Tomax and Xamot

G.I. Joe character
Tomax & Xamot
Affiliation	Cobra
Specialty	Crimson Guard Commanders
File name	Tomax Paoli & Xamot Paoli
Birthplace	Corsica
Rank	Crimson Guard Commanders
Primary MOS	Infiltration, Espionage, Sabotage, Propaganda, and Corporate Law
Subgroups	Extensive Enterprises
Voiced by	Corey Burton (Tomax, Sunbow) and Michael Bell (Xamot, Sunbow) Stephen Stanton (both, Renegades)
Year introduced	1985

Tomax and Xamot, also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders, are the code names of identical mirror twin brothers in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe. Together they are the co-leaders of Cobra's elite troops, the Crimson Guard.

Twins

They are mirror images of each other; Val (Tomax) is right-handed while Dave (Xamot) is left-handed, the piping on their uniforms goes up the opposite side on each twin. The only distinguishing mark between the two is a scar on Dave's right cheek, which Val does not have. Dave and Val 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- such as in cases where need arises to communicate wordlessly and finish each others sentences- it is also a liability as they feel each other's pain.^[1]

While their origins are top secret, the brothers speak in notable accents that indicate they were born on an island in the Mediterranean. (While never actually named, this island is strongly implied to be Corsica.) The brothers served in the French Foreign Legion in Algeria, then as mercenaries in Africa and South America before changing careers and moving into banking, becoming bankers in Zurich, Switzerland. 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. Within Cobra, their specialties are in infiltration, espionage, sabotage, propaganda and corporate law.^[2]

Like the Crimson Guard that they lead, Dave and Val 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.

Toys

Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) were first released as action figures in 1985.^[3][4] Included in their package was a Zip-line.

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).^[5] They fought 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 didn't realize the amusement park's ride had stopped their machine gun fire.^[6]

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 Terrordrome. During the confrontations, the twins man a helicopter gunship and badly injure Stalker. Other Joes destroy the helicopter but the twins (and Stalker) survive.^[7] Later, the Joes completely take the fortress. Having prepared, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) 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.^[8]

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. Unwilling to outright kill the subdued prisoners, they back off. A willing S.A.W. Viper fires into the prisoners, killing many. The survivors injure the Viper with a hidden knife and escape.^[9] In the ensuing pursuit, the prisoners commandeer a Cobra vehicle, which is fired upon by other Cobra forces. Even more Joes die; the resulting survivors from that incident make it back to Joe territory.^[10]

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.^[11] After the nanite threat is neutralized, the twins activate Crimson Guardsmen in order to provide support to the now-free Cobra Commander.^[12]

The twins lead the unsuccessful hunt for the Cobra Island Joe infiltrator, 'Barrel Roll'. They are impressed when he suggests the business idea of Cobra and Joe trading cards. Barrel Roll successfully escapes.^[13]

They continue to broker most deals for Cobra, 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. They later turned up alive, working with the Commander in a smaller, scaled down version of Cobra.

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 a backup 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.

In America's Elite #30, 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. In issue #31, Tomax successfully frees his brother and several other Cobra agents such as Major Bludd. This is in spite of Storm Shadow on the scene working for the Joes and a traitor in the Tomax's command. Off panel, the invading Cobra forces cause the death of 'loose ends' held at the Coffin, including Cobra operatives Monkeywrench and Dr. Biggles-Jones. in America's Elite #36, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) are captured by the Joes in the final battle with Cobra. Both are sent to the Coffin.

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

As per Cobra Special #1, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) 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.

In G.I. Joe: Cobra #13, 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.

Cartoon

Sunbow

Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) 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, in which they are the most loyal supporters of Cobra Commander, the twins in the cartoon were often trying to seize power for themselves, although they have little support from other Cobra members such as Destro and the Baroness, 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 (aka, Val and Dave) 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 (aka, Val and Dave) 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 series, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) 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 movie. Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) 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.^[14]

In the cartoon, Tomax was voiced by Corey Burton and Xamot by Michael Bell (who were also the voices of Autobot twins Sunstreaker and Sideswipe in The Transformers).^[15]

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.^[16]

DiC

Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) 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. Also in the DiC third and fourth seasons, their troops, the Crimson Guard, are shown 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 (aka, Val and Dave) appear in the G.I. Joe: Renegades episode "Brothers of Light." In this show, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) have mind-control abilities and hypnotic persuasion. They began as crooked cult leaders who harnessed their powers to "fleece" believers. The twins plan to enhance their natural abilities and unleash their wrath upon the world. The key to their success lies in their connection to one another, a telepathic force so strong that if one twin is struck, the other feels every bit of pain. When the Joes end up in their desert oasis after finding Sister Leia of their cult, the Joes end up under their control except for Tunnel Rat. Doctor Mindbender arrived while seeking out a psychic to learn the psychic powers. Snake Eyes pretended to be mind-controlled in order for him and Tunnel Rat to infiltrate the temple in order to break their mind-control. Snake Eyes destroyed the eye that boosted Tomax and Xamot's (aka, Val and Dave) powers causing Tunnel Rat and Snake Eyes to split up the twins. Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) convince Doctor Mindbender to take them with him. Moments later, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) are strapped to a table so that Doctor Mindbender can siphon their mind control abilities as part of his experiment to enhance the Bio-Viper project for Cobra Industries. In "White Out," Doctor Mindbender siphons Tomax and Xamot's (aka, Val and Dave) abilities in order to give Storm Shadow the ability to command the prototype Shadow-Vipers. In "Union of the Snake," Tomax and Xamot's (aka, Val and Dave) mind-control ability is siphoned for the use of the Black Adder phones in Cobra Commander's plot to take control of the competition. Due to Duke and Scarlett destroying the satellite tower, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) gain consciousness and end up mesmerizing Baroness and Doctor Mindbender into fighting each other. While they escape, Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) start blending in with the crowd as they wonder if they can spread their cause through telecommunications.

Video games

Tomax and Xamot (aka, Val and Dave) are featured as bosses in the 1992 G.I. Joe arcade game.

Popular culture

• In the Family Guy episode "Big Man on Hippocampus," Brian and Stewie tell an amnesiac Peter that they are called Tomax and Xamot and feel each other's pain.
• The twins' business venture is discussed in the non-fiction book 'Powerplay'.^[17]

References

1. ^ Hidalgo, Pablo (2009). G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: The Essential Guide 1982-2008. Random House. pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-0-345-51642-8. 
2. ^ "Filecard Gallery - Tomax & Xamot". YoJoe. http://www.yojoe.com/filecard/85/tomaxamot.shtml. Retrieved 13 March 2011. 
3. ^ "Half the Battle: 1985 Characters". Half the Battle. http://www.halfbattle.com/85figs4.html. Retrieved 13 March 2011. 
4. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 102. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
5. ^ Jamar Miller. "Tomax and Xamot". G.I. Joe Comics Home Page. http://www.myuselessknowledge.com/joe/characters/tandx.html. Retrieved 13 March 2011. 
6. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #37 (July 1985)
7. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #55 (Jan. 1987)
8. ^ G.I. Joe #56 (Feb. 1, 1987)
9. ^ G.I. Joe #109 (Feb. 1, 1991)
10. ^ G.I. Joe #110 (March 1, 1991)
11. ^ "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #2 (2001)
12. ^ "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #6 (2002)
13. ^ "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" #28-30 (2004)
14. ^ http://www.joeheadquarters.com/interviews_dixon.shtml
15. ^ "Roll Call". G.I. Joe Roll Call. Joe Headquarters. http://www.joeheadquarters.com/rollcall_cobra.shtml. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
16. ^ G.I. Joe: The Movie (Motion picture). De Laurentiis Entertainment Group. April 20, 1987. 
17. ^ Fleming, Dan (1996). Powerplay: toys as popular culture. Manchester University Press ND. p. 108. ISBN 071904717X. 

• Bellomo, Mark (2009). The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3. 

External links

• Tomax and Xamot on Joepedia, an external wiki
• Tomax and Xamot at The Inner Sanctum fansite