G.I. Joe #27 Review – Zartan’s Manipulations Create Tension

G.I. Joe #27 (Image Comics, 10/21/26): Writer Joshua Williamson & artist Tom Reilly find Col. Hawk giving the team new orders to find Baroness and protect a secret mobile base carrying Energon, but the team’s loyalties begin to fracture. Williamson’s talk-heavy script puts the brakes on momentum. Verdict: Slow but meaningful.

• Writer: Joshua Williamson
• Artist: Tom Reilly
• Colorist: Lee Loughridge
• Letterer: Rus Wooton
• Cover Artist: Tom Reilly (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: October 21, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of G.I. Joe #27:

First Impressions:

I was taken aback by how well the previous issue turned out, so you can imagine my surprise (read: disappointment) when this issue took a major downshift in speed toe slowly lay out the previous issue. It’s not a bad comic, but I was checking my watch more than once.

Recap:

In G.I. Joe #26, Flint orders Duke to stand down, but Duke proceeds with his plan as the Joes clash in a series of battles, while Hound and Clutch flee with Baroness and Lady Jaye gives chase. Meanwhile, Zartan, disguised as Col. Hawk, seeks more Energon and interrogates Scarlett about the Energon sword, while Cobra Commander faces his greatest fear, Golobulus, during a sparring match with Major Medusa before agreeing to send her into the field. When a berserk G.I. Bat forces the rival Joes to work together, Flint’s desperate plan succeeds in capturing Clutch and Baroness – only for him to realize too late that Baroness is actually Cover Girl in disguise.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

The issue begins with the main battle in progress, while Baroness makes a stealthy getaway. During the fight, G.I. Bat goes haywire and tries to kill Duke. Flint deactivates the robot, which creates a pause in the action. Flint extends the offer for all Joes to come in for questioning in exchange for a truce. They agree.

Meanwhile, Col. Hawk (Zartan in disguise) shows Gen. Flagg a doctored video that implicates Baroness in Crystal Ball’s murder. The video is enough for Gen. Flagg to let Col. Hawk in on the existence of a mobile base that contains secret tech and Energon. Flagg gives Hawk the location of the base to provide protection, while the team hunts for Baroness.

Meanwhile, the Dreadnoks receive a message from Zartan about the mobile base, with instructions to stage an attack so Zartan can steal the contents. Later, Flint gives Scarlett a secret mission to spy on Cobra, and Baroness finds Col. Hawk’s private safehouse, where the real Hawk is held captive.

How is the story in G.I. Joe #27?

Joshua Williamson’s latest entry in the series takes a step back in terms of pacing and impact. Oh, sure, things happen. Some of them are consequential, but far too much of the issue is spent on exposition and pontification. For the latter, the fallout of the battle between the rogue Joes and Nightwatch forces the once-allies to continually ask if they’re doing the right thing or who is/isn’t loyal for the right reasons. You get a lot of introspection and wondering out loud, without much to show for it.

How is the art in G.I. Joe #27?

Despite the significant lack of action and energy, Tom Reilly does his level best to make the issue look dramatic and visually interesting. The linework is clean. Reilly’s character acting is strong, and the overall aesthetic of the book looks good. There’s just not much to do.

It also helps that Jordie Bellaire has moved off the book (for now) in favor of Lee Loughridge. We try not to engage in too much “which artist is better” rhetoric, but when Bellaire’s color choices were actively harming the visual presentation, it’s a blessed relief to have a colorist take over the book who understands what suits the story.

Characters

It’s tougher to point out the focal character in an ensemble story, but in this case, Flint does most of the heavy lifting as a leader torn between following orders in tough situations and reacting to his gut, which tells him something is off. Flint’s hard-nosed approach to a complex situation gives the story a credible conflict that puts allies at odds for understandable reasons.

Originality & Concept Execution

Williamson latest arc is as unpredictable as it gets, because there’s never been a long-form crossover between G.I. Joe and Transformers like we have here. From that perspective, the story is completely original, and Williamson slathers the narrative with a thick coat of instinctual paranoia to keep the dramatic engagement high.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Solid art
• Strong dramatic conflict
• Highly unpredictable story

Room for Improvement

• The pacing drags
• Excessive dialog that doesn’t service the plot
• Baroness’s arrival at Hawk’s safehouse is contrived

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 2.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2

Final Thoughts:

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G.I. Joe #27 takes a slow break from the action as Zartan manipulates the situation to pit Joe against Joe and steal a secret stash of Energon. Williamson’s talk-heavy script is tense and informative but poorly paced. Also, Tom Reilly’s art is good enough to keep readers engaged with almost no action.

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