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1990 Characters, Page 2

Click-to-Reveal Profiles for Ambush, Salvo, Freefall, Laser-Viper, SAW-Viper, and Metal-Head

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

+ Ambush

AMBUSH - a surprise attack from a place of hiding.

Char. #191, 119th Joe Team member

Aaron McMahon (American with Irish surname) of Walnut, CA.
Walnut (pop. 30,004) is a Los Angeles-area city with a majority Asian-American population. Joes from LA itself include Quick Kick, Jinx, Skidmark, Sure Fire, and Wreckage. Rock 'n Roll is from nearby Malibu.

Grades: E-3: 1990-2004

SNs: 849-1343-AM97; 349-13-AM97

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 153 lines in 8 episodes. 11th most frequent speaker. First appeared and spoke in United We Stand. Total appearances: 15. Wore his 1990 outfit.

Prioritized Appearance List: United We Stand, I Found You...Evy, Victory at Volcania I-II, An Officer and a Viperman, The Nozone Conspiracy, Revenge of the Pharaohs, and A Is for Android. Silent: Granny Dearest, Pigskin Commandos, Injustice and the Cobra Way, D-Day at Alcatraz II, That's Entertainment, Long Live Rock and Roll I, and Basic Training. Ambush is included in the opening sequences of seasons 1 and 2.

Comic Notes: Ambush appeared in 6 issues between 1991 and 1992: #111-113, 122, and 128-129.

2. 1993 (Dino-Hunters)

3. 2004 (Desert Patrol)

Version 1: 1990 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0247: Concealment Specialist	MOS 1: Concealment Specialist MOS 2: Infantry [11B]
	head: Ambush (90, 93), Side Track (01) arms: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) torso: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) waist: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) legs: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01)
	Accessories: dark green helmet (new, safari); dark green backpack (new, with pole tabs and net clips); dark green pistol (new, grenade launcher); dark green assault rifle (new, EM-2 bullpup); four brown poles (new, interlocking tent supports); two dark green nets (new, one with head hole)
	AMBUSH has no trouble staying out of sight. When he was ten years old, Ambush participated in a neighborhood game of hide-and-seek, then disappeared for three days. It wasn't until the National Guard was called to aid in the search that his well camouflaged hiding place was discovered under his parent's front porch. After he joined the Army, he became so evasive that even his drill sergeant was unable to account for his whereabouts during the day. "When this guy goes on assignment, expect the unexpected! There's nothing he won't do to accomplish his mission. Once, he concealed himself as a shrub, tumbled into a heavily guarded Cobra weapons depot, captured their base commander, then safely delivered him to G.I. Joe headquarters for interrogation! To this day, we still can't figure out how he pulled it off!"
Variations: Some copies had lighter red hair.
Toy Notes: Item #6566.

Version 2: 1993 boxed Dino-Hunter Mission Playset
Fig. #0423: Concealment Specialist	MOS 1: Camouflage Specialist MOS 2: Infantry [11B]
	head: Ambush (90, 93), Side Track (01) arms: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) torso: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) waist: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) legs: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01)
	Accessories: tan helmet (90 Ambush's); dark green laser pistol (87 Blaster's); dark green pistol (88 Shockwave's); dark green machine gun (87 Tunnel Rat's); dark green assault rifle (90 Airborne's); dark green knife (88 Hit & Run's); dark green machete (88 Muskrat's); dark green figure stand
	AMBUSH has no trouble staying out of sight. When he was ten years old, Ambush participated in a neighborhood game of hide-and-seek, then disappeared for three days. The National Guard had to be called in to aid in the search, which ended when he started getting hungry for his mom's home cooking. Before joining the Army, Ambush studied ancient history in college—especially the stone age and dinosaurs. His prehistoric knowledge and stealth-like qualities made him a perfect choice to capture and save dinosaurs from Cobra Island. Having read so much about them in books, Ambush jumped at the chance to see a living dinosaur with his own eyes—despite the obvious dangers of the mission. Motto: "Trying to capture a dinosaur is like wrestling a whale in a fish tank!"
Toy Notes: Boxed in a Wal-Mart-exclusive set with Low-Light (93), a Desert Fox repaint with grappling-hook launchers, and a dinosaur. The figures from the set are considered moderately high-demand items, as well as moderately hard to find by themselves.

Version 3: 2004 Desert Patrol Squad carded set
Fig. #0960: Concealment Specialist Aaron "Ambush" McMahon	MOS 1: Concealment Specialist MOS 2: Infantry [11B]
	head: Low-Light (91, 93, 01), Big Brawler (03/I, 04), Ambush (04) arms: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) torso: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) waist: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01) legs: Ambush (90, 93, 04), Side Track (01)
	Accessories: black assault rifle (90 Ambush's EM-2 bullpup); black assault rifle (02 Neo-Viper's AK-74)
	AARON "AMBUSH" McMAHON has no trouble staying out of sight. When he was ten years old, he participated in a neighborhood game of hide-and-seek, then disappeared for three days. It wasn't until the National Guard was called to aid in the search that his well-camouflaged hiding place was discovered under his parents' front porch. After he joined the Army, he became so evasive that even his drill sergeant was unable to account for his whereabouts during the day. There's nothing he won't do to accomplish his mission. Once, he concealed himself as a shrub, tumbled into a heavily guarded COBRA weapons depot, captured their base commander, then safely delivered him to G.I. JOE Headquarters for interrogation. "Concealment is all about using the ordinary and obvious to trick the enemy into seeing only what you want him to see."
Toy Notes: Carded in a Toys 'R Us-exclusive set with Dusty (04/II), Gung Ho (04/IV), Snake Eyes (04/V), Sgt. Stalker (04/III), and Tunnel Rat (04/III). Item #00676.

SALVO - a firing of several guns at once.

Char. #192, 120th Joe Team member

David K. Hasle (American with Scandinavian surname) of Arlington, VA.
Arlington (pop. 206,800) is across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and next to Alexandria, VA (birthplace of Gen. Flagg). Considered one of the most educated US cities, largely due to its status as location of the Pentagon. Also home to the Arlington National Cemetery. The other Virginia Joes are Keel-Haul of Charlottesville, Mercer of Richmond (acc. to his 1991 filecard), and Wet Down of Norfolk.

Grades: E-7: 1990-2005

SNs: 524-7110-AR42; 524-71-AR42

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 47 lines in 6 episodes. First appeared and spoke in United We Stand. Total appearances: 15. Wore his 1990 outfit, with a red-tinted visor and a different shape to his helmet. In commercial animation he had a finely textured helmet that lacked a visor.

Prioritized Appearance List: Victory at Volcania I-II, United We Stand, Revenge of the Pharaohs, and The Nozone Conspiracy. One line: Pigskin Commandos, and Injustice and the Cobra Way. Silent: Granny Dearest, I Found You...Evy, An Officer and a Viperman, Keyboard Warriors, The Greatest Evil I, Shadow of a Doubt, Basic Training, and the Legend of Metal-Head. Salvo is included in the opening sequence of season 1.

Comic Notes: Salvo appeared in 2 issues between 1991 and 1992: #114 and 130.

Version 1: 1990 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0248: Anti-Armor Trooper	MOS 1: Anti-Armor Trooper MOS 2: TOW/Dragon Repair Technician [45B]
	head: Salvo (90) arms: Salvo (90), Big Brawler (03/I, 04) torso: Salvo (90), Big Brawler (03/I, 04) waist: Salvo (90), Big Brawler (03/I, 04) legs: Salvo (90), Big Brawler (03/I, 04)
	Accessories: light brown helmet (new, with chinstrap and silver goggles); light brown backpack (new, five-missile launcher); light brown anti-tank mine layer (new); five light brown missiles (new, with long pins); five light brown mines (new, with weapon clips); black briefcase (new)
	SALVO has a deep distrust for high-tech weapons systems with laser range-finders, targeting computers, and micro-circuit, heat-seeking detonation components. Such complexity makes them inherently unreliable, especially in chaotic battlefield conditions where dependability is the name of the game. Salvo prefers to carry great quantities of conventional weaponry to overwhelm enemy forces with massive expenditures of sheer firepower rather than battle them with sophisticated electronic hardware. "Salvo doesn't believe in wasting perfectly good ammunition on wooden targets on firing ranges. Instead he'd rather test his anti-armor projectiles on actual enemy tanks and armored personnel carriers, such as the Cobra H.I.S.S. II. Nothing aggravates Salvo more than to go out on patrol and not find any Cobra targets to blow away. That would mean he'd have to lug all his unused ordnance back to G.I. Joe headquarters, and he doesn't enjoy that at all!"
Toy Notes: Featured in 1990's second new figures commercial. Item #6567. The prototype shown in the 1990 insert catalog had a helmet with cut-out visor and either black dots or holes in the tips of his missiles.

Version 2: 2005 Direct-to-Consumer Wave 2 carded assortment
Fig. #1094: Anti-Armor Trooper David "Salvo" Hasle	MOS 1: Anti-Armor Trooper MOS 2: Weapons Repair Technician [45B]
	head: Salvo (05), Copperhead (07, 09) arms: Grunt (03/I, 03/II, 03/III, 04/I), Salvo (05), Checkpoint (06), Rook (06) torso: Salvo (05), Hannibal: Reborn (06), Checkpoint (06), Rook (06), Rowdy Roddy Piper (07) waist: Grunt (03/I, 03/II, 03/III, 04/I), Salvo (05), Checkpoint (06), Rook (06) legs: Grunt (03/I, 03/II, 03/III, 04/I), Salvo (05), Checkpoint (06), Rook (06)
	Accessories: black helmet (new, with silver goggles); grey pistol (02 Shipwreck's Uzi); grey missile launcher (new, large bazooka with removable sight); yellow missile (05 Bazooka's); grey wrist communicator (new, flat)
	SALVO has a deep distrust of high-tech weapons systems with laser range-finders, targeting computers, and micro-circuit, heat-seeking detonation components. Such complexity makes them inherently unreliable, especially in chaotic battlefield conditions where dependability is the name of the game. SALVO prefers to carry great quantities of conventional weaponry to overwhelm enemy forces with massive expenditures of sheer firepower rather than battle them with sophisticated electronic hardware. He doesn't believe in wasting perfectly good ammunition on wooden targets on firing ranges. Instead, he'd rather test his anti-armor projectiles on actual enemy tanks and carriers. It's more accurate and delivers a bigger explosion. "Nothing worse than going on patrol and not finding any COBRA forces. That means I have to carry all my ordnance back to base."
Toy Notes: Item #61852.

FREEFALL - the portion of a jump from an aircraft before the jumper opens a parachute.

Char. #193, 121st Joe Team member

Philip W. Arndt (American with German surname) of Downers Grove, IL.
Downers Grove (pop. 48,724) is a relatively prosperous suburb of Chicago. Bullet-Proof, Ghostrider, Hardtop, Heavy Duty, Scoop, Short-Fuze, and Static Line are from Chicago itself, Capt. Grid-Iron is from Evergreen Park, and Footloose is from nearby Gary, IN.

Grades: E-5: 1990

SNs: 664-2781-BS10

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 38 lines of 2 episodes. First appeared in Revenge of the Pharaohs; first spoke in Granny Dearest. Total appearances: 8. Wore his 1990 outfit, with blue-tinted goggles.

Prioritized Appearance List: Granny Dearest and Victory at Volcania II. Silent: Revenge of the Pharaohs, I Found You..Evy, Injustice and the Cobra Way, An Officer and a Viperman, That's Entertainment, and El Dorado - The Lost City of Gold. Freefall is included in the opening sequences of seasons 1 and 2.

Comic Notes: Freefall did not appear in the comic.

Version 1: 1990 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0249: Paratrooper	MOS 1: Paratrooper MOS 2: Infantry [11B]
	head: Freefall (90) arms: Freefall (90) torso: Freefall (90) waist: Freefall (90) legs: Freefall (90)
	Accessories: light green helmet (new, with goggles); dark grey air mask (new, with hose peg); dark grey backpack (new, with gas canisters); dark grey assault rifle (new); black hose (medium standard)
	Before a qualified paratrooper can take the grueling Airborne Ranger training course, he must attend a three week Ranger Indoctrination Program that is guaranteed to weed out 40% of the candidates. Next, there's a three week Pre-Ranger Program to prepare the candidate for the full eight weeks of unprecedented stress, pain, discomfort, snake-eating, forced marching, sleeplessness, and jumpint out of an aircraft with knives between their teeth, just like actual combat, but without live ammo. FREEFALL enjoyed every minute of it! "Here is a trooper who exemplifies the very best we an produce. Someone who is highly motivated, possesses and unparaleled degree of technical skill and boundless fonts of energy and determination. He can run faster, jump higher, and do more push-ups than any soldier who has ever survived Ranger School. He has a Master's degree in Eastern Philosophy and is honest to a fault. His only problem is that his ego is about as big as the Grand Canyon!"
Toy Notes: Item #6568. The prototype shown in the 1990 insert catalog has two hoses attaching to his air mask.

LASER-VIPER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Char. #194, 34th Cobra troop type

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 6 lines in 2 episodes. First appeared in United We Stand; first spoke in Cold Shoulder. Total appearances: 8. Wore their 1990 outfits with a blue belt. In the cartoon, their cannons fired the same sort of lasers as any other weapon on the show. In commercial animation, the colors of the chest panel were inverted.

Prioritized Appearance List: Injustice and the Cobra Way, and Cold Shoulder. Silent: United We Stand, Revenge of the Pharaohs, Victory at Volcania I, Pigskin Commandos, and D-Day at Alcatraz I-II. Laser-Vipers were included in the opening sequence of season 1.

2. 2001 (RAH Collection)

3. 2003 (Python Patrol)

Version 1: 1990 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0250: Cobra Laser Trooper
	head: Laser-Viper (90, 03) arms: Laser-Viper (90, 03), Hotwire (08) torso: Laser-Viper (90, 03) waist: Laser-Viper (90, 03), Hotwire (08) legs: Laser-Viper (90, 03), Hotwire (08)
	Accessories: silver helmet (new, with black visor); silver backpack (new, square) with sliding control arm and two swivel cannons; two black hoses (short standard)
	Laser weapons are only effective at relatively short ranges because of the amount of energy lost through atmospheric dissipation. Therefore, a LASER-VIPER's primary function on the battlefield is "target illumination" for H.E.A.T. VIPERS and AERO-VIPERS. The Laser-Viper places his beam on the target, then squeezes off a heat-seeking, anti-tank missile or guided bomb that "rides" the beam to destroy the target. "Don't underestimate the Laser-Vipers. You might get the impression that all they do is shine flashlights and spot targets, but that's not the case. These guys can sit well outside the range of your weapons and drop a world of hurt down on your head within seconds! If you're lucky enough to sneak in close to get a shot at them, you're also close enough for them to make it overly hot for you!"
Toy Notes: Featured in 1990's second new figures comercial. Item #6569. The prototype shown in the 1990 insert catalog has a clear visor on its helmet.

Version 2: 2001 Real American Hero Collection Wave 3 two-pack assortment
Fig. #0564: Special Weapons Development Cobra Laser Viper	Special Training: Heat-Generated Weapons Systems, Laser Optics, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Covert Operations Specialist
	head: Laser Viper (01) arms: Sci-Fi (91, 93), Laser Viper (01) torso: Sci-Fi (91, 93), Laser Viper (01) waist: Sci-Fi (91, 93), Laser Viper (01) legs: Sci-Fi (91, 93), Laser Viper (01)
	Accessories: black backpack (91 Sci-Fi's); black laser rifle (91 Sci-Fi's); black hose (medium standard); black figure stand
	Specialists in infra-red laser technology, Laser Vipers can set their sights on a target thousands of yards away and "zap it"in less than a milli-second. These guys are no slouches! Each one has a masters degree in mechanical engineering and spends his spare time increasing the firepower capability to make his laser weapon more destructive. Ever wonder how the hole in the ozone layer really got there? To get the attention of COBRA Commander, they "test" their latest modifications on each other. Not exactly the best way to see if something works, but it's one way to eliminate the competition.
Toy Notes: Carded in a two-pack with Cobra Commander (01). Item #53041.

Version 3: 2003 Python Patrol carded set
Fig. #0722: Cobra Laser Trooper Cobra Laser Viper
	head: Laser-Viper (90, 03) arms: Laser-Viper (90, 03), Hotwire (08) torso: Laser-Viper (90, 03) waist: Laser-Viper (90, 03), Hotwire (08) legs: Laser-Viper (90, 03), Hotwire (08)
	Accessories: gold helmet (90 Laser-Viper's, with black visor and red stripe); black backpack (90 Laser-Viper's) with swivel cannons and control arm); two black hoses (short standard)
	Laser weapons are only effective at relatively short ranges because of the amount of energy lost through atmospheric dissipation. Therefore, the primary function of a COBRA LASER VIPER trooper on the battlefield is "target illumination" for other COBRA VIPER units. The COBRA LASER VIPER trooper places his beam on the target, then squeezes off a heat-seeking, anti-tank missile or guided bomb that "rides" the beam to destroy the target. These guys should never be underestimated. You might get the impression that all they do is shine flashlights and spot targets, but that's not the case. They can sit well outside weapon range and drop a world of hurt on your head within seconds. "If you're lucky enough to get close enough to peel off a shot at me, then you're close enough for me to make it overly hot for you."
Toy Notes: Carded in a Toys 'R Us-exclusive set with Maj. Bludd (03), HEAT Viper (03), Lamprey (03), Rock Viper (03), and SAW Viper (03). Item #53400.

SAW-VIPER - Semi-Automatic Weapons (per filecard).

Char. #195, 35th Cobra troop type

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 5 lines in 1 episode. (Freefall also spoke several lines while disguised as a SAW-Viper.) First appeared in United We Stand. Total appearances: 10. Wore their 1990 outfits, with yellow visors and belt buckles, and pink padding on their legs.

Prioritized Appearance List: Pigskin Commandos. Silent: United We Stand, Granny Dearest, Victory at Volcania I, Night of the Creepers, I Found You...Evy, General Confusion, Injustice and the Cobra Way, D-Day at Alcatraz II, An Officer and a Viperman, and That's Entertainment. SAW-Vipers are included in the opening sequences of seasons 1 and 2.

Comic Notes: A SAW-Viper featured in several issues was responsible for the deaths of Doc, Thunder, Crankcase, and Heavy Metal.

2. 2003 (Python Patrol)

Version 1: 1990 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0251: Cobra Heavy Machine Gunner
	head: SAW-Viper (90, 03) arms: SAW-Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01), Dragonsky (06) torso: SAW-Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01), Dragonsky (06) waist: SAW-Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01) legs: SAW-Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01)
	Accessories: dark red backpack (new, rectangular with belt tab); black machine gun (new, heavy anti-tank weapon with belt tab) with bipod; white ammo belt (new, with tab holes)
	The S.A.W.-VIPER is equipped with a gyro-stabilized, cryogenically-cooled mini-chain gun, scoped with an infrared night-vision, auto-ranging, optical sighting system. This means that he has a highly accurate, low-malfunction machine gun that doesn't burn out the barrel during intense rapid-fire bursts. It's nothing for him to zone-in on a flea nestled in heavy brush over 800 yards away, in pitch darkness and pick it off in one shot! "You definitely don't want to get pinned down by a S.A.W.-Viper at night. His weapon has an integral sound suppressor, an effective flash inhibitor, and a powerful image-intensifier. With all that, you won't even know you're being shot at until you hear the sonic boom from the bullet whipping past your ear!"
Toy Notes: Item #6570. The prototype shown in the 1990 insert catalog has a black crest on its helmet.

Version 2: 2003 Python Patrol carded set
Fig. #0724: Cobra Heavy Machine Gunner SAW Viper
	head: SAW Viper (90, 03) arms: SAW Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01), Dragonsky (06) torso: SAW Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01), Dragonsky (06) waist: SAW Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01) legs: SAW Viper (90, 03), Zartan (01)
	Accessories: black backpack (90 SAW-Viper's); dark green heavy machine gun (90 SAW-Viper's) with bipod; silver ammo belt (90 SAW-Viper's)
	The COBRA S.A.W.-VIPER trooper is equipped with a gyro-stabilized, cryogenically-cooled mini-chain gun, scoped with an infrared night-vision, auto-ranging, optical sighting system. This means that he has a highly accurate, low-malfunction machine gun that doesn't burn out the barrel during intense rapid-fire bursts. It's nothing for him to zone-in on a flea nestled in heavy brush over 800 yards away, in pitch darkness and pick it off in one shot. You definitely don't want to get pinned down by a COBRA S.A.W.-VIPER trooper at night. His weapon has an integral sound suppressor, an effective flash inhibitor, and a powerful image-intensifier: you won't hear or see him coming. "You won't even know I've shot at you until you hear the sonic boom from the bullet whipping past your ear."
Toy Notes: Carded in a Toys 'R Us-exclusive set with Maj. Bludd (03), HEAT Viper (03), Lamprey (03), Laser Viper (03), and Rock Viper (03). Item #53400.

Version 3: Direct-to-Consumer Wave 3 carded assortment
Fig. #1109: COBRA Heavy Machine Gunner SAW Viper
	head: Rollbar (04, 05), SAW Viper (06) arms: Barrel Roll (05), SAW Viper (06), G. I. Joe (06), Airtight (08) torso: Rollbar (04, 05), Duke (05/I), SAW Viper (06), Lt. Falcon (09) waist: Rollbar (04, 05), Duke (05/I), SAW Viper (06), Lt. Falcon (09) legs: Rollbar (04, 05), Duke (05/I), SAW Viper (06), Lt. Falcon (09)
	Accessories: black helmet (new, with green visor and attached silver mic); dark red backpack (90 SAW-Viper's); black mini-machine gun (new, M249 SAW) with ammo box
	The COBRA S.A.W. VIPER trooper is equipped with a gyro-stabilized, cryogenically cooled mini-chain gun, scoped with an infrared night-vision, auto-ranging optical sighting system. This means that he has a highly accurate, low-malfunction machine gun that doesn't burn out the barrel during intense rapid-fire bursts. It's nothing for him to zone-in on a flea nestled in heavy brush over 100 yards away in pitch darkness, and pick it off in one shot. You definitely don't want to get pinned down by a COBRA S.A.W. VIPER trooper at night. His weapon has an integral sound suppressor, an effective flash inhibitor, and a powerful image-intensifier: you won't hear or see him coming. "Once you're in our line of sight, you can't escape. Accept the inevitable and surrender."
Toy Notes: Item #13017.

METAL-HEAD - devoted fan of heavy metal music.

Char. #196, 3rd Iron Grenadier individual

Stuart A. Finley (American-born with Scottish surname) of Annapolis, MD.
Annapolis (pop. 36,408) is the state capital on Chesapeake Bay, on the east side of the Baltimore-D.C. metro area. It is home to the United States Naval Academy. Joe Team member Deep Six was born in Baltimore.

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 380 lines in 20 episodes. 2nd most frequent speaker. First appeared and spoke in United We Stand. Total appearances: 20. Wore his 1990 outfit, with the helmet worn only in commercial animation. Used purely for comic relief. The cartoon incorporated the filecard's concept of a voice-activated weapon system triggered by the word bang.

Prioritized Appearance List: The Legend of Metal-Head, Granny Dearest, Metal-Head's Reunion, Victory at Volcania I-II, D-Day at Alcatraz I-II, The Eliminator, The Nozone Conspiracy, Long Live Rock and Roll I-II, United We Stand, Cobra World, Kindergarten Commandos, The Greatest Evil I-II, Keyboard Warriors, General Confusion, Pigskin Commandos, and That's Entertainment. Metal-Head is included in the opening sequences of seasons 1 and 2.

Comic Notes: Metal-Head appeared in 2 issues, both in 1991: #114 and 116.

1. 1990 (Iron Grenadiers)

2. 1994 (Battle Corps)

3. 2005 (Convention)

Version 1: 1990 regular carded assortment (Iron Grenadiers)
Fig. #0252: Destro's Anti-Tank Specialist
	head: Metal-Head (90) arms: Metal-Head (90) torso: Metal-Head (90) waist: Metal-Head (90) legs: Metal-Head (90)
	Accessories: light grey helmet (new, with neck armor); light grey backpack (new, H-shaped frame); light grey machine pistol (new); light grey missile launcher (new, attaches to backpack); two light grey missile boxes (new, attach to legs); six yellow missiles (new); two black hoses (short standard)
	METAL-HEAD is a walking anti-tank weapon! He can launch high-explosive tubes and guide them to their objectives on a laser beam, without the use of his hands or his feet. His voice-activated weapons' command system is made up of circuits and targeting computer modules built into various components of his blast suit. All he has to do is make visual contact with the target, let the computer "read" the range, plot the trajectory, wait for the green light to flash, then yell "bang" to complete the firing sequence. "The real targeting computer is upstairs in his brain, and it doesn't have an 'off' switch. This guy is so wrapped-up with his work that even when he sits down for dinner he's preparing for battle. He tests his visual acquisition sensors by locking onto the mash potatoes as they are passed from one end of the table to the other. He calculates wind deflection by observing how the steam rises off the meat loaf. He even measures the diameter of the green peas, seeing them as micro-targets. If he looks you straight in the eye, you'll feel as if you have a bullseye on your forehead."
Variations: There is variation in the thickness of the leg tabs and corresponding holes on missile boxes.
Toy Notes: Featured in 1990's second new figures commercial. Item #6571. The prototype shown in the 1990 insert catalog has a black pistol and smoother leg-mounted missile boxes, as well as a different paint scheme on the legs.
Re-releases: A recolored version was released in India.

Version 2: 1994 Battle Corps Wave 4 carded assortment, #4
Fig. #0459: Anti-Tank Specialist	MOS 1: Tank Destruction MOS 2: Hockey Fight Analyst
	head: Metal-Head (94, 05) arms: Metal-Head (94, 05) torso: Metal-Head (94, 05) waist: Rock-Viper (90, 03), Metal-Head (94, 05) legs: Rock-Viper (90, 03), Metal-Head (94, 05)
	Accessories: purple laser pistol (88 Iron Grenadier's); purple submachine gun (89 Annihilator's); purple sniper rifle (90 Rock-Viper's PSG-1); red spring missile launcher (93 HEAT Viper's, with black trigger); two purple missiles (common for 93 Cobras); purple figure stand
	METAL-HEAD is a walking anti-tank weapon! He uses the brain integrated targeting sight implanted into his left eye to get a fix on G.I. Joe tank positions. His anti-tank rocket launcher then senses the target through bio-processors in the handle and locks onto it like a cheetah about to pounce on a gazelle. All Metal-Head has to do is yell "fire" and the rocket blasts off with destructive accuracy. Metal-Head also enjoys skiing with the jet set on the slopes of New Hampshire, where he is known for cutting off other skiers, shooting at chair lifts, and being just plain mean! He's a suspected member of the secretive Susu-Gar martial arts clan, and is obviously one guy you never want to see eye-to-eye. Motto: "I'm always giving people the eye . . . the bull's eye that is!"
Variations: First sold on 1993-style packaging with a normal-sized filecard, then on 1994-style packaging with a baseball card-sized filecard with abbreviated text.
Toy Notes: Item #81005.

Version 3: 2005 General Mayhem: M.A.R.S. Invades! boxed set
Fig. #1074: IRON GRENADIERS Air Marshall	MOS 1: Aerial Vehicle Operator MOS 2: Anti-Tank Specialist
	head: Metal-Head (94, 05) arms: Metal-Head (94, 05) torso: Metal-Head (94, 05) waist: Rock-Viper (90, 03), Metal-Head (94, 05) legs: Rock-Viper (90, 03), Metal-Head (94, 05)
	Accessories: grey submachine gun (02 Neo-Viper's Skorpion); grey battle rifle (92 Duke's G3); clear figure stand
	METAL-HEAD is the leader of the IRON GRENADIERS air assault squadron. He has allowed DESTRO's top scientists to surgically implant an electro-magnetic shunt directly into his brain. This mnemonic device allows him to connect into the M.A.R.S. mainframe computer and download weapon and vehicle specifications directly into his memory. He simply plugs into the system and allows his bio-processors to acquire the knowledge. METAL-HEAD also has an integrated targeting sight located in the optic nerve of his left eye. All he has to do is make visual contact with a target, calculate the range, then yell "bang" to utilize his voice-activated weapon systems. These upgrades have given METAL-HEAD faster reflexes, which makes him particularly adept with advanced technology aircraft—such as the Stealth A.G.P. (Anti-Gravity Pod). He now has the ability to execute ultra fast maneuvers that would physically debilitate other pilots. The few seconds it takes for his opponent to compensate is all he needs to calculate their range and launch his missiles to blast them out of the sky. "I've got my eye on you—a Bull's Eye that is!"
Toy Notes: Boxed in a convention-exclusive set with Destro (05/II), Gen. Mayhem (05), five copies of Iron Anvil (05), and five copies of Iron Grenadier (05).

Character Contributions

Concealment/Camouflage Specialist: excels in the arts of concealment, camouflage, and deception to prevent combatants from being seen by the enemy.
Infantry: The infantryman supervises, leads, or serves as a member of an infantry activity that employs individual or crew served weapons in support of offensive and defensive combat operations.

Anti-Armor Trooper: uses conventional or improvised high explosives to disable or destroy armored vehicles and armor-protected fortifications.
Weapons Repair Technician: Performs direct and general support maintenance and repairs on small arms and other infantry weapons, and towed artillery. Diagnoses and troubleshoots malfunctions on this and related equipment. Special expertise in the M47 Dragon and BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) anti-tank missiles.

Paratrooper: light infantry inserted by aircraft.
Infantry: The infantryman supervises, leads, or serves as a member of an infantry activity that employs individual or crew served weapons in support of offensive and defensive combat operations.

Laser-Viper

Cobra Laser Trooper: uses directed energy to light or attack line-of-sight targets, disorient the enemy, interfere with communications, and employ defensive countermeasures.
Special Weapons Development: designs, tests, and implements specialized firearms, heat-generated weapons, and state-of-the-art armor, laser optics, and other equipment.
Hand-to-Hand Combat: specializes in the tactics, skills, and principles of military close combat, as well as forms of martial arts suitable for engagements with the enemy.
Covert Operations Specialist: employs conventional and unconventional warfare tactics and techniques in intelligence collection and processing.

Cobra Heavy Machine Gunner: The heavy machine gun is a fully-automatic mounted firearm, designed to fire in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine. Heavy machine guns are typically designed for sustained fire.

Destro's Anti-Tank Specialist: uses conventional or improvised high explosives to disable or destroy armored vehicles and armor-protected fortifications.
Iron Grenadiers Air Marshall: holds the senior appointment over Destro's air forces.
Aerial Vehicle Operator: operates and supervises the maintenance of Destro's fixed-wing aircraft in transport, surveillance combat, training, and other missions. Special expertise in Anti-Gravity Pod single-seat compact fighter craft.
Hockey Fight Analyst: examines the history, qualities, causes, tactics, etiquette, and meaning of brawls and confrontations in North American ice hockey.

Continue to 1990 Characters, Page 3 (Undertow, Range-Viper, Rampart, Stretcher, Bullhorn, and Pathfinder)

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