G.I. Joe #12: Take That Shot!

G.I. Joe #12 bridges the gap between the previous story arc and the upcoming Dreadnok War storyline, telling another tale about the Night Force team that has been working in the shadows. The story itself centers around Shooter, an individual the Night Force is attempting to recruit, although she is currently trapped within a Darklonian prison. Meanwhile, Duke begins questioning the operations taking place outside of his purview, while Cobra and their allies start recruiting familiar faces.

While this issue is not the most essential installment to the ongoing story, it highlights the fun this series has with lesser-known characters. For someone unfamiliar with G.I. Joe, a character like Shooter might go right over their head. Thankfully, the issue focuses not only on who she is as a character today but also ties that into her backstory. Night Force is bound to interact with the main G.I. Joe team at some point, so it’s important to have issues like this to ensure fans are familiar with all sides of the conflict.

Shooter herself gets an interesting story here, one full of diversion and challenges to the preconceived notions of fans. It’s clear that writer Joshua Williamson is having fun with this misdirection, using it not only to highlight who Shooter is as a character but also how she lives up to her name. Many G.I. Joe characters are known for having unique traits that directly inform their namesakes; however, it has often felt like the series hasn’t leaned into that aspect enough. This issue serves as a great example of exploring that narrative trope in a fun and effective way.

Only twelve issues in, G.I. Joe feels like it has accomplished more worldbuilding for its characters than any of the Energon Universe series thus far. Yes, G.I. Joe was preceded by four miniseries, but those felt more focused on specific characters, with most of the broader worldbuilding happening here. Williamson has done an excellent job shepherding this title, and G.I. Joe #12 stands as a strong example of storytelling that balances expansive worldbuilding with character-driven narrative. It’s no wonder Williamson is guiding this corner of the Energon Universe while also serving as an architect for DC Comics and an active writer for Marvel.