Taking the Plunge
	Short Summary Prelude to The Snake-Eyes Trilogy where he decides to undergo reconstructive surgery. Baroness fools Zarana into being captured by the Joes. Clutch and Rock 'n' Roll are brainwashed by the Brainwave Scanner.
	Notes of Interest The first full appearance of Snake-Eyes disfigured face. the return of Dr. Hundtkinder The Baroness discovers that Snake-Eyes is man that killed her brother, Eugen. In the back, the preview of issue 94's cover significantly differs from the actual cover released.
	Major Players The Joes: Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Lady Jaye, Flint, Clutch, Roadblock, Rock 'n' Roll, Repeater, Dial Tone, Hawk, Lift Ticket, Cobra: Zarana, Baroness, Destro, the Dreadnoks: Buzzer, ripper, Torch, Roadpig Additional Characters: Dr.Hundtkinder
Creative Team Script: Larry Hama, Pencils: M.D. Bright, Inks: Randy Emberlin, Lettering: Rick Parker, Colors: Bob Sharen, Editor: Bobbie Chase, Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco
Long Summary High above Manhattan Island, a Cobra transport helicopter is en route to the Cobra Consulate Building. The scene opens with Zarana and the Baroness in a very hostile situation (both struggling to throw each other out of the aircraft) that apparently erupted when the Baroness made some choice comments concerning Zarana's hair. The Dreadnoks merely watch as a Techno-Viper warns that Zarana's actions may endanger the security of the prisoners (Clutch and Rock 'n Roll) and that Destro would not approve. Road Pig tries to restrain Zarana, but ends up booting the Baroness from the helicopter in mid-air. Luckily, the Baroness saves herself by grabbing hold of the landing gear. As soon as the helicopter lands, the two begin fighting again. They roll around on the ground until they find themselves at the feet of Destro. Surprised and embarrassed, Zarana and the Baroness try to make excuses for their behavior, as they were teamed to work together to oversee Cobra's Broca Beach operation. Displeased, Destro demands that they work out their "petty differences and start taking care of business." Destro wants to be assured that the next phase of their brain-washing scheme is going ahead on schedule and that Clutch and Rock 'n Roll will soon be returned to G.I. Joe Headquarters, unwittingly under Cobra's control. Zarana and the Baroness reassure Destro as he departs in a Cobra Mamba, but they still hold their personal grudges. Later, Zarana oversees the successful implantation of fake "Cobra" memories into Clutch and Rock 'n Roll, but now she needs to ensure that they don't remember any incriminating memories like their stay in Broca Beach. To accomplish this task, she has the Buzzer and Ripper "stroll into the symbolic maze that represents their memories... and institute a bit of urban renewal!" Using various sets, the prisoners are made to believe that they've been held in a Cobra submarine for the whole time. The plan then calls for Clutch and Rock 'n Roll to be taken to a real submarine off the coast of Long Island and be allowed to "escape." With a jolt of ultra-pain, Dr. Venom's brain-wave scanner "cements"in the new memories... as evident by Clutch's screams. Later, the Dreadnoks (Ripper, Buzzer, and Torch) are in a van following an ice cream truck (driven by Zarana and Road Pig) transporting Clutch and Rock 'n Roll. As the Baroness watches them leave, she makes a phone call to the Chaplin's Assistants School at Fort Wadsworth and asks for Hawk, but is unable to speak with him or the Joe team directly. She informs the operator to tell the Joes that their fellow teammates will be heading East on the Long Island Expressway shortly and will be in an ice cream truck followed by a van full of Dreadnoks. Dialtone and Hawk are seen listening in on the conversation and they confirm that the message is being traced to the Cobra Consulate Building. Meanwhile, Snake-Eyes and Scarlett (dressed in civilian clothes) arrive at the Bern Institute of Reconstructive Surgery in Switzerland. Scarlett remarks, "This is it, Snake-Eyes. It's finally going to happen... you're going to get a new face." The new technique developed by the institute is said to be "excruciating and dangerous"and that it would "require six separate operations, skin grafts and cartilage implants." With some of the procedures so radical, they could be fatal... Scarlett tells Snake-Eyes that he doesn't have to go through with it if he's just doing it for her... that she loves him just the way that he is. Snake-Eyes takes a moment to respond... drops his suitcase and reaches for Scarlett's hand. He then looks up at the sun and places his other hand on the rubber mask covering his face... he then looks over to another couple embracing each other. Scarlett holds Snake-Eyes close as she replies, "I understand... you want to be able to hold my hand and walk down the street and feel the sun shining down on your own face and not on a rubber mask... it doesn't seem like so much to ask for, does it?" They walk into the Bern Institute and are told by the nurse that Dr. Hundtkinder will see them shortly. Back on Long Island, the Dreadnoks are following the ice cream truck carrying Clutch and Rock 'n Roll just as planned. As they drive along the expressway, the Dreadnoks notice a Tiger Sting (driven by Repeater and Roadblock) and a Tiger Cat (driven by Lady Jaye and Flint) are following them on a parallel service road. The Dreadnoks immediately open fire on the Joes. The Joes carefully engage the Dreadnoks with the knowledge that their fellow team members are being held in the ice cream truck. In Switzerland, Dr. Hundtkinder removes Snake-Eyes' rubber mask and examines the extent of his injuries. He observes an old photograph taken of Snake-Eyes before the accident (revealing that his original face was very similar to the blonde-haired rubber mask that he wears). The doctor then asks Snake-Eyes to look into a mirror...and then says, "This is the last time you shall see your face in this condition!" A large headshot of Snake-Eyes' heavily-scarred face, mostly to left side, is revealed (for the very first time to readers). Dr. Hundtkinder schedules the first operation for the next morning. On the expressway, smoke billows from the burning wreckage of the Tiger Sting; however, the Joe team has managed to stop and apprehend the Dreadnoks with no major injuries incurred. The Dreadnoks assume the position against the wall. Flint and Lady Jaye run to the van to free Clutch and Rock 'n Roll, but find that they will need a hacksaw to cut their handcuffs free. A Tomahawk (set up as a mobile communications center by Hawk and Dialtone) lands at the scene. Hawk yells, "Our informant was right!"Buzzer overhears Hawk and immediately accuses the Baroness as being the only person who could have been the informant. Buzzer also blames Zarana for picking a fight with the Baroness, but is immediately set right by Road Pig's fist ("Road Pig Doctrine of Zaranaic Infallibility"at work). Traffic has been stopped with the overturned van in the middle of the road and some drivers are growing irritable. One yuppie (driving an import convertible with a plate that reads "YUPI-1”) begins calling the Joes "fascist pigs"for holding up traffic. Another driver claims, "We have a constitutional right to freedom of movement on the highway!" This incites other drivers to leave their vehicles and begin threatening the Joe team for being "inconvenienced." The yuppie threatens to contact his "Congressperson"and says, "You're all a bunch of stupid thugs!" Lady Jaye replies, "I guess I must be stupid to be willing to bleed for the likes of you!" The yuppie then shoves Lady Jaye, nearly making her lose her fall. Flint is about punch the yuppie when a female yuppie screams, "Brutality! Kent State! Tiananmen Square!" This results in a small riot, but Hawk orders the Joe team to back off for fear of the media attention they might receive. With the Joes preoccupied, the Dreadnoks make their escape in the slightly damaged ice cream truck. Roadblock shoots off a short burst from his Browning .50 caliber machine gun into the air and exclaims, "That's it! I've about had it! I want all you pathetic self-centered materialistic yahoos to crawl back into your expensive cars that were built by former Axis Powers to the detriment of American auto workers and start twiddling your useless thumbs... BEFORE I LOSE MY TEMPER!" The crowd backs off and the Joes realize that Zarana and the Dreadnoks are getting away with Clutch and Rock 'n Roll still in the back. The Joes pile into the Tomahawk to fly after the ice cream truck. Further down the road, Zarana tries to contact/confront the Baroness. A Tele-Viper informs her that the Baroness is currently on a transatlantic line to Switzerland and puts her on hold forcing Zarana to listen to the easy listening tape (features "the mellow melodies of the Cobra Chorus, featuring their interpretations of the big hits of John Denver!”) Back at the Cobra Consulate Building, the Baroness is talking to Dr. Hundtkinder (the same plastic surgeon who restored her face way back in issue 22). Dr. Hundtkinder explains that he thought she'd be interested to know of a prospective G.I. Joe patient that he has. The Baroness is disinterested until she receives a fax of the picture of the individual... the picture taken of Snake-Eyes before his disfigurement. The Baroness drops the phone and screams, "It's HIM! The one from SAIGON! The ASSASIN who MURDERED MY BROTHER!!!" The phone rings again and this time it's Zarana who demands to know why she set them up to get captured by the Joes. The Baroness responds, "I did it because I wanted their release to be credible! You were supposed to put up a fight and lose! Now you've blown our whole plan!" The Baroness reaches for a remote detonator and presses the red button... "Luckily, I had a contingency plan!" The entire front end of the ice cream truck explodes as the Tomahawk flies overhead. Summary by: Charles Fincher
Number 93, Mid November 1989