G.I. JOE #7, by Image Comics & Skybound on 5/28/25, finds Beach Head undertaking a mission to steal a secret weapon from a wealthy collector. What he doesn’t know is that the mission is a test for something bigger.
Credits:
- Writer: Joshua Williamson
- Artist: Andrea Milana
- Colorist: Lee Loughridge
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Tom Reilly (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: May 28, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of G.I. JOE #7:
Recap:
When we last left the Joes in G.I. Joe #6, Cobra Commander met with Destro to unveil the special device he extracted from Dr. Viper’s brain bomb before fleeing from capture by a team of Joes. Later, Clutch went for an evening drive to get some air after returning to the Pit. Unfortunately, his duffle bag contained a device that made his evening ride fit for a Hound (i.e. The Transformer named “Hound”). Get it?
Plot Analysis:
In G.I. Joe #7, we begin with a brief prologue. Cover Girl asks Col. Hawk about a heavily redacted memo she found when moving offices into the recently rebuilt Pit. The memo references something called the Night Force. Col. Hawk dismisses the finding as an old project that was never implemented, and he quickly shreds the memo.
Elsewhere, we visit the home of the ultra-wealthy weapons collector Victor Foley. What Foley doesn’t know is that his home is about to be invaded by the only Joe who could hide in the shadows for three days waiting for a special shipment to arrive – Beach Head. When Foley’s expensive mercenaries patrol the grounds, Beach Head jumps the mercs and kills them. He sneaks into Foley’s compound and finds the object he was sent to steal, a man-sized box labeled “47.”
Beach Head quietly loads the crate onto a dolly, but his progress halts when one of Major Bludd’s Bloodhounds attacks Beach Head from the shadows. The one attacker is soon joined by several Bloodhounds. During the fight, one of Bludd’s men wraps a chain around the crate so a waiting truck can yank it through the nearby window and drag it away.
Beach Head leaps out of the window and onto the crate. Hundreds of yards down the road, Beach Head shoots the truck’s chain, scraping to a stop with the crate in the middle of the road. The Bloodhounds catch up on motorcycles, but a Joe shuttle flies in to scoop up the crate and Beach Head. The issue ends with Major Bludd demonstrating the price for failure, Beach Head worrying that his semi-botched mission will relegate him to training instructor, and Lady Jaye showing Beach Head what’s in the box while offering him a job Duke wouldn’t approve of.
First Impressions:
G.I. Joe #7 is the best issue in the series so far for multiple reasons. Joshua Williamson’s script is clean, clear, and focused, setting the stage for the formation of a covert team that plays dirty. Plus, the art is levels better than the previous issues. It’s amazing what a difference a month makes.
Artwork and Presentation:
The art is possibly the biggest improvement in this issue over the priors. Andrea Milana steps in for Tom Reilly (it’s unclear if the substitution is only for this issue or for the arc) for a stealthy, hard-hitting, action-packed mission starring Beach Head. Truly, Milana’s hand-to-hand fight choreography is outstanding, and the visual framing is excellent. It would be nice if Milana’s inks were cleaner and sharper to match the military precision vibe of the material, but we’ll take it.
Likewise, Lee Loughridge subs in for Jordie Bellaire. What an upgrade! We’ve criticized Bellaire’s coloring since issue #1 for bizarre palette choices, resulting in an ugly, off-putting presentation. Lee Loughridge plays it straight by using a palette that matches the gritty, grounded realism of the material while adding flash and pop for dramatic effect when needed. Skybound would do well to keep Milana and Loughridge on the run as long as possible because the difference in art appeal is like night and day.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Joshua Williamson’s Beach Head-centric issue is tight, clean, focused, dramatic, and intense, as every G.I. Joe comic should be. Plus, the story feels complete as a stand-alone, even though the ending suggests Beach Head’s mission is a setup for something greater. Also, and again, the artwork is worlds better.
The Negatives:
G.I. Joe #7 works except for one small aspect: the coincidences. Beach Head’s ultra-patient wait for the crate to show up makes perfect sense for the mission and the character, but it seems odd that Major Bludd and his Bloodhounds would show up at exactly the same time for exactly the same reason. Further, Lady Jaye and Flint happen to show up in just the right place at the right time to rescue Beach Head. The issue is good enough to look past the flaws, but they’re noticeable.
On a side note, it’s also odd that Williamson ended issue #6 on a super-intriguing cliffhanger but does nothing with it in this issue.
Big Picture:
Series Continuity:
The contents of crate #47 are revealed at the end of G.I. Joe #7, but the contents have (almost) nothing to do with Transformers. As of now, there’s no official word on when a crossover will take place, but we’ll let you know if we hear anything.
Final Thoughts:
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G.I. JOE #7 starts a new arc and the development of a new team when Beach Head steals a dangerous weapon from a wealthy collector. Joshua Williamson’s script is tight, focused, and action-packed. Plus, the guest art team makes this story look world’s better than the previous issues. If you weren’t sold on this series before, this issue may change your mind.
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