G.I. JOE #25 is major comic book issue for the series. It will mark the start of the third year of the series by reaching the milestone 25th issue. To make this milestone issue an even bigger deal is that it will feature the first meeting between the G.I. JOE and Night Force. While you would think they are on the same side the solicitation for this issue states this new arc will feature the two military forces clashing. We got the chance to check out an early copy of G.I. JOE #25. Find out how it turned out with our advance review.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Tom Reilly and Andrea Milana
Colorist: Lee Lughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
G.I. JOE #25 SOLICITATION
“NEW ARC! 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!” – Image Comics & Skybound Entertainment
REVIEW
G.I. JOE #25 does not waste time in setting the high stakes for why the Night Force would be positioned as an opposing force. The reason that is given is one that is more complicated than just two different groups competing for the same mission. There are layers to the greater conflict involving Cobra that works off a lot of the long-term character arcs. It gives an immediate sense we will be getting major payoffs to several sub-plots that have been going on since the start of the series.
Right away when you open G.I. JOE #25 you are shown why the Night Force is a strong group that rival the JOEs. This is something that was needed since the spotlights on the Night Force in G.I. JOE #7, G.I. JOE #12, and G.I. JOE #18 were more on individual members of the group. Because of that seeing the Night Force fighting effectively as a team helped establish the group’s credibility. That being accomplished in the first handful of pages made it even better as every page was maximized.
From there we see how the ending of Baroness finding Colonel Hawk doing something shocking at the end of the last story creates immediate momentum for the start of the Nightforce arc. The position Baroness and Colonel Hawk are in made for quick and decisive actions to be taken. Those actions set the course for why we have G.I. JOE vs Night Force going on. It works as a smooth transition between story arc that further emphasizes how every issue of G.I. JOE builds on top of each other.
The situation the ending of the previous arc creates a scenario where every character in this story is forced to decide. For some it is easier than others because of the connections, or lack thereof, characters have made with each other. There are twenty-five issues of history that we as a reader have been able to experience with the JOEs. Joshua Willimson does an excellent job at tapping into this history to make every choice be the decision you expect each character to make.
Adding to how big of a deal G.I. JOE #25 is to the series having both Tom Reilly and Andrea Milana. Both artists have defined the look and feel of this series. They are as important to the success of the Energon Universe’s G.I. JOE corner as Williamson. Reilly and Milana show why with so much excellent artwork that emphasizes a consistent style has been maintained by both artists. There are some incredible double page spreads that add to how the Nightforce arc comes across as a big event.
FINAL THOUGHTS
G.I. JOE #25 is a phenomenal start to the Nightforce story arc. Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly and Andrea Milana pace things out that you feel like you are experiencing the start of a big blockbuster event. Everything that happens in this issue comes across as being a payoff for many sub-plots that have been developed since the start of the series. Where the payoff leads to is anyone’s guess, leaving you as the reader even more excited to find out what happens next.
Story Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Check out the full preview of G.I. JOE #25 by clicking here.
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