Warning! Spoilers ahead for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is now in theaters, providing a new take on the complex relationship and history between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. Traditionally, Snake Eyes is G.I Joe's resident ninja, while Storm Shadow works alongside the rival terrorist organization known as Cobra. However, they were also brothers as a part of the Arashikage clan, having fought and trained together. That being said, various comics, cartoons, and previous live-action films all have their own origins for the history of the two warriors, and the new Snake Eyes film is no exception.
Originally created for the action figure toy line from Hasbro, G.I Joe has generally characterized Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow as sword-brothers who trained with Storm Shadow's ninja clan in Japan known as the Arashikage. However, while Snake Eyes would go on to become a Joe, Storm Shadow's loyalties have long shifted back and forth over the years, sometimes being a great friend and ally, while also being one of Snake's strongest rivals among Cobra, serving as Cobra Commander's ninja bodyguard.
That being said, the popularity of Hasbro's toy franchise soon had G.I. Joe growing into all sorts of media that further fleshed out the narrative world of the Joes and Cobra agents. As such, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow actually have more than a few different origins depending upon which publisher or studio was telling the story at the time. This also includes the latest Snake Eyes film, which provides some brand new elements to their history as well. Here are the most notable versions of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow's history and relationship explained.
Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow's History In Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics was the first major publisher to hold the rights to the G.I. Joe franchise, and their run during the early '80s saw Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow as part of the same long-range reconnaissance patrol during the Vietnam War. Storm Shadow (real name Thomas Arashikage) even saved Snake Eyes' life. Shortly after the death of his family in a car accident, Snake Eyes would join Storm Shadow to train with his ninja clan. However, Snake Eyes' own abilities soon grew beyond Storm Shadow, and Hard Master chose Snake Eyes as the next leader of the clan. This angered Storm Shadow, which began their bitter rivalry.
However, the Cobra assassin known as Zartan eventually killed Hard Master while attempting to target Snake Eyes, though many assumed Storm Shadow was the culprit due to his quick disappearance afterward and later resurgence as a member of Cobra. Seeing as how the attack was meant for Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow also blamed him for Hard Master's death. Snake would then join up with the Joes, and his long rivalry with Storm Shadow began. However, it was later revealed that Storm Shadow had only joined Cobra to get close to Zartan. With this discovery, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow joined forces once more to take him down, and Storm Shadow eventually became a Joe himself. However, while he was later brainwashed back into the Cobra fold by Cobra Commander, he would eventually shake the brainwashing over time and rejoin his sword-brother before the end of Marvel's run.
Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow In Cartoons/Devil's Due/IDW
Interestingly enough, the original 1983 cartoon G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero did not explore Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow's relationship, and Storm Shadow was a loyal Cobra agent for the entirety of the series. Additionally, while the G.I. Joe franchises' time under Devil's Due and Image Comics are no longer canonical, it did feature several arcs where Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow would continue their back and forth being brothers and rivals.
IDW Publishing is now the current comics publisher for the G.I Joe franchise, and it initially followed the continuity that had been started by Marvel Comics. However, they've since created a brand new canon that isn't tied to any past stories. While it still carries the core beats of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow's history and relationship together, Storm Shadow is characterized much more often than not as a consistent rival and enemy of Snake Eyes, though they have had uneasy alliances.
Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow In Previous Live-Action Films
The continuity set by 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation took their cues from the Marvel Comics history and origins for Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, though they did have their additions. In The Rise of Cobra, it was revealed that Snake Eyes was taken in as a child from the streets of Tokyo by the Arashikage clan. However, Snake Eyes likewise found favor with the Hard Master, and Storm Shadow grew to be jealous. As a result, it was assumed that Storm Shadow was the culprit when what looked like his sword was found in the Hard Master's back. However, rather than Snake Eyes becoming mute due to injuries sustained with the Joes like in the comics, this first live-action version of Snake Eyes chose to take a vow of silence until Storm Shadow was brought to justice.
That being said, G.I. Joe Retaliation saw the truth revealed. Just like in Marvel's canon, Zartan was the real killer, and the proof of Storm Shadow's innocence led to his joining Snake Eyes and the Joes in their fight. Fighting together, they took down Cobra and Zartan, who had been posing as the President of the United States in disguise to threaten the world with warheads.
Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow In Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
Now, yet another brand new history has been formed for Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow with the new Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, starring Henry Golding in the titular role with Andrew Koji playing Tommy Arashikage, the future Storm Shadow. Serving as a reboot for the G.I Joe franchise, Snake Eyes was working for the Yakuza as a gun runner, having been promised information about his father's killer by his employer Kenta. However, Kenta was revealed to be an exiled member of the Arashikage and the cousin of Tommy who had been discovered as an undercover spy. After saving Tommy's life, Snake Eyes was taken to Japan where he began his training to potentially become one of the Arashikage.
However, this was all revealed to be a secret plot by Kenta, as Snake Eyes was still under his employ to retrieve the clan's powerful sun jewel for Cobra. That being said, Snake Eyes eventually gave up his quest for vengeance and chose to be a true member of the Arashikage, helping them fight off Kenta and his men. However, Tommy forfeited his destiny as the future leader of the Arashikage when he used the forbidden power of the sun jewel. While he wasn't banished, Tommy would no longer be allowed to become the clan's leader. Outraged, Tommy blamed Snake Eyes before leaving of his own accord, choosing to become Storm Shadow and accepting an offer from the Baroness to join Cobra.
Clearly, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow have a long history defined by an equal number of alliances and betrayals, though their relationship as ninja sword-brothers has remained fairly consistent across the various forms of media over the years since Hasbro's toy line was first released. Now, a new era has begun with Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, potentially being the first chapter of a new G.I. Joe film universe. Furthermore, the ending sets up Snakes Eyes and Storm Shadow's future in some pretty big ways. Perhaps they'll become allies once more after some time spent as rivals?