I kind of looked at the Viper as an upgrade to the trooper. There would still be troopers to do more grunt work, but the Vipers were up just a little on the food chain as the trooper. I always thought the "piano wire" was a hook, or clip for climbing or being lowered from a helicopter or something! I was little when I got this guy, so I never bothered to read the cardbacks of nearly ANY of my figures! This was my very first though, I do remember that! Even before I knew what GI Joe Was! Doc was my second!lol Thanks for the memories, and thanks for sharing!
Fun review, the Cobra soldier was so iconic, they even delved into expanding them as individuals, the comics had Scarface, and the toon Lt. Clay Moore and even Baronesses female Cobra troops in the previously mentioned Grunt review. As you said, without the blue shirts, there is no Cobra.
The cobra soldier gives the cobra army a serious factor that the joe's don't have. All of the Joe's are different from each other, what gives every figure more personality but makes them a less formal army. Like the Pancho Villa army Besides, this is a cool uniform proper for war; the mask makes them more scary but I prefer the 1986 Viper. For me this is the perfect terrorist uniform and one of my favourites cobra figures ever. Good review and go ahead Cobra!!! Coooobra!
I would love to see 2.0 updates of these older/early production figures review videos. As I would love to see you show off all the mold reuses together for early figures like what you did for later videos. Please keep up the amazing video work!
I would join G.I Joe in a heartbeat if given the choice, but I prefer basic Cobra troopers, such as the Cobra Troopers, Officers, and Vipers. I also like drivers or crew of vehicles like the Stinger, Hiss Tank or the Cobra Stun. I do not know... but there's always been something about those blue fatigues, sharpened bayonets, polished boots, and a very organized military or terrorist organization. If you think about it, Cobra can be it's own Private Military Company. I mean, they have uniforms, weapons and armaments, vehicles, and people willing to fight. With a little more improvements, such as leaders who are not so incompentent, and basic training, I'd say they are a formidable fighting force. I think they are the force the way they are now, but it is just some ideas I came up with.
Great review as always. Looking forward to another COBRA! month. I think the chest pistol has always been a mystery. I've heard grenade launcher (it seems a little small for one), flare gun, and it also looks like an old Welrod silenced pistol. All three are believable but the rounds on the left shoulder lean closer to the first two. But if he has a sniper rifle and a garrote, a silenced pistol isn't too far of a stretch, or a flare for extraction.
I initially thought it was a flare gun or a laser pistol similar to Cobra Commanders. However, concept drawings for the trooper identify it as a grenade launcher.
Really spot on! Now for me in the old days I could never find either the Trooper or Soldiers in stores and the Python Patrol re-issues disgusted me! Now the ebay era has been the great way to put back the pieces as I have been purchasing a few of each and some card-backs! I always remember looking at the card-backs from those days and fixating on that little thumbnail of each one. By far these were the trailblazers of Cobra when we didnt need a squillion specialized Vipers! I am so happy to have found your reviews on these great figures we all grew up on!
Thank you! Cobra did become over-specialized. The blue shirts look great as a squad. All those blue uniforms en masse really make an impression. When you start adding all the specialists, the Cobra front line starts to look like neon pizza.
There is a pretty big part of me which wants to take the specialists and unite them visually under a basic Viper V.1 color scheme. ALL of them. The Cybers, the Technos, the Heat V.1s and V.2s, and so forth. I actually did a print for comic conventions which had one of "every" cobra army builder (no named characters) arranged on bleachers many years ago. It's far below my skill level now but it still sells well at comic conventions when I drag it out.
"And this silver piece right here is what he uses to strangle his victims." "I changed my mind about being a Joe. Hail Cobra! Well, time to be a Blueshirt! See ya!"
I always wanted these guys (any of the versions), but for some reason never got them. Now with the new line, I'm going to try really hard to get a few. They are so cool looking. Thanks for the awesome review 😁👍
great video. I never appreciated the realism with these figures growing up. I played with them hard and broke Joe lore as I got older. looking back 30+ years I can see why hasbro was so successful with this line until the evil and dark days of the 90's. looking forward to the next cobra edition. what will it be? a vehicle like the ferret or moray or a figure like techno-viper or astro-viper. will you do an iron grenadiers month. I know the 90's sucked and you'll be forgiven to never mention eco-warriors, DEF, or battle corps. though I did like a few battle corps figures. col courage and beachhead. the accessory tree thing irks you but the sculpting was decent with these 2 figures.
+HoodedCobraCommander788 the 90's figures were on par with, oh i don't know, ZANDAR! I went back through my catalog inserts that i still have and found 10 figures worth mentioning. Pathfinder, Sub-Zero, Ambush, Big Ben, Rock-viper, Dusty, Capt. Grid-iron, Bullhorn, Beach head(battle corps) and Col. Courage(battle corps.) Okay, i'm a bit biased when it comes to the early 90's figures. There may have been more that are worthy to be mentioned not full video worth, a quick shot, just to say you covered them. no need to torture yourself like with zandar and tjbang.
I have one of those 1982 (straight arms and neck). It was given to me by a friend, unfortunately no base or sniper rifle. But its a Brazilian version of it, the blue is slightly lighter. Original release of this figure there was 1985. Pm for pictures.
Great Review. Too bad these figures weren't available after 1983 (even though they were featured throughout the cartoon series all the way up to the 1987 Movie). I never had one as a kid. I did have a Cobra Officer, which I liked better because of the AK and the Silver Sigil. Hasbro should have offered these throughout the Joe duration and in different skin tones. Looking forward to more Cobra reviews !
It would have been nice if a few figures had been available throughout the run, since they continued to appear in media. Cobra troopers would be one. Scarlett is another character that continued to show up in the cartoon and comic long after the figure left the shelves. But Hasbro had a formula and they stuck to it.
hope you do the Cobra Vipers next month.. would be interesting to hear your opinion on the difference between the Cobra Soldier corps and the Vipers Corps.. The Vipers looks moore like frontline troops with the flak vest,hand grenades,back pack etc. Thank you for everything you do. You're my favorite channel on TH-cam. Best regards from Norway
I would guess that red worked better for comic book coloring, since the color printing on comics back then tended to be pretty simple and favor basic primary colors. Red probably stood out more than straight black. I prefer black, though. I would have been happy with a black mask in the comic.
Thanks for answering a question I had. The tilted cobra soldier emblem! I recently picked up a straight arm (82) and was wondering if I got some rare defect. Emblem is higher and slightly tilted just like yours. I wonder if they were all like that? How many do you have? All like that?
i acidentaly broke my dads origional grey cobratrooper . so i supper glued it back together but i cant find part of the collar. i replaced the legs with black legs from a fourwheeler figure that used the same o ring technology
He was my first Cobra figure, I received him for Christmas in 1982. He was my only Cobra at the time and was severely outmanned by my Joes, (most of "the green 13")
I think the Viper and the Soldier are the same function essentially, and can be used interchangeably. However, it feels very much like the Soldier is not very important and doesn't have tactical or military training to much (or any) degree. It seems like Cobra might get some ex-military defectors (traitors!), people who have actual combat experience and training, and that person might be a Viper basically right away or after a small amount of indoctrination. However the Soldier uniform feels like the kind of uniform you give to the backwoods militia type fellow who isn't happy with how things are going and is has stars in his eyes to be a revolutionary of whatever type, but maybe doesn't have much actual skill (and the uniform just looks like it is meant to be cheap and inspire uniformity).
The argument of stormtrooper helmet s don't work so maybe they are all incapable of seeing far so maybe that is why they need sniper scopes. Or maybe there are corrective lenses in the vipers mask or the outhers characters masks. Hey mabey that is why we never see cobra commander shooting and mabey that is a prerequisite to join cobra A. Be incapable of seeing far. B. Be ready to ru... retreat. C. Be ready to be part of a confusing plan I'm not trying to be mean. But to me this is funny.
The Cobra soldiers, and, officers were always my favorite Cobras!
Love this review! The history of this figure is great. A simple character but very important!!!
Thank you!
I kind of looked at the Viper as an upgrade to the trooper. There would still be troopers to do more grunt work, but the Vipers were up just a little on the food chain as the trooper. I always thought the "piano wire" was a hook, or clip for climbing or being lowered from a helicopter or something! I was little when I got this guy, so I never bothered to read the cardbacks of nearly ANY of my figures! This was my very first though, I do remember that! Even before I knew what GI Joe Was! Doc was my second!lol Thanks for the memories, and thanks for sharing!
Fun review, the Cobra soldier was so iconic, they even delved into expanding them as individuals, the comics had Scarface, and the toon Lt. Clay Moore and even Baronesses female Cobra troops in the previously mentioned Grunt review. As you said, without the blue shirts, there is no Cobra.
In my Joeverse the Blue Shirts are regular people that join Cobra as a sort of militia groups while the Vipers are actual soldiers for Cobra.
The cobra soldier gives the cobra army a serious factor that the joe's don't have. All of the Joe's are different from each other, what gives every figure more personality but makes them a less formal army. Like the Pancho Villa army
Besides, this is a cool uniform proper for war; the mask makes them more scary but I prefer the 1986 Viper. For me this is the perfect terrorist uniform and one of my favourites cobra figures ever.
Good review and go ahead Cobra!!!
Coooobra!
Thanks, and good points about the uniformity of Cobra vs. the informality of G.I. Joe.
I would love to see 2.0 updates of these older/early production figures review videos. As I would love to see you show off all the mold reuses together for early figures like what you did for later videos. Please keep up the amazing video work!
My theory would be that the Cobra Officer was suppose to be the Trooper and the Trooper was suppose to be the Officer. Just a thought.
I would join G.I Joe in a heartbeat if given the choice, but I prefer basic Cobra troopers, such as the Cobra Troopers, Officers, and Vipers. I also like drivers or crew of vehicles like the Stinger, Hiss Tank or the Cobra Stun. I do not know... but there's always been something about those blue fatigues, sharpened bayonets, polished boots, and a very organized military or terrorist organization. If you think about it, Cobra can be it's own Private Military Company. I mean, they have uniforms, weapons and armaments, vehicles, and people willing to fight. With a little more improvements, such as leaders who are not so incompentent, and basic training, I'd say they are a formidable fighting force. I think they are the force the way they are now, but it is just some ideas I came up with.
Great review as always. Looking forward to another COBRA! month. I think the chest pistol has always been a mystery. I've heard grenade launcher (it seems a little small for one), flare gun, and it also looks like an old Welrod silenced pistol. All three are believable but the rounds on the left shoulder lean closer to the first two. But if he has a sniper rifle and a garrote, a silenced pistol isn't too far of a stretch, or a flare for extraction.
I initially thought it was a flare gun or a laser pistol similar to Cobra Commanders. However, concept drawings for the trooper identify it as a grenade launcher.
Really spot on! Now for me in the old days I could never find either the Trooper or Soldiers in stores and the Python Patrol re-issues disgusted me! Now the ebay era has been the great way to put back the pieces as I have been purchasing a few of each and some card-backs! I always remember looking at the card-backs from those days and fixating on that little thumbnail of each one. By far these were the trailblazers of Cobra when we didnt need a squillion specialized Vipers! I am so happy to have found your reviews on these great figures we all grew up on!
Thank you! Cobra did become over-specialized. The blue shirts look great as a squad. All those blue uniforms en masse really make an impression. When you start adding all the specialists, the Cobra front line starts to look like neon pizza.
There is a pretty big part of me which wants to take the specialists and unite them visually under a basic Viper V.1 color scheme. ALL of them. The Cybers, the Technos, the Heat V.1s and V.2s, and so forth. I actually did a print for comic conventions which had one of "every" cobra army builder (no named characters) arranged on bleachers many years ago. It's far below my skill level now but it still sells well at comic conventions when I drag it out.
Yeah, great video! I still haven't been able to get my hands on any of these.
Thank you! Be patient. There are plenty out there, but the prices can vary a lot. Snag a good deal when you find one.
this is one of your best reviews yet. keep up the amazing work. now it is time to go play with my joes.
Thank you!
every review is better than the last.good stuff.you are one of the best
Thank you!
"And this silver piece right here is what he uses to strangle his victims." "I changed my mind about being a Joe. Hail Cobra! Well, time to be a Blueshirt! See ya!"
Cobra❗❗❗💪🏼🐍
Excellent, as always!
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
I always wanted these guys (any of the versions), but for some reason never got them. Now with the new line, I'm going to try really hard to get a few. They are so cool looking. Thanks for the awesome review 😁👍
I hope you got the new retro O-ring one
Awesome review man, thanks for everything you do
I like this figure. I have one of these, but 2 of the the silver chested ones.
great video. I just picked up a straight arm figure.
Thank you! Congrats on getting the straight arm figure. I hope you enjoy it.
I always considered the Cobra Troopers to be Army, and the Vipers to be Marines.
Great review!
great video. I never appreciated the realism with these figures growing up. I played with them hard and broke Joe lore as I got older. looking back 30+ years I can see why hasbro was so successful with this line until the evil and dark days of the 90's. looking forward to the next cobra edition. what will it be? a vehicle like the ferret or moray or a figure like techno-viper or astro-viper. will you do an iron grenadiers month. I know the 90's sucked and you'll be forgiven to never mention eco-warriors, DEF, or battle corps. though I did like a few battle corps figures. col courage and beachhead. the accessory tree thing irks you but the sculpting was decent with these 2 figures.
I can assure you, there will be a lot more of the 90s coming up.
+HoodedCobraCommander788 the 90's figures were on par with, oh i don't know, ZANDAR! I went back through my catalog inserts that i still have and found 10 figures worth mentioning. Pathfinder, Sub-Zero, Ambush, Big Ben, Rock-viper, Dusty, Capt. Grid-iron, Bullhorn, Beach head(battle corps) and Col. Courage(battle corps.) Okay, i'm a bit biased when it comes to the early 90's figures. There may have been more that are worthy to be mentioned not full video worth, a quick shot, just to say you covered them. no need to torture yourself like with zandar and tjbang.
I have one of those 1982 (straight arms and neck).
It was given to me by a friend, unfortunately no base or sniper rifle.
But its a Brazilian version of it, the blue is slightly lighter. Original release of this figure there was 1985.
Pm for pictures.
congrads to LT. Claireboune or Claymoore?
moved his way up the ranks!
Great Review. Too bad these figures weren't available after 1983 (even though they were featured throughout the cartoon series all the way up to the 1987 Movie). I never had one as a kid. I did have a Cobra Officer, which I liked better because of the AK and the Silver Sigil. Hasbro should have offered these throughout the Joe duration and in different skin tones. Looking forward to more Cobra reviews !
It would have been nice if a few figures had been available throughout the run, since they continued to appear in media. Cobra troopers would be one. Scarlett is another character that continued to show up in the cartoon and comic long after the figure left the shelves. But Hasbro had a formula and they stuck to it.
nice work this was a cool figure I loved these guys
Thank you!
hope you do the Cobra Vipers next month.. would be interesting to hear your opinion on the difference between the Cobra Soldier corps and the Vipers Corps.. The Vipers looks moore like frontline troops with the flak vest,hand grenades,back pack etc.
Thank you for everything you do. You're my favorite channel on TH-cam. Best regards from Norway
Thank you! The distinction between Vipers and Cobra troopers is important, and I want to address it.
Best regards from the US!
I've always wondered why the cobra trooper masks were red in the comic and black on all other media. Any ideas.
I would guess that red worked better for comic book coloring, since the color printing on comics back then tended to be pretty simple and favor basic primary colors. Red probably stood out more than straight black. I prefer black, though. I would have been happy with a black mask in the comic.
Thanks for answering a question I had. The tilted cobra soldier emblem! I recently picked up a straight arm (82) and was wondering if I got some rare defect. Emblem is higher and slightly tilted just like yours. I wonder if they were all like that? How many do you have? All like that?
In current military list SVD is DMR ( Desingned for Marskman Rifle ) This not bad choice SQUADS ...
Only the cobra officer was available from Hasbro direct the red back file card is probably from the cobra missile command headquarters.
i acidentaly broke my dads origional grey cobratrooper . so i supper glued it back together but i cant find part of the collar. i replaced the legs with black legs from a fourwheeler figure that used the same o ring technology
Badass, just doesn't describe the Cobra Soldier.
It's a pretty good figure. I would have a hundred of them if I could.
He was my first Cobra figure, I received him for Christmas in 1982. He was my only Cobra at the time and was severely outmanned by my Joes, (most of "the green 13")
just got a blue cobra beanie on amazon to go with my face mask.
I think the Viper and the Soldier are the same function essentially, and can be used interchangeably. However, it feels very much like the Soldier is not very important and doesn't have tactical or military training to much (or any) degree. It seems like Cobra might get some ex-military defectors (traitors!), people who have actual combat experience and training, and that person might be a Viper basically right away or after a small amount of indoctrination. However the Soldier uniform feels like the kind of uniform you give to the backwoods militia type fellow who isn't happy with how things are going and is has stars in his eyes to be a revolutionary of whatever type, but maybe doesn't have much actual skill (and the uniform just looks like it is meant to be cheap and inspire uniformity).
i saw your seargent savage video
Pistol grenade launcher is RGM M , CAW M 79 ( Short cut M 79 ) ...
I consider the blue shirt, defense troop as vipers are for attacking using sniper rifles would be ok for protection
That's not a bad way to divide them up.
i bet some kids bought tons of these to make a cobra army for g.i joe to fight
I bough a cobra t-shirt. I may use that face mask 😷 too
The argument of stormtrooper helmet s don't work so maybe they are all incapable of seeing far so maybe that is why they need sniper scopes. Or maybe there are corrective lenses in the vipers mask or the outhers characters masks. Hey mabey that is why we never see cobra commander shooting and mabey that is a prerequisite to join cobra
A. Be incapable of seeing far.
B. Be ready to ru... retreat.
C. Be ready to be part of a confusing plan
I'm not trying to be mean. But to me this is funny.
One of the few things I disagree with Papa Hama about.
The blue cobra soldier and officer are favorites! I have an innate love of fascist uniformity!
Lol