Notice! This post contains SPOILERS for GI Joe #1It has been officially confirmed that Transformers are directly responsible for creating GI Joe and Cobra in the all-new Energon Universe. Bringing so much Transformers and GI Joe franchises alongside Robert Kirkman’s original series Void Rivals under a shared continuity, the Energon Universe is an 80s kids dream. Likewise, the first edition of GI Joe this new canon confirms the importance of Transformers for the origins of the Joes (and Cobra).
Connections to Cybertronians and their power sources have been made in previous Energon Universe miniseries, including DukeCobra Commander, Destro, and Scarlett. However, Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly GI Joe #1 directly confirms that an organization like the Joes or a shadowy organization like Cobra could not have been formed without the arrival of the Transformers on Earth and its powerful new technologies. Case in point, the laser weapons used in the original GI Joe the animated series now have entirely new origins tied to the Transformers:
By using it as a key energy source in this new universe, the Transformers’ energon fuel is a great power that Cobra seeks to exploit in its mission of global domination. Likewise, this first issue also confirms that it’s the biggest reason why Codename: GI Joe exists in this new shared canon.
Codename motivated by the arrival of the Transformers on Earth: GI Joe
A new response team for a new era…
As confirmed by Duke when interrogating his new team of Joes, Codename: GI Joe’s mission is to “find and combat deadly emerging weapons technologies”. Duke then clarifies that this especially includes massive robots that disguise themselves as vehicles while displaying an image of none other than the leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime. Clearly, this communicates a current distrust of all Transformers, be they Autobots or Decepticons.
One can imagine that there will eventually be a major reckoning and conflict between the Joes and the Transformers at some point in the near future. However, the most present threat to the Joes in this first edition is certainly the MARS Industries of Cobra and Destro, who have stored as much energy as possible to power their new weapons. Naturally, this leads to the Joes’ first official encounter with Cobra at the end of the issue.
Cybertron technology brought Joes and Cobra together for the first time
The Transformers began their classic rivalry
At the end of this first issue, Agents Joes and Cobra are fighting the remnants of technology left behind in the recent battle between Autobot and Deception seen in Daniel Warren Johnson’s film. Transformers series. As such, it’s quite remarkable that a classic ’80s rivalry between good and evil directly motivated another major ’80s rivalry, with both being set in the same epic shared universe.. To that end, it will be fascinating to see how the two franchises will continue to come together as the ties between their two narratives continue to grow with each new installment set in the Energon Universe.
GI Joe #1 It’s on sale now at Image Comics.