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06-09-2010, 05:40 PM | #21 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 4,254
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Quote:
Vipers as introduced in Special Missions were treated a quasi-elite. They began to appear more, but blue shirts lingered well past issue 100. In 1994 near the Marvel comic's end, 1986 Vipers were appearing with 1994 Vipers (the forgotten upgrade, thanks to the clubs silly IRON ANVIL creation.) In the toyline, Python Patrol had Viper, Officer and Trooper, confusing matters more, but seemingly indicating that Vipers were lower status. I consider Cobra Infantry to be more iconic than the Viper, who resembled battle helmet Cobra Commander too much, anyway. And the Viper led to a trend of faceless, visored enemy troopers that got repetative. |
06-10-2010, 12:02 PM | #22 |
\m\ (^_^) /m/ COBRA!!
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: "Cobra Island" Puerto Rico
Posts: 905
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i remember the old discussions when i was a kid... we all agree that everyone could be a Trooper but you needed a bit more to be a Viper. we always saw Troopers as Massive forces inside the cobra ranks. and we saw Vipers as the next best thing to send as backup on a mission.. (like one Firefly + Stun Vehicle & driver and 2 or 3 Vipers as Help or Backup) is hard to give them a proper place to both Troopers & Vipers.. but like all the previous posts here.. their Uniform suggest they must be at least better than troopers in something
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06-10-2010, 12:34 PM | #23 |
We get insurance, right?
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: At the Cobra, Cobracabana
Posts: 6,612
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Quote:
There's different theories on Cobra Rankings and hierarchy. I did a bunch of research and applied some sociological knowledge and came up with a rather vivid description in this thread:
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...bra-ranks.html In that, here's the distinction I came up with between "Blue Shirts" and Vipers. Blue Shirts Equivalent Rank: O-1 through O-9/E-4 through E-9 Role: These are equivalent to officers and NCOs of the US military. They are a "cut above" your standard Cobra sort. Usually a bit more smarter and more adept to be wasted as battlefield fodder. Becoming a Blue Shirt: Simply sign up, dodge the red tracer, and take an incredible amount of abuse from superiors. Specialty Vipers Equivalent Rank: SPC-4 through SPC-9/WO-1 through WO-4 Role: These are your Eels, Techno-Vipers, Tele-Vipers and any other field Viper with a descriptive. They are highly trained in their specialty and called upon when their skills are needed. Becoming a Specialty Viper: Either come in possessing the skills or prove yourself. Some specialty Vipers are hand selected by Cobra Commander himself and undergo some rigorous initiation processes. Vipers Equivalent Rank: E-1 through E-3 Role: Battlefield infantry and support. Vipers are the foot-soldiers of the Cobra Command. Becoming a Viper: Wanting to establish yourself where the regular military wouldn't accept you. Maybe you have criminal record or are tired of gang life. For me, The Blueshirt is the standard Cobra uniform. In '86 Cobra's efforts allowed them to start pumping money not only into wacky devices and tactically unsound vehicles, but into modern battlefield equipment for their actual infantrymen. So while all Cobra enlisted and officers are issued the Blueshirt, the guys who actually lead raids, and did the majority of their field operations are Vipers, and wear that load out when in the field as of '86. The support Troopers, and Officers always wear the old school Blueshirt and carry the older rifles, because the high end gear isn't needed for them. They only fight when things go wrong, or when their secret lairs are attacked.
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06-10-2010, 05:45 PM | #24 |
I need more repaints....?
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 480
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In the cartoon I think the Trooper and the Viper's were the same thing. It was just an equipment change.
I have always thought of the Trooper as the ARMY and the Viper's as the Marines. The Viper's go in first and kick ass and then the Trooper's come in a hold the territory. Maybe there is a "Trooper corp of engineers" to clean up the mess the "Cobra air force" makes? |
06-10-2010, 05:58 PM | #25 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Seattle Wa
Posts: 306
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I like the idea that the Blues are lowest, as I don't see Cobra giving expensive gear to untrained cannon fodder. You could also think of blues as the light duty fatigues, and Viper gear as combat duty gear.
I like the idea that blue shirts were the early foot soldiers of Cobra. As it advanced in funds and power, better training and equipment followed. At around series 4 and 5, I saw blue shirts as the cheap lowest ranks, armed with Kalashnikovs and simple uniforms. As their training and abilities advance them, they go into Viper school, then specialist roles, and get more expensive gear to go with it.
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06-10-2010, 06:06 PM | #26 |
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: The Final Frontier
Posts: 1,492
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Vipers in my Joe universe are the Cobra equivalent to the Marine Corps. I never liked the idea about going from a highly equipped infantry soldier to a blue shirt with little or no infantry equipment.
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06-10-2010, 06:07 PM | #27 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NY
Posts: 937
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I put them both to use.
The blueshirts to me are the beginnings of your enlistment in Cobra. You do alot of important stuff. Like guard things, grunt work. Alot of these guys are also out on the street robbing, stealing,scheming and conning their way up the ladder. Once they have earned $500,000 for the Cobra organization you begin your Viper training. Vipers are soldiers, they see combat. The Marines of Cobra. Vipers who excel can become an Eel. I don't separate Eels, Snow Serpents, Para-Vipers and so on. If you train to become a Snow Serpent or a Para-Viper you are still an Eel as well if called for it. |
06-10-2010, 11:08 PM | #28 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Jal
Posts: 18
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I think the vipers do the dirty work, surveilence, operate equipment, and any other job that requires skill. The blue shirts are the guards and the newby's who just joined and had not been recognized by Cobra command as out going and willing to go the extra mile to show that they are ruthless and will stop at nothing to get promoted.
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06-12-2010, 11:17 AM | #29 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 243
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I'd agree with Troynos and others that it's left open enough by the file cards, comics, and cartoon for people to use them as needed. However, I would like to offer an opinion on this. Going back to the origins of Cobra as an organization, Cobra Commander was first into kidnapping, extortion, and terrorism. In those early days, when the only resistance offered against him was local law enforcement or security guards at some research facility, the lightly equipped Blue Shirts were fully capable of completing the missions. In 1982, Hawk forms the GI Joe team in response to the growing Cobra threat. Realizing that his Blue Shirts, however well trained and motivated, are no match for GI Joe and other military forces around the world, the Commander turns to subterfuge as a tactic and creates the elite unit The Crimson Guard. Working in tandem with the Blue Shirts, the Crimson Guard bring down targets from the inside, eliminating the need for the Blue Shirts to fight their way in or out. With these new tactics proving successful and lucrative for Cobra, the GI Joe team is expanded year by year. Cobra responds to this arms race adding troops and equipment. Cobra Commander’s growing wealth and power allows him expand his terrorist organization from a small force of lightly armed mercenaries into full fledged military force including air power, armor, and even a makeshift navy. Part of this new Cobra military are the Vipers. Now instead of just taking hostages, Cobra can launch full scale invasions of entire countries. The Vipers are equipped and in sufficient numbers to stand toe to toe and slug it out with GI Joe or the Army of Sierra Gordo.
Per Sailor Joe, the Blue Shirts would rank E-1 through E-9 and O-1 through O-9. The Vipers would rank E-1 through E-3. The Vipers would work in tandem with the Blue Shirts. Example: Cobra wants to hold some head of state hostage who happens to be on a cruise ship in the Medditeranean Sea. The mission is commanded by the Baroness. Under her, Blue Shirt Officers lead a team of Blue Shirts and Vipers on board the cruise ship. The Vipers engage the ship’s security forces and whatever bodyguard units the head of state has. The Blue Shirts secure the head of state and take over the vital areas of the ship (the engine room, communications, the bridge). Once the ship is secure, the other well to do passengers are robbed and the ship is rigged with explosives by the Blue Shirts. The Vipers cover the prisoner extraction on the ships helipad and the Blue Shirt’s escape via Destro’s sub before escaping themselves. The explosives then go off, and any good guys showing up on the scene are tied up for hours with rescuing survivors and Duke gives one of his famous “they got away for now, but this isn’t over” speeches to Scarlett and Roadblock. Any thug or criminal off of the street can enlist as a Viper. Only those with explosives, sniper, or sabotage training can enlist directly as a Blue Shirt. The Vipers can work their way up the ranks to become a specialty Viper or a Blue Shirt. I think the Vipers do the heavy infantry fighting. The Blue Shirts still handle Cobra’s traditional M.O. of kidnapping, extortion, and sabotage. The Crimson Guard handle the undercover work. BUT, they fight together on the battlefield or go on missions together if the situation calls for it. Just my opinion. |
06-12-2010, 11:55 AM | #30 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Joe HQ
Posts: 1,716
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In my Joe world Vipers are just new versions of blue shirts with newer equipment/armor. Specialized vipers are the same troops, but have that additional training for that specific task. Ranking spreads out within the different type of vipers. Just because one is an alley viper doesn't mean that he outranks a regular viper. Pretty much like a regular military.
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