Summary

• Major Bludd is brought back in Duke #3, only to be killed off immediately - or is his death a clever ruse?
• The mystery of Major Bludd's missing eye may finally be explained in Skybound's new G.I. Joe continuity.
• Classic characters like Bludd and Cobra Commander are being reintroduced to this new continuity, building anticipation for future appearances.

WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Duke #3G.I. Joe just brought back a classic villain in the recently released Duke #3… only to then immediately kill him off. But is it possible that this villain’s “death” is nothing more than an elaborate explanation for a longstanding franchise mystery? If so, then Skybound may have finally revealed how Major Bludd got his famed eye-patch.

Coming from the creative team of Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire and Rus Wooten, Duke #3 opens with Destro tasking Major Bludd with killing Duke and retrieving the tech that Dr. Adele Burkhardt previously gave him in the first issue.

Bludd leads an attack on the Pit, where Duke, Clutch and Baroness are currently being held as prisoners. During the fracas, Bludd is able to gain the upper hand in a fistfight with Duke, until Baroness shoots him in the back of the head.

Did G.I. Joe Explain How Major Bludd Got His Eye-patch?

Major Bludd’s missing eye was never explained in the original Marvel Comics, making this a pretty huge reveal for Skybound’s new G.I. Joe continuity.

Introducing and then immediately killing off a significant villain like Major Bludd is a surprising turn of events, but perhaps it shouldn’t be too surprising given the history of the Energon Universe line. However, a few key hints should clue fans in that Bludd may not be as dead as he currently appears. When looking closely at Bludd after he is shot by Baroness, it looks like the villain didn’t take a bullet to the back of the head, but instead was “winged.” Considering that Bludd was portrayed in the classic continuity as wearing an eye-patch, then fans may finally have an explanation of how Bludd lost his left eye.

Major Bludd’s missing eye was never explained in the original Marvel Comics, making this a pretty huge reveal for Skybound’s new G.I. Joe continuity. Bludd first appeared in 1983's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #15 by Larry Hama and Mike Vosburg, where he was recruited by Cobra Commander to kill Destro, only to be stopped at the last minute by Baroness. It’s ironic that Bludd is being recruited here by Destro, but Duke #3 pays homage to Bludd’s original first appearance by having Baroness once again foil his plans. It’s a clever way to update the franchise while paying homage to its storied past, and watching the pieces come together makes for an exciting origin story.

Major Bludd Is Dead… Long Live Major Bludd

Given that the G.I. Joe and Cobra organizations don’t yet exist in the Energon Universe, the newly-rebooted franchise still has a long way to go in fleshing out the all-new continuity. The introductions of so many classic characters in both the Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries have kept fans on their toes, building up anticipation as to who will appear next. Whether or not Major Bludd ever reappears (with eye-patch in tow), fans will have to keep reading the new G.I. Joe titles to find out.

Duke #3 is on sale now from Skybound Entertainment.