‘G.I. Joe #17: Dreadnok War – Part 5’ Review (Skybound)
Written by Joshua Williamson | Art by Tom Reilly | Colourist: Jordie Bellaire | Letterer: Rus Wooton | Published by Skybound
If the last issue was all about tightening the screws, G.I. Joe #17 is where the whole thing finally blows wide open. Part Five of The Dreadnok War kicks off with zero buildup, throwing readers straight into a fast, messy, full-blown confrontation that feels less like a coordinated operation and more like long-simmering grudges erupting all at once. There’s no easing into the action – it’s already out of hand, and the Joes are stuck playing catch-up from the first page.
The Dreadnoks, meanwhile, are at their wildest and most unhinged. They’re not operating under any clear plan – it’s raw destruction, and that unpredictability is what makes them so dangerous here. Cobra Commander, especially, seems completely at home in the madness, which is a sharp contrast to the tense, almost claustrophobic vibe of earlier scenes like the standoff in Road Pig’s barn. There’s a strong sense that the Joes aren’t really fighting to win anymore; they’re trying to stay alive. The art does a great job reflecting that chaos, too. Panels are packed and overwhelming in the best way, echoing just how out of control everything has become. Nothing feels neat or heroic, and that feels very intentional.
What really stood out to me in this issue, though, is how much it leans into the consequences of what’s happening. Every decision feels rushed and messy, and you can see how it’s wearing down the characters – not just physically, but emotionally too. One moment that really hit me was the appearance of Hound as a Joe vehicle, especially since Hound’s “recruitment” was done behind Duke’s back. That decision, and Duke’s reaction, says a lot about how much control the team has lost and how fragmented things have become. It’s not just a cool reveal; it actually deepens the tension.
Then there’s the ending. Just when it seems like the dust might settle, the story takes a sharp left turn… the kind that makes you immediately rethink everything you just read. It doesn’t spell things out, which I appreciated; it trusts the reader to sit with the implications. By the time I hit the last page, I was way more invested than I expected to be. This storyline has really shifted gears, and now I genuinely have no idea where it’s heading next. And that unpredictability? It’s what’s making Skybound’s Energon Universe version of G.I. Joe such a standout.
**** 4/5
G.I. Joe #17 is out now.
