G.I. Joe #26 Preview: Round Two Between G.I. Joe and Night Force Explodes in the Energon Universe
The war inside the Joe ranks is not over.
G.I. Joe #26 continues the explosive Nightforce arc from Skybound and Image Comics, pushing the fight between G.I. Joe and Night Force into an even more dangerous second round. The issue arrives at comic book shops on September 16, 2026, with a $3.99 cover price, 32 pages, and a Teen rating.
The creative team includes Joshua Williamson as writer, Tom Reilly as artist, Lee Loughridge as colorist, and Rus Wooton as letterer.
Round Two: G.I. Joe and Night Force Won’t Back Down
The official setup for G.I. Joe #26 is direct and dangerous:
“ROUND TWO: G.I. JOE AND NIGHT FORCE WON’T BACK DOWN!”
The battle between the two teams takes another brutal turn as a new Joe enters the fight. Meanwhile, Baroness is still moving through her own secret mission, and the big question is whether she can stop the war before everything falls apart.
That gives the issue a strong hook. This is not just G.I. Joe versus Cobra. This is G.I. Joe versus Night Force, with both sides believing they are making the right tactical call. That kind of internal conflict makes the fight more personal, especially inside the larger Energon Universe.
The Fight Gets Personal
The preview pages show the issue leaning hard into action. There are rain-soaked combat sequences, vehicle chases, close-quarters fighting, heavy weapons, and a sense that neither side is willing to stand down.
That fits the arc perfectly. G.I. Joe #26 is described in the backmatter as an “all-fight issue” following the events of issue #25, with G.I. Joe and Night Force battling because they still respect each other but are approaching the Baroness situation from different angles.
That line is important because it separates this conflict from a simple hero-versus-villain setup. G.I. Joe and Night Force are not random enemies. They are trained operatives with different objectives, different orders, and different levels of trust. When teams like that clash, the result is messy, emotional, and dangerous.
Baroness Has Her Own Mission
One of the most interesting pieces of G.I. Joe #26 is the role of Baroness.
The solicitation asks whether Baroness’s secret mission can stop the war. That immediately positions her as more than a wildcard. She may be the one person who understands what is really happening, but that does not mean anyone should trust her.
That tension has been one of the strengths of Skybound’s modern G.I. Joe run. Characters are not locked into simple roles. Allies can turn. Enemies can make smart moves. Every mission has consequences.
In this issue, Baroness appears to be operating in the middle of the chaos, and that makes her mission feel like the real fuse under the battlefield.
A New Joe Enters the Fight
The issue also teases the arrival of a new Joe entering the battle.
That is the kind of detail G.I. Joe fans should pay attention to. New team additions can shift the balance of an arc quickly, especially when the battle already involves G.I. Joe, Night Force, Baroness, and the larger Energon Universe chessboard.
Skybound’s run has been careful about how it introduces characters and builds out the roster. That pacing gives each new arrival more weight. When someone new steps onto the field in G.I. Joe #26, it feels like it could change the direction of the fight.
Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, and Lee Loughridge Keep the Pressure High
The creative team has been one of the strongest parts of this run.
Joshua Williamson keeps the story moving like a tactical thriller, balancing character tension with blockbuster action. Tom Reilly gives the combat a clean, readable intensity, making the fight sequences feel fast without becoming confusing. Lee Loughridge adds atmosphere and impact through color, especially in the darker combat scenes and high-energy action beats.
Together, the team gives G.I. Joe #26 the feel of a military action comic with modern pacing and Energon Universe scale.
The issue is officially listed as G.I. Joe #26, published by Image Comics in September 2026, with G.I. Joe and Hasbro trademarks noted in the publication information.
Cover Lineup and Variant Appeal
G.I. Joe #26 also comes with a strong cover lineup for collectors.
The review copy lists cover support from Tom Reilly, Jerome Opeña & Neeraj Menon, Inhyuk Lee, Fadime Yildirim, Jonboy Meyers, Godtail, and Kyuyong Eom.
The main cover by Tom Reilly shows the intensity of the conflict right away, with Duke and another combatant locked in close-quarters violence against an explosive background. Variant options include sleek character-focused covers, a spoiler cover, and the standout Inhyuk Lee variant featuring a sharp modern take on the Energon Universe cast.
Collectors can also find additional ordering options through retailers such as Infinity Flux or check broader G.I. Joe #26 search results.
Why G.I. Joe #26 Matters
This issue matters because it continues the growing tension inside the Energon Universe version of G.I. Joe.
The series has been building its world carefully, introducing characters, alliances, secrets, and competing missions instead of rushing through the roster. That slower build makes every new conflict feel earned. When G.I. Joe and Night Force finally collide, it feels like the result of pressure building over multiple issues.
The backmatter also points to Cobra Commander and Major Medusa as part of a subplot that is “going to explode in a big way,” which suggests that the consequences of this arc will not stay contained to one battle.
A Strong Issue for New Readers and Longtime Fans
For longtime fans, G.I. Joe #26 has the military action, character tension, and team-versus-team conflict that made the franchise work for decades. For newer readers following Skybound’s Energon Universe, it continues to show how this version of G.I. Joe can stand on its own while still connecting to a larger shared world.
That balance is the key. This is still a G.I. Joe comic first. The book uses the larger Energon Universe as fuel, but the heart of the issue is the team, the mission, and the fallout when soldiers with different orders are forced into the same battlefield.
Release Details
Title: G.I. Joe #26
Series: G.I. Joe
Publisher: Image Comics / Skybound / Hasbro
Universe: Energon Universe
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Arriving: September 16, 2026
Lunar Code: 0726IM0440
Age Rating: Teen
Page Count: 32
Cover Price: $3.99
Main Cover: Tom Reilly
Final Thoughts
G.I. Joe #26 looks like another high-energy chapter in Skybound’s Energon Universe run.
With G.I. Joe and Night Force locked in a brutal second round, a new Joe entering the battlefield, and Baroness running a secret mission that could stop the war, this issue has all the ingredients for a major turning point.
Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Lee Loughridge, and Rus Wooton are keeping the action sharp and the stakes personal. If issue #25 lit the fuse, G.I. Joe #26 looks ready to let the battlefield explode.
Join the Discussion
Are you picking up G.I. Joe #26 from Skybound and Image Comics? Are you siding with G.I. Joe, Night Force, or Baroness on this one?
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