G.I. JOE Pushes the Franchise's Boundaries With This Gory New Kill

WARNING! Potential spoilers ahead for Scarlett #5

G.I. Joe is pushing boundaries in the Energon Universe, as the preview for Scarlett #5 shows off an incredible gory kill in its opening pages. Skybound’s shared universe keeps pushing the limit with each new series, and the concluding issue of Scarlett looks to be the most violent issue yet as it races towards its exciting climax.

Inochi No-Ken, or “Sword of Life.”

Storm Shadow takes possession of the weapon, and shows off the sword’s power when dueling against a Mugenonami foe. In a classic samurai film-style showdown, Storm Shadow cuts his enemy so cleanly it appears as if nothing has happened at first, until the Mugenonami foe suddenly splits in half.

Storm Shadow Commits G.I. Joe's Most Brutal Kill Yet Using The "Sword Of Life"

Scarlett #5 – Written By Kelly Thompson, Art By Marco Ferrari, Lee Loughridge & Rus Wooton

Scarlett #4 ,Storm Shadow unboxes the powerful sword Inochi No-Ken, or "Sword of Life."

Even though there’s been a lot of fuss over the weapon, fans still don’t know exactly what the Inochi No-Ken can do. Both Scarlett & Jinx were assigned to infiltrate the Arashikage clan to uncover more information on the weapon, and the arrival of Cobra in Scarlett means that the villainous G.I. Joe faction has an interest in the weapon. All of these organizations vying for the Inochi No-Ken suggests that it is more than just a simple sword, but what the weapon can actually do or the amount of power the sword generates are a mystery at this point in time.

An Energon-infused sword would be an interesting way to tie the classic ninja elements of G.I. Joe into the larger Energon Universe, tying the franchise closer together with Transformers.

The fact that the Inochi No-Ken has a pinkish-purple glow could suggest that the sword is somehow Energon-based, which would certainly why Cobra Commander has taken an interest. An Energon-infused sword would be an interesting way to tie the with Transformers for Skybound’s shared universe. It will be interesting to see how the saga concludes in the fifth issue, and whether or not there are any more surprises in store in the final issue.

The Conclusion To Skybound's "Scarlett" Miniseries Will Have Major Repercussions For The Energon Universe

The Shared Continuity's Connections Are Coming Into Focus

A composite image of cartoon Optimus Prime in front of an illustration of the cast of G.I. Joe. — Custom Image by SR Image Editor

With one issue to go before the launch of the new G.I. Joe series, Scarlett #5 has a lot to do to wrap the storyline up. Scarlett still has to reckon with where Jinx’s true loyalties lie, and the question of what side all of these characters land on before the launch of Scarlett, Storm Shadow, Jinx and many others will find themselves on. Whoever ends up controlling the Inochi No-Ken in the Energon Universe will have a major impact on the future of G.I. Joe.