For a list of the other versions, see Snake Eyes.
- Snake Eyes is a G.I. Joe character from G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and its sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
History
In his youth, Snake Eyes, along with Storm Shadow, was trained by the Arashikage Clan. A homeless child, he entered the clan's home seeking food, only to be caught by a young Storm Shadow, who intended to "punish" the stranger for stealing. They both fought around the kitchen with Snake showing remarkable skill at such a young age being able to hold his own against the well-trained Storm Shadow. Their fight was eventually stopped by the clan Master, Blind Master, who was impressed with Snake's skill, and despite Storm's protests, allowed the youngster into the clan. While Storm Shadow proceeded to claim Snake to be weak, the Master cheerfully corrected him, saying: "He didn't fight like a weakling," then asked the initiate what he wanted to be known as, thus the origin of his current moniker.
Young Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, battling.
Snake trained with the clan, with Storm Shadow as his sparring partner. Storm constantly beat him brutally in their training, much to the Master's disapproval. Eventually, Snake was able to beat Storm in a training session; something that pleased him and the Master profoundly. This was not to last though. It appeared that Storm Shadow (angered by the Master favoring an outsider over a true Clan member) attacked the old man and ran him through the back with his sword before fleeing the temple. However, it was later revealed that it was in fact Zartan who killed the Master. Storm, however, was blamed for the death, leading the Clan to resent him. The death of Blind Master had a profound effect on Snake Eyes, who considered the Blind Master the closest thing he had to a father. He took a vow of silence, never again speaking to anyone, either friend or foe. He communicates with his fellow G.I. Joe members using hand gestures, the closest he ever comes to using his voice being heavy breathing following an exhausting battle.
Rise of Cobra (2009 Movie)
- Portrayed by Ray Park (adult), and Leo Howard (young)
Movie poster.
Snake Eyes is part of the Alpha Team who intervenes when Cobra attacks Duke and Ripcord's force, attempting to steal the case containing the nanomite warheads. Afterwards, when Duke and Ripcord face off against the Joes, he holds a sword to Ripcord's neck after he threatens to "turn this into one big turkey shoot." When Duke and Ripcord are brought to the Pit, Scarlett is seen leaning against him affectionately, suggesting that the two share a close kinship. He takes pit in Duke's combat tests to become a member of the G.I. Joe Team, battling him with a baton. He manages to down Duke several times, having a reputation for never taking a hit in combat. It therefore comes as a surprise to everyone when Duke downs him by tackling him instead of using the given baton. Nevertheless, he offers Duke a cheerful hand, signifying his acceptance of him as a brother in arms.
Following this, the Pit is assaulted by Cobra's forces, who have managed to track the case there. Snake Eyes's old nemesis, Storm Shadow, is a part of the raiding party, having complained to James McCullen that things would have already been taken care of had he been part of the team originally sent to retrieve the case. The two repeatedly face off, but neither is able to gain a clear advantage. Storm Shadow eventually escapes using a jet-pack and escorts the Baroness away, taking the case containing the nanomite warheads with them. In the aftermath, Duke comments to him that it looks like they're all seeing ghosts today, referencing the fact that Storm Shadow is someone from his past, just as the Baroness is someone from his own past, his girlfriend Ana Lewis. Duke's comment leads him to reminisce on the time that he first met Storm Shadow and was first taken in by Blind Master as a member of the Arashikage Clan.
Snake Eyes plays a major part in the team's mission to Paris when the G.I. Joe Team learns that Cobra is targeting the city with a nanomite warhead. He leaps onto the roof of the vehicle that Baroness and Storm Shadow are traveling in, allowing the team to track the vehicle through Paris using his tracking device. The Cobra operatives try almost everything to shake him off the vehicle but Snake refuses to let go, much to their annoyance. He eventually lets go when is he shot the bottom of the car a few times, seemingly doing nothing. The Baroness smugly declares that Snake has given up, but Storm Shadow knows better from his history with Snake, declaring "He never gives up." Immediately afterwards, the vehicle is rammed by an incoming train. Despite this, the Cobra teams succeeds in their goal of firing the missile and destroys the Eiffel Tower, though Duke manages to hit the kill switch, stopping them destroying anymore of Paris. Duke is captured and the remaining Joes, sans Snake, are captured by the French authorities, who believe them responsible for the damage. Snake manages to help his team by avoiding being caught by the French authorities, slipping away in the chaos. He is able to contact General Hawk, who secures the team's release.
Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow battling at the M.A.R.S. Industries base.
After this incident, Alpha Team is recalled by their respective authorities, but they manage to secure tacit approval from General Hawk to raid Cobra's headquarters, the M.A.R.S. Industries Base in the Arctic, and rescue Duke. Snake Eyes takes part in the attack by disabling Cobra's security system so Scarlett, Ripcord and Breaker can enter. He then manages to take control of Cobra's weapon system and succeeds in stopping the launch of one of four nanomite warheads, which was targeting the city of Beijing. He is then intercepted by Storm Shadow and the two once again duel. It is an epic battle that sees the two going all-out, with Storm Shadow declaring that Snake Eyes will die. Ultimately Snake Eyes defeats Storm Shadow using his tonfas, stabbing him in the chest and sending him seemingly falling to his death into the icy waters of the Arctic.
Retaliation (2013 Movie)
- Portrayed by Ray Park.
Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Snake Eyes is first shown following after Storm Shadow, after the latter disguised himself as Snake Eyes. Storm Shadow and ex-Joe Firefly rescue Cobra Commander from a penitentiary in Germany. Storm Shadow is injured during the escape. Snake Eyes closes in on them but notices Jinx. Confronting her, he learns she is there to help him. However Storm Shadow, Firefly and Cobra Commander flee by helicopter. Snake Eyes and Jinx then return to the home of the Arashikage Clan, where Snake Eyes has a test against Jinx in which has to take a hair from her head while she used swords to fend him off. He defeats her in the test and Blind Master tells him that even though he doesn't trust her, they must work together. He then sends them to retrieve Storm Shadow. They reach the mountain stronghold of a rival Ninja Clan where Storm Shadow is being nursed back to health. After fighting through numerous Ninja Snake Eyes confronts Storm Shadow and captures him. He and Jinx flee the stronghold with the captured Storm Shadow, facing off against numerous red-clad warriors in a battle that spans cliffs and mountains.
Snake Eyes and Jinx successfully take Storm Shadow back to the Arashikage in Japan. Here, Storm Shadow grabs the blade that was used to kill the Hard Master. The blade breaks, proving that was never his, as Arashikage steels is forged so that it will not break. This reveals the truth: that the Hard Master was not killed by Storm Shadow, but Zartan instead. Zartan then took in a angered Storm Shadow, who joined Cobra to avenge his uncle. Snake Eyes and Jinx, now with Storm Shadow, join the other Joes to stop Cobra. They convince the others Storm Shadow is on their side and the group prepares to take down Cobra.
Snake Eyes gives Storm Shadow his sword
Storm Shadow returns to Cobra, pretending to still be on their side as Zartan, disguised as the President of the United States, hosts a nuclear disarmament conference. After tricking the leaders of the world's nuclear nations into destroying their own weapons, he reveals Project Zeus, a superweapon capable of annihilating entire cities by being dropped from orbit. Storm Shadow then reveals himself, teaming up with Jinx and Flint in fighting off Cobra's soldiers, while Roadblock fights Firefly and Lady Jaye and General Joe Colton rescue the President of the United States. As Storm Shadow closes in on Zartan, he discovers Snake Eyes, who gives him his own sword in order to kill Zartan. After the fight and Cobra's disappearance, Snake Eyes and the other Joes are rewarded by the rescued real President, and the G.I. Joe is reinstated.
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021 Movie)
See here.
Personality and Abilities
Snake Eyes has always been a reliable member of the G.I. Joe.
Due to the fact that Snake Eyes never spoke, he was very mysterious. However he was clearly a man who kept his promises and after his Master was killed he took a Vow of Silence and communicating through hand gestures instead of words. Snake Eyes had a fierce rivalry with Storm Shadow and major unresolved tension that went all the way back to their childhood. Interestingly, Shadow once called Snake Eyes "brother" despite the fact that they were not related. It's possible that the members of their Clan called each other brother though this is unconfirmed.
Snake loved the Master of the Arashikage Clan like a father and when he was killed the young ninja was devastated. Apparently he hadn't spoken a single word since that day. Snake Eyes also appeared to share a sibling like relationship with Scarlett. The members of G.I. Joe often referred to him as "Snake". Storm Shadow once claimed to the Baroness that Snake never gave up.
Snake Eyes is a master of ninjutsu and is probably the most skilled fighter and operative in the whole of G.I. Joe. He is a master swordsman, hand to hand combatant and marksman. He is highly proficient at wielding tonfas, Sai, Nunchaku and all kinds of blank weapons. He was also able to throw shurikens and other objects with lethal accuracy. He can use both traditional and modern weaponry during combat, switching effortlessly between swordplay and shooting. Dual wielding his sword and a gun he could slice through multiple armed guards without any trouble. Snake was the only known person in G.I. Joe who was able to combat Storm Shadow as an equal. He is capable of performing amazing athletic feats as well as moving with great agility. At one point he even managed to fight Storm Shadow whilst gripping onto the side of their vehicle.
Toys
- Main article: Snake Eyes (Movie)/Toys
Trivia
- During production of The Rise of Cobra, one of the studio executives kept pressuring Stephen Sommers to remove Snake Eyes' mask from the character. Eventually, Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner had to step in and side with Sommers, pointing out that was how Snake Eyes was meant to look.
- Because of this, there are a few scenes in the film where Snake Eyes wears a different, simplified mask and uniform. In general, he's hidden so the differences aren't apparent.
- During test screenings of The Rise of Cobra, audiences were given cards on which they were to rate their favorite characters in the film. Despite the fact that Snake Eyes was not listed on the cards (since he didn't have a speaking role), he consistently won as a write-in vote.[1]
External Links
- OAFE - "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra": Snake Eyes (City Strike) review
- OAFE - "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra": Snake Eyes (Paris Pursuit) review
References
- ↑ According to the commentary track on the dvd.