Scarlett (also released as Agent Scarlett) is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. She is one of the original members of the G.I. Joe Team, and debuted in 1982. The character is also featured in both the G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 animated series and comic books. Scarlett was portrayed by actress Rachel Nichols in the 2009 film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and Samara Weaving in the 2021 film Snake Eyes.
Profile Her real name is Shana M. O'Hara, and she was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Her primary specialty for the team is counterintelligence. Scarlett is additionally skilled in martial arts and acrobatics. She started training at age 9 with her father and three brothers, who were all instructors, and she earned her first black belt at age 15. Scarlett also graduated summa cum laude, and passed her Bar Exams to practice law before joining the military. She graduated from Advanced Infantry Training and Ranger School and received special education in Covert Ops School, Marine Sniper School, Special Air Service School, and Marine Tae Kwon Do Symposium. Although she is as adept with standard weapons as any of her comrades, her weapon of choice is the XK-1 power crossbow, which fires various bolts with specialized functions. Scarlett is also a qualified expert with the M-14, M-16, M1911A1 Auto Pistol, M79 grenade launcher, M-3A1, M-700 Remington sniper rifle, MAC-10, throwing stars, garotte and KA-BAR (Combat Knife).
Scarlett served as a prominent member of the G.I. Joe Team until it disbanded in 1994. When the team was reinstated, Scarlett was offered a position as a field commander, along with Stalker and Gung-Ho.
She has long red hair, which she tends to put up into a ponytail. In some appearances, she speaks with a southern drawl or localized Georgian accent. Her personal motto is, "Beauty may only be skin deep, but lethal is to the bone".
Action Force The Z Force character Quarrel is the European Action Force equivalent of Scarlett. Quarrel was cast as a Swiss diplomat's daughter, and specialized in martial arts. She was again re-characterized in the accompanying Battle Action Force comic books in 1985, this time as "Scarlett". However, her character was cast as a Belgian undercover operative.
Toys Scarlett was first released as an action figure in 1982. She was the first female action figure in the "A Real American Hero" toyline, making her one of the only figures of that year to have a completely unique mold. Her mold is also unique in that it is the only figure not to have peg holes in the feet. All of the original sixteen figures from 1982 were released with "straight arms". The same figure was re-released in 1983 with "swivel-arm battle grip", which made it easier for figures to hold their rifles and accessories.
A new version of Scarlett was released in 1993 as part of the Ninja Force line. This figure used a synthetic hair material to make her pony tail. Also, all the Ninja Force figures were designed with a "real ninja move". Scarlett's spring-loaded right leg could be pushed back, then released, causing it to spring forward in a kicking motion.
When new G.I. Joe action figures based on the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line were released in 2002, Hasbro had failed to renew their trademark claim to the name "Scarlett", and could no longer release the character with that name attached. Therefore, she was released as "Agent Scarlett", and her rank returned to E-5 sergeant.
International variants In Argentina, the 1982 mold of Scarlett was recolored blonde with a blue and white uniform, and released as "Glenda".
In Europe, the 1982 mold of Scarlett was re-colored blonde, with a dark green and black uniform, and released as "Quarrel". This figure was part of the Action Force line, and came packaged with the Z-Force RAM Motorcycle (a G.I. Joe Rapid Fire Motorcycle that had been recolored green and black). In 1984, she was again re-painted and re-characterized with the second generation of Action Force, this time as "Scarlett", and released with the third generation AF range. The range was discontinued in Europe in the late 1980s. The G.I. Joe Collectors Club later released an overstock of Quarrel figures, as a promotional give away at the 1992 G.I. Joe Convention.
25th anniversary In 2007, Scarlett was featured in the G.I. Joe team 25th anniversary 5 pack as an intelligence officer, using a new mold heavily based on her first design. She was also released in several different comic packs. In 2008, she was released as a Counter Intelligence officer, with her uniform painted blue and silver, as a homage to Glenda.
The Rise of Cobra To coincide with the launch of the movie G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Hasbro released two figures in July 2009 based on the Scarlett movie character. For both releases, she is listed as Shana "Scarlett" O'Hara. The first, classified as Desert Ambush, features her in the movie style black uniform. The second, classified as Covert Operations, features Scarlett in a camouflage uniform.
The G.I. Joe: Resolute version of Scarlett was released as part of the G.I. Joe Battle Set in 2010. The G.I. Joe: Renegades version of Scarlett was released as an action figure in 2011, as part of the 30th Anniversary line.
G.I. Joe Classified Series Q2 of 2020 sees the release of G.I. Joe Classified Series, a new line of highly articulated 6-inch scale action figures that includes prominent characters like Scarlett. This line features premium deco, detailing, articulation, and classic design updated to bring the classic characters into the modern era, plus accessories inspired by each character's rich history.
Comics Marvel Comics Scarlett first appeared in the Marvel Comics series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (June 1982).G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (June 1982)
In a flashback, it was revealed that Scarlett was one of the original members of the Joe team, and one of her first assignments was training the new team in hand-to-hand combat. During one such exercise, Scarlett met Snake Eyes for the first time. While she bested most of the team's members, she recognized that Snake Eyes was a superior fighter, yet had allowed Scarlett to beat him. This had Scarlett intrigued, and they became close rather quickly. Later on a mission into the middle east, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Rock 'n Roll, and Grunt were sent to save George Strawhacker from Cobra. On the way, a helicopter accident forced the Joes to bail out, but Scarlett was stuck in the burning chopper. Snake Eyes stayed behind to save her. He rescued Scarlett, but a window exploded in his face, scarring him and damaging his vocal cords. Despite his injuries, Snake Eyes convinced Hawk to let him continue with the mission.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #27 (September 1984)
Scarlett became a vital member of the G.I. Joe team, even commanding some missions from the very beginning. Scarlett was one of the first Joes to set foot in Springfield, a Cobra-controlled town hidden in the United States. There, a mysterious boy named Billy, who would later be revealed to be Cobra Commander's son, helped them escape.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #10 (April 1983) Later, Scarlett was captured by Storm Shadow and taken to Destro's castle in Trans-Carpathia. Soon afterward she was rescued by Snake Eyes, and it was discovered that Storm Shadow was Snake Eyes' friend Tommy Arashikage from Vietnam, and that they had trained in the same ninja clan.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #21 (March 1984)
Scarlett led a mission into the nation of Sierra Gordo, when Snake Eyes was captured there by Cobra forces. The Joes were unable to rescue Snake Eyes, and he was taken to the Cobra Consulate in New York. With Storm Shadow's help, Scarlett infiltrated the Consulate and rescued Snake Eyes. Later when Stalker, Snow Job and Quick Kick were thrown into a gulag in the Soviet country of Borovia, Snake Eyes and Scarlett defied orders to rescue Stalker and the others. They faked their own deaths, and went undercover in a circus that was traveling around eastern Europe, posing as acrobats and knife-throwers.
Scarlett is badly injured again, when a vengeful Baroness, who thought Snake Eyes had killed her brother, shot her at point-blank range in the midst of kidnapping Snake Eyes.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #94 (December 1989) After she lapses into a coma and doctors proclaim her brain-dead, Scarlett's sister Siobhan obtains a court-order to terminate Scarlett's life-support, but Scarlett eventually recovers from her coma and is reunited with Snake Eyes.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #103 (August 1990) The two would continue to serve G.I. Joe, even becoming members of the Ninja Force special team.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #135 (April 1993)
Scarlett's next assignment was to pretend she betrayed the Joes and joined Cobra. As part of the cover, she is forced to believe that she has caused the death of Stalker and Hawk, the only Joes who know the truth behind her motivations. While undercover, she takes part in the hunt for Destro and Baroness, and confronts them when Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow rescue the two. To keep up her cover, Snake Eyes impales Scarlett on his sword, but the Cobra ninja Slice realizes that since the wound was not instantly fatal, Snake Eyes had "pulled" his attack and Scarlett was still working for the G.I. Joe team.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #138 (July 1993)
Scarlett and Snake Eyes then took some much deserved time off, and stayed at Snake Eyes' cabin in the High Sierras. Unfortunately, they were soon forced back into duty to rescue Storm Shadow, after he is brainwashed by Cobra Commander. Snake Eyes and Scarlett would continue to serve G.I. Joe until its disbandment.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 (December 1994)
Writer Larry Hama says he always got a lot of positive fan mail from female readers for portraying Scarlett as "a fully competent female soldier" who was "never treated differently from any of the guys," instead of making her a damsel in distress.
Devil's Due Publishing
Scarlett: Declassified This one-shot reveals that before she joined the G.I. Joe team, she was a member of the Army. She was given training above and beyond what a female was allowed to receive at the time, as the generals putting G.I. Joe together wanted a secret weapon that enemies would not suspect. It is revealed that during her time in the CIA she is first given a mini-crossbow, which eventually becomes her weapon of choice. Also, much of her history with martial arts is revealed. Her last mission before joining the G.I. Joe team faces her off against Destro for the first time. It is because of the intelligence that she gathers, as well as her skills, that she is brought into the team.
Reinstatement When the team reforms in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero volume 2, Scarlett signs on as a commander for the Greenshirts.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #1 (October 2001) A team led by Roadblock, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Stalker and Gung-Ho suffers casualties in Florida, as Scarlett and Snake Eyes are taken prisoner by Destro, who is revealed to be Destro's son Alexander masquerading as his father.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #2 (December 2001) The Joes are infected with nano-mites, as Hawk sends Kamakura and Spirit to find Cobra Commander's son Billy, who helps them rescue Scarlett and Snake Eyes, and Alexander activates the satellite system.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #3 (February 2002) With reinforcements led by Lady Jaye, the Joes defeat Cobra, while Alexander and Mistress Armada are captured by the real Destro. Snake Eyes proposes to Scarlett.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #4 (April 2002)