Summary

• This fall, G.I. Joe completes its return to comics with a new ongoing series set in Skybound's Energon Universe continuity; already, fans have a number of questions about a mystery character featured on the cover for G.I. Joe #1.
• The mysterious character, clad in a black suit and western-themed attire, may be a new addition to the franchise teased by Skybound, or an updated take on a classic character.
• Until G.I. Joe #1 is released near the end of this year, fans will continue to excitedly speculate about the identity of this mystery character, as well as who else from the franchise's long history will appear next.

G.I. Joe is returning to comics with an all-new ongoing series this fall, launching a bold new era for the franchise in current Destro miniseries, the Real American Heroes are getting a monthly series to chronicle their adventures in the new canon.

Looking at the wraparound cover for G.I. Joe #1 – written by Tom Reilly, with art by Jordie Bellaire – several franchise regulars fill out the ranks of both G.I. Joe and Cobra, but one character in particular seems like a completely new addition.

The character seen towards the center wearing a dapper suit and slinging a rifle over his shoulder appears to be one fans haven’t seen before. The initial announcement for Skybound's G.I. Joe teased the first appearance of an “all-new character,” so it is likely the man seen on the cover is this new addition to cast.

It’s possible the man in the fancy suit could be the new character being teased, but it’s also equally possible that this could be an update on one of the franchise’s many characters.

G.I. Joe’s New Energon Universe Character Is The Franchise's Most Exciting Mystery

A Freshly Introduced Character, Or An Updated Classic

It’s possible the man in the fancy suit could be the new character being teased, but it’s also equally possible that this could be an update on on G.I. Joe #1's cover sports would make for a nice update.

There is another possibility for the mystery character seen on the cover, and that is the Tracker Spirit Iron-Knife. Born on the Taos Pueblo Reservation in New Mexico, Charles Iron-Knife worked as a hunting guide before enlisting in the military, eventually being recruited by the elite G.I. Joe team to his skill as a hunter/tracker. The look of the character on the G.I. Joe #1 cover would be a interesting update for Spirit, as well as a way to sidestep the more stereotypical portrayal of Indigenous people from his original design.

Whether he’s an update to an older character or the entirely new one teased by Skybound, it will be interesting to learn more about the rifle-wielding gentleman seen on Tom Reilly & Jordie Bellaire’s cover.

G.I. Joe's Presence In The Energon Universe Continues To Expand

A Rapidly Deepening Roster

Of course, it’s entirely possible the character seen on the wraparound cover is neither Wild Bill nor Spirit. Whether he’s an in the Energon Universe, Skybound has ample opportunity to fill out the ranks with both new and old characters in franchise history.

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