Funskool Desert Scorpion

Desert Scorpions were introduced slightly after I had gotten out of joes as a kid. I do recall seeing them on the shelf and thinking that was a specialty that Cobra actually needed and it was one of those figures that beckoned me to dive back in more as a collector. However, as I was just starting high school, it was a Pandora's box I just didn't want to open at the time.

When I had gotten back into it as an adult collector, Funskool figures were becoming widely available on a lot of online stores. Once again, the Desert Scorpion beckoned and I heeded its call. I picked up half a dozen from the Store on 44.

Upon getting them, I didn't care for the colors. They just weren't all that conducive to a desert trooper. I repainted one in a criss crossed tan/brown camo pattern that I was intending to be a Desert Python Patrol look. I decided not to do that with the rest and had the idea to make a Desert Scorpion a Cobra version of Snake Eyes. So, I went with the blacks and dark blues and was pretty pleased with the result.

As a character, Black Adder filled a role as an operative for one of my other custom characters, Vixen. He was, however, fiercely loyal to Cobra Commander, and often acted as a check on Vixen's sometime straying loyalties. Unfortunately for him, he was involved with an arms deal in which a group of Cobra troops, led by Vixen, met with a group of Iron Grenadiers to purchase small arms. The entire meeting was under surveillance by the Joe team. Black Adder had put his weapon down and was caught unarmed by the Joes, but he still managed to disarm Stalker and knock him to the ground. With Stalker down, Dusk (a custom Joe character) presumed dead, and Scarlet injured, Snake Eyes, the last Joe standing, wasted no time pursuing the escaping Cobras and mowed Black Adder down with his uzi.

And thus ended to illustrious but short career of Black Adder.