Scarlett issue 5

Publisher	Image Comics; Skybound Entertainment
First published	October 9, 2024
Cover date	October 2024
Written by	Kelly Thompson
Art by	Marco Ferrari
Colors by	Lee Loughridge
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Editor	Ben Abernathy
Continuity	Energon Universe

With new enemies and new weapons in play, Scarlett's mission has only just begun...

Synopsis

As Storm Shadow admires the Sword of Life, a Mugenonami swordsman orders him to unhand it, as the sword doesn't belong to him. The Arashikage ninja disagrees and slices the swordsman in twain with one swift move, much to the disgust of Scarlett. Jinx warns Storm Shadow that they need to leave before Cobra arrives, only for the floor of the Sakura building to be blown up by a rocket from a Cobra helicopter. The trio make their escape (despite only having two parachutes) as more Cobra Troopers arrive, escorted personally by Cobra Commander himself, pursuing the sword made of Energon. The Commander shoots Scarlett, causing her to push Jinx out the window after Storm Shadow. Jinx manages to catch Scarlett as they fall and the two land together.

On the streets of Tokyo, the three agree to split up and meet at another location in three hours. Scarlett uses this opportunity to meet back up with Snow Job. She gives him Jinx's burn bag, much to Harlan's confusion: he thought he was here to pick he up to return to the States, but Scarlett tells him that she can't leave Jinx behind, and has decided to stay with the Arashikage to help complete the mission.

Scarlett, Jinx, and Storm Shadow return to the Arashikage stronghold, where Storm Shadow presents the Ichi no Ken to the Hard Master. The Hard Master thanks Storm Shadow before handing the sword back to him, promising that this will begin a new age for the Arashikage. Jinx uses a signal to tell Scarlett to “stay cool” as Storm Shadow holds the sword aloft, energy crackling from the blade as the Arashikage forces chant before him.

Featured characters

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

United States military	Arashikage	Cobra	Others
Scarlett (1) Snow Job (7)	Storm Shadow (2) Jinx (4) Arashikage ninjas (8) Hard Master (9)	Cobra Troopers (5) Cobra Commander (6)	Mugenonami swordsman (3)

Quotes

"You know, there is going to be a limit to the number of times I let you try to get me killed."
"Let me know when we hit that limit."

—Scarlett and Storm Shadow

Notes

Continuity notes

Scarlett questions who Cobra Commander is upon seeing him. This is in keeping with his desire to maintain a (mostly) low profile as mentioned in Destro.
Snow Job references that Stalker was the one who sent him and Scarlett on this mission back in issue #1.
Snow Job tells Scarlett to call him when she and Jinx are ready and he'll get them out, even if he "has to bring everyone," setting up a potential plot point for the G.I. Joe ongoing.

Other notes

This issue contains a five-page preview for G.I. Joe #1.

Covers (5)

Cover A: Scarlett, Storm Shadow, and Cobra looming, by Marco Ferrari and Lee Loughridge.
Cover B: Scarlett firing an arrow while doing a backflip, by Siya Oum.
Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover, by Gleb Melkinov.
Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): A Red Ninja (in Classified design) on explosion background, by Vasco Georgiev.
Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Scarlett, Storm Shadow, and Jinx rappelling down a wire, by Taurin Clarke.