G.I. Joe #13: DREADNOK WAR!!!

G.I. Joe #13 begins the next big arc for this series: The Dreadnok War! In a bit of a surprise, the issue kicks off with a detailed recap of the events that have led us to this point. This is typical for a series returning from a hiatus, and while some fans wish it were more common in monthly books, it’s nice to see here, especially since this arc relies heavily on events from the Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries, which were also written by G.I. Joe writer Joshua Williamson. The recap serves as a saving grace for both consistent readers and lapsed fans, as it effectively sets the stage for a plot-heavy issue.

The crux of this issue, and the arc, revolves around Duke and Cobra Commander arriving at a possible source of Energon with little to no backup from their organizations. Duke’s reason for arriving alone makes sense; however, Cobra Commander randomly decides that he wants to take this one mostly solo. Given that previous issues established Destro’s ambitions to seize control of Cobra, it makes little sense for Cobra Commander to act this way. That said, a story is made of the sum of its parts, and thankfully, every other part of this issue is fantastic.

While much of the issue sets up the forced cooperation between Duke and Cobra Commander, the action leading up to it genuinely raises the stakes in interesting ways. Williamson weaves a lot of deception from the start, manipulating each of these characters and teams like a master chess player. The specifics venture into spoiler territory, but suffice it to say that the way everything unfolds is a brilliant display of writing that builds naturally on beats established in prior issues.

Tom Reilly stuns on art in this issue, particularly during the action sequences. One standout scene features Duke fighting a Cobra agent while Cobra Commander makes snide remarks to himself on the sidelines. The panel layout here is fantastic, alternating between Cobra Commander and the fight, which is stylized in a way that makes each punch feel genuinely impactful.

As the issue comes to a close, it’s clear that the buildup to this arc was worth it. The Skybound team has been promoting The Dreadnok War since Free Comic Book Day, and that feels like a lifetime ago. Thankfully, the story itself delivers, crafted by creators who clearly understand the heart of G.I. Joe and know how to balance emotion and character-driven storytelling.