WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Cobra Commander #1

G.I. Joe is returning to comics as a part of the Energon Universe shared continuity, and now fans have their first look at the new Cobra Commander. Set to make his debut in his own self-titled miniseries in January, the future leader of Cobra is on the hunt for Energon, the valuable resource that gives the Transformers life.

Released to Skybound’s official website, the preview offers fans a look at what the Cobra Commander creative team of Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana and Annalisa Leoni have in store for the new series:

Already, the new series shows it is willing to go places the original eighties cartoon wasn’t, as readers can clearly see when Cobra Commander commit a vicious murder after suffering a minor insult.

Cobra Commander Will Be A Straight-Up Horror Comic

With the debut of Transformers #1, Skybound Entertainment's Energon Universe shared continuity has officially begun. Beginning with humanity's first contact with Cybertronian life, it appears the second issue of the series will introduce G.I. Joe's Duke, in advance of his own series. Given that writer Joshua Williamson has previously described Cobra Commander as a horror comic, it’s not surprising to see the preview for the series' first issue delving into some rather dark and bloody territory. Taking place in world where the G.I. Joe and Cobra organizations have not yet been formed, the solicitation for Cobra Commander #1 provides further context:

“The rise of Cobra begins HERE. In a world where Cobra doesn’t exist, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon will send shockwaves across the globe. Who is Cobra Commander? Where does he come from? And what horrors is he planning to unleash that will rock the world – and maybe the universe – to its core?”

It’s also worth noting that the trench-coat and wide cap the Commander sports in the preview recall his ‘Old Snake’ persona, the version of the character seen in the Transformers cartoon from the eighties. That original cartoon took place in the then-future year of 2006, so the version of the Commander seen there was now a terrorist for hire following the dissolution of the Cobra organization. Also worthy of note is the treaded vehicle the Commander steals, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the H.I.S.S. Tank, so it’s possible this is where he got the idea for the main vehicle of the Cobra organization.

Cobra Commander Sports His ‘Old Snake’ Look

Considering that Cobra doesn’t exist yet in the Energon Universe, it’s interesting to see the Commander already wearing his iconic silver face-plate, as well as making use of the Cobra logo. Watching this version of the Cobra Commander build his organization from the ground up should be a fascinating journey to follow for long-time fans, especially now that readers know Cobra will be built out of a hunt for Energon. One thing is for sure: this new G.I. Joe continuity is playing by a different set of rules than the original cartoon as its famous characters, both good and evil, begin to populate the Energon Universe.

Source: Skybound

Cobra Commander #1 is on sale January 17, 2024 from Skybound Entertainment.