Like all the G. I. Joe books form IDW so far, this book knocked the ball right out of the park;  and coming from a completely different and original angle, at that.  A wash-out from the Joe program finds himself on a compeltely underground mission for the top brass;  becoming a stone-cold mercenary, working for different terrorist orgainizations, all with the goal of finally making contact with the big enchilada:  Cobra.  After a touch-n-go "job interview" (with Cage & Costa shaping the character out by having him constantly identify his situation, his surroundings, and the people around him), he participates in a fake ambush by the Joe team, which helps him give the apperance of usefulness by killing a few members (!) and getting his Cobra contact to safety.  The book ends with revelation that this orgainization is indeed Cobra and this story is just beginning....