Ever since the Energon Universe began, the worlds of Transformers and G.I. Joe have been intertwined. Cobra used Energon for its weapons; Cobra Commander had experimented on Megatron; Duke became obsessed with taking down all Transformers after witnessing his friend being killed by Starscream. That connection takes its biggest leap in G.I. Joe #20, where Duke finally comes face-to-face with Optimus Prime. But before this fateful meeting, the G.I. Joe leader and his friend Clutch have to find where Matt Trakker is hiding.
This means that G.I. Joe #20 opens with a hell of a sequence where Trakker manages to out race mercenary Scrap Iron, with help from the Joes. Andrea Milana brings this chaos to life, featuring a massive two-page spread in which Tracker’s sleek, customized ride literally runs laps around Scap-Iron’s massive pickup truck. Close-ups on the combatants’ faces only help to sell the intensity; Trakker’s face is narrowed in laser-sharp focus, while Scrap-Iron’s scarred mug is something that’ll haunt your nightmares. Lee Loughridge splashes different hues of red and orange on the page, creating a background full of explosions that’ll get readers’ hearts racing.
While the chase scene is a well-crafted action beat, it’s hard not to see that it’s laying the groundwork for the upcoming M.A.S.K. series. Other parts of the Energon Universe have been more carefully laid out in a way that feeds into the ongoing story without subtracting from it; ironically, Transformers did a better job of featuring Trakker’s future arch nemesis Miles Mayhem. I’m not opposed to the idea of a spinoff, but it has to be done in an organic way.
Skybound
Despite this, Josh Williamson manages to perfectly set up the meeting between Duke and Optimus, and he makes sure it has a genuine impact. From Optimus remaining as humble, yet inspiring as ever to Duke reeling when he’s hit with the news of Starscream’s death, Williamson shows how both leaders are similar and yet wholly different. It also establishes a bridge between Transformers and G.I. Joe that will let both titles stand on their own, but also highlights how connected the Energon Universe is. Williamson is no stranger to crafting stories like this thanks to his DC experience, and the way things end hints that he has more on the horizons for both the Joes and the Transformers.
If you thought Optimus Prime was the only big appearance that Williamson and Milana bring to the table, you’d be wrong. The issue ends with Cover Girl and Snow Job given a mission of their own: to track down Scarlett and bring her back to Joe headquarters. Not only does this mean that G.I. Joe will finally touch on the fallout of the Scarlett miniseries, but it also shows how the Joes are being manipulated by their “leader” General Hawk – or rather, manipulated by Zartan disguised as Hawk. That eventual reveal is full of the same promise as Duke and Optimus meeting, and I don’t think Williamson and the rest of the creative team will disappoint when the time comes.
G.I. Joe #20 manages to deliver on an encounter fans have been waiting for since the Energon Universe began, while also setting the stage for the M.A.S.K. series. Whether you’ve been there from day one or are just hopping on, this is a big moment that ends with the promise of more to come.
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