Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Netho Diaz
Summary
Bombstrike and Dawn Moreno are on the trail of the mysterious “Helix”. They start with her former foster parents in the US, then the trail eventually leads them to Trucial Abysmia and Borovia. Along the way, they piece together that Helix is huting down human traffickers. Three in particular: Gregory Samsa, Mahoud Gaz and Ilsa Bachman.
Alpine, Torpedo and Throwdown (Snake-Eyes II) join the hunt. In Trucial Abysmia, the Joes storm Gaz’s compound and find him severely beaten and plugged into life support.
Next, in Grosz, the capital of Borovia, Gregory Samsa is found in a similar condition– only without the life support and having recently been pummeled by his former “merchandise”. Another human trafficking gang, sent by Bruno Kurda, tries to swoop in and steal Samsa’s old inventory– but the Joes blow them away and put a stop to it. A bloody Samsa then tells the Joes where Ilsa Bachmann is– off the coast of Scotland in a drilling platform.
Back-up Story: “Codename: Helix”
Writer: Ryan Ferrier
Artist: Kenneth Loi
Bombstrike meets in an old swamp shack. Hawk has an “off the record” missions for her: find Helix. Hawk tells a story of a mission from 12 years ago that sent Snake-Eyes (the original) to Trucial Abysmia to stop human trafficking. He cleans the place out, but the guards freak out as he opens a final cell— one that holds Helix tied to a chair.
Notes
Honestly, it’s tough to accurately grade this as a single issue, yet it’s a good start. Shows the Joes doing something besides fighting Cobra. Unlike Cobra, these villains are shown as utterly despicable and completely evil. No shades of gray; they’re bad.
Helix, of course, has been in other “Non-Hama” IDW GI Joe comics, as part of their many continuities. She debuted in 2009 in the Rise of Cobra video game, then as an action figure later in the year.
So while she’s appeared in other GI Joe titles, this is Helix’s FIRST appearance in the main GI Joe continuity. Similar to how Pale Peony was brought in, a few years ago.
My only gripe with Diaz’s art is that he seems to be TOO graphic. Lots of blood spurts and people getting blown away. I don’t mind violence when used properly, but his over-use of the drippy blood effect seems a little gratuitous, to me. It’s almost like I wandered into an EC Comic.
Worth mentioning that Trucial Abysmia now has a “higher per capita income than Beverly Hills”. In previous visits, it was usually struggling and neighboring Benzheen was rolling in dough. Easy to “NOH Award” this: Trucial Abysmia found new deposits of oil and struck it rich.
The first page has a cool roll call dossier of the main Joes in this story. I’d like to see this added to all future GI Joe ARAH comics, as it help with accessibility for new fans and a good reminder for old fans (for instance, I forgot that Alpine’s secondary specialty was Finance Clerk).
They’re back to calling Sean Collins “Throwdown” and not “Snake-Eyes”. This now throws me off, because I’ve been taking a leap of faith and listing “Snake-Eyes II” as a “Character w/figure” for awhile now. I’m officially moving him BACK to the “Comic-only” group. I mean, all those Snake-Eyes figures have been intended to be the original, not Sean.
Yeah, I’ll get around to correcting this on all my older “Snake-Eyes II” recaps…as soon as I get my Netflix, Hulu and TubiTV queues all caught up, write a book, convert all my vinyl to digital, re-design this site again, etc…
FWIW, Hawk is back to his traditional blonde hair and hairline. Since the IDW relaunch, in his rare appearances, he usually had dark brown hair with a receding hairline.
Appearances
Characters (figures): Bombstrike, Alpine, Torpedo, Helix, Hawk, Cutter (cameo), Shipwreck (cameo)
Characters (comic-only): Dawn Moreno, Throwdown, Gregory Samsa, Mahoud Gaz, Ilsa Bachman (cameo)
Vehicles and stuff (toys): Killer WHALE
Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none to speak of
Firsties
Characters: Helix, Gregory Samsa, Mahoud Gaz, Ilsa Bachman
Vehicles and stuff: none
Rating: 4 Flag Points
It would be my suggestion that we wait and see about the name Snake-Eyes. I suspect that he and Dawn will both continue to rotate through their first names, Snake-Eyes, and in his case Throwdown from time to time. Remember also that the Joes keep trying to call him Throwdown and Scarlett has to remind them / chide them / discipline them to call him by his new codename. It feels a lot to me as though Larry is writing a general mild resentment towards Sean from many of the older Joes.