Duke issue 4

From MediaWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
« Duke #4 »
Publisher Image Comics
Skybound Entertainment
First published March 27, 2024
Cover date March 2024
Written by Joshua Williamson
Art by Tom Reilly
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Rus Wooton
Editors Sean Mackiewicz
Continuity Energon Universe

With the hounds at their door, the American heroes and their allies must use every resource they can to fight back!

Synopsis

Major Bludd's Blood Hounds continue their assault on the Pit. Stalker tries to radio for backup, but his signal is jammed and he is forced to retreat further into the Pit with the others. Meanwhile, Baroness has her gun aimed at Duke while Clutch and Rock 'n Roll fight off the Blood Hounds. She threatens to take Duke in and collect his bounty, but Duke tells her that even if she does, the people after him will eventually turn on her if she gets caught up in their game. The Baroness agrees and helps him up, and while Stalker is hesitant about this new alliance, he agrees that they'll need all the help they can get.

Unable to combat the Hounds above them, the group decides to head further down into the Pit, finding a hanger full of decommissioned and experimental vehicles that - with a bit of fine-tuning from Clutch - they can use to fight back against the invaders. Back on the surface, a grievously wounded Bludd reports back to his Hounds, ordering that they destroy the Pit, but that they leave Baroness to him: she owes him an eye! However, at that moment the Pit opens up and an APC, MOBAT, and Skystriker come roaring out, mowing down the Blood Hounds. As the Hounds retreat, Baroness takes the opportunity to escape by stealing one of their F.A.N.G.s, much to Stalker’s irritation. Duke similarly decides to use this opportunity to take the Skystriker and follow the location on the device Adele Burkhart gave him. Clutch tries to convince him to stay, but ultimately wishes his friend luck on his mission.

At a secret M.A.R.S. facility in the Rocky Mountains, Destro oversees the construction of his new H.I.S.S. tank, but is informed that the power cores they've been provided with are insufficient. Mercer enters and informs Destro of Bludd's failure. Knowing Duke will be headed for them, Destro tells Mercer to have Scrap-Iron test his latest creation in the field. As Duke approaches the mountain range, a secret compartment opens up, from which Scrap-Iron fires his a missile from his anti-armor drone. Duke manages to bail out of the Skystriker before it crashes and climbs the mountain up to the facility. Inside, he discovers more of the weapons and vehicles he found at the M.A.R.S. facility, along with a massive battery of some kind. Knowing M.A.R.S. is watching him, Duke rails at them: he knows what they’re doing, and he’s going to kill their flying robot. However, his words are cut short when he is grasped by the mechanical clawed arm of a Battle Android Trooper!

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

United States military M.A.R.S. Industries Others

Quotes

"If you had just given up this precious system that has caged you your entire life…"
"We all have our cages, Baroness. Even you…"

—Baroness and Duke

Notes

Continuity notes

  • The tracking device Burkhart gave Duke in issue #1 was confiscated off-panel when Duke and Clutch were captured in issue #2.
  • M.A.R.S. needs a new energy source to power their new weapons. Perhaps a new ally could provide that.
    • Although it is worth noting that the B.A.T.'s chest piece does glow the familiar yellow color we've seen else elsewhere, so maybe they do have some energon?
  • Duke is still operating under the incorrect assumption that M.A.R.S. is responsible for creating Starscream and causing the death of his friend Frosting back in Transformers #2.

G.I. Joe references

  • The APC, MOBAT, and Skystriker are all classic Joe vehicles from the first two years of the Real American Hero line.
  • As expected, Major Bludd is shown to have lost his eye due to the Baroness, setting him up to receive either his traditional eyepatch or a more Classified-inspired tech version. The shape of the wound is also reminiscent of some of the scar tissue sculpting on his Classified figure.
  • Scrap-Iron also continues the trend of character designs being based on their Classified figures. He is even shown using that figure's main accessory, the Anti-Armor Drone.

Errors

  • The back cover remains the same as previous issues: "The contents of this booklet is confidential. This unauthorized disclosure of information within is prohibited."

Covers (6)

  • Cover A: The Joes fight back, by Tom Reilly.
  • Cover B: Baroness threatens a hanging Duke with a knife, by Andrei Bressan and Adriano Lucas.
  • Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover by Tyler Boss and Jason Wordie.
  • Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Major Bludd on explosion, by Taurin Clarke.
  • Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Duke facing off enemies with sabres, by Ben Oliver.

Advertisements

Reprints

  • Duke Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle (June 5, 2024) ISBN 1534398163 / ISBN 978-1534398160
    • Collects issues #1–5.
    • Trade paperback format.
  • Codename: G.I. Joe Deluxe Edition Book One (June 25, 2025) ISBN 153432822X / ISBN 978-1534326910
    • Collects Duke issues #1–5, Cobra Commander issues #1–5, and the G.I. Joe story from Energon Universe Special 2024.
    • Hardcover format.
  • Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle – cover art by Tom Reilly
    Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle – cover art by Tom Reilly
  • Deluxe Edition Book One – cover art by Andrea Milana, Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire
    Deluxe Edition Book One – cover art by Andrea Milana, Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire
Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Duke_issue_4&oldid=1858601"