G.I. Joe #20: The Meeting of the Decade

G.I. Joe #20 is the comic Energon Universe fans have been waiting for ever since Void Rivals #1 revealed its shared universe. While characters from Transformers and G.I. Joe have already crossed paths across multiple titles, this marks the first time two of the franchise’s central protagonists truly come together in this shared universe. At the same time, the issue carries the weight of setting up the upcoming M.A.S.K. series while also laying the groundwork for the next arc of G.I. Joe. On paper, that sounds like far too much for a single issue with a limited page count. Fortunately, writer Joshua Williamson and artist Andrea Milana manage to balance it all with impressive confidence.

Picking up directly after the previous issue, Matt Trakker finds himself hunted by an agent of Miles Mayhem, unaware that Duke and Clutch are actively searching for him. The resulting standoff serves as a soft pitch for the upcoming M.A.S.K. series, which promises to follow Trakker as he takes the fight back to Mayhem’s forces so he no longer has to live in the shadows. The Energon Universe has been built on these kinds of interconnected moments, beginning with Jetfire’s appearance in Void Rivals #1. Thankfully, Trakker’s send-off feels organic and meaningful, while also generating genuine excitement for the next expansion of this shared universe.

From there, the story shifts into the moment fans have been eagerly anticipating: the meeting between Duke and Optimus Prime. For readers keeping up with the ongoing Transformers series, this issue takes place immediately after the events of Transformers #30 earlier this month. Many fans had wondered why G.I. Joe shifted to a twice-monthly release during its last arc, but the reasoning becomes clear here. The way Transformers #30 positions the board for this encounter demonstrates a level of editorial coordination that shows just how carefully this universe is being managed.

The long-awaited meeting between Duke and Optimus alone feels worth the price of admission. Williamson captures both characters perfectly, highlighting their distinct personalities and histories while allowing them to find common ground. He even injects a bit of humor, as Clutch and Hound jokingly note that they can practically predict the conversation because they know their leaders so well. By the end of the exchange, the groundwork for an alliance between the Autobots and the Joes has been established. At the same time, the story makes it clear that each group will continue pursuing its own mission. In a meta sense, it signals a shift in the status quo without blurring the identities of the individual series.

The final portion of the issue pivots toward the Joes’ next objective, revealing that the events of the Scarlett miniseries will finally play a role in the main narrative. That development opens the door to a number of possibilities, but the most exciting may be the prospect of Snake Eyes finally entering the Energon Universe. That’s pure speculation for now, but it’s exactly the kind of anticipation that makes these books so much fun to follow month after month.