It’s all been leading up to this. When the Energon Universe launched last year in Robert Kirkman’s “Void Rivals”, the seeds were planted for a shared universe that would re-define a number of childhood icons. While the aforementioned “Void Rivals” and “Transformers” reintroduced many of the Autobots and Decepticons we know and love, the universe expanded to include classic G.I. Joe characters like Duke, Scarlett, Baroness, and Cobra Commander. It was only a matter of time before they were brought together to deliver a new take on America’s fighting force for a new generation.

The story here is simple: Conrad “Duke” Houser is a soldier tasked with assembling an elite team of soldiers to protect an asset that could change the world (or destroy it). Little does he know that the very thing they’re studying has already been exploited by a terrorist organization bent on world domination. I’ll give you a hint – they’re big into snakes.

The first issue of G.I. Joe is a helluva lot of fun and a great way to kick things off. Reading it on its own is a bit like watching “The Avengers” without experiencing “Iron Man” or the rest of the Phase One flicks but it’s far less confusing as long as you have a vague understanding of who the players are. Writer Joshua Williamson does a solid job of setting the tone and providing some context for who these guys are and why this team should exist but doesn’t bog the narrative down with a ton of exposition. Much like Duke, Williamson has chosen his cast wisely, with a few intriguing wild cards that I’m excited to see more of.

Don’t expect to see mainstays like Flint or Snake Eyes; even Scarlett is too busy with her own miniseries to appear. Instead we’ve got a couple of fan favorites (Cover Girl and Rock’n’Roll), two vastly underrated soldiers (Stalker and Clutch), and one genuine wild card who fits in about as well as you’d think (Cobra vixen Baroness). While they don’t all get a chance to shine yet, the dynamic of the team is frankly awesome and I can’t wait to read more of their exploits, assuming they manage to survive til the next issue.

The art team of Tom Reilly and colorist Jordie Bellaire are incredible – frankly neither of them are capable of putting out anything less than stellar – and their work on G.I. Joe is no exception. Each character has their own distinct look that sets them apart from previous incarnations while still keeping them instantly recognizable. The action is intense and never hard to follow; Reilly’s panels and layouts tell the story perfectly even without the words and it feels every bit like a Saturday morning cartoon, albeit one with a little more violence and strong language than I would have seen in my youth. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a new reader that doesn’t know a Roadblock from a Recondo, there’s plenty to love about this new series. Even if the idea of diving into the deep end of the Energon Universe feels daunting, I’d encourage you to take a chance and give this new universe a shot. You won’t be disappointed.