The Energon Universe era of G.I. Joe started off strong with the recently completed Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries. The upcoming Scarlett #1 looks to keep the good times rolling for the Joe franchise, and writer Kelly Thompson recently revealed some of her action blockbuster influences in crafting the new miniseries.

Posted via Skybound’s Instagram feed, Kelly Thompson lists the action movies that inspired her when scripting the upcoming Scarlett series. “Well, I think when it was an outline and script I would have used a Bond movie,” Thompson says, “or maybe a Mission: Impossible as comparable.”

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According to Thompson, Scarlett artist Marco Ferrari then brought his own influences to the story, referencing a modern-day classic of action cinema:

“I think Marco’s style brings an energy and a little bit of controlled chaos that makes the book feel a bit more like John Wick in a super fun way.”

Scarlett #1 Pays Homage to Action Movie Heroes Like 007

All the influences listed for the new Scarlett series make it sound like the miniseries will be an all-out action extravaganza. Many of them can already be seen in the preview for Scarlett #1, which features the title character infiltrating a fancy party. Much like Sean Connery pulling off his wetsuit to reveal a tux underneath in the beginning of Goldfinger, Scarlett starts off her own series in much the same way, instead wearing an elegant dress beneath her scuba gear. It’s a nice callback to a classic moment, and showcases how the creative team is using these influences to great effect.

Thompson’s previous run on Black Widow showed that the writer has a knack for espionage thrills. Paired with Ferrari’s energetic style, Scarlett should be a spy action series par excellence, infusing the Energon Universe with some high-octane set-pieces. The Mission: Impossible influence could be felt in the team aspect of the series, as the G.I. Joe franchise routinely depicts a group of highly-trained professionals carrying out difficult missions. Fans also know that Storm Shadow and the Arashikage clan will be involved in the new series, with the action hopefully taking its cues from the martial arts-laden gunplay of the John Wick franchise.

From John Wick to Mission: Impossible, Scarlett’s Influences Are On-Point

Considering that Duke told a classic “man-on-the-run” story and Cobra Commander was essentially a horror title, it’s nice that each of Skybound’s G.I. Joe miniseries has its own unique identity. With the Destro series looking to be an examination of international war politics, the G.I. Joe corner of the Energon Universe continues to grow in interesting ways. With Scarlett drawing on a number of action movies classics, hopefully Skybound has another success on its hands with the latest G.I. Joe title in the Energon Universe.

Source: Skybound via Instagram