|
Right now it seems like everyone is going through the examination of why things are the way they are in their respective universes. DC has Infinite Crisis and Marvel had House of M. While DC seems to have the stronger limited series of the two things are up for grabs as far as which universe is going to have a better result in their fallout. Yet, for me the best examination of why things are the way they are isn't coming from DC or Marvel, it's coming from Devil's Due Publishing.
Currently Devil's Due is putting out the limited series Snake-Eyes: Declassified, and the series is going back and fleshing out a major character in the world of G.I. Joe. Is this anything major for anyone not into G.I. Joe? I'd say it's arguable. Out of all the characters that came out of the 80s in the worlds of G.I. Joe, Transformers, Thundercats and He-Man (just to name a few popular properties) I think it's fair to say that Snake-Eyes ended up being one of the most popular and recognized. A lot of that was probably due to the fact that people knew so little about him.
I bought the original Snake-Eyes figure when it came out (you know, when he was also known as "Commando" just as much). Out of all the figures he just seemed the most interesting since he was all decked out in black while the rest of the Joes were basically sporting your standard military green in some pattern (well, that's how I saw it as a kid). Who knew that in the years to come comic writer Larry Hama would take this simple figure and create a character that was so cool and mysterious it practically hurt.
Let's face it folks, while G.I. Joe was a well written comic for being based off of a toy line, many of the stories that sprouted out of revelations about Snake-Eyes' past were the ones that had the most impact. Sure other characters (good ones) fought and died memorably, but this single character unknowingly touched and affected other characters within the ranks of both the Joes and Cobra. Yet, it seemed as though the more we learned about Snake-Eyes' past we weren't really learning more about him, but rather those other characters. Snake-Eyes: Declassified is finally remedying that.
In the pages of the series we are actually getting to know more about the man who would become Snake-Eyes, not only through seeing his life events that have only been lightly touched on in greater detail but through the one thing about Snake-Eyes that has always been denied to those interested in him…his voice. Until now Snake-Eyes has always communicated without his voice because he didn't have it. Now we get to see how this man spoke before he became the sleek stylish ninja (gotta love the visor) we all know and love.
The great thing about this title is that writer Brandon Jerwa and artist Emiliano Santalucia both bring forth great work and do so while respecting and building upon the ideas originally established by Larry Hama. As far as the art goes there are many panels in the pages of this title where Santalucia is obviously basing his work on artwork from the pages of the original G.I. Joe series. As someone who read those originals I'm very appreciative of the visual connection Santalucia has worked to create between the stories of the past and this one.
In many ways it could be said that Jerwa's job is more difficult than Santalucia's because at least Santalucia has something to base his work upon. While Jerwa does have some "historical information" to use he doesn't have all the history of Snake-Eyes as he was before we came to know him in the pages of G.I. Joe. We have a lot of major occurrences, but we know nothing of the words and thoughts of the man that would be Snake-Eyes. So far I think Jerwa is doing an excellent job of creating a believable evolution for Snake-Eyes, and those around him.
As the story moves forward we will come to know more about the connections between Storm-Shadow, Cobra Commander, Zartan, Firefly and Snake-Eyes. I think the one thing we probably will not learn will be the final piece of knowing who Snake-Eyes was before he was "Snake-Eyes," and that is his real name. I think that may be for the best though. Since his original introduction Snake-Eyes has had to be more than a name. Without a voice he has had to rely on his actions to define the person he is, and his life's path and chance ended up taking away who he was before (on many levels). He is now, and has been for some time, Snake-Eyes, and I think that this series will show that to be the case. While we may know more about who Snake-Eyes is, I don't think we'll every truly know who Snake-Eyes was.
|