Optimus Prime and Duke Will Meet for the First Time in G.I. JOE

Today, Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company, are bringing seismic changes to the Energon Universe with two explosive upcoming G.I. JOE issues. Led by writer Joshua Williamson (Duke, Superman) and artist Andrea Milana (Creepshow, Cobra Commander), with colors by Lee Loughridge (Universal Monsters: The Mummy), and letters by Rus Wooton (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast), this powerhouse team delivers high-octane storytelling fans can’t miss. G.I. JOE #19 and #20 hit comic shops in February and March, respectively. 

Duke and Optimus Prime meeting for the first time in the Energon Universe? What's led to this momentous meeting of the EU's two greatest heroes? All we can say is it involves Clutch, Autobot Hound, and America's most wanted man – Matt Trakker! 

G.I. JOE #19 features a main cover by Tom Reilly, plus an incredible lineup of variants from Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr., Ben Oliver, Tonči Zonjić, Trevor Hairsine & Romulo Fajardo Jr., Andy Lanning, a spoiler foil variant by Pye Parr and a premium foil mask variant from John Amor and Andres Juarez. 

The G.I. JOE #20 cover lineup includes a main cover by Tom Reilly, two open to order variants from Joshua Cassara and Ben Oliver, a 1:25 incentive variant by Tonči Zonjić, and a 1:50 incentive variant by Jorge Corona. 

G.I. JOE 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 Conor Hughes (White Ash, The Game), 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 #19 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon | $3.99 unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. 

G.I. JOE #20 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon | $3.99 unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. 

The full list of variant covers is below: 

G.I. JOE  #19 Cover A by  Tom Reilly 

G.I. JOE #19 Cover B by Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr. 

G.I. JOE #19 Cover C by Ben Oliver 

G.I. JOE #19 Cover D (1:25 Incentive)  by Tonči Zonjić 

G.I. JOE #19 Cover E (1:50 Incentive)  by Trevor Hairsine, Andy Lanning, & Romulo Fajardo Jr. 

G.I. JOE #19 Cover F (1:100 Incentive, Foil)  by Pye Parr 

G.I. JOE #19 Cover G (Foil Mask, $4.99) by John Amor & Andres Juarez 

G.I. JOE  #20 Cover A by Tom Reilly 

G.I. JOE  #20 Cover B by Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr. 

G.I. JOE  #20 Cover C by Ben Oliver 

G.I. JOE  #20 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Tonči Zonjić 

G.I. JOE  #20 Cover E (1:50 Incentive) by Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer

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