Mole Pod with Terra-Viper G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra Review

[Shogi]

Anyone growing up watching the old GI Joe cartoons would notice that many times Cobra had some form of a vehicle with a giant drill on the front of it for making tunnels in the earth. I always wanted one of those as a kid and wanted it even more in later years after seeing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles use and make a toy of the same thing. Well now we have a one man version of that for GI Joe! The Mole Pod looks very small at first but the Terra-Viper fits into it nicely. The vehicle is nicely detailed with a drill that spins as you roll the Mole Pod along the floor. It has a nice looking control panel as well and the top half of the cockpit opens up as the canopy to allow easy access to the seat. The treads are simplistic, but nicely done.

The bad of this vehicle is mainly the end of the drill bit. It’s a spring loaded missile. Sure missiles sell to the kids but I would have liked the huge drill bit on the front of the vehicle to have a point, not a rounded missile. Another place where there could be a little improvement is on the control panel in the cockpit. A sticker for the view screen would have been the perfect touch to an already nice little vehicle. The various stickers for the Mole Pod have some nice details as, like with the 25th vehicles, Hasbro has included a lot of the smaller print rather than just some white lines like they did in the old days.

Vehicle Rating: 9 out of 10

[Shogi]

The Terra-Viper is a frankenjoe repaint consisting of Croc-master’s torso and head (including breather tube backpack) with Serpentor’s arms and legs. The paint job is pretty bland but it makes Croc-mater’s torso look like steel rocks now, which fits well for someone named Terra-Viper. The head is painted just like the torso with a black wash over silver plastic to give it a steel look. The overall look of the figure matches the Neo-Vipers but is different enough to make it interesting. Terra-Viper comes with a Backpack.

This figure has grown on me much more than I thought it would. The use of Croc-Master’s torso made up like rocks just fits the idea of who would drive a rock drilling machine like the mole pod perfectly. It’s interesting to note that the box and file card art shows the figure as a Serpentor body with no belt and Croc-Master’s head.

Figure Rating: 8 out of 10

[Firefly007]

Nice review. This is a nice comic book and cartoon rendition come to life. I am waiting for the next version with Toxo-viper to come out.

[Gyre-Viper]

if it didn't have the missile and maybe a LITTLE more detail i would have
bought one. (and my prototype wouldn't be on ebay).
that being said i think itz a classic vehicle theme-wise (i.e. TMNT etc)
and I'm glad it exists in some form. I'm sure there's room for some real cool customs.

[Dealer Destro]

I don't see a figure review......

[tycondrius]

yeah i really want that one with the toxo-viper or what ever they will call him when he gets released

[tycondrius]

pics please

that sounds a hella lot cooler looking ,oh and can you get me one ? i saw these at t r us this morning, the terra-viper shown in the pics has a silver head and chest plate but in the ones i saw the terra-vipers are all black with red detail on the head and chest plate. possible variants?

[babyjelly]

The figure photo on the back of the pack is different still. I'm wondering if something in ther missile hole would work, made to look like a diamond tip?

[foor]

It's a fitting repaint, but I just see Croc Master everytime I look at the figure.

[samantha]

Good review.

[kdu2814]

I got my Molepod on July 5th, and I have been pleased with it. Afret all the 25th stuff, it is nice to have some all new items.

I am not thrilled about the missle, the controls do lack detail, and it took me 5 minutes to figure out how to get the Terra-Viper in the cockpit (legs straight out in front, then spread apart). I gave it an 8. The figure is not bad, better than the Serpentor body on back, but not great, and I do wish ha came with a weapon. Of course there is no lack of extras with other figures.

I hope to pick up the Lavapod with Toxo-Viper, and if either makes it to clearance, I might get more.

Kevin

[Crimson Rage]

I love the Mole Pod!
Hate the red missile, but that's easily painted, and I'd prefer some internal stickers indicating 'controls', but overall it's a cool little addition to the line. May well get another at some point...

And against expectations, the 'Terra Viper' sits perfectly with the other ROC Cobras, especially the Neo Vipers.

[Firefly007]

The figure photo on the back of the pack is different still. I'm wondering if something in ther missile hole would work, made to look like a diamond tip?

I guess since it's a toy they did not want a large sharp object in the front to poke children eyes out. But for a collector, placing a drill bit would look great in the front.

[goosetuber]

Haven't thought much about it, but a quick trip to the hardware store for a multiple tip auger a la "total recall" or even the craft store where you can find crystals similar to the beam emitter from the mass device, and this would be a huge improvement as noted above. I don't know, but maybe print some of the monitors off at joes dios onto a sticker sheet then add a little paint for detail and this thing is a 10

[VIPER 48]

This is one of my favorite smaller vehicles from this ROC line. he Terra Viper is probably one of my favorites, and i wish i could troop build him. The only real drawback like Shogi said about the Mole Pod os the missile on the front of the rill. It really takes away from the giant drill...Anyway, i gave it a 10 out of 10...

[Hicks_Royel]

I think I would've still preferred the figure on the back of the box. If nothing else, I could've taken the color scheme and done something with a spare Serpentor.

That all said, he's still a pretty cool figure with a tiny little head for his size.

As for the molepod, were in the 10 dollar range, I'd be happier with it. Especially considering that there's gonna be at least two more uses of the vehicle, so Hasbro's definitely getting the money back.

[nic28]

i just got the mole pod today it's not bad but they should had made a decal for the computer screen. as for terra viper he may be a croc master repaint but he is about a head taller than the the roc or 25th figs for some reason. well my terra -viper is

[statesofeuphoria]

I actually like the Serpentor mock up better than the final figure.

[Beckley]

It looks cool, but I'm also going to wait for the Lava Pod and Toxo Viper.

[Zoltron]

i just got the mole pod today it's not bad but they should had made a decal for the computer screen. as for terra viper he may be a croc master repaint but he is about a head taller than the the roc or 25th figs for some reason. well my terra -viper is

The Serpentor body is like the Destro body. Its a larger sculpt.

[samantha]

I am still debating should I just go ahead and buy some Krylon fusion paint and recolor those red missiles black?

[quintonarledge]

It's like Croc Master jacked the Foot Clans' ride!

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i185/quintonarledge/module.jpg

[Troynos]

The pod just looks plain for some reason to me. I can understand using the missile for the tip, anything with a true point could be considered potentially harmful.

I agree that a sticker for the view screen would have just been so much better, maybe put it over the top. The control panel is pretty plain right now.

Terra-Viper isn't bad.

I'm still undecided on this one. With a couple other versions coming that seem more interesting (at least the Target set comes with 2 troop builders and 2 different uniform Joes; and there's potentially another one with the cooler looking Toxo-Viper) this one just seems like a pass.

[steve2477]

Thanks for the review, i like the Mole Pod, but the figure is a letdown.

[Xsoldier]

As another poster stated, I have yet to see the silver/blackwash version of this in my area. All the ones I see are mostly black with slight highlights, really they look awful and I passed on the molepod because of it. I'll take a picture next time i'm in the store. I think this is similar to the black vs red helmet firefly for the gunship. I have seen both versions here of that though.

[UMAN]

I'd have expected this thing to come with Bebop and Rocksteady... maybe a couple Foot Soldiers...

[SNAKE_EYES1975]

This to me is one of the chinsie-est looking joe toys from the line. Of course they need it for the movie..but a TERRIBLE repaint, and a vehicle with not much play value than bustin thru the side of the pit...

Its not that cool, and im reminded of a poster here that said, Hasbro could put Dog Turds on a card, and some here would rate it a 7 or more..

This is a perfect example..

[Zoltron]

I want the Terra Viper. But I'd much rather get the vehicle with the volcano viper around Xmas time.

[sharky]

The missile tip makes no sense at all. Yeah, put an explosive device on the tip of a machine that is supposed to ram itself into the ground. The poor sap won't even make it 1 foot into the ground before he blows himself up. Why not just make it a little more blunt, and mold some sort of a tri-drill bit like they do to drill for oil or something.

[psycho_klown66]

I love this set. I see Croc-Master, but still looks good driving it. Definite buy!

[Blade Raider]

It's like Croc Master jacked the Foot Clans' ride!

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i185/quintonarledge/module.jpg
And that's why I got the mole pod in the first place.
http://vault.error-403.net/files/3/ToyCollection/MolePod.JPG

Terra-Viper is one of my favorite frankenjoes. It's a simple combination of molds I like with the parts I like.

I love the set. Just wish it didn't have that damn missile at the end of the drill. I'm going to have to do something about it.

[Big IV]

I'm going to get a bunch of these. Like flight pods I think I need more than I can possibly afford!

[kylash327]

love this thing.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/3758992845_76e0a3cb13_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3759794358_5896156111_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2439/3759798430_de291fe799.jpg?v=0

[artiepants]

this set = pure crap, even by RoC standards.

[chuck x goren]

I was more than a little mystified that a frickin' DRILL MACHINE was on display as one of the initial movie props at SDCC, last year. Drill machines are just a tough vehicle to justify. They seemed cool when I was a kid, but as I got older, they just seemed ridiculous.

I could imagine an "Evil Genius" plotting his escape in a drill machine, only to end up burrowing into someone's septic tank or running into underground electrical outlets.

[MazinAzn]

Got two at tj maxx for $3 each

[RenHoek]

Very interesting.

[Darth Awgmon]

Got two at tj maxx for $3 each

I picked up 5 for $3 each. Despite what everyone says, I think this is a neat little vehicle to army build. Sure, I wouldn't pay $15 for it, but for $7 and under it's a good deal. I really like the look of the Terra Viper. I just wish he had some accessories. So now I have 5 of these pods and 2 from the Attack on the PIT set from TRU sales.

[the odinson]

glad to see 1 is still leading the voting.

[Adamantite]

Wow, vehicle a 9 and figure an 8??
We must have been starving for toys really badly back then.

[TheRealDubya]

This is one of those toys whose persistent, dust-gathering presence on retail shelves has created a seed of resentment inside of me, to such an extent that I can't even consider liking it now.

We hates it. We hates it forever!

You could have made HISS Tanks, Rattlers and Morays and you go with a fucking tractor with a drill bit on the front? Awesome idea assholes.

http://www.joetoonarchive.com/albums/roc%204/0086.gif

[boff123]

i would have bought a few if they did not have that giant f'n miscolored piece of crap missile on the end. the driver aint too bad and could be fixed up to something better. these stupid vehicles were way overpriced. they should have been 10 bucks from the start.

[wertdog91]

Why oh why is this thread still alive

[boff123]

read the previous page, people are finding them for 3 bucks at tj maxx.