G.I. Joe (2024) issue 4

Publisher	Image Comics; Skybound Entertainment
First published	February 18, 2025
Cover date	February 2025
Written by	Joshua Williamson
Art by	Tom Reilly
Colors by	Jordie Bellaire
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Editors	Ben Abernathy
Continuity	Energon Universe

As Cobra gathers everything they need to complete their bid for world domination, the Joes respond with a new plan… surrender?

Synopsis

The G.I. Joe team races through the streets of Washington, D.C. with Doctor Archibald Monev, unable to escape the pursuit of the Crimson Twins, Tomax and Xamot. However, their RAM cycles are no match for the firepower of the Twins’ Stinger, and a well-placed shot from the Stinger’s missile knocks them off their bikes. The Joes are then cornered by the Crimson Guard. While Risk and Baroness square up for a fight, Duke sees civilians fleeing from an explosion. Refusing to allow any loss of innocent life, Duke drops his pistol and surrenders to Cobra. The Siegies promptly knock the Joes out as Tomax and Xamot apprehend Doctor Monev and ask if he’d like to join the winning team.

Meanwhile, at a secret bunker in Shenandoah National Park where the Brainwave Scanner is about to be shipped out, Stalker and Cover Girl are sent to ensure it is returned to storage. However, the soldiers responsible for transporting the device do not believe them, and when they receive an alert about the attack on Monev, they assume the Joes to be part of it. Before they can explain, the soldiers are attacked by sniper fire from Chameleon. Stalker and Cover Girl try to get the truck back into the bunker, but are stopped by Ripper, who uses his power jaws to crush the front of the truck. He prepares to execute the Joes with his fancy new laser gun, but Chameleon suggests that Destro would prefer they be captured for interrogation.

In Springfield, the head of M.A.R.S. meets with Mercer, who has secretly retrieved the body of the Cobra-La agent that attempted to assassinate Cobra Commander, his skin suit falling off to reveal his blue skin. Mercer suspects that the Commander isn’t telling them everything, but so long as he supplies their energon, Destro is content to let their leader have his secrets… at least until they can generate their own. This conversation is being eavesdropped on by Clutch, who concludes that this “energon” must be what’s powering Cobra’s laser guns. Suddenly, the lights of the facility go red, and the Cobra forces begin mobilizing, much to Destro’s confusion. Still disguised as a Cobra Viper, Clutch uses the confusion to escape onto on of the transport helicopters. Scrap-Iron tells Destro that the Commander has ordered everyone to relocate to M.A.R.S. headquarters.

Chameleon and Ripper arrive at M.A.R.S. HQ with the Brainwave Scanner in tow, followed by Destro and Mercer, then Tomax and Xamot with Doctor Monev. Monev is surprised to see his invention, and explains to Ripper that its purpose was to help people by being able to alter, remove, or even implant memories, and that’s why the government deemed it dangerous. Cobra Commander appears and concurs that it is, but that it is the key to Cobra’s victory. Destro questions why they’ve relocated to M.A.R.S., but the Commander explains he didn’t want to compromise Springfield with how these “G.I. Joe” operatives have continually engaged them. Destro is incensed that the Commander was willing to compromise his operations instead, but he brushes the Laird’s concerns aside and reveals his plan: using the Brainwave Scanner and energon to create a Brainwave Bomb that will send out a two word mental command to all those within the blast radius: “Obey Cobra!” Monev is fascinated by the idea, but says that they will need to test it first. Luckily, the Commander has just the subjects in mind…

Elsewhere, Stalker and Cover Girl are escorted by Cobra Troopers into a cell where Risk, Baroness, and Duke are being held. While Baroness is pessimistic about their situation, Duke assures his team that they have Cobra right where they want them.

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

G.I. Joe	Cobra	Others
Duke (2) Baroness (3) Risk (4) Stalker (8) Cover Girl (9) Clutch (15)	Tomax and Xamot (5 & 6) Crimson Guard (7) Chameleon (11) Ripper (12) Cobra-La assassin (13) Mercer (14) Destro (15) Scrap-Iron (16) Cobra Troopers (17) Cobra Commander (18)	Archibald Monev (1) Soldier (10)

Quotes

"ARE YOU MAD?!”
"I’m beginning to believe he is!"

—Dr. Monev and Baroness commenting on Duke’s mental state.

Notes

Continuity notes

Ripper joined up with Cobra after being abducted by Cobra Commander in Cobra Commander #5. This issue sees him debut a snazzy new Cobra uniform, as well as his signature weapons (he was notably the only one of the Dreadnoks NOT seen wielding his signature tools in the pages of Cobra Commander).
Chameleon calls Destro "lover". The pair got together at the end of the Destro miniseries.
M.A.R.S. Industries was first seen back in Duke #1.

G.I. Joe references

Tomax and Xamot finish each other's sentences, a trait pulled from their A Real American Hero cartoon counterparts.
Ripper’s signature weapons - the power jaws and his bladed rifle - make their debut in this issue. Though slightly redesigned, they appear to be primarily based on the versions included in Ripper’s G.I. Joe Classified Series figure.

Real-life references

Mercer calls Tomax and Xamot "eurotrash".

Errors

Continuing the error from last issue, it would appear artist Tom Reilly drew the Crimson Twins in the wrong positions on the Stinger; the one driving, drawn to be Tomax, tells his brother “Excellent shot, Tomax,” indicating that he’s supposed to be Xamot.

Covers

Cover A: Cobra Commander stands atop a Stinger driven by Ripper while B.A.T.s salute, by Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire.
Cover B: Duke, Baroness, and Risk fire guns from their RAMs, by David Finch and Adriano Lucas.
Cover C: Chameleon, by Derrick Chew.
Cover D (1:10 Copy Incentive): Cobra Valkyries, one of a series of connecting variants featuring the female characters of G.I. Joe, by David Nakayama.
Cover E (1:25 Copy Incentive): Risk on an explosion background, by Travis Moore and Adriano Lucas.
Cover F (1:50 Copy Incentive): Design specs for the Cobra F.A.N.G., by E. J. Su.