Summary

• Scarlett #1 introduces G.I. Joe's Counterintelligence specialist into the Energon Universe with a black ops mission in Japan.
• The creative team, including writer Kelly Thompson and artist Marco Ferrari, is excited to bring Scarlett to life in this new series.
• Scarlett's solo miniseries will delve into the Arashikage clan and potentially bring classic characters like Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes into the Energon Universe.

The Energon Universe era of G.I. Joe has kicked off with a bang thanks to the Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries, and now Skybound Entertainment has announced the latest miniseries to build out the franchise. Scarlett #1 will be hitting the comic stands this summer, finally giving one of the franchise’s most popular characters her own solo miniseries.

Energon Universe.

A preview for the first issue features a James Bond-esque opening of Scarlett slipping from a tactical wetsuit into stylish evening wear as she infiltrates a high-end party in Monaco. While there, she sees a woman with the tattoo of the Arashikage clan on her thigh, leading readers to believe this is the ninja Jinx.

G.I. Joe’s Scarlett Is Long Overdue For Her Own Series

Given the info provided in Scarlett #1’s solicitations, it sounds like the miniseries will finally introduce the G.I. Joe franchise’s famed ninja clan into the Energon Universe. In the classic continuity, the Arashikage clan was the sect that trained Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes, Scarlett’s long-time lover. Most interesting is the revelation that Scarlett’s former partner is Jinx, a protégé of Snake Eyes and the Arashikage in the classic continuity. Having Scarlett investigating the famed ninja clan is a smart way to bring these elements to the fore in the Energon Universe era, which should be exciting to fans both new and old.

The new creative team certainly sounds excited at the prospect of tackling a classic character. For Kelly Thompson, it sounds like a lifelong dream: “I’m fortunate that, thanks to my job, I often get to dig into characters and worlds that I’ve loved for a long time,” the writer says, “But G.I. JOE’s Scarlett is truly one of my first geek loves as a kid, and I am absolutely thrilled to have a hand in building her for this new, incredibly cool and rich universe at Skybound.” Artist Marco Ferrari also brings a new look to the classic character, as his cartoony, manga-inspired linework lends itself rather well to a world of ninja action and spy intrigue.

Scarlett Takes On the Arashikage Ninja Clan In New Series

Given that the Scarlett series will be ed by a miniseries focusing on franchise villain Destro, Skybound is building out the G.I. Joe corner of the Energon Universe. “Duke and Cobra Commander were two of the highest-selling G.I. JOE comics of all-time, and they’re only the start of our new beginning for the amazing G.I. JOE franchise,” said Sean Mackiewicz, Skybound’s SVP of Publishing, highlighting the record sales Skybound has garnered with the Energon Universe line. “With G.I. Joe and Cobra now locked on an unavoidable collision course, Scarlett and Destro will introduce new characters and factions that will disrupt their most carefully laid plans.”

With the introduction of Jinx and the Arashikage clan, Scarlett raises a number of tantalizing possibilities to the new continuity. Will fan-favorite characters like Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes make their Energon Universe debut? Will Scarlett and Jinx the G.I. Joe organization before all is said and done? With the miniseries bringing a classic piece of franchise lore into the Energon Universe, Scarlett will be a comic that G.I. Joe fans won’t want to miss.

Scarlett #1 will be available June 5 from Skybound Entertainment.

Source: Skybound Entertainment