Comics
#093 TAKING THE PLUNGE

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Issue Date: Mid November 1989
Series: G.I. Joe A Real American Hero
Issue Number: 93
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
Cover Artist: ?
Full Details
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."
The citizens begin to circle the Joes continuously screaming at them. The Joes circle up and leave the Dreadnoks alone. As one citizen pushes Lady Jaye Flint moves in to hit him. But Hawk calls him off. The Dreadnoks race away and get in the ice cream truck. Roadblock fires off his gun over the heads of the citizens, gives them a speech and then the Joes proceed to escape to the landing Tomahawk.
Zarana is driving the ice cream truck and calls the Baroness reporting in that she has escaped but she is put on hold.
The Baroness at the Cobra Consulate building receives a call from Dr. Hundtkinder, her plastic surgeon, he tells her that a patient has arrived whose surgery is being paid for by the government billed through Fort Wadsworth. He believes the soldier is a GI Joe and he faxes over a picture of Snake Eyes from twenty years ago before the accident that caused the facial damage. She looks at the picture as says "It's him. The one from Saigon. The assassin who murdered my brother!". She hangs up on him and picks up the phone to talk to Zarana. She is disappointed on the escape since she was hoping the Joes would actually capture her as a plan to get Clutch and Rock 'n' Roll back to the Joes. She hits a button.
Her back up plan has a bomb go off in the front of the van. Blowing up the front part as the Joes watch from above in the Tomahawk.
Variations
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