybound.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be able to reintroduce this world to a new audience under the Skybound banner,” said Robert Kirkman. “I’ve loved these characters for most of my life and to have the opportunity to add to the already rich tapestry Hasbro has built with the all-new Void Rivals is an unbelievable opportunity. If you look at everything done with Transformers and G.I. Joe, you can see the inkling of a vast universe with tremendous potential for crossovers and interaction that will enhance the fan experience while staying true to the individual identities of both concepts. I look forward to exploring that potential for years to come.”

“When we first discussed plan for the surprise reveal in Void Rivals #1, I never expected it would be a secret we could keep for over a year,” said Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s VP of Global Publishing. “Now that it is finally here, we are all excited to finally be able to talk about all the amazing stories to come from our great new partners at Skybound.”

Launching in October, Transformers #1 begins an all-new era for the iconic robots in disguise from superstar creator Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb, DC’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth). Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.

“To my readers, retailers, and fellow transformer fans: GET READY! I’ve only been drawing Optimus Prime and the rest of this amazing cast since I was in FIRST GRADE,” said Daniel Warren Johnson. “This is a dream project for me, and I’m so glad to be adding a new chapter to the decades long celebration of robots turning into cars. Also, cab-over trucks are so fun to draw!”

The new Energon Universe expands in December with Duke #1, a limited series from Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride) and Tom Reilly (The Thing), that tells the story you’ve never read before – the origins of G.I. Joe and Cobra in a world grappling with the arrival of the Autobots and Decepticons. When Conrad S. Hauser (codename DUKE) investigates the mysteries behind The Transformers, the answers will lead to the birth of forces for good and evil that the world never imagined.

Duke will be the first of four G.I. Joe limited series coming from Skybound, setting the stage for a fresh new take on G.I. Joe, Cobra and the iconic characters that you only think you know!

“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,” said Joshua Williamson. “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!”

“I’m super excited to be working with Josh and the team at Skybound to usher in a new beginning for these iconic characters,” said Tom Reilly. “The Joes have a rich history in comics, one that we look forward to adding something new and exciting to. It’s going to be a fun ride!”

This will be followed by the launch of Cobra Commander #1 in January 2024, from Joshua Williamson and Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook). In a world where Cobra doesn’t exist, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon will send shockwaves across the globe.

“My first comic was G.I. JOE, and I couldn’t be more excited to unite the Transformers and G.I. Joe into one universe,” said Sean Mackiewicz, SVP, Publisher. “This line is being guided by the best comic creators in the world and features the same action-packed, surprise-filled, emotional storytelling you expect from all Skybound comics.”

Void Rivals #1 (JAN238443) is available today at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.

Fans can pre-order their copies of Transformers #1, Duke #1, and Cobra Commander #1 right now at their local comic book shops.