The G.I. Joe and Tomb Raider franchises are set to collide in a new five-issue limited comic book series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider, launching October 7, 2026. Published by Skybound Entertainment, the crossover follows a surprise appearance by Lara Croft in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #330 and features a creative team led by writer Kyle Higgins and artist Elena Casagrande.
The Creative Team and Plot Details
The crossover series is written by Kyle Higgins, known for his work on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, with interior art provided by Elena Casagrande, who previously illustrated Marvel’s Black Widow. The production team is rounded out by colorist Alex Guimarães and letterer Pat Brosseau. According to an official statement from Skybound, the plot follows Lara Croft as she joins forces with Shipwreck and a team of Joes to infiltrate Cobra Island. The mission centers on a race to recover a long-lost treasure, with the franchise’s antagonists, The Baroness and Destro, actively opposing them.
“Tomb Raider meets G.I. JOE. Lost artifact, a Destro plot, and a joint infiltration mission to Cobra Island — the appeal of a story like this should be obvious,” said Higgins. Casagrande added that the project represents an opportunity to illustrate one of the most iconic figures in gaming history, stating, “It will be epic to see her in this adventure with the G.I. JOE team, fighting to solve one of her iconic mysteries on Cobra Island.”
Expanding the G.I. Joe Classified Series
In addition to the comic book release, Hasbro is integrating the Tomb Raider brand into its physical collectibles market. The company confirmed that Lara Croft will be added to the G.I. Joe Classified action figure line.
Comic Industry Crossover Trends
The G.I. Joe/Tomb Raider project is part of a broader trend of unexpected intellectual property crossovers in the comic book industry slated for 2026. This includes other high-profile mashups such as Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World's Weirdest and the Judge Dredd/Biker Mice From Mars collaboration.
Key Details for Collectors
- Release Date: October 7, 2026
- Format: Five-issue limited series
- Lead Characters: Lara Croft, Shipwreck, The Baroness, and Destro
Readers can pre-order the first issue of the limited series at local comic book shops. The crossover serves as a direct narrative continuation of the events established in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #330.