Things will not be slowing down for the Energon Universe’s G.I. JOE in 2026. That is seen with the latest announcement from Image Comics and Skybound Entertaining. In the announcement they reveal that Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly will be bringing back Storm Shadow and Scarlett to make their debuts in the series in April 15th G.I. JOE #21. Ahead of the April release they have provided us with some information about the issue and a look at the covers to share.
The last time we saw Storm Shadow and Scarlett was at the close of the Scarlett series from 2024. That series left Scarlett continuing her deep cover with the Clan Arashikage. That narrative will be continued in G.I. JOE #21 as Executive Editor Ben Abernathy spoke about in teasing the story:
“Fans have been demanding the return of Storm Shadow and Scarlett for nearly two years and they won’t be disappointed. This is the next step on the road to the historic G.I. JOE #25 coming this summer…don’t miss it!”
G.I. JOE #21 main cover will be handled by artists Tom Reilly. Additionally, variant covers will be available from the artists Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr., Ben Oliver, Tonči Zonjić, Jay Anacleto & Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Ito. Check out all of the covers below:
G.I. JOE #21 is scheduled to be released in stores on April 15, 2026. Find out more about the Energon Universe comic book in Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment press release below.
Storm Shadow and Scarlett Return in G.I. JOE #21
LOS ANGELES 1/20/2026 — Today, Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company, revealed iconic characters Storm Shadow and Scarlett will return in G.I. JOE #21. The superstar creative team of writer Joshua Williamson (DC K.O.), artist Tom Reilly (Duke, Ant-Man), and letterer Rus Wooton (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast), bring the heat in an action-packed issue you won’t want to miss. Find out what happens when fan favorite ninjas duke it out in G.I. JOE #21, arriving in stores April 15, 2026.
Storm Shadow and Scarlett return! The Arashikage and Cobra have met once before…prepare for ROUND TWO! Will G.I. JOE be forced to put a stop to it? “Fans have been demanding the return of Storm Shadow and Scarlett for nearly two years and they won’t be disappointed,” noted Executive Editor Ben Abernathy. “This is the next step on the road to the historic G.I. JOE #25 coming this summer…don’t miss it!”
G.I. JOE #21 features a main cover by Tom Reilly, two additional open to order covers by Joshua Cassara (X-Force) & Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Wonder Woman), and by Ben Oliver (Vengeance of Vampirella), then incentive variants beginning with 1:25 by Tonči Zonjić (Shadowman), 1:50 by Jay Anacleto (Vampirella) & Romulo Fajardo Jr., and 1:100 by Ito (Ghost Pepper).
G.I. JOE #21 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 (Destro), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country) and the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Robert Kirkman, artist Dan Mora (Justice League Unlimited, Superman), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). 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 #21 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon | $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
The full list of variant covers is below:
- G.I. JOE #21 Cover A by Tom Reilly
- G.I. JOE #21 Cover B by Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
- G. I. JOE #21 Cover C by Ben Oliver
- G.I. JOE #21 Cover D (1:25Incentive) by Tonči Zonjić
- G.I. JOE #21 Cover E (1:50 Incentive, Foil) by Jay Anacleto & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
- G.I. JOE #21 Cover F (1:100 Incentive) by Ito
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