Editing G.I. Joe Energon Universe 2024 Special story

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Energon Universe Special 2024|''Energon Universe Special'' 2024]]
|prev=Void Rivals Energon Universe Special story
|next=
|seriesissue2=''[[G.I. Joe]]''
|prev2=Duke issue 5
|next2=Scarlett issue 1
|next3=Destro issue 1
|image=Energon Universe Special 2024 Cover C.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]]<br>[[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 4]], [[2024]]
|written by=[[Joshua Williamson]]
|art by=[[Jason Howard]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Duke recruits an unlikely member for his new team.'''

==Synopsis==
With [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Conrad "Duke" Hauser]] assembling his new [[G.I. Joe (team)|team]] under the orders of Colonel [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], he's decided on their next recruit: Anastasia Cisarovna, the renegade spy and assassin known as "the [[Baroness]]". Hawk objects to the idea given her past, but Duke argues that that's exactly why she should be recruited; that her experience and willingness to get dirty allow her to think outside the box. He also underscores that if they don't get to her, someone else ''will''.

Still on the run, the Baroness walks down a city street before being attacked by two mysterious figures in green and black armor. She engages them in a brief back-and-forth before Duke arrives on a motorcycle, offering her a lift. The Baroness begrudgingly agrees.

Aboard a plane, the Baroness expresses her disappointment that Duke has rejoined the [[United States military]]. Duke tells her that the war they need to fight is bigger than they know and that he needs all the resources he can get. He wants someone around who will question authority and keep his team honest and on edge: someone like her. He gives her two choices: join, or spend the rest of her days either behind bars or on the run. The Baroness, now wearing a new uniform emblazoned with a star, gives her answer: "Yo Joe."

While perusing his various files, Hawk meets with two of his other agents: [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] and [[Lady Jaye]], both of whom are wearing the green and black armor of the Baroness' attackers. Hawk tells them they went easy on the Baroness, with Flint reminding him that they were ordered to bring her in alive. Lady Jaye points out that Duke rescuing her wasn't part of the plan, but Hawk says that this still worked out: Baroness has been brought to their side and she and Duke have a bond now. And given the recent issue of trust between Duke and him, Hawk doesn't want Duke to know that he's making more than one team...  

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in photographs.<br>
{{Featuredcharacters
|h1=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c1=
* [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] (1)
* [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] (2)
* [[Lady Jaye]] (4)
* [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (5)
* ''[[Rock 'n Roll]]'' (6)
* ''[[Cover Girl]]'' (7)
* ''[[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]]'' (8)
* ''[[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]]'' (9)
* ''[[Scarlett]]'' (10)


|h3=Others|c3=
* [[Baroness]] (3)
* ''[[Destro]]'' (11)
* ''[[Tomax and Xamot]]'' (12 & 13)
}}

==Quotes==
"I ''hate'' you, American." <br>
"Well, you're really going to love me when I tell you what I have planned..."
:–'''Baroness''' and '''Duke''' 

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* This story primarily acts as a coda to the ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' miniseries, following up on what happened with the Baroness after she escaped from [[The Pit (G.I. Joe|The Pit]] in [[Duke issue 4|issue #4]].
* Hawk's files at the end act as a sort of bridge between all the Earth-based Energon Universe titles: 
** ''Duke'': In addition to the story largely being a coda to the events of ''Duke'', Hawk has files for each of the Joe team members seen in that series, as well as a file featuring photos of Destro and the [[M.A.S.S. Device]], the schematics for which were first glimpsed on Dr. [[Adele Burkhart]]'s computer back in [[Duke issue 1|''Duke'' #1]].
** ''[[Scarlett (comic)|Scarlett]]'': Hawk has a file for Scarlett, indicating that he's either considering recruiting her or has already done so.
** ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'': In addition to the aforementioned Destro file, we see a shot of the Crimson Twins, Tomax and Xamot, on a monitor.
** ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]'': While it wasn't quite on fire when last we saw, the [[Dreadnok]]s' cabin was destroyed thanks to the actions of [[Cobra Commander]] and [[Nemesis Enforcer]].
** ''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'': Hawk has a file with the [[Autobot]] logo on it. 

===''G.I. Joe'' references===
* Clutch's photo in Hawk's files shows him wearing a helmet and shirt modeled on his ''G.I. Joe Classified Series'' design.
* This issue introduces Joe stars, and frequent partners, '''Flint''' and '''Lady Jaye''' to the Energon Universe, as part of a mysterious secondary team of Joes. Given his usual leadership roles, we can likely expect Flint to have a major leadership role with this other team, echoing similar roles in the [[Hasbro Universe|IDW continuity]] and ''Renegades'' cartoon. 
** Their identities as the mysterious attackers are hinted at early on by both assailants using their signature weapons (a shotgun and spear, respectively). 

===Errors===
* Why does Baroness say "Yo Joe"? Even assuming the team Hawk and Duke are putting together has officially taken on the name of “G.I. Joe”, it doesn't appear to be public knowledge yet and Baroness has been on the run since her escape. 

[[Category:Duke issues]]