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Snake-Eyes is the code name of a member of the G.I. Joe team. Much of
his history and information, including his real name, place of birth, as
well as most everything else about him, have remained classified
throughout all depictions of his origin. All that is known for certain
about his military standing is that he holds the rank of U.S. Army
Sergeant First Class (E-7) and has undergone Drill Sergeant training. He
is also the team's resident hand-to-hand combat instructor. Very little
else about his past has been revealed. He was originally billed by
Hasbro Toys in 1982 as a Commando, but by 1984, in the pages of Marvel
Comics, it became clear that he was also a full-fledged ninja master.
Snake-Eyes Unmasked from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #16 (April 2003)
©Devil's Due Publishing In every version of his story, Snake-Eyes is
quiet in his movements and is a swift and deadly master of multiple
martial arts. He is an expert in the use of the ninjato and trench
knives (which he collects). He usually carries them in pairs but often
uses only one. He is equally qualified with and willing to use standard
weapons like firearms and explosives. Making him even more dangerous is
that he rarely relies on one set of weapons to the exclusion of others.
For instance, in one mission, Snake-Eyes is confronted by a ninja with a
sai and he defeats him by simply throwing a standard grenade at him.
Snake-Eyes did give up much of his ninja training in later issues of the
G.I. Joe America's Elite comic series. (see below) In keeping with his
quiet personality, Snake-Eyes usually wears what could perhaps best be
described as a black "military ninja" bodysuit, along with a balaclava
and visor to cover his face, which was disfigured in a helicopter
explosion which also left him nearly completely mute. Since then,
Snake-Eyes has had extensive plastic surgery to repair the damage to his
face, but he still has a few scars left and might never speak again.
When shown out of his uniform, Snake-Eyes is around six feet tall with
an athletic build, blond hair and blue eyes. He has a pet wolf named
Timber that has appeared several times in toys, comics, and animation.
Snake-Eyes has been shown in many of the continuities of comics and
animated series to at some point being romantically involved with fellow
G.I. Joe member Master Sergeant Shana M. O'Hara, a.k.a. Scarlett, and he
has several apprentices, including Ophelia (Deceased), Kamakura, Tiger
Claw, and Jinx.
Comics - original continuity
Origin In the Marvel Comics' continuity Stalker, Storm Shadow and
Snake-Eyes served together in the Vietnam War in a LRRP (Long Range
Reconnaissance Patrol) unit. Also serving on their LRRP team were Ramon
Escobedo, Dickie Saperstein and Wade Collins. While Snake-Eyes served in
combat, he always carried a picture of his twin sister with him in his
hat for good luck. While on a mission, the LRRP team walked into a
valley and stumbled into an encampment of NVA regulars (soldiers). A
firefight ensued, with Ramon, Dickie and Wade all being killed. (Wade
Collins actually survives, and later joins Cobra, becoming Fred II of
the Fred series Crimson Guardsmen). The rest of the team was able to
make it out of the valley and to an LZ. As a helicopter arrived to pick
up the surviving team members, the pursuing NVA opened fire, wounding
Snake-Eyes. Concerned for his friend, Storm Shadow went back for
Snake-Eyes. Running through heavy enemy fire, Storm Shadow was able to
get Snake-Eyes safely aboard the helicopter. Upon returning home from
the war, Snake-Eyes met with Colonel Hawk, who informed him that his
family had been killed in a car accident (which coincidentally involved
the brother of the man who would eventually become G.I. Joe's arch-foe,
Cobra Commander). After some soul-searching, Snake-Eyes went to study
the ninja arts with Storm Shadow's family, the Arashikage Clan. Snake-Eyess
ability to quickly learn skills especially impressed Storm Shadows
uncle, the Hard Master. Over time, Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow became
sword brothers, and unintentional rivals for the attention and favor of
the Hard Master, who liked pitting them against one another to test
their considerable skills. Though Snake-Eyes often attempted to throw
matches in order that his friend should save face in front of his
family, the Hard Master was aware of Snake-Eyes' ruse, and knew him to
be the true victor. During one of Snake-Eyes training sessions the Hard
Master expressed his desire for Snake-Eyes to take over leadership of
the Arashikage ninja clan instead of his nephew, Storm Shadow.
Snake-Eyes refused, and the Hard Master continued with the lesson. It
was at this point that Zartan (hired by Cobra Commander) mistakenly
killed the Hard Master instead of Snake-Eyes. Zartan used an arrow he
stole from Storm Shadow, implicating him in the murder of his uncle.
Storm Shadow chased Zartan, who was able to escape in a helicopter
piloted by Firefly. With Storm Shadow believed responsible for the death
of the Hard Master, the Arashikage ninja clan dissolved and Snake-Eyes
returned to America, where he took up residence in the High Sierra
Mountains. |
Weapons
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