Comics#16

Kamakura is sent into the Florida Everglades to spy on the Dreadnok compound. Snake Eyes uploads the information gained to Duke, and Duke announces that the team will come together in two days. At that meeting, Duke shows surveillance photos showing Cobra back in action on domestic soil, and due to this, the DOD, NSA, CIA and the President have decided to reinstate the G.I. Joe team. Flint, Scarlett, Roadblock, Shipwreck, and Snake Eyes all agree to rejoin. Roadblock, Flint, and Shipwreck head out to grab a drink and catch up on old times, while Scarlett and Snake Eyes have a tense confrontation in the hallway, leading to a slap to Snake Eyes' face. The Cobra forces come together at the Dreadnok Compound in a meeting consisting of Zartan, Major Bludd, Dr. Mindbender, Baroness, Tomax, Xamot, and led by Cobra Commander who unveils the nano-machines. Destro makes a grand entrance into the meeting, showing much more bravado than usual. More Joes are contacted and agree to join the team, except for Bazooka, who is not in physical shape to join. Destro and Cobra Commander bicker throughout their meeting. Flint explains to Roadblock and Roadblock that Snake Eyes left Scarlett three weeks before their planned wedding to go back to his log cabin, but Snake Eyes is shown still looking at an early picture of himself and Scarlett. Cobra Commander retires to his quarters where some females wait for him, but Destro's general Lilian is one of them, and she attacks Cobra Commander. Destro enters and has the Crimson Guardsmen take Cobra Commander hostage.

Destro shows footage of a Cobra agent sabotaging the Gaijin Satellite, which will allow control of the nano-mites already planted in thousands of electronic devices. The rest of Cobra Command team is not impressed, wondering where Cobra Commander is. Destro shows footage of a seemingly insane Cobra Commander in a padded cell. Destro explains that the nano-mites have done this to him, and that he's injected the rest of Cobra with the nano-mites too, only to be activated if there are any defections. Zartan is a special case, Destro claims he can cure Zartan's skin condition by injecting him with the nano-mites. The reinstated Joe team meets the "Greenshirts," new soldiers who will assist the Joes. Duke give the team new "Joe-com" wristbands, which include com-links, a GPS, a heart monitor, and can release nutrients into their systems. Information is leaked to the media about the reformation of the Joe team and the Cobra threat, so Hawk is forced to answer questions at a news conference. Billy notices this on a TV, as do the Dreadnoks. Zanya arrives at the Dreadnok Compound, only to find it under Destro's control. Lilian is shown in her Mistress Armada outfit, and he is definitely taking notice in her, which causes suspicion with Tomax and Xamot. The Joes continue to train with the Greenshirts, readying for their attack on the Compound. As the attack begins, Destro and Baroness have a talk, confirming that this isn't the real Destro. Snake Eyes and Scarlett are taken prisoner thanks to Zandar and Road Pig, and Cobra attempts to escape the compound in Anti-Gravity Pods.

Major Bludd and some Cobra troops are captured by the Joes, but Bludd escapes due to the help of a flash bomb he activates. Destro has already escaped through the air, with Scarlett and Snake Eyes captive. Zartan and Zanya escape through a tunnel and plan to meet the Dreadnoks at their old hide-out. Wild Bill stops the Dreadnoks in the Night Attack Helicopter, or Wildfire. Zartan and Zanya arrive at the old hide-out and have to reclaim their turf from some a small time gang. "Destro" explains his plan to cause chaos among computer networks to the real Destro, who is ill in bed. The fake Destro reveals himself to be the real Destro's son, and is bitter at the Baroness for breaking up the "family." It's revealed that the Joes and Cobras affected by the flash bomb are infected by the nano-mites, and Hawk reports heavy casualities to the "Greenshirts." Duke and Hawk discuss the plan to save Scarlett and Snake Eyes, and send Kamakura and Spirit to go find Billy. Daemon and Firewall are introduced as two new computer specialist to help combat the nano-mites. Billy doesn't want to help Spirit, but reconsiders when he sees the tattoo of the Arashikage Clan on Kamakuras wrist. Scarlett berates Snake Eyes for leaving her, but is interuppted by Mistress Armada, who leaks Destro Junior's plans before Baroness stops her. Snake Eyes and Scarlett escape from captivity by using equipment they've smuggled in. Scarlett give Snake Eyes a hug, possibly forgiving him. Hawk deals with more leaks made to the media, while Lifeline and Mainframe attempt to solve the mystery of the nano-mites. Scarlett battles Armada while Snake Eyes battles some Iron Grenadiers. The final three Grenadiers are revealed to be Billy, Spirit, and Kamakura, who lead their escape. Destro activates the Gaijin satelite, with hopes of conquering America.

The United States is falling to the nano-mite plague, hospitals crowded with victims, power outages, and weapons and supplies disintegrating at military bases. The Jugglers meet with Hawk, and Hawk says they were the ones who decomissioned the team in 1995. The Jugglers also accuse Hawk of creating the nano-mite threat to relive the "glory days" of the Joe team. Hawk also mentions the information leak. A Cobra platoon led by Major Bludd attacks a relief caravan on its way to the affected areas, only to re-pack the supplies into Cobra trucks and present them as their own. Alexander, the fake Destro, explains to Armada that the nano-mites can only exist outside a human body for a short time, and that only Cobra Commander knows the secret to bring the nano-mites to full power. Dr. Mindbender is sent to take Cobra Commander to the Brain Wave Scanner, but he and his assistants are attacked by someone wielding ninja throwing stars, allowing Cobra Commander to escape. Lifeline devises a plan to turn the nano-mites on themselves but needs to know what satellite is controlling them, while Snake Eyes and Scarlett are quarantined, as they are also infected with the nano-mites. Snake Eyes sends Spirit to retrieve something for him. Scarlett realizes they could both die, and forgives Snake Eyes. Alexander demonstrates a more powerful strain of the nano-mites by making a Cobra Officer dissolve into dust. The Joes and Destro's Cobra forces battle on the White House lawn, causing the death of more Greenshirts when their weapons are jammed by the nano-mites. The Joes back at base intercept a call from Cobra Commander naming the Gaijin Satellite as the key to the nano-mite invasion, and begin work to stop them. The Speaker of the House holds a press conference with Alexander, who claims to want to help combat the nano-mites, and claims that they now have US Marshall authority throughout the country. Destro sees the broadcast, and realizes he is able to move. Alexander holds Rock N Roll, Flint, Duke and Shipwreck captive, but Duke fights back, as he knows that the nano-mites have been neutralized. Alexander and Mistress Armada make an escape to a Cobra helicopter, but not to safety, as the Baroness is in there and she looks none too happy. Rock N Roll tries to help the Speaker of the House escape, but the Speaker is revealed to be Zartan, who escapes with Zanya. Flint is almost attacked from behind by a Viper but is saved by Duke. Flint glares at Duke and calls him a show off. Hawk holds a press conference announcing that the threat is over for now, but the G.I. Joe team will remain in action. Some citizens have sided with Cobra, thinking they were the ones that were helping. Alexander and Mistress Armada are held prisoner by Destro, and Snake Eyes proposes to Scarlett with the ring he had sent Spirit for earlier.

After reviewing Major Bludd's file (wanted for the death of General Flagg, captured in 1995, incited riot in 1997, then escaped), Duke parachutes into the former Soviet Union. There he attends a dinner party (speaks Russian fluently, known as Comrade Smith) and tasers a guard to get access to a computer. As he is downloading information into his Joe-Com, he is attacked by four guards, but is able to finish the download and escape out the window into a tree. A helicopter picks Duke up, and states that thanks to the information, they should know Major Bludd's location by morning. Major Bludd is in Italy, making a deal for weapons, but double crosses the buyers and heads for a boat. He's tailed by two agents on jet skis, but he shoots both of them, only to be attacked head on by Duke on a jet ski of his own. Bludd beaches the boat and carjacks a car, and Duke borrows a motorcycle to pursue. Bludd is cornered at the edge of a cliff, but instead of facing the consequences, jumps off a cliff. Duke escapes questioning by the local law enforcement by claiming to be with the International Security Task Force. Duke's men search Bludd's apartment, while Duke gets notified by phone that Bludd's body was not found. One of Duke's men finds a document stating that Cobra Commander is on the way to the United States, so Duke places an encrypted call to General Hawk at the Pentagon.

After Cobra Commander recovers from the nano-mite infection, he is escorted by Tomax and Xamot to retake control of Cobra. Shipwreck and Gung-Ho help Stalker and his family move into military housing at the Wright Patterson Air Force base. Billy requests to join the G.I. Joe team, and Flint agrees. Destro punishes Alexander. Hawk learns of budget cuts to the Joe team. Cobra Commander uses Storm Shadow to attack Zartan, Zanya, Major Bludd and Dr. Mindbender, insuring their loyalty. Genetically alter Cobras, known as the Neo-Vipers are introduced. The Dreadnoks make a deal for a nuclear suitcase to be delivered soon, but are spied upon by Jinx. She is unaware that she is being spied upon by a Tele-Viper, who states things are moving according to plan. Snake Eyes and Scarlett travel to Atlanta to visit Scarlett's family. Her brothers are not pleased to see Snake Eyes, but are unaware of the re-engagement. Snake Eyes' Joe-Com blinks in his suitcase, but he is unaware of it. Cobra Commander plans an assault on Destro, and sends Storm Shadow to assassinate Hawk.

The Joes attack the shipment of the nuclear suitcase, and successfully retrieve it. Beachhead returns to train the Joe recruits. Cobra Commander attacks Destro's Trans-Carpathian castle, which leads to a standoff. Destro explains that he didn't try to take over Cobra, his son did. Hawk learns that the budget cuts he's learned of means a cap on the Joe roster. Storm Shadow hitches a ride on the bottom of a S.H.A.R.C. returning from retreiving the nuclear suitcase.

Destro explains Alexander's ruse to Cobra Commander, and to repay the damage done to the Cobra organization offers to assist Cobra. He also gives Cobra Commander the mask that Alexander used during the impersonation, and also hands over Lilian Osborne (Mistress Armada). The Joes return to base with the suitcase they intercepted last issue, and turn it over to Tripwire. Another squad of Joes ambushes a snowmobile that contains the real nuclear suitcase, which Cobra is trying to smuggle in through Canada. Hawk explains that he new about the false information from Cobra, and that he also knows that Storm Shadow has infiltrated the base. Storm Shadow defeats most of the Joes he encounters, including Stalker, Tripwire, Clutch, Shipwreck, Flint, Wet Suit and Kamakura, but is confronted by Snake Eyes on the last page.

The Joe team pursues Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow around their base. Storm Shadow slices into Snake Eyes' face before escaping the building on motorcycle. Hawk wonders who informed Snake Eyes of the infiltration by Storm Shadow as Storm Shadow returns to Cobra. In the epilogue, Zartan contacts Zarana and informs her that he and Zanya will be visiting the Chicago Dreadnok operations.

A Cobra courier is detained by some greenshirts after making a drop off at an airport locker. A disguised Zarana picks up the briefcase from the locker as Flint and Stalker spy on her. Zarana notices them, and escapes using a trolley car to get to Tomax and Xamot, who are driving the get away car. Stalker pursues in the Brawler, but a helicopter picks up the car.
Zartan finds out that the nano-machines have cured his skin condition, and Zanya is upset that she owes Alexander a favor now.
Mainframe informs Hawk that one of the Jugglers, General Winters, has been in contact with Congressman Cartwright, who is in turn in contact with Teletran Marketing, formerly known as Arbco Tele-Sales, Cobra Commander's dummy corporation. Mainframe also finds a picture of Destro and General Winters shaking hands.
Cobra Commander checks in on Zarana to make sure the briefcase is in her possession, as Zartan and Zanya arrive. Agent Beuke is undercover at the Chicago Dreadnok compound, and informs Mainframe that something big is about to happen.
Duke informs the Joes of the situation, and refers to Agent Beuke as the new Sneak-Peek. Firewall and Daemon are having a tough time with Beach Head's training, but William is having no problem with it.
An Arbco truck arrives at the Dreadnok compound, and Scrap Iron oversees the unloading of the cargo, while Sneak-Peek looks on. Dr. Mindbender arrives to install the component from the briefcase into the cargo, but the B.A.T. that was delivered has gone on a rampage, and attacks Dr. Mindbender.

In Chicago, the Dreadnoks respond to the alarm triggered by the renegade B.A.T. The B.A.T. is able to defeat Road Pig. Sneak Peek reports to Duke about the situation, but the B.A.T. shoots him. Duke sends a squad of Joes including Lady Jaye, Roadblock, Spirit, Jinx, and Rock & Roll to deal with the situation.
Hawk storms into General Winters' office, blackmailing Winters with pictures of him and Alexander making a deal. Hawk has a list of demands to be met, including a new Pit.
Dr. Mindbender reports the B.A.T. situation to Cobra Commander, who deploys a squad of Alley Vipers to contain the B.A.T. The B.A.T. tears through the Dreadnoks, and escapes to the streets of Chicago. Zarana regroups the Dreadnoks and sends them after the B.A.T. in two groups.
Heavy Duty assists the police against the B.A.T., but the B.A.T. is able to wound him before it escapes into the sewers. An injured Heavy Duty is confronted by the Dreadnoks, Torch, Buzzer, Monkeywrench, and Ripper.

The B.A.T. runs a self-repair program underneath the streets of Chicago, while the Joe team prepares to parachute into town. Lady Jaye briefs Roadblock, Rock N Roll, Mainframe, Jinx, and Spirit on the situation below. The Joes encounter a squad of Alley Vipers during freefall, but the Joes make them retreat.
On the streets, a group of Dreadnoks (Buzzer, Road Pig, Torch, and Ripper) brutalizes Heavy Duty, but the Joes chase them off. Jinx corners the Dreadnoks, but more arrive, so the Joes follow the B.A.T.s trail into the sewers. They leave Heavy Duty behind to receive medical attemtion.
At Wright Patterson Air Force Base, General Winters has a phone conversion with a mysterious man. The General demands that his situation is taken care of immediately.
Back below the streets of Chicago, Spirit tracks the B.A.T. through the sewers. Zarana's team of Dreadnoks and Alley Vipers has the B.A.T. surrounded, but they are unable to do any damage. Dr. Mindbender informs Zarana that the B.A.T. is not to be harmed.
Lady Jaye shoots the B.A.T. with a remote access bug that Mainframe created. While the Cobra forces regroup, the Joes take a shot at the B.A.T. Mainframe is unable to hack into the B.A.T.'s system, so he attempts to physically attack the B.A.T. from behind, as Zarana watches on. The B.A.T. easily overcomes Mainframe, who is saved by Heavy Duty, who refused the ambulance and followed the Joes. The B.A.T. runs off and Cobra and the Joes follow.
Up on the streets, Zartan calls Dr. Mindbender and orders him to come take care of the mess he created, as Firefly circles overhead in a helicopter.

Cobra Commander berates Dr. Mindbender about the cost of the B.A.T. operation. Cobra Commander is traveling in an ARBCO Rapid Delivery semi truck.
Firefly rappels out of a helicopter to retrieve the B.A.T. for his client, General Winters.
The Joes make it out of the sewers, and Roadblock drops a grenade into the sewers to slow the Dreadnoks and Alley Vipers that were following them. Using Mainframe's remote access bug, the Joes are able to track the B.A.T. Unknown to the Joes, the B.A.T. has rid itself of the bug, placing it on a dogs collar, trapping the Joes in an alleyway as Firefly watches on.
Dr. Mindbender arrives in Chicago to help deal with the B.A.T. Dr. Mindbender explains to Zartan that the B.A.T. is not under their control, and it will seek revenge. The B.A.T. tries to do just that, and during the firefight Dr. Mindbender informs Zartan and the Dreadnoks about the B.A.T.'s self destruct mechanism. If the B.A.T.'s head is damaged, the whole thing could explode. Zartan orders Zanya to help get Zarana out of the situation.
As Firefly watches from above, Jinx ambushes him. Firefly gets the upper hand and escapes.
The Joes and Cobra both attack the B.A.T., which is caught in the middle. Dr. Mindbender informs the Joes of the self destruct mechanism, just after the B.A.T. is shot in the head. As Dr. Mindbender ducks for cover, Firefly arrives on the scene. He has sabotaged the B.A.T., which is now under his control. His client wants to gain access to the B.A.T.'s armor technology. Firefly warns both the Joes and Cobra that neither team is untouchable. Dr. Mindbender demands to know how Firefly gained access to the B.A.T. Firefly states that he was able to sneak into the Dreadnok compound, just like the Joes have snuck someone in. This information proves very interesting to Zartan and the Dreadnoks.
In Washington D.C., Senator Cartwright meets with General Hawk, approving a new Pit, expanded budget, and the ability to reinstate troops. After Hawk leaves, Cartwright calls General Winters, stating that everything is set. Cartwright's office then explodes, and the last panel shows Firefly getting ready to head to Cobra Island.

Rock 'n Roll and Mutt meet up with Alpine and Bazooka at Old Clyde's bar in a Delhi Hills. Mutt has replaced Junkyard with Junkyard Junior due to age. Alpine has been offered a high paying accounting job in the town and Bazooka has been hitting the gym. The four Joes see three men in dark suits enter and go into a back room. Cobra Commander is one hundred miles away in an ARBCO truck, upset at Dr. Mindbender about losing the B.A.T. Lillian is being used as Cobra Commander's servant. Destro reports in, stating that the Strike Hiss prototype is ready. Baroness tells Destro that she is going to leave Scotland to run out Germany for some clothes shopping. Destro and Baroness are using Alexander to clean their floors. Once in the car, the Baroness is kidnapped by someone from the Yakuza. The four Joes at Old Clyde's begin to get suspicious, and question Clyde. Clyde says there is just a poker game going on in back. Clyde overhears the Joes talking about a previous mission and reports in to Cobra. Bazooka runs into someone wearing a Serpents' Jersey. Rock 'n Roll realizes that Clyde is wearing a Cobra ring, and attacks, but the four Joes are subdued because everyone in town is armed and working for Cobra.

Cobra takes Mutt, Rock 'n Roll, and Alpine as prisoners in the small town of Delhi Hills. Bazooka is knocked unconscious, so he is tied up and placed in the walk in cooler. One of the Cobras is sent to retrieve Junkyard Junior, but he bit through his leash and is nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Lady Jaye briefs the team about the situation with Firefly and the B.A.T. She asks that the Joe team file their paperwork quickly so the money trail can be traced back to Firefly and whomever he is working for.
Hawk announces that the new Pit will be in Arizona, and there will be eight other bureaus spread through out the country (Houston, New York and San Diego are mentioned).
Back in Delhi Hills, one of the Cobra agents interrogates Alpine. Alpine was only coming to town to take an accountant job, but this situation proves to him that he needs to be back on the G.I.Joe team. Cobra Commander interrupts the interrogation, and calls in Big Boa.
Bazooka escapes his ropes using a fan from the cooler and then attacks the Viper guarding the door, gaining the upper hand. Bazooka pulls the pin on the Viper's grenades and runs out the door.
Cobra Commander is not happy that Bazooka has escaped, and terminates the leader of the Cobra squad, promoting the next in line.
Outside, Bazooka gets a hold of his rocket launcher out of his jeep, and fires at a group of Vipers. As he reloads, Big Boa attacks him from behind. During the melee, a rocket is launched at the ARBCO semi truck that Cobra Commander was riding in. As Cobra Commander scuttles to safety, Mutt, Rock 'n Roll, and Alpine make their escape. Mutt searches for Junkyard Junior and finds him hiding in the back seat of the car.
Cobra Commander orders a clean up crew to town so no evidence is left behind. Two weeks later, the Joes are investigating and they are unable to find anything linking the town to Cobra. As the Joes are investigating, a new family moves into town, and their son discovers a Cobra shrine in the attic of their new home.

A young boy named Julius draws odd designs during a recess break. Julius disappears into a black van when his teacher goes inside to get him a new crayon.
In Arizona, Cover Girl arrives at the Americana Museum and meets up with Spirit. Spirit guides her into the new Pit which resides in the basement. Flint briefs Cover Girl, Spirit, and Snake Eyes about the disappearance of Julius. Flint isn't sure why the G.I.Joe team is being called in on a kidnapping case, but issues the orders anyway.
The Joes meet with Detective Kirkland of the Redding Police Department, then go to interview Julius' adoptive parents. They find many books on history in his room, along with Risk and Stratego.
Firewall informs the three Joes of a recent attempted kidnapping in Oregon of an autistic boy named Alexander, who looks exactly like Julius.
In Washington, D.C., Hawk meets with the Jugglers, who have ordered this mission. The Jugglers argue about the missing children, and state that one of the children had gone missing after rebelling against his parents.
The Joes go to investigate Alexander's disappearance, and find more odd drawings in Alexander's room. While at the house, Alexander's father gets a call, it sounds as if his wife is in trouble. The Joes trace the call, and race to their aid. They find an older boy with both Alexander and Julius, but the trio is able to escape.
The three children then report to Dr. Mindbender, who calls the older child Hannibal, and states that "Now he will come to us."

In order the find the whereabouts of Cobra Commander, the Russian Mafia, the Japanese Yakuza, and an unknown middle-eastern dictator have all gone together and are holding Flint and The Baroness hostage somewhere in the Czech Republic. Frustrated at this news, Destro calls GI JOE Headquarters and requests a temporary partnership between his forces and the Joes.
Gung Ho, Lady Jaye, Snake Eyes, Paige Adams, and Scarlett arrive in Czechoslovakia. Among the rendezvous party is their old ally from the Oktober Guard, Daina. After the arrival of Destro, the twins, and their troops, the search for Flint and Baroness is on.
Later, it is learned that Flint and Baroness are located somewhere near the heart of the city. They are split up into two units. In the first unit, Daina, Paige, Scarlett, two Iron Grenadiers, and the twins will infiltrate the local mafia hangout, the Klub Svaboda. The second unit, consisting of Lady Jaye, Gung Ho, Destro and Snake Eyes, will raid the main headquarters of the Draci Ulic, a local street gang who has had many dealings with the mafia.
Meanwhile, the first unit arrives in disguise at the Klub Svabodia. Lt. Gorky and the Czech communications expert are outside the Klub in a van. Gorky announces that he is going outside to "take a wizz", but makes a traitorous call on a pay-phone warning the kidnappers of the mission.

Still being held hostage and tied up with the Baroness, Flint is undergoing torture in an attempt to make him tell the whereabouts of Cobra Commander (despite the fact that neither of them know).
Meanwhile, the second unit, consisting of Lady Jaye, Gung Ho, Destro, and Snake Eyes, have arrived at their destination: the main headquarters of the Draci Ulic, a Czech street gang with ties to the mafia. The gang had great difficulty in competing with the skill of the Joes and the armor of Destro's Nullifiers. The leader of the organization was easily located and Snake Eyes held his sword up to his throat.
Back at the Klub Svabodia, Paige and Scarlett are asked to join two men at their table. The two men were not as harmless as expected and pull a gun on them (These men were warned of the attack by Lt. Gorky in Issue 17). In the kitchen, Tomax and Xamot have also been held at gunpoint.
Nearby, the Japanese torturer Mr. Shoutan pulls out a blade and tells the Baroness that she is believed not to know where Cobra Commander is located, and therefore she is of no further use. In one quick motion, Baroness stabs Mr. Shoutan with the fragments of her broken glasses. They escape taking the small blade with them.
While making their exit, they run into some trouble with some Yakuza members. Realizing that they've attracted enough attention, they head out the window. On the way outside, Flint recognizes Lt. Gorky. They hotwire a car (even know the keys were in the ignition) and are about to take off when they notice a truck carrying Tomax, Xamot, Paige, and Scarlett among others.

In the Czech Republic, Scarlett, Paige, Daina, and the Crimson Twins have become prisoners of the combined forces of the Yakuza, the Draci Ulic gang, and the Russian Mafia. But before they can be turned over to Mr. Shoutan, the interrogator, Shoutan himself stumbles up the stairs, injured, telling his leaders that the prisoners have escaped!
Outside, the "prisoners" - Flint and the Baroness - are making ready to break back in and rescue their would-be rescuers. Before they get very far, though, they are set upon by the traitor Gorky and told to throw down their weapons.
Fortunately, Destro arrives in an Anti-Gravity Pod, blasting out the windows and mowing Gorky and his men down.
Meanwhile, Snake-Eyes bursts in and frees Scarlett, Paige, and Daina.
Flint can't believe Destro and the Joes are working together, but Gung-Ho arrives and clears his mind. Before everyone can make their exit, however, Mr. Shoutan seizes the Baroness and puts a gun to hear head. After Destro yells some meaningless threats, Gung-Ho asks Paige if she's ready, and the sharpshooter takes Shoutan down from across the room.
Daina moves to the injured Gorky, who confesses he simply got in over his head, but didn't want to betray them - and he hoped the Joes would come out on top.
The fat isn't out of the fire yet, though, as Moskin, the Russian Mafia leader, shows up with a tank! Fortunately Destro has one last ace up his own sleeve - his son Alexander arrives in the new Cobra Strike Hiss, and easily dispatches Moskin and his tank.
Elsewhere, lost in the commotion, the Crimson Twins make their escape in a stolen Ferrari...
Flint, meanwhile, is woozy from the ordeal, telling Lady Jaye he's sore from being tied up with the Baroness for so long. Lady Jaye can't help but show her jealousy, which the Baroness decides to play on by coming over and planting a wet one on Flint before she takes her leave.
Lady Jaye shows what the thinks of that by decking Flint!
Four days later, Snake-Eyes takes Daina to visit Gorky's grave. She feels sorry for him, as deep down, he was a good man. She says she'll miss her home, but moving to America - and joining G.I. Joe - could be just what she needs.
Half a world away in Detroit, Cobra Commander orders the newly returned twins to get to work on freeing the Dreadnoks from prison. Zartan says they'll need the muscle, since it seems every zealot the Commander ever betrayed is coming out of the woodwork to take a shot at Cobra. But the Commander's not worried, since, if an attack comes, it will have to make it through Zartan's forces and Storm Shadow before it can reach the Commander.
However, it seems Storm Shadow's disappeared - all that remains of him is his sword, with a torn Cobra flag tied to it...

In a secret lair in Los Angeles, Storm Shadow meditates. Tears well up in his eyes, and he opens them, declaring: "I'm free."
Meanwhile, in the High Sierras, Snake-Eyes and Kamakura spar while Scarlett looks on. Snake-Eyes easily bests his pupil, prompting some good-natured ribbing from Scarlett. Kamakura declares he's not ready to quit, and he'll even take on Scarlett next! He and Snake-Eyes resume their fight, with Kamakura even gaining the upper hand at times.
Back in LA, Storm Shadow crashes a Dreadnok hideout, roughing up several 'Noks before stealing a motorcycle. He leaves Thrasher alive to give Cobra Commander a message - Storm Shadow is not his lapdog anymore.
Thrasher proceeds to Cobra's LA headquarters, where Cobra Commander is getting debriefed on the latest goings-on, including the odd absence of Dr. Mindbender. Thrasher suddenly bursts in and explains what has happened.
The Crimson Twins break out the modified Brain Wave Scanner that Cobra has been using to keep Storm Shadow in line. Thrasher, a handy lad with machines, takes a look at it, and notices some of the wires have been spliced, which perhaps explains how Storm Shadow was able to break its hold over him.
In the high Sierras, Billy is driving his jeep up towards Snake-Eyes' cabin when he receives a phone call from Storm Shadow asking for help. Storm-Shadow explains that he's free, but he needs to be put into the Arashikage mindset to complete the process. He tells Billy where he is and Billy says he's on it! He rushes up to the cabin where, inside, Scarlett teases Kamakura about keeping his mask on in the house. Snake-Eyes secretly admits to her how much fun he's having with his pupil when Billy bursts in...
In LA, Zartan tells Cobra Commander that Thrasher will accompany the Commander, but Zartan himself is sitting this one out. The Commander suspects Zartan may be afriad of Storm Shadow, visibly upsetting Zartan. But the Commander's not concerned - he wants to handle this himself and besides, he knows all of Storm Shadow's secrets - including his hideouts.
In the Sierras, Snake-Eyes, Kamakura and Billy prepare to set out to rescue their friend. Scarlett, of course, is not happy - she believes their life has revolved around this conflict for too long, and she can't handle it anymore. Snake-Eyes leaves and she flings her engagement ring off in disgust...
Billy worries about how long it's going to take to drive to LA, but Snake-Eyes has a better solution - he's got a Dragonfly chopper stashed out back!
Storm Shadow reaches his hideout, and is assisted by an unidentified man, but it's too late - Cobra Commander and a squad of Crimson Guards arrive, and the Commander promises he can make the pain go away.
Before he can activate the Brain Wave Scanner, though, Billy, Kamakura and Snake-Eyes arrive. It's an old-fashioned stand-off, but the Commander tells his men to lower their weapons - no one is shooting his son.
"Except me," he says, and proceeds to shoot Billy in the chest...

Cobra Commander stands triumphant over Snake-Eyes and Billy, whom the Commander has just shot in the chest. Snake-Eyes attacks him, disarming and dispatching the Commander's guards - but Storm Shadow stops his blood brother's blade before it finds the Commander's head.
As the Commander and Storm Shadow make their escape, Kamakura enters. Storm Shadow easily sidesteps his attack, and sends him crashing into Snake-Eyes. Snake-Eyes tells Kamakura to take care of Billy, and heads out after the Cobras.
Snake-Eyes chases them up to the street-level arcade, and they clash, bringing all their ninja skills to bear. Stars are thrown, blades flash and swords shatter, but Snake-Eyes eventually gets the upper hand - long enough to place Storm Shadow under the Arashikage mindset, the only thing that can break the Brainwave Scanner's hold on him. Before he can complete Storm Shadow's rescue though, he is attacked from behind by two Dreadnoks.
Meanwhile, the Commander makes his way to the Thunder Machine and attempts to get away. Kamakura is on him though, and he jumps onto the Thunder Machine as it careens into the street.
Snake-Eyes manages to knock out one of his attackers, but the other gets the drop on him - but Storm Shadow wakes up and saves his blood brother!
Outside, Kamakura gains enough control of the Thunder Machine to force it to crash, hurling him and the Commander to the pavement. Snake-Eyes purposefully leaves the arcade, bearing down on the Commander. He then unleashes a brutal beating on Cobra Commander, as payback for all the years of misery he has caused.
Before he can deliver the killing blow, however, Storm Shadow stops him.
The two former brothers face each other again, and once again, the line is drawn between them. Storm Shadow helps Cobra Commander to his feet, and Snake-Eyes walks away with Billy and Kamakura.

Four years ago, on Cobra Island, a group of scientists oversees ongoing work on the Serpentor project. It seems the project is a success - and it's just as well, he says, since they need their leader now, more than ever.
In the present day, Mindbender sleeps, restlessly. He's dreaming of that day, 10 years ago, when Cobra Commander locked him, Billy, Firefly, Raptor, Croc Master and others in the Cobra freighter and buried it under tons of rock...
Then he dreams of waking up in a lab, undergoing strange tests...
Suddenly he awakes. He can't help the nightmares - after all, he's a clone, and his dreams won't let him forget his past life. He can't understand how he can "remember" memories this body hasn't had, but it at least gives him confidence that the children in his living room share a link with than man they were cloned from - Serpentor.
Julius, one of the boys, tells Mindbender he knows where the rest of the cloned boys are - they're together, and the G.I. Joe team has them. Mindbender orders Hannibal to get the can ready - if Julius knows where the rest of the boys are, so does Serpentor!
In the past, the scientists finally awaken Serpentor. They tell him he's been in his coma for three years - since the civil war.
Back in the present, a group of generals at the Pentagon inform Hawk the Serpentor clones the Joes have in custody will be transferred to Dugway Proving Grounds to be executed. Hawk refuses to co-operate, but it's too late - they're already on their way.
Somewhere in Utah, a convoy consisting of a HAVOC, a personnel carrier, and a Wolverine moves along the interstate, escorted by four motorcycles. Inside the personnel carrier, Spirit and Rock 'n' Roll discuss just how little they know about these boys - they don't know who they are or what fate they're escorting them to.
The convoy comes to a stop at a raised bridge, just as General Hawk sends a message telling them to reroute and not take the children to Dugway. Before the convoy can respond, they're attacked! Firefly leads a force of modified HISS tanks, STUNs, FANGs and flight pods against the Joes.
Firefly takes out the HAVOC with some explosives, and although Cover Girl manages to knock down the flight pods with Stinger missiles, the HISS knocks the Wolverine out of commission.
A group of bats jumps from the FANGs on to the personnel carrier, tearing the roof off with their bare hands. Fortunately, a HISS - which Daemon, Firewall and Roadblock have commandeered - blows them all away.
Beachhead sends the greenshirts ahead to scout for any more threats, and they find one - Serpentor! He blows the greenshirts away, and attacks the personnel carrier just as Lifeline is about to run with the children. He tells Lifeline not to move, or he will kill them all.
Daemon suddenly fires on Serpentor from behind, enraging him! He approaches the HISS, saying the children are his family, and no one can hurt his family except him. He lunges, grabbing Daemon - and snaps his neck.
As he takes his children from the stunned Joes, he says "we are almost all reunited." Then Mindbender and the rest of the children arrive, and the reunion is complete!

On Cobra Island, Cobra Commander attempts to escape the clutches of Serpentor. His ever-faithful bodyguard, Storm Shadow, dispatches of would-be ambushers long enough for the Commander's boat to arrive. Storm Shadow stays behind to give the Commander time to escape.
Once on board the boat, however, the Commander sees he's been tricked again - the driver is one of Serpentor's operatives!
At G.I. Joe Headquarters, Hawk shows Duke and Flint Lady Jaye's videotaped briefing of the events in Utah. Five Joes, including Daemon, were killed in combat and several others - not to mention the children - are missing. Additional tape from the vehicle cameras clearly show that Serpentor is back. Flint says it's time for some answers.
Back on the Island, Serpentor and Mindbender discuss all the events that led them back together. The boys were test subjects, created when Mindbender was developing Serpentor. They were to develop at a slower rate than normal. The oldest boy, Hannibal, and Serpentor, were the mature clones, developed at an accelerated rate.
Although Cobra Commander ordered Hannibal and the test subject destroyed, Mindbender instead kept them alive in his facilities. When the Joes raided Cobra Island, they found Hannibal and the children and took them back to the States.
Mindbender says it's ironic that he created Serpentor, and yet now he too is a product of the same cloning process. Serpentor reminds him they are not artificial life - they are evolved, higher than men. He also explains how it was he who hired Firefly to steal the BAT, all in an effort to lure Mindbender back to him, so he could see if Mindbender was still loyal. And now he sees that he is, and that, thanks to the cloning process, they are closer than family - closer than blood.
At Joe HQ, Hawk debriefs the Joes - finally - on what's been going on. He tells them all about the boys and the Joes that were killed or captured trying to protect them.
Stalker comforts Scarlett who's worried about Snake-Eyes. She needs to make sure he knows that the ring he gave her - the one she threw in his face a few issues ago - still means something to her.
Duke notes to Hawk that he seems a little intense. Hawk explains that he's put out "the call" to every available Joe to return to duty - including Mercer, the former Cobra Viper who betrayed Cobra to the Joes once before. Hawk wants to talk to him about Cobra Island...
On the Island, the Joes are getting antsy sitting in their cell. Roadblock comforts Firewall, Snake-Eyes does pull-ups, others play cards... they all agree they need to sit tight and see what develops.
In his control room, Serpentor explains to Mindbender the next step of his plan - distract the Joes by giving them the location of Cobra bases around the world. The Joes play their part, and invade and capture Broca Beach, Extensive Enterprises, Dreadnoks in Kansas, a research base in Frusenland, and outposts in Borovia and Delhi Hills.
Eventually, Destro comes to the realization that he must lead Cobra. He begins gathering known Cobra operatives together, including the Crimson Twins, Major Bludd, and Storm Shadow. He asks Storm Shadow what his part in the coming war will be. Storm Shadow declares his devotion to Cobra, but says he will sit this one out - his body is willing, but his mind and soul are tired.
Meanwhile, Serpentor introduces Mindbender to his troops, and his most trusted general, Overlord. Overlord reveals that they have Cobra Commander - thanks to Zandar, who was disguised as the pilot of the Commander's boat. As the Commander is brought before him, Serpentor sarcastically calls him the creature he owes his life to. The Commander tells him to enjoy it, because he's going to take it away soon.
Soon he tells the Commander how returned to the land of the living. Mindbender put a decoy of Serpentor's body on ice, which was then left in the buried freighter. Then, Cobra scientists - on Cobra Commander's payroll, but still loyal to Serpentor - revived him. He's been subverting Cobra bases around the world, whose technicians have been developing new weapons - for him.
He shows the Commander a new electromagnetic pulse weapon, which he intends to use in his new campaign. He will use it on major cities, plunging them into darkness, then deploy into the streets to take control of them. Cobra Commander says it will never succeed, but Serpentor tells him he merely lacks vision.
He turns to Overlord, telling him to assemble the units - the first strike comes tonight!

Over Los Angeles, a G.I. Joe Locust spots three modified Cobra Rattlers flying in. It looks like the Rattlers are on a bombing run, but the ordnance they drop is no bomb - it's Serpentor's new electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) weapon. All electrical power fails, including the Locust's systems, and it crashes into the ground. Los Angeles is offline.
On Cobra Island, Serpentor receives his first report from Overlord in the field. His units - shielded from the effects of the pulse - have taken over Los Angeles Air Force Base, as well as prisons at Lompoc and Terminal Island - to find recruits.
Zandar reports to Serpentor that Firefly's team has hit New York, and London and Moscow will soon follow. Serpentor thanks Zandar yet again for his support, especially in capturing Cobra Commander, who at that very moment is being thrown into a cell with the Joes.
The guards, however, get a little overzealous in their handling of the Commander, and attempt to remove his helmet, setting off its security features, electrocuting them. The Commander tells the Joes about Serpentor's army, and they force him to help lead them off the island.
Serpentor continues his chat with Zandar, telling him that he will be rewarded for his loyalty - unlike his former commanders, Cobra Commander and Zartan, Serpentor will reward him with power.
More guards then approach the pair, with a man in shackles between them. It took 10 men to bring him in; Serpentor want to offer him employment. The man says he doesn't want to join Cobra again, but Serpentor assures him it isn't Cobra - and that this time, he could have an identity of his own, and real power, instead of being a nameless minion. Zandar finally asks to be filled in, and Serpentor tells him this man is the most infamous of Cobras - as a Saw-Viper, he killed more Joes than any other Cobra agent - ever. He says he's in - and takes the name Overkill.
Mindbender then arrives, with the nine small children and Hannibal, the older boy. Serpentor explains how great a gift they've been given, how they share a common instinct and collective experience. Together, their minds can function for the greater good of all of them. He wants each of them assigned a battle station, and when an underling protests because of their age, Serpentor strikes him down, saying they will be obeyed as if they speak with his own voice - because they do.
Meanwhile the Joes and Cobra Commander make their way out of the dungeons, with Coil troopers in pursuit. The going is slow, as Cover Girl is injured, but they escape up a stair case leaving their pursuers behind - not before the Coil tosses a grenade, though. Snake-Eyes pushes Cobra Commander out of the way, taking the brunt of the blast...
The Commander, a piece of shrapnel embedded in his hand, attempts to escape on his own. He's followed by Firewall, but she can't catch him before he finds a radio and sends a distress call to Destro. She in turn uses the radio to contact the Joes, but he overpowers her, destroying the radio. Spirit arrives to confront the Commander, but he escapes by tossing Firewall toward a power shaft, forcing Spirit to save her. He leads her back to the others where she sees just how much of a hit Snake-Eyes took saving the Commander. He's battered, bloodied and unconscious, and the look on Lifeline's face tells her it doesn't look good.
At the Pit, having received part of Firewall's message, Hawk and Duke argue with the Jugglers, insisting the Joes must mount an invasion of Cobra Island. The Jugglers want to wait and form a unified armed forces attack, but further Coil invasions of Tokyo and Berlin force the hand - the Joes are given the go-ahead.
Elsewhere, at a MARS testing airfield, Destro rallies Cobra for the rescue of their Commander. He manages to enlist Zartan and the Dreadnoks, by reminding Zartan that Serpentor has a long memory for revenge - and he's certainly going to come looking for the man who put an arrow in his skull. Transports are sent out, and the invasion force is prepared. Destro addresses his troops, including the new army of genetically-engineered Neo-Vipers, telling them not to fire on any G.I. Joe agents, that their only goal is the rescue of the Commander and the humiliation of Serpentor's forces. It's time, he says, to take Cobra Island back.
At the Pit, Hawk also addresses his troops. He apologizes for not taking action sooner, and says he won't show or name the enemy, because they only people that matter are their teammates, and it's time to go and get them out.
On the Island, Overlord informs Serpentor about the radio signals sent out, inferring that two invasion forces are likely on their way. Serpentor isn't worried in the least. Let them come and fight, he says, and pay with their lives. He addresses his troops, commanding them to take their posts and prepare for the coming storm, and punctuates it by yelling, "This I Command!"

The Joes have begun their invasion of Cobra Island, in retaliation for Serpentor's taking over the governments of the world. But Serpentor has turned his EMP weapon into a sort of cannon, and the Coil uses it to bring down the Joes' Skystrikers. Ace informs the command crew on the Flagg of this new situation, and Duke advises him to stand down.
On the Island, Serpentor orders his troops down to the beach. He anticipates a full invasion within the hour.
Meanwhile, the Joes' first covert insertion team tries to shut down the EMP weapon for good. Hacker and Sci-Fi are unsuccessful in breaking through the locks, though, so Mercer orders them onto plan B - blow it sky high. Mainframe and Flash set the charges, and Mercer, Jinx, Sci-Fi and Hacker escape into the forest - but Mainframe and Flash are ambushed on their way out. They're trapped in the building as the charges go off.
Hawk's other covert insertion team feels the blast, and assume that team one has completed its objective. Hawk sends Low-Light, Crosshair and Daina to establish sniper posts, while he, Kamakura and Rip Cord will try and find some way into the Citadel. Beach Head's team, meanwhile, having escaped, is sitting tight, with serious injuries to Cover Girl and Snake Eyes.
Duke finally leads the main Joe assault up the beach in Armadillos, Road Rebels and Assault Quads. They face little opposition, however, and the reason soon become clear - Coil submarines surface behind the Joe landing craft, blasting them off the beach.
The Armadillos turn to retaliate, but the subs move up to the beach and deploy ground forces, pinning the Joes down.
Hawk leads Kamakura and Rip Cord to a rendezvous with Beach Head's team, and he orders Beach Head to take them down the beach for evac. He's going into the Citadel, however. Dial-Tone calls in the sit-rep from the beach, but he's interrupted - by Destro! He's arrived and is about to deploy on the beach; he asks Hawk if their common foe overrules and grudge between them, but Hawk simply says "no."
Destro starts his assault by dropping BATs onto the beach, then moves his troops in. Serpentor sees Zartan on the command ship, and says he will not allow Zartan to kill him again. But he's distracted by some good news - Cobra Commander is about to be taken back in to custody.
Destro's arrival creates enough confusion on the beach for the Joes to finally start moving inland. Zartan, meanwhile, has taken up a CLAW and is going inland himself.
Overlord personally joins the fight and moves to take on Duke one-on-one. Duke gets the first punch in, but Overlord quickly gets Duke's throat in his massive, clawed hand. Chuckles tries to help Duke out, but Overlord punches his fist right through Chuckles' chest...
Hawk makes his way through the Citadel, but is soon detected and set on by the Saw-Viper, now going by the name of Overkill. He's about to add Hawk to the list of Joes he's killed, but Kamakura arrives in the nick of time to take him out.
Cobra Commander, meanwhile, is attempting to escape the island in a Firebat, when Serpentor's clone children ambush him. The Firebat launches without him in it, and soon enough, Serpentor arrives to deck the Commander.
Mindbender and Zandar, watching the battle from a safe distance, realize they are losing on every front. Mindbender sees his leader arrive and take on Cobra Commander, and runs to be with him, leaving Zandar alone - but Firefly soon comes on the horn, telling Zandar there's an intruder to deal with in the hangar...
The intruder is Zartan, of course. Firefly distracts him long enough to set up, as he calls it, a "family reunion" - and Zartan is soon attacked by a coil trooper. The trooper yells that Zartan has always pushed him away, and knocks Zartan to the ground. Zartan, though, doesn't know what he's talking about, and grabs a discarded knife and stabs his attacker through the chest. Only then does the trooper take off his mask to reveal his identity - that of Zandar. Zartan picks up his fallen brother and calls off his Dreadnoks...
Cobra Commander manages to get the upper hand on Serpentor, and decks Mindbender when he arrives. But Serpentor is bigger and stronger, and gains the advantage. The Commander surrenders. Serpentor orders him to remove his helmet, and the Commander does so - revealing yet another mask underneath. He hands Serpentor the helmet - which of course is rigged to explode. Serpentor goes up in flames, and Cobra Commander kicks him off the launch platform onto the rocks far below, telling him "you lack the most important DNA of all - Mine." Hawk and Kamakura arrive, but Serpentor manages to activate one last device before he hits bottom, initiating the "last stand" protocols. A last EMP device goes off, and planes start dropping from the sky.
But the Joes continue to fight, by hand or with rocks, until the Coil forces have been routed. Destro's forces depart, without having reclaimed the Commander. When the EMP weapon's effects dissipate, the Joes move in the rest of their equipment and take the island for good.
Cobra Commander escapes in a sub, but he has an unexpected guest - a heavily wounded Overkill...
Later, armed forces liberate the cities held by the Coil. And the children, the clones of the world's greatest leaders, are taken into custody, apparently with no recollection of who or what they are...

At Arlington National Cemetery, the Joes are dedicating a memorial to their fallen comrades. Hawk gives a speech, and sends most of the team on leave. Destro and the Baroness make a distant appearance at the event to also pay their respects.
Several days later, a Scott Sturgis is spying on the Joes playing baseball out in the middle of the empty Arizona desert. When they disappear, of course they have just disappeared into The Pit. Scott returns home where he uses instant messaging and the news to discover more about GI Joe. He returns at night to watch the Joes activities more, but he doesn't realize that he is also being watched.
In Badhikstan, Stalker is leading his team which includes Dodger, Big Ben, and several greenshirts, to hook up with another member of the Joe force, Claymore. There mission is the rescue the Prime Minister from the American Embassy were he is held by the Coil, Serpentor's organization. They are forced to abort their mission for fear of a nuclear strike. The Coil controls the countries nuclear arsenal.
As Scott Sturgis is sleeping two Cobra vipers sneak into his house. As he is being attacked by the Vipers, Wide Scope with Lamont and Shockwave break in to fight off the Vipers. Just as Scott is succumbing to a drug injected by the Vipers. He wakes up talking to Hawk, Airtight, and Lifeline. Hawk proceeds to inform Scott of the Joe & Cobra command structures and personal. It is then revealed that the Vipers were Shipwreck and Grand Slam. Scott Sturgis is then given a desk and a codename of Scanner within the Joe organization. He is shipped off to an Icelandic office.
On the last page, General Gibbs cuts a business deal with Tomax & Xamot giving a medicinal division of Extensive Enterprises control of Cobra Island.

Sei Tin, leader of the Red Ninja Clan, is addressing his followers at their retreat in Tibet. Cobra Commander and Storm Shadow have asked for sanctuary. And Sei Tin has granted it, which means the clan will protect them with there lives. The former GI Joe Ninja Force member T'J Bang has been living and training with them, as an undercover agent.
Destro is meeting with his son, Alexander Destro, and Lillian (Mistress Armada) about working together within Destro's organization, M.A.R.S., and how much they can be trusted. Scalpel declares that Lillian is fit to serve after being subjected to the Brainwave Scanner. Tomax & Xamot have been running Cobra since the major battle on Cobra Island. They have handled the reconstruction of Cobra Island, freed the Dreadnoks from an Illinois state prison, and paid off the UN inspectors. They are interrupted by an incoming video call revealing that Dr. Mindbender has been found in a container hidden on Cobra Island. He is taken into custody.
At The Pit, T'J Bang has sent in information about Cobra Commander's presence at the Red Ninja Clan retreat. Hawk and Duke assemble a team to go retrieve T'J Bang, and capture Cobra Commander. The Team: Scarlett is field commander, Snake-Eyes, Kamakura, Jinx are the assault force, and Snow Job, Frostbite, Alpine, and Iceberg the support team. Hawk is furious at Snake-Eyes for sending T'J Bang to infiltrate the Red Ninja Clan without permission or even notification to Hawk. He also berates Snake-Eyes for letting Storm Shadow go and asks him if he can put his feeling aside to do this job.
Cobra Commander and Sei Tin form a partnership, and Storm Shadow discovers T'J Bang. The Joe Team parachutes into the mountains near the retreat. And Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Jinx, and Kamakura walk into the cave where they are promptly encircled by the Red Ninjas. A major ninja battle ensues where Jinx and T'J Bang are injured. And Cobra helicopters appear and attack the support Joe forces. A face off between Sei Tin and Snake-Eyes leaves Sei Tin alive, but having lost the leadership role of the Red Ninja Clan, which has now passed to Snake-Eyes the winner of the duel. During the battle, Cobra Commander and Storm Shadow sneak away without a fight or confrontation with the Joes. T'J Bang is saved and the alliance with Cobra avoided.
In Washington D.C., General Gibbs has recruited two other generals to help support him in helping control the Coil. They have the supposedly alive Serpentor is custody.

Dr. Mindbender has escaped and is lost on Cobra Island. Cobra Commander returns to Cobra's New York office in the Extensive Enterprises building, where he once again takes control of Cobra. Destro makes an announcement that he is officially leaving Cobra. Destro does this without informing the Baroness, who is put in the position of deciding between Cobra and the man she loves, Destro. She decides on the spot to stay with Cobra. It is revealed that Cobra Commander has been keeping tabs on all Destro's movements.
Daina, former October Guard member, is reintroduced with a codename of Vorona. She is accompanied by five brand new Joes, Barrel Roll, Mariner, Mayday, Depth Charge, and Hacker. Scarlett and her team have just returned from Tibet, where Jinx and T'J Bang where injured. Hawk & Duke square off against Scarlett and Snake-Eyes. Scarlett proves they accomplished their mission to Hawk, and Duke concurs, deflating Hawk's anger, but still leaving him furious.
Flint sends a team of Joes on a mission to confirm if Cobra still has a presence on Cobra Island. The team: Torpedo the field commander, Mariner, Depth Charge, Mayday, and Barrel Roll. The team is dropped off the coast of Cobra Island in Devilfish. As soon as the team is inserted, they are attacked by Copperhead leading a force of Hydrofoils accompanied by Raptor Vipers. During the battle, Barrel Roll is able disguise himself as a Raptor Viper, and gets pulled out of the water by a Cobra helicopter.
Sierra Gordo is attacked by a mysterious force of high tech forces. Hawk is on a news show called 20 Questions hosted by WNN news coorspondent Hector. Hawk answers one of the questions with a very cryptic answer about GI Joe's presence in Sierra Gordo. As Hawk and Lady Jaye are leaving the building Cobra Commander talks to them from a panel of TV's, in the background is a mysterious male figure that Hawk notices. Cobra Commander reasserts himself as leader of Cobra and ends with this phrase just before blowing up the building. "Dr. Mindbender is captured, Serpentor is dead and now it's your turn".

Hawk and Lady Jaye are pulled from the wreckage of the news building they were leaving when Cobra blew it up. Clutch, Zap, Light Foot, and Barbecue are all assisting in the aftermath of the explosion. Hawk sees the attempt as a warning that Cobra is going to be on the move. Lady Jaye sets up a cover story to prevent the nation from knowing that Cobra blew up the building.
Destro, with assistance from his son Alexander, and his girlfriend Lillian are forced to step up there plan since Cobra Commander's return.
President Jesus Delacruz of Sierra Gordo and his assistant Martina receive the phone call they have been waiting for. On the other end is Guillermo, the leader of the invading high tech force that has brought lots of death and destruction to Sierra Gordo. There is an off page voice that tells Guillermo that he will be rewarded for his cooperation. Elsewhere in Sierra Gordo, Rip Cord, Tunnel Rat, Low Light, Dart, and field commander Recondo are observing the recent activities of the invading army.
Back on Cobra Island, a major "I'm Back" speech by Cobra Commander is being given. Barrel Roll who has been undercover as a Raptor Viper, sneaks into a communication computer terminal room. In The Pit, Hacker, Firewall and Dial Tone are assisting him. A random patrol by the Tele Vipers interrupts Barrel Roll. His cover is blown. He begins his escape which involves a run in with Tomax and Xamot and their Crimson guard. He makes his way to the same balcony that Serpentor fell off. Barrel Roll jumps off and parachutes to safety, where he recovers a hidden jet-ski for his escape. At the last moment, Barrel Roll has a gun placed to his head threatening him and commanding him to take the gun holder off the island.
To stop the invasion of Sierra Gordo, President Delacruz cuts a deal with Destro. Destro has shown up to offer support to Delacruz cause the United States military is stretched to thin and refuses to help. The deal is Destro's military force drives out the high tech invaders and in return Destro is allowed to develop factories for his M.A.R.S. weapon company.

Tomax & Xamot are in pursuit of Barrel Roll. He has just broken into the Cobra computer system where he inputted a virus that will send out information to the Joes at The Pit. As he is about to take off on a jet ski, Dr. Mindbender holds a gun to his head, and demands to be taken of the island. Dr. Mindbender is then dumped off along the coast of Cobra Island by Barrel Roll, where he fights with several Vipers and runs off into the woods. Barrel Roll is being pursued by Copperhead in a water Moccasin. Barrel Roll is rescued by a GI Joe Tomahawk helicopter with Flint and Vorona providing cover fire.
Cobra Commander tests the Baroness loyalty, discovers the Joe virus, and gets the results of what Destro had been up to during his absence. As hints of a major new Cobra operation that may be starting soon are shown.
In Sierra Gordo, Destro is completely a deal with President Jesus Delacruz to protect his country from the high invading force that is attack his people. This is a double cross because it is Destro's Iron Grenadiers who are disguised as the invaders. The leader of the invaders is Guillermo Gomes of Sierra Muerte.
The Joes discover this. A team lead by field commander Recondo, includes Rip Cord, Tunnel Rat, Low Light, and new member Dart. They are in major firefight, where Low Light is seriously injured, Tunnel Rat shot, and rescued by the Sierra Gordo army. As Rip Cord fights a invader he sees an Iron Grenadier tattoo.
After having completed the deal with Delacruz, Destro returns to assure Guillermo that he have power in Sierra Gordo. In the middle of the moment, Delacruz walks and says that Sierra Gordo and Sierra Muerte had a peace agreement before the attacks. They called the Joes when Destro showed up. At that moment, Duke reveals himself, after having disguised himself as an Iron Grenadier. Destro is then arrested. Duke then flies out to gather his injured Joe team.
Cobra Commander informs the Baroness of Destro's arrest and puts the rescue mission on her approval. She chooses to let him rot in jail.

Duke is called into Hawk's office at The Pit, where Flint, Recondo, and Rip Cord have been briefing Hawk on the mission to Sierra Gordo that ended with capture of Destro and left Low Light and Tunnel Rat in critical condition and put Dart on emergency psych leave. The confrontation is about Duke risking the lives of his men, and without their and Hawk's knowledge. Rip Cord expresses his doubt in Duke, and references his loss of girlfriend, Candy. Rip Cord says the Duke he knew back then isn't the same Duke that has returned since GI Joe was reformed. Flint calls for Duke's resignation, and they get in pushing match that Hawk breaks up. Hawk excuses Duke for the time being.
In Kansas, Hawk, Lady Jaye, Shockwave, Roadblock, Cover Girl, Law & Order, Crosshair, Wide Scope, and Flint move the captured Destro to the UN building in Washington D.C. for the beginning of Destro's trial. Destro has requested to speak to council personally or will withdraw his cooperation.
On Cobra Island, Zartan and Cobra Commander are arguing. Zartan walks away from Cobra and pulls all of the Dreadnok resources off the island. Zartan is wearing a breather mask and is having physical problems that maybe associated with his experiments on himself.
Near Badhikstan, Falcon, Dusty, Scarlett & Snake-Eyes meet up with Claymore to go on a recon mission to view the Coil's labor activity near a mountain along the border with Badhikstan. They run into Cobra forces along the way that are lead by Overkill. Overkill has been modified by Cobra scientists into a psychotic soldier. In a running vehicle battle, the Joes are divided with Claymore, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes together and Dusty and Falcon going the other way. Overkill jumps onto the vehicle Claymore is driving causing it to crash. Falcon and Dusty see the explosion as they are captured by Coil forces.
Destro's speech to the UN council is actually a blackmail attempt to secure his freedom. He will release the records of his M.A.R.S. corporation arms dealing to the public. There by implicating nearly all of the countries on the council in dealing with a known criminal. In return for his release, he offers to set up a situation wear Cobra Commander can be captured, an even bigger prize. The council agrees, Hawk is even more furious.
Finally, Dr. Mindbender meets with Zartan to discuss their mutual interest in the buried treasure that the Coil is trying to dig up in Badhikstan.
Fantom Summary
Alexander Destro and Mistress Armada are in a Belgium night club. They meet up with a Charles Halifax. Halifax�s new name is Wraith because of a top secret stealth suit stolen from the Chinese. Alexander recruits Wraith to do business for M.A.R.S. The job he is contracted for is to break Scrap Iron and Major Bludd out of Blackwater Prison in Mississippi.

Claymore, Snake-Eyes, and Scarlett are fighting Overkill. Claymore is almost straggled to death just as Snake-Eyes jumps him from behind. In an open moment, Scarlett shoots Overkill several times in the back. Overkill isn't quite dead, and Snake-Eyes has an opportunity to kill him as he is down. But instead leaves his scientifically deformed life to die in Badhikstan. They are then surrounded by Tomax and Xamot with support forces.
Dr. Mindbender is blackmailing a breather masked covered Zartan. The blackmail is that Mindbender won't tell Cobra that Zartan's brother Zandar turned traitor on Cobra with the Coil during the battle on Cobra Island. The tables are turned when a mysterious figure pulls a knife on Mindbender from behind.
Cobra Commander and the Baroness receive information about Destro being transported on a train that is protected by the Joes. Baroness is furious that the Commander is doing an rescue attack, because she specifically refused to authorize a rescue.
Tomax and Xamot release all of the Joes they had captured in Badhikstan.
Hawk, Duke, Stalker, Shockwave, Mayday, Gung-Ho, and Dial Tone are on the train car that is supposed to be protecting Destro headed out of Washington D.C. Of course, this is a set up by Destro just to get Cobra Commander captured, per his agreement for freedom with the UN Security Council.
Cobra attacks the train by air and land. They succeed in derailing the train. Cobra Commander and Hawk are in fist fight. The order for Destro to be released is given to Flint back in D.C. where Destro is waiting to fly away on his private plane by Dial Tone who is on the scene of the attack. As Hawk and Cobra Commander fight, the Commander throws dirt in Hawk's face, getting the upper hand, he picks up his gun, and fires into Hawk's back as he is on the ground. Then Cobra Commander receives a shot into his back. It is revealed that it the shooter of Cobra Commander is none other then the Baroness. It ends with Baroness flying away, to meet up with her husband, Destro. Hawk and Cobra Commander, both with bullets in there backs, are left on the ground next to each other apparently dead.
Fantom Part 2 Summary
Charles Halifax's new name is Wraith. He wears a top secret stealth suit stolen from the Chinese. He is working for Destro to break Scrap Iron and Major Bludd out of Blackwater Prison in Mississippi. As he accomplishes the rescue, he runs into Beach Head, Shipwreck, and Grand Slam. The Joes bullets don't harm Wraith, and in return the Joes are plastered with non-lethal bullets allowing Major Bludd and Scrap Iron to escape.

Hawk is shot in back by Cobra Commander. As he lies on the ground he is attended to by a medic. His watch reads 4:39.
He then wakes up in the hospital, eight months later, with Flint, Lady Jaye and Duke informing him that Cobra has been destroyed, and only Zartan and few others are left to hunt down. Hawk then addresses the remaining Joes, standing, were they all then turn to ghosts. He falls down and asks Duke to take him home to his wife. A dream.
Hawk is then at home about to eat a breakfast with his wife. Hawk has a beard. They talk about shaving it off, and what Carolee is going to wear to Hawk's retirement party that evening. Later at the party, Hawk declines an offer to a cabinet post by the President in order to spend more time with his wife. There is also a moment at party where someone asks Hawk if it was worth all the pain to defeat Cobra. A dream, also.
Hawk is walking in a corridor in Blackwater prison. He is admitted to see Cobra Commander who is a prisoner. The Commander rambles on about how he made Hawk, and he was his reason for living. Just as Cobra Commander's face is about to be revealed, it turns into Hawk's face. And he meets himself face to face. Also a dream.
Hawk is at home with Carolee, who is now his fiance, when he receives, a call from Duke, and proceeds to pack up to run out of the house. Carolee pleads with him not to go but after he refuses she turns into a ghost. This is possibly a memory mixed with a dream.
Hawk opens his eyes, he is about to be put in a helicopter on a stretcher. His watch has the time of 4:40 displayed. And he says "I can't move my legs".
Hawk is then in a hospital bed, the doctor informs him that he is paralyzed from the waist down. And has an unretractable bullet lodged in his spine. Hawk asks Duke to bring his things from the office to him. He looks at a newspaper clipping with the headline of "Local woman killed in auto accident, Bank Clerk to wed Army Colonel in less then a month". Hawk cries.
Fantom Part 3 Summary
Charles Halifax's new name is Wraith. He wears a top secret stealth suit stolen from the Chinese. Mistress Armada and Alexander Destro are in a meeting with several of Destro's main competitors. The meeting describes how Wraith's stealth suit works. Essentially, it projects what is around the suit by using real time video sent to projector that is read by human eyes as see threw. And suit has several weapons, enhanced strength, and is pretty much bullet proof. The competitors are impressed but don't care until Wraith appears right in front of them, where he has been standing, and proceeds to take them out.

The Baroness has a dream where Cobra Commander, who is half snake, is talking to her about pleasing him and that when that happens her pain is lessoned. This is a direct effect of how the Brainwave Scanner controls a person. The Baroness has been subjected to it many times. Destro, who is now married to the Baroness, and Scalpel are working with the her to clear the effects of the Brainwave Scanner, hence the bad dreams.
WNN News correspondent Hector Ramirez is speaking at the White House Press Room about the events that surrounded the destruction of the WNN building. The explosion was initially reported as a gas main leak. In the news conference, he reveals that it was actually a bomb planted by Cobra that blew up the building. Flint and Lady Jaye step in to reveal to the public that special counter terrorist group Delta (GI Joe) has captured Cobra Commander.
General Joseph "Joe" Colton and his wife Jane are introduced by Duke to Claymore. They talk about who is to be in command of GI Joe, now that Hawk is wheel chair bound and out of contact.
Destro has used the resources of Extensive Enterprises, Tomax, and Xamot's company, to reintegrate the defected members of Serpentor's The Coil back into the Cobra ranks. Tomax and Xamot try to pull an ambush on Destro using the Crimson Guard that they command, but the tide is turned when Wraith appears right in front of them. Wraith is Destro's main man, and Tomax and Xamot fall into line with Destro.
In the town of New Moon, Colorado, Mirage has been running an operation with several new Joe recruits, Greenshirts. They are Thomas Stall, Julie Haun, and Curtis Letson. Clutch, Mayday, Snake-Eyes, and Roadblock are being sent into find Mirage, who has missed several reports.
Mirage and his team are in a street fight. One of the new recruits, Haun has been killed, Letson and Stall are left to cover Mirage as he makes a break for a car. As Mirage turns the car around, Stall breaks cover, breaks a direct order and starts shooting, which leaves his teammate Letson uncovered, and the Cobra forces then kill Letson. Clutch's team is being dropped in by helicopter to rescue Mirage and Stall. The helicopter is blown up and the vehicle that contains the team and Mirage is now dropped back into the middle of New Moon. Wraith appears with the support of Scrap-Iron and Major Bludd.
The Juggler's are having a conference with Joe Colton. Hawk has invoked Act 9-8 of the charter. This act allows him to choose a substitute to act in his place for 90 days, which is now Joe. And this officially puts the original Joe back in charge of GI Joe. General Gibbs calls for a review session in which Hawk must be present, and that GI Joe is now under a full investigation.

The Joe team of Clutch, Roadblock, Mayday, Snake-Eyes, Mirage, and new recruit Thomas Stall are in street fight New Moon, Colorado. Major Bludd and Scrap-Iron are leading an attack on the team, who are circling in an armored van driven by Clutch looking for the separated Snake-Eyes. Stall, who earlier in the battle, let his teammates down, and got another recruit killed, is having severe issues handling the battle. At one point he is thrown from the van and shot by a sniper. Mirage, his team leader, saves him and gets him back into the van. Snake-Eyes is in a one on one battle with Wraith, who�s supped up suit gives him extra power and armament. Wraith talks lots of smack to Snake-Eyes as they fight pretty evenly.
In the back of the van, Mirage is berating Stall for his whining, and ineffectual fighting ability. Mirage needs him to be tougher, and Stall makes a threatening move with his gun, and disrespectful comment. Mayday saves the day by taking out a helicopter. Wraith has won the fight. And just as he is about finish off Snake-Eyes, Roadblock hits Wraith over the head several times with his .50 caliber machine gun. Wraith takes advantage of the fact Roadblock thinks he has put him down for the count, his suits armor saved him from major damage, and escapes using his invisibility. The team collects Snake-Eyes, and jumps into a rescue helicopter driven by Wild Bill.
Just as the Joes are escaping Major Bludd detonates the entire town of New Moon.
Kamakura has been sent by Duke to watch over Hawk, who is now paralyzed from the waist down. Hawk gets mad and screams about how much he has dedicated his life to the Joes and wants to be left alone. Kamakura informs Hawk that the Jugglers are putting him up for review and the entire Joe organization is on the line. Kamakura�s job is now to wait by Hawk�s side until he decides what to do.
Duke, Flint, Claymore, and Joseph "Joe" Colton are assessing the damage of the New Moon operation. After Cobra blew up the town, they videoed the entire event, and using creative editing make the Joes look like bad guys. None of them really know what to do, and all are hoping that Hawk will come in to give them the advice and direction they need.
The New Moon Joe team and Mirage are on their way back to the Pit. Stall, who doesn�t have clearance, is staying behind at a base in Fort Riley, Kansas. Mirage confronts Stall about his performance in the field by give him this critique "that you�re a childish inattentive mess of soldier, an arrogant blemish on a family of career military men and the last person in the world I�d trust my life to".
Finally, Destro is meeting with his son, Alexander, as Scalpel enters with news on his wife the Baroness. Destro dismisses Alexander. Scalpel informs Destro that he has confined the Baroness to a med lab for protection and that she is pregnant with his child. Alexander hears this information from outside the door.

Mistress Armada is at a Safeco Field in Seattle, WA. She has killed a guard, overridden the lights system, and a called in a group of Cobra Mamba helicopters to the stadium. These helicopters cover the audience in red light, and pre recorded message is played through the sound system. The message questions the leaders of the country, the individual in the audience situation, and asking the audience to ask questions about what is going on in the world. Then Cobra just left without an incident.
In Fort Huachuca, AZ, Barrel Roll (Lt. Dwight Stall) and Airborne are going to the general court martial proceedings of Barrel Roll's brother Thomas Stall. The trial is investigating the events around the New Moon, Colorado fire fight and consequence destruction of the town. Thomas Stall is under investigation for negligence and treasonous acts. Barrel Roll is there to vouch for his brother and asks for a chance for Thomas to redeem himself. The judge sentences Thomas Stall to the stockade until all proceedings are finished. As Barrel Roll tries to comfort his brother, Thomas turns on him. Mirage, who was at the proceedings as Thomas Stall's team leader, points out to Barrel Roll that the good guys never understand the why the bad guys do what they do.
Back at The Pit all of the remaining original Joe team has assembled for a meeting with Duke. Those remaining member include: Steeler, Grand Slam, Stalker, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, Clutch, Short-Fuze, Zap, Rock 'n' Roll, and Grunt. Duke announces that Hawk has officially stepped down as command of the GI Joe force. He continues to explain that the Juggler's are trying to pull them apart until they can find something to hang the Joes with. And Duke is scared that they are going to shut the Joes down completely.
Still at The Pit, General Gibbs, the Juggler's leader, is meeting with Duke, Flint, Lady Jaye, and Claymore. The situation in New Moon was "the straw that broke the camels back" and they are forced to defend there actions in New Moon as well as others places around the world. And that most of these fights have involved the public. Gibbs limits the Joes to an active staff of twelve, field bureaus will be shutdown, the "greenshirts" will be sent back to their respective branches, shuts down The Pit, puts most the Joes on leave, all overseas operations will be put under review as well as any new operation, and finally all missions will have to be cleared through the Juggler's, in which they will apply a conservative approach to all approvals. A new general is introduced to the Juggler's, Mars Herring, who is filling Hawk's spot, and preempting General Joseph "Joe" Colton from a spot on the Jugglers.
All of the Joe agents, including Clutch, Mirage, Roadblock, Mayday and Snake-Eyes, that were involved with the New Moon operation are being arrested. After a small struggle to arrest Snake-Eyes, Scarlett steps in to calm him, and gives him a big kiss, and leaves telling Flint to "fix this".
Destro has now taken complete control of Cobra. He explains his rise to power, that Cobra has uncovered a long buried treasure, introduces "The Tempest" a satellite, and sets up a new command structure for Cobra. Mistress Armada and Major Bludd are put in charge of the recently returned to Cobra Coil forces, Tomax and Xamot are to continue to undermine business around the world, Wraith will serve as head of security, the Baroness will continue in a leadership role until her pregnancy permits her from fulfilling her duties. Alexander Destro will take charge of M.A.R.S. and the Iron Grenadiers. The reintroduction of Dr. Cassandra Knox, who is to replace Dr. Mindbender, is given the immediate focus of The Tempest project.
At the end of the meeting, a necklace that Mistress Armada is wearing contains a video uplink that has been allowing Zartan to watch the proceedings. Dr. Mindbender, who is a captive of Zartan, talks about how he built the Tempest, and Destro won't be able to use it. Zandar makes his return. He clears up his betrayal by explaining that he had been manipulated by Serpentor. And is now firmly on Zartan's side. Dr. Mindbender, who has switched sides repeatedly, is being beaten by the Dreadnoks and expected to give all information that he knows.
General Gibbs and Jugglers arrive at a research center, where Mikhail Derenko, aka Overlord, is monitoring the progress of the re-education of Serpentor. Serpentor's body had been retrieved from Cobra Island, and in exchange a deal was made. That deal between Overlord and Juggler's consisted of Overlord's services as an assassin and soldier in exchange for medical resources. And the Juggler's were given carte blanche in determining Serpentor's fate.
General Gibbs ends his conversation with Overlord , by talking about a off-the-book operation set up by Duke. And Derenko needs to be prepared to leave at moments notice to some place cold.

In Turkey, Mistress Armada and Major Bludd are in a tank battle with Army General Phillip Rey. Major Bludd and Rey end up in a knife fight. Major Bludd loses his hand, and Gen. Rey just walks off leaving Bludd to his pain. The Juggler's General Gibbs calls Gen. Rey to a meeting in Washington DC.
In Suva, Fiji, a mysterious person kills Tracker right on the beach in front of several bystanders.
At the Pit, Duke is talking to the current 12 member GI Joe team. That team is Stalker, Mercer, Shockwave, Spirit, Lifeline, Barrel Roll, Firewall, Shipwreck, Gung-Ho, Grand Slam, Lady Jaye, and their leader Flint. Duke is on mission to get the arrested Joes released from jail, and is leaving Flint in charge as he goes to the Jugglers.
Scarlett and her unknown back up are monitoring where Snake-Eyes is being held.
At "The Quad", the location that the captured Cobra Commander has been held during his recovery, a new counselor Dr. Edmonds has been talking to him. Lady Jaye, Stalker, and Lifeline make a visit. Cobra Commander's face mask has yet to be removed because of a password he refuses to give out. He brings up to Lady Jaye the moment Flint and Baroness had together. All a game to change the subject away from his identity. As he confirms his identity a tiny blimp on his heart rate monitor goes up.
Destro and the Baroness are watching Dr. Knox work on the Tempest, a machine created by Dr. Mindbender. Destro reconfirms to his wife and their unborn child that their protection is his most important goal.
Dr. Mindbender is with a masked Zartan and Zandar. He is going over the history of the Tempest, and how it can't be activated without his living hand. Zanya reports in that everything is cool on her end.
Duke has interrupted the Juggler's meeting. He presents blackmail information to gain the release of the Joes. General Phillip Rey enters and introduces himself to Duke, suggests moving the prisoner Snake-Eyes and arresting Duke. As Duke, and Snake-Eyes are moved in van, their convoy is ambushed, a small fight ensues in cloud of smoke. And as the doors open to let Duke and Snake-Eyes out, Scarlett and Storm Shadow appear out of the smoke to rescue them.

Duke and Storm Shadow are in car being chased by the Army in the Washington DC streets. Scarlett and Snake-Eyes are on motorcycle in the same battle. Snake-Eyes and Scarlett climb onto the car as they enter a tunnel. Inside the tunnel, Claymore and Vorona have a van that everybody climbs into and they escape. The entire time Wraith has been monitoring the battle overhead for Destro.
Late night at "The Quad", the facility holding the captured Cobra Commander, Lady Jaye is video conferencing with Flint about there relationship, when she spots Dr. Edmonds, Cobra Commander's counselor.
Zaranna leads the Dreadnoks: Buzzer, Ripper, Road Pig, Burn Out Heartwrencher, and Monkey wrench, on a coordinated attack on The Quad. As the alarm bell sounds Dr. Edmonds, actually Zanya in disguise, attacks Lady Jaye, and Stalker and Lifeline jump into the fight. Zartan and Zandar arrive and make there way into the overrun facility. Zanya gets the upper hand on Lady Jaye, and as the Dreadnoks enter, Lady Jaye is able to escape into an air duct. Buzzer then frees Cobra Commander.
General Gibbs and General Mars Herring of the Jugglers are meeting with General Phillip Rey. This small group forms a plan to promote Gen. Rey to be the leader of the Joe team, their by replacing Hawk and Duke. Wraith is in the background watching and listening.
Scarlett, Duke, Vorona, and Claymore have met up at the house of the retired Joe, Cutter. Duke divides this small group and sends Snake-Eyes and Scarlett into hiding, and Claymore and Vorona back to their posts in Badhikstan. All pledge their allegiance to follow Duke no matter who is in charge.
Outside of the house, Storm Shadow is talking to Snake-Eyes. He says that he is now free, has his own thoughts, and wants to seek a path of honor, discipline, peace, and solitude. Storm Shadow asks for help, and gives his "word that my intent is honorable". He also references how many times he has refused his help before. Scarlett steps in at the end of the conversation, with this comment "I believe the two of you should make a serious decision. If you're willing to trust and open to change, and then take those final leaps of faith, but if it falls apart again, at least have the strength to end it once and for all."
In Brazil, a small Joe team of Glenda, Hardball, and Rampart make a sneak attack on a Cobra compound. Inside they discover Big Boa, Asa Negra, and several Vipers all dead. A voice speaks out to the team about sending a message just before killing them.
All of the Dreadnoks return with the freed Cobra Commander to there base where Dr. Mindbender is still being held captive. There it is revealed to him that Zartan and Cobra Commander had switched places. Dr. Mindbender had been giving away information about the Tempest to the real Cobra Commander. Zandar and Zaranna are just as surprised. And to Zartan's dismay. Cobra Commander turns on Zandar for his betrayal during the battle with Serpentor.

Destro still in control of Cobra orders an attack on The Pit, which is lead by Mistress Armada. He also orders Dr. Knox to pack up the Tempest and Scrap-Iron to guard the island from the pending arrival of the recently escaped Cobra Commander.
Cobra Commander, who is watching Destro through a camera on Mistress Armadas necklace at the Dreadnok compound, plans his return to control of Cobra. First, he puts Zandar to the test of his loyalty; Zandar gives his loyalty to Cobra Commander after first declaring he is a Dreadnok first. Zartan then comments the Dreadnok organization to Cobra Commander.
Gen. Gibbs, Gen. Mars Herring, and Gen. Phillip Rey arrive at The Pit where Gen. Rey is installed as the commander, supplementing Hawk, Duke, and Flints authority over the team.
Barrel Roll visits his brother, Thomas Stall in his prison cell, just as Cobra attacks the facility. The building Thomas is being held in is blown apart. Barrel Roll separated in blast from his brother, helps Firewall escape to safety, leaving Thomas behind. Thomas alive and well goes the other way.
Cobra also attacks The Pit. The smaller Joe team, uses a Night Attack Copper and Rolling Thunder ground vehicle to attack the large Cobra formation. The Joe team takes out many Cobra vehicles before they are forced to fall back into The Pit. As the door is closing a Night Viper drops a grenade that prevents the door from closing. The Pit has been compromised and Gen. Rey orders an evacuation of The Pit. The Joe team falls down into the secure levels as Barrel Roll arrives in his airplane to fire several missiles into the open door killing many Cobras and doing serious damage to The Pit. All Joe members escape into the helicopter piloted by Flint and Gen. Rey. They have abandoned The Pit to Cobra, and it was ordered by Gen. Rey.
Cobra Commander has arrived on Cobra Island. Destro sends the Baroness off Cobra Island escorted by Wraith. As Destro and Cobra Commander face off, the Commander fires a missile at the escaping plane of the Baroness blowing it up, possibly killing her, her unborn baby, and Wraith. Cobra Commander has also taken control of the Tempest project, Tomax and Xamot confirm that the Badhikstan operation is ready, and Destro is defeated.
Gen. Rey gives the small Joe force a speech about how the smaller more maneuverable, harder to track team is going to take an eye for an eye in process of taking Cobra down.

Gen. Philip Rey tells Barrel Roll that his brother is unaccounted for and he is assumed to be captured or went along with Cobra willingly. Mercer and Shipwreck argue about Mercer.s loyalty to GI Joe considering that The Pit has just been discovered and destroyed. Rey settles the situation and announces to the team that they are going to drop a nuclear bomb on Cobra Island.
On Cobra Island, Cobra Commander and Major Bludd visit Destro in prison. Where he hints that he isn.t as broken as the Commander assumes. In the next prison cell, Thomas Stall, Barrel Roll.s brother, a Joe trainee who was put in an Army prison and turned himself into Cobra, is confronted by Cobra Commander with a decision. The options be on .the side of right or be on the side that wins.. And his decision determines his fate. He decides to join Cobra, and takes the name Blackout.
Dr. .Mindbender, on Cobra Island, is about to test his device the Tempest. The Tempest fires a beam up into clouds, causing a major rainstorm. Major Bludd has reservations about such a weapon, and Cobra Commander is thrilled at having such a powerful, fearful weapon. The Tempest is then packed up and shipped away.
On the USS Flagg, a secretary to the President, Flint, Gen. Gibbs and Gen. Rey are prepping for the mission to drop the nuclear bomb on Cobra Island. Barrel Roll has been given the duty of dropping the bomb. They then watch a satellite feed of Cobra activity in Badhikstan, and a ship caring a large cannon, which is actually the Tempest, but they don.t know that. Gen. Gibbs sends a message to his .associates. that the mission has been launched.
In New York City, WNN Hector Ramirez is meeting with Gen. Joe Colton. Ramirez was sent to Colton by Hawk and has some major information that scares him. This information he is going to hold onto and not giving it to his news organization. He hands over a disk labeled .RS Backup. to Colton. He says .some of the implications on this disk are just.Have you ever heard of an organization.. Outside two peopl! e are monitoring the meeting and are given a command to engage the target. They blow up a taxi that Ramirez is getting into killing him. Central tells them to track and report on Colton.s movements.
In Badhikstan, A new Cobra stronghold is introduced to Cobra Commander, it has a shuttle type launch platform, and the Tempest has been put on the shuttle that is now ready launch. Tomax, Xamot, Zartan, Zandar, Blackout and Dr. Mindbender are all there, as well as prisoners Destro, Mistress Armada, Dr. Knox & Scrap Iron. The Deathangel virus, an Iranian chemical weapon that burns the flesh and kills within ten minutes is added to the Tempest. It is Cobra Commander.s plan to gain absolute power. As Zandar and Zartan watch the launch of the Tempest, they comment about how they are in favor of anarchy but not mass murder.
As Barrel Roll begins his attack on Cobra Island, Cobra Commander opens a link to the island where the Coil forces have been gathered waiting to hear from the Commander. He gives them a speech about cowardice and betrayal. Barrel Roll drops the bomb on the island killing all the Coil troops.
In Iceland, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, and Duke are hiding out at an outpost that Scanner (Scott Strugis, see #26) has set up. They are monitoring the movement of troops off Cobra Island, and following them to Badhikstan. They also monitor Barrel Roll.s bomb blast. Overlord (Mikhail Derenko) appears at the outpost killing Scanner. And he calls for Snake-Eyes and Duke.

Overlord has been sent by the Jugglers to arrest Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, and Duke, who are in Iceland. He locks them in a bomb shelter. Scanner, who was mortally wounded by Overlord, survives long enough to activate the buildings self destruct, sacrificing himself and killing Overlord.
In Badhikstan, Cobra Commander is replacing Dr. Mindbender with Dr. Knox. He then shoots Mindbender in the back leaving him to bleed out on the floor in the main control room of the Tempest. Dr. Knox releases the Tempest.s power on the city of Djeska, Badhi. It is a rain with Deathangel virus in it, a skin eating virus. Zartan and Zandar make a very discrete exit.
At the same time the Joe team is doing a coordinated attack on the stronghold. Gen. Phillip Rey, Flint, Spirit and Mercer are making there attack by helicopter. Lady Jaye, Shockwave, and Grand Slam are parachuting in, and Gung-Ho, Shipwreck, Stalker and Lifeline attack some of Cobra.s sea resources.
Gen. Rey and Lady Jaye.s team fight there way into the facility and towards the control room. Spirit, Mercer, and Grand Slam get shot as they fight. Flint and Gen. Rey are the first to reach the control room, Cobra Commander shoots Rey but it is only a glancing bullet to the head. Then he gives Mister Stall (Blackout) the order to evacuate, and that he is to exterminate any Joes that he sees. Cobra Commander makes his escape with Tomax, and Xamot. Lady Jaye knocks out Dr. Knox as she is trying to escape.
Barrel Roll, who after dropping the nuclear bomb (last issue) on Cobra Island, is attacking the Tempest itself. His missiles are destroyed the satellites defenses.
Back in the control room, Dr. Mindbender, who is still bleeding to death and just barely alive, gets one final revenge on Cobra Commander by working with Lady Jaye. He reboots the Tempests hard drive. There by making the satellite defenseless for a few moments. Barrel Rolls last remaining weapon is his plane that he is flying, so Gen. Rey orders him to do what he has to do to finish the job. Barrel Roll accepts the order and asks for a final request that if they find out anything about his brother (Blackout) that if he is dead he not be remembered for his actions, and if he has switched to Cobra that his family never be told. This all plays! out as Blackout has his sniper rifle scope focused on the back of Lady Jaye.s head. As the airplane crashes into the Tempest, Dr. Mindbender dies and Blackout pulls back on shooting Lady Jaye. The Tempest is destroyed and the Joes have taken control of Cobra.s base.
A few days later, in Iceland, A winter rescue team uncovers Duke, Scarlett, and Snake-Eyes. Barrel Roll, now presumed dead by his brother, recovers in a hospital.
As Cobra Commander and The Crimson Twins hide in a cave, a female leader of the Red Shadows shows up informing them that all Cobra assets have been liquidated. This is the official first introduction of the Red Shadows organization, although they are not named.
In D.C., Gen. Joe Colton is visiting the office of Juggler Mars Herring, instead he is met by another leader of the Red Shadows, just before Colton is shot dead, he recognizes the man, and that is why he is killed. The Red Shadows leader makes a reference to Colton being an old friend.

Chapter #1
Lady Jaye, Flint and Gen. Rey read a letter from the deceased Gen. Joe Colton. This letter tells of a mission he went on with a Wilder Vaughn. The letter explains that Vaughn was disgusted with how corrupt the governments had become. It goes on to explain that after the mission Vaughn joined MI-5 and was killed in action investigating a group called the Red Shadows. Colton put together this letter after Hector Ramirez had given him some information on the group, Ramirez was killed as was Colton by the Red Shadows. It is one of the missing links that Lady Jaye has been searching for to help discover this mysterious group that has killed several Joes. Lady Jaye and Flint are arguing.
In Al-Amini Emirate, A lady (Dela Eden of the Red Shadows) rides into an Arab camp and informs them that an American military intelligence team is coming to take their country, their Emir and their oil. At the headquarters of the Red Shadows in Crete, Greece, a news report on television is talking about the death of American physicians in Al-Amini in connection with the assassination of Al-Amini.s Emir. It was all a Red Shadows set up to help throw the world into chaos. Wilder Vaughn and Arthur Kulik talk about getting rid of the corruption in governments and how their organization has planned for a long time to take over and is finally in position to move on those plans.
Director Medina, staff of member of the President, informs Gen. Rey and Gen. Gibbs that Rey is still in command, GI Joe is still a team, and the Juggler.s are officially under investigation. After Gibbs is dismissed, she gives Rey some information on the recently killed Joes, and informs him that the President is reviewing the need for GI Joe now that Cobra is pretty much done as an active organization. And that she is fighting for the team.
Gen. Gibbs and the rest of Juggler.s go to the complex that has been holding Serpentor. Gen. Mars Herring is there waiting in a Red Shadows uniform. He kills Gibbs and the rest of Juggler.s and proceeds to break Serpentor out of his water chamber, and then blows the place up.
Snake-Eyes, Scarlett and Duke return to GI Joe Command center in D.C., Gen. Rey and Duke clear up some differences, and the news of Juggler.s assassination comes in, and the pieces of the puzzle start coming together.
Kamakura, who has been assigned to watch Hawk, takes out an assassin, and Snake-Eyes and Scarlett arrive to take out a helicopter that is attacking. Snake-Eyes shoots several Red Shadow soldiers with an M-60 and they are surprisingly uninjured. Arthur Kulik is leading the mission to kill Hawk. The Red Shadows mission is a failure.
Back in Crete, Vaughn, Kulik and Eden are reviewing the failure to kill Hawk. They talk about how all of the Joes are scheduled to be killed. But Arthur is mad that he failed, and wants to go after Hawk. But Vaughn prevents him from doing so, and begins a plan of divide and conquer with pictures of Flint and Lady Jaye in front of him. The Joes have confirmed the existence of the Red Shadows.

Chapter #2
Director Medina is meeting with Lady Jaye and Gen. Rey about the existence of the Red Shadows organization and the Wilder Vaughn/MI-5 connection. The Pentagon is unconvinced that the Red Shadows exist and she informs them that their investigation is about to be shutdown.
Lady Jaye then confronts Gen. Rey about his background, or more preciously how there is no record of his history before last year. Just as Rey is about to avoid answering, Hawk arrives with Snake-Eyes and Scarlett.
Several news stories are happening around the world, and none of them are good. Those events are: a Middle East Peace agreement meeting is blown up, terrorist leader Robert Wilhelm is assassinated by a news reporter as the British are protecting him for his trial, the country of Tatia has had its UN relief efforts attacked by local warlord, the US is asked to withdraw from Tatia, and in Punta del Mucosa a convey is destroyed leading to martial law being enforced. What all these seemingly random world events have in common is that a Red Shadows agent was present. Wilder Vaughn kills the German Minister of Special Defense, Mr. Bohn, and now he has the codes to Germany.s defense grid.
Duke and Flint visit a guy name Reggie, a bomb maker and computer specialist. As Reggie, after some threats, is about to give out some information on the big guy army type with dark hair that had visited him. He is killed by Dela Eden. Flint takes off after her, but she escapes.
Later, Duke, Hawk, Flint and Gen. Rey are talking about Reggie and his death. They were able to get a photo of Eden, and now have a positive identification on her, of course she is .presumed dead.. Gen. Rey tries to exit from the meeting, but Duke draws him into a conversation where each of Joe leaders express their regrets on how they have lead the team, Duke apologizes for deceiving, Flint for his lack of command abilities and he informs them that this is his last mission, Hawk has had trouble dealing with the enemies that were within and against the Joe team, plus his parallelization and finally Rey explains that leading the Joe team wasn.t his choice but it is honor. Dela Eden has been observing, with video and audio, the entire meeting.
Lady Jaye brings the command team into look at some video footage that they retrieved from Reggie.s computer. It is a fuzzy image of the guy that paid Reggie $30,000 for the firebomb that killed the Juggler.s. They also tracked the payment to a bank that has the name Shadow included in it Greek translation. Gen. Rey dismisses the team, and Mars Herring receives a call.
Hawk and Rey have a moment at the command center, as Flint and Lady Jaye head home. Gen. Mars Herring arrives at the door of the base, and Rey lets him in. Herring talks about his fear since the rest of the Juggler.s where killed, that he knows he is about to be investigated, and he offers his help to Rey. As Rey is looking away he touches a button on his watch, and inserts a disk in Reggie.s computer.
At Lady Jaye and Flint.s home, they are arguing about Rey.s history, and why Flint is just going along with him. Lady Jaye has serious doubts about Gen. Rey. Flint informs Lady Jaye that after the Red Shadows case is dealt with he is quitting the Joe team. He then takes off out of the house, very mad. Dela Eden, who has followed Flint and Lady Jaye to there home, is positioned to capture or eliminate Flint as he drives away from Lady Jaye.
Eden runs Flint.s car off the road causing his SUV to roll down a hill. As Eden arrives to determine Flint.s fate, Lady Jaye attacks her and beats her up. Lady Jaye then goes to help clear Flint from the burning SUV. Flint has some serious injuries, and they both say .I love you. to each other. Just as Lady Jaye turns around Dela Eden stabs her with a piece of metal from the car wreck. Lady Jaye and Flint.s fate is to be determined.

Chapter 3
Dela Eden has just killed Lady Jaye. And the injured Flint is trying to put up a fight, but Dela�s intentions are to capture Flint. Scarlett arrives to shot and capture Dela. Flint cries as he holds his dead wife. Lade Jaye is dead.
Through research, Scarlett has discovered that the Ekleipsi Trading Company in Athens, Greece is a front company for the Red Shadows. Scarlett, with Hawk & Flint as tech support, goes undercover to have a meeting with the manager of the company, a Mr. Danas. Scarlett�s cover is blown and Arthur Kulik shows up to confront her. But Scarlett is able to escape with the help of Flint and Hawk.
The traitor Gen. Mars Herring arrives at the detention center were Dela Eden is being held prisoner. But Gen. Rey and Duke are already in the process of interrogating Dela Eden. A security breach happens. The Red Shadows, lead by Wilder Vaughn, have launched an attack to rescue Dela. Gen. Rey and Duke leave Dela to the guards to check out what is happening. Gen. Herring kills the guards and releases Dela, but Duke and Gen. Rey capture Gen. Herring before he can escape.
Scarlett�s mission turns up some interesting information. The �Umbra Secure System Portals� is a company that controls the computer operating systems, these systems then control the military weapon arrays used by more then a dozens of countries around the world. And the Red Shadows has control of this company and its systems. By activating all of these systems they would be able to cause a severe amount of damage to the world. This all fits into their plan to bring down governments of the world. So they can step up and rule the world. Also discovered is some information about the �neural enhancer! s� attached to there spines to all of the Red Shadows. An apparatus that gives the soldier an extra boosts of strength when activated.
At the Red Shadows headquarters atop a New York City building, Vaughn, Kulik, and Eden put there long awaited plan to take down the governments of the world into action. They assemble a final meeting of the loyal troops to announce the beginning of their plan.

Chapter 4
At the Pentagon, Mars Herring is taken to be interrogated. Wilder Vaughn activates a bomb that is inside Herring�s neural enhancer, nearly killing Rey and Duke and destroying a good section of the Pentagon. Herring has become a causality of the GI Joe Red Shadows war.
At the Red Shadows meeting, Flint has taken the solo action of infiltrating the building After gaining access, taking out a few guards, Flint is knocked out by Kulik, and brought to the main floor of the meeting. Gen. Rey, Duke, Snake-Eyes and Scarlett jump in a helicopter to help Flint. On the ride over Scarlett reaffirms her love for Snake-Eyes. Then the team jumps into the Red Shadows meeting.
Duke fights Wilder Vaughn, Flint fights Dela Eden, Gen. Rey captures Kulik, and Scarlett activates a system that causes the neural enhancers to malfunction causing most of the troops be incapable of fighting. As Flint betters Dela, he puts a gun to her face, and instead of getting revenge by killing her, he just knocks her out. Vaughn beats Duke, and escapes into an elevator where Snake-Eyes catches him. Vaughn has a small fight with Snake-Eyes, and again sneaks off to jump in a small plane from the roof of the building.
A news report on television explains that the GI Joe action was not Cobra related, and that Cobra as an organization has fractured and Cobra Commander is still at large. And that the GI Joe team has been deactivated by order of the President. This news report is being watched by General Joe Colton in the hospital bed, still very much alive.
The final moment of the GI Joe A Real American Hero series is Flint standing in an empty home looking at a framed photo of him and Lade Jaye.
The End