GI Joe (ARAH): Silent Option #3

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Netho Diaz

Summary:

In freefall, Helix manages to contort her body and escape from her explosive bonds. Torpedo leaps from the oil rig, and tackles her in mid-air, as they drop in the North Sea. The Joes are picked up by the Killler Whale and return to the USS Flagg.

Through flashbacks, we find out more of Helix’s history. She was the “creepy girl”, but her mother introduced her to martial arts. In the basement, Mama Helix had a training room, dedicated to her sensei, Ronnie Moore, from a “tiny storefont dojo”. Helix is all into this.

Back in the present, Helix reveals a USB drive, which leads the team on the trail of Ilsa Bachman and a Darklonian Air flight to Newark. Helix and a small team of Joes follow, but the plane was a booby-trap designed to kill them (they survive of course).

In the final scene/page, Ilsa Bachmann, the Red Ninjas and FIREFLY arrive at the home of Helix’s parents.

Back-up Story: “Codename: Helix” (Part3)
Writer: Ryan Ferrier
Artist: Kenneth Loi

Helix appears to bond with Snake-Eyes. Back in the US, she’s admitted to a hospital for psychological evaluation… but it doesn’t go smooth as she turns all feral and attacks people.

Notes

• This was probably the “quietest” issue of the series. But considering it’s only 4 issues, that’s understandable. I appreciate a little slow down in the action for some explanation and back-story on Helix.
• I rolled my eyes when the USB stick entered the plot. That’s a modern plot crutch, but it didn’t prove absolutely essential to things. I guess you have to assume that Helix had that USB stick stashed in a water-proof pouch on her gear. Or else it was…umm…”keistered”.
• Helix speaks for the first time. So any ideas I had about her being mute or having that tied into the name “Silent Option” can go out the window.
• Firefly back already? Well, I guess that kills any mystery of his well-being from issue 250.
• Curious if they’ll reveal that “Ronnie Moore” had connections with the Arashikages or even the Soft Master. Mama Helix mentioned that she Moore’s dojo was in the “lower east side”.The Soft Master’s store; and later, Ninja Force’s dojo; were located in Spanish Harlem. That’d be above the Lower East Side, but there could be a connection. Moore is mentioned as being a vet, so there is a line for a possible connection to somebody.
• Dawn Moreno tries to connect with Helix, but she’s very abrasive. She also doesn’t want anybody to touch her. Given what we’ve seen of her history, thus far, it seems reasonable.
• Ace makes and appearance, as he flies a four seater EA-6B Prowler to get the team to Newark.
• In the backup story, Hawk arrives in Trucial Abysmia in some sort of high-tech VTOL jet. It looks like something from around the “Pursuit of Cobra” days, but I’m unable to identify it. Please leave a comment if you can.

Apperances

Characters (figures): Agent Helix, Alpine, Torpedo, Bombstrike, Keel Haul, Mainframe, Ace, Mainframe, Hawk, Snake-Eyes, Firefly

Characters (“comic-only”): Dawn Moreno, Throwdown, Ilsa Bachmann, Ronnie Moore (flashback cameo), Mama Helix

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Killer Whale

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): EA-6B Prowler

Firsties:
Characters: Ronnie Moore

Vehicles and stuff: EA-6B Prowler

Rating: 3 Flag Points