Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: Mike Costa
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Release Date: 13th May, 2015.

Let’s face it, Snake Eyes versus Storm Shadow is one all-time classic comic confrontations, and ever since the revelation that the Arashikage were involved in the assassination attempt on Chameleon in issue two, the inevitable duel between the two has been the series’ major draw. Mike Costa and Paolo Villanelli’s five-issue arc draws to a close in dramatic fashion, featuring a titanic struggle between the two, which in the best traditions of Kurosawa, is staged against the backdrop of a furious thunderstorm.

Their showdown, of course, takes centre stage in this issue, but it’s at the expense of the over-arching plot, which is relegated to the final few pages, where loose ends and character motivations are rather frantically tied up. It’s a shame really, as there had been some interesting groundwork laid earlier in series, touching on themes of loyalty, and by extension the use and abuse of that loyalty by those in power. The overriding message would appear to be that the world of G.I. Joe can no longer be simply defined by good versus evil. ‘Fluid loyalty’ is the order of the day, and those who do not adapt to the changing landscape will suffer the consequences, just like Ronin in the last issue.

Shifting loyalty is of course the main thrust of the title given Snake Eyes apparent defection, which is set against the backdrop of a clandestine leadership battle between Tomax Paoli and Destro, both of whom seek to test his allegiance by using him to out manoeuvre the other. But has Snake Eyes truly defected, or is he simply playing the game by the new rules? The issue doesn’t really offer a definitive conclusion, and Mike Costa is clearly adding to a larger narrative by leaving the door open for further exploration.

Art duties throughout have been undertaken by Paolo Villanelli, whose general standard of work has been consistently high. But whilst his clean lines and strong character work have been excellent, his panel compositions and layouts during the action sequences have frequently been disorienting and confusing. Perhaps that was the point, but I really found it difficult to maintain a sense of scene geography, and as a result, the much-anticipated final battle was a little disappointing.

So, after tantalising us with an exciting premise and intriguing setup, Snake Eyes: Agent of Cobra ultimately comes down to a climactic battle between two old foes, which sadly misses its mark.

Rating: 3/5.

The Writer of this piece was: Martin Doyle
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