G.I. Joe and The Six Million Dollar Man are coming together for comic book crossover that will be made available for purchase, starting in January 2018. The upcoming special run is another collaboration between IDW and Dynamite Entertainment. The two publishers have melded together other popular franchises with their previous comic book crossover events, including Star Trek and Green Lantern, Big Trouble in Little China and Escape from New York, and Tarzan and Planet of the Apes.
The planned four-part series will be written by up and coming writer Ryan Ferrier, whose portfolio includes TMNT: Dimension X and Rocko’s Modern Life. The issues' art, on the other hand, will be by SL Gallant. Gallant is no stranger to the Joes, seeing as he has worked on the property for more than 75 issues together with legendary author Larry Hama. Meanwhile, variant covers will be created for the crossover by a slew of illustrators, including John Cassaday, Ken Lashley and Mike Zeck.
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IDW and Dynamite Entertainment announced the news via a press release that includes a statement from Ferrier, expressing his excitement over the gig. He's also promised a narrative that perfectly blends G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and The Six Million Dollar Man, as you can see from his comments below:
"To say Shannon and I are having fun with bringing these two iconic properties together would be a massive understatement. We are going full-tilt and no-holds-barred with this story. It's everything we love about G.I. JOE, the classic characters, and massive action, colliding face-first with the steel-infused, secret agent coolness of The Six Million Dollar Man. We are chomping at the bit for everyone to read this comic with a kung fu grip.”
Meanwhile, IDW’s Editor in Chief, David Hedgecock could not be happier with Ferrier and Gallant's team-up, saying that their work will appeal to various demographics (not to mention, uphold the properties' respective legacies):
“Ryan and Shannon have found the perfect story to tell. Fans both new and old are going to be amazed at what this creative team is putting together. This series beautifully blends all the classic tropes of the characters while simultaneously creating something exciting and fresh. We are thrilled to be working with this team and with the fine folks at Dynamite to bring this series to the fans.”
Both properties have long been a staple in pop culture, with the G.I. Joe having started as a line of action figures produced and owned by the toy manufacturing company Hasbro in the early 1960s. Their success as toy figurines eventually lead to G.I. Joe becoming a multi-platform brand that encompasses cartoon TV shows, comic books, and live-action films. Starting in 2009, IDW Publishing rebooted the GI Joe comic books, rejuvenating fans' interest in the property in comic form once again. The Six Million Dollar Man, by comparison, started as a science fiction television series that followed the adventures of former astronaut, Colonel Steve Austin. The series ran from 1974 to 1978.
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Source: IDW/Dynamite Entertainment (via Newsarama)