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Snake-Eyes rescues George Strawhacker from the gulag, but Major Bludd is right behind him and ready to shoot. The government sends assassins to take care of Stalker and Storm Shadow at the Statue of Liberty.


Detailed summary

Snake-Eyes, still in the ninja trance, cuts a swathe through the Borovian gulag, mowing down guards. Major Bludd has a clear shot at him and comments on being paid by General Crowther to kill him, but a guard emerges from a sewer just as he fires and takes the shot. Snake-Eyes drops down into the sewer where the gulag commandant has taken both Magda and George Strawhacker along as hostages.

The White Clown sees Bludd follow Snake-Eyes and goes after him, feeling Snake-Eyes is their last chance to rescue Magda despite Orlovsky continuing to warn him Snake-Eyes has changed. Orlovsky sees a train full of rebels approaching. Snake-Eyes throws down his rifle but evades the hail of bullets that follows. Strawhacker stops the commandant killing Magda, and the White Clown jumps onto Bludd as he's about to shoot Snake-Eyes. Snake-Eyes takes care of the commandant and Orlovsky halts Bludd at gunpoint. The White Clown and Magda are reunited while Strawhacker realises who Snake-Eyes is despite his new outfit, noting the US government wouldn't employ more than one silent ninja. The White Clown assures Magda the old regime has fallen.

However, when Metz arrives to take charge, he declares the gulag will house both the old security forces and the Lower Borovians, to stop them tainting the bloodlines of Upper Borovians. The White Clown and Magda are both horrified that they've simply traded ideological persecution for racial persecution. Marina, the little girl from before, tries to protest and Metz knocks her to the ground. Strawhacker stops him shooting her, so Metz kills him.

Snake-Eyes trains his gun on Metz, who tries to denounce him as a traitor. Bludd responds by revealing Metz send him to kill Snake-Eyes, prompting the rebels to turn on Metz, declaring Snake-Eyes was the one who liberated the gulag and wanting to lynch Metz. Orlovsky asks Bludd why he's now helping Snake-Eyes. Bludd explains he was paid to stop Snake-Eyes rescuing Strawhacker, who was used to feed false information to the Soviets: If he was repatriated, they would doubt that information. Bludd has technically succeeded, meaning he will get paid, and he's safer with Snake-Eyes than Metz.

Marina begs Snake-Eyes to stop the lynching and Magda makes a speech to the mob, saying they have to establish a new lawful, democratic regime. However, the crowd vote to hang him. As they try, Snake-Eyes, who is now carrying Marina, shoots through the rope. The White Clown warns Magda that Metz will be after her now. She replies that she'd rather be dead than become like the old regime. Snake-Eyes takes Marina out of the country with him, with her jabbering about getting to see America.

Meanwhile, Storm Shadow and Stalker remain tied up in the Statue of Liberty. Storm Shadow explains Snake-Eyes could bring himself out of the trance if his mission no longer applied and he was faced with an ethical decision. Stalker recalls Storm Shadow doing something similar to take away Snake-Eyes' pain in Vietnam. Storm Shadow frees himself from his bonds and relocates Stalker's shoulder.

DOA operation Milhouse sends a group of paid thugs to take care of the pair. However, they arrive to find their victims not tied up and helpless, but standing behind them ready to take care of them. A boat is waiting to take them away with a helicopter as support. Storm Shadow and Stalker overcome the boat crew and take control of the vessel. When the helicopter attacks, Stalker shoots it down. The pair leap across to a passing ferry, with the passengers so focused on the crashing helicopter that only a small boy sees them climb on board.

Appearances

Featured Characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

G.I. Joe Cobra Borovians Others
  • Gulag commander (4)
  • Magda (5)
  • Metz (10)
  • Marina (11)
  • Orlovsky the Dwarf (7)
  • Revolutionaries (9)
  • Security police (3)
  • The White Clown (8)
  • Assassins (14)
  • D.O.A.[1] pilots (17)
  • George Strawhacker (6)
  • Milhouse (15)
  • New Yorkers (18)
  • Starkweather (16)

Memorable quotes

  • None yet.

Other Notes

Errors

  • George Strawhacker reacts as though he knows who Snake-Eyes is, even referring to him as Terri's brother. While it would later be revealed this was not the first time George met Snake-Eyes "professionally," he was never told the masked soldier's real identity.[2]

Items of note

  • First Appearances: Magda
  • Death of George Strawhacker

Real-world references

  • The issue's title comes from "The New Colossus," the sonnet engraved inside the Statue of Liberty.
  • The White Clown finally finds his wife.
  • Harry Houdini was the world's most famous escape artist.
  • When Storm Shadow and Stalker fight off the goons, the sound effects are snap, crackle and pop, the three sounds used to advertise Rice Crispies.

Footnotes and References

  1. Domestic Operations Agency
  2. G.I. Joe #144


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