Image Comics reviews 6/18/25 – GI Joe 8, Blood and Thunder 2

GI Joe 8

GI Joe 8 was like clockwork showing off another finely tuned installment of the best non-superhero comic on the stands today.

After a rough and costly opening battle against Cobra, Duke is putting the Joes through serious training exercises. Writer Joshua Williamson shows Duke has the right idea, but with a team of only six operatives, the more important item on the agenda might just be a recruitment drive.

While the Joes train, Cobra Commander reveals more of the Transformers to Destro. Williamson is handling the Cobra Commander/Destro dynamic in a unique manner — one that’s built more on mutual respect than loathing. It’s an interesting way to go as Cobra Commander actually lets his right-hand man in on the main plans while still keeping some intel close to the vest. GI Joe 8 also showed how tight the continuity within the Energon Universe titles is as the events on the monitor line up closely to what’s playing out in Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona’s title.

The Transformers isn’t the only title with Autobots running around as Clutch is still trying to make sense of Hound. This is a fun shift in the status quo as GI Joe is appearing in Transformers and vice versa only in this title, the Joes are much nicer than in Transformers. Baroness requests some time off to travel to Paris. Duke agrees but sends Cover Girl along to keep an eye on her.

This allowed Williamson to spend some time developing Cover Girl’s backstory. In the original Real American Hero comics and cartoon, Cover Girl was overshadowed by Scarlett and Lady Jaye so it’s a nice switch for her to be a featured member of this team. There’s a great line in GI Joe 8 where Cover Girl smoothly gets one up on Baroness.

It’s not a bad thing that Baroness has company as Major Bludd is targeting her for payback on his shot out eye. And this time he’s not alone. It’s always fun seeing Williamson incorporate unexpected characters from the Joe mythos into the series and this arrival proves far more menacing than any other portrayal.

Regular artist Tom Reilly’s break continues, but the series doesn’t suffer visually as Andrea Milana steps in with equally exciting and well laid out art. Milana has a bit more of an ominous slant to his art with dramatic perspectives that tease something bad could happen at any moment. That approach works wonderfully throughout GI Joe 8 but especially when Baroness and Cover Girl get attacked.

Colorist Lee Loughridge is locked in with Milana’s style providing rich colors that blend in with the art as opposed to nearly leaping off the pages. Rus Wooten’s lettering is always dynamic, and he utilizes the frames well for captivating sound effects.

GI Joe 8 is this series’ best example of a cool-down issue and it’s still more exciting and engaging than most titles. Next issue looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun with this new player emerging to take down the Joes.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Enjoyed GI Joe 8? Check out the latest trade paperback The Cobra Strikes now on Amazon.

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