Origins issue 4
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| Publisher | IDW Publishing | ||||||||||||
| First published | June 10, 2009 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | May 2009 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Larry Hama | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Mike Hawthorne | ||||||||||||
| Color assist by | Erik Swanson | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Neil Uyetake | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Andy Schmidt | ||||||||||||
G.I. Joe descend into the abandoned base to confront the Chimera, whilst Snake Eyes sets out to lend a hand.
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
The team surveys the abandoned base's surface facility from afar, seemingly just a chain-link fence and a couple of small buildings. Whilst Stalker sneaks close to cut the fence, his teammates spot both exhaust from a diesel generator and a tiny surveillance camera emerging from one of the structures. Scarlett takes out the camera with a deadeye crossbow shot, and soon the whole team is moving in on the suspect building. Down below, the mercenaries are fully aware of the intruders, but Chimera orders that they are to be allowed inside, with the hopes of taking a live prisoner.
Across the state, Snake Eyes pulls up at an air freight company in Connie's minivan, and communicates by way of diagram that he wants transport to the abandoned base. When one of the proprietors questions why the man's face is bandaged, Snake Eyes unwinds his dressings to reveal his scarred visage. In return for his Silver Star as a deposit, the owners soon agree to take him, and give him a flying hat and bandanna to replace his bandages. Meanwhile, Hawk and Bob Light return to the motel and discover the mute Ranger's disappearance. The general quickly surmises where Snake Eyes has gone, and remarks on the fact that this physical activity will likely cost the man any chance he had of reconstructive facial surgery.
Inside the small building, Duke's team finds a switch inside a stove, activating a hidden elevator which carries them down into the ground. They soon find themselves in a cavernous underground base, and spread out to explore. The rebels and mercenaries tool up to confront their visitors, whilst the Chimera himself is called away to a satellite call with their hostage's father. The governor immediately demands his daughter's safe return, but the Chimera responds by shooting the woman dead, yelling that the man knows not with who he trifles. In tears, the governor threatens vengeance, only to have the Chimera list off the whereabouts of the man's other loved ones.
Elsewhere in the facility, the gunshot triggers a firefight between Duke's team and the Chimera's forces, coordinated by a disfigured mercenary named Cahill. Amongst crates of high explosives, Heavy Duty and Rock & Roll's heavy machine gun fire put their opponents on the defensive, and superior tactics see the mercenaries quickly decimated. Above the facility, the plane carrying Snake Eyes approaches, and Chimera, who has once again donned his Saturn mask, activates perimeter mines, buffeting the aircraft with explosions. With the plane unable to land, Snake Eyes instead signals to his pilots to bring him in as slowly and low as possible, and leaps from the craft without a parachute! He hits the ground hard and lies still... before climbing to his feet and breaking into a run, determination in his eyes.
Underground, the rebels and mercenaries have nearly been routed. However, before a flanking Scarlett can ambush two stragglers, she is in turn surprised by the Chimera, who points a gun at her head. Moving fast, she retaliates, bludgeoning the man's head with the grenade she was preparing to throw, and a fight ensues, neither combatant able to take the upper hand. Suddenly, however, a kick from the Chimera knocks the grenade from Scarlett's hand. Its pin flying lose, the explosive device arcs across the room... and lands at the feet of her teammates!
Featured characters[edit | edit source]
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| G.I. Joe | Others |
|---|---|
|
Quotes[edit | edit source]
"That is one highly motivated and resourceful individual, I kid you not!"
- —Hawk is very complimentary of Snake Eyes
Notes[edit | edit source]
Continuity notes[edit | edit source]
- The Pit-to-be's hidden elevator was first seen in G.I. Joe #1. The facility's impressive array of perimeter defenses were also shown off in the book's debut arc.
G.I. Joe references[edit | edit source]
- Breaker is briefly seen blowing bubble gum, a traditional habit for the character.
Real-life references[edit | edit source]
- Ron compares Snake Eyes to Claude Rains in the titular role of The Invisible Man. His colleague mistakenly thinks it was Raymond Massey in that role.
Covers (3)[edit | edit source]
- Cover A: Scarlett, by Andrea DiVito and Chris Sotomayor.
- Cover B: Stalker in front of the letter O, by Tom Feister. Part of a series of covers spelling "GI JOE".
- Cover RI: Virgin version of Cover A.
