-09 Half the Battle: 1988 Characters

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1988 Characters, Page 5

Click-to-Reveal Profiles for Wildcard, Ghostrider, Secto-Viper, Armadillo, and Skystriker

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

+ Wildcard

WILDCARD - a playing card that can be assigned any value at the discretion of the player.

Char. #160, 102nd Joe Team member

Eric U. Scott (American with Scottish surname) of Northampton, MA.
Northampton, on I-91 in western MA. Nearby is Dr. Link Talbot's home of Clarksburg. Most of the other Massachusetts Joes are from the Boston area, though Tiger Claw is from Douglas and Lady Jaye is from Martha's Vineyard.

Grades: E-4: 1988

SNs: 102-65-0984

Comic and Animation Notes: Wildcard appeared in 7 issues between 1988 and 1993: #72, 73, 89, 100, 109, 110, 137. He was animated only for a commercial featuring the Mean Dog, where he seems not to have a mustache.

1. 1988 (Mean Dog)

Version 1: 1988 boxed Mean Dog vehicle
Fig. #0178: G. I. Joe Mean Dog Driver	MOS 1: Armored Vehicle Operator [19K] MOS 2: Chaplain's Assistant [56M]
	head: Wildcard (88), Major Altitude (91, 93) arms: Wildcard (88) torso: Wildcard (88) waist: Wildcard (88) legs: Wildcard (88)
	Accessories: green helmet (new, crested); grey backpack (new, with sword slot); grey machete (new, widening toward tip)
	WILDCARD possesses an unnatural talent for breaking things. Sturdy steel machines, simple tools, delicate toys, immovable objects of cast iron, 8-piece dinner settings; nothing is immune to his uncanny destructive powers! Fortunately, that which is judged to be an abominable affliction in civilian circles can be a valuable skill in military ones! "When Wildcard is driving the Mean Dog, the vehicle becomes an extension of himself; a raging engine of destruction, pulverizing all in its path. If the enemy, by sheer luck, manages to knock out the Mean Dog, they then put themselves in the position of having to deal with Wildcard directly! You could go so far as to call that a violation of the Geneva Convention!"
Toy Notes: Item #6028.

GHOSTRIDER - spirit-world cowboy cursed to chase demonic cattle across the sky.

Char. #161, 103rd Joe Team member

Jonas S. Jeffries (American with Welsh surname) of Chicago, IL.
Chicago is on I-55 in the NE corner of IL, largest city in the Midwest (pop. 2,833,321). Bullet-Proof, Hardtop, Heavy Duty, Scoop, Short-Fuze, and Static Line are also from Chicago. Freefall and Capt. Grid-Iron are from the nearby cities of Downers Grove and Evergreen Park. Footloose is from nearby Gary, IN.

Grades: Air Force O-3: 1988

SNs: 112-30-7140

Comic and Animation Notes: This code name was reportedly chosen without regard to Hasbro comic writer Larry Hama's recommendations while he was on vacation. Since there was already a comic character named Ghost Rider, the Joe's name could not appear. For both reasons, Hama invented a running gag in which no one could ever remember Capt. Jeffries' code name. The pilot appeared in 8 issues between 1988 and 1993: #76, 77, 80, 115, 119, 132, and Special Missions #16 and 28. Although the Phantom X-19 made an appearance in Operation Dragonfire, its pilot was animated only for commercials, where he appeared to have no scarf and a red portion to his outfit.

1. 1988 (Phantom X-19)

Version 1: 1988 boxed Phantom X-19 Stealth Fighter vehicle
Fig. #0179: G. I. Joe Phantom X-19 Stealth Fighter Pilot	MOS 1: Stealth Fighter Pilot [11F3/M] MOS 2: Aeronautical Engineer [62E3/A]
	head: Ghostrider (88) arms: Ghostrider (88) torso: Ghostrider (88) waist: Ghostrider (88) legs: Ghostrider (88)
	Accessories: red cloth scarf (new)
	Stealth isn't simply a matter of technology, it is a state of mind. It isn't enough to wrap yourself in a blended-wing, polymer-composite-airframe with shielded air inlets and vectored nozzles, all covered with black, "iron ball" radar absorbent paint. True stealth means having the nerve to fly "nap of the earth" at high speeds, without activating electronic sensors or guidance systems that might tip-off enemy radar! It is ridiculous to fly such an aircraft at low altitude because it was designed by engineers whose priorities centered on radar-invisibility rather than structural integrity and maneuverability. This doesn't seem to matter to GHOSTRIDER. "Ghostrider has been working on not getting noticed since the second grade. He may have been the only person to make it through the Chicago public school system without ever cleaning an eraser or washing a blackboard. Teachers never noticed him, not because he was dull or lackluster, but because he consciously worked on not being noticed. That's how he is in the cockpit of a stealth fighter. He's WILLING himself to be invisible!"
Toy Notes: Item #6016. The prototype shown in the 1988 insert catalog had Sneak Peek's head and Heavy Metal's torso.

SECTO-VIPER - prefix for a part or section of something (probably for the "sector" of shoreline each is assigned).

Char. #162, 25th Cobra troop type

Animation Notes: Secto-Vipers were animated only for commercials.

Version 1: 1988 boxed Bugg vehicle
Fig. #0180: Cobra Bugg Driver
	head: Secto-Viper (88) arms: Secto-Viper (88) torso: Secto-Viper (88) waist: Secto-Viper (88) legs: Secto-Viper (88)
	Accessories: clear helmet (new, domed with no black portions); black laser pistol (new, with large fin on top)
	Formed as a dedicated unit to patrol the shoreline of Cobra Island, SECTO-VIPERS are unique specialists in amphibious operations and marine surveillance. Every Secto-Viper is assigned a specific sector of shoreline and is required to know every square inch of it as well as the topology of the ocean floor that abuts it! They are thoroughly familiar with every amphibious landing craft currently in use by the armed forces of the world and can recite by rote their "soft" points and areas of vulnerability. "Secto-Vipers are too conscientious. They're always speeding over the dunes or creeping about under the surf. Off-duty Cobra personnel can't spread a towel on the beach to catch some rays without being reduced by an overzealous Secto-Viper looking to make brownie points with his superiors. Not the greatest thing in the world for morale!"
Toy Notes: Item #6018. The prototype shown in the 1988 insert catalog had parts from Payload (87), and the photo on the Bugg's box shows a Road Pig waistpiece.

ARMADILLO - small mammal with a bony armored shell and a banded tail, common to the American Southwest.

Char. #163, 104th Joe Team member

Philo R. Makepeace (American with English surname) of Fort Huachuca, AZ.
Fort Huachuca is an Army base in southeast AZ with no permanent residents. The nearest town is Huachuca City (pop. 1,890), about ten miles north. The other Joes from Arizona are Mainframe of Phoenix and Airborne from the Navajo Reservation in the northeast part of the state.

Grades: E-7: 1988

SNs: 319-52-4887

Comic and Animation Notes: Armadillo appeared with the code name Rumbler in 6 issues between 1988 and 1991: #80, 81, 92, 99, 111, and 112. Rumbler the Crossfire driver did not appear in the comic. Armadillo was animated only for commercials, with an ammo belt across his chest as on the box art and filecard. In two instances, there are two characters visible at once wearing Armadillo's outfit.

1. 1988 (Rolling Thunder)

Version 1: 1988 boxed Rolling Thunder vehicle
Fig. #0181: G. I. Joe Rolling Thunder Driver	MOS 1: Armored Assault Vehicle Driver MOS 2: Advanced Reconnaissance
	head: Armadillo (88) arms: Armadillo (88) torso: Armadillo (88) waist: Armadillo (88) legs: Armadillo (88)
	Accessories: none
	ARMADILLO is in command of the most heavily armed assault vehicle in the world—the Rolling Thunder! He's the most reliable driver in the whole G.I. Joe motor pool! Armadillo is versed in all the latest land assault technologies and his experience as a vehicle driver is second to none! When it came time to select a driver for this most formidable attack craft, Armadillo was a shoe-in for the job! "Armadillo is no fun to ride with! You put him behind the wheel of anything with big tires and he just plain loses his sense of humor! His only concern becomes accomplishing his objective and getting to his destination. He used to make good time driving big rigs, but he just left too many people pulled over to the side of the interstate with their teeth rattling. Nobody complains about the way he drives the Rolling Thunder. He gets you there, right?"
Toy Notes: Item #6012.

SKYSTRIKER - presumably named for the Joe Team's original jet fighter.

Char. #164, 105th Joe Team member

Alexander P. Russo (American with Italian surname) of Providence, RI.
At the mouth of the Providence River, the city is the capital and largest city (pop. 175,255) in RI. Ace, Bullhorn, Dee-Jay, Dogfight, Ice Cream Soldier, and Major Storm also come from Providence. Hasbro's headquarters is in the suburb of Pawtucket; thus 17 Joes come from this state.

Grades: Air Force O-5: 1988

SNs: 780-45-9887

Comic and Animation Notes: Skystriker did not appear in the comic and was never animated.

1. 1988 (Tiger Rat)

Version 1: 1988 Tiger Force boxed Tiger Rat vehicle
Fig. #0197: Tiger Rat Pilot	MOS 1: Tiger Rat Pilot [11F4/B] MOS 2: Combat Tactician
	head: Thunder (84), Skystriker (88), Thunderwing (98) arms: Wild Weasel (84), Skystriker (88) torso: Wild Weasel (84), Skystriker (88) waist: Wild Weasel (84), Skystriker (88) legs: Wild Weasel (84), Skystriker (88)
	Accessories: reddish brown helmet (standard, with visor holes); reddish brown headset (84 Thunder's antenna); clear visor (84 Thunder's)
	You might say that flying is in SKYSTRIKER's blood. He grew up on an Air Force base in Maryland where his father was in charge of flight operations. Fascinated with fighter jets, Skystriker decided to make a career for himself in the Air Force. Upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy, he went to Officer's Flight Training School to become a pilot. After he received his "wings," Skystriker flew X-30 fighters during several G.I. Joe attacks on Cobra Island! He shot down over 15 Cobra Mamba copters, severely crippling Cobra's island defenses! Skystriker was tapped for duty on Tiger Force because of his fearless attitude in the face of danger! "The man was born to fly! I saw Skystriker pull off a double-looped nose dive in front of two enemy fighters, then shoot them down before they could pick him up on their radar scopes! It was unbelievable! When it comes to combat acrobatics, this 'fly-boy' takes the cake!"
Toy Notes: Item #6673.
Re-releases: Bagged with Rock-Viper's rifle and pistol at a 1993 convention, but identified as Thunder.

Character Contributions

Armored Vehicle Operator: operates tracked and armored vehicles in combat and training exercises. Has special knowledge of tank-launched and tank-mounted weapons. Specializes in the Mean Dog modular artillery vehicle.
Chaplain's Assistant: assists the chaplain in all matters in which religion impacts on command programs, personnel, policies, and procedures. Coordinates religious ministries including pastoral counseling for personnel and their family members. Provides leadership for moral, ethical, and human self-development programs.

Stealth Fighter Pilot: pilots stealth fighter aircraft and commands crews to accomplish combat, training, and other missions.
Aeronautical Engineer: plans, organizes, manages, and implements, systems engindering processes; formulates engineering policy; coordinates and directs technical management activities and operations necessary for conception, development, production, verificaton, deployment, operations, support, training, and disposal of aeronautics systems.

Secto-Viper

Cobra Bugg Driver: operates and maintains the Bugg amphibious armored vehicle for patrol, surveillance, and shoreline combat operations.

Armored Assault Vehicle Driver: operates tracked, wheeled, and armored vehicles in combat and training exercises. Has special knowledge of tank-launched and tank-mounted weapons. Specializes in the Rolling Thunder long-range assault vehicle.
Advanced Reconnaissance

Tiger Rat Pilot: pilots fighter/bomber aircraft and commands crews to accomplish combat, training, and other missions.
Combat Tactician: performs and manages Air Battle Manager operations functions and activites. Plans, organizes, and directs operations, including airspace management, directs aircraft conducting air defense and tactical missions, coalition integration, sensor system management, operations management activities, and data link operations. Supervises mission crew activities, and sector and regional operations control centers. Provides staff supervision and technical advice. Develops, reviews, and disseminates data on tactics, techniques, and employment of combat and operations suport units. Advises on the effective use of battle management assets.

Continue to 1989 Characters, Page 1 (Recoil, Scoop, Countdown, Alley Viper, TARGAT, and Dee-Jay)

Go back to 1988 Characters, Page 4 (Skidmark, Star-Viper, Windmill, Nullifier, and Ferret)

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