Scarlett issue 4

Publisher	Image Comics; Skybound Entertainment
First published	September 4, 2024
Cover date	September 2024
Written by	Kelly Thompson
Art by	Marco Ferrari
Colors by	Lee Loughridge
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Editor	Ben Abernathy
Continuity	Energon Universe

Everything converges as the Arashikage must keep the weapon from falling into the hands of a new enemy.

Synopsis

On the forty-seventh floor of the Sato building “Sakura”, Jinx uses her and Scarlett’s secret code to silently communicate with her old friend, warning her that there are eyes and ears everywhere. As such, the two maintain their charade when Storm Shadow summons them to the room where their target was being held - keyword being was. It appears the Arashikage’s arrival tripped a security system and the weapon has been moved. With the Mugenonami’s forces amassing on floor forty-four, Storm Shadow believes that to be where they’re keeping it and prepares to strike there. He orders Jinx and Scarlett to find an alternative route through the stairs, but Scarlett begins to suspect this is actually a trap.

As Storm Shadow makes his way to floor forty-four, Jinx uses an E.M.P. device to disrupt any surveillance that may be around, allowing the two a brief two minutes of reunion. Jinx asks if Scarlett came on her own or if someone sent her, and Scarlett confirms that Stalker sent her, just as he had with Jinx. Jinx gives Scarlett some intel to take back for her, but Scarlett insists she leave with her now. However, Jinx refuses; she believes that the Arashikage could be a powerful ally against the rising threat of Cobra and that she can help guide them toward that path by staying with them. As their two-minute window closes, Scarlett shares her theory that forty-four is a diversion, suggesting that the best way to hide the weapon would be to send it up when it appeared to go down.

The pair sneak to floor forty-eight in an air vent and attack the Mugenonami as they wait for their buyer, their target sitting in a large wooden crate at the center of the room. Jinx radios Storm Shadow that they’ve found the weapon when a squad of Cobra Troopers storms in. One of the Troopers quickly calls for his Commander to send reinforcements. Storm Shadow then arrives and helps dispatch the rest of the Mugenonami before turning his attention to the crate. He opens it, revealing the legendary weapon Ichi no Ken - the Sword of Life. Taking it for himself, Storm Shadow feels the power of the blade filling him, as though he was destined for its power. As Scarlett watches, she wonders if she made the right choice in helping the Arashikage.

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in photos.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

United States military	Arashikage	Cobra	Others
Scarlett (2)	Jinx (1) Storm Shadow (3) Arashikage ninjas (4)	Cobra Troopers (6) Cobra Air Trooper (7)	Mugenonami enforcers (5)

Quotes

"Glad you made it."
"Piece of cake. So where is this thing? I almost got killed for it, can I at least set eyes on it?"
"What happened to 'piece of cake'?"

—Storm Shadow and Scarlett

Notes

Continuity notes

This issue marks Cobra's first known operation in the Energon Universe. Up until now, they have remained clandestine, with Cobra Commander saying in Destro issue #1 that they must remain in the shadows. Jinx appears to have only learned about them during her time with the Arashikage.

G.I. Joe references

The designs for the Cobra Troopers are based on the designs used in the G.I. Joe Classified Series toyline.
- One of the Troopers' helmets is decorated with a "V" shape that has been used on several different trooper variations over the years: first appearing on a single gas-masked Cobra Trooper from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #44, the design inspired a Cobra Trooper figure from a comic pack reprinting said issue, which itself later served as inspiration for the Cobra Air Trooper in the 25th Anniversary line. In Classified, the symbol is unique to the Cobra Valkyries, an all-female unit of Cobra Troopers. However, the Trooper wearing the V is drawn with what appears to be a male body, so they are likely not a Valkyrie.

Real life references

Scarlett's theory about the floor numbers is based on actual Japanese superstitions about numbers: four is considered unlucky and associated with death, while seven and eight are considered lucky.

Covers

Cover A: Scarlett fighting Storm Shadow, by Marco Ferrari and Lee Loughridge.
Cover B: Scarlett finds a secret Arashikage bunker, by Yasmine Putri.
Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover, by Gleb Melkinov.
Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Hard Master on explosion background, by Vasco Georgiev.
Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Scarlett and Storm Shadow, by Eric Canete.