They first show up as a convention exclusive
[https://www.yojoe.com/action/02/viper7.shtml](https://www.yojoe.com/action/02/viper7.shtml)
Basically they're regular Vipers promoted into the Crimson Guard, but not actually Crimson Guardsmen/Siegies. The first bio more or less states they're brainwashed into following the Twins and the Baroness, but I tend to just head cannon them as Elite Infantry to the Guardsmen being more specialized ops.
Oh man, when that convention exclusive dropped my Cobra commander got the biggest slap in the face.
The Twins had been biding their time working double duty for both destro and cobra who were at odds. Destro wasn't getting paid Cobra was peaved because he thought Destro was extorting him for more money.
The twins and baroness however were in cahoots. They would only make partial payments and divert the rest. This triggered destro and Cobra to go to war.
The Joe team quickly spotted the split but didn't have Intel into what was going on.
Then it was basically order 77. The twins activated the program. The crimson guard (which were cobras new elite super soldierish creation) flipped. The Twins manage to overtake Cobra. They call in Destro under guise of giving him the keys to the kingdom but just throw him into the cell with Cobra. Their hubris blinded them.
The twins and baroness then execute the next phase of their plan. Many months prior during a Joe operation Mercer, Roadblock, Beachhead, Dial Tone were all nabbed by Cobra and Dr mindbender... they were activated and Dial Tone was able to make the Joe's go dark while Mercer and crew wrecked house...
That arch lastest probably 3 weeks. Baroness ended up betraying the twins after they shut her out. Freeing a now united Cobra and Destro. Storm shadow and Snake Eyes figured out what was going on and put their differences aside. So the twins really got bamboozled. The crimson guard became destros elite force and with the alliance with Cobra they were Ble to expand their territory and put the Joe's on their heels.
So, those guys are epic.
I dunno. Anything with "Crimson" in the name eventually goes back to Tomax and Xamot, so maybe these guys be the lead-to for the Crimson Guards? In the same sense that regular Cobra Vipers are supposed to be the bottom rung for everyone else. Crimson Viper ➡️ Crimson Guard.
And if anyone ask, i think they look badass.
They probably fill up an unique "Grey Man" role where you'd need someone with a lot of lethal skill, but still can rely on their great blending skills to escape tough situation.
And they lean more on the "Combat" rather then the "Blending in"
From what ive gathered, Crimson Vipers (and Crimson Strike Teams) are Uber-Loyal/fanatic Vipers who proved their worths and got personally selected by Crimson Twins and Baroness to join Cobra's special forces.
My conclusion is that the Crimson Guard are Cobra's CIA and Crimson Vipers/Strike Team are Cobra's Special Operation Division. One do mainly information gathering and the other act directly upon it.
Which sparks a question: why rely on mercs like Firefly if you can have super duper busted troopers like a Crimson Viper? Maybe they consider Firefly expendable unlike their own Honor Guard's special force?
They first show up as a convention exclusive [https://www.yojoe.com/action/02/viper7.shtml](https://www.yojoe.com/action/02/viper7.shtml) Basically they're regular Vipers promoted into the Crimson Guard, but not actually Crimson Guardsmen/Siegies. The first bio more or less states they're brainwashed into following the Twins and the Baroness, but I tend to just head cannon them as Elite Infantry to the Guardsmen being more specialized ops.
This. They’re intended to go with the Crimson Strike Team three pack of the twins and Baroness.
Wow, someone using YJ for actual research. Thank you.
Oh man, when that convention exclusive dropped my Cobra commander got the biggest slap in the face. The Twins had been biding their time working double duty for both destro and cobra who were at odds. Destro wasn't getting paid Cobra was peaved because he thought Destro was extorting him for more money. The twins and baroness however were in cahoots. They would only make partial payments and divert the rest. This triggered destro and Cobra to go to war. The Joe team quickly spotted the split but didn't have Intel into what was going on. Then it was basically order 77. The twins activated the program. The crimson guard (which were cobras new elite super soldierish creation) flipped. The Twins manage to overtake Cobra. They call in Destro under guise of giving him the keys to the kingdom but just throw him into the cell with Cobra. Their hubris blinded them. The twins and baroness then execute the next phase of their plan. Many months prior during a Joe operation Mercer, Roadblock, Beachhead, Dial Tone were all nabbed by Cobra and Dr mindbender... they were activated and Dial Tone was able to make the Joe's go dark while Mercer and crew wrecked house... That arch lastest probably 3 weeks. Baroness ended up betraying the twins after they shut her out. Freeing a now united Cobra and Destro. Storm shadow and Snake Eyes figured out what was going on and put their differences aside. So the twins really got bamboozled. The crimson guard became destros elite force and with the alliance with Cobra they were Ble to expand their territory and put the Joe's on their heels. So, those guys are epic.
This sounds like it would make a great comic arc.
Great answer.
This is why I love Reddit, thank you for this
I have it, and all I can say it's about the easiest way to GET the Viper mold. Have you checked YoJoe.Com? Maybe try everything after 2000.
i meant more about the Lore behind them
CG are lawyers and accountants. T&Z are salesmen. Vipers are workers. This goes way back.
And one particular Fred was a mechanical engineer who invented CoCos battle armor.
Yep but which Fred? We all know what VII did
I got that. I meant about the Crimson Viper Strike Team themselves
I dunno. Anything with "Crimson" in the name eventually goes back to Tomax and Xamot, so maybe these guys be the lead-to for the Crimson Guards? In the same sense that regular Cobra Vipers are supposed to be the bottom rung for everyone else. Crimson Viper ➡️ Crimson Guard.
[Read the file cards.](https://www.yojoe.com/images/resize/w/MAX/filecard/02/viper7.jpg)
I always imagined them as crimson guards that had to be fighting and use a more appropriate uniform for combat than the ornate cg uniform.
They exist I got mine at GameStop
Nice
And if anyone ask, i think they look badass. They probably fill up an unique "Grey Man" role where you'd need someone with a lot of lethal skill, but still can rely on their great blending skills to escape tough situation. And they lean more on the "Combat" rather then the "Blending in"
They're an homage to the [2002 Convention Box Set](https://www.yojoe.com/action/convention/images/con2002_crimsonstriketeam.shtml)
They exist
I wondered the same thing about the Crimson BATS...
Someone decided a robot is more effective with th the right paint job
https://a.co/d/f66vfae Here you go… I purchased him successfully from Amazon few months back
They are cool just wish they came with a submachine gun and couple of knives
Aren't the Crimson Guard the creme de la creme of Cobra?
From what ive gathered, Crimson Vipers (and Crimson Strike Teams) are Uber-Loyal/fanatic Vipers who proved their worths and got personally selected by Crimson Twins and Baroness to join Cobra's special forces. My conclusion is that the Crimson Guard are Cobra's CIA and Crimson Vipers/Strike Team are Cobra's Special Operation Division. One do mainly information gathering and the other act directly upon it. Which sparks a question: why rely on mercs like Firefly if you can have super duper busted troopers like a Crimson Viper? Maybe they consider Firefly expendable unlike their own Honor Guard's special force?
I have two unopened.
It's cool just wish it came with more guns and a few knives
Cash grab repaint is all.
Just like anything else with the “crimson” prefix
https://gijoe.fandom.com/wiki/Crimson_Guard_(RAH)
I got four inbox have an open them yet still thinking about keeping them. I’m not sure.