Image Comics reviews 5/20/26 – GI Joe 22, Battle Beast 9

GI Joe 22

GI Joe 22 continues the series’ trend of doing fresh, new experimental and fully satisfying even to longtime Joe fans. Much like DC’s Absolute Universe line of titles, the Energon Universe works so well by simply subverting expectations of how a title should play out.

In this case, the commanding officers of both units — Hawk (Zartan) and Cobra Commander dispatch a three-member squad to Badhikistan to track down a sizable enough amount of Energon to get detected by both forces. Hawk sends Stalker, Baroness and Risk while Cobra Commander sends Destro, Chameleon and Mercer.

Writer Joshua Williamson teases some tension with Cobra Commander and Destro since CC knows Destro tried to set him up to get taken out by the Dreadnoks. In a welcome change of pace from their usual dynamic, it’s Cobra Commander who holds the upper hand and the power in this instance. The back and forth between the two is fun and hopefully Williamson doesn’t rush splitting the two too soon.

As the Joes and Cobras arrive at the coordinates, they’re greeted by an unusual welcoming party powered by D.I.R.E. Tech. Artist Andrea Milana really leans into the horror tone of this story that’s just missing the ominous music to properly pay off his jump scares. Colorist Lee Loughridge definitely leans into a darker color scheme for GI Joe 22 letting shadows and low light help tell the story.

Williamson gives Risk more of a spotlight this issue offering some insight into his background before he joined the Joes. It’s somewhat familiar to the origin of Hunter Zolomon in Geoff Johns’ Flash run played out in a non-superhero environment. Williamson has mentioned his fandom of the GI Joe Classified Series line so it’s not shocking that GI Joe 22 features Crystal Ball in his CS-inspired design and incorporating the DIRE Tech gimmick from Hasbro’s toy line. That’s some fun synergy.

GI Joe 22 is another strong installment to the series with an intriguing change in tone to lean into another aspect of the GI Joe lore.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 

After reading GI Joe 22, pre-order the next trade paperback Vol. 4: The Hunt for Energon at Amazon.

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