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1992 Characters, Page 2

Click-to-Reveal Profiles for Big Bear, Flak-Viper, Air Devil, Heli-Viper, Gen. Flagg, and Barricade

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

+ Big Bear

BIG BEAR - nickname for Russia, for whom the bear is a national animal.

Char. #239, 2nd Oktober Guard individual

Grigori Ivanovich Rostoff (Russian with German surname) of Arkhangelsk, Russia.
Arkhangelsk (pop. 356,051) is a port city by the White Sea about 150 miles east of Finland. Lt. Gorky is also from Arkhangelsk.
Note: The filecard lists the formerly used English name of Archangel.

Grades: E-5 equivalent: 1992

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 25 lines in 2 episodes. First appeared and spoke in Chunnel. Total appearances: 5. Wore his 1992 outfit.

Prioritized Appearance List: Keyboard Warriors and Chunnel. Silent: Long Live Rock and Roll 2, The Greatest Evil I, and Basic Training. Big Bear is not included in any DiC opening sequences.

Comic Notes: Big Bear did not appear in the comic.

1. 1992 (Oktober Guard)

2. 1993 (International Action Force)

Version 1: 1992 Wave 1 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0326: Oktober Guard Anti-Armor Specialist	MOS 1: Air Assault
	head: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) arms: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) torso: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) waist: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) legs: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98)
	Accessories: black backpack (new, small pouch); black attack rifle (new, "AK-88," actually resembles AK-S74U); black missile launcher (new, double barreled); two yellow missiles (new, one with guiding pins); black figure stand
	BIG BEAR grew up in a place where the conditions are cold, wet, and nasty—every day! He can be meaner than a Siberian wolf with its leg caught in a steel trap and wilder than an [sic] Murmansk fur merchant. Transferred from the elite 103rd Guards Air Assault Division, Big Bear's main gripe about the Oktober Guard was the constant reference to it as the Soviet Union's counterpart of G.I. Joe! He would snap back stating, "G.I. Joes—OUR counterparts!" Big Bear enjoys rumbling into battle behind the wheels of the infamous G.I. Joe Attack Cruiser and Badger! Motto: "You G.I. Joes! Airborne troops afraid to fall without parachutes! No guts!"
Toy Notes: Item #6728.

Version 2: 1993 mail-order International Action Force
Fig. #0434	[joint filecard for all 4 figures; no MOS listed]
	head: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) arms: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) torso: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) waist: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98) legs: Big Bear (92, 93), Lt. Gorky (98)
	Accessories: black photon rifle (87 Dodger's); black figure stand
	There comes a time when the power of evil becomes so threatening to world peace that global leaders must join together to stop its impending danger; Cobra is just such an evil. An international force of G. I. Joe combat specialists have been called upon to hit Cobra and hit them hard! Russia is represented by BIG BEAR, an anti-armor specialist who loves to blow up Cobra tanks. From England comes BIG BEN, an expert in subversive operations and enemy infiltration. Japan has sent BUDO, one of its greatest samurai warriors who plans on slicing Cobra into tiny pieces of snake meat. SPIRIT, a Native American also joins the team from his home in Arizona, where he was called for duty to track down and eliminate Cobra Dreadnoks. World peace must be upheld and Cobra evil must be stopped . . . TODAY!
Toy Notes: Sold in a bagged set with Big Ben (93), Budo (93), and Spirit (93) in 1993 through the Menace in the Wilderness mail offer. Apparently at least some of these figures were intended for inclusion with 1993-94 vehicles and were made available by mail once the vehicles were canceled.

FLAK-VIPER - firing from guns that shoot at enemy aircraft from the ground.

Char. #240, 44th Cobra troop type

2006 identity: Shane R. Nostaw of the United Kingdom.
Note: Named for British Joe collector Shane Watson.

DiC Cartoon Notes: Spoke 2 lines in 1 episode. First appeared in Long Live Rock and Roll II; first spoke in Metal-Head's Reunion. Total appearances: 5. Wore their 1992 outfits, with much shorter missiles.

Prioritized Appearance List: Metal Head's Reunion. Silent: Long Live Rock and Roll II, Cobra World, Shadow of a Doubt, and The Legend of Metal-Head.

2. 1993 (Battle Corps)

3. 2006 (Flaming MOTH)

Version 1: 1992 Wave 1 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0328: Cobra Anti-Aircraft Trooper
	head: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) arms: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) torso: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) waist: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) legs: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04)
	Accessories: dark green backpack (new, twin missile launcher); light blue laser rifle (new, with bayonet); two light blue missiles (new, with squared-off fins); black figure stand
	FLAK-VIPERS have a passive, infrared targeting and sighting system built into their helmets. This allows them to fire extremely accurate Tail-Biter missiles at G.I. Joe aircraft with absolute impunity! These are dedicated and motivated troopers. To maintain maximum level of effectiveness, Flak-Vipers spend long hours everyday practicing simulated missile engagements using a program cartridge that plugs into their helmets. It would be like playing a portable video game for 10 hours straight! These guys get a kick out of roaming the battlefield in the Cobra Parasite while "picking off" incoming enemy aircraft. Motto: "We could positively max-out our high score if only we had Turbo-Joystick Controllers!"
Toy Notes: Item #6730.

Version 2: 1993 Battle Corps Wave 1 carded assortment, #9
Fig. #0357: Anti-Aircraft Trooper	MOS 1: Anti-Aircraft Trooper
	head: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) arms: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) torso: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) waist: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) legs: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04)
	Accessories: green backpack (92 Flak-Viper's, with orange trigger); orange laser rifle (92 Flak-Viper's); two orange missiles (92 Flak-Viper's); black figure stand
	FLAK-VIPERS have a passive, infrared targeting and sighting system built into their helmets. This allows them to fire extremely accurate Tail-Biter missiles at G.I. Joe aircraft with absolute impunity! These are dedicated and motivated troopers. To maintain maximum level of effectiveness, Flak-Vipers spend long hours everyday practicing simulated missile engagements using a program cartridge that plugs into their helmets. It would be like playing a portable video game for 10 hours straight! These guys get a kick out of roaming the battlefield in the Cobra Parasite while "picking off" incoming enemy aircraft. Motto: "We could positively max-out our high score if only we had Turbo-Joystick Controllers!"
Toy Notes: Item #6766. This and other figures from the first wave of Battle Corps were available in most stores by Thanksgiving 1992.

Version 3: 2006 Operation Flaming MOTH two-pack assortment, #2
Fig. #1141: COBRA Anti-Aircraft Trooper, Operation Flaming M.O.T.H.	MOS 1: Anti-Aircraft MOS 2: Artillery Coordinator
	head: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) arms: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) torso: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) waist: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04) legs: Flak-Viper (92, 93, 06), Nullifier (04)
	Accessories: black backpack (92 Flak-Viper's, with black triggers); black laser rifle (92 Flak-Viper's); two black missiles (92 Flak-Viper's)
	The FLAK-VIPERs are trained in the use of portable artillery weapons to fire at any airborne targets that can be observed, aimed at, and destroyed. Their multipurpose assault weapons have a passive, infrared targeting and sighting system that makes use of a G.P.S. (Gloal Positioning System) to obtain accurate aiming points, the FLAK-VIPERs have exceptional natural hand-eye coordination and the ability to concentrate simultaneously on two or more targets in their range of sight. This allows them to fire extremely accurate missiles at G.I. JOE aircraft with absolute impunity! To maintain the maximum level of effectiveness, FLAK-VIPERs spend long hours every day practicing simulated missile engagements using a program cartridge that plugs into their helmets. This FLAK-VIPER comes from a family of bus owners in England, who watched their life's work suffer through years of aerial bombing during times of war. He grew up hating the idea of being helpless against aircraft and joined the COBRA army, where he strove like no other FLAK-VIPER to personally deny the enemy air superiority. COBRA COMMANDER took notice of his unparalleled hit ratio, and chose him for Operation: Flaming M.O.T.H., where he will accompany a RANGE-VIPER into the Australian desert to retrieve a vital piece of the downed US Military satellite. "My thumbs never get tired—show up in my sights and it's GAME OVER!"
Toy Notes: Boxed in a Collector's Club-exclusive Desert Theater two-pack with Range Viper (06). Promotional photo courtesty of Master Collector Online.

AIR DEVIL - play on daredevil, one who takes careless risks in a dangerous way; a devil is an evil spirit.

Char. #241, 45th Cobra troop type

1. 1992 (Air Commandos)

Version 1: 1992 Air Commandos carded assortment
Fig. #0330: Acrobatic Aerial Assault Trooper
	head: Air Devil (92) arms: Air Devil (92) torso: Air Devil (92) waist: Air Devil (92) legs: Air Devil (92)
	Accessories: clear dark visor (new, square with peg holes); black "aerial assault hand rifle" (new, with large trigger guard); black and green hang glider with red Cobra emblems
	COBRA AIR DEVILS are the front line stealth assault Air Commandos of the Cobra legions. Highly trained in unorthodox combat styles and plain dirty-fighting, their mission is to penetrate deep behind G.I. Joe lines to wreak havoc amid the support units and supply lines. Lightly armed to save weight and increase their gliding range, Air Devils are expected to procure heavier weapons and ammunition from anybody they can sneak up behind and overcome. These guys receive a cursory three day glider training course—just enough to enable them to get to their targets. Motto: "Never fight in the open when you can ambush from cover; never ambush from cover when you can set a well hidden, explosive booby trap!"
Toy Notes: Item #6738.

HELI-VIPER - prefix for spiral, or the circular path of helicopter blades.

Char. #242, 46th Cobra troop type

1. 1992 (Battle Copter)

Version 1: 1992 boxed Cobra Battle Copter vehicle
Fig. #0332: Cobra Battle Copter Trooper
	head: Snow Serpent (85), Heli-Viper (92), Snow Serpent Commander (07) arms: Techno-Viper (87, 94), Heli-Viper (92) torso: Night-Viper (89, 06), Heli-Viper (92), Iron Grenadier (05) waist: Night-Viper (89, 06), Heli-Viper (92), Iron Grenadier (05) legs: Night-Viper (89, 06), Heli-Viper (92), Iron Grenadier (05)
	Accessories: purple rifle (89 Night-Viper's)
	HELI-VIPERS are a fearless unit of Cobra agents trained for the most perilous aerial missions. They are the elite of the elite in Cobra aviators. A Cobra interested in becoming a Heli-Viper is personally selected and screened by Cobra Commander himself! One segment of their training involves performing extremely risky aerobatic maneuvers under live fire, blind-folded and without any weapons. Needless to say, any candidate who does not pass this portion of the training is out of the program . . . permanently!
Toy Notes: Item #6756. The prototype shown in the 1992 insert catalog has purple eyes.

+ General Flagg

GENERAL FLAGG - personal name based on flag (banner symbolizing a country, organziation, or cause).

Char. #243, 147th Joe Team member

James Longstreet Flagg III (American with Saxon English surname) of Alexandria, VA.
Alexandria (pop. 128,283), is a high-income city across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., and is home to many Department of Defense employees. Salvo is from nearby Arlington, and the other Virginia Joes are Keel-Haul of Charlottesville, Mercer (1991) of Richmond, and Wet Down of Norfolk.

Grades: O-7: 1992-2004

SNs: 212-9820-GU95; 212-98-GU95

Comic Notes: This character is the son of the General Flagg who appeared in 7 issues between 1982 and 1984: #1-3, 5, 12, 14, and 19. The elder General Flagg was killed in #19 by Major Bludd.

2. 1993 (Battle Corps)

3. 2004 (Comic #5)

Version 1: 1992 Wave 2 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0333: G. I. Joe General	MOS 1: Chief Strategic Commander MOS 2: General Commander
	head: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) arms: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) torso: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) waist: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) legs: Gen. Flagg (92, 93)
	Accessories: brown officer's cap (new, with eagle on front); black assault rifle (new, M231); light green catapult (new, three pieces) with black switch and rubber band (91 Incinerator's); black bomb (large, finned with catapult slot); black figure stand
	He's the son of the original G.I. Joe Commanding General (after whom the U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier was named). GENERAL FLAGG is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, as were five preceding generations of Flaggs. Carrying on where his father left off, General Flagg likes to be in the thick of it, meaning he needs a personal weapon as devastating as the G.I. Joe Brawler. Motto: "Don't just take the high ground, take it all!"
Variations: Photos exist of a prototype green hat; no carded examples have surfaced.
Toy Notes: Item #6739. In the 1992 insert catalog, concept art appears instead of the actual figure.
Re-releases: A recolored version was released in India.

Version 2: 1993 Battle Corps Wave 2 carded assortment, #26
Fig. #0383: G. I. Joe General	MOS 1: Chief Strategic Commander MOS 2: General Commander
	head: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) arms: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) torso: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) waist: Gen. Flagg (92, 93) legs: Gen. Flagg (92, 93)
	Accessories: brown officer's cap (92 Gen. Flagg's, with black brim); black assault rifle (92 Gen. Flagg's M231); light green catapult (92 Gen. Flagg's) with rubber band and black trigger (91 Incinerator's); black bomb (92 Gen. Flagg's); black figure stand
	He's the son of the original G.I. Joe commanding general (after whom the U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier was named). GENERAL FLAGG is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, as were five preceding generations of Flaggs. General Flagg shares DUKE's philosophy of personally leading his troops into a firefight, instead of sending out orders from behind the lines in some cozy commander's tent. When the call is given to charge, he's the one shouting it from the front. His strategies on the battlefield have twice earned him the Medal of Valor and countless decorations as he carries on his family's proud military tradition. Motto: "I didn't reach the rank of general by staying in the shadows, I got out and earned it on the front lines!"
Toy Notes: Item #6798.

Version 3: 2004 Wave 2 Comic three-pack assortment
Fig. #0948: G. I. Joe General	MOS 1: Chief Strategic Commander MOS 2: General Commander
	head: Gen. Flagg (04) arms: Headman (92, 02), Gen. Flagg (04), Shrage (05), Tomax (05), Xamot (05), Lt. Gorky (06) torso: Headman (92, 02), Gen. Flagg (04), Tomax (05), Xamot (05) waist: Headman (92, 02), Gen. Flagg (04), Tomax (05), Xamot (05) legs: Big Ben (91, 93, 01, 02/I, 02/II), Tracker Kwinn (04), Gen. Flagg (04), Shrage (05)
	Accessories: light green officer's cap (new, with eagle); black pistol (86 Lifeline's); black sniper rifle (03 Recondo's Dragunov SVU)
	GENERAL FLAGG is the son of the original G.I. JOE Team commanding general. He is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, as were five preceding generations of Flaggs. GENERAL FLAGG shares the same philosophy as DUKE of personally leading his troops into a firefight instead of sending out orders from behind the lines in some cozy commander's tent. When the call is given to charge, he's the one shouting it from the front. His strategies on the battlefield have twice earned him the Medal of Valor and countless decorations as he carries on his family's proud military tradition. "I didn't reach the rank of general by staying in the shadows. I got out and earned it on the front lines."
Toy Notes: Carded in a three-pack with Steeler (04), Cobra Officer (04), and a reprint of Marvel #5. Item #60498. Note that the filecard actually describes the son of the character depicted in the comic, while the figure better represents the comic character himself.

BARRICADE - a temporary structure put across a road to prevent entrance or passage.

Char. #244, 148th Joe Team member

Philip M. Hoslinger (American with German surname) of Pittsburg, KS.
Pittsburg (pop. 19,243) is a college town near the state's northeast corner. Also from Kansas are Crankcase from Lawrence to the north, Cutter from Kinsley, and Flint and Lightfoot from Wichita to the west.

Grades: E-5: 1992-2004

SNs: 434-8713-VW99; 434-37-PM99

Comic Notes: Barricade did not appear in the comic.

2. 1993 (Battle Corps)

3. 2004 (Anti-Venom)

Version 1: 1992 Wave 2 regular carded assortment
Fig. #0335: Bunker Buster	MOS 1: Bunker Buster MOS 2: Badger Driver [88M]
	head: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94) arms: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94), Steel Brigade Paratrooper (05), Overlord (06) torso: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94) waist: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Blackstar (94), Gears (94), Overlord (06) legs: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Blackstar (94), Gears (94), Overlord (06)
	Accessories: gold helmet (new, soft plastic with red trim); blue backpack (new, frame); blue battlefield sidearm (new, Z-99); blue spring launcher (new, with yellow trigger); yellow battering ram missile (new, with rounded tip); black figure stand
	When Cobra takes over a city, it has to be won back block by block, house by house, room by room! BARRICADE, G.I. Joe's urban assault specialist, has nerves of steel and trip-hammer reflexes necessary for the job. Outfitted with a suit of flexible composite, laminate armor and a helmet with built-in infrared heat source sensors, Barricade can take on any Cobra agent in an urban environment and "knock his block off" with relative ease. Motto: "Never kick down a door that you can blow down with a Satchel Charge!"
Toy Notes: Item #6741. In the 1992 insert catalog, concept art appears instead of the actual figure.

Version 2: 1993 Battle Corps Wave 1 carded assortment, #17
Fig. #0365: Bunker Buster	MOS 1: Bunker Buster MOS 2: Badger Driver [88M]
	head: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94) arms: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94), Steel Brigade Paratrooper (05), Overlord (06) torso: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94) waist: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Blackstar (94), Gears (94), Overlord (06) legs: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Blackstar (94), Gears (94), Overlord (06)
	Accessories: gold helmet (92 Barricade's, with red trim); blue backpack (92 Barricade's); blue battlefield sidearm (92 Barricade's Z-99); blue spring launcher (92 Barricade's, with yellow trigger); yellow battering ram missile (92 Barricade's); black figure stand
	When Cobra takes over a city, it has to be won back block by block, house by house, room by room! BARRICADE, G.I. Joe's urban assault specialist, has nerves of steel and trip-hammer reflexes necessary for the job. Outfitted with a suit of flexible composite, laminate armor and a helmet with built-in infrared heat source sensors, Barricade can take on any Cobra agent in an urban environment and "knock his block off" with relative ease. Motto: "Never kick down a door that you can blow down with a Satchel Charge!"
Toy Notes: Item #6768.

Version 3: 2004 Anti-Venom Strike Force carded set
Fig. #0889: Bunker Buster	MOS 1: Bunker Buster MOS 2: Armored Vehicle Driver [19K]
	head: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94) arms: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94), Steel Brigade Paratrooper (05), Overlord (06) torso: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Gears (94) waist: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Blackstar (94), Gears (94), Overlord (06) legs: Barricade (92, 93, 04), Blackstar (94), Gears (94), Overlord (06)
	Accessories: black helmet (common to Anti-Venom Joes; with dark green visor and name in white); black battlefield sidearm (92 Barricade's Z-99); black figure stand
	When COBRA forces take over a city, it has to be won back block by block, house by house, room by room. BARRICADE, an urban assault specialist with the G.I. JOE Team, has the steely nerves and trip-hammer reflexes necessary for the job. Outfitted with a suit of flexible composite, laminate armor and a helmet with built-in infrared heat source senors, BARRICADE can take on any COBRA agent in an urban environment and "knock his block off" with relative ease. As COBRA forces infiltrate the cities to venomize more unsuspecting victims, BARRICADE takes control to seek out the bad guys and stop them before they complete their evil plans. "Never kick down a door that you can blow down with a satchel charge!"
Toy Notes: Carded in a Toys 'R Us-exclusive set with Charbroil (04), Duke (04/III), Sgt. Lifeline (04), Sgt. Mutt (04/II), and Roadblock (04/III). Item #53914.

Character Contributions

Oktober Guard Anti-Armor Specialist: uses conventional or improvised high explosives to disable or destroy armored vehicles and armor-protected fortifications.
Air Assault: light infantry inserted by aircraft or helicopter to engage and destroy enemy forces or to seize and hold terrain.

Cobra Anti-Aircraft Trooper: supervises or serves as a member of man-portable air defense system missile units and air defense activity engaged in operations and intelligence functions.
Artillery Coordinator: directs and supervises the placement and firing of heavy weapons, oversees training and supply operations, and maintains administrative oversight of artillery units.

Acrobatic Aerial Assault Trooper: light infantry inserted by unpowered aircraft to engage and destroy enemy forces or to seize and hold terrain.

Cobra Battle Copter Trooper: operates and maintains Cobra's lightweight, high altitude quick strike flying assault craft.

General Flagg

G.I. Joe General: performs command-level functions in oversight of the G.I. Joe team (subordinate to General Hawk) to maintain resources for the fulfillment of the team's purpose.
Chief Strategic Commander: plans and directs the movement and use of all the means of warfare.
General Commander: serves as commander of the mobile headquarters assigned to the G.I. Joe team.

Bunker Buster: specializes in penetrating hardened targets and gaining entry into reinforced and high-security locations.
Armored Vehicle Driver: operates armored vehicles in combat and training exercises. Has special knowledge of tank-launched and tank-mounted weapons.
Badger Driver: operates and maintains the Joe Team's advanced missile-equipped lead assault jeep.

Continue to 1992 Characters, Page 3 (Ninja Viper, Toxo-Zombie, Bullet-Proof, Headman, and Headhunter)

Go back to 1992 Characters, Page 1 (Overkill, Dojo, Nunchuk, T'Jbang, Slice, and Dice)

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