COBRA: THE ENEMY

Battle Android Troopers:  The B.A.T.s made their first animated appearance in "Arise, Serpentor, Arise" and became a staple of the show thereafter.  In the 25th Anniversary line Hasbro released a couple of variations of the figure.  The first version appeared in Wave 9 and is by far the best.  Unlike the versions that followed, this B.A.T. contains a more complex paint scheme (a black wash) on the silver arms and attatchments that lends a more realistic look to the figure.

Subsequent versions included a more television accurate one with a red face plate, a "Hall of Fame" edition, and the almost perfect "Battle Damaged" model that came packaged with the "Defense of Cobra Island" boxed set.  This B.A.T. had a head with the exterior casing cracked open and an alternate breast plate with bullet holes.

I've combined the two best versions to showcase in the picture above.  The initial mold on the figure is really nice but the added paint application and battle damaged head combine to make it one of the best in the line.  It's a bit of a shame they never released a definitive B.A.T. with the best of everything.

RATING:  ****/****

G.I. JOE TEAM MEMBER

Barbecue:  Barbecue here is an almost exact reproduction of the original except with all the enhancements you'd expect from the 25th Anniversary line.  Appearing alongside the B.A.T., Bazooka, General Hawk, Black Ninja and Snow Serpent in Wave 9, Barbecue includes his trademark axe and a pistol that presumably puts out fires as it attatches to his backpack.  The only thing that could have made this figure better was a removable helmet so you could act out "the viper is coming" episode; Barbecue was rarely seen in the cartoon with his helmut on.

RATING: ***.5/ ****

Cobra Enemy

Alley Viper:  Alley Viper came at the end of the 25th Anniversary line in a seven pack (The Defense of Cobra Island) that included a B.A.T., Dr. Mindbender, Lamprey, Range Viper, Night Creeper, and Strato Viper.  Like Airborne, Alley Viper relies heavily on his "plastic coat" to cover up the retooling and for this figure it works brilliantly.  The grenade, knife (which is actually removeable) and all the little pockets show the passion the sculptors had for what they were doing.  In addition to the knife A.V. comes with his trademark riot shield, baton, helmut and gun.  They definitely didn't take any shortcuts in making this figure.  I can't imagine a scenario where Cobra might need a fluorescent orange and blue trooper but who cares.  He looks fantastic.

RATING:  ****/****

G.I. Joe Team Member

AIRBORNE::  A surprisingly nice looking figure that came late in the series run (Wave 11) and relies heavily on a plastic coat to cover up the retooled portions of the body.  This technique was used repeatedly by Hasbro (on Mutt, Tele-Viper, etc) to produce 25th Anniversary figures that otherwise wouldn't have been made because of cost.  Airborne sports his traditional colour scheme that mimicks the original's.  The excellent head sculpt and accessories (especially the helmet, not pictured) make him a perfect figure. 

RATING  ****/****

G.I. Joe Team Member

Ace:  The Skystriker pilot had to be before the line could move on to other pilots like Slipstream.  Ace is a decent figure but has never really been one of my favorites.  It doesn't help that they didn't release his plane. Hasbro went with a toy accurate reincarnation here but I would bet that most fans would have rather seen a more cartoon accurate version of him.  Ace came packaged with Wild Weasel as part of a two pack that is a "must have".  Hasbro released quite a few two packs over the 25th Anniversary line run, some clearly better than others and Ace was included in one of the better ones.  RATING:  **.5/****