Python Crimson Guard (1989)

The Python Patrol sub-set was responsible for some of the weirdest Cobra uniform color schemes of the time. While the set has a unifying palette of colors and patterns, they’re not commonly placed on the figures in the same way. All featured a snakeskin pattern, but some were across pants and shirts while others were only on small parts like kneepads. As a whole, they’re a strange looking, yet instantly recognizable bunch of troops.

The Python Crimson Guard’s file card isn’t greatly changed from the initial version, although an interesting facet is the mention of the Guard’s function to spy on fellow vipers and report violations of policy to the Python Commander. Sounds like an outgrowth of the original Guard’s loyalty to Cobra Commander. And who is this Python Patrol Commander? I wonder if there was intention of producing a Python Cobra Commander. A yellow, black, and grey Commander is an intriguing thought, and could have been a crazy weird update for old bumper face.

This figure may be my favorite of the group aside from the Viper, even with its bright yellow uniform shirt. There’s something about the grey pants and the extra little painted details that really catch my eye. The painted details also play up the dress uniform aspects of the figure.

15 comments

  • I ♥ Python Patrol…all of them except for this stupid CG.

  • I just received a PCG full cardback in the mail yesterday (finally got all 6 PP cardbacks)
    & was thinking the same thing as I read his file card, who the hell is PP Commander?
    I guess it’s sort of Python Copperhead, sort of… but at the same time he could make a great swamp fighter army builder.

  • Looks like cracked elbows strike again. Man, what was in the plastic mix for the 1988 and 1989 figures?

  • Python Patrol figures where made in China of a cheaper plastic.

  • I don’t know why, but I always really wanted this guy. For all its wackiness, Python Patrol was definitely my favorite repaint subset (though had I been aware of Night Force as a kid, I think it would’ve been that, but growing up there weren’t Toys ‘R’ Us’s in my area until after Joe disappeared in 1994). The colors were weird, but something about them just made me think they were really cool. Between the two of us, my brother and I had the whole set except the CG and even then, I still had most of them. I think part of what sold me was that the vehicles’ color scheme was really cool. Plus, it was a way to get figures of some characters my brother had without buying the same thing. It wasn’t until late in my collecting life that my brother and I ever started duplicating figures but I generally didn’t buy something if he already had it in his collection, but a Python Viper wasn’t a Cobra Viper so it worked in my kid brain that I could own one even though he did too.

  • Hey Rob, are ya missing his backpack?? Anyways, what a fantastic figure-the whole set is awesome!

  • I could never get into these guys as a kid due to the wacky colors. I always thought it would have been a neater idea to outright re-release the Vipers, Soldiers, Officers, Sieges, and such for those of us who missed out or wanted to army build, kinda like Hasbro does nowadays for their Star Wars troop builders such as the Stormtrooper, Royal Guard, or Biker Scout.

  • Didnt this guy appear as a staue a few years ago? Called the “Crimson guard Immortal”. From what i can remeber the “Immortal’ statue it was th CG one repainted in these colours and named after a different branch of the CG

  • I’ve heard it has to do with the rivet, not the plastic. 1997 Joes have shoulder rivets that are too big, and those are prone to breaking. Funskool’s rivets were of spotty quality. I’ve had a few lower arms fall off because the rivet was bad.

  • I feel this figure is overly disliked considering other odd Cobras that have a lot of fan love. Sure, the original CG is better, but that applies to all of Python Patrol. Anyway, at least he has the original parts, no clunky removable helmet or awful 1992 Duke shoulders.

  • I liked Python Patrol as a kid. IIRC, Python Crimson Guards seemed to be the most common of the 6 PP figures on shelves. Since it seemed likely they all shipped in equal quantities, that means the Python Crimson Guard (not so crimson is he?) was the most shelfwarming of the bunch. Python Tele-Vipers, like their garden variety counterparts (plain ol’ Tele-Vipers), seemed quite common too.

    Despite all the yellow, for some reason it seems less glaring than the later neons. Maybe the gray subdues it? Or maybe the yellow is less bright? It does look slightly pale, like it’s edging towards straw yellow as opposed to highlighter yellow.

  • That’s what I thought too. I thought of the repaints, only Slaughter’s Marauders used substandard plastic.

  • Dreadnok: Spirit

    I think they should’ve went with the yellow-on-green Python Patrol camo (ala Copperhead) on this figure. And they should’ve had the camo on the pants, too.

    Wouldn’t it make more sense for the Python Patrol Crimson Gaurds to spy on Copperhead, instead? I mean, the leaders of the Crimson Gaurd (as well as Cobra’s accountants) are Tomax and Xamot and I’m sure they’d want to know if Copperhead was using Cobra funds to support his gambling problem.

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