OK, so I was given an early X-mas gift the other day from my wife, and low and behold it was the Para Viper. Now I asked for this figure but never REALLY took a hard look at him. First of all, that helmet with the orange removable goggles was probably one of the coolest designed helmets I've seen thus far.(even with the 4 holes for all of the oxygen tubes)

Next, the harness was extremely detailed with plenty of ammo and utility pouches, with a screened COBRA symbol on the actual parachute pack. The left wrist has what I'm assuming is an altimeter, and both arms appear to have some kind of dive apparatus on them since the bio card states Para-vipers are recruited from the ranks of the Eels. This would also explain the 2 fins attatched at the back of the legs. There is a harness that attatches at the waist, and hangs down and wraps around both legs helping to secure the fins. Both legs have ammo and utility pouches on the sides, and the right lower leg has a dive or airborne knife with sheath.

The weapons choice for this figure was also superb. First is the ever popular MP5 as a back up weapon, but I found the long gun (not sure exactly what this weapon is, but appears similar to the same style the WW II German paratroopers carried)to be very interesting. First, the rear stock collapses to the side, there is a removable bi-pod that attatches to the bottom, a removable clip which attatches at the side of the gun and a fixed bayonette at the end.

The only downfall I even remotely see is the flourescent yellow sheath and bright orange knee pads(easily correctible modification). There have been hundreds of Joes and COBRAS over the years I've loved, some for their awesome look and weapons, some just from childhood memories, but something about this figure just caught my attention.

The neon figures on this figure really cripple it for me.

Why, oh why, couldn't the neon colors could have been a blue or a black or a grey? If the color designer wanted to jazz it up a bit, make it a metallic version of blue, black, or grey.

Or- if there just had to be some neon on the figure- it should have been limited to an innocuous location. One pouch, of the many pouches, would have been okay. Maybe the face of the altimeter? But the giant knee pads? No.

The design of the figure, colors aside, is just amazing.

This is one of those instances where I can actually forgive the neon highlight colors for all the coolness this figure brings.

This is by far the best sculpted figure hasbro has made for G.I.joe.

_________________

His larger gun is an FG42, looks like it was scaled-up to anti-tank rifle size.


I agree, he's awesome, now if i could only find one. Oh, that's right, nothing but rehash waves are getting shipped here.

There's something to be said for this being an all-new character/trooper, and a long overdue one. I actually bought one, and I'm impressed. If this were a traditional-style figure, I think I'd be trying to track down half a dozen or so. As it is, I'm glad I've got the one. Overall very impressive design, and certainly plenty of equipment. The bright colors don't bother me because they're reasonably limited, and hey, it helps the figure work in a little bit better with some of the other, established Cobra troopers from the original line (even if he is too tall by that measure). This guy looks like a paratrooper, and he looks like a Cobra.

My wife had to buy all my Joes on line to get the ones I wanted. EVERY store here in NC has the same @%$^ figures: Duke, Flint, Spirit, Python Patrol Trooper, Hawk and dozens of Wild Bills. All cool, but enough already!

Hi, my name is Kilcarr, and I'm an accessory whore.

During the VvV days, I would buy two packs sometimes just to get some awesome accessories. Add to the fact that I geek out when I can stick a pistol in a holster or a knife in a backpack, and I'm in heaven

The Para-Viper, however, is over kill. The guy has too much kibble, I realize that it's likely more realistic this way, but it doesn't mean that I have to like it. Once I strip off most of his accessories, he is still a very cool fig. All geared up though, and I'm not thrilled.

_________________

Hi my name is Dosser, and I am a Para-Viper fanboy.

Billy, by saying there's too much kibble, you're limiting the play value of this figure to some degree.

The way I see it, these guys are highly specialized paratroopers. They start off their mission needing all that gear. First, they're dropped out of a plane deep in enemy territory over water, probably in teams of two or maybe four. Then, they discard the parachute gear, and use the scuba gear to swim into shore. Once on land, they stash away that gear as well, and then they set up in position as two man sniper teams. All that kibble just reflects the different aspects of their mission.

And who knows, maybe the square knee pads are better for all that time spent lying down ready to snipe.

_________________

Exactly. Just because a figure comes with a lot of gear doesn't mean you have to use it all the time. It's called versatility and it's great fun.

_________________

Also modeled after German Fallschirmjäger gear.

Did anyone else drop and lose the rifle's clip yet?
I dropped mine in 3 minutes after openning and been a week and still can't find it.

LOL, I actually dropped the clip while opening the package, and didn't even know it came with one until I looked at the equipment list on YoJoe.com. the next day. I then spent 2 hours searching for it in my furniture cushions. Maybe they should up the"WARNING, small parts" disclosure a few years higher than 5.

so far, Ive scored 4 of them. I havent lost anything, but I did superglue the clips and bipods on two of the guns.

Im actually trying to see if I can attach the parachutes I "Liberated" from rooftops at the 06 New orleans con to the paravipers..... s they can actually be "dropped".

_________________

I found the wave today -- but my budget's so tight I could only afford Airborne. So, I'm curious to see if the Paraviper mold has something in conjunction with Airborne: index fingers. Both hands on my Airborne have been shaped with space between it and the rest of the hand, and come back together at the fingertip. So yay, a much reduced chance of slicing of a Joe's finger when making that final cut!

_________________

Back when Toywiz had the Para Viper & Bazooka Trooper for $4.99 each, I grabbed 5 of each. Aside from the neon colors and loose magazine and bi-pod, the figure is cool.

_________________