Copperhead (G.I. Joe)

G.I. Joe character
Copperhead as seen in the Sunbow G.I. Joe cartoon.
Copperhead
Affiliation	Cobra
File name	Classified
Birthplace	Unknown
Primary MOS	Air-driver swamp vehicle operator
Secondary MOS	Seaborne demolitions
Voiced by	Frank Welker (Sunbow) Maurice LaMarche (DiC)
Year introduced	1984

Copperhead is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is Cobra's Water Moccasin pilot and debuted in 1984.

Profile

Copperhead's military specialty is air-driver swamp vehicle operator. He is presumably a native of the Florida Everglades, due to his immeasurable knowledge of the area, and is believed to have raced speedboats in high stakes races in Monaco and Japan. His major weakness is gambling, on which he apparently got started by placing bets on his own races. He compounded his problems, by selling his services to Cobra to pay off his debts.^[1]

Copperhead is extremely comfortable and capable in swamp environments, and is intimately familiar with seaborne demolitions and high-speed naval assault vehicles. He is also a gifted mechanic, spending much of his time elbow-deep in the transmissions of various Cobra watercraft, customizing and tuning them for maximum performance in jungle and swamp operations. Once Copperhead's combat and piloting skills were established, it is assumed that Cobra either paid off - or otherwise eliminated - his bookies.^[2]

During the time that Cobra was out of commission, Copperhead returned to his old tricks, and racked up more substantial debt. According to intelligence reports, he'd been placing wagers under false identities, then sabotaging his opponents, assuring himself of a guaranteed payday. Angry bookies came looking for retribution after his schemes were uncovered, and so Copperhead was relieved when he received the call back to Cobra, this time as the head of Cobra's Naval forces.^[3]

Toys

Copperhead was first released as an action figure in 1984, packaged with the "Water Moccasin" swamp cruiser.^[4] In 1989, Copperhead was available mail-order from Hasbro Direct as part of a six figure vehicle drivers set that included H.I.S.S. Driver, Stinger Driver, Crankcase, Frostbite, and Thunder. The figure was also repainted and released as part of the Python Patrol line in 1989.^[5]

Comics

Marvel Comics

Copperhead has appeared in many issues of Marvel Comics.^{[volume & issue needed]} The Water Moccasin, sans Copperhead, was used in a running battle with G.I. Joe forces. It was crewed by the Cobra agents Wild Weasel and Firefly.^[6]

Action Force

Copperhead is also part of the "Action Force" continuity. With a Crimson Guardsman in the gunner position and a police officer hostage strapped in, he pursues Shipwreck down the Thames River. The two Cobra soldiers escape, but the hostage is safely rescued.^[7]

Devil's Due comics

Copperhead appears in the Devil's Due comic book series, providing nautical security for Cobra Island. The Joe rookie Barrel Roll is successfully inserted and extracted despite his best efforts. During the escape, Copperhead is almost killed when the Joe forces drop their escape craft on his vehicle.^[8]

In the America's Elite series, Copperhead is one of the Cobra operatives who pose as a new elite unit called Phoenix Guard. Copperhead is given the new codename "High Tide". Cobra Commander disguises himself as White House staff member Garret Freedlowe, and tricks General Rey into leading High Tide and his fellow Phoenix Guard against the Joes. Once the deception is revealed, Copperhead is captured by the Joes and imprisoned in the Coffin prison facility in Greenland. He's freed alongside several others during an assault led by Tomax. Copperhead later teams with Ghost Bear, and battles Torpedo and Wet-Suit in the waters along the East African coast ^[9]

Cartoons

Sunbow

In the Sunbow G.I. Joe cartoon, he first appeared in the first season episode "Jungle Trap", voiced by Frank Welker.^[10] His last appearance is at the beginning of the episode "Worlds Without End pt.1".

DiC

Copperhead also appeared in DiC's G.I. Joe cartoon, voiced by Maurice LaMarche. In the "Operation Dragonfire" mini-series, Copperhead sides with Cobra Commander, and becomes a commander for the Python Patrol.

References

1. ^ Hama, Larry (1987). Howard Mackie. ed. G.I. Joe Order Of Battle. Marvel Entertainment Group. p. 27. ISBN 0871352885. 
2. ^ Hidalgo, Pablo (2009). G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: The Essential Guide 1982-2008. Random House. p. 106. ISBN 9780345516428. 
3. ^ Wherle, Scott (2002). G.I. Joe: Battle Files #2. Devil's Due Publishing. p. 6. 
4. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 100. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
5. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 125. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
6. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #25-28
7. ^ Action Force #21-22 (1987)
8. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #28-30 (2004)
9. ^ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #33
10. ^ "Jungle Trap". G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

External links

• Copperhead on Joepedia, an external wiki
• Copperhead at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
• Copperhead at The Inner Sanctum fansite