Baroness - Intelligence (Original Uniform)

When you think of Baroness, the first image that comes to mind is probably the black leather outfit. But before that, she had a uniform that was more in line with the rest of Cobra.

In the original Sunbow G.I.Joe mini-series, and in the early issues of the Marvel comic, Baroness wore a blue and yellow uniform similar to other Cobra soldiers. Strangely though, her uniform was devoid of any Cobra logos, unlike most of the other soldiers of the time.

For this version of Baroness, I used the Heroclix Viper and added her glasses with green stuff. This is the second time I've done a version of Baroness using Viper as the base, which kind of makes sense since Cobra was based off Hydra and Baroness was probably influenced by Viper.


-c

Candy Appel - Rip Cord's Girlfriend

I really hate defining a character, especially a female character, by who they were in a relationship with, but in Candy's case, it's hard to know how else to describe her. Sure, she was "Bongo the Balloon Bear", but that's not the miniature I made. She was also daughter of a Crimson Guardsman, but that's still defining her by someone else's role.

"Civilian" is too vague. "Innocent Victim" might be appropriate, but still demeaning.

Candy is probably best remembered as Rip Cord's girlfriend, being kidnapped by Buzzer, and dying in a the same car wreck that crippled Cobra Commander's son Billy and was then blown up by Scrap Iron (after he had just blown up Storm Shadow's uncle, Soft Master.

So, she's kind of a tragic character.

I never got the joke of Candy's name when I was a kid. I don't think they ever said her full name, and when I read her father's name, Professor Appel, I didn't read it as "apple", so I never put two and two together. Larry Hama loved those kinds of names.

For Candy, I started with the Heroclix Con Artist and used green stuff to add her hair, headband, and turn the jacket into a blouse.

Speaking of which, Candy might have the most hideous blouse I've ever seen and\or painted.

-c

H.E.A.T. Viper - Cobra Bazooka Man

I'm pretty sure H.E.A.T. Viper was one of the last figures I bought, back in the day. I picked up a few figures from the '89 lineup and none from the next year, so he was probably one of the last. I don't remember playing with him much, just kind of posing him with all his gear.

Good times.

You gotta love some of the Sci-Fi designs Cobra had for their troops. This guy looks straight out of a Sci-Fi shooter, so using Halo Actionclix for him really makes sense, even if his color scheme doesn't.

All I remember of the H.E.A.T. Viper as a character is in the comics when Baroness has him shoot a barricaded door in an attempt to kill Snake-Eyes.

It didn't work.

Anyway, it seems like there are a million Halo Actionclix in similar poses but with different weapons. I know the one I listed above isn't the same, but it's pretty close. I removed the alien gun this miniature had and made H.E.A.T. Viper's cannon with a plastic coffee straw and green stuff. The backpack, hoses and ankle missiles are also green stuff.

I didn't try to put fins on his ankle bombs because I got better things to do than go blind trying that.

Josie Beller - Circuit Breaker

When you think Transformers, you probably think giant robots who turn cars and planes and stuff. You might have a favorite Autobot or Decepticon that you think of.

For me, my favorite Transformer character isn't a robot. She doesn't even like them much.

Josie Beller was a genius designer who had an unfortunate run in with the Decepticons, leaving her paralyzed. Her story would be just a tragedy, but she put her genius to use and designed a suit that gave her movement again, as well as the ability to zap the heck out of robots, good or bad.

As Circuit Breaker, she attacked both the Autobots and Decepticons without question and was kind of awesome while doing it.

Sadly, since she is a Marvel character, she's kind of in limbo nowadays. Who knows how the rights for her character work now, but if there's any justice, she should star in the next Transformers movie.

For Circuit Breaker, I used the Heroclix Thunder and a lot of silver and skin color paint.

-c

Star-Viper - Stellar Stiletto Pilot

The Cobra Star-Vipers didn't see much action in the comics or the cartoon, which is a shame because they have a really nice uniform. A very "Space Navy" kind of look.

I think 1988 was the year I started losing interesting in the Joe toys. I know I had some of the figures from that year, but not all of them. And I don't think I had many of the vehicles. So, I'm not really sure if I ever even had this guy. I don't remember having the Stellar Stiletto, but I might have gotten the Star-Viper in a trade. Who knows?

I originally based the Star-Viper mini off the minor character in the comic who infiltrates the Joe base and is mostly shown without his helmet but instead with a small bandage on his forehead (from the implant.) After painting that version though (again using the Heroclix Red Robin), I decided I wanted the helmeted version more, so I slapped on a helmet of green stuff.

I suppose I could have done a second one with the helmet, like I've been doing with the M.A.S.K. miniatures, but...eh...

-c

Soft Master - Arashikage Ninja Master

There's probably three ways you could go with a mini for the Soft Master. One would be in his orange kimono from the comic flashbacks. Two would be the brown suit he wears when infiltrating Springfield.

Or, you could do him in his Cuban-Chinese Restaurant outfit as he was introduced in the comic:

Odd choice aside, the Soft Master another one of the comic only characters who brought a lot of depth to the stories. And as a non-action figure character, he didn't have the Plot Shield that other characters had, so he could sacrifice himself to save others. (Spoilers?)

I used a Reaper Miniatures Bones Innkeeper and used green stuff to make his pants look more like modern trousers.

Now, I just need to make a miniature Cuban-Chinese Restaurant (with ninja bolthole.)

-c

Arashikage Ninja - Cobra Red Ninja

Another figure I wished I had as a kid but was not made until the 2000's...

It's hard to know how to categorize these guys. The Arashikage Clan was separate from Cobra, but affiliated through Storm Shadow and later through Zartan. So, they are definitely bad guys on Cobra's payroll. I guess that's good enough to call them Cobras.

Just a simple repaint of a Heroclix Hand Ninja. I could have just got the already Red Hand Ninja, but that wouldn't be any fun, would it?

-c

Billy - Cobra Commander's Son

Ah, New Years. The time for reflection and for fresh starts. Just like Cobra Commander had for about thirty seconds before being shot in the back and then turning evil again. And it's all Billy's fault.

Actually, while Cobra Commander in the comic *did* blame Billy for his being shot, he really brought it on himself.

While he started as kind of an annoying kid, Billy grew to be an interesting character in the Marvel comic. His training with Storm Shadow and then loss of his eye and leg in the car crash\rocket attack (spoilers) were pretty gripping to me.

Since he dresses similar to Storm Shadow a few times in the comics, I thought this Master Bruce Wayne Heroclix would make a good conversion choice and I think it did.

Plus, doing it this way meant not having to figure out how to make his artificial leg.

-c