G.I. Joe #1 – written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Tom Reilly – ends with the first official battle between the new G.I. Joe strike team and the forces of Cobra, where both sides come into conflict over a piece of Cybertron that fell to Earth.

As Clutch and Cover Girl attempt to get the Cybertronian tech away from Cobra, fellow team member Rock’N Roll intervenes, taking on Mercer and his Cobra Vipers. Unfortunatelly for Rock’N Roll, he winds up being the first casualty to fall prey to Cobra’s new Energon-based laser rifles.

The Debut Of Skybound's Joe Ongoing Series Kicks Off With The Dramatic Death Of Rock 'N Roll

G.I. Joe #1 – Written By Joshua Williamson; Art By Tom Reilly; Color By Jordie Bellaire; Lettering By Rus Wooton

Rock 'N Roll's death is a shocking way to end G.I Joe #1, ensuring readers return for issue #2 – those who aren’t enraged at the death of a beloved character, that is. Much like Transformers, the Joe creative team isn’t using Rock’N Roll’s death just for shock value. These deaths show that the Energon Universe is playing by an entirely different set of rules than previous continuities; character deaths like this also raise the stakes immeasurably for the series going forward, showing that not every exploding plane will be followed by a parachute.

Of course, death in comics isn’t always a permanent thing, so it may turn out that the rumors of Rock’N Roll’s death have been greatly exaggerated. However, Cobra’s new laser rifles were shown to be quite devastating earlier in the issue, and given that Rock’N Roll is perforated by the blasts in his final stand against Cobra, it is hard to see how the classic Joe will survive this encounter. So far, death has been a permanent thing in the Energon Universe, as most of the characters shown to have died in the continuity haven’t come back.

Readers Already Knew No One Was Safe In The Energon Universe – But Rock 'N Roll's Death Has Fans Asking "Who's Next?"

G.I. Joe #2 – Available December 18, 2024 From Skybound Entertainment

Now that they are down a soldier, the newly-formed Codename: G.I. Joe will have to bring in some reinforcements. New team member Risk is introduced in G.I. Joe #1 as well, although it’s currently unknown whether or not he is officially working on behalf of the Joes. Readers already know that Hawk has a secret team operating separately from Duke’s Joes, including Flint and Lady Jaye. Scarlett is also a possible new recruit, although she was shown to still be working deep undercover in Japan at the end of her self-titled miniseries.

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There are hundreds of characters in the franchise Snake Eyes hasn’t yet appeared in the new continuity, so perhaps Rock’N Roll’s death will be the thing that finally brings the ninja commando into the Universe's action. Whatever happens next, the fact that no one is safe should keep G.I. Joe fans asking who could be next to go in the Energon Universe.

G.I. Joe #1 is available now from Skybound Entertainment.

G.I. Joe

Created by

Donald Levine

First Film

G.I. Joe: The Movie

Latest Film

Snake Eyes

First TV Show

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

Latest TV Show

G.I. Joe Renegades

First Episode Air Date

September 12, 1983

G.I. Joe is a long-running franchise centered around a line of action figures produced by Hasbro, which has expanded into a wide array of media including comic books, animated series, and films. The franchise is known for its depiction of an elite military unit, G.I. Joe, fighting against the terrorist organization Cobra. Over the decades, G.I. Joe has become a significant cultural icon, particularly in the United States, with its slogan "A Real American Hero."

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