G.I. Joe: Master and Apprentice

(Devil’s Due, 2004)
™ and © 2004 Devil’s Due

This well-written and beautifully illustrated four-issue limited series focuses on Snake Eyes and Kamakura, the Ninja duo from Devil’s Due’s ongoing G.I. Joe series. Here, we learn of the events that drew Snake Eyes, the Silent Master of the Arashikage Ninja Clan, away from a quiet life with the woman of his dreams during the years that the G.I. Joe organization was shut down and put him on a collision course with Kamakura and a return to a life of death and destruction. Arguably the most popular of all the Joes, Snake Eyes gets loads of exposure in this limited series that was expanded from three to four issues when sales warranted its continuation.

— Thomas Moudry

From the Comics Buyer’s Guide:

Brandon Jerwa is one of those creators who write with a sense of history, staying true to what’s come before, building on the work of predecessors (in this case, Larry Hama and Josh Blaylock).

It shows in G.I. Joe: Master and Apprentice, where he seamlessly fills in the gaps between the Marvel and Devil’s Due series, which follows Snake-Eyes reluctantly taking on a new apprentice, Kamakura, after his last one died at the hands of Firefly. Duke recruits Snake-Eyes and Joe ninjas to go after Firefly and the mysterious Nowhere Man. Jerwa also reveals why Snake-Eyes left Scarlett at the altar.

Jerwa tells a fast-paced story, filled with twists and turns, not to mention that he provides excellent character development. This has the feel of an episode of Alias. The collection also features a history of the Arashikage ninja clan, character bios, and a preview of Master and Apprentice II.

— Kurt Anthony Krug

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