Ever since Cobra “re-structured” and got rid of the old trooper uniforms, the Viper has been the backbone of Cobra’s Infantry.
Modern Viper with the chrome face plate.
It was not a really hot item back in ‘86 with its minimal accessories but it made up for it in numbers in comics and cartoons.
As an army builder, it’s a minimum requirement!
It was a pleasant surprise that the Comic Pack with Snake Eyes in Training garb and The Hard Master in…Lifeline uniform came out. It came with a lot of Ninja accessories enough to reenact that fateful night that set events in motion. Eventually, Storm Shadow joined Cobra to find the killer and Snake Eyes became a Ninja.
Lift Ticket has been one of my favourite characters in GI Joe, mainly, because I did not have a Tomahawk during those days. He was the Joes’ combat helo pilot, along with Wild Bill, and they were both usually in the Tomahawk’s cockpit. I really would not consider Wild Bill as the primary helo pilot as I have an impression that he is always piloting a C130 Hercules and I have only seen Lift Ticket once in a fixed wing aircraft and he was the RIO of Captain Ace, at the time.
I am glad that Lift Ticket was one of the lucky ones adapted to the 25th Anniversary GI Joe line and a fine adaptation, it is!
Compared with the original, the attention to detail is astounding.
Definitely better details and facial expression.
I do have some gripes on this otherwise excellent GI Joe action figure. The lower legs should have been someone else’s as it it is not exactly helo pilot material. Next, Lift Ticket’s flight helmet should have been bulkier at the sides like the original. That is very distinctive of helo flight helmets. Though there was an attempt to do this, it was simply not enough to differentiate this from Scarlet’s flight helmet.
I had hoped that his vest would have been a version of the AIRSAVE but it was a Blackhawk vest with a cross draw holster. I guess Hasbro had to make do with versatility as this vest can be reused with almost any trooper. At least, it was detailed.
He still fits in the GI Joe Tomahawk but it requires a lot of squeezing.
However, Lift Ticket is at home with Bbi’s UH60 Blackhawk.
Bbi’s Blackhawk was simply made for Lift Ticket!
Overall, I rate this GI Joe action figure highly. It was an improvement from the original Lift Ticket and the facial expression makes him very photogenic.
Yes, I admit. I was a fan of Ninjas when they first became popular. But when the Joe Ninja Force came to be, I was quickly dismayed. The neon coloured costumes are ridiculous and are so uncool. That is, with the exception of Storm Shadow.
I always wanted a challenge.
My Cobra Battle Barge saw use as a towed gun platform since it did not always flood at home and I wanted Cobra personnel to have a seat when it is time to bug out. It was made from rubber band, a frame, wheels, and a slip knot device so that it could unhitch from the Cobra Stinger anytime it wanted. As the old British Army recruiting advert stated, there’s less foot slogging in today’s army.
I wanted something similar with my new 25th Anniversary line and my thoughts, once again, turned to my missed opportunity to get a Rolling Thunder decades back. This battleship on wheels had the floor space to carry troops, in addition to 2 ballistic missiles, and the firepower to be almost unstoppable. Assuming, that is, its transparent canopies is shatter proof and bad guys could never do head shots.
G.I. Joe Rolling Thunder during its Glory Days
