Snake Eyes: Deadgame

Last updated
Snake Eyes: Deadgame
Sanke Eyes Deagame Cover A, IDW Publishing, March 2020.jpg
Cover A for issue #1 by Rob Liefeld.
Publication information
Publisher IDW Publishing (licensed by Hasbro)
Format Limited series
Genre Superhero
Publication dateJuly 15, 2020 — July 7, 2021
No. of issues5
Main character(s) Snake Eyes
Creative team
Created by Rob Liefeld
Written by
  • Rob Liefeld
  • Chad Bowers
Penciller(s)
  • Rob Liefeld
  • Chance Wolf
Inker(s) Adelso Corona
Letterer(s) Andworld Design
Colorist(s) Federico Blee
Editor(s)
  • John Barber
  • Megan Brown

Snake Eyes: Deadgame is an American comic book limited series by Rob Liefeld and Chad Bowers, and debuted on July 15, 2020, by IDW Publishing. [1] [2] The series features several characters from the G.I. Joe franchise by Donald Levine and Hasbro, but focuses on Snake Eyes as the main character. [1] [3]

Contents

The series debuted on July 15, 2020, and concluded on July 7, 2021. [4] [5]

Premise

Snake Eyes faces an enemy that wants to expose his secret past, which endangers his time of service on G.I. Joe.

Production history

Background

In 2018, IDW Publishing announced most of the G.I. Joe comics would be rebooted following the cancellation of Scarlett's Strike Force and the conclusion of the Hasbro Comic Book Universe. [6] [7] Therefore, while G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero by Larry Hama continues its run, a newly rebooted G.I. Joe series by Paul Allor and Chris Evenhuis started being published in September 2019. [8] [9]

Development

Snake Eyes: Deadgame was announced in July 2019, and will be written by Rob Liefeld and Chad Bowers and drawn by Liefeld. He considered Snake Eyes as both an icon and "bucket list" for him, stating the character is "Wolverine, Deadpool and Spider-Man rolled into one amazing character for an entire generation of fans that thrilled to his adventures in comics and cartoons and hung on his every toy release! My parents drove me all over the county to get me G.I. Joe action figures as a kid. These were my first and most favorite toys. Working with Hasbro and all my friends at IDW has been a blast so far. I can’t wait to get this work out into the public! If you enjoyed my recent Marvel work, this will match or exceed it!" [1]

He also added that "G.I. Joe was my first obsession. Those were the toys in the sandbox with me, kung fu grip, eagle eye, I had them all. G.I. Joe is a world of characters that I have always aspired to participate in. Snake Eyes was a profound influence on me creating Deadpool. Producing this series is an all time bucket list achievement for me." [10]

IDW Editor-In-Chief John Barber said "I’ve seen Rob’s excitement about G.I. Joe for years. "I’m thrilled and amazed to see it all finally coming together in the biggest Snake Eyes comic book in decades — maybe ever! There’s a real electric charge in the air every day as new pages come in — every one seemingly topping the last!" [2]

A special one-shot issue titled Snake Eyes: Deadgame — Declassified was released on December 1, 2021. [11]

Issues

IssueWritten byDrawn byColored byPublication date
#1Story by: Rob Liefeld
Script and dialogue by: Chad Bowers
Art by: Rob Liefeld
Additional inks by: Adelso Corona
Design by: Neil Vyetake
Federico BleeJuly 15, 2020
Snake Eyes is tasked to infiltrate the islands of Svalbard, Norway. With the help of Roadblock and Tripwire, they rescue General Colton, the original G.I. Joe. Colton reveals that the Arashikage clan forced him to translate ancient scrolls in order to unleash a spell that revives Kirigun, an ancient ninja wizard who was presumed dead more than a thousand years ago. After a brief fight, Snake Eyes is saved by Scarlett and Kirigun escapes in order to find the Sword of the Dead for an event he knows as the Deadgame. [12]
#2Story by: Rob Liefeld
Script and dialogue by: Chad Bowers
Art by: Rob Liefeld
Inks by: Adelso Corona
Design by: Neil Vyetake
Federico BleeOctober 7, 2020
When Snake Eyes and Scarlett search for the swords, they are ambushed by Intruder, who was sent to retrieve Snake Eyes, but the latter kills him after a fight. Then Olympia, Kirigun's daughter, attacks Snake Eyes with poisoned shurikens, leaving him unconscious long enough for her to kidnap him. Scarlett wants to save him, but Storm Shadow interferes. In an undisclosed location, Kirigun plans to test Snake Eyes by making him kill Jörmungandr, the World Serpent. [13]
#3Story by: Rob Liefeld
Script and dialogue by: Chad Bowers
Art by: Rob Liefeld
Inks by: Adelso Corona
Design by: Neil Vyetake
Federico BleeNovember 25, 2020
When Storm Shadow intervenes, Snake Eyes gets enough help to defeat and kill the World Serpent, freeing Kirigun and Olympia from the curse of Izanami. Fortunately for Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, they are saved by G.I. Joe's Adventure Team. [14]
#4Story by: Rob Liefeld
Script and dialogue by: Chad Bowers
Pencils and inks by: Rob Liefeld
Ink assistance by: Adelso Corona and Chance Wolf
Design by: Neil Vyetake
Federico BleeFebruary 3, 2021
Snake Eyes and the Adventure Team fight Kirigun and Olympia, but the two escape. Snake Eyes travels to Eismitte, Greenland, where he meets Thor, who entrusts him his hammer. When Kirigun takes the hammer from Snake Eyes, he is attacked by Baroness and Destro. [15]
#5Story by: Rob Liefeld
Script and dialogue by: Chad Bowers
Pencils and inks by: Rob Liefeld [note 1]
Design by: Neil Vyetake
Federico BleeJuly 7, 2021 [4] [5]
In the final battle, Baroness and Destro fight against Snake Eyes and Olympia in order to take Thor's hammer. Baroness reveals that she made a deal with Olympia to resurrect Kirigun and use him to replace Cobra Commander. When Kirigun uses his sword to resurrect the dead, Snake Eyes confronts him. In the process, Kirigun destroys Thor's hammer, but Snake Eyes takes his sword and kills Kirigun for good. Baroness retreats during the battle. Some time later, Snake Eyes and Scarlett reunite in the Pit, another G.I. Joe location, when they receive a new mission about Major Bludd taking hostages in Sierra Leone. [16]

Reception

IssuePublication dateCritic ratingCritic reviewsRef.
#1July 15, 20206.8/108 [17]
#2October 7, 20205.0/103 [18]
#3November 25, 20203.7/102 [19]
#4February 3, 20202.0/101 [20]
#5July 7, 2021 [21]
Overall3.9/1015 [22]

Collected edition

TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Snake Eyes: Deadgame
  • Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1−5
144December 7, 2021 1684057957 , 978-1684057955

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Liefeld</span> American comic book creator

Robert Liefeld is an American comic book creator. A prominent writer and artist in the 1990s, he is known for co-creating the character Cable with writer Louise Simonson and the character Deadpool with writer Fabian Nicieza. In the early 1990s, Liefeld gained popularity due to his work on Marvel Comics' The New Mutants and later X-Force. In 1992, he and several other popular Marvel illustrators left the company to found Image Comics, which started a wave of comic books owned by their creators rather than by publishers. The first book published by Image Comics was Liefeld's Youngblood #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IDW Publishing</span> American comic book publishing company

IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW), it formed in 1999, and is recognized as the fifth-largest comic book publisher in the United States, behind Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image Comics, ahead of other comic book publishers such as Archie, Boom!, Dynamite, Valiant, and Oni Press. The company is known for its licensed comic book adaptations of films, television shows, video games, and cartoons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Hama</span> American comic book writer, artist

Larry Hama is an American comic-book writer, artist, actor, and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s.

Snake Eyes (<i>G.I. Joe</i>) Fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise

Snake Eyes is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and animated series, created by Larry Hama. He is one of the original and most popular members of the G.I. Joe Team, and is most known for his relationships with Scarlett and Storm Shadow. Snake Eyes is one of the most prominent characters in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero franchise, having appeared in every series of the franchise since its inception. He is portrayed by Ray Park in the 2009 live-action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and the 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Henry Golding portrays the titular character in the 2021 reboot Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins.

<i>G.I. Joe</i> (comics) Comics

G.I. Joe has been the title of comic strips and comic books in every decade since 1942. As a licensed property by Hasbro, G.I. Joe comics have been released from 1967 to present, with only two interruptions longer than a year. As a team fighting Cobra since 1982, the comic book history of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero has been covered by three separate publishers and four main-title series, all of which have been based on the Hasbro toy line of the same name.

Jinx (<i>G.I. Joe</i>) Character from the G.I. Joe franchise

Jinx is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. She debuted in 1987 as the G.I. Joe Team's female ninja, and since then her code name has been the identity of several other incarnations of the same character, including one of Snake Eyes' apprentices in G.I. Joe: Sigma 6, Chuckles' undercover contact in G.I. Joe: Cobra, and Storm Shadow's cousin in G.I. Joe: Renegades. She is portrayed by Élodie Yung in the 2013 film G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

<i>G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra</i> 2009 action film by Stephen Sommers

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a 2009 American military science fiction action film based on the G.I. Joe toy line. It is the first installment in the G.I. Joe film series. Directed by Stephen Sommers from a screenplay by Stuart Beattie, David Elliot, and Paul Lovett, the film features an ensemble cast based on the various characters of the toy line. The story follows two American soldiers, Duke and Ripcord, who join the G.I. Joe Team after being attacked by Military Armaments Research Syndicate (M.A.R.S.) troops.

<i>G.I. Joe</i> (IDW Publishing)

G.I. Joe is a comic book series by IDW Publishing, based upon Hasbro's G.I. Joe characters and toy line.

<i>G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero</i> (Marvel Comics) American comic book by Marvel Comics

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a comic book that was published by Marvel Comics from 1982 to 1994. Based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys, the series has been credited for making G.I. Joe into a pop-culture phenomenon. G.I. Joe was also the first comic book to be advertised on television, in what has been called a "historically crucial moment in media convergence".

<i>G.I. Joe</i> (film series) Film series based on the G.I. Joe franchise

G.I. Joe is a series of American military science fiction action films based on the toy line of the same name. Development for the first film began in 2003, but when the United States launched the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Hasbro suggested adapting the Transformers instead. In 2009, the first film was released, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. A second film, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, was released in 2013. A third film, centered on Snake Eyes titled Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, also serving as a reboot of the series, was released in 2021, and a fourth film, G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant, is confirmed to be in active development. A crossover film with the Transformers film series is also being developed.

The Hasbro Universe refers to several shared fictional universes featuring characters from several franchises owned by toy and entertainment company Hasbro.

<i>Transformers</i> (2019 comic book)

Transformers is an American comic book series that is mostly written by Brian Ruckley and was initially published twice-monthly by IDW Publishing. Based upon the Transformers franchise by Hasbro and Takara-Tomy, this series is a reboot of the previous comic book series that started with The Transformers: Infiltration in 2005 and concluded with Transformers: Unicron in 2018, taking place in a new continuity that is separate from the Hasbro Comic Book Universe.

<i>G.I. Joe</i> (2019 comic book) American comic book series

G.I. Joe is an American comic book series published by IDW Publishing, written by Paul Allor and drawn by pencillers Chris Evenhuis, Niko Walter, Ryan Kelly and Emma Vieceli, alongside colorist Brittany Peer. Based upon the G.I. Joe franchise by Donald Levine and Hasbro, this series is a reboot of the previous comic book series that used to take place in the Hasbro Comic Book Universe.

<i>Rom: Dire Wraiths</i>

Rom: Dire Wraiths is a limited comic book series by Chris Ryall, Luca Pizzari, Guy Dorian Sr and Sal Buscema. It is based on the toy of the same name by Hasbro, and is published by IDW Publishing.

<i>Transformers: Escape</i>

Transformers: Escape is an American comic book limited series set thart was released in December 2020 by IDW Publishing. Based on the Transformers franchise by Hasbro and Takara-Tomy, the series is a spin-off from the 2019 mainline comic book, set parallelly during the events of issues #25–30.

<i>Transformers: Beast Wars</i> (2021 comic book)

Transformers: Beast Wars is an American comic book ongoing series by IDW Publishing that debuted in 2021, written by Erik Burnham and drawn by Josh Burcham, celebrating the twentieth-fifth anniversary of the Beast Wars brand of the Transformers franchise by Hasbro.

Transformers: Shattered Glass is a series of American comic books and prose stories published by Fun Publications published between 2008 and 2011, being based on the Transformers franchise by Hasbro. Two reboot series are being published between 2021 and 2022 by IDW Publishing.

<i>G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero</i> (Skybound Entertainment)

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is an ongoing American comic book series published by Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment based on the G.I. Joe toy line by Donald Levine and Hasbro. The series is being written by Larry Hama and continues the run left from the previous series by Marvel Comics and IDW Publishing, starting with issue #301. The series debuted on November 15, 2023.

<i>G.I. Joe</i> (Skybound Entertainment)

G.I. Joe is an upcoming line of American comic books published by Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment based on the toy line of the same name by Donald Levine and Hasbro. It is a successor of IDW Publishing's previous relaunch of G.I. Joe comics.

References

Notes

  1. In co-operation with Neal Adams, Karl Altstaetterm, Eric Canete, Adelso Corona, Kevin Eastman, Dan Fraga, Cory Hamscher, Bjorn Hyne, Karl Kershcl, Karl Kesel, Marat Mycheals, Jerry Ordway, Ryan Ottley, Dan Panosian, Ed Piskor, Whilce Portacio, Jim Rugg, Tom Scioli, Paul Scott, Philip Tan and Chance Wolf.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 "Rob Liefeld to Tackle 'Snake Eyes' Comic (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . July 15, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Rob Liefeld Shares a First Look At Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1". www.superherohype.com. SuperHeroHype. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. "The Deadpool creator teases a 'Mission: Impossible'-style story for the 'G.I. Joe' character". The Hollywood Reporter . February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Bezanidis, Michael (2021-03-04). "Rob Liefeld Reveals All-Star 'Snake Eyes: Deadgame' Finale Team". Heroic Hollywood. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  5. 1 2 Couch, Aaron (2021-06-07). "'G.I. Joe' Legend Larry Hama Joins 'Snake Eyes: Deadgame' Finale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  6. "IDW Cancels Female-Focused GI Joe Comic Before The Orders Are In". www.bleedingcool.com. Bleeding Cool. March 24, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  7. "TRANSFORMERS: UNICRON Event is a 'Grand Finale' to 12 Years at IDW". www.newsarama.com. Newsarama. November 23, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  8. "Hasbro VP Promises New GI Joe Series Won't Replace Larry Hama's Real American Hero". ww.bleedingcool.com. Bleeding Cool. August 25, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  9. "G.I. JOE Defies COBRA's Conquest With New Ongoing". www.newsarama.com. Newsarama. June 18, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  10. "First Look at Rob Liefeld's 'Snake Eyes: Deadgame'". Previews World . Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  11. "IDW Publishing & October 2021 Solicitations Spoilers: Rob Liefeld's Snake Eyes: Deadgame Gets Surprise Extra Declassified Issue! G.I. Joe Vs. Cobra! | Inside Pulse". insidepulse.com. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  12. Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1 (2020). IDW Publishing.
  13. Snake Eyes: Deadgame #2 (2020). IDW Publishing.
  14. Snake Eyes: Deadgame #3 (2020). IDW Publishing.
  15. Snake Eyes: Deadgame #4 (2021). IDW Publishing.
  16. Snake Eyes: Deadgame #5 (2021). IDW Publishing.
  17. "Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  18. "Snake Eyes: Deadgame #2 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  19. "Snake Eyes: Deadgame #3 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  20. "Snake Eyes: Deadgame #4 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  21. "Snake Eyes: Deadgame #5 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  22. "Snake Eyes: Deadgame (2020) Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2020-10-31.