G.I. Joe (IDW Publishing)

G.I. Joe is a comic book series by IDW Publishing, based upon Hasbro's G.I. Joe characters and toy line.

The series was marketed as three ongoing series (''G.I. Joe'', ''G.I. Joe: Origins'', ''G.I. Joe: Cobra II''), two mini-series (''G.I. Joe: Cobra'' and ''G.I. Joe: Hearts And Minds'') and a small series of one-shots (''G.I. Joe: Special''). An issue #0, was released in October 2008, containing three stand-alone stories which acted as previews for the main ''G.I. Joe'' series, ''G.I. Joe: Origins'', and ''G.I. Joe: Cobra''. A new mini-series, ''G.I. Joe: Infestation'' was released in March 2011.

In the 12th issue of ''G.I. Joe: Cobra II'', the original Cobra Commander was killed. This ended all three original ongoing series and resulted in a stand-alone ''G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War'' #0. This issue spawned two new ''G.I. Joe'' and ''G.I. Joe: Cobra'' ongoing series, and a ''G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes'' ongoing series which took the storyline into a new direction.

IDW's approach to G.I. Joe is similar to their launch of '' The Transformers'', where the history is rebooted and the creators have access to characters from any era of the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' line.

Licensing

Devil's Due Publishing lost the G.I. Joe comics license in January 2008, and published their last G.I. Joe comic in July with ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #36. The license was then given to IDW Publishing, which was officially announced on May 29 the same year. IDW's G.I. Joe series is a complete reboot of the property, ignoring the continuity from the Marvel and Devil's Due incarnations of the comic.

When IDW began publishing a continuation of ''A Real American Hero'' from Marvel Comics separately, Hasbro said that the Devil's Due continuity was no longer canonical: "Fans can read it according to their personal preference, but we are currently taking the brand in a direction that does not take the Devil’s Due story into account".

IDW lost the license rights by the end of 2022.

Main canon continuity (2008–2018)

First series

Issue #0 was released in October 2008, containing three stand-alone stories which acted as previews for the main ''G.I. Joe'' series, ''G.I. Joe: Origins'' and ''G.I. Joe: Cobra''. It was originally solicited as ''G.I. Joe: A New Beginning'' #0.

* ''G.I. Joe'' (vol. 1)
: The main series of the new IDW continuity of G.I. Joe. It chronicles the new conflict between the G.I. Joe Team and Cobra as presented by the new IDW continuity. Contrary to what was initially believed, original ''G.I. Joe'' comic writer Larry Hama is not the writer for this series. Instead, veteran comic book writer Chuck Dixon is penning this series. 27 issues were released. In addition, a ''G.I. Joe: Special'' was published that was to be an ongoing series of one-shot issues. Each comic was to serve to focus on a particular character in the continuity established by IDW. The series was to be done with rotating creative teams. However, the series had only seen one issue - a Helix issue (August 2009). It seems now that many of the stories intended to take place in ''Special'' issues were transferred over to the ''Origins'' series.
* ''G.I. Joe: Origins''
: A mini-series that later became an ongoing series. The series was penned by original ''G.I. Joe'' writer Larry Hama, who was initially thought to be the scribe for the main series. The series explores the formation of G.I. Joe and the personalities that make up the team. 23 issues were released.
* '' G.I. Joe: Cobra'' (vol. 1)
: A four-issue mini-series that details the status quo of Cobra for the continuity by IDW as Joe member Chuckles spies on the threat. The story is written by Christos Gage and Mike Costa and art by Antonio Fuso. The covers are illustrated by Howard Chaykin. The story was continued with a one-shot as part of the ''G.I. Joe: Cobra: Special'' series. The story focused on Tomax and Xamot.
* ''G.I. Joe: Cobra II''
: Originally a four-issue mini-series, which was a direct continuation from the previous Cobra mini-series and one-shot special. It was then continued as an ongoing series titled ''G.I. Joe: Cobra'' (without the II), starting with #5. 13 issues were released. In addition, during this time, a second ''G.I. Joe: Cobra: Special'' was published with the focus being on Chameleon.
* ''G.I. Joe: Hearts And Minds''
: A five-issue mini-series, written by Max Brooks. Each issue focuses on two stories, each a day in the life of a Joe and a Cobra.
* ''G.I. Joe: Infestation''
: A two-issue mini-series. The two-issue IDW mini-series ''Infestation'', which started in January 2011, is in essence a two-part bookend story, with the first issue showing the origins of the event in G.I. Joe: Infestation and the second finishing up the story after the G.I. Joe series. There was some connection in the final issue of Infestation with other IDW properties like ''Transformers'', '' Star Trek'' and ''Ghostbusters''.

Second series

* ''G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War''
: Released in April 2011. It was released as an issue #0, which was the starting point for two new ongoing series, ''G.I. Joe'' and ''G.I. Joe: Cobra'', and a ''G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes'' ongoing series, all launched the next month.
* ''G.I. Joe'' (vol. 2)
: Started in May 2011. It was the second regular G.I. Joe ongoing series and starts from the ''G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War'' #0, with the previous G.I. Joe series ending after the death of Cobra commander. 21 issues were released.
* ''G.I. Joe: Cobra'' (vol. 3)
: Started in May 2011. It was the third Cobra series and the second ongoing that starts from the ''G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War'' #0, with the previous Cobra series ending after the death of Cobra commander. 21 issues were released. (IDW considers this series to be volume two.) In addition, a one-shot issue was published, titled ''Cobra Annual 2012: The Origin of Cobra Commander'', that explores the origins of the new Cobra Commander.
* ''G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes (and Storm Shadow)''
: Started in May 2011. It starts from the ''G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War'' #0. Starting with issue 13, the title of the series was changed to ''G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes And Storm Shadow''. 21 issues were released.
* ''Infestation 2: G.I. Joe''
: A two-issue mini-series which was released in March 2012. The two-issue IDW mini-series '' Infestation 2'', which started in January 2012, is in essence a two-part bookend story, with the first issue showing the origins of the event that continues within ''Infestation 2: G.I. Joe'' and the second finishing up the story after the G.I. Joe series. There are some connections in the final issue of ''Infestation 2'' to other IDW titles such as ''Transformers'', '' 30 Days of Night'', ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' and ''Danger Girl''.

Third series

Starting in February 2013, three new G.I. Joe ongoing series were launched to replace the old ones.

* ''G.I. Joe'' (vol. 3)
: Started in February 2013. It is the third regular G.I. Joe ongoing series. 15 issues were released.
* ''G.I. Joe: Special Missions''
: Started in March 2013. 14 issues were released.
* ''G.I. Joe: The Cobra Files''
: Started in April 2013. It was the fourth Cobra series and the third ongoing. Nine issues were released.

Fourth series

* ''G.I. Joe: The Fall of G.I. Joe'' (vol. 4)
: Started in September 2014. Karen Traviss wrote the main title. Eight issues were released.
* ''Snake Eyes: Agent of Cobra''
: A five-issue series written by Mike Costa and released starting in January 2015.

Fifth series

* ''Revolution''
: The IDW iteration of G.I. Joe returned in the 5-issue crossover event with ''Transformers'', '' Action Man'', '' M.A.S.K.'', ''Rom'', and ''Micronauts''. The series was published bi-weekly starting in September 2016. It was preceded by the ''Revolution: Prelude'' issue in August. In addition to the 5-issue main series and the prelude issue, there were eight one-shot issues related to the ''Revolution'' event, one of which focused on the G.I. Joe team specifically.
* ''G.I. Joe'' (vol. 5)
: A new ongoing series of ''G.I. Joe'' started publishing in December 2016.IDW Publishing DECEMBER 2016 Solicitations
/ref> Nine issues were released.
* ''Revolutionaries''
: Continuing from the ''Revolution'' crossover mini-series, ''Revolutionaries'' is an ongoing series that started in December 2016. The comic sees the appearance of major characters from various IDW comics, with the core team including the G.I. Joe member Mayday. Eight issues were released
* ''M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand Annual 2017''
: A one-shot issue that saw both the '' M.A.S.K.'' and ''G.I. Joe'' teams join forces against the criminal organization known as V.E.N.O.M.
* ''First Strike''
: The 6-issue crossover event, which is a sequel to ''Revolution'', started publishing in August 2017. Once again, the crossover includes ''Transformers'', ''Action Man'', ''M.A.S.K.'', ''Rom'', and ''Micronauts'', with six one-shots related to the crossover. ''First Strike'' was preceded by a zero issue in June.
* ''Scarlet's Strike Force''
: This comic started in December 2017, following the events of ''First Strike'' and saw the uniting of ''G.I. Joe'' and ''M.A.S.K.''. Eight issues were initially planned, but the series was cancelled after the third issue.

Chronological comic order

This is a chronological order of the IDW-continuity comics per which the timeline of events developed, as given in the trade paperback collections.

''Tales from the Cobra Wars: A G.I. Joe Anthology''

''Tales from the Cobra Wars: A G.I. Joe Anthology'' is an anthology of prose stories based on several ''G.I. Joe'' stories related to the Hasbro Comic Book Universe. It was edited by Max Brooks and released by IDW on April 19, 2011.

Alternate universes

In addition to the stories set in its central continuity, IDW has also released comics set in other continuities.

Film comic series

IDW Publishing published several ''G.I. Joe'' comic series based upon the 2009 film, '' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'':
*''G.I. Joe Movie Prequel''
: A four-part limited series acting as a prequel to the 2009 movie, '' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'', published from March to June 2009, written by Chuck Dixon. Each issue featured a different character from the movie (Duke, Destro, The Baroness and Snake Eyes respectively).
*''G.I. Joe Movie Adaptation''
: A four-part limited series published in July 2009 and written by Chuck Dixon, adapting the 2009 movie.
*''Snake Eyes''
: A four-part Snake-Eyes solo limited series co-written by Ray Park (October 2009 - January 2010).
*''G.I. Joe: Operation HISS''
: A four-part limited series that was published from February to June 2010. The first issue is a reprint of the comic distributed through Game Stop retail stores, which bridges the gap between the movie and the EA video game that followed.
*''G.I. Joe: Retaliation Movie Prequel''
: A four-part limited series published from February to April 2012 and written by John Barber, acting as a prequel to the second 2013 movie.

''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero''

'' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' is a continuation of the Marvel Comics series of the same name published from 1982 to 1994. It continued the numbering from the original Marvel series, starting with issue #155 ½, published on Free Comic Book Day in May 2010, followed by #156 and onward in July. It is written by Larry Hama, who wrote the original Marvel series, and ignores the events of the earlier Devil's Due continuation.

The series has been collected in a number of trade paperbacks:
*''Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #155 1/2, 156–160, February 2011, )
*''Volume 2'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #161-165, 132 pages, July 2011, )
*''Volume 3'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #166-170, 124 pages, December 2011, )
*''Volume 4'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #171-175, 128 pages, June 2012, )
*''Volume 5'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #176-180, 124 pages, October 2012, )
*''Volume 6'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #181-185, 128 pages, April 2, 2013, )
*''Volume 7'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #186-190, 128 pages, July 30, 2013, )
*''Volume 8'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #191-195, 124 pages, Dec 17, 2013, )
*''Volume 9'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #196-200, 132 pages, May 20, 2014, )
*''Volume 10'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #201-205, 124 pages, November 25, 2014, )
*''Volume 11'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #206-210, 124 pages, April 14, 2015 )
*''Volume 12'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #211-215, 124 pages, September 29, 2015 )
*''Volume 13'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #216–218 and the 2012 Annual, 116 pages, December 22, 2015, )
*''Volume 14'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' issues #219–221 & the prelude issue #0, 100 pages, March 29, 2016, )
*''Volume 15'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #222–225, 100 pages, June 14, 2016, )
*''Volume 16'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #226–230, 120 pages, October 18, 2016, )
*''Volume 17'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #231–235, 120 pages, May 10, 2017, )
*''Volume 18'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #236–240, 120 pages, September 12, 2017, )
*''Volume 19'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #241–245, 120 pages, February 13, 2018, )
*''Volume 20'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #246–250, 128 pages, June 26, 2018, )
*''Volume 21'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #251–255, 128 pages, December 11, 2018, )
*''Volume 22'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #256–260, 120 pages, May 14, 2019, )
*''Volume 23'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #261–265, 120 pages, October 22, 2019, )

A separate set of paperbacks collects these issues in larger volumes following the ''Classic G.I. Joe'' Marvel reprints listed in the previous section:
*''Volume 16'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #155 1/2-165, 268 pages, May 2015, ISBN )
*''Volume 17'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #166-175, 245 pages, January 2016, ISBN )
*''Volume 18'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #176-185, 246 pages, July 2016, ISBN )
*''Volume 19'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #186-195, 244 pages, March 2017, ISBN )
*''Volume 20'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #196-205, 244 pages, October 2017, ISBN )

''G.I. Joe: Future Noir''

The ''G.I. Joe: Future Noir'' series consisted of two issues set in their own continuity and written by Andy Schmidt.

Collected as:
*''G.I. Joe: Future Noir Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: Future Noir'' #1-2, 120 pages, February 2011, )

''G.I. Joe: Renegades''

The ''G.I. Joe: Renegades'' is set in the cartoon universe and was released in 2011.

''Street Fighter × G.I. Joe''

In 2016, IDW published a crossover with Capcom's ''Street Fighter'' titled ''Street Fighter × G.I. Joe''. It was written by Aubrey Sitterson with art by Emilio Laiso, and ran for six issues.

''G.I. Joe: Sierra Muerte''

A three-issue limited series by Michel Fiffe alongside Chad Bowers, running from February 8 to April 24, 2019.

2019 series

* ''G.I. Joe'' (vol. 6)
: In August 2018, IDW's former President Greg Goldstein announced the possibility for a new ''G.I. Joe'' comic book series for 2019. On July 2019, IDW officially announced the new ''G.I. Joe'' comic book series to debut in September 2019, written by Paul Allor and drawn by Chris Evenhuis.
* ''G.I. Joe: Castle Fall''
: The one-shot finale of 2019's ''G.I. Joe'' comic book, released on February 17, 2021.

''Snake Eyes: Deadgame''

''Snake Eyes: Deadgame'' was announced in July 2019, and will be co-written and co-drawn by Rob Liefeld. He considered Snake Eyes as both an icon and "bucket list" for him, stating the character is "Wolverine, Deadpool and Spider-Man rolled into one amazing character for an entire generation of fans that thrilled to his adventures in comics and cartoons and hung on his every toy release! My parents drove me all over the county to get me G.I. Joe action figures as a kid. These were my first and most favorite toys. Working with Hasbro and all my friends at IDW has been a blast so far. I can’t wait to get this work out into the public! If you enjoyed my recent Marvel work, this will match or exceed it!"

Collected editions

Trade paperback editions

The following is a table list of the trade paperback editions of the new IDW-continuity issues.

Reprints

IDW began printing trade paperback collections off the original Marvel Comics series starting in January 2009. The reprints contain ten issues each, retaining the originals full color. They have also begun reprinting the Devil's Due series (under the ''Disavowed'' brand), the Marvel ''G.I. Joe: Special Missions'' series, and the ''G.I. Joe: Yearbook''s.

A list of reprints:
* ''Classic G.I. Joe'':
**''Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #1-10, 240 pages, January 2009, )
** ''Volume 2'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #11-20, 240 pages, March 2009, )
** ''Volume 3'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #21-30, 240 pages, May 2009, )
** ''Volume 4'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #31-40, 240 pages, July 2009, )
** ''Volume 5'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #41-50, 236 pages, September 2009, )
** ''Volume 6'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #51-60, 240 pages, December 2009, )
** ''Volume 7'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #61-70, 232 pages, March 2010, )
** ''Volume 8'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #71-80, 256 pages, June 2010, )
** ''Volume 9'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #81-90, 252 pages, September 2010, )
** ''Volume 10'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #91-100, 240 pages, January 2011, )
** ''Volume 11'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #101-110, 240 pages, May 2011, )
** ''Volume 12'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #111-123, 288 pages, August 2011, )
** ''Volume 13'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #124-134, 236 pages, November 2011, )
** ''Volume 14'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #135-145, 256 pages, April 2012, )
** ''Volume 15'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #146-155, 248 pages, August 2012, )
* ''G.I. Joe: Special Missions'':
**''Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: Special Missions'' #1-7, 172 pages, July 2010, )
** ''Volume 2'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: Special Missions'' #8-14, 172 pages, October 2010, )
** ''Volume 3'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: Special Missions'' #15-21, 172 pages, March 2011, )
** ''Volume 4'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: Special Missions'' #22-28, 156 pages, September 2011, )
* ''G.I. Joe: Yearbook'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: Yearbook'' #1-4, 264 pages, March 2012, )
* ''G.I. Joe/Transformers'':
**''Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #1-4 and ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #139-142, 192 pages, September 2012, )
** ''Volume 2'' (collects ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' #1-6 and ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II'' #1-4, 248 pages, December 2012, )
* ''G.I. Joe: The Complete Collection'':
**''Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #1-12, 300 pages, November 2012, )
** ''Volume 2'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #13-24, 312 pages, June 2013 )
** ''Volume 3'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #25-33, G.I. JOE Yearbook #1, 312 pages, October 2013, )
** ''Volume 4'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #34-45, 312 pages, January 2014, )
** ''Volume 5'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #46–53, Special Missions #1–2, and Yearbook #2, 308 pages, August 12, 2014,)
** ''Volume 6'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #54-60, Special Missions #3-5, and Yearbook #3, 312 pages, December 16, 2014, )
** ''Volume 7'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #61-67, Special Missions #6-9, and Yearbook #4, 352 pages, June 9, 2015, )
** ''Volume 8'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #68–76, and Special Missions #10–13, 340 pages, January 12, 2016, )
** ''Volume 9'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #77-83 and Special Missions #14–19, 356 pages, May 17, 2016, )
* ''G.I. Joe: Disavowed'':
**''Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (vol. 2) #1-5, 142 pages, June 2010, )
** ''Volume 2'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (vol. 2) #6-13, 192 pages, January 2011, )
** ''Volume 3'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (vol. 2) #14-19, 144 pages, May 2011, )
** ''Volume 4'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (vol. 2) #20-26, 162 pages, October 2011, )
** ''Volume 5'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (vol. 2) #27-32, 136 pages, March 2012, )
** ''Volume 6'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (vol. 2) #33-38, 124 pages, August 2012, )
** ''Volume 7'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (vol. 2) #39-43, 164 pages, March 2013, )
* ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite: Disavowed'':
**''Volume 1'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #0-6, 340 pages, November 2013, )
** ''Volume 2'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #7-12, 148 pages, December 2013, )
** ''Volume 3'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #13-18, 140 pages, April 2014, )
** ''Volume 4'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #19-24, 136 pages, August 2014, )
** ''Volume 5'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #25-30, 156 pages, December 2014, )
** ''Volume 6'' (collects ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #31-36, 156 pages, June 2015, )

References

{{IDW Publishing

IDW Publishing titles
Lists of comics based on toys
G.I. Joe comics
Military comics
Science fiction comics
Superhero comics
Comic book reboots
2008 comics debuts