Note: This is not a full review. This simply a more in-depth look at the figures I profiled in my Russian Funskool GI Joe Jamboree post, and is intended as a resource for fans and collectors.

Updated 5/6/21: According to a source in a former Soviet country (who has also translated the card backs), the entire Russian run of Funskool GI Joe figures was released in 1998. The company who assisted in this release, Two Beetles (see their logo on the card back below), likely had a connection at Funskool. Aside from Chuckles, all Russian Funskool figures are nearly identical to their Indian counterparts– only the card backs were changed. Though these were reportedly only produced for a year, they can still be found in former USSR territories. As a fun side note, “beetle” is Russian slang for “swindler.”

Russian Funskool GI Joe Toxo-Viper and Accessories

The Russian Funskool GI Joe Toxo-Viper was released some time around 1998, though there is a possibility that this particular figure was released later. Running the card back through a translation app might help, but from my understanding the batch I got comes from 98 or so.

This figure is based on the GI Joe Toxo-Viper from 1988. It shares that figure’s mold and all of its accessories. The colors and plastic quality are slightly different, however.

The carded figure: 

The card:

The card back (note the Russian text for the filecard and for the character names on the cross sells):

Note that Funskool figures feature cards made of much flimsier card stock than Hasbro figures. The card itself is more of a thick paper than any sort of cardboard you might be used to with domestic action figures.

The figure:

The Russian Funskool GI Joe Toxo-Viper is cast in dark purple plastic and features blue, red, and black paint applications. The color layout is the same as the Hasbro Toxo-Viper, but the Funskool figure has much darker colors overall. See the comparison section below for more detail.

Note that there is no real notable difference between the Russian and Indian Funskool Toxo-Vipers. I own both and can’t see any differences– not even thicker paint on the Russian version.

The red paint for the gloves is a bit sloppy and doesn’t cover the body’s purple plastic very well. I have never seen a Funskool Toxo-Viper that does not have this issue.

The figure’s side:

The figure’s back:

The figure’s accessories:

The Russian Funskool Toxo-Viper comes with a bright green backpack, a helmet with multiple paint applications, and a black “toxic gas weapon.” Or something. Let’s be honest, no one really knows what it is.

The figure also comes with a length of black hose to connect the weapon and backpack. It’s not pictured, as it’s a standard GI Joe hose. Note, though, that Funskool hoses are typically stiffer and harder to work with than Hasbro hoses.

Also note that the connecting peg for the hose on the weapon is fragile, and the tubes/cannister on the backpack are prone to bending and breaking, as well. This is also true for the Hasbro version.

The figure All Geared Up:

From the back:

The Russian Funskool Toxo-Viper has the same articulation and features as the Hasbro version. All of its accessories fit nicely and work as intended. Despite being made of a slightly lower quality plastic than the Hasbro version, it is a nice and solid GI Joe figure without any major quality issues– other than some kind of sloppy paint.

Russian Funskool GI Joe Toxo-Viper Compared to 1988 Hasbro Toxo-Viper

While the Russian Funskool GI Joe Toxo-Viper is dark purple with blue highlights, the Hasbro Toxo-Viper is a pinkish-purple with greenish-blue highlights. Both figures feature red and black. The Hasbro version’s red paint is much lighter, though.

The figures from the front (L – Russian Funskool, R – Hasbro):

You’ll notice the Funskool version has purple arm rivets, where the Hasbro version’s are the natural metal color.

From the side:

The paint applications on the Russian Funskool version’s boots are thicker than the paint on the Hasbro version.

From the back:

Russian Funskool date stamp:

Hasbro date stamp:

As far as I can tell, there’s nothing interesting about the date stamps.

Accessory comparison:

The figures’ weapons are nearly identical, though the Funskool version’s is slightly less glossy and more “waxy.” It would be impossible to tell which one you had unless you had both together and even then, they are still about 95% similar.

The backpacks are completely different in color. Whereas the Hasbro version’s is black, the Russian Funskool Toxo-Viper’s is bright green.

The Funskool version’s helmet has much, much darker paint applications and trades brown for dark green. They are just as different as the backpacks.

The two figures, All Geared Up:

A closer look at Toxo-Viper helmet differences:

 

If I missed anything about the Russian Funskool GI Joe Toxo-Viper, please let me know via social media or through this website’s contact form.