Range-Viper
Encyclopedia
In the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
series of action figures, Range Vipers are members of Cobra specializing in wilderness combat and survival tactics. Range Vipers have made appearances in the Marvel Comics
G.I. Joe
comic book
, G.I. Joe Animated DiC series
, and are part of the G.I. Joe action figure
line produced by Hasbro
.
Appearance: grey helmet with light blue face mask and red eyes; dark blue shirt with light blue short-sleeved jacket and gold ammo belts; yellow shoulder guards and belt; grey gloves; black pants and boots with grey padding
Accessories: large, squarish, grey backpack with two rows of engraved mortar shells; black Thompson gun with removable barrel; small, grey mortar with single ribbed handle; cylindrical, grey mortar shell; small, black dagger with one pin on either side of blade; standard short, black hose.
Second released in 2005: Range-Viper was a retool of Swamp Rat, featuring the arms of the 2004 version of Destro and a newly molded head. Included with the carded figure was a rifle, and submachine gun, two knives, and a helmet.
Third released in 2006: This Range-Viper was a redeco of the 1990 Range-Viper and came with all the assessories of the 1990 version, minus the knife. It was part of the Official G.I. Joe Collectors Club's Operation Flaming M.O.T.H. set (#2 of 4: Desert Theater). The set also included a redecoed Flak-Viper. File cards for both figures indicate they are unique individuals rather than simply a generic trooper.
Fourth released in 2009: Range-Viper was released in the Defense of Cobra Island box set in 2009. The set also included Air-Viper, Alley Viper
, B.A.T., Doctor Mindbender
, Lamprey
, and Nightcreeper.
Appearance: Range-Viper (v4) was created using the head of Beachhead (v10) (2007), the torso, waist, and arms of Cobra Trooper (v15) (2009), the knees of Snake Eyes (v34) (2008), and new upper and lower legs and feet. The lower legs and feet are shared with Alley-Viper (v11) (2009). The head and legs of the Range-Viper are later re-colored and used for the 'Imperial Guard' figure.
Accessories: Range-Viper came with a blue and gray helmet, a gold and gray shoulder holster, a gray backpack, a black rifle with removable bipod, a gold ammunition belt, a black grenade launcher with removable cylinder, a silver pistol, and a black display stand.
series. He kills the G.I. Joe member Sneak Peek and is himself killed by other Joes soon after.
A Range-Viper code-named Skull Buster had made his home in the wilds of the country Namibia. When Shipwreck and Cover-Girl wash up on shore, he decides to kill them by faking their deaths from exposure; simple murder would cause too much of an investigation and disrupt his 'retirement' in the bush. Shipwreck stuns the man with scorpion venom and he is taken back to civilization, a fate he fears.
cartoon. But two Range-Vipers appeared to have a vendetta against two G.I. Joe members: Captain Grid-Iron and Ambush.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
series of action figures, Range Vipers are members of Cobra specializing in wilderness combat and survival tactics. Range Vipers have made appearances in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (Marvel Comics)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a comic book that was published by Marvel Comics from 1982 to 1994. Based on Hasbro, Inc.'s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys, the series has been credited for making G.I. Joe into a pop-culture phenomenon. G.I...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
, G.I. Joe Animated DiC series
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1989 TV series)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the successful toyline from Hasbro and the comic book series from Marvel Comics. The series was produced by DIC Entertainment and ran from 1989 to 1991....
, and are part of the G.I. Joe action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
line produced by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
.
Action figure
The Range Viper action figure was first released in 1990 as part of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line.Appearance: grey helmet with light blue face mask and red eyes; dark blue shirt with light blue short-sleeved jacket and gold ammo belts; yellow shoulder guards and belt; grey gloves; black pants and boots with grey padding
Accessories: large, squarish, grey backpack with two rows of engraved mortar shells; black Thompson gun with removable barrel; small, grey mortar with single ribbed handle; cylindrical, grey mortar shell; small, black dagger with one pin on either side of blade; standard short, black hose.
Second released in 2005: Range-Viper was a retool of Swamp Rat, featuring the arms of the 2004 version of Destro and a newly molded head. Included with the carded figure was a rifle, and submachine gun, two knives, and a helmet.
Third released in 2006: This Range-Viper was a redeco of the 1990 Range-Viper and came with all the assessories of the 1990 version, minus the knife. It was part of the Official G.I. Joe Collectors Club's Operation Flaming M.O.T.H. set (#2 of 4: Desert Theater). The set also included a redecoed Flak-Viper. File cards for both figures indicate they are unique individuals rather than simply a generic trooper.
Fourth released in 2009: Range-Viper was released in the Defense of Cobra Island box set in 2009. The set also included Air-Viper, Alley Viper
Alley Viper
Alley Vipers are part of the G.I. Joe action figure line produced by Hasbro. They have appeared in the related comic books produced by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due. Alley Vipers are fictional soldiers in the Cobra Organization. They specialize in urban combat and SWAT tactics.- Action Figure :The...
, B.A.T., Doctor Mindbender
Doctor Mindbender
Dr. Mindbender is a fictional character from the 1980s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comics, and animated series. He is a scientist who works for the fictional terrorist organization Cobra.-Profile:...
, Lamprey
Lamprey (G.I. Joe)
Lamprey is the name of a set of characters from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys. Generally speaking, they are Cobra soldiers specialized in underwater and sea environments...
, and Nightcreeper.
Appearance: Range-Viper (v4) was created using the head of Beachhead (v10) (2007), the torso, waist, and arms of Cobra Trooper (v15) (2009), the knees of Snake Eyes (v34) (2008), and new upper and lower legs and feet. The lower legs and feet are shared with Alley-Viper (v11) (2009). The head and legs of the Range-Viper are later re-colored and used for the 'Imperial Guard' figure.
Accessories: Range-Viper came with a blue and gray helmet, a gold and gray shoulder holster, a gray backpack, a black rifle with removable bipod, a gold ammunition belt, a black grenade launcher with removable cylinder, a silver pistol, and a black display stand.
Character biography
Long term field duty is not for the meek.. Regular infantry would come back from a mission with hopes of getting hot meals and shower when they arrive at base. Range-Vipers are different. Their barracks is not a four-sided building with a roof, it's out there on the cold hard ground made of whatever make-shift materials they can find. Their meals are whatever edible walking or crawling critter that comes along and their water comes from the nearest river and stream. They are only provided their uniforms and basic weapons. Whatever else they need they have to hunt for, scour, raid and steal from enemy outposts. These men are recruited from the most extreme of wilderness enthusiasts with a propensity for violence.Marvel Comics
A Range-Viper is featured in issue 113 of the Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
series. He kills the G.I. Joe member Sneak Peek and is himself killed by other Joes soon after.
Devil's Due
A particular Range-Viper code-named Body Bags is featured in a long running storyline in the 'America's Elite' comics. He is one of many drawn from the ranks of Cobra soldiers to join 'The Plague', Cobra's latest answer to the elite of the G.I. Joe team. A full biography of all that the Joes know of this man is in issue 30. The Flaming MOTH Range-Viper is seen on the cover to #33 and is listed in the Threat Index in the second issue of the Data Desk Handbook.A Range-Viper code-named Skull Buster had made his home in the wilds of the country Namibia. When Shipwreck and Cover-Girl wash up on shore, he decides to kill them by faking their deaths from exposure; simple murder would cause too much of an investigation and disrupt his 'retirement' in the bush. Shipwreck stuns the man with scorpion venom and he is taken back to civilization, a fate he fears.
DIC
The Range-Vipers appeared in many episodes of the 1989 G.I. JoeG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1989 TV series)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the successful toyline from Hasbro and the comic book series from Marvel Comics. The series was produced by DIC Entertainment and ran from 1989 to 1991....
cartoon. But two Range-Vipers appeared to have a vendetta against two G.I. Joe members: Captain Grid-Iron and Ambush.
- The First Range-Viper appeared in Pigskin Commandos, he played quarterback for the proness football team but hated Grid-Iron who was the quarterback of the other side team.
- The Second Ranger-Viper was a female named Ivy who used to be the friend of Ambush, she was to able all his hiding places. Until one day, Ambush disappeared to join G.I. Joe and she vowed to kill him because he left without saying goodbye.
Other media
- Unusually for a non-individual, a Range-Viper appeared as a boss in the 1991 G.I. Joe video gameG.I. Joe (NES)G.I. Joe is a 1991 run and gun game published by Taxan for the Nintendo Entertainment System based on the toyline of the same name. The game was produced by Ken Lobb and developed by the same Japanese team that later formed KID. It was followed by a single sequel titled G.I...
for the Nintendo Entertainment System. - 'Range Viper' is mentioned as one of many Cobra toys in a 'New Yorker' article, page 142, printed on December 10, 1993.
External links
- Range-Vipers at YOJOE.com
- Cobra Vipers at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page