The Pit
When the Joe team in Retaliation sets up a headquarters in an old gym in Roadblock’s home town (where were all the Red Rocket restaurants, by the way?), one of them says “This will be our Pit for now”. I identified this as an homage to Hama since by and large, calling the Joe HQ “The Pit” came from the comics, as it was typically identified as “G.I. Joe Headquarters” in the Sunbow cartoon.
Hama’s version of the Joe HQ was an underground super-complex, secretly situated beneath the Chaplains Assistant School’s motor pool at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, New York. There’s even a blueprint for the 5 level facility in issue #1 of the Marvel comic. Any time Joes refer to their base as “The Pit”, it’s a nod to Hama.
Zartan killed the Hard Master
The original Marvel comic run was the first place that gave any in-depth insight into the background of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. Growing up as Arashikage clan brothers, the rivalry began between the two ninjas early. That rivalry became a rift when the clan’s leader, the Hard Master, was murdered and mystery surrounded the identity of the killer.
Years later, Zartan would be revealed as the Hard Master’s murderer. Retaliation clearly takes a cue from this story arc, as Zartan is placed in the same situation, which leads to…
Storm Shadow switching allegiances, helping the Joes
While the Sunbow version of Cobra’s resident ninja is evil to the core, Hama’s comic Storm Shadow actually spends more time aiding the Joes than Cobra. Once Tommy Arashikage learns the truth about the Hard Master’s death and Cobra’s manipulation of the truth (and himself), he leaves the terrorist organization and fights alongside Snake Eyes as part of G.I. Joe’s Ninja Force.
Storm Shadow turning on Cobra and joining the Joes in Retaliation is perhaps the most clear cut and inarguable homage to Larry Hama of them all.
READ ALSO: The 10 Greatest Marvel G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Comic Covers
Top image via Comic Vine
Thank you to my part time research assistants: @transformedhero, @GeneralsJoes @SK_comics & @RobotsPJs!
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LZ and Sit Rep are common military terms, They are used in almost any military themed film, I can’t see counting them as a reference.
The Pit and Hard Master storylines were in ROC, yet you say there was Zero references in ROC.
Jinx, did she even appear in the comic? I have a hard time remembering her, which maybe with her lessened role in Retaliation is accurate then.
But LZ and Sit Rep were never used in any GI Joe medium (Sunbow, RoC) besides Hama’s comic, so Chu being the only other to use them since Hama has to be considered more homage than coincidence.
I’m not saying Hama invented the terms, just that he was the first to use them in any G.I. Joe medium.
And yes, Jinx debuted in issue #59 I believe.
Or, you know, LZ and sit-rep were used because the screenwriter and/or director have seen any military action movie ever. Picking those out as Hama homages is ridiculous.
I disagree. While those references have certainly been used before, Chu inserting them here is a nod to Hama IMO. if they’re so prevalent in every military action movie ever, why were they not used in Rise of Cobra?
Must agree with the writer, those terms are indeed common but they were not used in the first Joe movie or in the cartoon. They invoke a “Marvel Comics GI Joe feel” so I’d include them on this list of SUBTLE Hama homages.
I suppsose it’s difficult to say if the use of military terminology was a direct nod to Hama, he did like to pepper his stories with realistic military terms, so that in itself could be a nod. Retaliation does seem to fit the tone of the Hama oeuvre quite a bit more then Rise of Cobra be it nod/homage or just better storytelling really doesn’t matter, I’m just thankful it was a better movie.
Agreed on all counts. Thanks for reading and for the comment Tom.
Yes! When I heard “sit rep” the first thing I thought about was the arah books. I’d say the silent scene was a thinly veiled homage to issue 21, but you mentioned that in your review I believe.
I enjoy reading your posts, but I have to comment that it is contradictory to state that Rise of Cobra has “zero” connection to Hama’s comic book run and then cite 2 things in Retaliation which also appear in ROC as being “homages” to Hama. The Pit physically appears and is referenced numerous times in Rise of Cobra. Not only that, it is the multi-floored, subterranean, secret location Pit from the comics, not the base with the turret sticking out from the cartoon or toy line. A simple reference to the name “Pit” in Retaliation can’t be accepted as a nod to Hama if you are going to disregard it’s exact physical representation in Rise of Cobra. Also, the line “this will be our Pit for now” is an exact reference to the secret location Pit of the first film being located and infiltrated, which necessitates there being a “temporary Pit” in the sequel.
Secondly, the plot point of Retaliation involving Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, the Hard Master, and Zartan was completely set-up by events which were depicted in Rise of Cobra, which allowed them to be fleshed out and brought to conclusion in Retaliation. So again, connections to Hama’s comic book run did in fact take place in Rise of Cobra.
Rise of Cobra may have taken tremendous liberties with its source material, but to deny that there were any connections to the comic book at all is not being truthful either.
Heck yes, Retaliation really shocked me when I first saw it (on TV) due to it’s very close following of the Zartan-Hard Master-Storm Shadow-Snake Eyes narrative, which Hama did wonderfully in the series, and I think was portrayed well on the screen. They even included the Blind Master. I was tickled.
So much better than the first G.I. Joe movie (also– eyerolls at not making the Baroness pure evil of her agency but rather mislead/brainwashed and saved by her ex; because I guess no woman would have the agency to be evil of her own violation. That was sexist and really disrespectful to the Baroness, who was a badass, ruthless, unrepentant, and intimidating villain, having nothing to do with her gender.
Anyone looking for a badass female villain with no stupid male savior or brainwashing or other BS, Charlize Theron in Snow White is AMAZING and scary as hell.