Skybound’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium Set on Kickstarter has experienced incredible success, and one bonus incentive brings back a rare item from the franchise’s past. As a bonus incentive, the campaign added a unique reprint of G.I. Joe Special #1, a rare comic that presented Todd McFarlane’s lost art for an issue of the original Marvel Comics run.

In an interview posted to the Kickstarter campaign, Skybound editor Alex Antone called McFarlane’s issue, “one of the rarest and most coveted G.I. Joe comics in existence!”

Skybound has already had great success with the Compendium Set Kickstarter; now, the addition of McFarlane’s original 1990s art for the series is one final glorious incentive for fans on the fence about funding the project. Considering the collection is already a must-have, Todd McFarlane’s G.I. Joe Special art is a next-level addition.

Iconic Artist Todd McFarlane’s “Lost” G.I. Joe Issue Reprinted As Kickstarter Incentive

G.I. Joe Special #1 – Original Art By Todd McFarlane

Todd McFarlane’s art was originally meant to be published in 1987’s G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #61, but only saw the light of day when it was published as G.I. Joe Special #1 in 1995. McFarlane had previously drawn issue #60, but for whatever reason, his art for the following issue was pulled at the last minute, being completely redrawn by Marshall Rogers and Danny Bulanadi. Although McFarlane was a talent on the rise, and his work on Amazing Spider-Man later made him a superstar.

Printed long after McFarlane left Marvel to form Image Comics, the G.I. Joe Special was seemingly an attempt to cash in on a franchise that was on its last legs. The original G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was canceled in 1994, and with the added pressure of slipping sales following the comics bust in the late 1990’s, G.I. Joe Special #1 wound up receiving a very low print run. As such, the issue is rare and highly sought after today, commanding high prices on the aftermarket.

Todd McFarlane’s Original “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #61” Is Being “Restored”

Back To Its Former Glory

According to Alex Antone, the special reprinting of Todd McFarlane’s lost issue will be “restored” from “the ground up,” indicating Skybound is pulling out all the stops to make this exclusive reprint the most complete version available. The coloring done over McFarlane’s art in the later G.I. Joe Special was a little garish, so a new color job would be welcome for the new printing. Additionally, the previously-unlocked special printings of G.I. Joe Yearbook #1 and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #21 are confirmed to be printed on high-quality newsprint to preserve the vintage feel.

With the campaign crossing the $3 million mark in funding as of this writing, it is already one of the most successful projects in comics Kickstarter history. As the new G.I. Joe comics set franchise records thanks to the success of the Energon Universe, interest in the property is high at the moment. It would appear fans both old and new are eager to get the complete original series, bringing writer and G.I. Joe godfather Larry Hama’s entire run together in a nice hardcover set.