G.I. JOE

Shockwave HISS Tank

/ / Toys & Collectibles

Mashup one of my favorite Decepticons and one of my favorite Cobra vehicles and you get… a toy that doesn’t look like either one? What I can tell you: The Shockwave HISS Tank will be a 2012 San Diego Comic Con exclusive, and come with Destro and B.A.T. figures, energon cubes and tiny non-transforming Soundwave with cassettes. It will come packaged in a box that has been made to look like a 6th issue from the classic G.I.JOE Vs. Transformers comic book series. What I can’t tell you: Will it actually transform?

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Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #13

/ / Comics

Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #13With the JOE’s believing he died in Nanzhao, Snake Eyes returns to Japan with Storm Shadow to begin their campaign to take down Cobra and the new Cobra Commander. Their first target – Zartan.

Snake Eyes plays a dangerous game while working with Arashikage to take down Cobra targets, but working behind the scenes to try and take down the clan from within. Zartan escapes Snake Eyes’ attempt to bring him in, but the JOE does manage to slay quite a few of his own ninja teammates who were assigned to him on the mission.

The comic also introduces the character of Rika, an Arashikage ninja who has been chosen to serve Snake Eyes, and is not completely trusting of the former JOE as she “sees what others do not.” It will be interesting to see what role, or possible spoiler, she may play in Snake Eyes’ plans.

We are also given several flashbacks to Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes early days in training with the clan and see their strengths and weaknesses from the eyes of their master as well as learn early on why Snake Eyes, though deadly, wasn’t a good fit for the honorless ninja.

…

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Snake Eyes #12

/ / Comics

snake-eyes-12-coverBefore rejoining the Arashikage Clan and partnering with Storm Shadow to destroy Cobra, Snake Eyes takes a trip to the Hard Master, the clan’s former leader who helped train the JOE years ago.

While conversing with his former master (or as much conversing as a mute can do) Snake Eyes presents his reasons for returning to the clan and learns how he can be of assistance in the neighborhood as the Hard Master’s latest student, a teenage girl has been targeted by a local gang.

The standalone tale is a bit of the curiosity as it’s almost completely outside the ongoing “Cobra Command” crossover. However, the story does serve as a reminder how dangerous and honorable a man our hero is as well as give another plausable explanation for him joining Storm Shadow (other than simply destroying Cobra).

Next month gives us a new beginning as the title become Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow and the pair go after their first target – Zartan. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Snake Eyes #11

/ / Comics

snake-eyes-11-cover“Cobra Command” continues as the JOE’s try to pick up the pieces after being unable to stop COBRA from detonating nuclear weapons in Nanzhao. The remaining JOE’s, including Flint, Hard Drive, Tripwire, and Roadblock, are fight for their lives against B.A.T. robots while Snake Eyes goes after Storm Shadow and his army of Arashikage ninja.

After dispatching quite a few ninja, Snake Eyes finds himself before his sword-brother who makes him an offer he can’t refuse, and Helix can’t believe. Admitting to Snake Eyes the the new Cobra Commander is now their common enemy Storm Shadow offers a truce between the two to cripple COBRA and take revenge for the assassination of his former master Oda Satori.

Snake Eyes turn is certainly of interest, and you’d have to assume the pair (for however long they can co-exist) will be a huge threat to COBRA and their new commander. Although unexpected it does give Snake Eyes a very real opportunity to take down the terrorist organization who the JOE’s couldn’t stop from nuking an entire country. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Snake Eyes #10

/ / Comics

snake-eyes-10-coverThe “Cobra Command” crossover continues as Cobra destroys the opium fields of Nanzhao and Storm Shadow’s ninja teams take out the U.N. trops helping with the civilian evacuation. Realizing there’s no one else for the job Snake Eyes take it upon himself, with Helix in tow, to go deep into the jungles of Nanzhao and find his blood brother.

As Snake Eyes and Helix go deep into the jungles we learn the Storm Shadow’s latest cat-and-mouse game involving Snake Eyes are not part of the new Cobra Commander‘s master plan. Meanwhile, the rest of the Joes at Fort Baxter try to determine Cobra’s endgame and what they are after by depopulating the country, destroying its drug supply, and leaving the highways and utilities intact.

There’s plenty of ninja action here and more than a little foreshadowing that we’re going to get a major throwdown between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow before “Cobra Command” ends. And we’ve still got plenty of unanswered questions as to what the new Cobra Commander is really after and what plans he has for the dirty nuclear bombs Destro is seen unloading in the comic’s final panel. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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