G.I. Joe: Silent Option #4

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Netho Diaz

Summary:

Helix races to her parents’ home, in a dumptruck with Bombstrike and Dawn Moreno. The parents are formidable and are holded up in a “safe room”. They’re able to hold off Firefly, Ilsa Bachman and their flunkies.

The 3 Joes arrive and blow through the flunkies. Firefly and Ilsa Bachman surrendur, but Ilsa turns on Firefly and shoots him in the shoulder. Firefly responds by blowing off half of her face.

The police arrive and everything seems to be settled. Helix’s parents act innocent and suggest that the attack hit the wrong house and that they may have been for their neighbor, an “old coot” who is supposedly an FBI informant.

Back-up Story: “Codename: Helix” (Part 4)
Writer: Ryan Ferrier
Artist: Kenneth Loi

With Hawk watching over her, the young Helix is given to a family in the witness protection program– “Bob”, “Carla” and their son, “Joseph”. Bob is former Special Forces and Carla is an MMA champ.

It’s implied that Helix undertook special missions for Hawk for “over a decade”. The story circles back to issue 1, as Hawk is briefing Bombstrike on rescuing Helix.

Notes

• I was a little let down that it was essentially a big shoot-out. The home seemed to become…larger…as the story went on.
   
• I’ve mentioned this to the artist, before (via Hisstank.com), but once again there seemed to be too much slash n’ gash n’ gore. Like an EC or zombie comic. I have no problems with violence and death in comics, but I get a little miffed when it’s gratuitous and front and center in the comic’s “camera”. For example, the scene where we’re shown Ilsa Bachmann’s destroyed face could’ve been reduced. I’m of the Hitchcock belief that somebody is even scarier and shocking if you DON’T see it, clearly. Always felt that was why we never saw the original Snake-Eyes’s face for so long.
   
• Ilsa Bachmann getting half of her face blown off, makes me believe that she’ll be back. I’m thinking of the mid-90’s character “Torque” from “Nightwing”– who seemed to show up just for the shock factor (“OMG! His head’s on backwards!”)
   
• There was one inconsistency that someone might try to “No-Prize/NOH-Award”. Early on, we see Firefly’s face and he clearly has two separate eye holes in his mask. The bridge of his nose is covered. Later, we see Firefly’s mask and he has the usual “ninja mask”– one hole in the mask with both eyes AND the bridge of his nose exposed. Explanation for this is that in the first scene, you can see some stitching as the edge of each eye hole. Firefly could’ve realistically opened it up or ripped it (or maybe it was designed to open up?), as the fighting got more intense.
   
• While this story left me kinda’ “meh”, I do like the introduction of Helix and the potential she has, as a character. Usually we’re just given a new (action figure) character and they’re off and running (like Sightline, Bombstrike, or any of the new Joes in the Marvel series). I like that we were given an intro on Helix. I do wonder if it makes Dawn Moreno a little redundant, again. Helix could sort of be seen as a successor to Snake-Eyes–even though she’s more of Hawk’s project. The character has that same “bad-ass vibe” that the original Snake-Eyes did. I dunno’, but if I’m picking my team for a story, I’d rather tab Helix than Dawn.
   
• Oh, also glad that the back-up story finally provided the names of “Helix’s parents”– Bob and Carla. Yet Hawk implies that those are NOT their real names.
   
• Oh, part 2: I guess “Helix” is her only name? Growing up, we see her family throwing a party with a banner reading: “Happy Birthday Helix”.
• We’re also introduced to her “brother”, Joseph, who’s a computer and tech whiz.
   
• When Bob and Carla are throwing suspicion on their neighbor, they mention that some “bad hombres” may have been involved.
   
• Yup, ended up with “Cover B” again. I kinda’ like it, though.

Apperances

Characters (figures): Agent Helix, Bombstrike, Hawk, Firefly

Characters (“comic-only”): Dawn Moreno, Bob (Papa Helix), Carla (Momma Helix), Joseph (Bo Helix), Ilsa Bachmann

Vehicles and stuff (toys): none

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none to speak of (c’mon… I don’t think a dumptruck counts)

Firsties:
Characters: Joseph (Bro Helix)

Vehicles and stuff: None

Rating: 3 Flag Points