G.I. Joe line expanding at Image with “Scarlett,” “Destro”
Word Ballons #1206: Hasbro toy properties firing up comics sales in 2024
After the successful Image Comics launches of two miniseries based on characters from “G.I. Joe,” two more miniseries have been announced for this summer.
Robert Kirkman’s Skybound imprint has licensed the Hasbro characters from “G.I. Joe” and “Transformers,” and has placed both sets of characters in the so-called “Energon Universe,” along with the characters from a space epic titled “Void Rivals,” written by Kirkman.
“Scarlett” and “Destro” are set to launch in June 2024.
Writer Kelly Thompson (Black Widow, Birds of Prey) joins artist Marco Ferrari (Frontiersman) for “Scarlett” #1, launching June 5, 2024.
Here’s how Skybound describes the series:
Shana “Scarlett” O'Hara is about to take on the most dangerous black ops mission of her career: infiltrating the mysterious rising power in Japan known as the Arashikage Clan. Her one lead is her former partner—Jinx—turned Arashikage enforcer. Now, Scarlett must use her operative skills to survive undercover… and discover a shocking weapon that could change the balance of power on Earth.
"I'm fortunate that, thanks to my job, I often get to dig into characters and worlds that I've loved for a long time,” said Kelly Thompson in a news release. “But G.I. JOE’s Scarlett is truly one of my first geek loves as a kid, and I am absolutely thrilled to have a hand in building her for this new, incredibly cool and rich universe at Skybound."
Ferrari says he’ll bring a multitude of approaches to Scarlett’s secret op.
“I’m very excited to join the Scarlett team and to use every tool in my toolbox to bring her to life in this new series,” said Marco Ferrari. “I can’t wait for everyone to dive into Scarlett’s mission with us!”
Meanwhile, Destro will come to life under the creative team of writer Dan Watters (“Loki”) and artist Andrei Bressan (“Dark Ride”) in Destro #1, set for release on June 19, 2024.
Here’s how Skybound describes “Destro”:
James McCullen Destro XXIV is the man behind M.A.R.S. Industries, the undisputed leader in providing high-tech weapons to world powers...for the right price. But the emergence of Energon has changed everything. As Destro’s ambitions grow, the “Crimson Twins” Tomax and Xamot Paoli emerge to destroy their competition, and Cobra Commander realizes his current ally could be his future greatest enemy.
“I'm incredibly excited to bring Destro to life with Andrei,” said Dan Watters in a news release. “This is going to be a visceral, explosive thriller in which he [Destro] isn't very nice to anyone at all — everything you’d want from your favorite amoral arms trafficker.”
Andrei Bressan is fired up to join the Energon Universe.
“I just can't wait to see what Dan has planned for Destro!” said Andrei Bressan. “I’m pretty excited because everything going on with the Energon Universe so far has been bonkers and Destro...he is just an absolute bad***, ready to kill and destroy.”
“Scarlett” and “Destro” join “Duke” and “Cobra Commander” as series expanding Skybound’s Joe mythos.
“Duke and Cobra Commander were two of the highest-selling G.I. JOE comics of all-time, and they're only the start of our new beginning for the amazing G.I. JOE franchise,” said Sean Mackiewicz, SVP, Publisher, Skybound, in a news release. “With G.I. Joe and Cobra now locked on an unavoidable collision course, Scarlett and Destro will introduce new characters and factions that will disrupt their most carefully laid plans. Kelly Thompson, Marco Ferrari, Dan Watters, and my favorite madman, Andrei Bressan are crafting action-packed, jaw-dropping comics that will forever change the Energon Universe.”
The current titles in the Energon Universe are “Transformers,” “Void Rivals,” “Duke” and “Cobra Commander.”
Skybound also publishes the Larry Hama-written “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” continuing the original continuity from the Marvel Comics series.
The first three issues of “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” from Skybound have sold out and will go to new printings, on sale March 13.
Hama, artist Chris Mooneyham, colorist Francesco Segala and cover artist Andy Kubert are the creative team for the series’ first three issues, as Image provides a jumping-on point for Joe fans old and new.
Meanwhile, former “Aquaman” and “Green Lantern” artist Paul Pelletier signs on for a tour on “A Real American Hero” in May as a guest artist.
Paul Pelletier will work with artist Tony Kordos (“Batman & Robin Eternal”) as inker and colorist Francesco Segala (“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”). Andy Kubert remains cover artist for issue #306, on sale May 15, 2024.
“Joining the GI JOE team sounded like a fun challenge. Having spent most of my career in the superhero world, GI JOE provides a chance for me to push myself as an artist/storyteller on a slightly different kind of book,” said Pelletier in a news release. “Working with an all-time pro like Larry Hama is a very nice bonus, along with getting to work again with my friend Tony on inks and seeing page after page of Francesco’s terrific colors.”
The action-packed “Joe” line, in both continuities, has provided strong sales in comic shops and at least anecdotally, is bringing back some lapsed fans of the properties. The “Real American Hero” toy line of 3 ¾ inch “G.I. Joe” figures launched back in 1982.
While the G.I. Joe toy line first appeared in the 1960s, the comic book is based on the "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero action figures that began in the early 1980s. The toys allowed children to recreate a world where a team of specialists from all military branches fought the threat of Cobra, a terrorist organization determined to rule the world.
Hama had developed much of the G.I. Joe backstory as part of a potential Nick Fury revival before the Hasbro licensed comic came into play. An interesting Oklahoma tie – Tulsa native Archie Goodwin helped Hama with some of the early development of the series.
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.