Snoova's Top 10: ARMY BUILDER FIGURES
Continuing the trend with the Top Ten lists… I have compiled my next list, this time of the Top Ten Enemy Army Builder Figures. These are obviously not individual characters, but figures you could acquire multiples of to build up your forces.
As usual, there are so many great figures to choose from! This list was harder to do than the individual Cobras. I could have easily just made it a Top Twenty, but again, I eventually was able to whittle it down to ten! As usual, they are listed in chronological order.
As usual, there are so many great figures to choose from! This list was harder to do than the individual Cobras. I could have easily just made it a Top Twenty, but again, I eventually was able to whittle it down to ten! As usual, they are listed in chronological order.
1.) EELS - Cobra Frogman, Series 4, 1985
Finally, Cobra got some underwater specialists! They seriously needed this as the Joes already had the Torpedo and Deep Six (with his flying submarine - the SHARC). So Cobra needed this department covered... and they covered it well!
What a great addition to the G.I. Joe universe!!! Androids that your Joes could blast away at, and they keep coming. The accessories and storage were genius - you could swap out his hand for a claw or machine gun and carry what he wasn't using in the backpack. You had the lenticular sticker and the technical, robotic detail... it was obvious these guys weren't supposed to be human. If one of these guys came strolling into your G.I. Joe Headquarters, you knew you were in trouble!
4.) VIPER - Cobra Infantry, Series 5, 1986
As I mentioned in my Top 10 Joes - Sci-Fi and the Viper were the first figures I saw of Series 5. This was pre-internet... we had no idea when these figures would come out, who was in the assortment or what they looked like! So when they hit the toy shelves, they hit with a bang! These two caught my eye and I bought them both! It apparently stuck with me because they have both been favorites ever since.
The Cobra Wolf was a great vehicle… and it came with an equally great driver! Hasbro always delivered on the snow troops and once again it seems they went above and beyond! Ice-Viper was great to put alongside the Snow Serpents and pit them against the arctic Joes. Not all vehicle drivers came with accessories, but this one came with a pair of sais (cool weapons, but I don’t know why he had these) and a helmet. The sais could even be attached to the sides of his legs.
6.) HYDRO-VIPER - Cobra Underwater Elite Trooper, Series 7, 1988
From the card-back, looking at the little picture of Hydro-Viper, it was hard to make out what he was with the creepy creature-like face. Turns out it is a helmet that "looks" like some underwater demon. He has scaly-type swim fins and a webbed hand as well!?!?! His speargun, backpack/air tanks and knife were more normal though... and the mask could be removed and you could see he was human underneath. Such a wild design!
It made perfect sense to me back in 1988 that Destro would create his own army! It was only a matter of time. I thought it was a great addition to the G.I. Joe universe!
10.) AIR DEVIL - Acrobatic Aerial Assault Trooper, Series 11, 1992
Well what do you know? Someone from the 90's!!! The file card really created interest in the way it describes the Air Devil as hang-gliding behind enemy lines then basically stealing weapons and causing chaos there. I thought the "Air Devil" name was appropriate as he sounds like a mischievous little trouble-maker. He had a cool red and black color scheme and that face-shield that could flip up or down. The glider was "gimmick-y" but still kind of neat!
Finally, Cobra got some underwater specialists! They seriously needed this as the Joes already had the Torpedo and Deep Six (with his flying submarine - the SHARC). So Cobra needed this department covered... and they covered it well!
The Eels looked great with their black and grey uniforms, perfect for sneaking up on their enemies! They had a wealth of accessories with the swim-fins, spear-gun, breather hose and backpack. The backpack even had an attachment that, I assume, was to blast them through the water at high speeds!
The Eels also served as a springboard into other specialized divisions, like the Snow Serpents, Lampreys and even Bio-Vipers.
2.) SNOW SERPENT - Cobra Polar Assault, Series 4 , 1985
Like the Eels, the Snow Serpent filled a gap that Cobra desperately needed to close... the Joes already had some arctic specialists and a few vehicles as well. Snow Serpent was a husky-looking figure that looked like he could really shake down Snow Job or Frostbite. As usual, Hasbro outfitted this cold weather specialist with several accessories... including snow shoes, rifle, backpack, parachute pack and an anti-tank weapon!
Like the Eels, the Snow Serpent filled a gap that Cobra desperately needed to close... the Joes already had some arctic specialists and a few vehicles as well. Snow Serpent was a husky-looking figure that looked like he could really shake down Snow Job or Frostbite. As usual, Hasbro outfitted this cold weather specialist with several accessories... including snow shoes, rifle, backpack, parachute pack and an anti-tank weapon!
When the 1985 series came out, the Snow Serpent is the one my friends and I were all after!! I remember my friend, Aaron, found this figure pretty early. When I found it though, he talked me OUT OF BUYING IT!?!?! His reasoning was that he already had it and wanted to see a figure we didn't have. So I got the Tele-Viper. I like the Tele-Viper a lot, but like many figures, he pales in comparison to the Snow Serpent.
3.) B.A.T. - Cobra Battle Android Trooper, Series 5, 1986
What a great addition to the G.I. Joe universe!!! Androids that your Joes could blast away at, and they keep coming. The accessories and storage were genius - you could swap out his hand for a claw or machine gun and carry what he wasn't using in the backpack. You had the lenticular sticker and the technical, robotic detail... it was obvious these guys weren't supposed to be human. If one of these guys came strolling into your G.I. Joe Headquarters, you knew you were in trouble!
As I mentioned in my Top 10 Joes - Sci-Fi and the Viper were the first figures I saw of Series 5. This was pre-internet... we had no idea when these figures would come out, who was in the assortment or what they looked like! So when they hit the toy shelves, they hit with a bang! These two caught my eye and I bought them both! It apparently stuck with me because they have both been favorites ever since.
I liked that the Viper had the standard Cobra colors of blue, black and red. Their silver faceplates reminded me of Cobra Commander, so it was fitting his soldiers had a similar look to him. And the rifle was just cool looking!!! Probably hands down my favorite accessory!!
PS: The Python Viper is almost equally as cool!!!
PS: The Python Viper is almost equally as cool!!!
PPS: If I could cosplay ANYTHING... first choice would be a Viper!!!
5.) ICE-VIPER - Cobra Wolf Driver, Series 6, 1987
The Cobra Wolf was a great vehicle… and it came with an equally great driver! Hasbro always delivered on the snow troops and once again it seems they went above and beyond! Ice-Viper was great to put alongside the Snow Serpents and pit them against the arctic Joes. Not all vehicle drivers came with accessories, but this one came with a pair of sais (cool weapons, but I don’t know why he had these) and a helmet. The sais could even be attached to the sides of his legs.
My friend, Aaron, who had moved away a few years before, visited and had the Wolf and Ice-Viper. For whatever reason... he didn't like them... which is crazy to me... So we swapped for it. I don't recall what Joe vehicle I traded, but I remember it was well worth it. Seriously... how can you not like the Wolf???
From the card-back, looking at the little picture of Hydro-Viper, it was hard to make out what he was with the creepy creature-like face. Turns out it is a helmet that "looks" like some underwater demon. He has scaly-type swim fins and a webbed hand as well!?!?! His speargun, backpack/air tanks and knife were more normal though... and the mask could be removed and you could see he was human underneath. Such a wild design!
Like the Snow Serpent in 1985, Hydro-Viper was the one we were all looking for when Series 7 came out. I found it first and Deathwish wanted it so bad he offered me $7 for it. Joes were $3 at the time, so I could potentially buy two later!!! I asked him several times if he was sure, and he was, so we made the deal. Then I could not find it anywhere??? It drove me nuts! After a lengthy search, I caved and we switched back... We both finally ended up having one, but I don't think the figure ever became plentiful...
7.) IRON GRENADIER - Destro's Elite Troopers, Series 7, 1988
It made perfect sense to me back in 1988 that Destro would create his own army! It was only a matter of time. I thought it was a great addition to the G.I. Joe universe!
The Iron Grenadier soldiers had a great look with the black, gold and red color scheme. I like that they not only had a standard weapon (an uzi), but also an unusual weapon (a laser pistol)... after all, Destro is a weapon developer. Interesting that these cats were called Destro’s Elite Troopers and not as Infantry Troopers. Basically saying Destro’s standard soldier was a cut above the rest!
8.) ALLEY-VIPER - Cobra Urban Assault Trooper, Series 7, 1989
The orange and blue colors are certainly loud, but I’ve always liked these troopers! The armored uniform and cool helmet... these guys just looked like a force to be reckoned with!! The file card painted a clear picture of how brutal and tough these guys really were! Unfortunately, none of the media ever focused on that...
The accessories were all awesome! That rifle was wicked-looking with the grenade launcher and the off-set clip. He also had the backpack with the molded on grappling hook launcher and the shield!
Some people were put off by the colors, but that never bothered me. Yeah, the Joes could see him a mile away, but in my mind, they didn't want to mess with these guys. So once they spotted an Alley-Viper, they might turn and head the other way!
The orange and blue colors are certainly loud, but I’ve always liked these troopers! The armored uniform and cool helmet... these guys just looked like a force to be reckoned with!! The file card painted a clear picture of how brutal and tough these guys really were! Unfortunately, none of the media ever focused on that...
The accessories were all awesome! That rifle was wicked-looking with the grenade launcher and the off-set clip. He also had the backpack with the molded on grappling hook launcher and the shield!
Some people were put off by the colors, but that never bothered me. Yeah, the Joes could see him a mile away, but in my mind, they didn't want to mess with these guys. So once they spotted an Alley-Viper, they might turn and head the other way!
9.) NIGHT-VIPER - Cobra Night Fighter, Series 8, 1989
Night-Viper was one of those figures that when they came out you said "why didn't we do this a long time ago?" The Joes got their night fighter, Low-Light, a few years back. Cobra kinda dragged their feet on this one. What a great figure though and an army builder to boot. I could have easily seen this guy as being an individual, like Firefly, but we had a Firefly. Now we kick it up a notch by having multiples of this trooper!
Night-Viper was one of those figures that when they came out you said "why didn't we do this a long time ago?" The Joes got their night fighter, Low-Light, a few years back. Cobra kinda dragged their feet on this one. What a great figure though and an army builder to boot. I could have easily seen this guy as being an individual, like Firefly, but we had a Firefly. Now we kick it up a notch by having multiples of this trooper!
Like Alley-Viper of the same year, he has a mask that you could raise and lower and it also has an attachable scope for seeing in the dark. His backpack is cool and his rifle pegs on to his leg for storage. Great colors, great look, great accessories... you just can't go wrong here!
10.) AIR DEVIL - Acrobatic Aerial Assault Trooper, Series 11, 1992
Well what do you know? Someone from the 90's!!! The file card really created interest in the way it describes the Air Devil as hang-gliding behind enemy lines then basically stealing weapons and causing chaos there. I thought the "Air Devil" name was appropriate as he sounds like a mischievous little trouble-maker. He had a cool red and black color scheme and that face-shield that could flip up or down. The glider was "gimmick-y" but still kind of neat!
Obviously, I was out of Joes when this guy hit the shelves in 1992. I got this figure as a collector. Actually, I had moved a few hours away to go to college and found Air Devil in a Target there... in 1995!?!?! Three years of sitting on the shelves and the Joe line was even cancelled the year before! When I took him to the register, he was so old he wouldn't even scan! I think they let me have him for $5. Collecting in the mid-90's was a crazy ride!!!
So there we go... the Top 10 Army Builder figures! I would like to add as “honorable mentions,” the Night Vulture, Tele-Viper, Lampreys and Python Viper... wow, so close!!! I changed my mind between Night Vulture and Air Devil several times before settling on Air Devil.
Picture credits:
-- Eels, Viper, Hydro-Viper and Alley-Viper are taken from their respective cardbacks in my collection.
-- Snow Serpent and Night-Viper are from the 1991 Impel G.I. Joe Trading Card series.
-- B.A.T., Ice-Viper and Iron Grenadier are Web Prints in my collection from the GIJOE365 project by Chris Hemsworth.
-- Air Devil is from a picture I took of the figure many years ago. It's a little blurry... sorry! It's all I got! He didn't make into any G.I. Joe media that I know of...?
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