Scarlett's Strike Force issue 4
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The content of this page is considered to be apocrypha or pseudocanon. Fiction that is considered pseudocanon generally falls into one of two categories. It is most likely either unofficial fiction from an official creator that is so informative as to the creator's thought process and/or so influential to the fandom as to be worth documenting, or fiction that is published in such a way as to render it unofficial, such as fan works published as ancillary or bonus images/fiction with other official work. As such, new ideas and concepts introduced here may not hold true for work that is completely canonical. |
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| Publisher | IDW Publishing | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | March 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Aubrey Sitterson | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Ilias Kyriazis (planned) | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | 2005 IDW continuity | ||||||||||||
| Chronology | Current era | ||||||||||||
The Joes rocket into action to counter Cobra's latest master plan, but find themselves fighting each other instead.
Synopsis
[edit]In a brand-new Terrordrome base, constructed on the strange new moon that Cobra have launched into orbit, Cobra Commander consults with Crystal Ball as to the timeline of "the emergence". The twisted mystic reports that they now require only blood "steeped in chaos and angst" in order to begin proceedings, and promises that G.I. Joe will deliver it in short order...
On Lemuria, the Joes are indeed readying for a journey to confront Cobra at their moonbase. As they prepare, Scarlett explains to Roadblock that she will be taking direct command of the mission, noting that as leaders, responsibility for Spitfire and Salvo's insubordination and the disappearance of Snake Eyes, Helix, and Skywarp ultimately falls to them. Among the rest of the team, tensions still simmer between Grand Slam, now equipped with a new field-ready wheelchair, and Rock 'n Roll, while Doc remarks to Quick Kick on Friday's absence—the primitive being hasn't been cleared for the field, and is staying home with a stack of martial-arts movies to "study". After the final team member, Gung-Ho, gives an emotional farewell to Shipwreck, the squad loads up aboard the Defiant space shuttle, which rockets up out of the ocean and into Earth orbit.
Once in range of the Cobramoon, the team descends from the shuttle using JUMP Packs, but are almost immediately confronted by Destro, piloting his Despoiler and backed up by the entire Dreadnok gang on weaponized V.E.N.O.M.-tech hover-bikes. Their speed and flight make it impossible for G.I. Joe to land any hits, and Rock 'n Roll, equipped only with his short-range laser shotgun, soon finds himself smashed by Road Pig's sledgehammer and pinned down under heavy fire. Despite bemoaning that it's Rock who needs saving, Grand Slam steps up to mount a triumphant rescue, his new wheelchair transforming into a treaded battle machine bristling with lasers. The hail of weapons fire makes short work of the Dreadnoks' bikes, while Destro flies off in retreat, refusing to help his underlings. Back at the Terrordrome, he attempts to shirk responsibility for the failure of the Dreadnoks, but is berated by Cobra Commander for his cowardice and poor leadership. With the Joes still at large, she sends Storm Shadow, Tempest, and Doctor Mindbender to deal with them.
Outside, as the Joes dole out handcuffs for their new captives, a grateful Rock 'n Roll tries to thank Grand Slam, but turns the mood sour when he tries to ask for a lift on the weaponized wheelchair. Meanwhile, Gung-Ho sets up a transceiver to make contact with Lemuria, and lets Dial Tone know that they've safely arrived on the moon. The team soon sets out towards Cobra's base, but spot unexpected interlopers observing them from behind nearby rocks: Duke, Snake Eyes, Helix, and Skywarp! Duke explains that they've been sent by the U.S. military as a "Plan B", but Scarlett is furious, both at the intrusion on her mission and the team members "stolen" from G.I. Joe. The two squads face off, but are interrupted when Doctor Mindbender, standing atop a nearby outcropping, reveals his presence, and proudly announces his Venom Vapor!
The magenta mist pours out of holes in the ground, and quickly envelops the Joes. Doc is able to identify the mist as a psychotropic gas, but it's too late to prevent the substance affecting them. As everyone descends into an angry daze, Snake Eyes and Quick Kick violently resume their rivalry, and soon all of both Duke and Scarlett's team are at each other's throats, fighting and arguing. Even Skywarp, unaffected by the gas, joins the scrum, taking out his ongoing frustrations at being treated like an idiot by the humans. As the scrap continues, Shipwreck attempts to make contact with Gung-Ho via the transceiver, but misinterprets a yell to "gimme some space" as being directed at him, leaving him sad and hurt.
Elsewhere, the Venom Vapor has plunged Rock 'n Roll deep into another of the traumatic visions he has suffered since Crystal Ball placed a mark upon his forehead. The battle around him seems to fade away, replaced by fire and destruction, and Rock finds himself grabbed by the shadowy soldiers of chaos he has glimpsed before. The mysterious figures carry him away, his howls and screams for help going unheard...
Featured characters
[edit](Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| G.I. Joe | Cobra | Others |
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Quotes
[edit]"The time is almost upon us. We will finally make the Earth ours. And it shall all begin here, on my moonbase. Not merely a base on the moon… But a base that is a moon! COBRA-LALALALALALALALA!"
- —Cobra Commander gets into the spirit of the role
"We didn't do that, Scar. That was Spitfire and Salvo. And Skywarp."
"But whose command were they under? Yours and mine. Their failure was yours. And your failure is mine. Being a leader means taking responsibility, Roadblock."
- —Roadblock and Scarlett discuss leadership
"Of course it's you. It could have been anyone else. All this technology, all that work… Just. To save. You. But I've got a role to play. And heroes… real heroes don't get to choose when
to be heroic. I'm here for a reason. I'm here because I'm a hero. YOOOOOOOOO JOOOOOOOOOE!"
- —Grand Slam on being a hero
Notes
[edit]- Although Scarlett's Strike Force was cancelled before even the release of the first issue (see details here), Aubrey Sitterson had completed scripts through to issue #4, which he later released via his Patreon page. According to the script, issue #4 was intended to feature fill-in art from Ilias Kyriazis, who had previously illustrated Sitterson's two-part First Strike tie-in.
Continuity notes
[edit]- Crystal Ball wields the antediluvian dagger and bowl stolen during the events of First Strike, and last seen in issue #1.
- Crystal Ball first placed the symbol of Chaos upon Rock 'n Roll's forehead in G.I. Joe vol. 5 #3, and he subsequently suffered traumatic visions in issue #5 and the First Strike one-shot. In this issue, under the influence of the Venom Vapor, Grand Slam delivers the line "You broke me! You crippled me! You monster!", as seen in the first of those visions.
G.I. Joe references
[edit]- The Terrordrome is a classic G.I. Joe playset, and had never previously appeared in this continuity.
- Additionally, a whole host of vehicles from the A Real American Hero toyline appear, including the Defiant space shuttle, JUMP Packs, Destro's Despoiler, and the Triple 'T', which Grand Slam's new wheelchair is revealed to transform into.
- Grand Slam wears a version of his original toy's uniform for the first time in this continuity.
Other trivia
[edit]- Sitterson's original outline for the issue called for V.E.N.O.M. themselves to accompany Destro and the Dreadnoks into battle, although they are absent from the completed script.
