by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes…?
Skybound’s Energon Universe continues to expand with the release of Cobra Commander #1! What are the secrets of the man known as Cobra Commander? Surprising revelations and fan-favorite characters make their first appearance in the shared universe with this new mini-series event.
Official Synopsis:
Miniseries Premiere – The Rise of Cobra Begins HERE. In a world where the Cobra organization hasn’t formed, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon sends shockwaves across the globe. Who is Cobra Commander? Where does he come from? And what horrors is he planning to unleash that will rock the world – and maybe the universe – to its core? Red-hot writer JOSHUA WILLIAMSON (Superman, DUKE) and artist ANDREA MILANA (IMPACT WINTER: ROOK) kick off the second of four action-packed miniseries that will introduce the best and worst humanity has to offer in the Energon Universe.
Creative Team:
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Andrea Milana
Colorist: Annalisa Leoni
Letterer: Rus Wooton
If you checked out our review of Skybound Entertainment’s Duke #1, you would know that I wasn’t really a G.I. JOE fan as a kid. I knew of the characters, but I leaned more into the Transformers camp. With the release of the Energon Universe, Showrunner Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible) has brought together an impressive team of creators to connect the dots between these two beloved franchises and put an engaging new spin on…well, everything. Void Rivals #1 launched this new shared universe, and the story has been a thrill-ride ever since.
The Transformers are now on Earth, and their arrival continues to make shockwaves for mankind. We’ve seen first-hand how Duke has been impacted (go catch up on Transformers and Duke for more information), but now we get to see the opposite side of the coin as we learn about the evil machinations of Cobra Commander. Whenever Cybertronians are involved, things are always more than meets the eye, and this story is no exception to that rule. The creative team slipped in a major reveal that we’ve been asking since the launch of the Transformers title, and this twist is sure to have massive implications for all of the Energon Universe books moving forward.
But enough about the Transformers. Who is Cobra Commander and why should we be worried about him? Williamson and team have crafted an interesting tale to get readers up to speed on the background of this nefarious villain, incorporating elements from G.I. JOE lore that will surely be surprising as you flip through the book. From an art perspective, Milana and Leoni made some killer creative choices, painting a weird-yet-intense world for the villains to play in. Although there are some interesting parallels, I enjoyed how off the rails this title was in comparison to the Duke mini-series. I won’t say which page, but I audibly gasped while reading this book. Cobra Commander #1 is full of surprises, and the threat of Cobra is starting to become very real in the Energon Universe. Time to go watch G.I. JOE: The Movie.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Cobra Commander #1 – 4 maniacal laughs out of 5.
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