Tomax and Xamot

Tomax & Xamot
G.I. Joe character

Tomax and Xamot as seen in the Sunbow/Marvel G.I. Joe cartoon
First appearance 1985
Voiced by Corey Burton (Tomax, Sunbow/Marvel) and Michael Bell (Xamot, Sunbow/Marvel)
Stephen Stanton (both, Renegades)
Affiliation Cobra
Specialty Crimson Guard Commanders
File name Tomax Paoli & Xamot Paoli
Birth place Ajaccio, Corsica
Primary MOS Infiltration, Espionage, Sabotage, Propaganda, and Corporate Law
Subgroups Crimson Guard; Extensive Enterprises

Tomax and Xamot (also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders) are fictional characters from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. They are the co-leaders of Cobra's elite troops, the Crimson Guard, and debuted in 1985.

Profile

While their origins are top secret, the brothers speak in notable accents which show they are from Corsica. The brothers were at some point members of the Unione Corse (Corsican Brotherhood), served in the French Foreign Legion's 1erREP in Algeria, then as mercenaries in Africa (Congo, southern Africa) and South America, before changing careers and becoming bankers in Zurich, Switzerland.[1] Unhappy with the world of corporate finance, the brothers found the opportunities available in international terrorism far more suited to their abilities, and joined Cobra. Their specialties are in infiltration, espionage (military and industrial), sabotage, propaganda, and corporate law.[2]

Like the Crimson Guard that they lead, Xamot and Tomax also lead the "respectable" corporate face of Cobra as the founders, owners, and CEOs of Extensive Enterprises. When not engaged in terrorism, they efficiently manage Cobra's business affairs in shirt and tie. Their preferred mode of attack is through brains over brawn, using the law to serve the purposes of Cobra. They have covered their paper trail and connection to Cobra so well, that it is thought to be impossible to prove a connection between them and the terrorist organization.[2]

The twin brothers are mirror images of each other; Tomax's hair is parted on the right side of his head and Xamot's on the left, the piping on their uniforms goes up the opposite side on each twin, and even their names are mirror images of one another. The only distinguishing mark between the two is a scar on Xamot's right cheek. Tomax and Xamot share an empathic connection commonly known as "The Corsican Syndrome" in which identical twins are believed to be psychically bonded, in a manner similar to The Corsican Brothers. While this is often useful, as it allows them to communicate wordlessly and finish each other's sentences, it is also a liability as they feel each other's pain.[3]

Toys

Tomax and Xamot were first released as action figures in 1985.[4][5] Included in their package were laser pistols and a zip-line with skyhook.

Comics

Marvel Comics

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, the twins first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #37 (July 1985).[6] They fight G.I. Joe forces throughout a busy amusement park, attempting to ambush Gung-Ho and Blowtorch. They are defeated when the Joes play 'possum'; the Twins don't realize the amusement park's ride has stopped their machine gun fire.[7]

Their forces, the Crimson Guard, are shown as capable battlefield soldiers and respectable businessmen. As the latter, they are to gain as much economic influence as possible, solely for the benefit of Cobra.

A Joe team, assisted by Sierra Gordo revolutionaries, assaults a Cobra fortress, one of many in a style called Terror Drome. During the confrontations, the twins man a helicopter gunship and badly injure Stalker. Other Joes destroy the helicopter but the twins (and Stalker) survive.[8] Later, the Joes completely take the fortress. Having prepared, Tomax and Xamot purposely wait until the Joes are inside before attempting to activate several explosive devices. This fails, as the Joes had brought their own explosive expert, Tripwire.[9]

In issue #109, the Twins and their forces do capture a squad of Joe members. They misinterpret an order from Cobra Commander and incorrectly believe that they must now execute all the Joes. While they are unwilling to outright kill the subdued prisoners, a S.A.W. Viper willingly fires into the prisoners, killing Doc, Heavy Metal, Crankcase and Thunder. The survivors injure the Viper with a hidden knife and escape.[10] In the ensuing pursuit, the prisoners commandeer a Cobra vehicle, which is fired upon by other Cobra forces. Breaker, Crazylegs and Quick Kick are killed while the survivors make it back to Joe territory.[11]

Devil's Due

Years later, in the Devil's Due series, the Twins fall under the influence of Destro's son, who has infected them with multi-function nanites. Their businesses still continue, such as working with Ripper to promote his soda company.[12] After the nanite threat is neutralized, the twins activate Crimson Guardsmen in order to provide support to the now-free Cobra Commander.[13]

They continue to broker most deals for Cobra. The twins lead the unsuccessful hunt for the Cobra Island Joe infiltrator, 'Barrel Roll'.,[14] and were in charge of the secret construction of Monolith Base in Badhikstan, but after G.I. Joe raided the base, they fled with Cobra Commander to a cave. There, Red Shadow agent Dela Eden arrived and unleashed gunfire on the group.

In the G.I. Joe Special Missions: Antarctica one-shot, a Joe team broke up an illegal oil drilling operation that was run by Tomax, who was able to escape. During the story, Xamot was strangely absent. In one scene Tomax talked to his brother as if he were present, despite the scene showing an empty chair. The whereabouts of Xamot were revealed in another story in the same issue, when G.I. Joe raided a Cobra medical facility and found Xamot, in a coma and unresponsive (presumably from the Red Shadows attack). Xamot is then held in G.I. Joe custody, still in a coma.

Some months later, Tomax leads a raid on "The Coffin", a G.I. Joe maximum-security prison located in Greenland, to rescue his brother and free other Cobra operatives.[15] He successfully frees his brother and several other Cobra agents. Off panel, the invading Cobra forces cause the death of 'loose ends' held at the Coffin, including Cobra operatives Monkeywrench and Dr. Biggles-Jones.[16] Tomax and Xamot are captured by the Joes in the final battle with Cobra. Both are sent to the Coffin.[17]

Devil's Due - G.I. Joe vs. Transformers

Tomax and Xamot also appeared in the second G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers mini-series by Devil's Due. In it, Tomax and Xamot had used Cybertronian technology to become human-looking cyborgs who, when touching each other, shoot a massive blast. In order to avoid them using that power, Shockwave kills Xamot. Tomax later appears, grieving.

IDW Publishing

Main article: G.I. Joe: Cobra

In this new IDW continuity, Tomax and Xamot are revealed to be French and originally part of the Unione Corse. They set up their security company Extensive Enterprises, which was co-opted by Cobra; while Tomax enjoys being part of Cobra, he is unaware Xamot has become disgruntled and no longer trusts his brother.[18] Xamot is badly beaten by Chuckles, who then self-destructs a nuclear missile payload on board a Cobra submarine, sacrificing himself and Xamot in the process. Tomax survives.[19]

Tomax is hidden, without benefit of a trial, deep in the American prison system. He uses his inginuity and the benefits of being an Extensive Enterprise board member in an attempt to escape.[20]

Cartoon

Sunbow/Marvel

Tomax and Xamot are first introduced in the G.I. Joe mini-series “Pyramid of Darkness”. They appear as the commanders of the Crimson Guard, as well as the heads of Extensive Enterprises. Unlike the comics, the twins in the cartoon were often cagey, self-interested, and eager to seize power for themselves, although they garnish little support from other Cobra members, and their attempts are usually quashed by Cobra Commander. They share a psychic link, and feel one another's pain, which the Joes use to their advantage several times in battle.

At the beginning of the second season, Tomax and Xamot join Doctor Mindbender and Destro in creating Serpentor, also having grown tired of Cobra Commander's failures. But as soon as Serpentor is brought to life and orders his attack and invasion of the United States, Tomax and Xamot are the first to point out the sheer impossibility of such an attack. Their objections are quickly silenced however when Serpentor begins to throttle them.

In the un-produced third season of the original Sunbow/Marvel series, Tomax and Xamot were planned to be the season's main villains, with most of Cobra-La and the Cobra Organization being destroyed at the end of the film. Tomax and Xamot would then form a new criminal organization known as “the Coil” to fight against the Joes. This season never went into production due to the abrupt cancellation of the series by Hasbro.[21]

In the cartoon, Tomax was voiced by Corey Burton and Xamot by Michael Bell.[22]

G.I. Joe: The Movie

In G.I. Joe: The Movie, they side with Cobra-La, and are seen fighting the Joes in the final battle, until a huge explosion destroys all of Cobra-La.[23]

DiC

Tomax and Xamot are not seen again in the DiC-produced third season. Their old headquarters, the Extensive Enterprises building, is seen, however, and General Hawk mentions that they closed them down. The building itself has been abandoned and is being used as a secret Cobra base. The Crimson Guard, however, are still present, in the form of the Crimson Guard Immortals. However, they are used more as a grunt force, as opposed to an elite group.

G.I. Joe: Renegades

Tomax and Xamot appear in the G.I. Joe: Renegades, dubbing themselves as the "Brothers of Light" due to their psychic abilities to manipulate others into do their bidding when standing together. Their psychic link is strong to the point of empathy: if one is in pain, the other feels it. Tomax and Xamot use their powers to "fleece" believers whom they brainwash into their cult with a machine that galvanizes their psychic abilities, planning on expanding their cult worldwide. When the Joes end up in their desert oasis while searching for Doctor Mindbender, who is searching for a psychic to enhance his research, only Tunnel Rat and Snake Eyes manage to stay out of their control as they eventually expose the brothers' deception to their followers.

Forced to destroy their base of operations, Tomax and Xamot convince Doctor Mindbender to take them with him to escape retaliation. However, the two soon find themselves being subjected to Mindbender's experiments in improving Bio-Vipers such as creation of the prototype Shadow-Vipers. Later during the events of the "Union of the Snake," after the attempt to use their ability to subjugate the heads of various telecommunication companies to serve Cobra fails, Tomax and Xamot manage to break free of their bonds and mesmerize Baroness and Mindbender to fight each other for their amusement before deciding to escape when the authorities arrive. Soon after, the brothers decide to spread their cause through telecommunications.

Video games

Tomax and Xamot are featured as bosses in the 1992 G.I. Joe arcade game.

Film

In G.I. Joe: Retaliation, during the President's press conference, one of the news vans has the logo for Extensive Enterprises, the Cobra front company run by the Crimson Guard commanders Tomax and Xamot. The twins will be appearing in the third G.I. Joe film.[24]

Popular culture

References

  1. ↑ “Intelligence File: Tomax and Xamot”, Action Force Monthly #10 (March 1989).
  2. 1 2 Hama, Larry (1987). Howard Mackie, ed. G.I. Joe Order Of Battle. Marvel Entertainment Group. p. 112. ISBN 0-87135-288-5.
  3. ↑ Hidalgo, Pablo (2009). G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: The Essential Guide 1982-2008. Random House. pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-0-345-51642-8.
  4. ↑ "Half the Battle: 1985 Characters". Half the Battle. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  5. ↑ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 102. ISBN 0-87341-301-6.
  6. ↑ Jamar Miller. "Tomax and Xamot". G.I. Joe Comics Home Page. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  7. ↑ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #37 (July 1985)
  8. ↑ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #55 (Jan. 1987)
  9. ↑ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #56 (1987)
  10. ↑ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #109 (Feb. 1, 1991)
  11. ↑ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #110 (March 1, 1991)
  12. ↑ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol.2 #2 (2001)
  13. ↑ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol.2 #6 (2002)
  14. ↑ G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Vol.2 #28-30 (2004)
  15. ↑ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #30
  16. ↑ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #31
  17. ↑ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #36
  18. ↑ Cobra Special #1
  19. ↑ "G.I. Joe: Cobra" #13 (Feb 2010)
  20. ↑ "Cobra Civil War: Cobra" #3 (July 2011)
  21. ↑ "G.I. Joe Interview - Buzz Dixon". Joeheadquarters.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  22. ↑ "Roll Call". G.I. Joe Roll Call. Joe Headquarters. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  23. ↑ G.I. Joe: The Movie (Motion picture). De Laurentiis Entertainment Group. April 20, 1987.
  24. ↑ Madison, Charles (February 5, 2015). "Third GI Joe movie looking to add MASK character, twin villains". Film Divder.
  25. ↑ Steve Gerber, G.I. Joe Writers' Guide (Sunbow Productions, Inc., 1985), 17.
  26. ↑ Fleming, Dan (1996). Powerplay: toys as popular culture. Manchester University Press ND. p. 108. ISBN 0-7190-4717-X.

External links

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