During the last issue, Duke was introduced to the Joe team during an ambush by The Baroness and Viper Commandos. In this issue, he gets to know the team better(after an initial stand off, as well as General Hawk).
Duke tells the team that he wants in. As everyone is introduced to he and Ripcord, Snake Eyes doesn’t utter a word. None of the Joes know why he doesn’t talk. Ripcord tries to hit on Scarlett but Snake Eyes blocks him with his sword.
After arriving at the PIT, more vehicles are shown, and something I noticed throughout the movie adaptations is that the vehicles have large missles which are accurate to the toys. I’m guessing that the reference for the vehicles may have been the actual toys themselves.
Therefore, the movie adaptations might shed light on upcoming, vehicles in the toyline. For example, the Howler has a significantly different cockpit shape, the one in the movie is windowless, yet here, some windows are drawn on, and the fuselage seems larger. So if you want to see what might be hints at upcoming vehicle toys, take a look at the movie adaptation comics….
Hawk tells Duke and Ripcord about how the G.I. Joe team was formed, initially with 10 nations, and currently with 23 onboard. Afterwards they have a brief teleconference with James McCullen. Hawk turns down McCullen’s offer for a company strength NATO escort for the nanomites, as he doesn’t trust anyone. Breaker and Heavy Duty catch onto the fact that McCullen is not as scrupulous as he appears…
The Baroness and Destro are revealed to be a couple, which as much change as this movie has, is sure to please fans. They converse about Baroness’ failure in retrieving the nanomites, and Destro’s jealousy gets the better of him as he asks if she hesitated upon seeing Duke.
Next up, we are introduced to quite possibly the most controversial character in the movie, The Doctor(whom most of you by now know who he turns into). We see him not surprisingly, observing a King Cobra(This also explains why one figure comes with a King Cobra, it turns out it wasn’t just for symbolism).
The Doctor’s latest experiment is shown to Destro; basically soldiers with so many nanomites injected that they become submissive. They also feel no pain and can do anything as ordered. These are Neo-Vipers.
Duke once again requests to join the G.I. Joe team, since they are going after The Baroness. Hawk points out that members are asked to join, not the other way around. At this point, Duke reveals his past with The Baroness, known as Ana Lewis(back then). It turns out, she used to be blonde(which Sienna Miller is).
We then see The Baroness return to her home, and we see her husband, who is suspicious of his whereabouts. Destro’s jealousy even shows here, as Storm Shadow is hiding in the bedroom, and it turns out, he was ordered by Destro to kill The Baroness’ husband if he so much as touches her. I don’t think any fans were expecting this to happen, so it’s neat to see. It’s not out of character to Destro and brings him closer to the way he is traditionally portrayed.
Next up, we have more flashbacks to Duke and Ana’s past. It turns out they were engaged and Ana made Duke promise to protect her brother Rex, who is described as a genius. We see him very briefly in the flashback.
Afterwards, the accelerator suits make an appearance, as Duke and Ripcord are introduced to them. In the distance, other Joes show animosity towards them. One of them might be Flint or SGT. Stone, and the other might be Shipwreck, but it’s hard to tell as they are in the distance. Either way it’s cool to see easter eggs like this.
Training scenes are shown, in which Snake Eyes hits Ripcord in the head while Scarlett taunts him. Duke and Ripcord get better and Duke actually registers a hit on Snake Eyes as they spar, and Snake Eyes has never been hit before.
Snake Eyes shows up, once again, in another effort to ^^^^-block Ripcord, this time dressed up in a red hoodie with 2 swords out. Despite Ripcord making a more aggressive push towards Scarlett, she still rebuffs him and talks about her relationship with Snake Eyes. Ironically the humor from this issue comes not from Ripcord’s wise-cracks but Snake Eyes numerous attempts to ^^^^-block him.
Duke and Ripcord score high on their tests and are brought onto the team provisionally.
The end of this issue sees Zartan appear, and the sudden death of a Joe. This issue explains the team’s origins, and it definitely appears that though they are covert with highly specialized members, their missions definitely aren’t easy. It’s great to see Storm Shadow make an appearance, more insight into Duke’s past with The Baroness, and Destro’s personality expanded on.
Things can only get worse as someone has managed to infiltrate the PIT, so take this issue as the calm before the storm.
