Review: Hazard Viper (GI Joe 30th anniversary)

[MAJOR BLOOD]

The 30th anniversary figures have finally hit shelves and I got my hands on pretty much the only figure besides Stalker that interests me, the Hazard Viper. My main reason is because I do like the Volcano Viper mold and it really has plenty of use, especially in hazardous material dioramas.

This figure is made pretty much all from the Volcano Viper mold except the arms. They are completely different and the biggest thing is it doesn't have the huge gloves anymore. This figure that I am using for the review has loose limbs except for the knees (of course). The helmet can be forced into the jacket with not much effort or worry about breaking. It does have enough give that it won't distort.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Accessories:
First thing you really notice when looking at this is the case with compound Z in it. It's a nice addition to give this figure reason to exist. There are 3 canisters that can be held or placed where you want. Nothing is fixed. As for the briefcase, it is the typical "don't open too many times" type of hinge. You can see that it gets stressed each time it's used. I'm sure it will go for a while but just be careful.

He also comes with two pistols (in case zombies get rowdy) and what looks to be a gun for treatments if exposed possibly. I only say that because he also has a backpack with a larger gun to disperse compound Z. Somehow the gun actually shoots water. There is a button on the pack that you can push and shoot with.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Articulation:
This is where I was disappointed a bit. I knew what to expect with the mold but this was made fairly cheap. One of the hands can't really hold any weapons because of how wide open it is and of course there is no way to get both hands holding the larger weapon. When I was trying to get some poses the hands came right out of the arm.

Most of the joints are loose on this one I opened. Not sure if others are. The different arms just seem limber compared to the Volcano Viper. The feet were also really loose. They moved all over until I put them on the stand.

The backpack did take a little work to put on since the jacket and back hole were not lined up well but that was a minor issue and easily dealt with. Once on the tubing just stands up very odd looking. I'm sure it could be heated up a bit and manipulated if necessary.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Comparison:

As I stated earlier it's pretty much just the Volcano Viper with different arms. The only other mold difference is it has a hole in the jacket to put the backpack in. The Volcano Viper does not have something like that.

Another difference is the Hazard Viper comes with two oxygen containers where the Volcano Viper has three. You can put the third on the Hazard Viper if you desire (and have extra Volcano Vipers) because the mask has the third hole similar to it's predecessor. The decals on the containers seem to be different also.

The masks are made of different color plastic too. The Volcano Viper mask has a red tint where the Hazard Viper is orange with black paint on the respirator.

 

[K-Tiger]

Well, I know what I'm doing with the extra air canisters when it's time for Zombie Hazard Viper.

A shame the Volcanoes didn't get a wide release.

 

[D00MTR0N]

thanks for the review

 

[Cloud Strife]

I was pleasantly surprised by this figure. I didn't really care for it when I saw the pics of it, but once I took it out of the package, I found I really liked the figure.

I'll definitely get another HV or 2.

 

[K-Tiger]

They really do have to be in-hand and out of the package to be truly appreciated.

 

[Cloud Strife]

My only complaints are the left hand (can't hold crap) and the fact that they didn't give it a 3rd oxygen tank. The extra hole in the mask bugs me.

 

[K-Tiger]

I must have gotten lucky, as the south paw of mine isn't any wider spaced than the right.

hair dryer should fix that, though, if it becomes a problem.

And I'd rather he came with the third tank and hose rather than the 2 pistols. God, I wish I could find someone to take 99% o the Hasbro pistols I have off my hands.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I must have gotten lucky, as the south paw of mine isn't any wider spaced than the right.

hair dryer should fix that, though, if it becomes a problem.

And I'd rather he came with the third tank and hose rather than the 2 pistols. God, I wish I could find someone to take 99% o the Hasbro pistols I have off my hands.

I just assumed that it was sculpted that way. I'll have to heat it up and see if it'll take the original shape.

Thanks, for letting me know!

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

nice review MD, thanks for taking the time to do it...

i like the figure, but not enought to go on a crazy hunt...so if i ever stumble upon them in the wild i'll be sure to snag them...otherwise, tough sh!t for me

 

[K-Tiger]

I dunno that he'll be hard to find if they're actually carried in your area.

He'd look even better with a couple of washes.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Here's the bottom of the briefcase that I mentioned:

 

[K-Tiger]

Mine has already got a split.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

I think the best solution is to just cut it off and super glue a piece of fabric or something similar to it. Just bypass the inevitable.

 

[Firefly76]

Great review MB. Thanks for that.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

whos the new guy? ^

 

[K-Tiger]

I think the best solution is to just cut it off and super glue a piece of fabric or something similar to it. Just bypass the inevitable.

Indeed.

 

[Monkeywrench]

Nice Review

I like the comparison shots.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

The HV mask is actually orange with black painted on it. Woops!

 

[Homer]

I have 4 of these, and for some reason, this figure doesn't excite me like I thought it would. Its cool and all, I really want to like it, but once I opened it, meh... I'll take a 30th blue shirt over this guy anyday. Awesome review and great pictures, thanks!

 

[K-Tiger]

Eh, I guess you have to be working with the right props and desire for Zombie-Vipers to get the most out of an H-V.

 

[The Ewokhunter]

Just found this wave. Gonna grab this guy cause he looks pretty good to me.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Eh, I guess you have to be working with the right props and desire for Zombie-Vipers to get the most out of an H-V.

Exactly. He needs to be in a hazardous situation diorama to really have use. Otherwise, he's just another Cobra tool.

Just found this wave. Gonna grab this guy cause he looks pretty good to me.

I would get at least one even if just for the props. The figure is cool though. I'm using Volcano Vipers for Chernobyl liquidators once I get them painted up. I just took one apart this morning. I wouldn't paint that orange though.

 

[D00MTR0N]

I love the card art too.

 

[K-Tiger]

Exactly. He needs to be in a hazardous situation diorama to really have use. Otherwise, he's just another Cobra tool.

Fortunately I've got the medicine for this situation.

I wouldn't paint that orange though.

Some of us just have more gumption.


I'm thinking I may need to dye them first.

 

[Oliverbox]

Great review, and great pics.
Thanks for doing this. I really like this figure, and I didn't realize it was a Volcano Viper... I may have to try and find one of those as a team leader.
All I can think of is how cool it would be to make a Dio of a Nuclear Power Plant that Cobra is trying to melt down, and the Joes running through it killing Hazard Vipers with silenced M4's.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Fortunately I've got the medicine for this situation.






Some of us just have more gumption.


I'm thinking I may need to dye them first.

Dying that figure would help it big time. They come apart pretty easy too. On the VV I didn't even try cracking the torso and I got it to come apart.

 

[K-Tiger]

The Shock Troopers can be a bitch to crack without completely fucking them up.

Since the smock covers up the torso I may not even bother cracking it, just pop the forearms out. I gotta see if there's any way to keep the bronze paint sections, though. I actually like that.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

The forearms will probably come off easy on the HV. VV is a bit tougher but the torso cracked when I moved the arms around to paint too much. Kept the pegs intact though.

 

[danielgogeta]

looking at it it is indeed different, might as well get one as well.

Thanks for the nice shots and review good point on the forearms and other differences that came with it, and at least we know its not just a simple repaint

 

[K-Tiger]

The forearms will probably come off easy on the HV. VV is a bit tougher but the torso cracked when I moved the arms around to paint too much. Kept the pegs intact though.

SOunds like a manufacturing flaw.

Yeah, heat 'n pop will work fine on the arms. I haven't pulled apart the legs, but it looks like they did the same thin when I mated up SW lower legs to Joe thighs.

 

[D00MTR0N]

I noticed the volcano viper's knee joint was super hard to bend,seemed like it was going to break when I tried to bend it,I will have to see if my hazard viper has the same issue,did yours Major?

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Yea, the knees were still like the VV. I'm wondering if the Ice Viper had the same issue?

 

[D00MTR0N]

Yea, the knees were still like the VV. I'm wondering if the Ice Viper had the same issue?

I dont remember having that issue with the ice viper.

 

[K-Tiger]

Yea, the knees were still like the VV. I'm wondering if the Ice Viper had the same issue?

I'm thinking i'm gonna need to take a dremel to the inner surface of the thigh/knee connection.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

If you sand/dremel just a little it should help. I'm going to work on one in the next day or two and see how it does. I just don't want to take too much away from it so that it gets too loose. I'm just not sure if it's the joint itself or if it's just too snug against the upper leg.

 

[K-Tiger]

Indeed.

 

[Bravestarr]

Great review, MB!!!!