1988 Characters, Page 2

Click-to-Reveal Profiles for Hit & Run, Lightfoot, Toxo-Viper, Spearhead, and Astro-Viper

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

+ Hit & Run

HIT & RUN - baseball play in which baserunners are put in motion before the ball is hit; or, causing an automobile accident and immediately leaving the scene.	Char. #144, 94th Joe Team member
Brent Scott (American with Scottish surname) of Sioux City, IA. Sioux City (pop. 83,262), is on I-29 and the Missouri River near the intersection of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The city was home to 1924 Olympic track and field gold medalist Morgan Taylor. Also from Iowa are Windchill of Cedar Rapids, Sgt. Hacker of Emmetsburg, Crazylegs of Fort Dodge, and Maverick of Ida Grove.
Grades: E-4: 1988	SNs: 345-7581-SB26
Comic and Animation Notes: Hit & Run appeared in 4 issues between 1988 and 1989: #80 and Special Missions #17, 22, and 23. He was animated only for commercials.
Versions: 1. 1988     Version 1: 1988 regular carded assortment Fig. #0160: Light Infantryman MOS 1: Infantry [11B] MOS 2: Mountaineering head: Hit & Run (88) arms: Hit & Run (88), Duke (88) torso: Hit & Run (88) waist: Hit & Run (88) legs: Hit & Run (88) Accessories: black two-piece duffelbag (new, with knife clips and internal winch); black submachine gun (new, Colt Model 635); green knife (new, with S-shaped guard); black grappling hook (new) with string Orphaned at the age of three by a drunken driver, Hit & Run grew up in a county institution from which he escaped with alarming regularity, climbing down sheer walls and running for miles across the plains in the middle of the night. When asked what he was running away from, he replied, "I'm not running away from anything. I'm practicing." He went from the custody of the county, directly into the Army . . . "Infantrymen don't march. They run. They run to get to the battle, they run during the battle, and they run to get away from the battle. The Army doesn't call it running. They call the first 'advancing,' the second, 'maneuvering,' and the last, 'disengaging.' Hit & Run calls it all running, and he's real good at it." Variations: Copies of the figure sold at a premium price at Target had an orange filecard and included a parachute pack. Toy Notes: Item #6511. Re-releases: A slightly recolored version was released in Brazil. A Tiger Force version was released in Europe.

+ Lightfoot

LIGHTFOOT - a cautious person, one who steps softly.	Char. #145, 95th Joe Team member
Cory R. Owens (American with Welsh surname) of Wichita, KS. Wichita, in south-central KS on I-35, is the state's largest city (pop. 357,698) and home to McConnell Air Force Base and several aircraft manufacturers. Also from Wichita is Flint. The other Kansas birthplaces are Cutter's Kinsley to the west, Barricade's Pittsburg to the east, and Crankcase's Lawrence to the north. The 1989 filecard spells the first name Corey.
Grades: E-4: 1988	SNs: 3075-0948-OC76; 075-5329-UI76
Comic and Animation Notes: Lightfoot appeared in 4 issues between 1988 and 1989: #82, 86, and Special Missions #13 and 25. He was animated only for commercials. Curiously, he was colored orange-red in the Rolling Thunder ad.
Versions: 1. 1988 2. 1989 (Night Force)   Version 1: 1988 regular carded assortment Fig. #0161: Explosives Expert MOS 1: Demolitions [18C] MOS 2: Artilley Coordinator [13Z?] head: Lightfoot (88, 89) arms: Lightfoot (88, 89) torso: Lightfoot (88, 89) waist: Lightfoot (88, 89) legs: Lightfoot (88, 89) Accessories: blue helmet (new, with antennas and red eyes); green backpack (new, with cable hole and red lenticular sticker); orange mine detector drone (new, with white lenticular sticker); green drone control arm (new, with cable hole); green cable (new, flat segmented) Fifty percent of any military manual on explosives consists of mathematical tables for calculating amounts of explosives needed, safe firing distances, power requirements for firing circuits, and formulas for cutting structural steel, timber, and breaching various forms of bunker material. Lightfoot has memorized all of them, as well as all the conversion tables for foreign and non-military explosives. He's not taking any chances . . . "Lightfoot has elevated being careful to an artform. You might say he's a Zen fussbudget. His eyes sweep the ground before him in measured quandrants, alert for tripwires, signs of digging, and out-of-place vegetation. He sniffs the air for that tell-tale plastic explosive smell of 'dead rubber.' Lightfoot may take twice as long to clear an area, but at least you won't get any nasty surprises." Toy Notes: Item #6512. The lenticular decal is missing from the drone in the 1988 insert catalog. Version 2: 1989 Night Force two-pack assortment Fig. #0238: Explosives Expert MOS 1: Demolitions [18C] MOS 2: Artilley Coordinator [13Z?] head: Lightfoot (88, 89) arms: Lightfoot (88, 89) torso: Lightfoot (88, 89) waist: Lightfoot (88, 89) legs: Lightfoot (88, 89) Accessories: black helmet (88 Lightfoot's, with red eyes); black backpack (88 Lightfoot's, with red lenticular sticker); black drone (88 Lightfoot's, with white lenticular sticker); black drone control arm (88 Lightfoot's); black cable (88 Lightfoot's) Fifty percent of any military manual on explosives consists of mathematical tables for calculating amounts of explosives needed, safe firing distances, power requirements for firing circuits, and formulas for cutting structural steel, timber, and breaching various forms of bunker material. LIGHTFOOT has memorized all of them, as well as all the conversion tables for foreign and non-military explosives. He's not taking any chances. Being the demolitions specialist for Night Force, it is his responsibilityto see that all their missions end with a "bang"! "Lightfoot has made an artform out of being careful. You might say he's a Zen fussbudget. His eyes sweep the ground before him in measured quandrants, alert for tripwires, signs of digging, and out-of-place vegetation. He sniffs the air for that tell-tale plastic explosive smell of 'dead rubber.' Lightfoot may take twice as long to clear an area, but at least you won't get any nasty surprises." Toy Notes: Carded in a Toys 'R Us-exclusive two-pack with Shockwave (89). Item #6710-2. This figure is considered a moderately high-demand item.

+ Toxo-Viper

TOXO-VIPER - prefix indicating poison and other harmful substances.	Char. #146, 21st Cobra troop type
DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 5 lines in 1 episode (The Sludge Factor II). Total appearances: 3 (The Sludge Factor I-II and Infested Island). Wore 1991 outfits with green wrists.
Versions: 1. 1988 2. 1991 (Eco-Warriors)   Version 1: 1988 regular carded assortment Fig. #0162: Cobra Hostile Environment Trooper head: Toxo-Viper (88) arms: Toxo-Viper (88) torso: Toxo-Viper (88) waist: Toxo-Viper (88) legs: Toxo-Viper (88) Accessories: light blue and brown helmet (new, with orange mouthpiece); black backpack (new, with easily breakable gas canisters); black rifle (new, boxlike experimental weapon) Cobra Toxo-Viper are thrust into battle situations mainly to create a foul and unsuitable environment, thus giving the upper hand to Cobra. Their battle suit is moderately air-tight and resistant to most solvents. If the suit was completely impervious to atmospheric dangers, it would be awkward, slow-moving, and most importantly, expensive. Cobra leaders feel that Toxo-Vipers should be encouraged to get their jobs done as quickly as possible, unburdened by heavy and expensive equipment. "Needless to say, being a Toxo-Viper is not something a Cobra trooper aspires to be. In fact, the assignment is meted out as punishment for major offenses. The mere threat of being transferred to the 'leaky suit brigade' is enough to keep even the most obstreperous troops in line." Toy Notes: Item #6513. Re-releases: A slightly different version was released in India. Version 2: 1991 Eco-Warriors premium carded assortment Fig. #0305: Hostile Environment Trooper head: Toxo-Viper (91) arms: Toxo-Viper (91) torso: Toxo-Viper (91) waist: Toxo-Viper (91), Maj. Bludd (94) legs: Toxo-Viper (91), Maj. Bludd (94) Accessories: purple backpack (shared with 91 Sludge Viper); purple pistol (shared with 91 Sludge Viper); dark green water cannon (shared with 91 Sludge Viper) with black plunger; black figure stand The original Cobra TOXO-VIPERS were disparagingly referred to within the ranks as the "Leaky Suit Brigade," and assignment to them was considered severe punishment. The new Toxo-Vipers sport top quality, state-of-the-art equipment, greatly increasing their survival ratio, but they still have to deal with intensely toxic sludge and horrible noxious gases as part of their normal tour of duty. "Toxo-Vipers have the bad attitudes of permanent latrine orderlies. They don't want to be there, they don't like what they're doing, and they know they're stuck because nobody else will do it. Toxo-Vipers have a grudge against the whole world, and the only thing that makes them feel better is to make the world a nastier place for you to live in." Toy Notes: Features a temperature-based color change. Item #6819. In the 1991 insert catalog, concept art appears instead of the actual figure.

+ Spearhead

SPEARHEAD - to begin or lead an attack or operation forcefully.	Char. #147, 96th Joe Team member
Peter R. Millman (American with Saxon English surname) of St. Louis, MO. St. Louis (pop. 353,837), where I-70 crosses the Mississippi, is the largest metro area in Missouri and is known as the "Gateway to the West." Duke and Storm Shadow are also from this city, and Blast-Off is from the southwest suburb of Kirkwood.
Grades: E-4: 1988-1989	SNs: 075-0948-MP76; 075-6271-QQ76.
Comic and Animation Notes: Spearhead appeared in only one issue in 1989: Special Missions #21. He was animated only for commercials.
Versions: 1. 1988 2. 1989 (Night Force)   Version 1: 1988 regular carded assortment Fig. #0163: Point Man MOS 1: Infantry [11B] MOS 2: Finance [44C] head: Spearhead (88, 89) arms: Spearhead (88, 89) torso: Spearhead (88, 89) waist: Spearhead (88, 89) legs: Spearhead (88, 89) Accessories: orange and peach helmet (new, with long brim); orange backpack (new, with roll); grey machine gun (new, with bayonet and sling); grey machete (new, decorative); orange bobcat "Max" (new) Spearhead was the youngest and most successful insurance salesman in the Pacific North West. It was said that he could sell a term policy to a dead cow. Everybody like him, trusted him, and bought more insurance from him than they could afford. Spearhead denies that guilt was a factor in his decision to join the army—he simply felt that somebody had to do it. "Some guys, they're gonna lead a combat assault, right? They jump up and holler, 'Follow me!' and charge full tilt at a bunker—halfway there, they look back, and no one's behind them! Of course not. The guy was a jerk. Spearhead could jump face first into a vat of rabid hyenas and fifteen guys would follow him. No hesitation. They'd jump SMILING. And of course, Spearhead's mad cat, Max, is always a source of inspiration." Toy Notes: Item #6514. Re-releases: Recolored versions were released in Brazil as Baioneta and in India as Spearhead. Version 2: 1989 Night Force two-pack assortment Fig. #0241: Point Man MOS 1: Infantry [11B] MOS 2: Finance [44C] head: Spearhead (88, 89) arms: Spearhead (88, 89) torso: Spearhead (88, 89) waist: Spearhead (88, 89) legs: Spearhead (88, 89) Accessories: black and grey helmet (88 Spearhead's); black backpack (88 Spearhead's); black machine gun (88 Spearhead's); black machete (88 Spearhead's); black bobcat "Max" (88 Spearhead's) SPEARHEAD was the youngest and most successful insurance salesman in the Pacific North West. It was said that he could sell a term policy to a dead cow. Everybody like him, trusted him, and bought more insurance from him than they could afford. Spearhead denies that guilt was a factor in his decision to join the army—he simply felt that somebody had to do it. When Night Force conducts an attack against a Cobra base, Spearhead and Max always lead the unit to give it an added punch through the enemy's defense lines! "When some guys try to lead a combat assault, they jump up and holler, 'Follow me!' and charge full tilt at a bunker. Halfway there, they look back, and no one's behind them! Of course not—the guy was a jerk. Spearhead could jump face first into a vat of rabid hyenas and fifteen guys would follow him. No hesitation. They'd jump SMILING. And of course, Spearhead's mad cat, Max, would always be a source of inspiration." Toy Notes: Carded in a Toys 'R Us-exclusive two-pack with Muskrat (89). Item #6710-3. This figure is considered a moderately high-demand item. Re-releases: Recolored versions were released in Brazil as Baioneta and in India as Spearhead.

+ Astro-Viper

ASTRO-VIPER - prefix indicating the stars, planets, or space.

Char. #148, 22nd Cobra troop type

Versions: 1. 1988 2. 1993 (Star Brigade)   Version 1: 1988 regular carded assortment Fig. #0164: Cobranaut head: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) arms: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) torso: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) waist: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) legs: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) Accessories: dark grey helmet (new, with yellow visor); silver backpack (new, with jets) with two laser cannons and two control arms (all detachable); two black hoses (short standard) Satellite surveillance technology is absolutely vital to modern military intelligence. Intricate tracking satellites must be maintained and repaired on site and as Cobra's network of "eyes-in-the-sky" grows older, more and more repairs are needed, necessitating more technicians capable of withstanding repeated high-G launchings and enduring long terms in orbit. "Cobranauts are recruited from the ranks of the Strato-Vipers; those NIGHT RAVEN pilots, who are naturally and artificially conditioned for high-altitude flying and high-G maneuvering. Cobranauts pilot the launch and recovery vehicles, man the orbital stations, and do the satellite repair work. They like it up there, where it's cold and dark." Toy Notes: Item #6515. The character art shows a red helmet; it is unknown if the figure was ever supposed to have one. Version 2: 1993 Star Brigade carded assortment, #11 Fig. #0403: Cobranaut Astro Viper head: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) arms: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) torso: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) waist: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) legs: Astro-Viper (88, 93), Shadow Viper (01) Accessories: black space helmet (88 Astro-Viper's, with bright green visor); orange sniper rifle (90 Rock-Viper's PSG-1); orange machine gun (92 Destro's XL-14); gold spring missile launcher (new, large and blocky with arm clips and orange trigger); two orange missiles (new, with fins and notched tip); orange knife (88 Shockwave's); orange figure stand Among Cobra's vast array of specialized infantry troopers, the only ones qualified—besides Cobra T.A.R.G.A.T.'s—for duty in the dangerous voids of space are the ASTRO VIPERS. They are the only soldiers capable of with standing repeated G-force launchings and extensive tours of duty orbiting distant planets. They were recruited from the ranks of the Strato-Vipers, who are naturally and artificially conditioned for high-altitude flying and G-force maneuvering. COBRA COMMANDER knew he could count on these Vipers not only because of their specialized training and abilities, but also because they are exceptionally ruthless in battle. Variations: Some missile launchers had a loop for a string. Toy Notes: Item #81105.

Continue to 1988 Characters, Page 3 (Muskrat, Budo, Hardball, Hydro-Viper, Voltar, and Road Pig)

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