- Zartan makes his first full appearance following a cameo at the end of issue #24.
 
 

- Zartan fights Ripcord at night on Cobra Island, then takes the Joe's place. It is revealed Zartan killed the Hard Master.

"I had thought it was going to be a ninja or two with a private debt to settle with me!"

- After being taken into The Pit disguised as Ripcord, Zartan wreaks havoc in the Joes' HQ before being captured.

- After their first appearances, Zarana and Zandar rescue their brother from the Joes, with help from the Dreadnoks and their Thunder Machine .
 
 

- Tired of Fred VII's ineffectual leadership, Zartan ends the Cobra civil war when he kills Serpentor with an arrow.

"Do I have to do everything around here?"
 

- Zartan tells the story of how he was hired by Cobra Commander to kill the Hard Master and how that led his mentor, Onihashi, to kill himself.

"I'm not for hire. I do things for the pure challenge."
 

- Zartan fights he Blind Master to the death. With his last breath, the old ninja tells Zartan that Onihashi forgave him before he died. Zartan decides to reform and takes on the Blind Master's identity.

"Come on! You got a few lucky punches, old man...but now, I'm going to wipe up this alley with your spleen!"
 

- Months after their supposed deaths, Zartan and Billy appear in Scotland, helping Destro and siding with the Joes against Cobra Commander.

- After a long absence, Zartan returns, revealing his new Ninja Force look and helping the Joes.

- Zartan (along with Destro and others) comes under the mind control of Cobra Commander, who makes him once again work for Cobra.