Unreleased Scarlett's Strike Force issues

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« Scarlett's Strike Force #5-8 »
Publisher	IDW Publishing
Written by	Aubrey Sitterson (planned)
Art by	Nelson Dániel (planned)
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity
Chronology	Current era

Following the cancellation of Scarlett's Strike Force, five of the book's intended eight issues were never completed—issue #4 had a completed script, while the remaining instalments never went beyond the original series outline. Writer Aubrey Sitterson subsequently released the script and outline (along with those for earlier issues) on his Patreon page, revealing how the story was originally intended to conclude.

Issues

Scarlett's Strike Force #5

As the effects of the Venom Vapor wane, Rock 'n Roll realises that he has been abducted not by mysterious warriors of chaos, but by Arashikage ninja, who truss him up for delivery to Crystal Ball. The Cobra occultist is beginning to prepare a ritual altar, lighting a magical green flame that rushes upwards to illuminate a beacon atop the Cobra moonbase.

Meanwhile, the other Joes, current and former, are still under the influence of the Venom Vapor, violently taking out their personal and professional issues on each other. The renewed showdown between Quick Kick and Snake Eyes is watched closely by Storm Shadow and Tempest, while Scarlett and Duke clash over their leadership rivalries. The fighting comes to an abrupt stop, however, when Skywarp realises that Rock 'n Roll has gone missing.

With the vapor dissipating, the Joes come back to their senses, and Gung-Ho makes contact with Lemuria, hoping to make amends with Shipwreck. Unfortunately, it's Dial Tone who answers, telling him that Shipwreck has gone off to the kitchens. Meanwhile, Scarlett and Duke shake hands on an temporary alliance, so that they can stop Cobra's plans and save Rock.

As the Joes set out towards the glowing temple beacon, Crystal Ball's ritual begins within. Producing the stolen antediluvian bowl and dagger, the villain announces that the captive Rock 'n Roll is to be sacrificed to Cobra's god, Golobulus!

Scarlett's Strike Force #6

As Crystal Ball prepares to slay Rock 'n Roll, explosions begin to wrack the base's exterior, prompting Cobra Commander to hurry him along. Before long, G.I. Joe has breached the temple, and engages Cobra's footsoldiers in a series of intense battles. Quick Kick, meanwhile, is confronted by Storm Shadow himself, eager to face off against the man who defeated his old nemesis Snake Eyes. Tempest watches on, told to "try and learn something" by her former namesake, while Snake Eyes and Helix team up to combat the horde of rank-and-file Arashikage.

Eventually, some of the Joes reach the temple altar, but they are too late—Rock 'n Roll lies motionless, the ritual bowl filled with his blood. A triumphant Cobra Commander announces that they stand not atop a moon, but a vast egg, from which the "first god" Golobulus will now hatch! Having dipped her hood in Rock's blood, she places it back on her head and commands the dark deity to rise... and the egg begins to hatch.

Scarlett's Strike Force #7

An enraged Skywarp barrels in to grab Rock 'n Roll, bringing him to Doc for medical attention. G.I. Joe and Cobra erupt into battle once more, with Doctor Mindbender unleashing modified Fatal Fluffies that trade sheer size for smarts, wings and laser guns. The egg-moon soon begins to shift and crack, leaving the combatants on both sides struggling to stay upright.

Elsewhere, Quick Kick and Storm Shadow's showdown continues, with the Joe martial artist having gained the upper hand. However, Tempest comes to the other ninja's aid, and Quick Kick suddenly finds himself outnumbered and outmatched. Luckily, the Joe is saved when Friday—having stowed away on the Defiant—comes to his aid with the meteor hammer. The primitive warrior takes out Tempest and then, clumsily, himself, leaving Quick Kick and Storm Shadow to resume their one-on-one battle.

Back at the altar, Scarlett attempts to reach Cobra Commander and snatch the bloodied hood that controls the hatching Golobulus. Before she can do so, the snake god completes its awakening, opening its mouth beneath the combatants. Crystal Ball willingly throws himself into the beast's maw, while Skywarp allows the badly-weakened Rock 'n Roll to climb inside his cockpit for safety. Quick Kick and Storm Shadow, still locked in battle, find themselves tumbling along Golobulus's body, and nearly fall away into the void of space before Snake Eyes steps in to rescue both of them.

As the giant snake plummets from orbit, Scarlett and her team desperately cling on. Amid the chaos, Gung-Ho finally makes contact with Shipwreck at Lemuria, and delivers a profuse apology for their earlier conversation. He then tells the sailor to gather all the Joes he can—Golobulus is coming to Earth, and Shipwreck needs to step up and lead once more!

Scarlett's Strike Force #8

Golobulus crashes down on Earth, and G.I. Joe pulls out all the stops to try and take it down. Skywarp and Rock 'n Roll break out their Blast Beat tag-team move once more, while Spitfire, having learned from past mistakes, prioritizes saving civilians over charging the monster, and ends up saving Salvo. Shipwreck and Gung-Ho have a happy reunion, and Duke cedes command to Scarlett, but she in turn places her faith in Roadblock as the team's field commander.

Amidst the fighting, the power-mad Cobra Commander is shot in the back by Destro, who has decided that there's no profit in bringing about the apocalypse. This gives Scarlett the opening she needs to grab the wounded leader's hood. Donning it herself, the Joe finds herself gripped by dark temptations, imagining the world peace that could be achieved with Golobulus in her thrall to enforce it. But Scarlett fights through the impulses, and instead commands the bestial behemoth to fly away from the Earth and into the sun. With Golobulus gone, the battle is soon over; in the process, Quick Kick knocks out some of Storm Shadow's teeth, settling the score from their first encounter back in New York City.

Sometime later, a bank finds itself under attack by dinosaurs, commanded by Croc Master and Raptor. But wherever there's trouble, G.I. Joe is there! YOOOO JOOOOOOOOE!