G.I. JOE #6, by Image Comics & Skybound on 4/23/25, pits Duke against Cobra Commander when a brain bomb is activated that could wipe out millions.
Credits:
- Writer: Joshua Williamson
- Artist: Tom Reilly
- Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Tom Reilly (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: April 23, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of G.I. JOE #6:
Recap:
When we last left the Joes in G.I. Joe #5, Duke and the team escaped a MARS Industries research facility before Destro and Cobra Commander could use them as guinea pigs for Cobra Commander’s mind control machine. The team got away with minor scrapes, but Duke secretly stayed behind to get the jump on Cobra Commander.
Plot Analysis:
In G.I. Joe #6, Duke and Cobra Commander’s first encounter turns into a deadly game of chicken. Duke holds Cobra Commander at gunpoint, but the terrorist leader won’t come quietly. Cobra Commander explains the brain bomb is set to go off, so Duke has a choice – he can either flee to avoid the death waiting within a one-mile radius and the mind control for the next four miles beyond, or he can kill Dr. Monev, aka Dr. Venom, as the man strapped to a machine and the only thing keeping it going.
Meanwhile, Baroness pilots the escape helicopter to get away from the facility, chased by Destro in a FANG. When the Joes realize Duke stayed behind, they convince the Baroness to turn around. Baroness radios Destro out of her lingering feelings for him to warn him that the brain bomb has been activated and he should flee. Destro heeds the warning.
Duke quickly decides to try for a third choice in Cobra Commander’s ultimatum and attacks the terrorist to keep him from escaping. If Duke dies, so does he. Cobra Commander chooses survival and blasts Dr. Venom with his cybernetic hand cannon, killing the Doctor and stopping the bomb. Then, Cobra Commander strikes Duke down with a sword, but before he can deliver the killing blow, Baroness and the Joes arrive in their helicopter for the rescue.
The issue ends with Cobra Commander meeting with Destro elsewhere to unveil the special device he extracted from the brain bomb before fleeing and Clutch getting some air after returning to the Pitt. Unfortunately, his duffle bag contains a device that makes his evening ride fit for a Hound.
First Impressions:
Barring a few oddities, G.I. Joe #6 is one of the better issues in the series. Why? Because you get high-stakes conflict that ends with a satisfying twist, and the epilogue sets up big things for the series’ future integration with Transformers.
Artwork and Presentation:
Well, here we go again. Tom Reilly’s art style and flare for action hit the nail on the head for a comic designed to project power, tension, and dynamic movement. As a plus, the visual elements tie the series back to the other Energon series to create some universal cohesion.
On the downside, the issue, again, suffers from Jordie Bellaire’s drab, washed-out, off-putting coloring. However, Bellaire’s terrible color palette is positively offset (partially, not completely) by an increased use of blacks and silhouettes to give each page more pop. It’s unclear if the increase in blacks was Bellaire’s choice or Reilly’s choice. Regardless of who made the change, it helps to cover Bellaire’s awful color selection.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Joshua Williamson ends the Joes’ first conflict with Cobra Commander and Destro with urgency, action, high stakes, and a satisfying resolution.
The Negatives:
Beyond the problematic art, there are a few spots in the script where developments occur at random that don’t make sense. For example:
When Cobra Commander flees to avoid capture, he simply steps off the building’s roof. Where did he go? How did he survive the fall?
How did Baroness know Cobra Commander activated the brain bomb? She and the Joes escaped the building before Destro and well before Cobra Commander activated the bomb.
How and why did the sphere inside Clutch’s duffle bag create Hound? Why is Clutch walking around with a duffle bag containing an unknown device from COBRA? What is happening? It’s cool to have Hound show up, but is it just a coincidence or does this story reimagine Hound’s origin?
We’ve read enough of Williamson’s work to know that he chronically fumbles with a lack of detail that creates plot holes. We were hoping Skybound would provide more vigorous editorial oversight to prevent the shoddy work Williamson did/does at DC. Unfortunately, the same bad habits are creeping in.
Big Picture:
Series Continuity:
Will there be a big crossover event with G.I. Joe and the Transformers? All signs point to ‘yes,’ but the inciting incident and details for the crossover are TBD. For now, the last page of G.I. Joe #6 is the most promising opportunity for the Joes and Transformers to interact with each other.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
G.I. JOE #6 ends the first conflict between the Joes and COBRA with a gripping, urgent battle to save millions from a brain bomb. Joshua Williamson’s script elevates the stakes to keep the reader engaged, and Tom Reilly’s art is on point. Unfortunately, the script is peppered with plot holes, and the coloring is a muddy mess.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.