Comics#25

On the Staten Island Ferry, Scarlett says "you sure you want to hear all of this?"
And so the narrative of Scarlett's life begins.
Shana Mae O'Hara, the youngest of 5 kids was raised to be a fighter in her father's dojo. She started at age 9 and continuously trained with her three older brothers. Her father taught all of the O'Hara children to respect each and their selves. He also taught that if they failed they had to get back up and try again, every time. It was a great time in Scarlett's life, with the exception of her sister. Her mother felt that Scarlett should have been pursuing more ladylike activities, and her sister was jealous of Scarlett's relationship with her father. It is the reason they never really got along.
As Scarlett's fighting career as teenager progressed, the entire family supported her, she was good and winning a lot. That success turned into cockiness. She also became distracted by boys, movies and spending time with friends. To prove a lesson, her father challenged her to a spar. She was pretty much humiliated by him, because she not able to land one punch or kick. He then reinforced to her that pride is a dangerous thing, and that there is always going to be someone bigger and faster that can take her down a peg or two. He also reinforces that she has to learn to relax her need to control life. Later, her father was in a car accident that leaves him paralyzed. Scarlett's need for control of her life grows; just as her father tries to teach her a lesson that one can't control life, only themselves.
She went on to study pre-law at an Ivy League school. After graduating, she successfully passed the bar and became a lawyer. But she didn't like being a lawyer; she didn't feel like she was making difference. So she joined the Army where the regimented discipline and controlled environment really appealed to her and she flourished. Basic training Fort Jackson, Advanced Individual Training at Fort Hauchuca, Airborne School at Fort Benning and at Fort Bragg where she was practicing alone several soldiers came in to test her. The main one, named Wells, calls her Scarlett, from Gone from the Wind, she immediately tosses and pins him to the ground. Wells didn't last but the name did.
In a simple Intel gathering mission in a friendly territory, the first hummer in the vehicle convoy is damaged by an RPG and a fire fight erupts. The soldiers in the damaged Hummer are separated for the rest of the squad and injured. In the middle of the firefight, Scarlett does cartwheels to cover the distance between vehicles to help rescue her fellow injured soldiers. In the middle of the firefight, she realized that she couldn't control everything and finally realized the lesson her father had been trying to teacher during the final sparring match before his accident.
Later, she spent some time at Marine Sniper School and with the British Special Air Service. Finally, to end up at the FBI Academy at Quantico where she introduced to her new best friend, the cross bow.
Scarlett later discovered that General Austin and General Flagg had discovered her and were considering her for the Special Counter Terrorist Group Delta. And because of her potential General Flagg and Sparks got her into a lot of the different training programs that helped make her one of the founding members of the GI Joe team.
Scarlett continues her story.
The FBI send her on an undercover mission with another agent named Connor Murphy, a former IRA agent turned informer, in Ireland. A shipment of super high tech laser rifles were captured during a routine raid in San Diego, and the shipment were traced to Dublin and the IRA. But the manufacturer is a complete mystery. And Scarlett's mission is to discover who the manufacturer is. And before leaving for Dublin she is briefed by General Austin about the specs of the laser rifles. So for the next few months, she and Connor pub crawl, meet and greet, build credibility and trust until they meet Liam Morgan, a self called righteous terrorist. So Scarlett has been reporting back to Sparks on a regular basis with her progress.
After being involved with several terrorist attacks, Liam leads Scarlett and Connor, along with a couple of others, to this mysterious manufacturer. This manufacturer walks up to them and says "we must address a situation within your own ranks, specifically, the young lady here". Scarlett's cover is blown. Connor immediately knocks Scarlett on the back of her head knocking her out. And a couple of the IRA agents take her away and tie here up.
The manufacturer then has his Iron Grenadiers begin firing on Connor and Liam and the rest of the IRA agents. Scarlett having recovered knocks out her two guards, retrieves her crossbow and makes here way to the courtyard where the firefight is happening. The manufacturer has captured Connor and Liam and is about to execute them. Scarlett using her arrows kill the Iron Grenadiers. The manufacturer impressed with Scarlett's abilities introduces himself as Destro. Scarlett gets her hits in, and handles a big Destro's punch. In the middle of the fight, Destro sends his wrist rockets into Liam and fellow agent Connor killing them. Destro disappears during the explosion.
Back in the States, Scarlett is sitting listening to Hawk and Stalker de-brief her on the information she gained on Destro and his company Military Armament Research Syndicate (M.A.R.S.). And how that information has lead to them discovering a number of Destro level terror threats with unknown names. The pictures that are on the table are of a blurry Cobra Commander, the Baroness, Firefly, Major Bludd and Zartan. They purpose that she become a member of the GI Joe team.
After consulting with her father, who tells her that "but after all that has happen you got back up and that's what you needed to do... and now ready to be re-forged into the person you're meant to be". She calls Hawk and says, "I'm Ready, Sir. Count me in."
A few weeks later she is on the Staten Island ferry talking with her future life long love Snake-Eyes telling him the story of her life. She looks at him and says "now tell me yours."


Zartan as Raymond Hoffman, adult, Las Vegas, present.Hoffman is running out of a casino with several guys chasing him and a large SUV. The SUV crashes into a wall cornering Hoffman. He fist fights with several of the guys, eventually getting a gun and shooting a couple of them, before he is shot with a tranquillizer dart.
Zartan as himself, pre-teen, Florida, seventeen years earlier.His father, Zeke, is working on a special effects mask that is past its deadline for the movie he is working on. Zartan in an attempt to help cuts his father's hand, a very mad father screams at him to get out of the study, and for his mother, Melanie, to do something with him. Zartan runs downstairs where his mother is practicing for an audition with her friend Marie. Speaking in French, Zartan and his mother argue and his mother asks him where his pills are, his response is that he threw them away. Zartan is sent outside to play with his little sister (Zarana). Little Zachary (Zandar), around age 6, goes out to play also but he is carrying a box of donuts.
His father receives a phone call from Frank asking Zeke for the money that is owed. Zeke lies saying that he will bring him the money. Zeke grabs a gun from the cabinet and is leaving the house to meet Frank; Melanie starts a fight with him about the money. Outside the house, a man is sitting in a car talking to Frank about Zeke having the gun and no money, Frank gives the go ahead and the man pushes a button. The car that Zartan's father and mother are in blows up killing both of them. Zartan, Zarana and Zandar are all out in the yard watching the fight as the car blows up.
Zartan as himself, teenager, The Lady of Valour Orphanage, two years later. (See America's Elite #5)Zartan is running away from the orphanage, as one of the Sisters watches a boy named Jimmy Blanch being loaded into an ambulance. Jimmy had been picking on Zandar by locking him in a cabinet; Zartan beat him very severely, eventually causing his death. Zarana defends Zartan's actions and blames the Sisters for not giving him his medicine. A few months later, Zarana and Zandar are adopted.
Zartan as Mikey, early teens, somewhere, three years later.Mickey is playing a board game and drawing with a friend, Tim. He asks if he can get a grape soda out of the fridge. When Tim leaves, he raids the fridge and steals the wallet out of his mother's purse. He takes off on his bike. He brings the wallet with three credit cards to Vince, who makes fake IDs and passports. In return, Mickey is allowed to live with Vince and is sent on a run to deliver a finished passport. Two years later, Vince returns to find his shop completely cleaned out. Mikey has stolen everything from Vince. Zartan learned how to create fake identities from Vince.
Zartan as Luke McKinney, late teens, Fort Benning, GA, a year later.Zartan uses his knowledge of fake IDs to get into the US Army before he is eighteen. And he is ready.
Zartan as Amaury Sanderson now part of the French Military, early twenties, Rusnia, five years later.He is being escorted to General Moskin's office. He delivers a disk with very important information about the movement of some nuclear weapons from Berlin to France and receives his payment. Having concluded that deal, he brings up a new one to Moskin. Sanderson has discovered that the French are about to perform a test on a soldier that may make him into a super soldier. Sanderson purposes to steal all of the information and destroy the facility all he requires is payment and support, Moskin gets his enemy's secret weapon destroyed and gets the information. And Sanderson gets the benefits of the super soldier process.
Buzzer as Dr. Blinken-Smythe (his real name), psychology ward, French Military in Paris, two weeks later.The test subject, Jean, is being interviewed, in French, by Dr. Blinken-Smythe about the stresses of the test that he is about to go through. As a remedy for these stresses Dr. Smythe pulls out a gun and kills him. Zartan is going to replace Jean as the test subject. And Dr. Smythe, who has several books on bikers on his shelves, is part of Zartan's plan to gain access to the facility and the test information.
Zartan as Jean, adult, psychology ward Paris, a week later.Having completed the tests, as results are being processed, the French military are now escorting Dr. Smythe out of the facility. But he kills his escort and then goes back to the processing room, where he kills several of his fellow scientists and then copies all of the information to a disk. He sends a signal to Jean and the destruction of the facility begins. As they exit the building with gas masks, a deadly gas fills the rooms and once they are clear Dr. Smythe hits the button that causes the building to explode.
Zartan & Buzzer as Amaury Sanderson & Dr. Blinken-Smythe, Egypt, laterIn a helicopter, Sanderson is finishing the deal with Moskin; the funds have been deposited and the information exchanged. But Sanderson along with Dr. Smythe and two of Moskin's personal escort are making a detour to deal with some other business. Dr. Smythe hands over a file folder containing information on an Australian gang called the Dreadnoks. Dr. Smythe has just given up his boring life as a scientist and is excited to be working with Sanderson. As Sanderson reads the file he says "These guys have some interesting nicknames. Especially their leader." Dr. Smythe points out that the name comes from the Aboriginal language and the meaning is unknown.
The helicopter lands, so that Sanderson can do this second deal. He has arranged with a weapons dealer an exchange for a cargo container filled with weapons. The dealer, James, son of Laird Destro who hasn't yet earned the honor of wearing the family symbol, a silver metal mask, brings the weapons and suitcase. Right on time the Dreadnoks arrive on their very loud motorcycles and the leader introduces himself as Zartan.
Zartan as Raymond Hoffman/Amuary Sanderson, adult, airplane headed to unknown destination, present.In an airplane, Hoffman has been captured and is being beaten by Rusnians sent by Moskin. They have discovered that he has multiple identities and were still able to track him down by using government resources. A brief comment that the October Guard is rumored to hunting for the Rusnians is made in front of Hoffman/Sanderson.
Some of how Zartan has snuck around the US Army and the French Military, able to gain access to their top secret operations is clarified. Basically, Zartan has sold out the US and France for his own personal gain. In the middle of this conversation, Hoffman/Sanderson grabs a knife, frees himself and starts to fight back. It ends with a man holding him at gun point as Zartan is trying to gain access to the airplane's cockpit.

Zartan & Buzzer as Amaury Sanderson & Dr. Blinken-Smythe, Egypt, ten years earlier.
A pre-masked Destro, Sanderson, Dr. Blinken-Smythe and two Rusians are meeting with Zartan (the namesake of our main character) and some of his biker gang, the Dreadnoks. Destro is selling satellite telephones, AK-47's and the chameleon to Zartan (the namesake). Dr. Blinken-Smythe is roughed up by Zartan (the namesake) before he is accepted into the gang. Smythe leaves with Zartan (the namesake) and the departing comment that if some opportunity comes up he won't forget Sanderson's help.
Sanderson then turns around and shoots the two Rusian soldiers. He has turned traitor against the government that paid him to infiltrate a French research lab where he meet Dr. Blinken-Smythe and stole all of the labs secrets for "Project Chameleon" before completely destroying it.
Sanderson turns over the lab's information to Destro in return he gets millions and prevents the Rusians from getting the French lab's secrets. Sanderson then flies back to the United States a very rich man.
Zarana & Zandar as Zoe & Zach, London, same time
Zoe has stolen her parent's money to buy a fake ID, in order to sneak into a bar. Zach and she have hired a guy they are supposed to meet there. But Zoe is kicked out and her ID taken. But outside the guy they are hiring finds her and says "I'm not some dodgy, con-man...and finding long lost family members is something I'm especially good at." Zoe's response is "Great then helps us find our older brother."
In Rusnia, Office of overlord General Moskin, same time
Moskin gets the report back about Sanderson's double cross. He has just paid out millions of dollars for nothing. They have discovered that Sanderson wasn't using his real name and that the real Sanderson is a POW. Moskin puts out a bounty on Sanderson's head, orders that Amaury Sanderson be listed as a spy, investigation into the Dreadnoks and he doesn't care how long it takes as long as they find Sanderson.
Zartan as Zartan, Dayton Beach, Florida, later
Zartan is now leading a biker gang. He is at his house with a woman he just meet. She is in town from Chicago. They spend a weekend partying together and he kicks her out. She becomes Zanya's mother. (See Frontline #9-10) He then makes a phone call to a construction worker who is about swing a wrecking ball into the Our Lady of Valour orphanage. The police have stopped the protestors and the destruction begins. Zartan, using his millions from the Destro deal has bought the orphanage where he was placed in after the death of his parents. His plans are to turn the lot into a condo complex.
Zartan as Zartan, near the Everglades, one year later
Zartan is informed by his accountant that he is out of money. His projects are going to fail, even the legal ones. In walks Thrasher to introduce two very rich men, Tomax & Xamot of Extensive Enterprises.
Zartan as Zartan, near the Everglades, some time later
Zartan is playing pool and in walks a pre-masked Cobra Commander. As Zartan continues to play pool the Commander offers him a business proposition supported by a large sum of cash. Cobra Commander shows Zartan a newspaper article about a tragic accident and explains that the man in the photo is responsible for his brother's death. The man in the photo is Snake-Eyes. Zartan turns him down saying "I'm not for hire. I do things for the pure challenge." And Cobra Commander response is "There's nothing more challenging then this assignment. The target was a long range recon patrol airborne ranger, a qualified expert with all NATO and Warsaw pact small arms. He is currently residing and training with a clan of ninjas in Japan is that too challenging for you?" Zartan accepts the challenge. (See Snake-Eyes Declassified #4 & Marvel #84)
Zartan as Professor Onihashi's apprentice, Japan, a few years later
Zartan is talking to Cobra Commander over the phone. He gets the news that he actually killed the Hard Master instead of Snake-Eyes, he is completely devastated then quits hanging up the phone. (See Snake-Eyes Declassified #5)
In America, Cobra Commander hangs up his phone and issues orders to Tomax and Xamot to find out who Zartan really is and once they get that info he is going make him pay for his failure.
In Scotland, the ancestral home of the Destro, later
The young Destro approaches his father. M.A.R.S. just sold all of their information about the Australian biker gang the Dreadnoks and Amaury Sanderson to an American named "The Cobra". Destro's father thinks he may have underestimated this American. He believes he is a brilliant visionary madman that now has a very sizable war chest and he seems to be organizing himself. Destro's father gives his son an assignment to get to know this Cobra and he is to meet him representing the family. He says "it is time for you to don the mask of Destro"
Zartan as Raymond Hoffman/Amuary Sanderson, Rusina, present.
In an airplane marked with the EE brand of Extensive Enterprises, Zartan has been captured, returned to Rusina and been beaten by Moskin's men. A little later Zartan wakes up strapped to a bed with Moskin staring down at him and he is about to get his revenge for the betrayal. M.A.R.S. sold him the experiments secrets for millions of dollars doubling his expenses. Now Zartan is about to become one of the genetic experiments of "Project Chameleon".
Days later, the doctor's are very surprised that he survived the initial micro implant surgeries. Then a few days later, Zartan wakes up. Immediately his hand blends into the sheets of the bed, then his foot blends into the floor and then his entire body blends into wall. The guard named Bierkov posted outside looks in the room to see it empty. He radios to command that the subject has escaped. As he enters the room, Zartan unblends and knocks out Bierkov. As additional guards show up, Zartan uses his martial arts training he received in Japan to kill most of the guards and scientists. He leaves one alive. Before escaping he steals his much needed medication for his psychological and new physical problems.
A couple of hours later, Zartan steals a car, robs a convenience store and an old lady as he begins his escape. As the sun rises he is hit by the direct sunlight and his entire body shades for the first time. Once he is back in the car he returns to normal then eats a donut and drinks a grape soda.
Zartan as Zartan, Miami, Florida, a few weeks later
Sitting in his apartment he continues to practice his new chameleon abilities. He now can control his blending abilities. Outside he hears a motorcycle pull up, then a knock on the door. After answering the door he sees Buzzer and Ripper standing there. Buzzer says "you said to hit you up when opportunity came a' knocking... so here I am."

Zartan as Mr. Lindemann/Amaury Sanderson, Buzzer as Dr. Blinken-Smythe, Amsterdam, eleven years ago.
Sanderson is getting beat up by several guys who want to know where the stolen money is located. A stranger arrives to help Sanderson defeat the gang. Sanderson passes out from the beating. The next day when Sanderson wakes up at the stranger's house, he is introduced to Dr. Blinken-Smythe who has been listening to what Sanderson has been saying in his sleep and he wants to be involved. In return, he has information from his work that Sanderson would be interested in. (See Dreadnoks Declassified #1).
Zartan as Lee, Florida, present.
Buzzer, Ripper and Monkeywrench have tracked Lee to his current location. Buzzer brings up that they have been hearing stories about a bloke named Zartan in America. Lee knocks out Monkeywrench and threatens Buzzer. But Buzzer is there to offer him a huge opportunity. The original Zartan, the current leader of the Australian gang called the Dreadnoks, has been running it very cruelly and Buzzer doesn't like him and offers a new opportunity to Lee.
Zartan as Amaury Sanderson, Zandar & Zarana as Zach & Zoe Australia, present.
Sanderson reintroduces himself to the original Zartan. He wants to be part of the Dreadnoks. Dreadnok Ripper comes rushing in saying "Maulers are here." The Maulers are a rival gang and they are outside the bar ready for a fight. Future Dreadnok Torch is the leader of the rival gang. They start a gun fight with the Dreadnoks, Torch beaks out his torch and destroys all of the Dreadnok's bikes. The original Zartan, Buzzer, Ripper and Sanderson take off out the back. Torch gets the drop on Zartan and Sanderson shots at Torch saving the life of the original Zartan.
At the Dreadnok compound, Ripper has just added his famous blade to the end of his rifle and the original Zartan and Amaury are talking about his acceptance as a Dreadnok. In the corner, Buzzer, admiring his new diamond bladed chainsaw, is happy to see Amaury's acceptance. Amuary is given a leadership position to help organize the organization.
Additional in the room are two pink haired kids named Zoe & Zach, in the future they will be called by Zarana & Zandar. Amaury immediately recognizes his brother and sister but pretends not to know them. The original Zartan explains how they came to be part of the Dreadnoks.
Those London street rats were caught snooping around the Dreadnok compound by Zanzibar. They came from the UK after being bounced out of foster care and became petty criminals. They were hunting for their long lost brother and followed a lead to Australia. The original Zartan took them in and they have been hanging around ever sense.
The next day Ripper delivers a message to Torch.
Zartan as Amaury Sanderson, Zandar & Zarana as Zach & Zoe Australia, a few weeks later.
A Dreadnok is beating up Zach. Zoe asks Amaury to stop it. His response is "You wanna be a nok gotta respect the ranks above you" and walks away. A couple of days later Amaury now fully in control of his chameleon abilities secretly kills the Dreadnok that was beating up his brother. The death of the Dreadnok is blamed on the Maulers, which escalates into a full out turf war between the gangs. Amaury rises to become the original Zartan's right hand man. He keeps lots of secrets; his identity, his relationship to Zach & Zoe and Buzzer's plan.
At a small meeting, Buzzer, Amaury, Ripper, Road Pig, Gnawgahyde and Zanzibar along with several other unknown Dreadnoks are planning the take over of the organization. When the original Zartan interrupts having discovered the plot, a fight begins between Amaury and the original Zartan. Amaury and the traitor Dreadnoks are all captured. Amaury is about to be executed.
Zach has just disabled the compounds alarms and electricity. And the Maulers arrive in mass.
Back at the execution site, Zoe steps up next to the original Zartan to watch. The Maulers arrive and a massive fight begins. Zoe cuts Amaury free. For the first time they acknowledge their relationship as brother and sister. And Amaury takes off after the original Zartan. Using his chameleon abilities, he gets close and they start fist fighting. Amaury's ninja training allows him to easily defeat him. When Buzzer, Ripper and Torch interrupt reminding him that the deal was they get the original Zartan once he has been defeated.
Amaury's response is "'scuse me mate, I don't quite follow you, who's Amaury?" He then puts on the famous red hood and continues "the name's Zartan."
Zartan as Zartan, Australia, weeks later.
Zartan walks into a house where Zoe & Zach are waiting; he drops off a bag of cash and tells them he is off to the US to reestablish some old ties. He hates the outback and its sun. And as a parting comment he tells them to pick some new names.
He picks up his phone and calls Cobra Commander where they briefly discuss a business partnership that will profit both. Zartan gets to come back to the states and Cobra Commander gets help with his Springfield operation.