The Betrayers Part 4
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| "The Betrayers Part 4" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | IDW Publishing | ||||||||||||
| First published | October 21, 2009 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | October 2009 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Chuck Dixon | ||||||||||||
| Line-art by | S.L. Gallant | ||||||||||||
| Colors by | Andrew Crossley | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Robbie Robbins | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Andy Schmidt | ||||||||||||
| Assistant editor | Carlos Guzman | ||||||||||||
| Associate editor | Denton J. Tipton | ||||||||||||
In Springfield, Snake Eyes goes toe-to-toe with Cobra, whilst Destro arrives at his new home in Section Zero.
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
Beneath the Arctic ice cap, Cobra Eels place thermite charges, blowing open a space for the Dreadnaught to surface. From the deck launches a small helicopter, taking Baroness and Destro onwards to Section Zero whilst Glynis and Rory MacDougall remain aboard as hostages. As they arrive at the sprawling complex, Baroness reminds the laird that his life now depends on him successfully completing the M.A.S.S. Device.
In Argentina, the Joes pay their respects to Six-Gun and Hat Trick, followed shortly by the arrival of Brainstorm and Dial Tone. Duke is unwilling to let further Joes enter the booby-trapped Castle Destro, but luckily, the Fobbits have brought with them "Fleegman", a drone robot that can remotely gather video and sensor readings for them.
In Springfield, the Cobra trooper engages Snake Eyes, who has survived the initial onslaught from the Flight Pod. As stray bullets penetrate the underground staircase in which Mainframe is trapped, the computer expert attempts to raise his partner on the radio, but there is of course no reply from the mute ninja. Moving downwards, he finds a computer-locked vault door, which proves no problem for him to hack through. On the other side, he finds a shocking sight: a bio-storage data tank, a previously-theoretical method of storing information in a vast vat of genetically-modified bacteria. Lacking a computer access point, Mainframe takes the next best option, scooping a sample of the green goo into a plastic bottle.
Up above, Snake Eyes fights a high-octane duel with the Cobra operative, with throwing stars, flashbang grenades, katana and gunfire all flying across the ruined shop. Eventually, the battle descends into a brutal knife fight, which only ends when Snake Eyes is able to fling his opponent onto the blade of his katana, abandoned earlier in the face-off.
In Argentina, Brainstorm scopes out the castle's main laboratory on the screen, spotting an attempt to replicate the Broadcast Energy Transmitter and the machine that, unbeknown to the Joes, was used to encase Destro in his armor. His curiosity too strong, the Fobbit enters the building himself, and recovers a sample of the same strange dust delivered to Scarlett. Together with the energy readings in the room, Brainstorm reaches the conclusion that Destro may have developed a teleportation device.
At Section Zero, Destro is introduced to his new scientific colleague: Dr. Armand "Mindbender" Singh. The quantum field theory expert reluctantly admits that, despite his lack of qualifications, Destro has developed a promising device. In return, the laird privately sneers at Singh's dreams of time travel technology, and insists to the Baroness that "Mindbender" must not be allowed to interfere in the M.A.S.S. project.
Back in Springfield, Mainframe has emerged from the tunnels to find Snake Eyes unconscious from his wounds. Out of options, he calls The Pit for a medical evacuation, ending his three years in hiding. Shareware dispatches a team, even as a Cobra helicopter approaches Springfield... and launches a huge missile!
Featured characters[edit | edit source]
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| G.I. Joe | Cobra | Others |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes[edit | edit source]
"We check it all out from a safe distance."
"Spoken like a true Fobbit."
- —Dial Tone gets dissed by Beachhead
Notes[edit | edit source]
Continuity notes[edit | edit source]
- Fleegman, or a drone of the same model, was previously seen recording Scarlett's interrogation in issues #7 and #8.
- Destro stole the plans for the B.E.T. in issue #5.
- Scarlett received the sample of M.A.S.S. "dust" from Snake Eyes in issue #1.
G.I. Joe references[edit | edit source]
- It's only seen in silhouette, but the Cobra helicopter at Springfield is recognizable as the classic "Mamba" vehicle.
Real life references[edit | edit source]
- Fleegman's name appears to be a reference to Guy Fleegman, fictional actor from the cult film Galaxy Quest.
- Mainframe uses a Smartwater bottle for collect the bio-data goo.
Other notes[edit | edit source]
- This issue does not feature a printed title, but the arc was titled "The Betrayers" in the solicitation text for issue #12.
- The line-art for cover B depicts Atkins' Cobra Viper design, yet to appear in the comic itself, but is coloured in the plain blue and gray of the standard Cobra trooper who appears in the actual issue.
- Name Watch: Lab Rat is now "Labrat".
Covers (3)[edit | edit source]
- Cover A: Destro outside Section Zero, by Howard Chaykin and Edgar Delgado.
- Cover B: Snake Eyes hides from a Cobra trooper, by Robert Atkins and Andrew Crossley.
- Cover RI: Virgin version of Cover A.
