G.I. JOE: Special Missions #5

When the Chinese Government forces down a Cobra spy satellite using a combination of a high and low tech assault, the satellite crashes to Earth somewhere in the middle of the Australian outback. The JOEs send Roadblock, Tripwire, Hard Drive, Beach Head, and Spirit to retrieve the remains of which contain vital information about Destro's M.A.S.S. Project.

The team runs into trouble, first from the half-crazed nomad who decides to drag away what he believes is a UFO and then from an old enemy. Zartan has built himself his own personal army of road warriors since Snake Eyes blasted him from the skies over Australia, and now with the M.A.S.S. data one of Cobra's former top lieutenants once again has real power at his fingertips.

G.I. JOE: Special Missions #5 does a good job of reintroducing Zartan and giving an explanation of how and why the master of disguise would put a crew like the Dreadnoks together. The issue introduces Buzzer, Ripper, Thrasher, Crusher, and an unnamed character I'm guessing to be either Zanya or Zarana. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]