IDW - Scarlett's Strike Force #2

Written by: Aubrey Sitterson 

Art by: Nelson Daniel

Colours by: Ryan Hill

Letters by: Taylor Esposito

Editors: Tom Waltz & Chase Marotz

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

The Joes in the North Pole Jungle are surrounded by various dinosaurs, but are forced to use non-lethal force due to them being extinct/endangered creatures (I think, it's not really explained). Cover Girl's new vehicle is damaged in the process, rendering it useless, but the team are soon rescued when a caveman appears from nowhere and scolds the dinosaurs, like dogs, making them leave.

Nearby at the Cobra Temple, Crystal Ball is preparing for the next stage in his Cobra-La ritual, when Destro arrives to inform Cobra Commander about the Joes being in the Jungle, and how he believes Cesspool betrayed their location to them. She is angry at Destro since Cesspool was HIS business contact and sends out the new recruits, Croc Master and Raptor out to deal with the Joes.

At the Lemuria base, Spectrum is looking over Grand Slam's wheelchair and commends him on the work he did with it, but has some ideas on how to adapt it with some MASK technology. Skywarp enters the lab to ask them about fixing his teleport drive again. Grand Slam immediately rejects it as they don't have the technology available to fix it, however Spectrum points out that they could use some of the Ore-13 from the newly opened mine to fix him, before being interrupted by Grand Slam who says that all the shipments are reserved from Cybertron right now. Disappointed, Skywarp leaves, but not before he overhears Grand Slam shout at Spectrum for telling Skywarp he can be fixed, since they don't want a "killer robot" at full power again.

Elsewhere on the ship, Shipwreck shows Scarlett a newly found hydrothermal vent that the Lemuria is set upon, which will give them a source of renewable energy, however Gung-Ho just wants to use it for a hot tub. Scarlett leaves, after making what Shipwreck takes as a fat joke about him as Gung-Ho starts stripping to use the "hot tub".

Back in the Jungle, Salvo watches as Quick Kick has started training the caveman, nicknamed "Friday", in martial arts, which Salvo points out seems to be so he has someone to help him fight Storm Shadow with, which Quick Kick immediately dismisses, just claiming to be aiming to train him to be master himself, as that itself is a great skill to master.

Spirit and Roadblock locate Raptor and Croc Master in the jungle, so they set up an ambush for them at their camp-site. Once the two Cobras arrive at the camp, they are surrounded by the Joes in the trees, and are ordered to take them to the Cobra Temple, however the two Cobras summon a pair of dinosaurs, that they use to attack the Joes.

In the fight, Friday is almost immediately eaten by one of them, but is vomited up after Quick Kick punches it in the gut. The fight itself doesn't last much longer as Spirit finds some mind-control devices on the giant creatures and destroys them, freeing the dinosaurs from their control. The two Cobras escape via another flying creature and the Joes proceed to chase them.

In Dukes office, he receives a call from who he assumes is Roadblock, changing his mind on breaking off his spy role, but is shocked to find Skywarp on the other end, offering to join forces with him in exchange for some Or-13, and to bring Duke some "valuable assets"

Characters

GI Joe

Scarlett

Roadblock

Salvo

Cover Girl

Quick Kick

Spirit

Spitfire

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Grand Slam

Spectrum

Rock 'n Roll

Shipwreck

Polly the Parrot

Gung-Ho

Cobra

Cobra Commander

Destro

Crystal Ball

Raptor

Raptor's Falcon

Croc Master

Celeste the Gator

Vipers

Cesspool (Mentioned)

Male Storm Shadow (Mentioned)

Other Human

Duke

Earth Defense Command (Mentioned) Defunct

Other

Multiple Dinosaurs

"Friday" Partially Digested by Dinosaur, Vomited back up

Notes

• Oh wow...Cover Girl's new and amazing MASK-tech type vehicle is disabled from just one hit from an Ankylosaur's tail...what great endurance!
• "Friday" is designed after the "Intruder" action figures, though they were originally designed as villains, so maybe this guy will turn out to betray the team?
• Crystal Ball doesn't state it outright, but he is clearly intending to capture Rock 'n Roll to use his blood for his Cobra-La ritual.
• It's implied in this issue that the reason there is a lush prehistoric jungle in the North Pole because Cesspool's businesses have been polluting the air and melting the ice caps, seemingly meaning that "Friday" and the Dinosaurs were revived at the same time.
• So according to Spectrum and Grand Slam, the latter's wheelchair is actually very hi-tech, has been cobbled together from several other designs and even incorporates some Cybertronian technology....yet it still leaves him pretty much unable to do anything but roll around....
• I'm actually shocked! They referenced that Skywarp is a known killer, and even state that that is the reason they haven't repaired his teleport drive is because they don't fully trust him...pity this is only being brought up in the PENULTIMATE ISSUE!
• Also shockingly, this series actually references other events in the Hasbroverse rather than just playing by itself, it mentions how Skywarp was originally under the EDC's watch to get repaired, and also references the new Ore-13 mine opened in Optimus Prime #15.
• I have no idea why the scene with Shipwreck and Gung-Ho showing Scarlett the new hydrothermal vent /hot tub exists...I just guess they wanted a page with Scarlett in it in her own title series maybe? 
• So turns out that Croc Master and Raptor have been arguing about the genealogy of dinosaurs and not crocodiles like we all thought in the MASK First Strike one-shot
• Skywarp was shown last issue to be spying on Roadblock when he called Duke, this issue we see that he was acquiring the contact information too
• Gee it would be a real pity if next issue was the final issue and all these lingering plot threads would be left incomplete....oh wait....
• My guess would be at the "valuable assets" that Skywarp refers to are going to be the two Docs, being Dire Wraiths.

IDW - First Strike: MASK

Written by: Aubrey Sitterson

Art by: Ilias Kyriazis

Colours by: Mark Roberts

Letters by: Gilberto Lazcano

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

The King Cobra mech runs rampage over New York, forcing the Joes to concentrate on attacking it, rather than helping Quick Kick inside the Museum, stopping Firefly from stealing some artefacts for Cobra. The Joes manage to work together to break through the mech's armour  and destroy it's power core, causing it to fall apart.

The Joes are congratulated by the cops, and VENOM are arrested, but are sure that Cobra Commander will free them.

Quick Kick is able to smash through all the Red Shadow Ninjas and goes head-to-head with Firefly, even managing to avoid a point-blank shot from a gun. However before he can finish Firefly, he is smacked by an iron ball thrown by a male Storm Shadow! He has Firefly finish the mission, but leaves Quick Kick alive, so he can fight him fairly in the future...

Later, the Joes are congratulating themselves on saving the day, but with Shipwreck still feeling bad for Quick Kick being in the infirmary and them losing the artefacts. He is soon brought out of his funk when Gung-Ho brings him a disgusting green veggie-burger with a veggie-bun...what a nice boyfriend!

At the Cobra HQ, Crystal Ball is happy with the artefacts. Cobra Commander, the former Baroness, speaks with Cesspool, who reports that their shell companies have increased carbon emissions, leading to "melting" which is part of their next plan, whilst Destro (who is somehow on Earth, see below!) asks what will happen with VENOM, but the Commander is uninterested in freeing them, and plans to leave them in jail until they are needed again, besides, she has new minions to deal with...Croc Master and Raptor...

Back at the Lemuria Base, Rock 'n Roll is asleep and is given another strange dream...this time of an army chanting to their leader...Golobulus....

Plot

Characters

GI Joe

Shipwreck

Polly Parrot

Quick Kick Put in Infirmary by Male Storm Shadow

Gung-Ho

Salvo

Doc

Spitfire

Rock 'n Roll

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Dial Tone

Tunnel Rat

Spirit

Cover Girl

Lifeline

Snake Eyes (Mentioned)

Cobra/VENOM

Cobra Commander/Baroness

Firefly

Male Storm Shadow

Bruno Sheppard/Thunderflame Arrested by Cops

Sly Rax/Stiletto Arrested by Cops

Vanessa Warfield/Ice Queen Arrested by Cops

Crystal Ball

Croc Master

Raptor

Cesspool

Destro

Other Cobra Businessmen

King Cobra Mech Destroyed by Joes

Red Shadow Ninjas

Golobulus (Dream Only)

Golobukus' Army (Dream Only)

Other Human

New York Cops

Notes

• So...you know how this comic is under the "MASK" line? Well...none of the MASK characters appear, with just three members of VENOM making a couple of short appearances....they may as well have just named this "First Strike: GI Joe #2"
• Vanessa Warfield seems to be acting a bit out of character in this issue. Isn't her whole "thing" being cold and an "Ice Queen"...hence her codename....here she is screaming like a banshee at Bruno Sheppard.
• Wow Quick Kick is being kind of a dick in this issue isn't he? He keeps just bragging about beating Snake Eyes in a sparring match, so much for a good teammate and honourable warrior!
• Oh wow! There's now a male Storm Shadow again! It's unclear if he's the original guy or another successor (like the female one currently on Cybertron) but this is gunna get confusing, especially if both of them end up in one issue together!
• Whilst unidentified here, the Cobra artefacts that Cobra steals for Crystal Ball appears to be for a ritual sacrifice, being a bowl and a dagger...maybe these things will be used to summon Golobulus? Probably not now of course...since the comic is getting canned...
• WHAT IS DESTRO DOING HERE?!?! He is very expressly on Cybertron for the First Strike event, and even got captured and held on Cybertron afterwards. Can't you guys even keep your own characters in line here?!
• Golobulus, seen in shadows at the end of the issue originated in the 80's GI Joe Movie, where he was a behind the scenes leader for Cobra of sorts.
• Anyway, I'll start this point by saying sorry for doing this so late, but as I'm sure you're fed up of hearing now, I had to deal with a bad comic supplier, but I am done with them now, and all my future buys will be straight off Ebay or whatever. Secondly as I'm sure everyone already knows, this comic leads into the upcoming "Scarlett's Strike Force" series, which has already been cancelled due to reportedly low sales. Though it has been said that it is also due to some controversial tweets from Aubrey Sitterson (the writer) about people mourning 9/11 the wrong way or something. As such, the comic will conclude after 3 issues and will end on a cliffhanger...nice job there!
• After I get the second volume of the GI Joe trades, I'll do a special blog that goes through the series, and what I feel went wrong with it, and why a big product like GI Joe is being out-lived by relatively minor titles like Rom and Micronauts!

IDW - First Strike - G.I. Joe

Written by: Aubrey Sitterson

Art by: Ilias Kyriazis

Colours by: Mark Roberts

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The members of VENOM have been absorbed into Cobra since Miles Mayhem is now on Cybertron for the mission to destroy the planet, and so the VENOM team are gifted with newly repaired vehicles to replace the ones that were recently destroyed.

Soon, Firefly, a member of Cobra, starts attacking and looting several museums around the world stealing some serpent-themed artefacts for the new Cobra Commander, Baroness.

At the Joe's base, the Lemuria, Rock 'n Roll wakes up from an apocalyptic dream, and Shipwreck, who is currently in charge of the team since Scarlett is off world, and learns of Firefly's attacks. Soon the team are deployed, but Cobra are able to escape easily using the VENOM vehicles.

Later, Shipwreck has changed up his strategy and gives all the Joes at his disposal appropriate jobs for whenever Cobra strikes again. Grand Slam gets in a huff when he is told that he is still not allowed on the field, likely due to his leg injuries.

VENOM and Cobra attack in New York, however the Joes are ready this time and actually manage to engage them, sending in all their heavy hitters. Quick Kick makes it inside the museum and confronts Firefly, along with a few dozen Red Shadow Ninjas on his own.

Outside again, the VENOM team use the new feature added to their vehicles, added by Scrap-Iron of Cobra and combines them into a giant snake robot, ready to take down the Joes....

Characters

GI Joe

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Rock 'n Roll

Shipwreck

Polly

Dial Tone

Salvo

Lifeline

Doc

Quick Kick

Cover Girl

Gung-Ho

Spitfire

Grand Slam

Scarlett (Mentioned)

Roadblock (Mentioned)

Cobra/VENOM

Cobra Commander/Baroness

Scrap-Iron

Firefly

Vaness Warfield/Ice Queen

Sly Rax/Stiletto

Bruno Sheppard/Thunderflame

King Cobra - VENOM Vehicle Combiner

Red Shadow Ninjas

Cobranarchists

Miles Mayhem (Mentioned)

Other Human

New York Cops

Guys in Rock 'n Roll's Dream (Dream Only)

Notes

• This story is set following the finales of both GI Joe and MASK, leading into their upcoming crossover series "Scarlett's Strike Force", previously named "GI Joe: Unmasked" Neither of these series were actually completed before this comic was released, so their finales were spoiled for the readers. 
• This story is also set just after the deployment of Scarlett and her team to Cybertron for the First Strike main event.
• The Baroness is now the new Cobra Commander, during the terrible IDW GI Joe vs Transformers series she took on the "Serpentress" position in a similar manner.
• In case it isn't clear from his flirting around Shipwreck, his defence of his cooking being classed as "cute" and other gesture choices from the artwork, it's pretty clear that Gung-Ho is gay. I only note this because he is potentially the first homosexual human character in the Hasbroverse, or at least the first major, named character anyway.
• Grand Slam does have a point here, why haven't they developed some sort of device to allow him to join in on field-missions yet? Surely if they can make vehicles that can go from submarines to jets they can make either an exo-suit or leg braces for them?
• Despite being prominently on the cover of the comic, no one from MASK appears in this comic...hopefully they appear in the MASK issue of this story though...

IDW - Revolution: G.I. Joe

Title: D.T.A.

Written by: Aubrey Sitterson

Art by: Giannis Milonogiannis

Colours by: Lovern Kindzierski

Letters by: Chris Mowry

Edits by: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

GI Joe has lost contact with the EDC Bikini Atoll facility, so Scarlett is leading a small team of trusted Joes to the facility to find out what's happened there, fearing that it may be related to the Dire Wraith invasion of the planet.

Scarlett and Roadblock head towards the front of the facility whilst Rock 'n Roll, Quick Kick and Wild Bill go around the facility looking for anything out of the ordinary. Within moments of them splitting up, Scarlett's team is attacked by automated weapons.

Rock's team are finding nothing on their part of the island, but upon hearing that Scarlett is under attack, Wild Bill draws his knife and attacks the other two in his team, revealing himself to be a Dire Wraith. Quick Kick and Rock fight back against their apparent ally, and Rock is forced to kill him, making him revert back to his more reptilian appearance.

Rock 'n Roll carries an injured Quick Kick into the facility, whilst Scarlett and Roadblock fight off the mass of Wraiths at the front of the facility, and set off explosives to take out large amounts of them.

Inside the facility, Rock manages to fight through the Wraiths in the halls, and manages to get himself and Quick Kick into a locked away area.

In the hidden area he finds fellow GI Joe member Grand Slam aiming a gun at him, both believing the other to be a Dire Wraiths, neither gives up, so Rock takes a chance, and shoots the supposed Dire Wraith, only to be horrified when he doesn't revert back to a Dire Wraith form upon death.

Rock then discovers what Grand Slam and the facility was guarding, the Decepticon Skywarp, who claims to be an asset for them, much to Rock's annoyance....

Characters

GI Joe

Scarlett

Roadblock

Rock 'n Roll

Quick Kick Injured by Wild Bill

Grand Slam Killed by Rock 'n Roll

Shipwreck

Polly the Parrot

Dire Wraith

Wild Bill Killed by Rock 'n Roll

Bikini Atoll Staff Killed by the Joes

Joe Colton (Mentioned) Dead

Other

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Rom, the Space Knight (Mentioned)

Cobra (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue takes place at about the same time as Revolution: Action Man, and explains where a large amount of the Joes are during Action Man's infiltration.
• Despite his prominence on the cover and Roll Call page, Shipwreck is only in TWO PANELS of the comic.
• So, this is the second IDW series involving both Transformers and GI Joe, where Wild Bill is replaced by a spy of some sort following his death. Does IDW hate him or something?
• Skywarp was taken in by the humans after he evacuated Faireborn, Blackrock and the others from the Autobots and Decepticons. The Bikini Atoll base was shown to have areas large enough to accommodate Transformers when Thundercracker was based there.

DW - Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front #1

Staff

Title: Targets of Opportunity

Dedicated to: Larry Hama

Writers: James McDonough and Adam Patyk

Pencils: Pat Lee (Hiiiisssssss)

Breakdowns: Nick Kilislian

Background: Edwin Garcia

Inks: Rob Armstrong

Colours: Anthony Washington and Alan Wang

Letters: Ben Lee

Plot

At a harbor in New York City, GI Joe attack a Cobra team, led by Destro, raiding the harbor for some reason, it seems to be going well until Cobra starts using their high tech weapons and vehicles against the Joes and start chasing them off. Destro starts to retreat but one of the troopers tries to take his place in a flight pod. Scrap-Iron kills the trooper and allows himself and Destro to escape, leaving a missile for the Joes to deal with.

The next day, Flint is back at the Utah Joe HQ where he has a talk with Duke about his recent run of bad missions, and he's told to go to The Pit for some R&R. Later a small spaceship crashes into a forest near Mount St. Hilary in Oregon, which Cobra detects and has a local team look into the crash./

Over Cobra Island, Starscream, in a new F015 Jet mode is flying around watching the Cobras move out to the crash-site, and he plans to use the ship as a means to escape Earth in his energy depleted state, when they bring it back to base.

Flint is working out in the weight room, when he gets a call in about the crash and is called out to lead a team to Oregon, along with a new team led by Spirit, who were training in the area at the time.

The two groups meet up in the forest and immediately start attacking the Cobras, who have something under a tarp being airlifted away. The Joes cause the helicopter to explode, and the cargo falls, unveiling two robots, Perceptor and Blaster, unconscious.

Later the Joes return to base with their cargo, where Flint and Spirit are taken to meet with Duke, Scarlett and Stalker, who were all in the team from the Fera Islands in 1939, and they're told about the Transformers and about how Cobra was formed....

and then the company went down, and the series was cancelled.....FUN!!!

Characters

G.I. Joe

Duke

Scarlett

Stalker

Flint

Spirit

Shipwreck

Snake-Eyes

Cover Girl

Gung-Ho

Clutch

Rock 'N' Roll

Blowtorch

Grand Slam

Quick Kick

Airtight

Bazooka

Doc

Wild Bill

Alpine

Barbecue

Mutt

Junkyard

Cobra

Cobra Commander

Destro

Scrap-Iron

Agent Smith

Cobra Troops

Autobot

Perceptor Unconscious from Crash

Blaster Unconscious from Crash

Optimus Prime (Footage Only)

Decepticon

Starscream - F-15 Jet

Megatron - Gun (Footage Only)

Notes

• Yeah...there was only one issue of this series due to Dreamwave imploding in on itself
• Most likely characters like Flint, Destro and Snake Eyes are related in some way to the characters in the first G.I. Joe crossover from Dreamwave
• Whilst the artwork in this comic is nicer than that of the previous series...it's still not very nice...most of the human characters look like they're melting or something
• Pretty much every time they show a reflection of something it's just a reprinting of an image seen elsewhere in the comic...it just seems lazy to me
• Starscream being the only Decepticon shown active in this comic may have been because he was disabled before the Matrix blast...but of course there's no way to find out now...
• Yeah...the scene in the weight room is just weird.....(see above picture for most of it)
• Flint doesn't seem to be as good as the Flint from the first crossover
• It seems that one of the Joes on the Fera Islands must have had a camera since they have footage of Optimus and Megatron fighting.