G.I. Joe #13, which launches the “Dreadnok War” storyline, is one of those comics that hits the ground running and doesn’t stop for a minute. It’s no surprise why: true to its title, “Dreadnok War” finds Cobra Commander ambushed by the Dreadnoks while searching for Energon. Duke also happens to be in the vicinity, and after saving the Commander from certain death, handcuffs them together as they race to survive.
“Dreadnok War” builds on the work that Joshua Williamson has been seeding throughout the first year of the title, including the Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries; the Dreadnoks are only after Cobra Commander because of the horrific fatalities he visited upon them in his miniseries, while Duke joined G.I. Joe to fight back against the Transformers (who also use Energon). Williamson manages to pull all these threads together, resulting in a narrative that’s both propulsive and a payoff; there’s even a nod to the events of Transformers #25! I’m not surprised since he’s been doing similar work on Superman, and it bodes very well for his upcoming run on Iron Man next year.
I’m also happy to report that G.I. Joe #13 brings back Tom Reilly, who’s worked with Williamson on the Duke miniseries and the first arc of G.I. Joe. Reilly is arguably one of the most incredible artists working in comics today; his art is simple, yet striking, allowing for intense action sequences and astonishing splash pages in equal measure. Cobra Commander is every bit the tyrant, as Reilly shows him sitting imperiously atop a serpentine throne or standing on top of a H.I.S.S. tank delivering orders. Another page intercuts a brutal, drag-down fight between Duke and the Dreadnok Ripper with a wounded Commander slinking away, only for the G.I. Joe leader to catch him at the last moment.
Image/Skybound
G.I. Joe #13 wouldn’t look as good as it does without Jordie Bellaire on colors. Most of the action takes place in the Chihiuahan Desert, depicted as a vast ocean of golden sand under Bellaire’s colors. She’ll even flash to a bright reddish-orange color for key scenes: Duke’s flashback to Starscream brutally murdering his friend, the Duke/Ripper fight, or the vast interior of Cobra’s lair. This is offset by the hues of blue surrounding Cobra Commander, including his navy-colored uniform and the crackling, bluish-white Energon that powers his robot hand.
Another significant element of G.I. Joe #13 is that it’s reasonably accessible despite being the literal payoff of a year’s worth of work. Part of that’s due to the two-page recap that summarizes everything that has happened so far, but it’s also in how the creative team portrays the interactions between characters. With the G.I. Joe characters, there’s a bond of trust; despite Duke being on R&R, he drops everything to investigate when Clutch calls him. On Cobra’s side, mistrust and ambition boil over as the Dreadnoks are hunting Cobra Commander thanks to a nudge from Destro. These dynamics don’t just make for a great G.I. Joe story, but great comics in general.
G.I. Joe #13 kicks off the series’ most significant story arc to date, blending character dynamics and high-octane action as Duke and Cobra Commander go on the run. The creative team is taking this comic to the next level, and I’m happy to be along for the ride.
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