Intro 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

1994 1995-96 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

COMPLETE GUIDE TO G. I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO

1986 (Series 5)

Overview:

In accordance with the science-fiction plots in the cartoon, the G. I. Joe toy line took on a decidedly futuristic look in 1986. Figures sported more colorful designs, and the vehicles began looking less and less like military vehicles in use today. Fans reacted positively to the changes in leadership: Hawk was re-issued on card and thus introduced into the cartoon series, and Cobra had a new, more dangerous leader, Serpentor. The 1984 toys were being phased out, necessitating more replacements. Those so intended included: Beach Head for Stalker, Dial-Tone for Breaker, Iceberg for Snow Job, Leatherneck for Gung-Ho, Lifeline for Doc, a new Roadblock, Sci-Fi for Flash, Wet-Suit for Torpedo, and Viper for Cobra. Each team got a new main tank and a new plane. In addition, the Joes were given a new helicopter, and Cobra finally had a headquarters generally available. The introduction of Dr. Mindbender relieved Cobra of the necessity of kidnapping scientists in plot after plot. Cobra troops began following the pattern set by 1985's Tele-Viper and carried the word "Viper" in their code names. Finally, the first of G. I. Joe's special teams, the Special Mission: Brazil force, was released as a Toys 'R Us exclusive.

Three changes were made to G. I. Joe packaging in 1986. First, the G. I. Joe logo was given a new 3-D design. Second, character art was surrounded by a computer-graphic-style explosion rather than a more natural-looking one. Third, file cards were printed with a grey background, and code names were printed on top with boldface, with concepts relegated to the smaller print. The 1985 file cards (plus Storm Shadow and the Dreadnoks) were updated to reflect this change, though re-released mail-order figures retained the yellow backing and less prominent code name placement. Some figures packaged in 1986 came with body transfer decals, essentially temporary tattoos of G. I. Joe characters. The year ended with over one hundred figures and over ninety pieces of equipment available.

The new cartoon season retained a few favorites from the first season but focused heavily on the new characters. (Click here for more details.) Most of the new Joes got an episode pretty much to themselves, and the plots were designed to prepare the viewer for G. I. Joe: The Movie. Writers Buzz Dixon and Ron Friedman have recounted that the Movie developed largely around Hasbro's insistence on a new leader for Cobra. When told that such a change would require that Cobra "build" a leader from scratch or else be found to answer to a higher, secretive authority, Hasbro encouraged both plot points. The writers chose to begin the second season with a 5-part miniseries focusing on the creation of Serpentor, with answers to be revealed in the following year's theatrical release. Intervening episodes would focus on the friction between Serpentor (supported by Destro and Dr. Mindbender) and the increasingly daring Cobra Commander. The introduction of Serpentor also caused ripples for the comic series, whose issue #50, "The Battle for Springfield," featured more Joes and Cobras than any other single Marvel issue. Joe's success allowed for spinoff titles this year, most importantly a series of Special Missions that would run for 28 issues.

The official 1986 art is perhaps the most commonly seen, since merchandising was at its peak this year. As a snake looks on from a tree, Mainframe, Low-Light, Sci-Fi, Dial-Tone, Wet-Suit, Lifeline, Beach Head, and Hawk charge toward advancing Cobras. Roadblock swings on a vine, Leatherneck is on a Recon Sled, and Crimson Guards, a BAT, and a Viper are visible in the distance. A child with walking stick and green backpack is inserted into the picture for the sake of the "Live the Adventure" motif.

Contents:

• Carded Joe, Cobra, and Dreadnok figures
• Special Mission: Brazil figures
• Figures available by mail or included with vehicles
• Equipment
• Mail Offers
• Sunbow Cartoons
• Marvel Comics

Figures:

Figure minimum price: $2.35

(Prices reflect original store price, not current value. Items are not for sale on this site.)

Beach Head	Item # 6463	Regular Carded Assortment
Ranger		E-6 (Army staff sergeant)	SN: RA 011-60-9231
File Name: Sgt. Wayne R. Sneeden		Primary MOS: Infantry
POB: Auburn, AL		Secondary MOS: Small arms armorer
Appearance: green face mask and shirt; black vest with grey panels; brown pants with green camo stripes and black gloves, belt, pockets, and boots.
Cartoon appearance: usually no gloves; sometimes mistakenly drawn without face mask for a shot or two (Computer Complications, Once Upon a Joe). In such shots he had reddish-brown hair.
Accessories: black backpack (new, with bow and mine sensor); black ammo bag (new, soft plastic with strap); light grey carbine (new, Demro 9mm XF-7).
Filecard Information: Beach Head was a lane instructor at the Ranger School in Fort Benning and an Observer/Advisor at the Covert Ops School in Central America. He's meticulous, patient, and strong willed. He likes getting up at 0500 hours to take a ten mile run and PT (Physical Training) session before breakfast. He enjoys squatting motionless beside a jungle trail for three days straight waiting to ambush bad guys that might never show up. What he hates is people who aren't interested in doing their best. Qualified expert all NATO and Warsaw Pact small arms. "Most folks will get mad on occasion or at least get irritable—not Beach Head. He thinks anger is a waste of time and energy. Rage clouds the vision and pollutes logic. Fury impairs judgement and makes you careless. The results of anger are totally unacceptable to Beach Head. He doesn't get angry . . . he gets even."
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 1993 (Battle Corps) 3. 1994 (Battle Corps neon) 4. 2002 (JvC Wave 3) 5. 2003 (JvC Wave 6) 6. 2004/I (Night Force) 7. 2004/II (Valor vs. Venom) 8. 2004/III (Tiger Force) 9. 2004/IV (Single Pack) 10. 2007 (25th Wave 2)
Variations: None.
Mold: Beach Head (86, 04/I, 04/III)
Toy notes: Featured in the Devilfish commercial. Recolored versions were released in India. The 1993 and 1994 versions have hyphenated code names; versions from 2003 onward were spelled "Beachhead."
Cartoon notes: Voiced by William Callaway (but by Dan Gilvezan in Let's Play Soldier). Southeastern accent. Spoke 240 lines in 25 episodes. 18th most frequent speaker. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 27. Beach Head was seen operating the AWE Striker, Conquest, Devilfish, HAVOC, and JUMP, as well as a Cobra Stun. In the cartoon, Beach Head ranked just under Flint, alongside Sgt. Slaughter.
Prioritized appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, The Movie parts 2 and 5, Ninja Holiday, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Once Upon a Joe, Let's Play Soldier, The Rotten Egg, Iceberg Goes South, Cobrathon, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, Not a Ghost of a Chance, Computer Complications, My Favorite Things, The Million Dollar Medic, Nightmare Assault, Joe's Night Out. One line: Glamour Girls, The Spy Who Rooked Me, Sins of Our Fathers. Silent: Last Hour to Doomsday, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep. Beach Head is included in the opening sequences of season 2 and the Movie.
Comic notes: Beach Head appears in 10 issues between 1986 and 1988: #47, 49, 50, 53, 55, 62, 63, 74, 77, and Special Missions #8.

 

Dial-Tone	Item # 6471	Regular Carded Assortment
Communications		E-4 (Army corporal)	SN: RA 428-71-3360
File Name: Corp. Jack S. Morelli		Primary MOS: Radio Telecommunications
POB: Eugene, OR		Secondary MOS: Infantry
Appearance: black beret; brown hair and moustache; pale beige shirt with open collar; green vest with black straps; black gloves and pants with brown belt and green boots and kneepads.
Cartoon appearance: brighter yellow on shirt; green pants with black boots and kneepads.
Accessories: light grey backpack (new, with curved top) and mouthpiece on swivel; light grey assault rifle (new, HK-53).
Filecard Information: Dial-Tone built his own crystal set when he was ten. By fourteen he was part of a CB net, and had his own ham station by the time he was sixteen. Dial-Tone made all his own equipment, buying parts with quarters earned bagging groceries. He saw the army as a means to furthering his education in his chosen field and quickly found that instead of a stepping stone, it was a goal in itself. Manning a radio in the field wasn't just passing time—it was a job with a purpose. "One of the scariest things that can happen to you out in the field is to lose contact with your base. That means you are ALONE. No artillery support, no air strikes, no medvac, no extraction, no NOTHING! The cavalry ain't comin' until the man with the radio tells 'em to."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil) 3. 1991 (Sonic Fighters) 4. 1994 (Battle Corps) 5. 2000 (RAH Collection) 6. 2002 (Sound Attack)/AWE Striker 2003 7. 2003 (Tiger Force)
Variations: None.
Mold: head—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03) arms—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03), Dusty (02/I), Alex "Sparks" Verdi (07) torso—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03), Dusty (02/I) waist and legs—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03), Crossfire (01)
Toy notes: Featured in the Battle Stations commercial, manning the LAW. Dial-Tone's code name is not hyphenated for the 2000, 2002, and 2003 versions.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Hank Garrett. Northern accent. Spoke 188 lines in 24 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 27. Dial-Tone was seen operating the Conquest, Devilfish, Falcon Glider, HAVOC, Killer WHALE, and LCV Recon Sled.
Prioritized appearance list: Joe's Night Out, Sins of Our Fathers, Glamour Girls, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, Cobrathon, The Spy Who Rooked Me, My Favorite Things, The Movie parts 1, 4, and 5, Iceberg Goes South, Nightmare Assault, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, My Brother's Keeper, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, The Rotten Egg, Once Upon a Joe, Not a Ghost of a Chance, In the Presence of Mine Enemies. One line: Last Hour to Doomsday, Let's Play Soldier. Silent: The Million Dollar Medic. Dial-Tone is not included in any opening sequences.
Comic notes: Dial-Tone appeared in 23 issues between 1986 and 1993: #54, 56, 57, 67, 73-77, 79, 93, 109, 110, 113, 130, 131, 137, 140, 141, and Special Missions #2, 7, 11, and 28.

 

Hawk	Item # 6468	Regular Carded Assortment
G. I. Joe Commander		O-7 (Army brigadier general)	SN: RA 212-75-4036
File Name: Gen. Clayton M. Abernathy		Primary MOS: Artillery
POB: Denver, CO		Secondary MOS: Radar
Appearance: brown hair; brown jacket with black holster; light and dark green camouflage pants with black belts, holster.
Cartoon appearance: opaque white-lensed goggles on helmet; brown boots.
Accessories: light green helmet (new, with goggles); light green backpack (new, with canteen and several pouches); black pistol (Keel Haul's semi-automatic).
Filecard Information: Hawk was the original field commander of the Joe Team before he got his General's star and was booted upstairs to honcho the entire G. I. Joe Operation. He's a West Point graduate and has a list of special education credits as long as his arm, but he still managed to get the main body of his experience out there where it counts—on the battle field. "Hawk's the type of commander who goes out and gets shot at like everyone else. Troops respect that. They know he won't ask them to do anything he isn't willing to do himself. And that's why they are willing to do anything Hawk tells them."
Versions: 1. 1982 (MMS) 2. 1986 3. 1991 4. 1992 (Battle Commanders) 5. 1993/I (Armor-Tech) 6. 1993/II (Mail) 7. 1997 (A-10 Thunderbolt) 8. 2000 (RAH Collection) 9. 2002 (JvC Wave 1.5) 10. 2004/I (Comic #3) 11. 2004/II (Valor vs. Venom) 12. 2005 (Comic #74) 13. 2008 (Comic #1)
Variations: Hawk's helmet has black goggles in the 1986 catalog and commercials but was produced with green goggles. Mail-order Hawks came with a gold '91 Cobra Commander' submachine gun instead of the pistol, and no helmet or backpack.
Mold: head—Hawk (86, 97), Breaker (97), Rock 'n Roll (97) arms—Hawk (86, 97) torso and waist—Hawk (86, 97, 05) legs—Hawk (86, 97), Breaker (97)
Toy notes: Featured in the Devilfish commercial. Also available through the 1992 mail-in offer "Terror on the Tundra." The first major hair color change; many would follow. A slightly different version was released in India. Some parts were used to create the India-exclusive figure Super Cop. Versions from 1991 to 1997 were named "General Hawk." The name was changed to "General Tomahawk" for the 2000 and 2002 versions, and to "General Abernathy" for the 2004 and 2005 versions. The 2008 version's full name is "G.  I. Joe Hawk." Copyright issues are believed responsible for the name changes, since competing The Corps! figures by Lanard have a figure named "Hawk."
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Ed Gilbert. Spoke 338 lines in 26 episodes. 13th most frequent speaker. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 26. Hawk was seen operating the AWE Striker, Conquest, HAVOC, JUMP, LCV Recon Sled, Mauler, Snow Cat, and Tomahawk.
Prioritized appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, Sink the Montana, Nightmare Assault, Raise the Flagg, The Movie parts 2-5, Sins of Our Fathers, Second-Hand Emotions, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Joe's Night Out, Cobrathon, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, Ninja Holiday, Last Hour to Doomsday, My Favorite Things, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, The Rotten Egg, My Brother's Keeper, Not a Ghost of a Chance, The Spy Who Rooked Me. Hawk was included in the opening sequences of season 2 and the Movie.

 

Iceberg	Item # 6466	Regular Carded Assortment
Snow Trooper		E-5 (Army sergeant)	SN: 271-65-5660
File Name: Sgt. Clifton L. Nash		Primary MOS: Infantry
POB: Brownsville, TX		Secondary MOS: Cold Weather Survival Instructor
Appearance: African-American; white hat with green goggles; black hair; white snowsuit with blue vest and green backpack straps and belt; dark green gloves and white boots.
Cartoon appearance: white vest instead of light blue.
Accessories: white machine gun (new, M60).
Filecard Information: Iceberg hates hot weather. In Brownsville in the summer, you can spit on the sidewalk and watch it sizzle. While other kids saved up for bicycles, Iceberg saved up for an air conditioner. When he was old enough to enlist, he signed up and asked for duty in Alaska. He had found his element. Qualified expert: M-16A2, M-79, M-60, and M-1911A1. "We have plenty of cold weather specialists that can stand the cold well enough but very few that like it. Iceberg's just not happy until the mercury dips below zero. This is not to say he's unaware of the dangers of cold weather or that he is impervious to the lethal effects of hypothermia. Rather, his love for ultra-cold climates has forced him to learn every aspect of arctic survival."
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 1993 (Battle Corps) 3. 1997 (3-Pack)
Variations: Mail-order Icebergs came with a cream '90 Rock-Viper' PSG-1 sniper rifle instead of the M60. The prototype pictured in the 1986 catalog had more blue on his chest area.
Mold: head, arms, torso, and legs—Iceberg (86, 97) waist—Iceberg (86, 97), some Starduster (87)
Toy notes: Also available through the 1992 mail-in offer "Terror on the Tundra." Recolored versions were released in India. Some parts were used to create the India-exclusive figure Super Cop.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Arthur Burghardt. Spoke 68 lines in 11 episodes. First appeared in ASA 1; first spoke in ASA 2. Total appearances: 14. Iceberg was seen operating a JUMP and a Dreadnok Swampfire.
Prioritized appearance list: Iceberg Goes South, Nightmare Assault, Second-Hand Emotions, Computer Complications, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, The Million Dollar Medic, The Movie parts 2 and 5. Silent: Joe's Night Out. Iceberg was included in the opening sequences of season 2 and the Movie.
Comic notes: Iceberg appeared in 6 issues between 1988 and 1989: #68, 72, and Special Missions #14, 15, 18, and 19.

 

Leatherneck	Item # 6458	Regular Carded Assortment
Marine		E-7 (Marine gunnery sergeant)	SN: RA 368-10-0025
File Name: Sgt. Wendell A. Metzger		Primary MOS: Infantry
POB: Stromsburg, NE		Secondary MOS: Drill Sergeant
Appearance: black hair and moustache; green cap, shirt, and pants with brown "bird's foot" camouflage; beige vest with dark green pads; black belt, holsters.
Cartoon appearance: standard blotchy green/yellow camo pattern, with darker green than on figure; grey backpack straps.
Accessories: light green backpack (new, with canteen and roll); grey assault rifle (new, M16 with M203 grenade launcher).
Filecard Information: Leatherneck was the hardest gunny that ever slogged through the mud of Camp Lejeune. Before that, he was the toughest drill sergeant on Paris [sic] Island. Before that, he was the roughest tech sergeant of the 1st Recon B[attalio]n in Viet Nam. Before THAT, he was the meanest corporal in Gitmo. Civilian badness just doesn't count. "He is uncouth, opinionated, and overbearing. And he has no patience at all with the indecisive, the lazy, and the dishonest. Not a man you can like, but one you can trust."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil) 3. 1993 (Battle Corps) 4. 2001 (RAH Collection)/MCC 2003 5. 2004 (Defense Mech)
Variations: The camouflage pictured in the 1986 is much darker than on the produced figure. The Leatherneck pictured in the Battle Stations commercial was also quite different.
Mold: Leatherneck (86/I, 86/II)
Toy notes: Featured in the Battle Stations commercial, manning the Outpost Defender.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Chuck McCann. Gravelly voice. Spoke 225 lines in 16 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 23. Leatherneck was seen operating the Devilfish, Falcon Glider, LCV Recon Sled, Mauler, and Silver Mirage, as well as a Dreadnok cycle. He was often paired with Wet-Suit, and the two would trade insults related to their respective branches of service.
Prioritized appearance list: The Rotten Egg, Let's Play Soldier, Joe's Night Out, My Favorite Things, Raise the Flagg, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Once Upon a Joe, Ninja Holiday, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1 and 3-5, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, Computer Complications, Last Hour to Doomsday, Nightmare Assault, Sins of Our Fathers. Silent: Glamour Girls, Not a Ghost of a Chance, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, The Movie parts 1, 3, and 5. Leatherneck was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Leatherneck appeared in 16 issues between 1986 and 1990: #49, 50, 53, 55, 62, 64, 67, 74-76, 83, 100, and Special Missions #3, 4, 8, and 23.

 

Lifeline	Item # 6465	Regular Carded Assortment
Rescue Trooper		E-5 (Army sergeant)	SN: RA 128-03-2496
File Name: Sgt. Edwin C. Steen		Primary MOS: Medic
POB: Seattle, WA
Appearance: red and white helmet with silver goggles; black hair; green sunglasses; red open-collar shirt with white pockets and silver backpack straps; red pants with white belt, pockets, and boots; "Rescue" on left leg.
Cartoon appearance: no weapons on uniform; pockets on chest often absent.
Accessories: black breath mask (new, with ridged hose); silver backpack (new, with antenna); white medical pack (new, with hose hole and silver interior); silver pistol (new, flat 9mm).
Filecard Information: Lifeline was a para-medic with the Seattle Fire Department for five years before he discovered that EMS (Emergency Medical Service) personnel who were disabled while giving aid off-duty were not eligible for pensions. In his mind, rescue personnel were never off-duty. He decided to make his status permanent by enlisting in the army as a corpsman. "Elite units always take care of their own. The Joes are no exception. The troops have to know that if something really heavy comes down on them and they're in no condition to walk out of the mess, somebody is going to have the heart to wade in and extricate them. That somebody is Lifeline."
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 1988 (Tiger Force) 3. 1994 (Battle Corps)
Variations: The mail-order version of Lifeline had new legs to eliminate the molded-on weapons, and he was sold without the pistol or air mask.
Mold: head, arms, torso, and waist—Lifeline (86, 88) legs (store figure)—Lifeline (86, 88) legs (mail-order variant)—Lifeline (86 variant), Frostbite (85, 88)
Toy notes: A slightly remolded Lifeline was available in 1991 through a mail-in offer in Rice Krispies cereal. Not related to 2002/2004 Sgt. Lifeline.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Stan Wojno, Jr. Spoke 206 lines in 23 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 27. Lifeline was seen operating the Conquest and JUMP. The cartoon Lifeline was a pacifist and the son of a minister.
Prioritized appearance list: The Million Dollar Medic, Second-Hand Emotions, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, Nightmare Assault, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, My Favorite Things, Not a Ghost of a Chance, Last Hour to Doomsday, Once Upon a Joe, The Movie parts 2, 4, and 5, Cobrathon, Let's Play Soldier, Computer Complications, The Rotten Egg. One line: Glamour Girls, In the Presence of Mine Enemies. Silent: Iceberg Goes South, The Spy Who Rooked Me, Ninja Holiday, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep. Lifeline was included in the opening sequences of season 2 and the Movie.
Comic notes: Lifeline was a principled pacifist in the comic as well, although he still got into a scrape or two. He appeared in 13 issues between 1987 and 1992: #56, 63, 67, 74, 75, 77, 86, 95, 129, and Special Missions #4, 18, 19, and 25.

 

Low-Light	Item # 6459	Regular Carded Assortment
Night Spotter		E-6 (Army staff sergeant)	SN: RA 827-48-5037
File Name: Sgt. Cooper G. MacBride		Primary MOS: Infantry
POB: Crosby, ND		Secondary MOS: Marksmanship Instructor
Appearance: yellow hair; black cap; red goggles; dark grey jacket with red pad on right shoulder; black gloves; dark grey pants with black belt.
Cartoon appearance: no gloves.
Accessories: black backpack (new, large pouch); black pistol (new, Uzi with trigger guard); black sniper's rifle (new, resembles Enfield L39A1 with night scope) and bipod.
Filecard Information: As a child in North Dakota, Low-Light was afraid of the dark, timid with animals, and shy of loud noises . . . until one precarious hunting expedition with his father. Low-Light somehow lost his way in the impenetrable darkness. He was found three weeks later with his flashlight, .22 rifle, and a grin from ear to ear. Ten years later he was an instructor at the Army marksmanship program in Fort Benning and a self-taught expert on image intensification. "The Joes like to have Low-Light along for the ride. They know that if something gets really heavy, and that's bound to happen sooner or later, all they have to do is wait until dark . . . it doesn't matter what field of fire the bad guys control—the night belongs to Low-Light."
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 1989 (Slaughter's Marauders) 3. 1991 4. 1993 (Dino-Hunters) 5. 2001 (RAH Collection) 6. 2006 (DTC)
Variations: The prototype pictured in the catalog has slightly different molding on his collar and goggles.
Mold: Low-Light (86, 89)
Toy notes: The 1989 and 1993 versions erroneously list Low-Light's birthplace as Crosby, New Mexico. The code name is not hyphenated for the 2006 version.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Charlie Adler. Spoke 116 lines in 16 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 25. Low-Light was seen operating the AWE Striker, Devilfish, Falcon Glider, and JUMP.
Prioritized appearance list: Glamour Girls, Nightmare Assault, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1, 2, 4, and 5, Cobrathon, My Brother's Keeper, My Favorite Things, Ninja Holiday, Iceberg Goes South, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, Computer Complications, The Rotten Egg, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains. One line: Let's Play Soldier, The Movie parts 3 and 5. Silent: Last Hour to Doomsday, The Million Dollar Medic, Once Upon a Joe, Raise the Flagg, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Joe's Night Out, Sins of Our Fathers. Low-Light was included in the opening sequences of season 2 and the Movie.
Comic notes: Low-Light appeared in 16 issues between 1987 and 1992: #55, 63, 64, 74-77, 83, 86, 116, 117, 119, 130, and Special Missions #3, 8, and 11.

 

Mainframe	Item # 6462	Regular Carded Assortment
Computer Specialist		E-5 (Marine sergeant)	SN: RA 818-50-1673
File Name: Sgt. Blaine L. Parker		Primary MOS: Computer Technology
POB: Phoenix, AZ		Secondary MOS: Infantry
Appearance: black helmet; grey short-sleeved shirt; black diagonal strap and gloves; grey pants with black belt, holster.
Cartoon appearance: dark grey pants; black or dark grey collar on shirt.
Accessories: grey backpack (new, with antenna and hose peg); grey portable computer (new, with handle); black walkie-talkie (new, attaches to hose); black hose (long standard).
Filecard Information: Mainframe enlisted in the Army Airborne at the age of seventeen and made it over to South-East Asia for the last year of hostilities, just in time to get his Combat Infantryman's Badge. He left the Army to get his degree from MIT on the G. I. Bill and did a stint toiling in the antiseptic corridors of Silicon Valley making big bucks and fighting off boredom with a stick. Luckily, the Marines were looking for a few good men with just his qualifications. The proper papers were signed, and Mainframe was back in uniform. "Too much of the modern battlefield is computer coordinated not to have a computer specialist right out there in the field with you. Problem is, most hackers don't exactly fit the combat profile. Mainframe is the exception. He was ten years older than the next oldest trainee at Parris Island and he still finished at the top ten of the class. He's got brains—but he's hard."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil)
Variations: None.
Mold: Mainframe (86/I, 86/II)
Toy notes: A slightly different version was released in India.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Patrick Pinney. Spoke 169 lines in 19 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 25. Mainframe was seen operating the Conquest, HAVOC, LCV Recon Sled, and Silver Mirage. The cartoon romantically paired Mainframe with Zarana. The cartoon also revealed that Mainframe had an ex-wife and that the couple had children.
Prioritized appearance list: Computer Complications, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, Cobrathon, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, Joe's Night Out, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Glamour Girls, Last Hour to Doomsday, Nightmare Assault, The Movie parts 1 and 3-5, The Million Dollar Medic, My Favorite Things. One line: Ninja Holiday, Sins of Our Fathers. Silent: Sink the Montana, The Rotten Egg, Once Upon a Joe. Mainframe was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Mainframe appeared in 12 issues between 1987 and 1993: #57, 58, 65, 72-74, 76, 79, 115, 137, 140, and Special Missions #16. His character is killed in an explosion in Devil's Due #25.

 

Roadblock	Item # 6467	Regular Carded Assortment
Heavy Machine Gunner		E-4 (Army corporal)	SN: RA 538-20-3485
File Name: Corp. Marvin F. Hinton		Primary MOS: Infantry Heavy Weapons
POB: Biloxi, MS		Secondary MOS: Cook
Appearance: African-American; bald with black moustache and goatee; off-white short-sleeved shirt; light green vest with beige strap and red pads; black gloves and boots; light grey pants with beige belt and boots.
Cartoon appearance: darker green vest with brown belt and right chest strap.
Accessories: silver machine gun (new, L7A2) with tall tripod.
Filecard Information: Roadblock's dream was to be a gourmet chef. He was working as a bouncer to earn money to attend Escoffier School in France when an army recruiter convinced him that the army could train him to be a chef. Roadblock joined but found army menus and preparation techniques too appalling. Transferred to the infantry. Qualified expert: M-2 Browning .50 cal.; Heavy Machine Gun; all Warsaw Pact Heavy MGs; M-16; M-1911A1 Auto Pistol. "A .50 cal. Browning weighs 84 pounds. Add fifty pounds for the ammo—that's about 134 pounds of steel generating 2930 f.p.s.in muzzle velocity at a cyclic rate of 550 r.p.m. Anybody who can handle that doesn't need a machine gun to keep me away!"
Versions: 1. 1984 2. 1986 3. 1988 (Tiger Force) 4. 1992 5. 1993/I (Battle Corps) 6. 1993/II (Star Brigade white) 7. 1994 (Star Brigade orange) 8. 2003/I (JvC Wave 6) 9. 2003/II (Tiger Force) 10. 2004/I (Wal-Mart) 11. 2004/II (Night Force) 12. 2004/III (Anti-Venom) 13. 2005/I (Comic #24) 14. 2005/II (Heavy Assault) 15. 2007 (25th Joe set)
Variations: None.
Mold: head—UNIQUE! arms—Roadblock (86), Rock 'n Roll (97) torso—Roadblock (86), Breaker (97), Rock 'n Roll (97) waist—Roadblock (86), Guile (93/I, 93/II), Breaker (97), Rock 'n Roll (97, 05), Snake Eyes (97/I, 97/II, 03/I, 03/II, 04/IV, 05/IV), Gen. Abernathy (04/I), Sgt. Stalker (04/II, 05/I, 06), Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey (05), Mortal (06) legs—Roadblock (86), Guile (93/I, 93/II), Rock 'n Roll (97)
Toy notes: The character Double Blast was renamed Roadblock in 2002 but is not the same individual.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Kene Holliday. Spoke 346 lines in 46 episodes. 11th most frequent speaker. First appeared and spoke in TROC 1. Total appearances: 58. Roadblock was seen operating the APC, Armadillo, AWE Striker, Conquest, HAVOC, JUMP, Killer WHALE, Mauler, RAM, SHARC, SkyStriker, Snow Cat, and VAMP, as well as a Cobra ASP and an ordinary jeep (probably his personal vehicle). Wore the 1984 version's uniform through season 1 and this outfit thereafter. Occasional appearances of Roadblock's first-season uniform (Doomsday, Soldier, Montana) may be animators' errors. The cartoon Roadblock had a tendency to rhyme when he spoke.
Prioritized appearance list: Raise the Flagg, Red Rocket's Glare, The Revenge of Cobra parts 1-5, The Movie parts 1 and 3-5, The Pyramid of Darkness parts 1-5, The Viper Is Coming, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-3 and 5, Money to Burn, Cobra Soundwaves, The Wrong Stuff, The Phantom Brigade, Cobra CLAWs Are Coming to Town, The Great Alaskan Land Rush, Second-Hand Emotions, Let's Play Soldier, The Rotten Egg, The Germ, There's No Place Like Springfield I-II, The Synthoid Conspiracy I-II, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Sins of the Fathers, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, Primordial Plot, Skeletons in the Closet, An Eye for an Eye. One line: Haul Down the Heavens, Spell of the Siren, Where the Reptiles Roam, Cold Slither, The Million Dollar Medic, Glamour Girls. Silent: Cobra Stops the World, Lasers in the Night, The Traitor I-II, Cobra Quake, Hearts and Cannons, The Pit of Vipers, Last Hour to Doomsday, Computer Complications, Sink the Montana, Once Upon a Joe. Roadblock is included in the opening sequences of TROC, season 1, season 2, and the Movie.

 

Sci-Fi	Item # 6469	Regular Carded Assortment
Laser Trooper		Grade: E-4 (Army corporal)	SN: RA 793-29-1929
File Name: Corp. Seymour P. Fine		Primary MOS: Infantry
POB: Geraldine, MT		Secondary MOS: Electronics
Appearance: bright green and silver helmet; black visor; bright green shirt and pants; silver vest with green padding; black gloves; silver boots.
Cartoon appearance: regular (not bright) green uniform; black padding on vest. Hair was brown in some episodes (Computer Complications) and black in others (Nightmare Assault).
Accessories: bright green backpack (new, with rifle clips); black laser rifle (new, with hose peg); black hose (long standard)
Filecard Information: Sci-Fi lives in a slow-motion world. He takes everything real easy, and he's never in a hurry to get anywhere or do anything. But that's what it takes to be a laser-rifleman. At a range of 2 1/2 miles, the impact spot of laser light will jump one hundred feet for every one thousandth of an inch movement at the source. That spot has got to be held on target long enough to burn through that source, otherwise it's no more harmful than a warm breeze. "When Sci-Fi braces his weapon and sights in on a target, he becomes a rock—no discernible movement of any kind. Birds perch on top of his helmet. He transcends mere stillness to another plane of immobility. You don't even see the trigger finger move. It's like he wills that beam of light to stab the darkness. . ."
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 1991 3. 1993 (Starfighter) 4. 1994 (Star Brigade)
Variations: None.
Mold: UNIQUE!
Toy notes: Some parts were used to create the Brazil-exclusive figure Biologico.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Jerry Houser. Spoke 61 lines in 11 episodes. First appeared in ASA 1; first spoke in ASA 2. Total appearances: 17. Sci-Fi was seen operating the AWE Striker, Conquest, Falcon Glider, LCV Recon Sled, Mauler, Silver Mirage, and Tomahawk, as well as a cartoon-exclusive jeep.
Prioritized appearance list: My Brother's Keeper, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, Ninja Holiday, Cobrathon, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-3 and 5, Nightmare Assault, Second-Hand Emotions, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, Computer Complications, The Million Dollar Medic. Silent: Iceberg Goes South, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, The Movie parts 4-5. Sci-Fi was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Sci-Fi appeared in 12 issues between 1987 and 1994: #64, 65, 72, 74, 75, 77, 100, and 145-149.

 

Wet-Suit	Item # 6470	Regular Carded Assortment
SEAL		E-5 (Navy petty officer)	SN: RA 701-54-8793
File Name: Brian M. Forrest		Primary MOS: SEAL
POB: Myrtle Beach, SC		Secondary MOS: UDT (Underwater Demolitions)
Appearance: orange helmet with black underside; blue diving suit with white chest panel and grey straps; black wristbands.
Cartoon appearance: almost always without helmet unless underwater; curly red-brown hair; propellors on backpack. In several shots of Last Hour to Doomsday, Computer Complications, The Rotten Egg, and Glamour Girls, Wet-Suit was erroneously given one of the Joes' generic yellow frogman outfits.
Accessories: two black flippers (85 Eel's); orange backpack (new, scuba with tube holes); orange sea sled (new); orange flashlight (new, with strap); black air tube (new, with U-shaped mask attachment).
Filecard Information: Seals are the guys who were too nasty to be Airborne Rangers or Marines. The Navy keeps their SEALS locked up below decks until something bad becomes worse. That's when they all get dumped in the soup on a rubber raft with a knife, a gun, and all the ammo and explosives they can carry. Wet-Suit may just as well be the roughest one of the bunch. He's wild and unruly—but he's simply the best at what he does. "Wet-Suit may be mean to the bone, but he's also quite bright, being well-read in both the classics and the standard texts of military tactics. Pretty amazing considering that the level to which he has developed his toughness would seem to indicate full-time occupation . . . "
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil) 3. 1992 4. 1993 (Battle Corps) 5. 1998 (3-Pack) 6. 2001 (RAH Collection) 7. 2002/I (JvC Wave 1) 8. 2002/II (JvC Wave 1.35) 9. 2002/III (Sound Attack) 10. 2003 (Built to Rule)
Variations: None.
Mold: head and torso—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III) arms—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III), Super Trooper (88), Rapid-Fire (91), Mutt (04/II) waist—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III), Super Trooper (88), Rapid-Fire (91), Shipwreck (94, 98, 02/I) legs—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III), Shipwreck (94, 98, 02/I)
Toy notes: Featured in the Devilfish commercial.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Jack Angel. Slight Southern accent. Spoke 225 lines in 17 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 23. Wet-Suit was seen operating the Devilfish, Killer WHALE, LCV Recon Sled, Mauler, and SHARC. He was often paired with Leatherneck, and the two would trade insults related to their respective branches of service.
Prioritized appearance list: My Favorite Things, Joe's Night Out, Ninja Holiday, Iceberg Goes South, Raise the Flagg, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1 and 3-5, Computer Complications, Last Hour to Doomsday, The Rotten Egg, Sink the Montana, Once Upon a Joe, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, Sins of Our Fathers, Nightmare Assault. Silent: Let's Play Soldier, The Million Dollar Medic, Glamour Girls, Into Your Tent I Will Silently, Creep, The Movie part 5. Wet-Suit was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Wet-Suit appeared in 6 issues between 1986 and 1988: #47, 53, 78, Special Missions #1 and 8, and Yearbook #3.

 

BAT	Item # 6456	Regular Carded Assortment
Cobra Android Trooper
Appearance: black head with silver faceplate; black shirt with yellow pad; lenticular chest panel covering red, yellow, and blue "innards"; silver arms; black pants with yellow belt and boots.
Cartoon appearance: red visors and grill on cheeks.
Accessories: silver hand, claw, flamethrower, and machine gun attachments (all new); black backpack (new, with three pegs).
Filecard Information: BATs are the perfect Cobra Troopers. They never question orders, complain about the chow, shirk duty, or surrender. They require no leave-time, sick-pay, or benefits of any kind, and they are cheap and easy to replace. On the other hand, BATs do not react very well to changes in field conditions, nor do they discriminate between targets. They will shoot at anything that moves, be it friend, foe, or animal. They also have an unfortunate tendency to burst into flame when hit from behind. . . "BATs are dangerous to everybody. They'll shoot, bayonet, or kick anything in sight; Cobra Infantrymen don't like to be on the same battlefield with BATs. When a Cobra unit is losing a battle they will dispense BATs into the midst of the firefight in order to evacuate the area easily."
Versions: 1. 1986 (mark 1) 2. 1991 (mark 2) 3. 1993 (Cobra-Tech) 4. 2002 (JvC Wave 4) 5. 2003/I (BAT 6-Pack) 6. 2003/II (JvC Wave 7) 7. 2003/III (JvC Wave 7.75) 8. 2004/I (APC Transport) 9. 2004/II (Single Pack Wave 1) 10. 2004/III (VvV Wave 2) 11. 2004/IV (VvV Wave 3) 12. 2004/V (VvV Wave 5) 13. 2004/VI (Single Pack Wave 2) 14. 2005/I (BAT Attack v3) 15. 2005/II (BAT Attack v4) 16. 2005/III (BAT Attack v5)
Variations: BAT's trim color was bright yellow on some figures and orange on others. Early packaging gave the figure's name as "B.A.T."; later cards read "B.A.T.S." A prototype with a squatter head and slightly thicker body and limbs appeared in the 1986 catalog and commercials.
Mold: head, torso, and lower arms—UNIQUE! upper arms—BAT (86), Steeler (04) waist and legs—BAT (86), Viper (97, 02/I, 02/II, 02/III, 03/I, 03/II, 03/III, 06/I, 06/II), Cobra Officer (98), Cobra Trooper (98)
Toy notes: Featured in the Battle Station commercial, manning the Surveillance Port. The 1993 version was named "BAAT." The related figures Inferno BAT and BAT II were released in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Cartoon notes: Not programmed to speak, although curious background chatter appears in one or two episodes. First appeared in ASA 1. Total appearances: 21.
Chronological appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, Last Hour to Doomsday, Let's Play Soldier, Sink the Montana, Cobrathon, The Million Dollar Medic, Once Upon a Joe, My Brother's Keeper, My Favorite Things, Raise the Flagg, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Second-Hand Emotions, Not a Ghost of a Chance, Sins of Our Fathers, In the Presence of Mine Enemies, The Movie part 4. BATs were included in the opening sequences of season 2 and the Movie.

 

Doctor Mindbender	Item # 6461	Regular Carded Assortment
Master of Mind Control
Appearance: bald with black moustache; silver monacle and chest straps; bare chest and arms; purple wristbands and black gloves; purple legs with black belt, holster.
Cartoon appearance: dark purplish grey cape attached to chest straps with red Cobra insignia.
Accessories: black cloth cape (new, with silver Cobra emblem); light grey pistol (new, circle by trigger guard); silver stun rod (new); black stun rod generator (new); black hose (long standard).
Filecard Information: Dr. Mindbender was at one time an excellent orthodontist and a very kind and honest man. Tinkering with electric brainwave simulation as a means of relieving dental pain, the good doctor made the tragic mistake of experimenting on himself. He underwent a complete personality change and became hateful, deceitful, and vain! Dr. Mindbender abandoned his practice and devoted all his time to perfecting his digital brain-scrambling into a hand-portable weapon system capable of reducing the most strong-willed individual into a cowering wimp. "Dr. Mindbender doesn't think he's deluded—he feels he used to be. Now that he has seen the light, or the dark if you will, he feels it is his personal mission to bring the miracle of thought control to each and every one of you!"
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 1993 (Battle Corps) 3. 2002 (JvC Wave 3) 4. 2003 (JvC Wave 6) 5. 2004 (Valor vs. Venom)
Variations: Mindbender's cape varied in material and whether the Cobra insignia was a patch or iron-on.
Mold: head, arms, torso, waist, and lower legs—UNIQUE! upper legs—Dr. Mindbender (86), Mutt (84)
Toy notes: Featured in the Terror Drome commercial. Referred to as "The Interrogator" on Serpentor's filecard and "Dr. Brainwave" in issue # 4 of the comic.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Brian Cummings. Heavy European accent. Spoke 353 lines in 28 episodes. 10th most frequent speaker. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 30. Mindbender was seen operating the Night Raven, Stun, and Trubble Bubble. The cartoon Mindbender acted as Cobra's science officer and was responsible for most of the second season's new weapons and experimental devices.
Prioritized appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, Iceberg Goes South, My Brother's Keeper, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, Glamour Girls, Let's Play Soldier, Nightmare Assault, The Spy Who Rooked Me, Second-Hand Emotions, The Movie parts 1, 2, 4, and 5, Cobrathon, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Not a Ghost of a Chance, Joe's Night Out, Once Upon a Joe, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, Sins of Our Fathers, Computer Complications, In the Presence of Mine Enemies. One line: Last Hour to Doomsday, My Favorite Things. Mindbender was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Dr. Mindbender appeared in 45 issues between 1986 and 1994: #44, 47-50, 52, 54-56, 63-65, 67, 68, 72-77, 80, 83, 84, 86-88, 90, 97-99, 116, 120, 139-141, 145, 146, 148-151, Special Missions #7 and 16, and Yearbooks #3 and 4. Mindbender was one of several Cobras who died after being buried in a volcano by the Cobra Commander, but a new Mindbender was cloned in #139 using his DNA.

 

Viper	Item # 6473	Regular Carded Assortment
Cobra Infantry
Appearance: blue helmet with black goggles and silver faceplate; blue shirt and black vest with red straps; red gloves; blue pants with black belt and red stripes on sides of legs; black boots.
Cartoon appearance: white lenses on goggles; red pockets on shoulders.
Accessories: black backpack (new, with Cobra emblem, canteen, and two grenades); light grey assault rifle (new, with grenade launcher and two grips).
Filecard Information: Vipers are the backbone of the Cobra Legions. They are highly motivated, superbly trained, and formidably equipped. All Vipers are issued a combination assault rifle/grenade launcher; the rifle part of which can function as a short burst assault weapon, a sustained fire cover support weapon, or a long range sniper rifle with an advanced light-intensification night vision telescopic sight with a built-in range-finder. Multi-layer body armor and wraparound acrylic/composite helmets with built-in RTO gear are standard issue. "If you want to get anywhere in Cobra, you have to start out as a Viper. That's the bottom of the pyramid, and serving in the Cobra infantry is a small price to pay to gain access to the glittering prizes at the top. Cobra doesn't reward success with parades and medals. They offer material wealth, power, and an outlet for the terrible urges that drive the greedy, the envious, and the cruel. If that doesn't make a Viper a dangerous opponent, nothing does!"
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 1989 (Python Patrol) 3. 1991 (Sonic Fighters) 4. 1994 (Battle Corps) 5. 1997 (Trubble Bubble) 6. 2002/I (JvC Wave 1.5) 7. 2002/II (Crimson Strike Team) 8. 2002/III (JvC Wave 2.5) 9. 2003/I (Venom Cycle I) 10. 2003/II (Venom Cycle II) 11. 2003/III (JvC Wave 7.75) 12. 2004/I (VvV Wave 1) 13. 2004/II (VvV Wave 5) 14. 2005 (VvV Wave 7) 15. 2006/I (Viper Pit silver) 16. 2006/II (Viper Pit gold)
Variations: Early packaging gave the figure's name as "Viper"; later cards read, "Vipers."
Mold: head, arms, and torso—Viper (86, 89, 91, 97, 02/I, 02/II, 02/III, 03/I, 03/II, 03/III, 06/I, 06/II), Cobra Officer (98), Cobra Trooper (98) waist and legs—Viper (86, 89, 91), Dr. Mindbender (93)
Toy notes: Featured in the Battle Stations commercial. The 1989 version was named "Python Viper." The 2002/II version is commonly called "Crimson Viper," although that name does not appear on the figure's filecard.
Cartoon notes: Various voices. Spoke 27 lines in 11 episodes. First appeared in ASA 2; first spoke in ASA 3. Total appearances: 24.
Prioritized appearance list: Glamour Girls, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 2-5, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, My Favorite Things. One line: Let's Play Soldier, Cobrathon, Sins of Our Fathers, The Movie parts 1 and 3-5. Silent: Last Hour to Doomsday, Sink the Montana, The Million Dollar Medic, The Rotten Egg, The Spy Who Rooked Me, Raise the Flagg, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Nightmare Assault, Joe's Night Out. Vipers were included in the opening sequences of season 2 and the Movie.

 

Monkeywrench	Item # 6460	Regular Carded Assortment
Dreadnok
File Name: Bill Winkie
POB: Rhyl, North Wales
Appearance: red hair and beard; silver sunglasses; open red vest; grenades diagonally across chest; black gloves; blue jeans with black belt, holster, and boots; dark blue patch on right leg and red cloth tied around both legs.
Cartoon appearance: vest brown instead of red; thicker hair than on figure.
Accessories: dark grey trident gun (new).
Filecard Information: Monkeywrench was born in Rhyl, North Wales, where he built explosive devices indiscriminately for a group of obscure terrorists. Having made himself a pariah in his hometown by the age of sixteen, drifted to London's East End to take part in a "new wave" movement, where he developed rudeness and crude anti-social behavior to levels unheard of in the western hemisphere. Eventually, his wanderings brought him to Australia where he joined up with the Dreadnoks. "Monkeywrench was born on Guy Fawkes Day, which in Britain commemorates the foiling of the Gupowder Plot to blow up the houses of parliament. The villain, Guy Fawkes, is hanged in effigy amidst the continuous detonation of fireworks. Could this explain Monkeywrench's preoccupation with explosives and loud noises? His record collection is limited to "The 1812 Overture," "The Anvil Chorus," and "Wipeout."
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 2006 (DTC)
Variations: The prototype pictured in the 1986 catalog has numerous paint differences, most notable short sleeves.
Mold: UNIQUE!
Toy notes: The code name is spelled "Monkey Wrench" for the 2006 version.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Neil Ross. Cockney accent. Spoke 32 lines in 12 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 16. Monkeywrench was seen operating the Ferret and Swampfire, as well as a cartoon-exclusive helicopter and various styles of Dreadnok cycles.
Prioritized appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1, 2, 4, and 5, Let's Play Soldier, Glamour Girls, Nightmare Assault, The Spy Who Rooked Me, My Brother's Keeper, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep. One line: The Rotten Egg, The Movie parts 1-3 and 5. Silent: Computer Complications. Monkeywrench was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Monkeywrench appeared in 12 issues between 1987 and 1994: #60, 69-71, 75-77, 79, 81, 89, 90, and 145.

 

Zandar	Item # 6457	Regular Carded Assortment
Zartan's Brother
Appearance: red hair; blue headband; bare chest with red lightning bolt tattoos; pink neckerchief; blue chest holster and shoulder armor; brown gloves; grey pants with yellow belt, brown boots, and gold kneepads.
Cartoon appearance: light brown pants.
Accessories: blue backpack (new, small quiver); black harpoon rifle (new, with scope).
Filecard Information: Zandar is a master of camouflage and covert movement. In other words, he's good at hiding and sneaking up on people. Needless to say, he doesn't sneak up on people to do them any good. Zandar is an expert with silent weapons and is capable of remaining motionless for long periods of time. Like his brother Zartan, he has the ability to change skin color. "Zandar was the kid who never got noticed. Teachers forgot he was there and never called on him. Nobody that has ever met him can remember what his voice sounds like. His anonymity was no accident. He worked at it all through his formative years and after he grew up. . . he got even better at it!"
Versions: 1. 1986
Variations: The prototype pictured in the 1986 catalog had an extra tattoo on his arm.
Mold: head, lower arms, torso, and waist—UNIQUE! upper arms—Zandar (86), Zartan (84, 04/II, 05), Zarana (86, 04) legs—Zandar (86), Super Trooper (88), Rapid-Fire (91)
Toy notes: Featured in the Swampfire commercial. Torso constructed differently to accommodate skin's ability to turn bluish in bright sunlight. A slightly different version was released in India.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Peter Cullen. Slight British accent. Spoke 15 lines in 9 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 13. Zandar was seen operating the Ferret, Swampfire, and Trubble Bubble, as well as various styles of Dreadnok cycles.
Prioritized appearance list: Computer Complications, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1, 2, and 5, The Rotten Egg, Raise the Flagg. One line: The Million Dollar Medic, Once Upon a Joe, The Movie parts 1-3 and 5. Silent: My Brother's Keeper. Zandar was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Zandar appeared in 11 issues between 1986 and 1989: #51-55, 73, 75-77, 79, and Special Missions #21.

 

Zarana	Item # 6472	Regular Carded Assortment
Zartan's Sister
Appearance: red hair; pink halter-top shirt with red hoslter; red and black gloves; blue ripped jeans with pink underneath; red belt and holster; black boots with red kneepads.
Cartoon appearance: hair spiked and orange to match Zandar; white holster strap; open gloves left fingers uncovered; pink on uniform paler than on figure.
Accessories: red backpack (new, with flashlight); black saw rifle (new, razor-honed spur cutting weapon).
Filecard Information: Zarana is a professional assassin who gains access to her victims through skillful acting and masterful use of makeup and disguise. While her brother Zartan concentrates on the purely physical aspects of disguise, Zarana works from the method-actor's point of view: to completely become the object of her impersonation—to think, feel, and react like another person. She is an expert in small arms, explosives, and edged weapons. Like her two brothers, she also has the ability to change skin color. "Zarana could have had a brilliant career on the professional stage if the evil in her nature hadn't been so strong. She throws tantrums, cuts ahead on lines, and never leaves a tip. She posed as an oral hygenist for six months on one assignment armed only with a reel of specially coated dental floss to incapacitate her unwitting victims. She escaped, dressed as a granny lady hobbling on a walker, right past the cops and into a cab. The cabbie remembered her . . . she didn't leave a tip."
Versions: 1. 1986 2. 2003 (Spy Troops) 3. 2004 (Convention) 4. 2005 (Comic #76)
Variations: Early releases of Zarana had earrings, a rounder face, and lighter red trim; this variation is considered quite rare. Also recently discovered is a variation with lighter red trim but no earrings. Additionally, the prototype pictured in the 1986 catalog has blue shoulders identical to Zandar's.
Mold: head—Zarana (86, 04) lower arms, torso, waist, and legs—Zarana (86, 04, 05) upper arms—Zarana (86, 04), Zartan (84, 04/II, 05), Zandar (86)
Toy notes: Featured in the Swampfire commercial. A slightly different version was released in India.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Lisa Raggio. Cockney accent. Spoke 125 lines in 17 episodes. First appeared in ASA 1; first spoke in ASA 2. Total appearances: 20. Zarana was seen operating the Ferret, Swampfire, and Thunder Machine, as well as various styles of Dreadnok cycles. Lisa Raggio also voiced most of Zarana's false identities. The cartoon romantically paired Zarana with Mainframe.
Prioritized appearance list: Computer Complications, Let's Play Soldier, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1, 2, and 5, Second-Hand Emotions, Glamour Girls, Raise the Flagg, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, Sins of Our Fathers, My Brother's Keeper, The Movie parts 1-3 and 5, Cobrathon, The Spy Who Rooked Me. One line: Once Upon a Joe. Silent: The Rotten Egg. Zarana is not included in any opening sequences.
DIC cartoon notes: In the absence of a new figure, Zarana was given a different uniform and a new voice for the DIC episodes. Her most significant appearances were Operation: Dragonfire and the first-season episodes The Nozone Conspiracy, General Confusion, Injustice and the Cobra Way, and The Mind Mangler.
Comic notes: Zarana appeared in 44 issues between 1986 and 1994: #50-53, 55, 60, 69-71, 73-77, 79, 81, 83, 89-91, 93, 98-100, 123, 128-132, 135-142, 145, Special Missions #7, 21, and 24, and Yearbooks #3 and 4.

 

Claymore	Item # 6691	Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil 5-pack
G. I. Joe Covert Operations		O-3 (Army captain)	SN: MH 009-40-3277
File Name: Capt. John Zullo		Primary MOS: Anti-Terrorist Specialist
POB: Manchester, VT		Secondary MOS: Martial Arts
Appearance: black hair and moustache; yellow, brown-spotted short-sleeved shirt with green padded vest; brown pockets and gloves; yellow, brown-spotted pants with brown belt and green boots.
Accessories: black pistol (82 Snake Eyes's Uzi).
Filecard Information: Claymore was born to the son of an immigrant who came to this country to work in the marble quarries of Vermont. A graduate of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Claymore finished at the top of his class with a major in Eastern Philosophy. He's a master at Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Portuguese languages. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three hitches back to back somewhere in South East Asia. His work there was, and still is, classified. Attended Airborne and Ranger school. Qualified expert in all NATO small arm and long range sniper rifles as well as all NATO and Warsaw Pact explosive devices. Proficient in all forms of Martial Arts. Joined the Joe Team at the insistence of Hawk. His only stipulation was that he be called in on special assignments only. Hawk agreed. Claymore is respected by all branches of the armed services and his reputation as a soldier is known far and wide. Very few men have ever seen Claymore—but those who have served under him have not and will not ever forget him.
Versions: 1. 1986 (Brazil)
Variations: Some figures had an Uzi which matched that of Snake Eyes, others that of Low-Light. See here for an unusual variation I don't believe is currently documented elsewhere.
Mold: head—Claymore (86), Footloose (85, 89), Rumbler (87) upper arms—Claymore (86), Flint (85, 88, 04/I, 05), Starduster (87) lower arms—Claymore (86), Flint (85, 88), Starduster (87) torso—Claymore (86), Tele-Viper (85, 89) waist—Claymore (86), Flint (85, 88, 04/I, 05) legs—Claymore (86), Dusty (85, 88)
Toy notes: Available only with the Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil set which included five figures and an audio cassette. Leader of the first of G. I. Joe's special forces teams. First post-1982 figure to be "Frankensteined" (completely made up of parts from other figures).
Cartoon notes: Did not appear in the cartoon.
Comic notes: Did not appear in the comic.

 

Dial-Tone	Item # 6691	Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil 5-pack
Communications		E-4 (Army corporal)	SN: RA 428-71-3360
File Name: Corp. Jack S. Morelli		Primary MOS: Radio Telecommunications
POB: Eugene, OR		Secondary MOS: Infantry
Appearance: black beret; black hair and moustache; black shirt with open collar; brown vest with green straps; black gloves and pants with beige belt and green boots and kneepads.
Accessories: light grey backpack and mouthpiece (86/I Dial-Tone's); light grey assault rifle (86/I Dial-Tone's HK 53).
Filecard Information: Dial-Tone built his own crystal set when he was ten. By fourteen he was part of a CB net, and had his own ham station by the time he was sixteen. Dial-Tone made all his own equipment, buying parts with quarters earned bagging groceries. He saw the army as a means to furthering his education in his chosen field and quickly found that instead of a stepping stone, it was a goal in itself. Manning a radio in the field wasn't just passing time—it was a job with a purpose. "One of the scariest things that can happen to you out in the field is to lose contact with your base. That means you are ALONE. No artillery support, no air strikes, no medvac, no extraction, no NOTHING! The cavalry ain't comin' until the man with the radio tells 'em to."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil) 3. 1991 (Sonic Fighters) 4. 1994 (Battle Corps) 5. 2000 (RAH Collection) 6. 2002 (Sound Attack)/AWE Striker 2003 7. 2003 (Tiger Force)
Variations: None.
Mold: head—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03) arms—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03), Dusty (02/I), Alex "Sparks" Verdi (07) torso—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03), Dusty (02/I) waist and legs—Dial-Tone (86/I, 86/II, 91, 00, 02, 03), Crossfire (01)
Toy notes: Available only with the Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil set which included five figures and an audio cassette. Dial-Tone's code name is not hyphenated for the 2000, 2002, and 2003 versions.
Cartoon notes: Did not appear in this uniform on the regular cartoon series. See the original Dial-Tone entry for cartoon information.

 

Leatherneck	Item # 6691	Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil 5-pack
Marine		E-7 (Marine gunnery sergeant)	SN: RA 368-10-0025
File Name: Sgt. Wendell A. Metzger		Primary MOS: Infantry
POB: Stromsburg, NE		Secondary MOS: Drill Sergeant
Appearance: brown hair and moustache; beige cap, shirt, and pants; brown vest with orange-brown pads; brown belt, holster.
Accessories: light green backpack (Leatherneck's); grey assault rifle (Leatherneck's M16/M203).
Filecard Information: Leatherneck was the hardest gunny that ever slogged through the mud of Camp Lejeune. Before that, he was the toughest drill sergeant on Parris Island. Before that, he was the roughest tech sergeant of the 1st Recon B[attalio]n in Viet Nam. Before THAT, he was the meanest corporal in Gitmo. Civilian badness just doesn't count. "He is uncouth, opinionated, and overbearing. And he has no patience at all with the indecisive, the lazy, and the dishonest. Not a man you can like, but one you can trust."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil) 3. 1993 (Battle Corps) 4. 2001 (RAH Collection)/MCC 2003 5. 2004 (Defense Mech)
Variations: None.
Mold: Leatherneck (86/I, 86/II)
Toy notes: Available only with the Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil set which included five figures and an audio cassette. Note that the misspelling of "Parris Island" has been corrected from the previous version.
Cartoon notes: Did not appear in this uniform on the regular cartoon series. See the original Leatherneck entry for cartoon information.

 

Mainframe	Item # 6691	Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil 5-pack
Computer Specialist		E-5 (Marine sergeant)	SN: RA 818-50-1673
File Name: Sgt. Blaine L. Parker		Primary MOS: Computer Technology
POB: Phoenix, AZ		Secondary MOS: Infantry
Appearance: red helmet; beige short-sleeved shirt; red diagonal strap and black gloves; red pants and belt, with grey holster.
Accessories: grey backpack (86/I Mainframe's); grey portable computer (86/I Mainframe's); black walkie-talkie (86/I Mainframe's; black hose (long standard).
Filecard Information: Mainframe enlisted in the Army Airborne at the age of seventeen and made it over to South-East Asia for the last year of hostilities, just in time to get his Combat Infantryman's Badge. He left the Army to get his degree from MIT on the G. I. Bill and did a stint toiling in the antiseptic corridors of Silicon Valley making big bucks and fighting off boredom with a stick. Luckily, the Marines were looking for a few good men with just his qualifications. The proper papers were signed, and Mainframe was back in uniform. "Too much of the modern battlefield is computer coordinated not to have a computer specialist right out there in the field with you. Problem is, most hackers don't exactly fit the combat profile. Mainframe is the exception. He was ten years older than the next oldest trainee at Parris Island and he still finished at the top ten of the class. He's got brains—but he's hard."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil)
Variations: None.
Mold: Mainframe (86/I, 86/II)
Toy notes: Available only with the Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil set which included five figures and an audio cassette.
Cartoon notes: Did not appear in this uniform on the regular cartoon series. See the original Mainframe entry for cartoon information.

 

Wet-Suit	Item # 6691	Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil 5-pack
SEAL		E-5 (Navy petty officer)	SN: RA 701-54-8793
File Name: Brian M. Forrest		Primary MOS: SEAL
POB: Myrtle Beach, SC		Secondary MOS: UDT (Underwater Demolitions)
Appearance: silver helmet with black underside; silver diving suit with blue chest panel and green straps; black wristbands and silver boots.
Accessories: two black flippers (85 Eel's); orange backpack (86/I Wet-Suit's); orange sea sled (86/I Wet-Suit's); orange flashlight (86/I Wet-Suit's); black air tube (86/I Wet-Suit's).
Filecard Information: Seals are the guys who were too nasty to be Airborne Rangers or Marines. The Navy keeps their SEALS locked up below decks until something bad becomes worse. That's when they all get dumped in the soup on a rubber raft with a knife, a gun, and all the ammo and explosives they can carry. Wet-Suit may just as well be the roughest one of the bunch. He's wild and unruly—but he's simply the best at what he does. "Wet-Suit may be mean to the bone, but he's also quite bright, being well-read in both the classics and the standard texts of military tactics. Pretty amazing considering that the level to which he has developed his toughness would seem to indicate full-time occupation . . . "
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Carded) 2. 1986/II (Brazil) 3. 1992 4. 1993 (Battle Corps) 5. 1998 (3-Pack) 6. 2001 (RAH Collection) 7. 2002/I (JvC Wave 1) 8. 2002/II (JvC Wave 1.35) 9. 2002/III (Sound Attack) 10. 2003 (Built to Rule)
Variations: None. head and torso—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III) arms—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III), Super Trooper (88), Rapid-Fire (91), Mutt (04/II) waist—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III), Super Trooper (88), Rapid-Fire (91), Shipwreck (94, 98, 02/I) legs—Wet-Suit (86/I, 86/II, 98, 01, 02/III), Shipwreck (94, 98, 02/I)
Toy notes: Available only with the Toys 'R Us-exclusive Special Mission: Brazil set which included five figures and an audio cassette.
Cartoon notes: Did not appear in this uniform on the regular cartoon series. See the original Wet-Suit entry for cartoon information.

 

Sergeant Slaughter		mail-order
Drill Instructor		E-7 (Marine gunnery sergeant)	SN: 817-76-981
File Name: (CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET)		Primary MOS: Infantry / Drill Instructor
POB: Parris Island, SC		Secondary MOS: Survival Trainer
Appearance: brown military hat; brown hair and moustache; silver sunglasses; whistle around neck; green tank top with "USA" on front; red wristbands and black gloves; black pants with white belt and green and black boots.
Accessories: brown swagger stick (new, with gold tip).
Filecard Information: Just about every member of the G. I. Joe team is qualified to be a drill instructor so it takes a special brand of heavy duty honcho to keep 'em squared away. Sgt. Slaughter fits the bill the way his bullet head fits his Smokey the Bear hat. Let's face it, the man be rough and he take no guff. "They say he cut his teeth on a bogey wheel from a Patton tank and that his first words were "Semper Fi." They say that when the Sarge dresses down a boot in Camp LeJeune, the trainees cringe all the way to 'Pendleton. Most boots would rather dive for apples in the grease trap than cross the Sarge. They say he can blow a month's pay in one night in Thule, Greenland. Of course, 'jarheads' are prone to exagerration. We all know it's impossible to blow a month's pay in Thule, Greenland."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Mail) 2. 1986/II (Triple 'T') 3. 1988 (Warthog) 4. 1989 (Slaughter's Marauders) 5. 2006 (Convention)
Variations: Slight variation in the font of USA, and red or orange backgrounds on boot chevrons. A prototype in the 1987 catalog reveals that the figure was originally designed with a regular swivel-neck rather than the ball joints that had been used for most figures since 1985.
Mold: head, arms, and torso—Sgt. Slaughter (86/I, 86/II, 89) waist and legs—Sgt. Slaughter (86/I, 89)
Toy notes: Originally available free (with shipping) through an offer carded with figures at the very end of 1985. Also available several mail-in offers in 1987 and 1988. A recolored version was released in Argentina as Sgto. Slaughter. Some parts were used to create the India-exclusive figure Super Cop.
Cartoon notes: This version of Sgt. Slaughter did not appear in the cartoon. For cartoon notes on the character, see the Triple 'T' Driver entry.
Comic notes: Sgt. Slaughter appeared in 4 issues, all in 1986: #48 and 51-53.

 

Cross-Country	Item # 6030	Boxed with HAVOC
HAVOC Driver		E-5 (Army sergeant)	SN: RA 555-38-6214
File Name: Sgt. Robert M. Blais		Primary MOS: Armor
POB: Greensboro, NC		Secondary MOS: Heavy Equipment Operator
Appearance: grey hat with black goggles; brown hair; white short-sleeved shirt; light green vest with black diagonal strap; grey wristbands; brown gloves; dark grey pants with brown belt; white wrap over brown boots; red pockets; "Dixie" belt buckle.
Cartoon appearance: same but with white cap and light brown vest.
Accessories: none.
Filecard Information: Cross-Country's father was a bulldozer operator and his mother drove a grader. You might say he was born to drive big yellow things that run on diesel. Coupled with his natural affinity for heavy machinery, his uncanny sense of direction and fearlessness under fire make him the man you want at the controls whether you're riding into a hairy situation or trying to get out of one! Qualified expert with Heavy Laser Cannon, M-16A2, M-2 50 cal. MG and .45 Auto-Pistol. "Crank-Case might be a wild man behind the wheel of his A.W.E. Striker, but Cross-Country will steer that H.A.V.O.C. of his across terrain that would break both axles of the RTV. Of course, a tracked vehicle has natural advantages, but it is Cross-Country's talent for sensing the most favorable grade, the shallowest mud, and the firmest sand that makes the difference."
Versions: 1. 1986 (HAVOC) 2. 1993 (Battle Corps)
Variations: None.
Mold: UNIQUE!
Toy notes: A recolored version with a moustache was released in India.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Michael McConnohie. Southern accent. Spoke 85 lines in 11 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 16. Cross-Country was seen operating the HAVOC and LCV Recon Sled, as well as a Cobra Stun.
Prioritized appearance list: Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, The Spy Who Rooked Me, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, The Movie parts 1, 4, and 5, Let's Play Soldier. One line: The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Nightmare Assault, Joe's Night Out. Silent: Cobrathon, Raise the Flagg. Cross-Country is included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Cross-Country appeared in 12 issues between 1986 and 1991: #51, 52, 59, 67, 72, 76, 77, 79, 92, 108-110, and 112.

 

Lift-Ticket	Item # 6022	boxed with Tomahawk
Tomahawk Pilot		WO-2 (Army chief warrant officer)	SN: 675-51-5671
File Name: Victor W. Sikorski		Primary MOS: Rotary Wing Aircraft Pilot
POB: Lawton, OK		Secondary MOS: Fixed Wing Aircraft Pilot
Appearance: red helmet with black goggles and chinstrap; green shirt and pants with beige vest; red shoulder guards and kneepads; black pockets, gloves, belt and boots.
Cartoon appearance: same but with dark brown pockets, gloves, and boots.
Accessories: black mic (new, with angled peg).
Filecard Information: Lift-Ticket was one of those guys who joined the army to get out of his hometown. The big difference with Lift-Ticket is that he scored so high on the aptitude test, he qualified for West Point Prep., O.C.S. (Officer Candidate School) and Flight Warrant Officer School. Nobody in Lawton ever suspected he was that smart. Apparently, neither did Lift-Ticket, since he opted for Flight Warrant School over the others, thinking that it was the only one that offered training applicable to civilian employment. "Getting into a target area is comparatively easy—you wait until dark and get sneaky. Now, getting out after some caps have been popped anda can o' firefight's been opened; well, that's another story. All you can do is squat on the L.Z. (landing zone) and hope that whoever's driving the extraction chopper is skillful, persistent, lucky, and bulletproof. Lift-Ticket satisfies the first three requirements, and he's working on the fourth!"
Versions: 1. 1986 (Tomahawk)
Variations: The helmet came in two slightly different shades of red.
Mold: head—UNIQUE! arms, torso, waist, and legs—Airborne (90)
Toy notes:
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Michael Bell. Southern accent. Spoke 88 lines in 15 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 21. Lift-Ticket was seen operating the LCV Recon Sled, Silver Mirage, and Tomahawk (in 20 episodes).
Prioritized appearance list: The Million Dollar Medic, Second-Hand Emotions, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1, 2, 4, and 5, Not a Ghost of a Chance, Sins of Our Fathers, Let's Play Soldier, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, The Movie parts 3 and 5, Once Upon a Joe. One line: Glamour Girls, My Favorite Things. Silent: Iceberg Goes South, The Spy Who Rooked Me, Ninja Holiday, Joe's Night Out, In the Presence of Mine Enemies. Lift-Ticket is not included in any opening sequences.
Comic notes: Lift-Ticket appeared in 27 issues between 1986 and 1992: #49, 56, 62, 65, 73-75, 77, 80-82, 86, 93, 96, 98, 111, 113, 116, 117, 125, and Special Missions #2, 8, 16, 18, 19, 23, and 28.

 

Sergeant Slaughter	Item # 6061	boxed with Triple 'T'
		E-7 (Marine gunnery sergeant)	SN: 817-76-981
File Name: (CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET)		Primary MOS: Infantry / Drill Instructor
POB: Parris Island, SC		Secondary MOS: Survival Trainer
Appearance: green military hat; brown hair and moustache; silver sunglasses; whistle around neck; black tank top; black wristbands; light and dark green camouflage pants with dark green belt and green and black boots.
Cartoon appearance: brown hat, black shirt, green and light brown camo pants, white belt, and brown boots.
Accessories: brown swagger stick (86/I Slaughter's).
Filecard Information: All the Joes are super-tough and they've been through the roughest, most grueling training to become the most skillful specialists in the world. It takes a master of drill-training to weld stiff-necked tenderfoot Americans into the most stout and honorable positions in the Mobile Strike Force. That master and heavy-duty headman is none other than Sgt. Slaughter—the extremest in rough and tumble fun. "Sgt. Slaughter thinks it's his personal mission to kick the butt of every boot in Pendleton. This guy can drill his trainees into the ground for 72 hours straight before he breaks a sweat. His favorite pastime is marching over the boys' backs while they do finger pushups in the mud, and spewing out brutal verbalities. He has been known to ride his tank through enemy fortresses rather than blow them up just because it's more fun. They say he eats nails and spits out dum-dum bullets. They say he cleans his teeth with barbed wire, brushes his hair with a rat-tail file and shaves with a blowtorch. Everything and everywhere is a battle field to Sgt. Slaughter."
Versions: 1. 1986/I (Mail) 2. 1986/II (Triple 'T') 3. 1988 (Warthog) 4. 1989 (Slaughter's Marauders) 5. 2006 (Convention)
Variations: There are two different patterns of camouflage on Slaughter's legs. head, arms, and torso—Sgt. Slaughter (86/I, 86/II, 89) waist and legs—UNIQUE!
Toy notes: The catalog pictures this Slaughter with the original (mail-in) Slaughter's coloring except on the torso.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Robert Remus (the real-life Sgt. Slaughter). Spoke 219 lines in 11 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 13. Slaughter was seen operating the Devilfish, HAVOC, and Triple 'T,' as well as a Cobra Trubble Bubble.
Prioritized appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, Ninja Holiday, My Brother's Keeper, The Movie parts 3-5, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece. Silent: The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep. Slaughter is included in the opening sequence of season 2.

 

Slip-Stream	Item # 6031	boxed with Conquest X-30
Conquest X-30 Pilot		O-2 (Air Force first lieutenant)	SN: RA 463-42-4892
File Name: Lt. Gregory B. Boyajian		Primary MOS: Fighter Pilot
POB: Provo, UT		Secondary MOS: Computer Technology
Appearance: brown helmet with silver goggles; brown moustache; white shirt with dark grey half-vest, brown shoulder guards, and black gloves; white pants with dark grey belt and leg coverings; black shoes and holsters.
Cartoon appearance: white portions of figure's uniform were light brown.
Accessories: none.
Filecard Information: Slip Stream was a video-game whiz and computer hacker until he discovered flying. He joined the Jr. Civil Air Patrol while a teenager and eventually got his Air Force commission through the R.O.T.C. He finished at the top of his class in flight school where his knowledge of computers and his lightning reflexes gave him a keen competitive edge. He speaks Armenian, Greek, and French, plays a mean game of table tennis, and is known in the "Pit" as an unrepentent [sic] joker and mimic. "An aircraft with computer assisted control surfaces can do things that are impossible for a conventional plane. (Flat turns without banking, flight axis shift, and horizontal rolls.) The controls are incredibly sensitive, the slightest tremor being translated into drastic movement. It takes a light touch to fly a ship like that and Slip Stream has the touch, the eye, the brain, and the guts to make that aircraft do exactly what he wants."
Versions: 1. 1986 (Conquest) 2. 2003 (Conquest) 3. 2004 (Thunderwing)
Variations: A prototype with a white helmet is pictured in the 1986 catalog. The mouth shows individual teeth on some figures, simply white on others.
Mold: head—UNIQUE! arms, torso, waist, and legs—Slip-Stream (86), Altitude (90)
Toy notes: The code name is not hyphenated for the 2003 version.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Dan Gilvezan. Spoke 141 lines in 14 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 16. Slip-Stream was seen operating the Conquest (in 14 episodes).
Prioritized appearance list: In the Presence of Mine Enemies, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, Joe's Night Out, The Million Dollar Medic, Not a Ghost of a Chance, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, The Rotten Egg. One line: Let's Play Soldier, Sink the Montana, Raise the Flagg. Silent: The Movie part 3. Slip-Stream is not included in any opening sequences.
Comic notes: Slip-Stream appeared in 19 issues between 1986 and 1991: #49, 54, 61, 65, 68, 73-75, 115, Special Missions #3, 5, 9, 10, 12, 16, 20, 27, and 28, and Yearbook #3.

 

AVAC	Item # 6003	boxed with Terror Drome
Cobra Terror Drome Firebat Pilot
Appearance: silver helmet with black visor; silver and red armor on chest, arms, and legs; black gloves, belt, and boots; black Cobra emblem on chest.
Cartoon appearance: narrower helmet, with extra silver band around elbows; sometimes wore large black backpacks without visible straps.
Accessories: black parachute harness (new, with Cobra emblem).
Filecard Information: Piloting a Firebat is somewhat akin to strapping yourself onto a cannonball. The cockpit is cramped by any standard and utterly lacking in even the kindest amenities. No engine status display, no weather instruments, no navigation aids, and no ejection seat. Just the basic flight panel, throttle, pedals, and stick. But after the initial high-G's of vertical takeoff, the Firebat levels out to being the fastest, most responsive single-seat fighter in the Cobra arsenal. "A.V.A.C. pilots are drawn from the Air Viper pool. They must be capable of complex mental calculations to make up for lack of on-board computers are absolutely fearless to cope with the Firebat's basic unforgiving nature. The aircraft is not what you would call user-friendly. Surprisingly, there is no lack of recruits for the program. All the best fighter-jocks want a ride on the 'Pocket Rocket.'"
Versions: 1. 1986 (Firebat) 2. 2004 (Built to Rule)
Variations: None.
Mold: UNIQUE!
Toy notes: AVAC stands for Air-Viper Advanced Class. An Air-Viper was released at 2003's Convention.
Cartoon notes: Various voices. Spoke 14 lines in 4 episodes. First appeared and spoke in The Phantom Brigade. Total appearances: 6.
Prioritized appearance list: The Phantom Brigade, Worlds Without End II, Joe's Night Out, Arise Serpentor Arise part 3. Silent: The Gamesmaster, In the Presence of Mine Enemies. AVACs were included in the opening sequence of the Movie.

 

Motor Viper	Item # 6041	boxed with Stun
Cobra Stun Pilot
Appearance: light and dark blue helmet with large silver visor; light blue shirt; dark blue vest with black pipes and blue shoulder guards; black wristbands; dark blue gloves; light blue pants with dark blue panels; black belt and holster; dark blue boots.
Cartoon appearance: visors smaller than on figure.
Accessories: none.
Filecard Information: The Motor-Viper Corps attracts the type of individual who, without the benefit of an education and ambition, might have joined the Dreadnoks. The Cobra Recon and Perimeter Defense Forces are disciplined, effeicient, and highly motivated in the manner of all elite groups. This is fairly surprising, seeing that the Force seems to be comprised of the type that enjoys driving high speeds and finds amusement in danger. "As far as we can figure, the Motor-Vipers don't get paid any better than the Ground-Vipers or Sea-Vipers, nor do they receive any special privileges or benefits. They have their own distinctive uniform but it's no flashier than the rest. Why then, would a Cobra volunteer for such an obviously hazardous duty unless it was the danger itself that appealed to him?"
Versions: 1. 1986 (Stun)
Variations: Mail-order filecards carried the assignment "Cobra STUN Driver."
Mold: head—UNIQUE! arms, torso, waist, and legs—Motor-Viper (86), Airwave (90)
Toy notes: Motor-Viper was one of six vehicle drivers available through mail-in offers "Special Assignment: North Atlantic" in 1988 and "Operation Deep Six" in 1989. He was also available individually through 1991's mail-in offer, "Escape from Doom."
Cartoon notes: Various voices. Spoke 16 lines in 6 episodes. First appeared in ASA 1; first spoke in ASA 4. Total appearances: 15.
Prioritized appearance list: The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, The Spy Who Rooked Me. One line: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1-5, Glamour Girls, My Brother's Keeper, The Movie parts 1, 2, and 4. Silent: The Million Dollar Medic, Nightmare Assault, Sins of Our Father. Motor-Vipers were included in the opening sequence of season 2.

 

Serpentor	Item # 6062	boxed with Air Chariot
Cobra Emperor
Appearance: black hair; gold scaled snake-head helmet and uniform with yellow mouth and central chest padding; green serpents on shoulers; green gloves, belt, and leg padding.
Cartoon appearance: cape very dark green, almost black; uniform has darker green detail and wider segmented chest padding.
Accessories: green cloth cape (new, glittery); gold backpack (new, snake-hood); silver dagger (new, segmented handle); gold cobra (new).
Filecard Information: A secret cabal of Cobra scientists, under the direction of The Interrogator and Destro, combed the tombs, sarcophagi, and relics of the great despots of history to find cells with DNA traces. From these long-dead genetic blueprints they produced a composite clone with the military genius of Napoleon, the ruthlessness of Julius Caesar, the daring of Hannibal, and the fiscal acumen of Attila the Hun . . . the ultimate Cobra Emperor! A master of political intrigue and a brilliant tactician, he is capable of wresting power from Cobra Commander for the benefit of The Interrogator and Destro. Fortunately for the Joes, the Cobra Emperor's own ambitions were not taken into consideration by his creators . . . "His eyes have seen the legions of Rome trample the Gauls and Nervii into the dust. His hand lifted the horse-hair baton that signaled the first charge of the Carthaginian armored elephant phalanx. His ears have heard the rattle of French cuirassiers on the streets of Moscow. But it is his mind we must fear the most. The thoughts of the Cobra Emperor have not drifted from global conquest since the reign of King Solomon . . . "
Versions: 1. 1986 (Air Chariot) 2. 2002 (RAH Collection) 3. 2005 (Comic #49) 4. 2007 (25th Wave 2)
Variations: Some mail-order Serpentors did not come with the cape. Snakes included with Serpentor ranged in color from green to gold to brown to black. Gold is most common. There are no reports of a Serpentor colored red as he appeared in some commercials.
Mold: head—Serpentor (86, 02) arms, torso, waist, and legs—Serpentor (86, 02, 05)
Toy notes: The commercial animation for Serpentor showed red trim on his hood, arms, and legs. Also available through various mail-in offers from 1989 to 1993.
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Richard Gautier. Spoke 267 lines in 23 episodes. 16th most frequent speaker. First appeared in ASA 1; first spoke in ASA 4. Total appearances: 25. Serpentor was seen operating the Air Chariot (in 15 episodes), Moray, and Night Raven. The cartoon portrayed Serpentor as impatient, unstable and unwilling to receive advice. This weakness is explained by Dr. Mindbender's inability to obtain the DNA of Chinese military genius Sun Tzu. According to ASA, the emperor was created from the DNA of Napoleon, Xanoth Amon-Toth, Montezuma, Vlad Teppes, Ivan the Terrible, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Geronimo, Rasputin, Atilla the Hun, Eric the Red, and "dozens more." The episode My Favorite Things added Ulric the Batterer and King Takshaka.
Prioritized appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1, 4, and 5, The Movie parts 1-5, My Favorite Things, Joe's Night Out, The Most Dangerous Thing in the World, Second-Hand Emotions, Sins of Our Fathers, Not a Ghost of a Chance, Nightmare Assault, The Million Dollar Medic, Cobrathon, Computer Complications, Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, My Brother's Keeper, Ninja Holiday, Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep, The Rotten Egg, Raise the Flagg. One line: Glamour Girls. Serpentor was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
DIC cartoon notes: In Operation: Dragonfire, Serpentor (in new uniform colors) was turned into an iguana by the restored Cobra Commander.
Comic notes: Serpentor appeared in 20 issues between 1986 and 1991: #49, 50, 52-56, 63-65, 72-76, 90, 116, Special Missions #7, and Yearbooks #3 and 4. Serpentor was killed by Zartan in #76.

 

Strato-Viper	Item # 6014	boxed with Night Raven
Night Raven S³P Pilot
Appearance: black and red helmet with silver visor; dark grey flight suit with red vest and black wristbands and leg coverings; silver kneepads; black and red boots.
Cartoon appearance: neck and chin uncovered below helmet; light grey gloves.
Accessories: none.
Filecard Information: The best secret agents in the world work for private corporations as industrial spies simply because "big business" pays better than any government. Cobra can attract some of the best pilots from around the globe to join the air wing of the Cobra Legions, known as the Air-Vipers, by doubling and tripling their salaries. Air-Vipers are formidable opponents but the Strato-Vipers are the "crème de la crème." "To qualify as a Strato-Viper, a candidate must first be an Air-Viper with 1500 hours logged in flight time. He must have a fixed-wing rating up to four engines, combat experience, an impeccable security clearance, and be willing to undergo the surgical procedure necessary to make him more resistant to hypoxia, hyperventilation, and other decompression sicknesses that can affect a pilot above Armstrong's Line (63,000 feet)."
Versions: 1. 1986 (Night Raven)
Variations: None.
Mold: head—UNIQUE! arms, torso, waist, and legs—Strato-Viper (86), Drop Zone (90)
Toy notes: Strato-Viper was one of six vehicle drivers available through mail-in offers "Special Assignment: North Atlantic" in 1988 and "Operation Deep Six" in 1989, then separately through 1991's mail-in offer, "Escape from Doom."
Cartoon notes: Various voices. Spoke 89 lines in 9 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 15.
Prioritized appearance list: In the Presence of Mine Enemies, Once Upon a Joe, Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1 and 3-5, G. I. Joe and the Golden Fleece, My Favorite Things. One line: Grey Hairs and Growing Pains, Not a Ghost of a Chance. Silent: Computer Complications, The Million Dollar Medic, The Rotten Egg, Sins of Our Fathers, The Movie part 4.

 

Thrasher	Item # 6042	boxed with Thunder Machine
Thunder Machine Driver
Appearance: black hair with green stripes; dark grey chest armor over torn green shirt; dark grey and black gloves; dark grey pants with black belt and thigh coverings; silver boots and kneepads.
Cartoon appearance: lighter grey armor; more green in hair; smaller head.
Accessories: black lacrosse stick (new).
Filecard Information: Thrasher was spoiled rotten as a child by his nice middle class parents in their nice middle class neighborhood. He was never disciplined, since his parents believed this would "stifle energies he might need later in life." Thrasher was never denied anything he asked for, even though everything he asked for wound up causing some type of unexplainable destruction or minor disaster. He got everything he wanted . . . but that wasn't enough! At a tender young age, this "wild child" wandered into the swamps where he could do what he pleased. It was in the swamps where he met up with Zartan and the Dreadnoks and was welcomed into the fold . . . "Even by Dreadnok standards, this guy is pretty low. He derives a slight sensation, which almost registers as pleasure on his primitive central nervous system, from inflicting misery onto others."
Versions: 1. 1986 (Thunder Machine) 2. 2004 (Convention) 3. 2005 (Comic #75)
Variations: None.
Mold: head—Thrasher (86, 04) arms, torso, waist, and legs—Thrasher (86, 04, 05)
Toy notes: The 2004 filecard gives Thrasher's name as Bruno La Crosse. That version's code name was given as "Dreadnok Thrasher."
Cartoon notes: Voiced by Ted Schwartz. Spoke 24 lines in 10 episodes. First appeared and spoke in ASA 1. Total appearances: 13. Thrasher was seen operating the Swampfire and Thunder Machine.
Prioritized appearance list: Arise Serpentor Arise parts 1, 2, 4, and 5, The Spy Who Rooked Me, The Movie parts 1-3 and 5, My Brother's Keeper. One line: Cobrathon, Once Upon a Joe. Silent: Into Your Tent I Will Silently Creep. Thrasher was included in the opening sequence of season 2.
Comic notes: Thrasher appeared in 13 issues between 1986 and 1989: #51, 52, 69-71, 74-77, 79, 81, 89, and 90.

Equipment: