1988 Secto Viper

Back in 1988, I was pretty much out of Joes. I bought a couple of figures that year, but was pretty much done by the time summer rolled around. However, my youngest brother still liked Joe toys and picked up a couple of smaller vehicles and such throughout the year. I was also still avidly reading the comic. From these two sources I became familiar with a bizarre new Cobra vehicle called the BUGG. This thing is an interesting array of bubble shaped pods colored in odd shades of green and yellow. It was meant to be a tracked submarine whose primary use would be to defend the coast of the newly created Cobra Island. While this thing is very, very odd to look at, it has become a fan favorite vehicle and is about the only unrealistic, neon vehicle that has any real fan support. Alas, while I've always wanted a BUGG, I have yet to own one. However, while the vehicle eludes me, I have managed to acquire the very cool driver of this weapon: the Secto Viper.

The Secto Viper is the only Cobra deep sea diver type figure ever released. While I've used the Toxo Viper as a deep sea diver to battle Deep Six, Hasbro never really released any sort of Cobra diver who wasn't your basic frogman. While I know that this isn't a specialty that is high on most collector's wish lists, it is a gap. It is filled nicely, though, by the Secto Viper. As you can see from the photos below, the level of detail on this figure is amazing. The large, bulky torso is supported by the presence of air hoses that terminate around the head and can be explained as built in recycling gear. With his helmet in place, this figure is very identifiable as a diver. However, Hasbro wasn't just content to have a bare, nondescript head inside the clear dome. The went the extra step to actually sculpt a unique head for the figure that is complete with small detailing on the mouthpiece that just makes this guy that much more believable. As with other divers, as well, this guys neon yellow color scheme can be forgiven as he would mainly be used under tropical waters off of Cobra Island.

When I first saw the Secto Viper upon my return to collecting, I was surprised that the mold had not been reincarnated as a Star Brigade figure. The bubble helmet and bulky sculpt would have been fantastic as a new Cobranaut. Alas, it didn't happen and the underwater specialty remains the only version of this mold that was released. Of course, just because he wasn't released as an astronaut doesn't mean that he can't be used as one. In fact, during my Star Brigade crazy days when I amassed any astronaut-like figure I could find, I picked up extra Secto Vipers with that intended use in mind. Before I was ever able to get the Defiant, though, my interest in the space themed Joes diminished and I returned the Secto Viper to his original specialty. Still, though, if you are inclined to the space themed elements of Joedom, this figure is an excellent addition to your astro ranks. For me, though, he remains a Cobra deep sea diver. However, in recent weeks I've started making the Lamprey figure into less of a vehicle driver and more of a Cobra maritime infantry trooper. (It allows me to use Lampreys more often!) As such, I've been looking for new Moray drivers. As my deep sea adventures are now limited (no pool!) the Secto Viper had really not seen much use. As such, I'm thinking that my Secto Vipers will now become the definitive Cobra aquatic vehicle operator. I've said before that I like uniformity in my Cobra vehicle driver ranks. Making the Secto Viper a standard operator allows me to use him more while freeing up my Lampreys for more robust duties.

One of the main reasons why I wanted profile the Secto Viper is because he was only available as a vehicle driver. In the vintage Joe run, almost every vehicle came with a unique figure who was only (at least originally) available with that vehicle. As a kid, I bought several vehicles that were less than stellar because I wanted the cool figure that was included with the larger piece. The vehicle drivers as a whole tended to have very cool sculpts and often took chances that would later be incorporated into the rest of the line. With the new sculpt Joes finally on the shelves and the prospect of a large scale Joe revival now more reality than fantasy, old lessons like this are best remembered. I've passed on almost all of the vehicles that have been released in this new sculpt wave. Why? The vehicles themselves are kind of interesting, but the figures included with them are just uninspired repaints of figures that are currently sitting on the shelves. If, instead, the vehicle drivers were uniquely sculpted characters that showcased some real creativity or talent, then I would be much more inclined to buy the vehicle with whom the figure was packed. Hopefully, as the line matures, the days of the unique vehicle driver will return and we will be treated to awesome new sculpts rather than lame repaints.

Secto Vipers aren't too hard to find. For being included with a higher price point vehicle and never being offered via mail in, they are surprisingly available. However, if you want one mint and complete, though, the search gets a lot tougher. The Secto Viper helmet is a frustrating piece to track down. His unique little gun is even more so. As such, if you can find a mint, complete Secto Viper, he will cost you more than just about any other figure from his year. Still, though, that price won't be outrageous, it will just be high enough to preclude you building any Secto Viper armies. In all, though, I've found this figure worth his price. He is very cool, even if his specialty is less than stellar. I've always felt a BUGG fully equipped with a contingent of Secto Vipers would be very cool. I don't think I'm alone in thinking this. As such, there will be many collectors out there who either have multiple Secto Vipers or want them. Should the opportunity to add this figure to your collection arise, I would take advantage of it. He is a great addition to any Cobra army as has proven even more versatile that I had first anticipated.

I'm always interested in additional Secto Vipers. I also need a couple of their helmets and guns. If you have any of these available, email me.

1993 Sub Zero - Arctic Commandos Mail Away Exclusive

1993 was the year of the mail in. By 1993, Hasbro had lost its focus with the Joe line. They released nearly 100 figures to the market that year and none of them had any real direction. With the line's demise a possibility, Hasbro turned to mail in premiums to help move old stock that was clogging the retail shelves and diminishing retailer's confidence in the line's selling potential. 1994 was on the horizon and that was G.I. Joe's (as a concept, not just ARAH) 30th anniversary. Hasbro wanted the brand to be front and center for this milestone but was hampered on the 3 3/4 end by the surplus of product that stores just couldn't liquidate. To help facilitate retail sales, Hasbro offered nearly a dozen new mail in exclusive figures that required the flag points from the shelf warming product. However, day glow neon color schemes and poor character choices limited the mail in figures' appeal and the demand simply was not realized. (This was not the case, though, in 1994 when they offered Joseph Colton as a mail in exclusive.) As such, the retail product sat on the shelves well into 1995 and the mail in figures ended up being liquidated at insanely cheap prices so that huge quantities ended up in the hands of dealers. (Many of whom still have large stocks of these figures today.) Lost in the disaster that was 1993, though, are a handful of excellent figures. Among them are a few mail ins that I've already profiled. Of the mail in sets, perhaps the most ubiquitous and well know is the Arctic Commandos. While most pine away for some of the Snow Serpent figures from that set, it is one of the Joes who will be my subject today: Sub Zero.

Sub Zero was originally released in 1990. Like most 1990 Joes, he has a good sculpt and awesome accessories. However, he did suffer from one little flaw. To complement his basically white design, the designers chose to augment him with powder, baby blue. While it kind of works for an Arctic trooper, it does limit the figure's appeal. When you couple that with the fact that Sub Zero is an Arctic trooper and they, as a whole, tend to be much less popular than other figures, it is easy to see why this figure has been largely overlooked by the fan community. The 1993 Arctic Commandos set, though, finally offered us a Sub Zero with better color choices. While the new dark blue color would blend less with white snow, it does make for a more aesthetically pleasing figure. It also highlights the strong points of the figure mold. Showcasing lighter colors off of a darker base shows the level of detail that this figure still received. It also helps to make him more believable as a true Arctic soldier.

For me, that's what this figure is. He is just another Arctic soldier. He is not named and I utilize him as an army builder for the Joes. Snow battles are fun and this figure offers a range of specialties that make him vital for my Arctic operations. He can be outfitted with the original Sub Zero's accessories (he has a great machine gun and a large pack) and made into a more specialized Arctic gunner. I also give him smaller, lighter rifles and make him the basic Arctic foot soldier who forms the frontline against a Cobra Arctic attack. His darker colors also work well if you want to use him as vehicular support for your Arctic tanks. He has a wide range that you can take advantage of if you utilize his lack of characterization in Joe media to create your own persona.

Had Joe survived to 1995, there would probably have been another Sub Zero figure offered. As the Battle Rangers figures would have brought Joe back towards its more military roots, it appears that Hasbro was also going to offer other, smaller subsets that would follow the same theme. YoJoe.com has a picture of mocked up box art for a set of proposed Arctic Commandos that would have been released in 1995. From the box art, the set would have come with a repainted Mudbuster jeep (which is a fun toy to have!) and a repainted Locust helicopter. (The one from the '90's, not the '00's.) It would also have included two figures. One appears to be a repainted 1993 Beach Head. The other figure appears to be this very version of Sub Zero. The color scheme closely matches what was released on this figure and the Beach Head appears to be holding the version of Dodger's gun that was this figure's matched accessory. Whether that figure would have been a third repaint of the Sub Zero mold or just a retail release of the mail in exclusive figure will probably never be known. At any rate, it is just another footnote to what Joe would have become had it made it into 1995.

The 1993 mail in Arctic Commando set is not hard to find. If you are patient, you can usually get an entire MIB set of 4 figures for under $20. (Be sure any complete set includes the Dee Jay figure. He was bagged separately and is often missing from most of the Arctic Commando sets that tend to be offered.) As you get the super cool Snow Serpent as well as this figure, it is money well spent. Really, it is easier to find this mail away figure than it is an originally colored, complete, mint Sub Zero. As I like this color scheme better, though, that's not a problem. This guy is a great example of an obscure original figure that was redone as a more obscure mail in. As he is readily available, though, he makes a great way to add a lesser known, but high quality figure to your collection. A guy like this tends to be what I like most about Joe collecting. Sure, finding "rare" and expensive figures is fun, but the guys like this make the hobby. You can use them for their intended purpose with no fear of a high replacement cost. As Joe prices continue to rise as the new releases gain popularity, figures like Sub Zero are a breath of fresh air that remind you of why we got into Joe collecting in the first place.

I've got all the Sub Zeros that I need. I would, though, like another Artic Commando Dee Jay, or the International Action Team mail in set. If you have any of those for trade, email me.