G.I. JOE fans, rejoice! These are the books you’ve been waiting for! Today Skybound, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, announced the campaign for the Kickstarter-exclusive G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Compendium Set, which will collect every issue of the original 1982 comic book series in four definitive hardcover compendiums. Lovingly bound and presented in the official reading order, the gorgeous faux-leather editions won’t be available anywhere else. Fans can sign up for the mailing list now to receive all campaign details and updates ahead of its launch on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 6 a.m. PT.
The pop culture world changed forever when Larry Hama’s G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero made its comic book debut, and now fans can experience every issue from the original series and its tie-ins here.
These collections include every issue of the original 1982 series G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero, G.I. JOE Special Missions, G.I. JOE and the Transformers, and the long out-of-print G.I. JOE: Order of Battle and G.I. JOE Special #1, across four stunning compendiums with box art by the incomparable Andy Kubert (X-Men) and Brad Anderson.
Featuring the iconic series writer Larry Hama (Wolverine) and a murderers’ row of series artists, the G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Compendium Set presents the incredible heroes of G.I. JOE, the terrifying villains of Cobra, and the unforgettable stories that set them on a collision course.
“I don’t know about the rest of you out there in the G.I. JOE Metaverse, but I for one, am really looking forward to having this complete set on my bookshelf!” said Larry Hama.
Choose your side! Will you stand with G.I. JOE or will you rule the world with Cobra? These box sets will be presented in distinct G.I. JOE and Cobra versions for fans to choose their faction, for once and for all.
Check out the teaser trailer below:
Each box set includes a set of nine campaign exclusive JOE or COBRA Collectible Trading Cards from some of the very best G.I. JOE artists of the past, present, and future! Including art from Chris Mooneyham, Lee Weeks, Rod Whigham, Carlo Pagulayan, Paul Pelletier, Pat Olliffe, Ron Wagner, Dan Jurgens, and the legendary Larry Hama! The first six cards of each set will be revealed when the campaign launches, and the last three will be voted on by the fans.
Previous Skybound campaign backers and mailing list members will receive a free Storm Shadow by Andy Kubert collectible trading card when they back the campaign.
“With this Kickstarter, we’ve set out to create the most beautiful G.I. Joe books of all-time,” said Alex Antone, Editorial Director, Skybound. “We can’t wait to celebrate this groundbreaking series alongside Larry Hama and all the G.I. Joe fans – Joe and Cobra alike!”
This campaign joins a record-breaking slate of graphic novel campaigns from Skybound that have elevated a diverse group of voices, including Extremity: Signature Edition, Ava’s Demon Book One, Ava’s Demon Book Two, Mr. Lovenstein Presents: Failure, Mr. Lovenstein Presents: Feelings, Excellence, The King-Killing Queen and The Extra Fabulous Experience.
The G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Compendium Set campaign will be live on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 6am PT, with stretch goals and campaign-exclusive products to be announced through the close of the campaign on Tuesday, June 18, at 12 p.m. PT.
Skybound’s compendium releases are an integral component of its overall comics partnership with Hasbo. While the Energon Universe has delivered a fresh new start for the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in Void Rivals by writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Lorenzo De Felici (Oblivion Song), TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb) and artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), Duke by writer Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride) and artist Tom Reilly (The Thing), and Cobra Commander by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook), these compendiums celebrate the rich history of G.I. JOE in comic book form.
Skybound and Hasbro have also brought back the hit series G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero to fans, from series writer Larry Hama, artist Chris Mooneyham (DC’s Nightwing, Sgt. Rock and the Unknown Soldier) and covers by the legendary Andy Kubert (Marvel’s X-Men).
