Cobra Commander #2
(W) Joshua Williamson (A/CA) Andrea Milana, Annalisa Leoni
In Shops: Feb 21, 2024
SRP: $3.99
After last issue’s shocking reveals, Cobra Commander searches for a power greater than any the Earth has ever seen. But when this mission brings him face-to-face with a fan-favorite G.I. Joe faction-will they be friend, foe, or something else entirely?
Cobra Commander searches for a power greater than any the Earth has ever seen. But when this mission brings him face-to-face with a fan-favorite G.I. Joe faction—will they be friend, foe, or something else entirely? Cobra Commander #2 introduces the Dreadnoks to the Energon Universe!
Cobra Commander #2 is another home run for Skybound‘s Energon Universe. Comprising of G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Void Rivals, the shared universe takes the original concepts and delivers them in new and interesting ways. Written by Joshua Williamson, Cobra Commander #2 gives us a comic focused on Cobra Commander and his mission to find sources of Energon on the surface to benefit Cobra-la… or is it to benefit himself? Williamson teases the scheming Cobra Commander we love but so far is keeping readers guessing as the Cobra we knew is built again in a new way.
But, what makes Cobra Commander #2 really stand out is the introduction of the Dreadnoks. It’s not the full group, only giving us a few members, but this version is a group of arms dealers that seems like it’ll put them into conflict with Cobra Commander as well as Destro in the future. But, the conflict with Cobra Commander is here in this issue as to the two groups trade fire and more.
And all of that is partially what makes Cobra Commander #2 and the series as a whole stand out. It’s brutal at times. People get tortured, dragged behind cars, this isn’t your parents’ G.I. Joe. It’s updated, more adult, and a just more visceral overall.
That gritty look is helped by the art of Andrea Milana who is joined by Annalisa Leoni on color and Rus Wooton on letters. The group gives us characters who look like a lot like the classic ones we knew but a bit updated. The action and battles isn’t dialed back as well giving us enough to say “holy crap, this is a G.I. Joe comic!?”. But Milana is smart about it all, just showing readers enough to get their imaginations running with the torture going on.
Cobra Commander #2 is another fantastic issue that continues to cement the Energon Universe as the best comic universe on the market right now. What Skybound and the creators have done is to give properties that have been around decades a shot in the arm, a hell of a new kick off. This comic is a prefect example of that, mixing in old and new to make long time fans happy, welcome new ones, and keep everyone guessing what will happen next.
Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Andrea Milana
Color: Annalisa Leoni Letterer: Rus Wooton
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.
Animal Pound #2 (BOOM! Studios) – The first issue was an interesting update to Orwell’s classic and we’re intrigued where this goes and how it might differ.
Blasfamous #1 (DSTLRY) – We’re intrigued to see what this new horror comedy from Mirka Andolfo and DSTLRY is like.
Blitmap #3 (Titan Comics) – We’re here for the unique covers but the story concept and the fact anyone can riff on it is something to watch.
Cemetery Kids Don’t Die #1 (Oni Press) – A kid’s consciousness is locked in a horror game and his friends attempt to rescue them.
Cobra Commander #2 (Skybound) – The first issue was an amazing mix of old and new building off of the mythoes that came before in new ways. Add in the connection to the Transformers world and this is a series that has deserved buzz.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #304 (Skybound) – Great action and solid art. It’s G.I. Joe dialed up to 11.
Invasive #3 (Oni Press) – Super creepy body horror that’ll make your skin crawl.
Not Sew Wicked Stepmom Vol. 3 (Yen Press) – A great new spin on the classic Snow White.
The Six Fingers #1 (Image Comics) – The companion series to The Red Hand that we all loved. This one focuses on the killer?
Taking Care of God (Yen Press) – Days after reading this manga, we’re still contemplating its deeper meaning.
Ultimate Spider-Man #2 (Marvel) – The first issue was the shot in the arm the new Ultimate Universe needed and cemented this series as one to watch.
The Rise of Cobra begins here. In a world where the Cobra organization hasn’t formed, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon sends 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? Cobra Commander #1 kicks off a new chapter in the Energon Universe introducing the terrorist organization to come.
Story: Joshua Williamson
Art: Andrea Milana
Color: Annalisa Leoni
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
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It was new comic book day yesterday. What’d you all get? What’d you like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and a review from around the web.
The Guardian – Graphic novelist Posy Simmonds wins prestigious French comics award – Congrats!
The Beat – 2024 Eisner Award Judges Announced – A solid list of judges.
Comicbook – Pokemon Announces New Manga All About Snorlax – Um, k.
Publisher’s Weekly – New Sci-Fi/Fantasy Publisher Gungnir Hopes to Hit Its Target – Well this was unexpected.
Reviews
CBR – Cobra Commander #1
The Beat – Death Strikes the Emperor of Atlantis
Comicbook – Harley Quinn #36
Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro have revealed an impressive lineup of variant covers and a first look at interior pages of Cobra Commander #2 from writer Joshua Williamson, artist Andrea Milana, and colorist Annalisa Leoni. The next issue of the Energon Universe’s newest limited series arrives in comic book shops on February 21, 2024.
After the shocking reveal of Megatron in the last issue, Cobra Commander searches for a power greater than any the Earth has ever seen. But when this mission brings him face-to-face with a fan-favorite G.I. JOE faction – will they be friend, foe, or something else entirely?
The full list of variant covers is below:
Cobra Commander #1 from writer Joshua Williamson, artist Andrea Milana, and colorist Annalisa Leoni has sold out at the distributor level and will receive a second printing.
The debut issue of the Energon Universe’s newest limited series will return to comic book shops on February 21, 2024, with new variant covers by Jason Howard and Andrea Milana that feature first appearances of fan-favorite characters.
The COBRA Threat 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?
The second of four action-packed G.I. JOE miniseries that will introduce the iconic characters of the G.I. JOE and Cobra factions to the Energon Universe, Cobra Commander is preceded by Duke #1, which launched in December. These miniseries promise to set the stage for a fresh new take on G.I. JOE, Cobra, and the iconic characters that you only think you know in a shared universe with Transformers and Void Rivals!
Cobra Commander #1 Second Printing Variant Covers (Lunar Codes Below | $4.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
The full list of covers available include:
Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro have debuted an all-new trailer showcasing upcoming Energon Universe storylines in Void Rivals, Transformers, Duke, and Cobra Commander.
In the new trailer, dark forces rise across the galaxy. New heroes embrace their destiny. And Shockwave intends to create his own. The Decepticons have made their move, and no one is safe. As the Autobots fight for Earth, humanity’s own heroes will rise…alongside their greatest rivals. However, the true secret of this war is…More than Meets the Eye. Welcome to the Energon Universe.
The acclaimed Energon Universe series continue to sell out at the distributor level, with fan demand prompting subsequent printings across every issue since launch.
It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d you all get? What’d you like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.
CBLDF – Victory in Texas: Appeals Court Upholds Book Ratings Injunction – This is a good thing. Congrats to those fighting the good fight.
The Guardian – Rare copy of The Amazing Spider-Man No 1 sells for more than £1m – Wow.
The Beat – Beckett announces controversial new grading service for manga – Well ok then.
Reviews
Comicbook – Avengers: Twilight #1
Comicbook – Cobra Commander #1
The Beat – Enfield Gang Massacre #6
Comicbook – Savage Dragon #267
The Beat – We Can’t Do Plain Love
The Rise of Cobra begins here. In a world where the Cobra organization hasn’t formed, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon sends 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? Cobra Commander #1 kicks off a new chapter in the Energon Universe introducing the terrorist organization to come.
To say Cobra Commander #1 is good is an understatement. It’s the perfect companion comic to Duke #1, which takes us through Duke’s journey pre-G.I. Joe. Both written by Joshua Williamson, both breathe new life into the 40 year old property. Williamson has taken a lot of what has come before and remixed it a bit. Transformers are on Earth. Cobra and G.I. Joe don’t exist. This is how both of those organizations came to be.
Slight spoilers ahead
While I try to avoid spoilers, it’s hard to say why Cobra Commander #1 is so good without them. As stated above, this is the story before Cobra existed. The person who will become Cobra Commander is just a scientist in Cobra-la. Yes, the organization introduced in G.I. Joe: The Movie is central to this comic. Williamson brilliantly uses the juxtaposition between the Transformers and Cobra-la to drive the story. One is a technology based world and beings while the other is organic. Cobra Commander has gotten ahold of a Transformer, running experiments and using what he’s learned to add technology to Cobra-la’s world. This has caused unrest among the people and Cobra Commander, after being injured is sent on a mission into the world, thus begins the organization that will be known as Cobra.
Williamson does an amazing job of blending together so much. The introduction of Transformers to this world feels natural and organic and the impact of that too makes sense. He uses the various concepts and ideas that have been around for quite a while in new ways to create a fresh take that feels logical. It just makes a hell of a lot of sense and everything is a natural progression. It also creates the sense that Void Rivals, Transformers, Duke, and now Cobra Commander are part of a connected world but it’s being done in a way you can enjoy just one series. If you read them all though, you get the bigger picture and more dots connected.
The art by Andrea Milana is fantastic. With color by Annalisa Leoni and lettering by Rus Wooton, the details and look of everything is top notch. Milana and the team create a world that’s familiar, it takes its style from classic G.I. Joe. But, like Duke, there’s small tweaks here and there. It’s minor things but it all comes together in a way that makes the comic feel fresh in story and visuals. The team also captures the rather epic nature of some events. They play out like big action sequences and you can almost picture them on the screen with classic voice overs. The visuals embrace what has come before but chart their own course too.
Cobra Commander #1 is good. It’s really good. The comic might be the strongest debut out of all of the Energon Universe and has me excited to see what comes next. This is a Cobra Commander that already feels manipulative and scheming and where those machinations go and how it connects to everything else is going to be one hell of a ride.
Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Andrea Milana
Color: Annalisa Leoni Letterer: Rus Wooton
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
