G.I. Joe (2024) issue 3

Publisher	Image Comics; Skybound Entertainment
First published	January 15, 2024
Cover date	January 2024
Written by	Joshua Williamson
Art by	Tom Reilly
Colors by	Jordie Bellaire
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Editors	Ben Abernathy
Continuity	Energon Universe

Clutch finds himself deep in the viper’s nest as the Joes rally to rescue Doctor Venom from Cobra’s clutches.

Synopsis

Having found himself unwittingly infiltrating Cobra headquarters in Springfield, Clutch (disguised as a Cobra Viper) looks for a way to contact the Joes. He is halted by Mercer, looking to take out his frustration on one of the Vipers, but is saved by the timely intervention of Destro, who briefs Mercer and the present Vipers on the next phase of Cobra's plan: retrieve Dr. Archibald Monev, creator of the Brainwave Scanner, from protective custody before he testifies in front of Congress. Mercer asks what Destro is planning to build with the Brainwave Scanner, but the meeting is interrupted by Cobra Commander, who reveals that there is an infiltrator in their midst. At that moment, one of the Cobra scientists attacks the Commander with an odd dagger, but the Commander easily subdues him and crushes his jaw. The assassin attempts to flee, his face falling off to reveal a reptilian visage, but Cobra Commander drags him to an opening in the middle of the facility, whispering a taunt to the Cobra-La spy that Golobulus sent him to die before throwing him into a pit full of robotic serpents that quickly devour the spy. With everyone distracted, Clutch slips away. Cobra Commander tells Destro not to bother sending Mercer and the Vipers to retrieve Dr. Monev, as he's already sent their other allies...

Meanwhile, in the Pit, Duke and Risk continue their brawl. Baroness is surprised Colonel Hawk at allowing the fight to continue, but he just figures the two men should get it out of their systems now. Thankfully, the fight is interrupted by Stalker, who ridicules them for getting into such a petty squabble. He goes to call Rock 'n Roll's family, leaving the rest to review what they know and don't know about Cobra and their weaponry. Cover Girl then enters with a video transmission from Clutch, informing them of Cobra's plans for Dr. Monev. With Monev a mere six hours away from his Congressional appearance, the Joes must get to him before Cobra!

In Washington, D.C., Monev rides with his security detail to the Capitol. Conversing with one of the guards, Monev resents the treatment he and his machine have earned, especially the press's nickname for him: "Doctor Venom." Monev soon realizes the car is going the wrong way. The guard then reveals that they aren't taking him to Congress; he's going to be coming with them. Monev asks who "they" are, only to be interrupted by the car attacked by Duke, Baroness, and Risk. They quickly take out the guards and tell Monev they're here to rescue him. When Monev asks if he has a choice, the guard tells him to choose Cobra. Seeing his uniform underneath his clothes, Risk reveals the security to be Crimson Guard sleeper agents! Baroness has heard of the Crimson Guard and fears that their bosses can't be far behind. Sure enough, the Joes are beset with laser fire from a Cobra Stinger driven by the Crimson Twins, Tomax and Xamot!

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

G.I. Joe	Cobra	Others
Clutch (2) Baroness (7) Hawk (8) Risk (9) Duke (10) Stalker (11) Cover Girl (12)	Cobra Vipers (1) Mercer (3) Destro (4) Cobra Commander (5) Cobra-La assassin (6) Crimson Guardsmen (14) Tomax & Xamot (15 &16)	Archibald Monev (13)

Quotes

"My instincts are never wrong, Destro. Trust that.”

—Cobra Commander

Notes

Continuity notes

Mercer seems to still have bone to pick with Duke, owing to their first confrontation in Duke #1.
After Cobra Commander dispatched Nemesis Enforcer in Cobra Commander #4, Golobulus ordered another agent be sent to retrieve the Commander and bring him back to Cobra-La in the epilogue of Cobra Commander #5.
Baroness references the attack on M.A.R.S. Industries by Cobra from Cobra Commander #5.
The Crimson Twins and the Crimson Guard made their Energon Universe debut in the Destro miniseries. The Twins were business rivals to Destro before falling in with Cobra alongside their competitor. However, that series depicted the Crimson Guard as Tomax and Xamot's personal army rather than elite sleeper agents.

G.I. Joe references

The idea that the Crimson Guard are Cobra sleeper agents that could be anyone in society dates back to their original profile card and Marvel comic depiction.
The iconic G.I. Joe RAM motorcycle makes its Energon Universe debut in this issue, though sadly lacking its sidecar Gatling gun.

Errors

On the last page, Tomax and Xamot are mislabeled. Xamot is the one with the scar.

Covers

Cover A: Duke and Risk brawl while Baroness tries to stop them, by Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire.
Cover B: The Joe team, by David Finch and Adriano Lucas.
Cover C: Baroness and Duke, by Pablo Villalobos.
Cover D (1:10 Copy Incentive): Chameleon, one of a series of connecting variants featuring the female characters of G.I. Joe, by David Nakayama.
Cover E (1:25 Copy Incentive): Baroness on an explosion background, by Travis Moore and Adriano Lucas.
Cover F (1:50 Copy Incentive): Cobra propaganda, by Patricia Martin.