G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #329
Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Paul Pelletier
Summary
Dr. Mindbender and Alpha-001 quickly determine that the virtual attic they are viewing is a representation of Snake-Eyes’ memories. They are easily able to enter the realm and fish around Snake-Eyes’ head. They find an actual Easter egg, which is ticking and soon cracks.
Dawn returns to the Pit and informs Duke about how the explosions shook loose the Snake-Eyes memory implants and the Easter egg from Dr. Venom. She voluntarily enters lockdown, but the egg cracks open just as she’s about to enter her cell.
In Darklonia, the same thing happens to Throwdown/Sean Collins, who is on a mission to sniff out more Terror Dromes with Beach=Head and Helix. The real Snake-Eyes is at his cabin with Scarlett (and Timber III). When he feels the egg crack open, he simply tells Scarlett: “RUN!”
Notes:
- Mainframe provides a lot of details to cover the inability to contact Snake-Eyes and Throwdown. Both are in locations with bad service and an ongoing electrical storm is also interfering.
- Weird thing is that Dr. Mindbender and Alpha-001 mention that the memories of Snake-Eyes also exist in Throwdown and Dawn Moreno. You could surmise that Mindbender would know about Dawn, but Throwdown? He even mentions the name “Sean Collins”. I don’t recall how or when Mindbender would know this.
- As they fish around the attic, Mindbender and Alpha-001 sees all the highlights of Snake-Eyes’ past. Including the picture of his sister, Kwinn’s weasel skull necklace, his spike-knuckled trench-knife collection, an M-60, his dress garb, ninja swords, stuff from the Staten Island ferry, and even a Doors LP.
- When Dr. Mindbender finds the Easter egg, Alpha-001 asks: “isn’t that a little obvious?”
- No-Prize explanation is: “Mindbender is clever and figured it out.” Weak. Yet it also knee-caps the Snake-Eyes/Throwdown ruse that was supposedly a Big Deal in the second half of the IDW era.
- Timber is simply called “Timber” and no clarification that he’s actually Timber III or “Trips” as they called him.
- I’ll give the plot and characters collective credit for coming out and taking about all these issues. No surprises or secrets.
- Also, glad they’re brining this plot to the front, quickly. I hope we’re not still dealing with this stuff in 5 issues. Yes, I’m not wild about the constant Brainwave Scanner plots, but at least they’re moving things along. Hopefully.
- In Darklonia, the Joes’ local connection is a guy from the Resistance named Bogdan. He is quickly shot and killed at a “security” checkpoint.
- The Terror Drome subplot continues. My hunch is that they’re all basically “cell towers”, spread around the globe, to create some sort of mass transmitted mental wave from Cobra and Revanche. An actual…gasp…TERROR attack from the Terror Dromes.
- Lee Weeks has done the covers for the past few issues. First time I really noticed him was circa 1996 and an issue of Detective Comics featuring Deathstroke in a short-lived costume. A few issues later, I remember a fan wrote in, praising Deathstroke’s new costume. The fan even said: “he looks like Snake-Eyes!”
- A Personnel Profile (file card) of Mongoose is included on the last page.
Appearances
Characters (figures): Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Duke, Mainframe, Cover Girl, Roadblock, Beach-Head, Helix, Jinx, Law (& Order), Dr. Mindbender
Characters (comic-only): Dawn Moreno, Throwdown, Sherlock, Mongoose, Alpha-001, Bogdan (croaks)
Vehicles & Stuff (toys): Tomahawk, Skystriker (cameo), Terror Drome
Vehicles & Stuff (comic-only): Darklonian personnel carrier, Land rover SUV
Firsties: Bogdan
