G.I. JOE #25 is a milestone issue for the Energon Universe series. To mark the occasion and kickstart the series third year in a big way G.I. JOE #25 will be an extra-sized issue. Now ahead of its August 19th release date Image Comics, Skybound, and Hasbro have provided us with more details about the comic and a look at the covers to share.
As mentioned, G.I. JOE #25 will be a major milestone for the series. With that in mind series writer Joshua Williamson along with artists Tom Reilly and Andrea Milana will tell the story of a civil war within the JOEs, as teased in the solicitation:
“It had to happen: G.I. JOE vs Night Force! Everything has been leading to this EXTRA-SIZED landmark issue as Joe battles Joe, friends become enemies, and the chart-topping team of Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly kick off the biggest G.I. JOE story in Energon Universe history!”
Speaking about this G.I. JOE vs Night Force battle, Joshua Williamson said this about why this was an important story to tell:
“One of the many things I love about working on the Energon Universe is the opportunity for long-form storytelling. The ability to craft and earn a big story like G.I. JOE vs Night Force. Something we’ve been setting up since the first mini-series. To reward our readers, and to do it with two incredible artists like Andrea and Tom is awesome…This is our biggest issue yet, full of major surprises, twists, turns and new characters! This story will change the face of G.I. JOE and will kick off a massive story for the Energon Universe, but what could possibly make G.I. JOE and the Night Force team want to fight each other?”
With it being such a major issue G.I. JOE #25 will have many additional variant covers being offered alongside the main cover by artist Tom Reilly. The variant cover artist line-up includes Jerome Opeña & Neeraj Menon, Miki Okazaki, Fadime Yildirim, Michele Rubini & Annalisa Leoni, Jonboy Meyers, and Andrea Milana & Andres Juarez. Check out the covers below:
G.I. JOE #25 is scheduled to be released in stores on August 19, 2026. Learn more about the upcoming Energon Universe release with Image Comes, Skybound, and Hasbro’s press release below.
G.I. JOE vs. Night Force Begins in G.I. JOE #25 from Skybound, Image & Hasbro!
LOS ANGELES 5/7/2026 — Today, Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company, announced a major new story arc in the hit Energon Universe series G.I. JOE, starting in G.I. JOE #25. The top-tier creative team of writer Joshua Williamson (DC K.O.), artists Tom Reilly (The Thing) and Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander), colorist Lee Loughridge (Universal Monsters: The Mummy), and letterer Rus Wooton (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast) set the stage for a jaw-dropping G.I. Joe vs. Night Force event fans have been anticipating for over two years. Don’t miss this landmark issue when G.I. JOE #25 hits comic shops August 19, 2026.
It had to happen: G.I. JOE vs Night Force!
Everything has been leading to this EXTRA-SIZED landmark issue as Joe battles Joe, friends become enemies, and the chart-topping team of Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly kick off the biggest G.I. JOE story in Energon Universe history!
“One of the many things I love about working on the Energon Universe is the opportunity for long-form storytelling. The ability to craft and earn a big story like G.I. JOE vs Night Force. Something we’ve been setting up since the first mini-series. To reward our readers, and to do it with two incredible artists like Andrea and Tom is awesome,” remarked writer Joshua Williamson. “This is our biggest issue yet, full of major surprises, twists, turns and new characters! This story will change the face of G.I. JOE and will kick off a massive story for the Energon Universe, but what could possibly make G.I. JOE and the Night Force team want to fight each other?”
In addition to the main wraparound cover by artist Tom Reilly, the lineup of variant covers for G.I. JOE #25 includes an open-to-order cover B by Jerome Opeña & Neeraj Menon, an open-to-order cover C by Miki Okazaki, a 1:25 incentive streetwear variant by Fadime Yildirim, a 1:50 incentive variant by Michele Rubini & Annalisa Leoni, a 1:100 incentive foil variant by Jonboy Meyers, JOE & Night Force blank sketch covers, a foil cover by Tom Reilly, and a die cut Zartan mask foil cover by Andrea Milana & Andres Juarez.
“To launch such a pivotal event with the 25th issue in incredible,” noted Executive Editor Ben Abernathy. “We’ve been building toward this storyline for over two years and it’s thrilling that it’s finally come together!”
G.I. JOE is a tentpole of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Other Energon Universe titles include the ongoing series Void Rivals by writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist Andrei Bressan (Birthright, Destro), and colorist Dee Cunniffe (The Wicked + The Divine), the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Robert Kirkman, artist Jason Howard (The Astounding Wolf-Man), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon), and the new fourth Energon Universe title, M.A.S.K. by writer Dan Watters (Batman: Dark Patterns), artist Pye Parr (2000 AD), and Pierluigi Casolino (DC vs. Vampires) arriving June 10. Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.
G.I. JOE #25 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon | $4.99, unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The full list of variant covers is below:
- I. JOE #25 Cover A (Wraparound) by Tom Reilly
- I. JOE #25 Cover B by Jerome Opeña &Neeraj Menon
- I. JOE #25 Cover C by Miki Okazaki
- I. JOE #25 Cover D (1:25 Incentive)(Streetwear Variant) by Fadime Yildirim
- I. JOE #25 Cover E (1:50 Incentive) by Michele Rubini & Annalisa Leoni
- I. JOE #25 Cover F (1:100 Incentive) (Foil)by Jonboy Meyers ($5.99)
- I. JOE #25 Cover G Blank Sketch Cover (JOE) ($5.99)
- I. JOE #25 Cover H Blank Sketch Cover (Night Force) ($5.99)
- I. JOE #25 Cover I (Foil) by Tom Reilly ($5.99)
- I. JOE #25 Cover J (Foil) Die Cut Mask Cover by Andrea Milana & Andres Juarez ($5.99)
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