1991 Snow Serpent

There is a very valid argument to be made that the 1985 Snow Serpent is the single best G.I. Joe figure that Hasbro ever made.  6 years later, Hasbro revisited the Snow Serpent character and produced a second version.  Behind the legacy of the 1985, this new Snow Serpent had a tough path to collector acceptance.  But, Hasbro really did come through with the design.  And, they gave us something completely different than the heavily equipped '85.  This new Snow Serpent was sleeker, faster and more nimble.  His gear was more high tech.  But, he included the weapons of destruction that rivaled the original.  The long shadow of the version 1 Snow Serpent, though, remains hard for this later update to escape.  And, while I find the 1991 Snow Serpent to be an excellent figure in its own right, sometimes you just can't overcome your predecessors.

I should start with a couple of caveats.  First, I'm a big fan of the 1991 Snow Serpent mold and actually prefer it to the 1985.  But, secondly, the 1991 coloring of this mold is the worst of its three uses.  Both the 1993 repaint and the 1998 Toys R Us exclusive figures are superior to this 1991 palette.  The 1993 mail away is striking in its bold use of color.  The 1998 goes the opposite way and makes for a perfect arctic figure by using colors that blend into a snowy environment.  This 1991 is somewhere in the middle.  He's got enough color to be noticeable.  But, he's still too muted to be a "realistic" (whatever that means) figure.  

My preference for the 1991 design is rooted in practicality.  Even as a kid, I saw the 1985 Snow Serpents as "long siege" troopers.  They were equipped to dig in and take a while to achieve their objective.  As a kid, I built stories around this.  Now, though, the reality of Cobra being a terrorist organization  makes the sleeker design of the 1991 more practical.  These guys could swoop in fast, cripple or destroy a location and jet out before any reinforcements could arrive.  Their speed meant that smaller numbers could inflict the necessary amount of damage.  And, they could escape before anyone really could understand what had happened.

The figure's design showcases this.  He doesn't appear as bulky as the 1985.  But, the 1991 still has amazing sculpting.  The figure's head has goggles that realistically protrude away from the covered face.  They separate a hat on his head and the facemask that protect anonymity.  The figure's chest, though, has a deep pattern to denote a heavy jacket: necessary in the cold temperatures.  His gloves feature the same texturing.  This helps tie the whole package together.  The figure looks like a cold weather operative.  But, he doesn't appear to be as weighed down as the original design.  This newer version has more freedom to move in his uniform and can handle the deft maneuvering required for his snowboard.

One little detail I love about this figure are the two scarf ends that are tied behind the figure's back.  These flowing pieces of cloth are specifically detailed on the card art.  While their movement is lost on the actual figure, the sculpting is still there.  Both strands are etched on the figure's back.  It's a dumb little detail that really doesn't matter all that much or add anything to the figure.  But, Hasbro took the time to add it as a way to distinguish the Snow Serpent.  Little things like this were the difference between Hasbro figures and everyone who has come since.  They cared about little things like this and took the time and expense to add them to figures.  It didn't goose the sales of Snow Serpents.  But, it did affect the perception of the line's overall quality.  Parents felt better about spending money on Joe toys because they were high quality and worth the price.

1991 figures are decked out in gear.  Hasbro upped the accessory complements of the 1990 and 1991 assortments: likely in an attempt to make the toys feel like a really good value.  In 1992, the accessory count dropped.  And, the spring loaded missile launcher became a requirement for all retail figures.  The Snow Serpent, though, got the best of both worlds.  He includes a ton of gear.  But, he also got a spring loaded missile launcher that mounted on his backpack.  Snow Serpent was one of the transitional figures from 1991 that got the earliest spring mounted accessories.  Being among the first meant that the weapon is far less ostentatious than the spring loaded gear would later become.  You can see it being an integrated part of the more traditional gear instead of an add on.  And, because of this, the spring loaded launcher works for the Snow Serpent.

The engineering showcased on Snow Serpent's gear, though, is the real story of the figure.  The backpack is the focal point.  It features tabs to which the hoses that attach to the weapons affix.  There is the attachment of the missile launcher to the pack via a hole on the top.  This allows the launcher to swivel as far around as you want it to.  And, finally, the coup de gras: the Snow Serpent includes a rocket powered snowboard.  This piece is big enough to hold the figure and has some nice details.  It also attaches to the backpack so the Snow Serpent can carry all of his gear on his pack...just like the 1985 original.  

I can, reliably, sort out G.I. Joe weapons by vintage or repaint era without error with just two exceptions: the 1991 Snow Serpent rifle and pistol and the 1998 versions of the same.  The white plastic makes it difficult to differentiate them.  I believe there is a plastic difference you can feel when you have both in hand.  But, I'm loathe to rely upon it for weapons I've acquired outside of figures.  As I once had a mighty army of 1993 Snow Serpents, I spend decades acquiring rifles and pistols from the other releases to outfit the 1993s.  I succeeded in doing so.  But, I really have no idea how many of the weapons are 1991 vs. 1998.  At some point, I should just work it out and find the actual tell of the difference between the two.  But, as the 1998s are likely to exist in much lower numbers than the 1991, I'm not sure the exercise is really worth it.

The availability of 1991 figures is something I'd like to know more about.  It seems there were different assortments and some figures from the year were more difficult to find than others.  This Snow Serpent seems one of the easier figures to find.  In the late 1990's, he was about the only 1991 figure you could find in abundance.  And, even today, he is much more available than a figure like the Desert Scorpion.  The 1991 assortment only shipped for one year before the line got a soft reboot in 1992.  So, the production was truncated.  (This is one reason why so many 1991 molds ended up being released in other countries, too.)  If you have more info or even anecdotes from the time about the way the 1991 figures shipped, please drop it into the comments.

The Snow Serpent mold was used just the three times.  The 1991 original, the 1993 mail away and the 1998 remake were the only appearances of the mold.  There was a planned use in 1995.  A new Snow Serpent was going to be included with the Battle Station.  It was a weird mish-mash of the 1993 and 1998 designs.  Really, it would be the worst of the Snow Serpents, were it released.  But, it would also be the priciest as inclusion in a high priced 1995 playset would have meant low production numbers and limited collector penetration.  About half of the 1991 assortment appeared in other countries.  But, the Snow Serpent was not among them. You can argue that more uses of this mold would have created strong figures.  But, the 1998 was about as close to a perfect repaint as we saw in the 1998-2006 timeframe.  So, you can't fault Hasbro for not using it more.  

You can get all the mint and complete 1991 Snow Serpents you want for slightly under $20.  If you drop even one of the accessories, the price starts to plummet.  High quality figures with no gear can be had for $8 with ease.  As 1991 army builders go, that's a pretty good price.  And, as Joe figures go, in general, that's a pretty good price.  The 1991 Snow Serpent just doesn't have the cachet of the 1985.  Or, really, even his later repaints.  So, it's a good figure to acquire and, maybe, even army build a little bit.  But, let's be frank.  If you wanted to army build this figure, you would have.  And, the fact that you haven't isn't a function of his obscurity.  It's a function of the fact that this is the worst version of the Snow Serpent ever produced.  But, the worst Snow Serpent is still better than the best of several Joe years.  So, you do owe it to yourself to have at least one of these guys.  They're fun to have around.  Even if all of the other versions of the character are better.

Rarities - Unproduced 1995 Big Ben & Snow Serpent

The 1995 Joe line would have been pretty great.  Had it come to be, many of the items would be held in the same regard as precious items from the line's heyday in the 1980's.  And, with the lower production runs of the line's final year, many of the items would likely be super expensive to acquire today.  While the line featured a solid array of new figures, it was also going to include many repaints of earlier releases.  Two of these would have been the figures included in the planned 1995 repaint of the Tactical Battle Platform which would have been called the Battle Station.  For some reason, this set piece was going to include repaints of Big Ben and the Snow Serpent.

You can tell from the photos that both of these figures are hand painted prototypes that were used the 1993 mail away figures as their bases.  As such, you see production colors on the legs.  It's unlikely that the final figures would have matched these concepts, exactly.  But, they'd have been close enough.  So, you get the general idea of what the designers were trying to do.

Oddly, the concept art for the Battle Station doesn't actually feature the figures who would have been included with it.  Instead, it is a smorgasbord of unreleased 1995 figures and likely reissues of 1994 releases.  This would imply that the figures included with the set were more ways to just use molds that were available rather than really spice up the design.  But, the Battle Station concept art also showcases many of the figures in the cardart poses with positioning that suggests placeholder design.  So, it's likely that they box art would have changed upon release and probably featured the figures included with it.

I find it interesting that concepts from both of these figures did, eventually, see release.  The 1998 Snow Serpent borrows elements from this unproduced 1995 figure.  And, the 2001 Big Ben was an arctic repaint in the vein of this unreleased Big Ben.  So, it's nice that some of the work was eventually used...even if it was by a different team looking to save a few bucks rather than an homage to the founders of the brand.  

Seeing current prices of the 1993 mail versions of these two characters makes me shudder at what these 1995 figures would cost today had they seen release.  Being in a low production, high dollar playset would have made acquisition unlikely for many kids...meaning fewer figures going into the secondary market.  I take solace, though, knowing I'd have forked over the money for a Battle Station had it been released...just because it included these two figures.  I had a rule that I'd buy vehicles with figures included.  And, Big Ben was one of my earliest grail figures.  So, the Battle Station would have called my collection home.

Sure, it would now be yellowed and decaying in a box in the closet.  But, I'd have these figures and enjoy them for what they were.  I still maintain that collectors would hold the 1995 line in high regard had it seen production.  But, there were forces at work that were far beyond the G.I. Joe brand.  So, we're left with tidbits of what might have been.  Repaints like this aren't nearly as interesting as newly designed, unproduced pieces.  But, they would have been an important supporting cast for the planned new figures.  I'd still love to know if any of the 1994 molds that debuted that year would have gotten updated paint jobs for 1995: as was Hasbro's habit at the time.  I'm sure some would have been cool and others would have been...less so.  But, more figures are better than fewer.  And, we really missed out with the line's cancellation occurring in 1994.  

1985 Snow Serpent - Around The Web

As a kid, the 1985 Snow Serpent represented the highest ranking Cobra Trooper.  They were the one Cobra specialty that could match pretty much any Joe.  Because of that, the figure got use outside of just the arctic setting to which his white and blue color scheme attempted to confine him.

Now, I just see the Snow Serpent as a cool arctic figure...maybe the best arctic figure.  The combo of sculpt, gear and colors just makes for a near perfect figure.  Fortunately, they aren't too hard to find, though they are more expensive than they should be.  There's lots of good content featuring the figure out there.  So, check out the links below.

Snow Serpent Profile

Snow Serpent by backyard_battles

Snow Serpent by badgerscratch

Snow Serpent by red_cobra75

Snow Serpent by steelbrigade

Snow Serpent by yojoecollectibes

Snow Serpent by chris_porostosky

Snow Serpent by cyberskeletor83

Snow Serpent by golden_cobra_79

Snow Serpent by viruskev619

Snow Serpent by Cobra_Rules_Cybertron

Snow Serpent by gen_liederkranz

Snow Serpent by new0rder2K

Snow Serpent by kaboom_toys

Snow Serpent by fosilru

Snow Serpent by plastic_lives_here

Snow Serpent by _the_toyler_

Snow Serpent by gi_joe_85

Snow Serpent by badger23actual

Snow Serpent by hammerstickhobbies

Snow Serpent by cyberskeletor83

Snow Serpent by 7inch_gang

Snow Serpent by gen_liederkranz

Snow Serpent by strikeforce_codename

2019 Python Patrol Snow Serpent - Black Major

So far, 2019 has been light on new factory custom figures.  We've gotten a ton of Snake Eyes repaints as well as some configurations for various viper types.  But, the overall releases have been somewhat sparse.  Late September of 2019, though, began to change that when the Snow Serpent mold appeared.  A rainbow of Snow Serpent repaints showed up all at once and gave thirsty collectors something that they could hunt down and army build.  Being a desert dweller, though, arctic figures hold little value to me.  I haven't seen snow in years.  And, the Snow Serpent has always been among my least favorite 1985 army builders.  But, a few of the Snow Serpent repaints seemed useful to me.  I'm not someone who buys each and every factory custom figure.  I pick and choose the items that go with my collection.  But, in the case of this Python Patrol inspired Snow Serpent, I went against the grain and acquired something different for my collection.  In doing so, I found something rather cool.

Ostensibly, a Python Patrol Snow Serpent makes no sense.  But, neither does a Python Patrol Crimson Guard nor a Python Patrol HEAT Viper.  But, Python Patrol is now iconically Cobra.  So, seeing all the figure molds under the sun in the pattern is something collectors can get behind.  Thus, a Python Patrol Snow Serpent fits into the theme as well as anyone else and you might as well get him in this design while the Snow Serpent repaints are in production.  And, the results are really nice.  The subtle grey body would work well enough in a snowy climate.  The red and yellow are a bit much.  But, they are far less ostentatious than many of the other Python Patrol inspired factory customs.

For some reason, though, this paint job works for me.  Many of the other Python Patrol inspired figures are more intricate and use more color than this Snow Serpent.  And, I think that's why I like this guy.  He's not too busy.  Instead, there is a smattering of yellow with just a hint of red.  The figure isn't an over the top Python Patrol entry and more closely resembles an oddly colored Cobra figure from the 1990's instead of a modern homage.  At the same time, though, this figure shows off the fun aspects of having some splashes of color.  The brighter colors bring more attention to the mold and do detail how high of quality the figure actually is.  I'm not going to make this guy the leader of any arctic expedition.  But, he'll probably show up in photos alongside other Python Patrol members in coming years.

The Snow Serpent isn't a mold that I ever really wanted as a factory custom.  The original was extremely well done.  And, the arctic theme greatly limits the figure's usefulness in other color styles.  But, there are a lot of cold weather environments around the world with different terrain and fauna.  If you're a fan of the Snow Serpent mold, there are now many repaints available (including the return of the 1980's era Soviet logo on a few) to sate your desire for repaints.  I'm limited in what I'm after and picked up this Python Patrol version just for some diversity and to check out the paint scheme.  I figured I'd trade him some time in the future when the figs have gotten scarcer.  But, I find that I really enjoy this look for the Snow Serpent...even though it has limited use.  I'm at a point where visually appealing figures carry more weight than "realistic" paint jobs.  So, entries like this Python Patrol Snow Serpent are fun to have around.

The quality of these Snow Serpents is high.  The figures are not vintage Joe quality.  But, if you've handled any of the Black Major releases of the past two years, you know what to expect.  The joints move freely and the figure poses well.  The paint masks are crisp and intricate.  The gear is easily discernible from vintage pieces, but still of great enough quality for a collector to have no fear of breakage.  (The red also matches some vintage Red Shadows weapons, too.)   In short, they are toys easily worthy of addition to any collection.

The Snow Serpent repaints include all of the original gear.  This Python Patrol version has red variants of the classic AK-47, backpack, missile launcher, stand and snow shoes.  There is a red parachute pack as well.  However, the parachute and backpack are actually molded in white and painted over.  So, the color doesn't 100% match the rest of the accessories.  (This is likely due to the pliable plastic needed for the parachute pack being a separate production run.)  With the all the flavors of Snow Serpent now available, you can get the gear in green, red, black, yellow and other colors.  I'd love a run of black versions of the Snow Serpent rifle, though, that could be purchased separately.  I'd outfit most of my 2004 Cobra Infantry with them.

Right now, Snow Serpents are $18 figures.  I was fortunate and got mine in the introductory sale for a bit less.  So, patience can pay off.  But, if you look around, you see that most of the Alley and Night Viper repaints have started to dry up and can't be acquired as easily as they could 12 to 18 months ago.  The Starduster repaints prove elusive and are getting expensive.  Even a few of the Snake Eyes flavors from fall of 2018 don't appear as frequently.  Army builders are popular and Black Major figures are popular so it's always good to get them while the getting's good.  Joe's popularity is going to dive in 2020.  We are seeing both softening prices and decreased community engagement.  With some external factors thrown in, we should see cheaper prices in the new decade.  I don't know, though, if that will translate to figures like these.  The production numbers are low and most collectors seem to just buy one or two of each flavor rather than build an army of a dozen or more.  I've got mine, now.  And, you can get yours, too, with little effort.

Diorama - Arctic Cobras

Firefly leads some Cobra in the snow.

1998 Snow Serpent

The last 4 months of 1998 were some of the best in my life.  Basically, everything that people consider to be major achievements in life other than having a child happened to me in those 4 months.  As such, I hold even minor events of that period in high esteem if only because they were made that much sweeter by the big things that happened, too.  Toys were just part of the overall ensemble of awesomeness that defined that period.

Star Wars toys were very frustrating.  The carded line had stagnated in May and several waves of figures simply never saw retail.  However, due to professional growth, I had the income to acquire these toys through the various retail avenues that were available.  Paying a buck or two more per figure wasn't a huge price to own something that I simply couldn't find.  But, with Star Wars malaise setting in, my attention was turned to Joe.  I had discovered Ebay and my G.I. Joe collection was growing every week.  In turn, Hasbro released a new series of Joes that started hitting retail in early December of 1998.  This series was higher quality than the 1997 releases and featured a collector friendly lineup of the Oktober Guard, an army building three pack of Viper repaints and a set of arctic Cobras with two army builders and the hugely popular Firefly figure.  It is from this pack that I take the subject of this profile, the 1998 Snow Serpent.

To tell a story of how different the times were in 1998, when I found the first cases of new Joes, it was this arctic pack that had sold out, not the 3 pack of Viper repaints.  Getting a new Firefly for the first time in 14 years was a greater draw than three of the best army builder repaints that were ever released.  It seems quaint now.  But, the arctic 3 pack was, initially, the fastest seller.  (1998 was still a time when a collector who happened upon a freshly stocked case might only be able to buy one or two of the new toys rather than them all.)  This quickly changed, though, and in the weeks before Christmas, all of the Joe packs became plentiful and were readily available.  And, I set out to build an arctic army.

The 1985 Snow Serpent is classic.  It is about the perfect arctic trooper.  However, the figure is wearing bulky, heavy clothes and carries massive amounts of gear.  If you were going to lay siege to Chicago in January, you'd want an army of 1985 Snow Serpents.  This, though, didn't fit my vision of Cobra.  To me, Cobra was a swift strike outfit.  They wanted to hit you and get out.  As such, a more mobile and nimble force made sense.  Enter the 1991 Snow Serpent.  This figure retained much of the idea and practicality of the 1985 figure, but make him sleeker.  It gave him a snowboard that would be much more conducive to swift arctic combat rather than long, drawn out campaigns.  The mold of the new Snow Serpent was also excellent.  He still had tons and tons of gear.  But, he looked more dynamic than his predecessor.  In short, this new Snow Serpent was a perfect upgrade that kept the integrity of the character without impugning the original version.  It's a tight line to walk, but Hasbro pulled it off with the Snow Serpent.

The 1998 figure took this mold and colored it in a scheme that's very complimentary of the 1985 figure.  Included with him were all of the 1991 accessories.  The guns were still in white but the snowboard was cast in a bluish grey that better matched the figure than the gnarly early 1990's purple.  The pack was now black, too.  Against the white figure, the black pack is a bit of a contrast.  But, it's also more realistic than earlier versions.  In short, the accessories were as good as or better than the 1991 figure's.

Using the 1991 gear also allows the figure a great deal of spectacular design.  The Hasbro designers were still on top of their game in 1991 and the Snow Serpent showcases that.  The guns are wrapped in cloth to keep them warm.  The figure's sleek head has a molded tie on the back that extends down to the figure's torso.  The fur vest and ear warmers are excellently detailed and showcase the character's need for warmth.  The pack is full of details and includes both a hose to connect to the guns and a slot to hold the snowboard.  It's a great accompaniment of gear that enhances the figure into the realm of the 1985 version for the best rendition of the character.

By the first weeks of January in 1999, I had bought a few of these sets.  I was not enamored with the Night Creeper (though I now see it for the awesome figure it is!) and my plans to army build Firefly figures were somewhat curtailed after I had a couple and I found the practicality of him as an army builder was far less fun than the idea of stockpiling him.  So, the sets faded from retail.  In July of 1999, though, Hasbro shipped another allotment of the 1998 Joes to Toys R Us stores in the lull of Episode I figures.  I think I bought 1 set at this time, but kept it carded.  Again, the figures sold out.  But, at Christmas of 1999, Hasbro shipped the third run of these figures and gave me a chance to pick up a few more.  I got one or two extras, but also kept them carded with plans to open them later.

However, I never got around to opening them.  They sat in a box.  As 2000 turned to 2001, though, I saw the prices on sealed Arctic Team and Viper Team sets climbing.  Rather than open them for more army builders, I discovered that the carded sets were extremely attractive trade bait with European and Brazilian G.I. Joe collectors.  In the latter half of 2001 and through 2002, I traded off all of my carded Polar Assault Teams and most of my carded Infantry Teams in exchange for European and Brazilian exclusive figures.  My Abutre Negro carded figure was acquired, along with Gatilho and Letal, for a package of one of these Arctic sets and 2 Cobra Infantry sets.  At the time, I wasn't sure that I came out all that well.  Taken in context of 2017, though, that deal turned out fabulously for me.  But, at the time, the Toys R Us figures were very expensive and few collectors had extras to send overseas.  Simultaneously, especially in Brazil, the foreign Joes were very available and hadn't attracted the collector eye that has raised prices on them in the past 15 years.

I've really only gotten to use this figure in the snow one or two times.  My favorite was the Saturday it snowed and I was able to get a full cadre of Cobras out into the weather.  But, the showcase of that photo shoot was the army of 1993 Snow Serpents and these 1998 versions were mostly filler.  After that, these figures never really got another chance to see snow and that has greatly limited their visibility among my Cobra army builder figures.  Even below, you will see one of the figures standing near a baby palm tree.  The visual just isn't right.  But, that doesn't keep me from enjoying the figure's design.  I only have a few of them, though, and their lack of numbers is largely a function of the fact that I have basically no occasion to use them.

This mold was used three times.  There is not a bad figure in the bunch.  Arctic figures are tough to design without staying true to a base of white color.  Unless you make that base arctic ice blue.  And, that's what Hasbro did in 1993 with the mail away Snow Serpent.  The blue is a nice separation from the 1991 while still staying true to the figure's purpose.  It is an excellent repaint and might even be better than the '91.  The Snow Serpent was also planned for release in 1995.  There are hand painted samples of the figure out there.  It's similar to the 1993 version, but with more color.  It, likely, would be the worst use of the mold and collectors really didn't lose out on it being cancelled.  This 1998 repaint, to me, is the best release of the figure.  You get a solid base without too much superfluous colors along with the full range of original accessories.  (Minus the spring loaded launcher.)  It's just about the perfect winter army builder.

Oddly, Hasbro did not pull the mold out again after 1998.  They found the 1985 mold for the Flaming Moth set in 2005.  You can't really knock that choice since it hadn't been seen on an arctic figure in two decades.  Hasbro really didn't have any slots into which this mold would have fit after 1998.  The only winter figures were Joes.  (Though, knowing Hasbro had the Wolf available is a bummer as a release of that with an Ice Viper and a repainted Snow Serpent would have been awesome.)  As all three versions of this figure are excellent, though, I don't think collectors missed out.  This is really a case where Hasbro delivered on the potential of the mold and you don't have great lament over what could have been.

In the early 2000's, at the height of the army building craze, carded Cobra Polar Assaults would fetch nearly $50.  Individually, the figures would sell for close to $20 if they were complete with filecards.  Loose figures, though, were very hard to find.  But, time evened that out.  By the early 2010's, 1998 Snow Serpents were easier to find and a lot cheaper.  Now, prices have stabilized.  Dealers will offer the figures in the $17 - $20 range with little success.  You can find loose, mint and complete with filecard figures for around $11 with regularity.  It might take you a year to build an army of 25 to 30 figures, but they are out there.  That price isn't bad, especially when you consider that the production numbers on these figures were likely lower than those of the 1991 Snow Serpent which sells for around the same price.  It's tough for me to wrap my brain around spending more for this figure now than I spent to buy sets at retail.  But, that was also almost twenty years ago.  So, I have to call myself out for being cheap.

None of that takes away from the sheer quality of this figure, though.  He remains one of my favorite cold weather figures and is always a welcome addition to my collection.  Were I to cull my winter forces to just one mold, this would be the choice.  The solid paint scheme, excellent quality, plethora of accessories and general solid design all add up to the pinnacle of snow themed Cobras.

Diorama - Snow Blind

In early 2003, we got a lot of snow.  One Sunday evening, I took some Joes out to get some snow pics.  It was late in the evening, so I had to use the flash.  But, I liked how the flash photos looked.  This photo set was planned to be the showcase for the 2001 Big Ben figure.  But, he didn't come out well enough in the photos and this was the last real snow I saw before I moved back to the desert.

1993 Mail Away Snow Serpent - Around the Web

Most of these figures can be traced to the close out of the Hasbro Direct warehouse in NorthEast Ohio in the mid 1990's.  It's a great figure that used to be cheap, but has gotten more expensive in recent years.  Here's some of the best of the web about the figure:

1993 Mail Away Snow Serpent Profile

1993 Snow Serpent at JoeDios.com

1993 Snow Serpent by yotothejoe

1993 Snow Serpent at JoeADay.com

1993 Snow Serpent at JoeWiki

Arctic Commandos at 3DJoes.com

1993 Figures at JoeGallery

1993 Snow Serpent by gen_liederkranz

1985 Snow Serpent

The Snow Serpent is the overlooked 1985 Cobra Army builder.  He's certainly not the worst figure from that year.  But, the arctic specialty dooms him to a lesser role than a figure of his excellent design would normally enjoy.  The Crimson Guard is one of the most iconic Cobra army building figures. The Eel is the de facto standard against which all other Cobra divers have been measured. And, the Tele-Viper is just a staple for pretty much every Cobra outpost, base and large vehicle due to his ubiquitous specialty. The Snow Serpent, though, is more niche. If you have an arctic mission, this is your first choice of figure. But, for most kids in the '80's, playing out in the snow with your Joes was a seasonal treat rather than a typical day of play.

In late 1984, the Dreadnoks were available at Sears stores.  My friends and I got them all for Christmas that year.  One of the great anticipations for Joe fans between 1983 and 1985 was not knowing the code names for the figures that would be released that year.  The cardbacks only referred to the figures by specialty.  So, we had great fun in trying to figure out the code names of all the characters on the cardbacks.  Between Flint, Lady Jaye and Shipwreck showing up in the cartoon early, the Crimson Guard appearing in the comic book and names that were listed in the copyright info on the comics early in the year, my friends and I were able to come up with the names for all the figures except one.  The Cobra Polar Assault trooper simply did not appear anywhere.  On top of this, no one could find the figure at retail.  We went several weeks not knowing this figure's name.  Finally, I found one at a Target store.  I went home and called my friend.  He was outside and his phone rang about 20 times before he heard it came in.  (Remember the days with no answering machines or voicemail?  Man, I'm starting to feel old.)  He was ecstatic when he heard the name Snow Serpent.  It was a vile and sinister name for a Cobra villain.

In the case of the Snow Serpent, the name lived up to the figure.  As a sculpt, the Snow Serpent is fabulous: well detailed with perfect coloring.  The accessories are about as perfect as you could get for the time.  The result is a complete package of a figure. The white combined with grey and blue stays true to the standard Cobra color palette while also keeping the figure in line with his environmental specialty. The detail on the mold is amazing and incorporates the airborne and arctic elements seamlessly. The figure's head is a bit odd. The solid black face mask loses some of the details. A simple eye paint mask would have broken this sea of darkness up nicely. But, the head is menacing and that's really the goal of the early Cobra figures.

One of the oddities about the Snow Serpent, though, is that he is actually two first time Cobras in one. He was the first Arctic themed Cobra Trooper. But, he was also the first airborne assault Cobra Trooper. The figure is designed with base parachute harnesses as part of his uniform. The inclusion of the parachute pack only reinforced the notion that Snow Serpents were designed to fill two specialties at once. This could be a function of Hasbro incorporating the airborne specialty as a way to keep the figure in kid's play patterns during warm weather months. Or, it could just be that they were trying to pack as much into a figure as they could. Regardless, the combination specialties help to make the figure stand out, even when taken against the later release Cobra cold weather troopers.

The Snow Serpent included an exceptional amount of accessories for the time. The figure started with the basics of a large backpack and an AK-47 assault rifle. The AK-47, though, was not the original sculpt from the Cobra Officer. Instead, it was a new sculpt that was thicker, bulkier and featured a new stock. In short, it was a substantial upgrade over the original Cobra weapon. The pack was large, but had a neat little engineering feature. The Snow Serpent also included an anti-tank missile launcher with stand. This launcher could neatly plug into the side of the figure's backpack. (The Snow Serpent I had as a kid, though, was irregular and his launcher never could fit on the peg.) This allowed the Snow Serpents to carry their full load of weapons without having to awkwardly pose the blocky missile launcher. If that weren't enough, though, the Snow Serpent also included a parachute pack that attached around the figure's waist. This wasn't a working accessory. But, it was a great detail that showed the Snow Serpent's versatility. The figure was topped off by a pair of snow shoes to assist with the snowbound marches. In short, the figure had everything you would expect of a arctic combat trooper.

In my collection, Snow Serpents were the best of the best of Cobra Troopers.  Somewhere, I got it in my head that Eels were taken from the ranks of Cobra's best.  So, the logical extension of that was for the Snow Serpents to be the elite fighters in Cobra's army.  Despite being themed for cold weather, I had Snow Serpents be the most devastating fighting unit against which the Joes could match up.  Often, Snow Serpents would hold their own against Joe forces of equal or even greater numbers.  They were that good.  There were very few of them.  So, when the Joe managed to kill one, it was an event worth noting for any hero.  Even as my vintage figure broke down, the notion of Snow Serpents being the best remained and the Joes were always on the lookout for any appearance of one.

In time, though, the Snow Serpents began to fade from my childhood play pattern.  Ostensibly, the reason was that the 1986 Cobra Viper was released and that figure gave me a newer, well equipped Cobra Soldier to fight the Joes.  But, at the same time, my lone Snow Serpent figure had taken a beating.  His rifle was lost, his missile launcher was broken, his parachute buckle was ripped and, after spending a few too many days outside, the figure and his backpack were caked with deep rooted dirt that just made the figure tired.  So, the Snow Serpent slipped into oblivion.  As an adult collector, though, the figure never made a comeback.  Living in the desert, I didn't have great need for arctic figures.  But, the reality was that my focus was on acquiring 1991, 1993 Mail Away and 1998 Snow Serpent figures.  Their sleek design, cheaper price and high quality mold made them more interesting to me than the traditional, plodding figure from 1985.  It was only through acquisitions of collections that I added a few original figures to my collection.  But, today, I am glad I have them.  The figure's classic design and vintage release year combine to make him a must have for me.

The Snow Serpent was one of the very few 1985 molds that never left the U.S. After his 1985 release, the mold went quiet until 1992. In that year, the head appeared as part of the nicely designed but poorly colored Heli-Viper. The mold then disappeared again until 2006. Then, in a surprise move, Master Collector found the mold and released it as part of the Operation Flaming Moth series of figures. This new figure did not have the classic Snow Serpent accessories and the high price point coupled with decreased Joe demand lead to a disappointing re-release of a classic. After that, the mold went silent. Really, though, there isn't much that could be done with this figure. The original is just about perfect. So, any attempts at repaints would likely suffer from those lofty expectations. So, it's probably best that the Snow Serpent is most know for his original release.

In the early 2000's, Snow Serpents were pricey.  But, when the army building bug was sated, their prices fell.  Today, mint and complete figures can be had for around $15-$18.  Be aware, though, that many of the figures in this price range actually have paint wear.  The figure's face is notoriously susceptible to paint damage and it's common to find a little paint missing from most figures in the market.  This isn't a terrible price at which to army the figure.  En masse, Snow Serpents are quite imposing.  Even as a single figure, the combination of quality sculpt, realistic colors and excellent gear make for a perfect display candidate. Overall, the best year for Cobra army builders is debatable. But, 1985 makes a strong case and the Snow Serpent is a shining example of why.

1993 Mail Away Snow Serpent

Rarely does a new version of a figure live up to its original counterpart. Some figures, like the 1991 Low Light, are better than the originals. While I'm not sure if that is the case with the Snow Serpent, I do know that they never made a bad version of him. This version I am showcasing, though, is the least known of the four Snow Serpent variations that were offered. However, after examining it, I think you will agree with me in that it is a spectacular figure worthy of much praise and more recognition that it receives from the collecting community. All three incarnations of this mold are relatively forgotten. I consider this one to be the best of them.

The figure you see below does not have its original accessories. The figure only comes with Hit and Run's rifle and a battle stand. (Which can be seen in the bagged sample.) The cool gun, snowboard and pack are from the 1998 incarnation of this figure that was available in a Toys R US exclusive 3 pack. While the Hit and Run's weapon is not bad, the figure is much more fun decked out in the full range of accessorized regalia he was originally intended to have. I use this guy as the Snow Serpent leader. The 1998's are the minions though, sometimes, the original 1991 versions serve in that capacity, too. This guy, though, is starting to see much more time. I just like the way this guys looks. The 1998's are too bland while the 1991 is too flashy. This guy is the happy medium that proves Hasbro was still capable of making a good figure in 1993, they were just too lazy to do so on a consistent basis.

One of the great things about this figure is the throwback red face mask. In the comic, early Cobra troopers and technicians all had red face masks. When the first Cobra figures were released, the masks had changed to black. Having a figure with the red mask is a nice homage to the early days of the line. It also makes this figure very unique in appearance. The cool Arctic blue blends subtlety with the white chest. The black extremities and red mask only enhance the overall appearance. The small Cobra sigils on the boot tops are the icing on the cake as far as attention to detail goes. I've had a bagged sample of this guy for some time, but have only recently acquired a loose specimen. Now that I have one, the figure really stands out in my collection. I have taken to posing figures near my desk. As I grow tired of one, he goes back into his drawer and a new figure comes out. Right now, the Snow Serpent is among the figures honored. I just like the way he looks. While I don't have much use for Arctic figures out in the now summertime desert, I still like having them around and use them on white carpet all the time. The 1998 3 pack gave me an excellent opportunity acquire a few of these molds, but I now have the figure that really makes the mold stand out among all Arctic figures.

One of the hallmarks of the Snow Serpent character has always been his gear. The original 1985 version was loaded with an assault rifle, heavy pack, parachute, snow shoes and a missile launcher. The 1991 version was more sleek and featured a rifle (That was also available in green with the Rock Fighter Guile figure.), a large pistol, 2 hoses that connected to a pack and a snow board. (The figure also featured a spring loaded missile launcher.) All of this made the Snow Serpent a figure that was heavily dependent upon his gear. However, the high quality paint job on this 1993 figure shows that the mold is capable of standing on its own without the gear. Many Joe figures derived their value directly from their accessories. This Snow Serpent is different in that it can stand on its own. The accessories only enhance a great mold.

This Snow Serpent mold has not seen much use. Aside from the original 1991 figure and this 1993 repaint, it was only used one other time: in 1998. All of these figures are top notch, though, and there really isn't any need to see this figure in different colors. There are only so many ways that, basically, white figures can be made visually distinctive. However, Hasbro largely neglected arctic Cobras in the modern Joe renaissance and most of these molds are still obscure enough that collectors would enjoy them...provided they were properly colored. As Master Collector has found the molds to both the original Snow Serpent and the Ice Viper, I could see, someday, an arctic themed convention set that would include a few of each of those molds alongside at least half a dozen of this Snow Serpent mold. At this point, I would enjoy a set like that since it would be something so different from the majority of modern Cobra releases.

***12/2/08 Update***

In the time since I wrote this, I acquired a ton of 1993 Snow Serpents. There was a dealer selling off surplus stock in 1999 and I bought out the last of his Snow Serpents. As such, this figure now comprises the bulk or my arctic army. On top of that, though, these figures have gotten rather pricey. While I bought all I could for a measly $3 per bagged figure, this Snow Serpent will now fetch upwards of $20 if he is still bagged. Even loose, this figure will reach $15 or so. In the late '90's, there were tons of overstock bagged figures from the final years of mail ins available. Now, though, those have largely dried up and many of the once common mail in premiums are starting to get pricey. It's too bad as this is easily the best version of this Snow Serpent mold available. But, I guess his new, higher prices are indicative that collectors, by and large, have figured this out.

***End 12/2/08 Update***

You can get these guys pretty easily, if you are willing to buy the Arctic 3 Pack Mail In. (Beware of this set. It is supposed to be a 4 figure set and include a repainted Dee Jay figure, but many of the ones for sale don't have him as he was bagged separately from the main 3. He is, though, pictured on the filecard.) Fortunately, the 3 packs are still very cheap and can be had under $10.00. Of course, you get three figures. While the Sub Zero is good as an army builder, I have yet to find the Stalker so. Building an army of Snow Serpents can prove difficult, but, with patience, can be done. When you outfit them with the accessories from the 1998 Arctic 3 pack, you are styling. I think this is the best incarnation and a rare case where a mail away figure is actually superior to its original version. This is a figure that is well worth picking up whenever the opportunity presents itself.

These guys are cool, but so are all the other versions of the Snow Serpent. Which is your favorite? Let me know.