G.I. Joe #6: You Gotta Fight… For Your Right…

G.I. Joe #6 concludes the first arc of the flagship G.I Joe series with a bang as Duke and Cobra Commander finally go head to head. This series has been a nonstop action romp and this issue is no exception. In a showcase of his advanced writing prowess, Joshua Williamson is able to mix this action packed story with a lot of character and heart, all while ensuring that the comic feels like the classic show that most fans will remember. G.I. Joe #6 is no exception to this, greatly pushing forward the story by introducing new beats while also providing a satisfying and earned conclusion to the arc at hand.

While much of the issue is focused on the physical and ideological battle between Duke and Cobra Commander, there is also a good amount of moments dedicated to the supporting cast on both the heroes and villains side. There are also some funny moments, such as when Destro cries out that no one should be able to defy him and attack his base despite this just happening in his miniseries that precedes G.I Joe. This is definitely an example of Williamson playing on classic cartoon tropes and it makes for a fun chuckle in a series that is mainly all about the action and characters.

Tom Reilly also gets to shine here, showcasing his ability to mix action amongst multiple characters while also pushing focus onto the main battle between just two. Both segments feel very well plotted out and Reilly does a fantastic job balancing the severity of both of the situations. The action always feels very hard hitting and goes great lengths to push the narrative by placing characters in situations that feel warranted by the story and practical given the constraints of the overall universe.

G.I. Joe #6 ends on a huge cliffhanger, introducing a character that definitely is going to come with a lot of greater implications for the future of this series. The Energon Universe as a whole is constantly growing more and more cohesive while also ensuring that all of these issues are self-contained, with G.I. Joe #6 being just the latest tip of the iceberg for the awesomeness for fans to expect.