Having acquired the comic book licenses to Transformers and G.I. Joe and quietly launching them into a shared ‘Energon Universe’ this week, Skybound Entertainment has also announced that it will relaunch Larry Hama’s beloved G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero as a standalone series, picking up with issue #301.
“One of the main goals of Skybound with these Hasbro properties is preserving and honoring the legacies already established with Transformers and G.I. Joe,” said Skybound Chairman Robert Kirkman in a statement accompanying the announcement. “While we’re creating something new with the Energon Universe, we’re also going to be devoting equal resources to paying respect to the glorious stories that came before and made these brands what they are today. I don’t want to live in a world where Larry Hama isn’t continuing his unparalleled run on G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, and thanks to Skybound, I won’t have to!”
Originally published by Marvel Comics between 1982 and 1994 before being relaunched by IDW Publishing in 2010, the new run of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero will see Hama back on writing duties alongside artist Chris Mooneyham and colorist Francisco Segala, with Adam Kubert providing covers beginning with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301:
The G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero announcement came hot on the heels of Wednesday’s Void Rivals #1 from Kirkman, which included a surprise appearance by the Transformers character Jetfire and was followed by official news from Image and Skybound that the comic marked the official launch of a new Transformers and G.I. Joe shared universe – dubbed the Energon Universe – which will kick off in October with Transformers #1, followed by the limited series Duke and Cobra Commander in October 2023 and January 2024 respectively.
“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.”
The news of a shared Transformers and G.I. Joe comic book universe follows hot on the heels of the reveal that Hasbro and Paramount are also looking to bring together the two classic toy brands on the big screen in the wake of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Originally published June 18, 2023. Updated June 17, 2023.
