2003 Characters, Page 2

Click-to-Reveal Profiles for Wreckage, Black Out, Sand Viper, Depth Charge, Cobra Coil, and Inferno BAT

Click a code name to show the character's profile.

+ Wreckage

WRECKAGE - the broken parts of something destroyed.	Char. #335, 180th Joe Team member Joe Team member
Dillon L. Moreno (American with Spanish surname) of Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles is the second largest US city (pop. 3,849,378) and has been a minority-majority city since the mid-1980s. Other LA Joes include Jinx, Skidmark, Quick Kick, and Sure Fire. Ambush is from nearby Walnut, and Rock 'n Roll is from Malibu.
Grades: E-4: 2003	SNs: 56-34-DL77
Versions: 1. 2003 (Tiger Force)     Version 1: 2003 Tiger Force carded set Fig. #0699: Demolitions Specialist MOS 1: Demolitions MOS 2: Jungle Warfare Instructor head: Firefly (84, 98, 00, 02/II, 03/I, 03/II, 04/III, 05/I), Wreckage (03) arms: Firefly (84, 98, 00, 02/II, 03/I, 03/II, 04/III, 05/I, 05/II), Wreckage (03) torso: Firefly (84, 98, 00, 02/II, 03/I, 03/II, 04/III, 05/I, 05/II), Wreckage (03) waist: Firefly (84, 98, 00, 02/II, 03/I, 03/II, 04/III, 05/I, 05/II), Wreckage (03) legs: Firefly (84, 98, 00, 02/II, 03/I, 03/II, 04/III, 05/I, 05/II), Wreckage (03), Hardtop (04) Accessories: black backpack (84 Firefly's, no cover); black submachine gun (84 Firefly's MOD EEP KEDR-B); black walkie-talkie (84 Firefly's) WRECKAGE perfected his craft at the Army Jungle Warfare Training Center, where he served as a member of the OpFor (Opposing Forces) cadre. It was his job to play the enemy in training exercises, and he took his job very seriously indeed. His favorite trick was to sneak up behind a trainee and write "bang, you're dead," on the back of his helmet without him knowing he was there. Once, he booby-trapped a drink cooler with a live skunk and left it in the path of a thirsty trainee patrol. His methods may have been irregular, but they worked; his victims never forgot the lessons he taught them. Any demolitions specialist can set a charge and blow something up, but WRECKAGE is also an expert at defusing and disarming demolitions. This is quite an asset in hostile territory where one is apt to find all sorts of dangerous stuff just lying around waiting to be stepped on or activated by a trip wire. He is even better at spotting these troublesome devices and avoiding them entirely, which is why the other members of the G.I. JOE TIGER FORCE team are always glad to have WRECKAGE along on any mission. "If it goes off with a bang, I treat it with respect. Even if it's a little firecracker. Anybody who doesn't is a fool, plain and simple." Variations: Early releases of the figure had paler skin. Toy Notes: Carded in a Toys 'R Us-exclusive set with Big Brawler (03/I), Dial Tone (03), Agent Jinx (03), and Sgt. Stalker (03). Item #53263. Based on the canceled 1988 Tiger Force figure Sabretooth. Distinguished from the impostor Firefly (03/II) by a light facemask.

+ Black Out

BLACK OUT - a loss of consciousness or sudden appearance of darkness.

Char. #336, 33rd Cobra individual

Versions: 1. 2003 (Spy Troops Wave 6)     Version 1: 2003 Spy Troops Wave 6 two-pack assortment Fig. #0706: Cobra Sniper head: Black Out (03) arms: Black Out (03), Maj. Bludd (05) torso: Black Out (03), Maj. Bludd (05) waist: Black Out (03), Maj. Bludd (05) legs: Black Out (03), Maj. Bludd (05) Accessories: black goggles (new, with nose notch and red lenses); dark brown ghillie suit (common for 03 figures); black pistol (new, Desert Eagle semi-automatic); silver assault rifle (02 Neo-Viper's AK-74); black sniper rifle (new, DSR-1) with bipod BLACK OUT washed out as a candidate for the G.I. JOE team when he failed his psychological exam. Disgruntled because his younger brother BARREL ROLL made the team, he turned to COBRA, where the faults that disqualified him for G.I. JOE were considered assets. All of his records are sealed, but it is believed that the reason for his rejection had to do with his possible involvement in the disappearance of his sister, CADET BOMBSHELL. His expertise with long-range sniper rifles is the result of his obsession with accuracy. BLACK OUT has no natural talent for stalking or shooting, but persistence and practice have resulted in a high level of proficiency that is never sparked by any flashes of brilliance. Cold and mechanical, he mistakenly believes that playing all the notes correctly and at the right time is what makes a song. "I've got nothing against BARREL ROLL at all—even if he did have an unfair advantage and probably cheated to get on the G.I. JOE team. I forgive him. Really." Toy Notes: Carded in a two-pack with Flint (03). Item #57410. Cadet Bombshell was named Bombstrike when released as a figure in 2005.

+ Sand Viper

SAND VIPER - loose material of fine grains found on seashores and in deserts.

Char. #337, 67th Cobra troop type

Versions: 1. 2003/I (Spy Troops Wave 6) 2. 2003/II (Spy Troops Wave 7.75) 3. 2004 (Tiger Storm) 4. 2005/I (Air Assault) 5. 2005/II (Single Pack)   Version 1: 2003 Spy Troops Wave 6 two-pack assortment (03/I) Fig. #0708: Cobra Desert Infiltrators head: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) arms: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) torso: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) waist: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) legs: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) Accessories: grey helmet (03/I Grunt's, with dark red goggles); black vest (03 Sgt. Hacker's, with red Cobra emblem); black assault rifle (new, G36 with AG36 grenade launcher); brown monitor lizard (new, with white belly) SAND VIPERS are trained and equipped to operate in deserts as hostile to human life as the Sahara and the Mojave. The ability to endure high temperatures, blistering sun, and a total lack of water is the prime requirement for a SAND VIPER candidate. In addition to total proficiency with the entire range of COBRA small arms, the SAND VIPER is also expected to maintain and repair his weapons under conditions that are highly destructive to finely machined metal parts. His body armor is capable of deflecting shrapnel and most pistol bullets. The armor is actually the outer layer of a watertight suit that retains, purifies, and recycles body moisture to keep them cool and hydrated. The suit allows SAND VIPERS to function in extremely arid environments for extended periods without a re-supply of water. "Stalk like a lion, sting like a scorpion, vanish like a mirage." Toy Notes: Carded in a two-pack with Beachhead (03). Item #57420. Version 2: 2003 Spy Troops Wave 7.75 two-pack assortment (03/II) Fig. #0759: Cobra Desert Infiltrators head: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) arms: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) torso: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) waist: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) legs: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) Accessories: tan helmet (03/I Grunt's, with dark red goggles); black vest (03 Sgt. Hacker's, with red Cobra emblem); black assault rifle (03/I Sand Viper's, G36); brown monitor lizard (03/I Sand Viper's, with white belly) SAND VIPERS are trained and equipped to operate in deserts as hostile to human life as the Sahara and the Mojave. The ability to endure high temperatures, blistering sun, and a total lack of water is the prime requirement for a SAND VIPER candidate. In addition to total proficiency with the entire range of COBRA small arms, the SAND VIPER is also expected to maintain and repair his weapons under conditions that are highly destructive to finely machined metal parts. His body armor is capable of deflecting shrapnel and most pistol bullets. The armor is actually the outer layer of a watertight suit that retains, purifies, and recycles body moisture to keep them cool and hydrated. The suit allows SAND VIPER forces to function in extremely arid environments for extended periods without a re-supply of water. "Stalk like a lion, sting like a scorpion, vanish like a mirage." Toy Notes: Carded in a two-pack with Desert CLAWS (03). Item #56910. Version 3: 2004 Valor vs. Venom Wave 1 carded Tiger Storm vehicle. Fig. #0809: COBRA Desert Infiltrators head: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) arms: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) torso: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) waist: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) legs: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) Accessories: silver revolver (02 Dr. Mindbender's); black carbine/shotgun (02 Ripper's M4 with shotgun barrel) SAND VIPER troops are trained and equipped to operate in deserts as hostile to human life as the Sahara and the Mojave. The ability to endure high temperatures, blistering sun, and total lack of water is the prime requirement for a SAND VIPER candidate, in addition to total proficiency with the entire range of COBRA small arms. The SAND VIPER is also expected to maintain and repair his weapons under conditions that are highly destructive to finely machined metal parts. Their body armor is capable of deflecting shrapnel and most lasers. The armor is actually the outer layer of a watertight suit that retains, purifies, and recycles body moisture to keep them cool and hydrated. The suit allows SAND VIPER troops to function in extremely arid environments for extended periods without a re-supply of water. Their natural compatibility to arid regions made them the number one choice of COBRA COMMANDER and DR. MINDBENDER to change them into SAND SCORPION hybrid warriors. "Stalk like a lion, sting like a scorpion, vanish like a mirage." (Motto of the SAND VIPER troops) Toy Notes: Carded in a Value Zone vehicle pack with Recondo (04), Wild Bill (04/I), the Tiger Storm vehicle, and a mini-comic. Item #54117. Version 4: 2005 Valor vs. Venom Wave 7 carded Air Assault vehicle (05/I) Fig. #1030: COBRA Desert Infiltrators head: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) arms: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) torso: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) waist: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) legs: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) Accessories: black assault rifle (03 Sand Viper's G36) SAND VIPER troops are trained and equipped to operate in deserts as hostile to human life as the Sahara and the Mojave. The ability to endure high temperatures, blistering sun, and total lack of water is the prime requirement for a SAND VIPER candidate, in addition to total proficiency with the entire range of COBRA small arms. The SAND VIPER is also expected to maintain and repair his weapons under conditions that are highly destructive to finely machined metal parts. His body armor is capable of deflecting shrapnel and most lasers. The armor is actually the outer layer of a watertight suit that retains, purifies, and recycles body moisture to keep them cool and hydrated. The SAND VIPER forces have become more proficient with the use of AIR ASSAULT gliders to swoop down on unsuspecting prey. "Stalk like a lion, sting like a scorpion, vanish like a mirage." (Motto of the SAND VIPER troops) Toy Notes: Item #56220. Version 5: 2005 Valor vs. Venom Wave 3 Single Pack assortment (05/II) Fig. #1034: COBRA Desert Infiltrators head: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) arms: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) torso: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) waist: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) legs: Sand Viper (03/I, 03/II, 04, 05/I, 05/II) Accessories: black helmet (03 Grunt's); black backpack (84 Firefly's, no cover); black submachine gun (02 Neo-Viper's Skorpion); black assault rifle (02 Neo-Viper's AK-74) SAND VIPER troops are trained and equipped to operate in deserts as hostile to human life as the Sahara and the Mojave. The ability to endure high temperatures, blistering sun, and total lack of water is the prime requirement for a SAND VIPER candidate, in addition to total proficiency with the entire range of COBRA small arms. The SAND VIPER is also expected to maintain and repair his weapons under conditions that are highly destructive to finely machined metal parts. His body armor is capable of deflecting shrapnel and most lasers. The armor is actually the outer layer of a watertight suit that retains, purifies, and recycles body moisture to keep them cool and hydrated. The suit allows SAND VIPEr troops to function in extremely arid environments for extended periods without a re-supply of water. "Stalk like a lion, sting like a scorpion, vanish like a mirage." (Motto of the SAND VIPER troops) Toy Notes: Item #06111.

+ Depth Charge

DEPTH CHARGE - a bomb designed detonate at a certain depth underwater.	Char. #338, 181st Joe Team member
Nick H. Langdon (American with Saxon English surname) of Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh (pop. 334,563), on I-79 in western PA, has the 20th largest metro area in the US. Steeler is also from Pittsburgh, and Sidetrack is from nearby New Manchester, WV. Note: Nick Langdon is an employee of Hasbro.
Grades: Navy E-5: 2003-2005	SNs: 975-23-BD29
Versions: 1. 2003 (yellow Wave Crusher) 2. 2005 (orange Wave Crusher)   Version 1: 2003 Spy Troops Wave 6 carded Wave Crusher vehicle Fig. #0711: UDT (Underwater Demolitions Team) MOS 1: UDT MOS 2: Bandsman (glockenspiel) head: Depth Charge (03, 05) arms: Depth Charge (03, 05) torso: Depth Charge (03, 05) waist: Depth Charge (03, 05) legs: Depth Charge (03, 05) Accessories: black helmet (new, "Moray" disguise with red eyes); black goggles (new); two black flippers (02 Wet-Suit's); black scuba vest (03 Torpedo's); black multi-shot speargun (new) UDTs are the first ones on the scene to check out the general situation, clear any obstacles and eliminate mines and other devices. They must be SCUBA and airborne qualified and have a good working knowledge of explosive ordinance disposal, rubber boats, and nasty little weapons that don't make a lot of noise. DEPTH CHARGE has ratings in all these skills that are among the highest ever recorded in the program. He totally hates the water. He doesn't like swimming, despises pools and hot tubs, gets irritated by the sound of seagulls, is nauseated by the smell of ocean air, and takes the long way around puddles. What DEPTH CHARGE loves is everything else about being a UDT, so he is quite willing to put up with the annoyance of being immersed in water while carrying out his duties. "You want to know why I'm so enthusiastic about running up on the beach and clearing COBRA off it? Because if COBRA wasn't there, I wouldn't have to jump in the water in the first place!" Toy Notes: Item #57550. Version 2: 2005 Valor vs. Venom Wave 7 carded Wave Crusher vehicle Fig. #1028: UDT (Underwater Demolitions Team) Depthcharge MOS 1: UDT MOS 2: Bandsman (glockenspiel) head: Depth Charge (03, 05) arms: Depth Charge (03, 05) torso: Depth Charge (03, 05) waist: Depth Charge (03, 05) legs: Depth Charge (03, 05) Accessories: black goggles (03 Depth Charge's); gold scuba vest (03 Torpedo's); black multi-shot speargun (03 Depth Charge's) UDTs are the first ones on the scene to check out the general situation, clear any obstacles and eliminate mines and other devices. They must be SCUBA and airborne qualified and have a good working knowledge of explosive ordinance disposal, rubber boats, and nasty little weapons that don't make a lot of noise. DEPTHCHARGE has ratings in all these skills that are among the highest ever recorded in the program. He totally hates the water. He doesn't like swimming, despises pools and hot tubs, gets irritated by the sound of seagulls, is nauseated by the smell of ocean air, and takes the long way around puddles. What DEPTHCHARGE loves is everything else about being a UDT, so he is quite willing to put up with the annoyance of being immersed in water or riding his WAVE CRUSHER vehicle while carrying out his duties. "You want to know why I'm so enthusiastic about running up on the beach and clearing COBRA off it? Because if COBRA wasn't there, I wouldn't have to jump in the water in the first place!" Toy Notes: Item #56223.

+ Cobra Coil

COBRA COIL - connected set of twists into which a thing (such as a snake) can be wound.

Char. #339, 68th Cobra troop type

Versions: 1. 2003/I (blue Tread Fire) 2. 2003/II (Spy Troops Wave 7) 3. 2003/III (red Tread Fire) Version 1: 2003 Spy Troops Wave 6 carded Tread Fire vehicle (03/I) Fig. #0713: High Speed Pursuit Vehicle Driver Cobra Coils head: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III) arms: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) torso: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) waist: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) legs: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) Accessories: brown-grey helmet (new, round with blue visor) COBRA COILS are guys with primitive central nervous systems and high pain thresholds who ride motrocycles and other fast-assault vehicles. Their armored crash helmets contain voice-activated servo-controls to allow them to control their motorcycles simply by telling it what to do. "Go faster, shift down, brake, etc." Steering is accomplished at high speeds by leaning and shifting body weight, freeing the driver's hands so he can fire and operate his weapons at the same time. COBRA COILS train hard. If they aren't making strafing runs on the practice range with their vehicles, they are blasting away on their computer simulators. Their training objective is to function as a single entity with their vehicle. This has led to several cases where COBRA COILS have been heard to make revving noises in their throats when they walk faster. "The only thing better than going fast and shooting hard is going faster and shooting harder." Toy Notes: Item #57530. Version 2: 2003 Spy Troops Wave 7 two-pack assortment (03/II) Fig. #0738: High Speed Pursuit Motorcycle Driver Cobra Coils head: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III) arms: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) torso: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) waist: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) legs: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) Accessories: black helmet (03/I Coil's, with silver faceplate); black mini-revolver (02 Wild Bill's); two black pistols (02 Shipwreck's Uzi) DREADNOKS are just guys with primitive central nervous systems and high pain thresholds who happen to ride motorcycles. On the other hand, COBRA COILS are highly trained professionals with unique skills and specialized equipment. Their armored crash helmets contain voice-activated servo-controls to allow them to control their motorcycles simply by telling them what to do. "Go faster, shift down, brake, etc." Steering is gyro-stabilized and accomplished at high speeds by leaning and shifting body weight. This frees both the driver's hands to fire and operate his weapons at the same time. COBRA COILS train hard. If they aren't on their COBRA VENOM CYCLE vehicles making strafing runs on the practice range, they are blasting away at pixels on their computer simulators. Their training objective is to function as a single entity with their COBRA VENOM CYCLE vehicles. This has led to several cases where COBRA COILS have been heard to make revving noises in their throats when they walk faster. "The only thing better than going fast and shooting hard is going faster and shooting harder." Toy Notes: Carded in a two-pack with Red Spot (03). Item #55424. Re-releases: Also boxed in 2004 with the Costco-exclusive Battle-in-a-Box. Version 3: 2003 Spy Troops Wave 7 carded Tread Fire vehicle (03/III) Fig. #0748: High Speed Pursuit Vehicle Driver Cobra Coils head: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III) arms: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) torso: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) waist: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) legs: Cobra Coil (03/I, 03/II, 03/III), Guillotine (06) Accessories: dark red helmet (03/I Coil's, with blue faceplate) COBRA COILS are guys with primitive central nervous systems and high pain thresholds who ride motrocycles and other fast-assault vehicles. Their armored crash helmets contain voice-activated servo-controls to allow them to control their motorcycles simply by telling it what to do. "Go faster, shift down, brake, etc." Steering is accomplished at high speeds by leaning and shifting body weight, freeing the driver's hands so he can fire and operate his weapons at the same time. COBRA COILS train hard. If they aren't making strafing runs on the practice range with their vehicles, they are blasting away on their computer simulators. Their training objective is to function as a single entity with their vehicle. This has led to several cases where COBRA COILS have been heard to make revving noises in their throats when they walk faster. "The only thing better than going fast and shooting hard is going faster and shooting harder." Toy Notes: Item #57530. Due to uneven distribution and high demand, this vehicle was considered a moderately hard-to-find item at the time of its release.

+ Inferno BAT

INFERNO B.A.T. - a place of very great heat and large, uncontrollable flames.

Char. #340, 69th Cobra troop type

Versions: 1. 2003 (BAT 6-pack)     Version 1: 2003 BAT Builder boxed set Fig. #0717: Battle Android Trooper Independently targeted combat robot head: BAT (91, 03/I), Inferno BAT (03) arms: BAT (91, 03/I), Inferno BAT (03) torso: BAT (91, 03/I), Inferno BAT (03), Headhunter BAT (08) waist: BAT (91, 03/I), Zangief (93), Inferno BAT (03), Headhunter BAT (08) legs: BAT (91, 03/I), Zangief (93), Inferno BAT (03) Accessories: black right hand and red machine gun arm attachments (91 BAT's); black figure stand COBRA INFERNO B.A.T. troopers are advanced versions of standard issue B.A.T. V.2 models. The "advancements" consist of increased aggressiveness programming, which makes them more combative in battle but also overrides their group awareness function: in other words, they'll automatically mow down even fellow B.A.T. troopers to get a clear shot at their target. The G.I. JOE team not-so-fondly calls them "those flaming tin cans" because the androids glow red-hot in battle. DR. MINDBENDER designed their internal processing units to generate intense heat, allowing them to send out bursts of heat and fire. A platoon of INFERNO B.A.T. forces coming at you gives off the same heat waves that rise up from hot tarmac on a desert airstrip in August. Unfortunately, they are no mirage. But as some of the G.I. JOE soldiers have been heard to say, "They still make that nice pinging sound when you hit them, just like when you blast tin cans off a fence post." After a battle, COBRA forces usually wait for the B.A.T. troopers to cool before retrieving them, because they are too hot to be transported in standard vehicles. "Heat 'em up, boys - it's time for a REAL firefight!" (Recorded voice track programmed into their central processing unit.) Toy Notes: Two copies were boxed in an Internet-exclusive set with Over Kill (03/III) and two copies of BAT (03/I).

Continue to 2003 Characters, Page 3 (Black Dragon, Swamp-Viper, Black Dragon Trooper, and Air-Viper)

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