Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe)
Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe comics series and television shows. He serves as the Cobra Commander's ninja bodyguard and assassin.
Comic
Storm Shadow first appeared in G.I Joe (vol. 1) issue #21 and was created by Larry Hama. His real name is Thomas S. Arashikage (Arashi = "Storm" and kage = "shadow" in Japanese) and he served on the same LRRP as future Joes Stalker and Snake-Eyes. After Vietnam, Storm Shadow visited his family in Japan. His family, the Arashikage, had actually been a fierce ninja clan but for many centuries had remained clandestine. Hoping to learn the ways of the ninja, Storm Shadow studied under his estranged uncle's tutelage.
When Snake-Eyes arrived in Japan following the death of his entire family in a horrific car crash, he was invited to study with the clan. He quickly began to surpass Storm Shadow's abilities and was his uncle, the Hard Master's, choice to succeed him as the head of the clan. This caused a rift between the two friends, and Snake-Eyes decided that he would leave the clan. However, before he could, an assassin (who later would be revealed as Zartan) killed Storm Shadow's uncle while he was demonstrating a ninja technique. Storm Shadow, seeing the assassin fleeing in a Cobra helicopter, left the clan to follow the assassin. Due to his abrupt disappearence, and the fact that the killer appeared to use a technique that Storm Shadow was a master of, Snake-Eyes, the Soft Master and the remaining clan members thought that Storm Shadow was to blame for the murder. Storm Shadow blamed Snake-Eyes for the murder.
Years would pass and Storm Shadow eventually was led to the international terrorist organization called COBRA. He was quickly made Cobra Commander's bodyguard and soon thereafter encountered his old friends Stalker and Snake-Eyes as members of the American strike team designed to destroy Cobra, the G.I. Joe team. After several battles with the Joes, Storm Shadow and Snake-Eyes would work together to bring down the men responsible (Zartan, Cobra Commander and Firefly). Finally, Storm Shadow was made an official member of the G.I. Joe team and regained his honor through countless acts of courage.
He would later return to COBRA after being captured and brainwashed along with all other former Cobra agents. He was frequently given continuous sessions of brainwashing to ensure his loyalty and it took him a few years to finally shake off the programming and rejoin his swords brother, Snake-Eyes.
When the G.I. Joe team was rebuilt in G.I. Joe: America's Elite, Storm Shadow was added to the team due to his background. His expertise as a covert ops specialist and ninja have proven useful. However, what has proven more important to the team is the knowledge he gained as Cobra Commander's bodyguard. While Snake-Eyes and Stalker have accepted him as a member, fellow team member Shipwreck is the most vocal about his suspicions considering the ninja's constantly changing loyalties.
Cartoon
A Real American Hero
Unlike the comic, the cartoon series never explored the relationship between Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow. He was often being bandied about as a counterpart to G.I. Joe member Spirit. Also, he remained loyal to Cobra till the end of the Sunbow series. During season two he sided with Cobra Commander against Serpentor, and was seen helping the Commander in his various plots to overthrow Serpentor. He made a brief appearance in G.I. Joe: The Movie but was not involved in the battle with Cobra-La, it is possible that if he had been present he would have remained loyal to Cobra Commander.
He would return again in the DiC-produced G.I. Joe series but this time on the side of the Joe Team and as a member of the Ninja Force, reflecting his status in both the toyline and comics at that time. It was never explained how he came to side with the Joes.
Sigma 6
The rivalry between Storm Shadow and Snake-Eyes is one of the focal plotlines of G.I. Joe: Sigma 6. There have been hints and references as to the cause of their enmity. The 4Kids TV website for Sigma 6 states that Storm Shadow was on an infiltration mission in a COBRA base and was captured and brainwashed into thinking the Joes and Snake-Eyes were his enemies. Though Storm Shadow called Snake-Eyes "brother", the exact nature of that relationship is unknown. Storm Shadow frequently blames Snake-Eyes for the downfall of the Arashikage ninja clan. The exact nature of Snake-Eyes's betrayal of the Arashikage is as yet unknown.
On occasion, he used Ninja B.A.T.s as support troopers. This is an interesting difference from the A Real American Hero series, as ARAH Storm Shadow preferred highly trained humans as opposed to machines.