I've never understood the appeal of zombies, which seem to be more popular than ever. Granted, I am not a fan of horror movies in general, but there's something about zombies (and for that matter vampires) that I have always found especially unnerving. Maybe it's the fact that in some formats, they can turn other people into these mindless, gory things.

But, they're certainly popular. Marvel Comics has even come out with comic books and a series of special action figures that are zombified versions of their popular character. Me -- I juuuust don't get it.

But, even the G.I.Joe line managed to work a zombie in at one point. However, in some respects, he's more wacky than scary, and his origin is hardly that of a typical zombie, whatever that is. I'm talking about the COBRA TOXO-ZOMBIE.

There's sort of a dual origin here. In 1988, we were introduced to the Cobra Toxo-Viper. A trooper designed to create and work in hostile environments, they were known as the "Leaky Suit Brigade" due to the low quality of their protective gear, and being assigned as a Toxo-Viper was pretty much considered worse than punishment duty.

When the Eco-Warriors came along in 1991, it only seemed logical that the Toxo-Vipers would be a part of this. There was a brand new Toxo-Viper figure, with a fancy new uniform -- if not a particularly more protective one. The nickname "Leaky Suit Brigade" stuck.

But apparently, working for Cesspool and processing his Plasmatox compound was even more dangerous than the usual work, because in the second year of Eco-Warriors, in 1992, we were introduced to the Toxo-Zombies. Their background on their file card was not unlike that of many zombies, but pretty much without the gore factor. Basically, Toxo-Zombies were Toxo-Vipers that had been on the job a little too long. Constant exposure to the toxic chemicals and radioactive waste and other assorted filth that was part of their job had mutated these Cobra soldiers into zombie-like beings, retaining enough function and a trace of the worst aspects of humanity to continue to be useful to Cobra.

What was funny about the file card was that it listed all of the same protective features to the uniform that the previous year's Toxo-Viper had had -- Shatterproof, non-corrosive helmet, Solvent-repellent safety gloves, and more, but it placed a (?) after each one of them.

The package illustration was actually a lot more gruesome than the figure itself, which probably wouldn't stand up too well to a modern zombie toy, but most of those are too hideous for words anyway, so I can't say as I mind a slightly toned-down zombie figure.

The Toxo-Zombie figure is clearly derived from the design of the second Toxo-Viper which was introduced as part of the Eco-Warriors line. However, interestingly enough, especially given the economic advantages of reusing parts, NO parts from the Toxo-Viper (except for the common swivel arm joint and such that everyone used) were used to make the Toxo-Zombie. It's an entirely new figure.

The most obvious difference other than the damage and zombification is the uniform colors. I don't know what Cesspool put in his Plasmatox, but among other things it had the effect of taking the Toxo-Vipers' dark purple and medium green uniform, and making it bright pinkish purple and a near-neon green!

Then there is, of course, the uniform damage. And remember that this is supposed to be a protective suit. Many of the armor-like sections are pockmarked or appear to be melted. There are tears in the "fabric". It's really quire remarkable. Clearly the sculptor took the existing Toxo-Viper design, more or less duplicated the sculpt, and damaged it along the way. And did a very effective job with it.

Of course, there are the more obvious "zombie" sections. A lot of the helmet visor is missing, and there is a portion of a withered, grey-skinned, blank-eyed face underneath. The lower left arm and lower left leg are missing their glove and boot, and the exposed limbs are grey, withered and blistered- looking, and have red streaks on them.

As with all Eco-Warriors figures, the Toxo-Zombie included a coating of a thermally-reactive paint, in splotches, that made it appear that the figure had been splattered with "Plasmatox". One particular splatter is across the exposed portion of the face.