At a time, it was debatable what the GI Joe community loathed more: Star Brigade, or Eco Warriors. In recent times however, many Joe fans seem to be softening their opinions on these 90‘s sub-lines, and a few figures have even attained relative popularity. With that said, the Sludge Viper is neither hated, nor spoken of very much.
I’ve had one of these for as long as I can remember, and I’ve also been through some ups a downs with the figure. As a kid, he was okay and his design appealed to my general taste, but the yellow and teal colors lead me to favor the V2 Toxo Viper over him. I didn’t have a distaste for neon, but the colors used on him had too much of a friendly vibe for me to really see him as a villain.
In my teenage years I really started to see how strong the mold was and sought to acquire a small army of the Sub Viper repaint. The colors on that figure were a vast improvement and really allowed me to appreciate the mold. Even then, his new role as a naval Cobra really limited my interest in him when there were so many other figures I preferred in similar functions (Lampreys, namely). I still like that figure, but it’s rare I have the good opportunity to use him.
This leads me back to my current stance on the figure. In large, the colors don’t bother me any more and I think they give him a rather unique and fun look. It’s not a very consistent scheme with other Eco Warrior Cobra items, although that may work in the Sludge Viper’s favor giving him some much need uniqueness that he lacks in other elements. Getting past the colors, I’m left with a figure that has solid proportions, excellent sculpted details like the various gauges on his chest, and a great helmet design that isn’t undersized.
If the figure has a critical flaw, he’s simply far too similar to the V2 Toxo Viper. They both have the same gun, the same backpack, and even the water cannon is mostly the same, just purple instead of green. The parts are still good and make for a charming figure if displayed with just his backpack and gun, but the laziness of this parts reuse can’t be ignored. It’s especially irksome given that the Toxo Viper and Sludge Viper don’t really serve roles that are all that different from each other, which I think is part of the reason why the Sludge Viper is rather forgotten comparatively.
But past that, the Sludge Viper is a quality figure and should be more than welcome in the collection of any Joe fan who’s more accepting of brighter colors. Used to, this figure ran pretty cheap, but like everything else he’s seen an increase in value. They’re harder to find and complete examples will run around $14. Without his parts, they go for closer to $8. I don’t expect that these prices will remain the same once Hasbro renews interest in the brand and you see more of them on the market, but only time will tell.
Sludge Viper V1, 1991 Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSubDrwbvNc
There’s two versions of the Sludge Viper’s eco battle damage. The more common release has it on the thighs, the later version has it on his head and chest, makes for a uglier figure. But it’s worth hunting if you like variations.
I like the mold, though neither Sludge or Sub have their shoulder armor painted.
Also Sludge has purple boots, which don’t tie into anything else he’s wearing except his gear.
You are right, what makes them different from Toxo-Viper? Sludge-Viper use toxic waste as a weapon and Toxo-Vipers just operate in hostile environments? I dunno, but the Sludge-Vipers suits must be better, there’s no Sludge-Zombies.
In Dic and the Marvel comic the Sludge Vipers seem to work for Cesspool, as in he brought them with him to Cobra. Who are these guys?
One Dic cartoon episode they are used as EELS, which makes it appropriate that the uniform was reused for Sub-Vipers, I guess.
From that commercial, it’s amazing how much a simple paint application on Flint’s goggles enhance that figure.
This guy is good enough. But, like you, I prefer the Toxo Viper. When these were $3 figures, they were good to army build. At 3 or 4 times that now, though, I’m good with a smaller contingent.
I really wish Hasbro had done an Eco Warriors set in the 2000’s. Sure, collectordom would have melted down over it. But, they had the Sludge Viper. Toss in a rust color BAT or two and the Toxo Viper/Zombie and you had a solid set. If they could have dusted off Clean Sweep, Deep Six or BBQ, you could have made a great convention set out of it. But, hey, at least we got 12 Fireflies….
I really like this figure. He was one of my main Cobra soldiers as a kid, just because my options were limited. And I’ve always loved his helmet design. I never had any Toxo-Vipers as a kid (only a Toxo-Zombie) so the distinction was never a problem for me.
Now, I see Sludge Vipers as assault troopers, whereas Toxo-Vipers take on more of a support role. They’re not necessarily combat troops but, like most Cobra operatives, they are armed for when combat breaks out.
“At a time, it was debatable what the GI Joe community loathed more: Star Brigade, or Eco Warriors. In recent times however, many Joe fans seem to be softening their opinions on these 90‘s sub-lines, and a few figures have even attained relative popularity.”
Because the kids who actually owned and played with Eco-Warriors and Star Brigade G.I. Joes have grown up and added their voices to the discussion, I would guess.