Storm Shadow

With his original 1984, Storm Shadow arguable became the most popular GI Joe released of all time.  His real name is Thomas S. Arashikage (Arashi = "Storm" and kage = "shadow" in Japanese) and he was trained under his uncle in the Arashikage clan (the same clan as Snake Eyes, the red tattoo is the schools symbol).  As Snake Eyes began to surpass Storm Shadow in their Ninja Training and was named head of the clan, the two close friends began to feud. This rift was heightened when Storm Shadows uncle was murdered by an assassin, and both of them suspected the other. Storm Shadow eventually joined Cobra as Cobra Commanders main body guard, although his true loyalty remained with no-one but himself.  He joined GI Joe, and along with Snake Eyes, he hunted down his uncles true assassin, Zartan, but throughout the years, he would switch several times between Joe and Cobra after being brainwashed by Cobra.  Unlike Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow always fights in the traditional ways of the Ninja choosing classic weapons such as swords over guns, and usually wore an all white ninja suit.

Storm Shadow
MSRP --
Release date January, 1984
Brand Hasbro
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
2 reviews
100
negative
mixed
positive
2 positive
0 mixed
0 negative

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Pros:
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•
Possibly the best GI Joe action figure
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•
Re-release by Hasbro in a 25th anniversary edition
+1agreedisagree

•
Wicked backstory
+1agreedisagree

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Details

The 1984 version of Storm Shadow came with a katana (long sword), a  wakizashi (short sword),  nunchuks, a  bow, and a backpack all in black, which nicely contrasted his all white ninja suit. This release is the most desired GI Joe action figure by collectors.  The second version of Storm Shadow was released in 1989, and saw him switch to the Joes team wearing a white camo hooded ninja suit.  This figure became a secondary favorite and came with a red sword and backpack, compound bow and a black claw.  The third version of Storm Shadow was released in 1992 was similar in appearance to v2 and only came with a white sword and sickle.  This version also featured the very limiting "Ninja Action" which made his arms un-posable, and only usefull in "live action battles".  The very forgettable fourth version, in 1994, came with "secret inviso-power" and an array of classical ninja weapons, in all blue.  1997's v5 saw the re-realease of the orignal Storm Shadow with a slight uniform change but maintaining all the original weapons as a part of a three pack also featuring Snake Eyes and Lady Jay. There have been 20  versions of Storm Shadow  released which are mostly white or red in colour. Version 6, in 2000, was released as a pair witn Snake Eyes and is another notable release with a white hood for the Cobra side, and 2 silver swords. Countless other products such as busts and magazines have been released, most of which are based on the classic 1984 version of this iconic GI Joe character.

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This report was started February 1, 2007 at 4:08 pm by Special K
with the last edit occurring December 3, 2007 at 9:26 am by Erik
This page has been viewed 8928 times, with 30 edits by 6 contributors.
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Comments

6 taps
1.  avatar Special K said:

Hands down, the best GI Joe ever. He has been the inspiration for most of my life...(although I've never really accomplished anything that "Ninja-like" in my life..besides tucking my socks between my toes to get "Ninja-feet").  Right up there with "Ninja Gaiden" as the coolest thing EVER (that involves ninjas).
Feb 01, 2007 4:09pm
2.  avatar dakalvia said:

I had the original Stormshadow with all the original equipment and his file card--then i pulled the stupidest transaction of my life: in Grade 6, I decided I was "too cool, or too old" for GI JOEs, so I began selling off my arsenal....including this one...MY FAVOURITE OF ALL TIME...for $14. AAAAAAAARRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!
Feb 01, 2007 6:22pm
3.  avatar Whipdaddy said:

DUDE, I almost got those wicked red markings that him and SNAKE EYES have on their arm.. thank god they don't allow you to get tattoos when your drunk! I still have both the original and the 2nd version of him and SNAKE EYES in pretty damn mint SHAPE.. Thanks for reminding me about their coolness, I'm going to play with them right now.
Feb 02, 2007 12:05am
4.  avatar dakalvia said:

yo Whipdaddy...i hear ya on the "brother-in-arms" tatoo.....is totally kickin'.
Feb 02, 2007 12:48pm
5.  avatar marcus said:

Does anyone now if Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes tattoo mean something for real?
Aug 30, 2007 4:37pm
6.  avatar Special K said:

Storm Shadow and Snake eyes were both trained by the Arashikage Ninja Clan (Storm Shadow aka Tommy Arashikage's family clan). This tatoo is the clan hexagram. All member tatoo this on the outside of their right arm to show which clan they were trained by. Read more about the Arashikage Ninja Clan in the "Community links, articles, and discussions" - "History of the Arashikage Ninja Clan" link shown above on this page.
Aug 31, 2007 2:05pm
7.  avatar slcgrad said:

I actually have the Storm Shadow tattoo. I got it in blue, not red, 'cause I didn't really want a gigantic red tattoo on my arm. In real life, the tattoo is also the last hexagram from the I-Ching, the Chinese Book of Changes. It means "Great Thunder Coming Through the Mountains." ...Although the I-Ching can be translated in so many different ways that it can mean almost anything...
Oct 29, 2007 2:25pm
8.  avatar dakalvia said:

I have the Arashikage tatoo as well...except in black on my left forearm. The Arashikage is a fictional ninja clan, and the name is derived from the Japanese words for storm (arashi) and shadow (kage). Members of the Arashikage clan wore a red tattoo on their right forearm, representing the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching.  The I Ching is a symbol system designed to identify order in what seem like chance events, it describes an ancient system of cosmology and philosophy that is at the heart of Chinese cultural beliefs. The philosophy centers on the ideas of the dynamic balance of opposites, the evolution of events as a process, and acceptance of the inevitability of change. I Ching’s Hexagram 63 is translated to something like, "Already Fording" or "after completion" and "already completed". Its inner trigram translates to radiance = fire, and its outer trigram translates to gorge = water.
Oct 29, 2007 3:23pm
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Reviews

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Erik

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December 3, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
0 cons
love itlove it

Pros

  • Possibly the best GI Joe action figure
  • Re-release by Hasbro in a 25th anniversary edition
  • Wicked backstory

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

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dakalvia

avatar
October 29, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
0 cons

Pros

  • Possibly the best GI Joe action figure

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Comments

"I had the original Stormshadow with all the original equipment and his file card--then i pulled the stupidest transaction of my life: in Grade 6, I decided I was "too cool, or too old" for GI JOEs, so I began selling off my arsenal....including this one...MY FAVOURITE OF ALL TIME...for $14. AAAAAAAARRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!"
"yo Whipdaddy...i hear ya on the "brother-in-arms" tatoo.....is totally kickin'."
"I have the Arashikage tatoo as well...except in black on my left forearm. The Arashikage is a fictional ninja clan, and the name is derived from the Japanese words for storm (arashi) and shadow (kage). Members of the Arashikage clan wore a red tattoo on their right forearm, representing the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching.  The I Ching is a symbol system designed to identify order in what seem like chance events, it describes an ancient system of cosmology and philosophy that is at the heart of Chinese cultural beliefs. The philosophy centers on the ideas of the dynamic balance of opposites, the evolution of events as a process, and acceptance of the inevitability of change. I Ching’s Hexagram 63 is translated to something like, "Already Fording" or "after completion" and "already completed". Its inner trigram translates to radiance = fire, and its outer trigram translates to gorge = water."
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