CLASSIFIED FRAG-VIPER

THROWING IT ALL AWAY...

THE CHARACTERS OF G.I. JOE

    "A Frag-Viper, with a 50 round magazine and an automatic feeder, can deliver fifteen rounds-per-minute and you'll never have any idea where they're coming from!" - from the file card, 1989.

COBRA COMMAND

Cobra Grenade Thrower - FRAG-VIPER

File Name - Various

Birthplace - Various

Specialties - Grenade Lobber, Explosives, Demolitions.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION...

    Flinging explosives from a hidden location, Cobra's Frag-Vipers are an exceptionally difficult enemy to defeat.  Outfitted with special cestas inspired from the sport Jai Alai, these grenadiers don't have to be concerned about a muzzle flash or noise giving away their location.  They simply find a suitable spot and start raining on the Joes' parade.

    Using a cesta to lob bombs may seem like a simplistic idea, but the Frag-Vipers are also geared up with a backpack that stores multiple fragmentation grenades and then automatically feeds them through hose to the throwing basket.  Furthermore, the helmet has built-in range-finders to aid him in calculating his enemy's distance.  The Frag-Viper is also qualified with small arms weaponry.

Original VS. Classified...

    The original Frag-Viper from 1989, in my opinion, was a bit dull.  Don't get me wrong, the accessories were very cool and the overall concept had merit.  But the boring brown uniform with blue sash didn't have much to say.  Then you consider the strange bug-like helmet with the mosquito stinger that you attached a hose to...  It looked like a mishmash of ideas that just didn't work together.  Coupled with the great accessories, the Frag-Viper was a good figure, but not a GREAT figure.

    Fast-forward to G.I. Joe Classified and we get the NEW Frag-Viper.  In this toyline, I simply go after my favorites.  Knowing the original figure - this one was going to be an easy pass.  Seeing the pictures of the figure though, I started to notice he looked a lot better than the original.  When I looked at the figure on Amazon, they often had him a little cheaper then many of the other figures.  I then started considering adding him to my collection!

    As fate would have it, we were traveling on vacation this year and my oldest son and I happened to find a cool collectables place in Raliegh, NC. that conveniently was celebrating their store's anniversary.  I saw the Frag-Viper for $20 and I thought "maybe it's time to pick this figure up?"  Before I gave it much thought the owner says "by the way, all G.I. Joe items are 50% off."  I said "you mean, this figure is $10?"  He said "yes" and I looked at my son and said "this figure is mine!"

    Looking at the updated Frag-Viper, Hasbro really took the individual elements of the figure and pulled them all together.  The brown and blues of his uniform are much more vibrant than the original.  Plus they added extra blue and silver highlights.  The color palette looks much more unified now.  The helmet is sized better and the "mosquito-stinger" is basically gone.

    The original had two molded on sidearms, holstered onto his legs.  Now, he has uzis on each leg that are removable.  So if he runs out of grenades, he can still throw down with the Joes.  His equipment retains it's level of awesomeness with the cesta, backpack, and the thick hose connecting them.  It all looks great together!

    Then there is the cyborg element...  The removeable helmet reveals a pasty-gray, zoned-out looking face.  I think this was an odd choice, but it means nothing to me.  I simply keep his helmet on and he is just another member of my Cobra Viper Fire Team!  No problem!  You can embrace or ignore this factor, the choice is yours.

    This figure is a prime example of the way Hasbro can take a mediocre figure from the past and really dial it up!  This figure is way more awesome than I ever imagined!  So glad it is now in my collection!

    What are your thoughts on Classified Frag-Viper?