Viper (mutant)
While they were once mere men and women, the Vipers have basked in the glory of Cobra-La and transcended the limits of their flesh to become the scaly foot soldiers of the new Cobra!
Fiction
2005 IDW continuity
The first mutant Vipers emerged from a portal to Cobra-La that was opened by the magic of both Crystal Ball's antediluvian artifacts and the Dire Wraiths, seemingly formed from a small group of Cobranarchists who were unwillingly forced into the portal. With their portal to Cobra-La remaining stable, Cobra Commander decided that the Dire Wraiths had served their purpose and allowed the hungry Vipers to feast upon them before ordering Crystal Ball to transform the rest of the Cobranarchists. Horrified by this series of events, Destro asked his Commander if the anarchists had actually been transformed or were merely replaced but she neither knew or cared what had happened to them. Scarlett's Strike Force #1
Notes
- The designation "Viper" has historically referred to elite, presumably human members of Cobra's army as opposed to snake men. These standard Cobra Vipers were a common sight in pre-Revolution Joe comics.
- While the Vipers in the comic itself have claws, early concept art from Scarlett's Strike Force artist Nelson Dániel shown in a Paste article announcing the comic shows them with smaller snake heads for hands, making them resemble the Triple Threat Snake from Hasbro's Battle Beasts line.
