Alley Vipers

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 Alley Viper action figure was first released in 1989 as part of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line. A new version of the Alley-Viper was released in 1993 as part of the Battle Corps line, which was repainted and released again in 1994. The figure has been released in ten different iterations between 1989 and 2004. While the figure has drastically changed in appearance over time, Alley Vipers are generally recognizable by their fanged masks and armored shields. The figure is frequently armed with a submachine gun or laser pistol.

From 1989 through 2003, the Alley Viper used similar molds for seven figures. The eighth version of the figure, released in 2004, was the first to feature a drastically different mold. Renamed Alley Viper II, the figure was part of the Valor vs. Venom toy line. A total of three Alley Viper figures were produced in 2004, two with the Alley Viper II mold and the other with more familiar look. The Alley Viper II is commonly armed with two Skorpion submachine guns and a knife.

Alley-Viper was released in the ‘Defense of Cobra Island’ box set in 2009. This included Air-Viper, Range-Viper, B.A.T., Doctor Mindbender, Lamprey, and Night Creeper.

According to the file card that was included with the original figure, Alley Vipers are equivalent to police SWAT units or British Special Air Service commandos. They are selected from the most brutal and ruthless among Cobra’s ranks. As part of their training regimen, Alley Vipers are “required to survive a full burst of machine gun fire across their frontal body armor, execute a thirty foot jump onto concrete with full combat load and run down a hundred meter gas-filled corridor without a mask.”

The Alley Viper appeared in two distinct versions in 2010. The first was a part of the G.I. Joe: Resolute Cobra Box Set based on his cartoon appearance. He was also released in the first wave of G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra toy line. This figure is a repainted version of the Defense of Cobra Island figure and features the head form the Resolute Alley Viper.

Comic Appearances

Marvel Comics

Alley Vipers made their first appearance in issue #92 of the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series. They fought the G.I. Joe team in the fictional city of Rio Lindo.[1]

Alley Vipers later fought the Joe team in issue #113, in the fictional country of Benzheen. They fought alongside several other Cobra officers, including Frag-Vipers and one Range-Viper. An Alley-Viper and Frag Viper send out a child into fire, this draws Sneek-Peek, whom the Range-Viper kills. Other Joes raid the Cobra position. The Alley-Viper is killed by Stalker; the others die as well. The child is taken away by his mother.[2]

Alley Vipers fight Mutt and Spirit in Millville, a town Cobra was attempting to conquer.[3] The final appearance of Alley Vipers was in issue #145, where they fought in Borovia.[4]

Devil’s Due

Alley-Vipers continue to appear in the Devil’s Due G.I. Joe comic books. Several are slain while assisting the Dreadnoks in battling an out of control Battle Android Trooper.[5]

A single Alley-Viper is a part of the team combing Cobra Island for the infiltrator ‘Barrel Roll’.[6] Several Alley-Viper 2s are part of the Cobra forces infiltrating the town of New Moon, Colorado.[7] Alley-Vipers 2s are also used in a Cobra demonstration at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. Several Alley Vipers are seen during the ‘World War 3‘ storyline.[8]

Cartoon Appearances

DIC

The Alley Vipers played heavy into the plot of the first mini series from the DIC produced G.I. Joe cartoon. G.I. Joe member Scoop was in training as a Crimson Guardsman and his closest friend in Cobra was an Alley Viper. It was Scoop who helped Cobra Commander take control back from Serpentor.

Resolut

The Alley Vipers were updated for the Resolute Cartoon and were in an all blue uniform and played heavy into the conflict with Cobra. Their first appearance was a conflict with Duke and Scarlett in Siberia.

References

  1. ^ “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” #92 (November 1989)
  2. ^ “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” Vol1 #113 (June 1991)
  3. ^ “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” #100-101
  4. ^ “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” #145
  5. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #12 (December 2002)
  6. ^ G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #30 (2004)
  7. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #34-35 (2004)
  8. ^ G.I. Joe: America’s Elite #25-36

External links

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