G.I. Joe
Issue 0
Publication information
Publisher	IDW Publishing
Schedule	Weekly
Publication date	October 2008 - present
No. of issues	109
Creative team
Created by	Hasbro

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

The series is marketed as three ongoing series (G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe: Origins, G.I. Joe: Cobra II), two mini-series (G.I. Joe: Cobra & 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.^[1]

In the 12th issue of G.I. Joe: Cobra II, the notorious 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.^[2]

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

Licensing

Devil's Due lost the G.I. Joe comics license in January 2008,^[3] and published their last G.I. Joe comic in July 2008 with G.I. Joe: America's Elite #36.^[4] The license was then given to IDW Publishing, which was officially announced on May 29, 2008.^[5] 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. On January 15, 2010, Hasbro stated 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."^[6]

Original 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.^[7] It was originally solicited as G.I. Joe: A New Beginning #0.

G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe is 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.^[8] 27 issues were released.

G.I. Joe: Origins

G.I. Joe: Origins is 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.^[7] 23 issues were released.

G.I. Joe: Cobra

G.I. Joe: Cobra is 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.^[7] The story was continued with a one-shot as part of the G.I. Joe: Cobra: Special series.^[9]

G.I. Joe: Cobra II

G.I. Joe: Cobra II was 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.^[10] 13 issues were released.

Specials

• G.I. Joe: Special 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 has 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.^[11]
• G.I. Joe: Cobra: Special is a series of one-shots focussing on Cobra characters. Two issues have been published, the first focusing on Tomax and Xamot (September 2009) and the second on Chameleon (September 2010).^[12]
• Cobra Annual 2012: The Origin of Cobra Commander is a one-shot issue (January 2012) that explores the origins of the new Cobra Commander.^[13]

Limited series

G.I. Joe: Hearts And Minds

G.I. Joe: Hearts And Minds is a five-issue mini-series, written by Max Brooks.^[14] Each issue focuses on two stories, each a day in the life of a Joe and a Cobra.^[15]

G.I. Joe: Infestation

G.I. Joe: Infestation is 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.

G.I. Joe: Infes2ation

G.I. Joe: Infes2ation is a two-issue mini-series scheduled to start in March 2012. The two-issue IDW mini-series Infes2ation, which will start in January 2012, is in essence a two-part bookend story, with the first issue showing the origins of the event in G.I. Joe: Infes2ation and the second finishing up the story after the G.I. Joe series. There will be some connection in the final issue of Infes2ation with other IDW properties like Transformers, 30 Days of Night, Dungeons & Dragons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Danger Girl.^[13]

Ongoing series

G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War was 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.^[2]

G.I. Joe vol. 2

G.I. Joe started in May 2011. It will be 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. Nine issues have been released so far.

G.I. Joe: Cobra vol. 3

G.I. Joe: Cobra started in May 2011. It is 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. Nine issues have been released so far.

G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes

G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes started in May 2011. It starts from the G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War #0. Nine issues have been released so far.

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 2009 to June 2009,^[16] written by Chuck Dixon.^[17]
• 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).
• G.I. Joe: Operation HISS - A four-part limited series that was published from January 2010 to April 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.

Reprints

IDW began printing trade paperback collections off the original Marvel Comics series starting in January 2009.^[18] The reprints contain ten issues each, retaining the originals full color. They have also began reprinting the Devil's Due series, the Marvel G.I. Joe: Special Missions series, and the G.I. Joe: Yearbooks.

A list of reprints:

• Classic G.I. Joe:
  • Volume 1 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1-10, 240 pages, January 2009, ISBN 978-1-60010-345-2)
  • Volume 2 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #11-20, 240 pages, March 2009, ISBN 978-1-60010-379-7)
  • Volume 3 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #21-30, 240 pages, May 2009, ISBN 978-1-60010-423-7)
  • Volume 4 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #31-40, 240 pages, July 2009, ISBN 978-1-60010-462-6)
  • Volume 5 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #41-50, 236 pages, September 2009, ISBN 978-1-60010-519-7)
  • Volume 6 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #51-60, 240 pages, December 2009, ISBN 978-1-60010-545-6)
  • Volume 7 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #61-70, 232 pages, March 2010, ISBN 978-1-60010-598-2)
  • Volume 8 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #71-80, 256 pages, June 2010, ISBN 978-1-60010-655-2)
  • Volume 9 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #81-90, 252 pages, September 2010, ISBN 978-1-60010-706-1)
  • Volume 10 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #91-100, 240 pages, January 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-791-7)
  • Volume 11 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #101-110, 240 pages, May 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-875-4)
  • Volume 12 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #111-123, 288 pages, August 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-972-0)
  • Volume 13 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #124-134, 236 pages, November 2011, ISBN 978-1-61377-082-5)
  • Volume 14 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #135-145, 256 pages, March 2012, ISBN 978-1-61377-153-2)
• G.I. Joe: Disavowed:
  • Volume 1 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (vol. 2) #1-5, 142 pages, June 2010, ISBN 978-1-60010-658-7)
  • Volume 2 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (vol. 2) #6-13, 192 pages, January 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-796-6)
  • Volume 3 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (vol. 2) #14-19, 144 pages, May 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-901-0)
  • Volume 4 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (vol. 2) #20-26, 162 pages, October 2011, ISBN 978-1-61377-046-7)
  • Volume 5 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (vol. 2) #27-32, 136 pages, February 2012, ISBN 978-1-61377-133-9)
• G.I. Joe: Special Missions:
  • Volume 1 (collects G.I. Joe: Special Missions #1-7, 172 pages, July 2010, ISBN 978-1-60010-676-7)
  • Volume 2 (collects G.I. Joe: Special Missions #8-14, 172 pages, October 2010, ISBN 978-1-60010-758-3)
  • Volume 3 (collects G.I. Joe: Special Missions #15-21, 172 pages, March 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-849-5)
  • Volume 4 (collects G.I. Joe: Special Missions #22-28, 156 pages, September 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-959-1)
• G.I. Joe: Yearbook (collects G.I. Joe: Yearbook #1-4, 264 pages, January 2012, ISBN 978-1-61377-121-1)

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

The G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series was revived as an ongoing in May 2010, with #155 ½ and followed by #156 onwards in July 2010, picking up from the end of the Marvel Comics series, and written by original G.I. Joe writer Larry Hama. Hasbro declared on January 15, 2010, that the Devil's Due continuity was no longer canon.^[19]

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, ISBN 978-1-60010-864-8)
• Volume 2 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #161-165, 132 pages, July 2011, ISBN 978-1-60010-941-6)
• Volume 3 (collects G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #166-170, 124 pages, December 2011, ISBN 978-1-61377-105-1)

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, ISBN 978-1-60010-865-5)

G.I. Joe: Renegades

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

Collected editions

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

Chronological comic order

This is a chronological order of the IDW-continuity comics per which the timeline of events developed.

References