QUINTERO, ALFREDO :: Mike Zeck art

G.I. JOE Volume 2: Reckonings

Artist: Mike Zeck (All)

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Artwork Details

Title:	G.I. JOE Volume 2: Reckonings
Artist:	Mike Zeck (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	544
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	9
Added to Site:	2/22/2021
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Description

G.I.JOE Volume 2 Reckonings. What can I say. This is Snake-Eyes vs. Storm Shadow, the two most popular G.I.Joe characters and greatest Ninja warriors of all time. This is the original trade paperback cover by my favorite comic artist Mike Zeck collecting issues #6 - #9 of the Devil's Due Publishing run by Image, which picks up about 7 years after the Marvel Comics Series.

Growing up G.I.JOE was a big part of my life. I collected the Comics, the Action Figures, and watched the cartoons religiously. The comics came out around the time when Ninja movies were very popular and all the kids wanted to be Ninjas. I remember buying a Ninja outfit at my local Taekwondo school with the authentic Ninja Jika-tabi boots for Halloween. I wore that costume for the next 3 straight Halloweens until I outgrew that outfit and could no longer wear it.

My personal favorite issues and arguably the most memorable of the Marvel series were #26 & #27 which was the story arc for the origin of Snake-Eyes, as well as the origin of Tommy Arashikage (Storm Shadow). They were both war buddies that served together in Vietnam along with Stalker. On their last mission, a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, they got ambushed and lost half their team. Snakes Eyes is heavily wounded and Storm Shadow ends up carrying him to safety. When Snake-eyes finally recuperates from his wounds he is soon discharged and sent back home from Vietnam. He waits for hours at the airport but no one shows up to pick him up. Finally, a young officer named Hawk shows up and tells Snake-Eyes the tragic news that his Mother, Father, and Twin sister had been killed in a car accident by a drunk driver in route to pick him up.

Soon after Snakes-Eyes decides to go to Japan to join his best friend Tommy (Storm Shadow) in his family business which in none other than a Ninja Clan. Tommy's uncles who are known as the Hard Master and the Soft Master accept Snake-Eyes into the Clan, and start training him in the Ninja Arts. Snake-Eyes quickly excels and is eventually allowed to get his arm tattooed with the I-Ching, the symbol of the Clan. Snake-Eyes becomes so good in the Ninja Arts that he soon surpasses Storm Shadow in all skills but one, the Bow and Arrow. This makes Storm Shadow jealous and their friendship begins to weaken. The Hard Master soon decides that he is going to name Snake-Eyes the heir to the family business instead of Storm Shadow, further deteriorating the friendship. During a training session in a darkened room between the Hard Master and Snake-Eyes, the Hard Master imitates the breathing and heartbeat rates of Snake-Eyes, in a skill called "Donning the Chameleon's Mantle". Snakes-Eyes finds the breathing and heartbeat rates familiar but can't pinpoint whom the Hard Master is imitating. An arrow then flies through the screen striking the Hard Master straight though the heart and finally lodging in a wood column. Storm Shadow is immediately seen fleeing the family compound, or so we think it's Storm Shadow. In his last dying breathe the Hard Master says it wasn't Storm Shadow, yet the arrow has Storm Shadows markings and was clearly meant to kill Snake-Eyes. With the death of the Hard Master and Storm Shadows disappearance, the Ninja Clan soon dismantles.

Years go by and Snake-Eyes is living in isolation in a Cabin located in the High Sierra Mountains. Hawk and Stalker track him down to recruit him to join the newly formed G.I.JOE team. There Snake-Eyes meets Scarlett and they soon fall in love. In one of their missions the Huey Chopper that Scarlett and Snakes-Eyes are in crash lands. Snake-Eyes in seen carrying the unconscious Scarlett from the wreckage while his face and hair are still in flames. As the helicopter was going down the aviation gas explodes, causing a stream of burning vapor that hits Snake-Eyes directly in his face and throat. As a result Snakes-Eyes face was horribly scarred and he could no longer speak.

Years later, Snake-Eyes is having a conversation with the Soft Master at his Japanese restaurant in New York. The Soft Master reveals that he is investigating the death of his brother the Hard Master. He wants to know why his brothers last dying words were that the assassin was not Storm Shadow, despite all evidence pointing to his nephew. He pulls out the killing arrow which has Storm Shadows clear markings as evidence. As he shows the arrow to Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow crashes through the window and takes the arrow from the Soft Master. Thus starts a foot chase of Storm Shadow by Snake-Eyes through the streets of New York.

Now if you want to find out who killed the Hard Master, you have to continue reading G.I.Joe. It was Zartan, another Ninja from the Arashikage Clan, and Master of Disguise. Oops. Now that's entertainment. Genius writing Larry Hama.

I always wanted to own a G.I.Joe cover by Mike Zeck. This cover finally made its way home.
It's Perfect for me.

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About the Owner

	ALFREDO QUINTERO ( 3 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	July 2006
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	AQPECONSULT
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Nash of the Titans
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 2/22/2021

Yes! G.I. Joe cober showcasing the two biggest baddest muthas in all the mythos? Awesome! Congrats on bringing your grail home and thank you for the story!

P T
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 2/23/2021

Great cover by Mike Zeck.

Glen Brunswick
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 2/23/2021

Awesome cover -- I'm happy it found the right home, Alfredo!

Jason Versaggi
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 2/23/2021

An awesome cover image. Gi Joe was my gateway drug into comics and I am a card carrying Joe Mobile Strike Force fan club memeber to this day since 1982. Bravo!

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 2/25/2021

So nice. Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow as rendered by one of the best in Zeck?! Yes, please! Congrats!

matthew reed
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 2/25/2021

perfect snake eyes! i always liked this version better than the original. thanks for the gi joe comic rehash. i can see panels as i read your description. those comics are so embedded. awesome stuff!

FRED CRAMPTON
Member Since 2010

1 - Posted on 3/3/2021

AWESOME, ZECK GI JOE COVERS ARE AMONG MY ALL TIME FAVORITES!CONGRATS

Paul Ference
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 3/29/2021

Beautiful cover! I own the prelims but the finished piece is amazing!

Rob F
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 6/14/2021

Talk about a grail piece, wow! Those Zeck covers are the best!

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