G.I. Joe has a new member in long-time franchise villain Baroness, and now the writer of the Energon Universe series is explaining how that decision came to be. The Baroness officially ed the team in Energon Universe 2024 Special #1 in a G.I. Joe story by Joshua Williamson, Jason Howard, Mike Spicer, and Rus Wooton, becoming an official member of the team despite her shady past.

Speaking with ScreenRant, G.I. Joe series writer Williamson explains how the idea of the Baroness initially ing G.I. Joe as opposed to Cobra came about. “Early on, I wanted to do something different with Baroness,” Williamson explains, before he landed on a rather simple idea.

Comic book page: Baroness in her new G.I. Joe battle gear, standing in a room lit by intense red light.

For Williamson, Baroness’ face turn came about purely through the visuals:

I thinking, ‘You know how easy it would be to make a G.I. Joe version of Baroness?’ All you have to do is take the Cobra logo off, and then put a star on it.

Baroness Is a Member of G.I. Joe in the Energon Universe

G.I. Joe #1 Variant Cover by David Nakayama

Comic book cover: Baroness stands in front of a crashed wall in a hail of laser blasts

In the Energon Universe, the Baroness is actually Anastasia Cisarovna, a wealthy heiress who grew bored with the socialite lifestyle and turned to terrorism instead. After being radicalized at university, Cisarovna trained to become one of the world’s deadliest mercenaries, committing acts of terror on behalf of whoever was willing to pay for her services. She ed up with Duke when they were both imprisoned at the classic Joes HQ, the Pit, helping him escape when they were suddenly under siege from Major Bludd and his personal guards.

Baroness made her Energon Universe debut at the end of Duke #2 by Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire, and Rus Wooton, available now from Skybound Entertainment.

When later assembling his team for Codename: G.I. Joe, Duke surprised his superiors when he chose to recruit the Baroness, but Williamson sees it as an opportunity to bring more drama into the group:

She’s such an interesting character, and she creates a little bit of conflict, a little bit of mistrust. This is such an early version of G.I. Joe… They don’t know each other that well. They’re not friends yet, and having Baroness there really helps with that. And then, the reader is thinking, ‘Is she ever going to go to Cobra?'

Indeed, fans would assume the sole reason Baroness is on the team is to have her eventually betray the Joes and up with Cobra. The Energon Universe has gotten a lot of mileage in playing fans’ expectations against themselves, so anything is possible in the new continuity.

Will Baroness Betray the Joes and Cobra?

The Energon Universe Keeps Fans on Their Toes

Baroness certainly brings a certain skillset to G.I. Joe, and the team would definitely rather have her fighting with them as opposed to fighting against them. It’s interesting to learn that her inclusion on the team came about from a rather simple idea, but it could lead to several interesting stories to follow when G.I. Joe #1 launches in just a few weeks. Having the Baroness on the G.I. Joe team is yet another way the Energon Universe continues to put a unique spin on a classic franchise.

G.I. Joe #1 is available November 13th, 2024 from Skybound Entertainment.