G.I. Joe and Tomb Raider team up in surprise 2026 comic crossover

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2026 really is the year of unexpected comic book crossovers. After recently learning about Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World's Weirdest and Judge Dredd/Biker Mice From Mars , now we know that the G.I. Joe and Tomb Raider franchises are gearing up for a big crossover.

Technically, that crossover is already underway, as Lara Croft just made a surprise appearance in the pages of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #330. That appearance sets the stage for a bigger crossover in the form of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider. This five-issue limited series launches in October 2026.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for an early look at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider #1:

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider is written by Kyle Higgins (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and drawn by Elena Casagrande (Black Widow). The creative team also includes colorist Alex Guimarães (Invaders) and letterer Pat Brosseau (G.I Joe: A Real American Hero).

Spinning out of the events of issue #330, this new series pairs Lara Croft with Shipwreck and a team of Joes as they race to Cobra Island to track down a long-lost treasure. Standing in their way are The Baroness and Destro, who seek the treasure for themselves.

"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 in a statement. "Having never had the opportunity to work with either, I was quite excited when Alex Antone called to ask me if I'd like to build an adventure for both. We're taking some really fun swings with both brands--and there are definitely some deep cuts for G.I. JOE fans!"

"I'm extremely happy to have the chance to draw one of the top myths in my life: Lara Croft!” said Casagrande. “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! I’m looking forward to showing you more pages!"

As if the comic weren't enough, Hasbro is also introducing Lara Croft t its long-running G.I. Joe Classified action figure line. Get a closer look at the new Tomb Raider figure below:

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider #1 will be released on October 7. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop .

For more on the future of the Tomb Raider franchise, check out IGN's first preview of Legacy of Atlantis .

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky .