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Snake-Eyes

Snake-Eyes

209 appearances · Bronze Age · 1982–2025 · 14 key issues
Who is Snake-Eyes?

A former Special Forces soldier whose true identity remains classified, Snake-Eyes joined the elite G.I. Joe counter-terrorism unit as its premier covert-operations commando. Trained in ninjutsu through the secretive Arashikage clan, he is a master martial artist, expert swordsman, and demolitions specialist who operates entirely in silence.

Few characters have made a first impression quite like Snake-Eyes — debuting in the very first issue of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero in 1982, Larry Hama and Don Perlin's silent, masked commando immediately became the beating heart of Marvel's Bronze Age blockbuster. Over 43 years and 209 catalogued appearances, he has proven one of the most enduring figures the franchise has ever produced, racking up 14 key-issue designations that any serious collector will want on their radar. Whether sharing the page with Scarlett, Cobra Commander, or Hawk, Snake-Eyes consistently anchors the action — a brooding, iconic presence whose mystique has kept readers coming back decade after decade.

Identity

Real name. Classified/unknown (canonically never revealed in the Marvel RAH continuity)

Powers. No superpowers; master martial artist (multiple black belts), expert swordsman/edged-weapons specialist, ninjutsu, small-arms and demolitions expert, elite covert-ops commando

Teams & affiliations
G.I. JoeCOBRACobra SoldiersDreadnoks
★ First appearance
G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #1
Jun 1982

Trivia

  • Snake-Eyes stands apart in the Marvel series for having spoken exactly one word across his entire run — 'Scarlett' — a single utterance that became the cornerstone of his enduring mystique.youtube.com
  • His Marvel backstory wasn't carved in stone from day one; the Arashikage ninja connection and the helicopter-accident origin were layered in through later stories, gradually transforming a silent commando into one of the franchise's most compelling tragic figures.youtube.com
  • Larry Hama has written more of Snake-Eyes's comics than any other writer in our catalog — 92 issues.

Top series

G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero
G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero (1982)
51 appearances
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe (2001)
21 appearances
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe (2004)
18 appearances
Tales of G.I. Joe
Tales of G.I. Joe (1988)
11 appearances
G.I. Joe: Frontline
G.I. Joe: Frontline (2002)
11 appearances
Action Force Monthly
Action Force Monthly (1988)
8 appearances
G.I. Joe European Missions
G.I. Joe European Missions (1988)
8 appearances
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers (2003)
6 appearances
Transformers / G.I. Joe
Transformers / G.I. Joe (2003)
6 appearances
Voltron: Defender of the Universe
Voltron: Defender of the Universe (2004)
5 appearances
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vs. The Six Million Dollar Man
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vs. The Six Million Dollar Man (2018)
4 appearances
G.I. Joe Special Missions
G.I. Joe Special Missions (1986)
4 appearances

Covers through the years — 1982–2024

G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #1 ★ 1982
G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #1
G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #47 ★ 1986
G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #47
G.I. Joe Special Missions #18 1989
G.I. Joe Special Missions #18
G.I. Joe #1 2001
G.I. Joe #1
G.I. Joe Frontline #2 2004
G.I. Joe Frontline #2
G.I. Joe: Declassified #[nn] 2007
G.I. Joe: Declassified #[nn]
Classic G.I. Joe TPB #13 2011
Classic G.I. Joe TPB #13
G.I. Joe: The Complete Collection #2 2013
G.I. Joe: The Complete Collection #2
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #16 2016
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #16
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium #1 2024
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium #1

Key issues

#1★
G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #1 1st appearance

Appearances (1–150 of 209, oldest first)

G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero (1982)
#1#2#3#4#8#9#10#11#12#14#15#17#18#19#21#22#25#26#27#30#31#32#33#36#37#38#40#41#42#43#45#46#47#48#49#50#52#53#54#55#56#61#91#101#104#105#106#108#109#111#112
G.I. Joe a Real American Hero! The Capture of Cobra Commander (1984)
#[nn]
G.I. Joe Yearbook (1985)
#1
The Transformers (1984)
#14
G.I. Joe and the Transformers (1987)
#1#2#4#[nn]
Superman (1987)
#1
The G.I. Joe Order of Battle (1986)
#2
Tales of G.I. Joe (1988)
#1#2#3#4#8#9#10#11#12#14#15
Action Force Monthly (1988)
#2#3#5#8#10#11#12#15
G.I. Joe European Missions (1988)
#2#3#5#8#10#11#12#15
G.I. Joe Comics Magazine (1986)
#11#12#13
G.I. Joe Special Missions (1986)
#14#15#18#19
G.I. Joe: Special (1995)
#1
G.I. Joe Convention Special (2001)
#1
G.I. Joe (2001)
#1#2#3#4#1#6#8#9#10#13#14#15#16#17#18#19#20#21#22#23#24#25#26
G.I. Joe: M.I.A. (2002)
#[nn]
G.I. Joe: Battle Files (2002)
#1#3
G.I. Joe: Frontline (2002)
#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#10#11#16
G.I. Joe Battle Files Sourcebook (2003)
#[nn]
Voltron: Defender of the Universe (2003)
#0#1#2
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers (2003)
#1#2#3#4#5#6
Transformers / G.I. Joe (2003)
#1#2#3#4#5
G.I. Joe Valor vs. Venom (2004)
#[nn]
G.I. Joe: G.I. Joe Reborn (2004)
#1