The Crimson Guard is an elite organization within the fictional
G.I. Joe
''G.I. Joe'' is an American media franchise and a line of action figures owned and produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier ( U.S. Army), Ac ...
universe. They are members of
Cobra Command
Cobra (sometimes referred to as Cobra Command) is a fictional terrorist organization and the nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro action figure toyline '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' and '' G.I. Joe: Sigma 6'', as well as in related m ...
, the nemesis of the
G.I. Joe
''G.I. Joe'' is an American media franchise and a line of action figures owned and produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier ( U.S. Army), Ac ...
team. They are often referred to by a phonetic spelling of their organization's initials, as "Siegies", in the comics.
Tomax and Xamot
Tomax and Xamot Paoli (also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders) are fictional characters from the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline, comic books and animated series. They are the co-leaders of Cobra's elite troops, the ...
are the commanders of the Crimson Guard.
Toys
The first Crimson Guard figure was released in 1985. The figure wore a red dress uniform with silver decorations and a red helmet with black mask that covered his entire face. The accessories included a rifle with bayonet and red backpack. In 1989, the figure was repainted yellow and gray as part of the special Python Patrol sub group. In 1991, an armored version of the Crimson Guard, known as the Crimson Guard Immortals was introduced,
wielding tube rocket launchers and a
squad automatic weapon
A squad automatic weapon (SAW), also known as a section automatic weapon or light support weapon (LSW), is a man-portable automatic firearm attached to infantry squads or sections as a source of rapid direct firepower. Weapons fulfilling th ...
. In 1993, near the end of the original 3 inch G.I. Joe line, lightly armored Crimson Guard Commanders were released.
After the relaunch of the ''G.I. Joe'' line in 2001, other incarnations of the Crimson Guard were produced. The first was part of
Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (; a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational conglomerate holding company incorporated and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of K ...
's Direct to Consumer line, which featured a slightly redesigned look. Another is a new subset, featuring repaints of the 2005 Crimson Guard Force figures, redone in black and gold, with melee weapons, and named the Crimson Shadow Guard.
Another notable toy incarnation of the Crimson Guard is the 2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage K.B. Toys Exclusive. The set consisted of three Crimson Guard figures, and included two vehicles; a crimson H.I.S.S. tank (High Speed Sentry), and a crimson A.S.P. (Assault Systems Pod) mobile flak emplacement. Hasbro also released the Crimson Guard for the 25th anniversary toyline. This figure included a G3w/ bayonet, a revolver, a built in holster, and a specially designed backpack.
Comic books
In the Marvel and Devil's Due comic series, the Crimson Guard are the most elite soldiers of Cobra's Viper legions, under the direct command of
Tomax and Xamot
Tomax and Xamot Paoli (also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders) are fictional characters from the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline, comic books and animated series. They are the co-leaders of Cobra's elite troops, the ...
, but completely loyal to
Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' franchise. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra and the archenemy of the G.I. Joe Team. He was portrayed by Joseph ...
, serving as his personal guard. Building the Crimson Guard network was believed to be the first thing Cobra Commander did after founding Cobra. Crimson Guardsman are not wasted on the battlefield like the more common Vipers and
Cobra Troopers
The Cobra Troopers serve as the basic Infantry, foot soldiers of the Cobra Command, Cobra Organization, as part of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. They are generally depicted as legions of uniformed sold ...
. Rather, "Siegie" agents operate undercover all over the country, in the political arenas and business world. All Crimson Guardsmen must hold a degree in either law, medicine, or accountancy, and be in top physical condition. They strive to present a facade of exemplary normalcy and civic responsibility, and are provided with fully supported cover identities, and even pre-fabricated "families". However, these agents are accumulating financial and political influence for Cobra through every means possible, supporting each other in creating schemes of blackmail, fraud and espionage.
Each member is rigorously trained and inducted in a secret ceremony in the lowest levels of Cobra's headquarters. To be a Crimson Guard is to swear absolute loyalty to Cobra and Cobra Commander. Many members also become part of a "series", undergoing plastic surgery and behavior modification to look and act like one another within a series. This allows one series member to completely replace another should the need arise without arousing suspicion. The most commonly depicted is the "Fred" Series.
Marvel Comics
A Fred is assigned early on to spy on Fort Wadsworth, the suspected home of the G.I. Joe. He tends to miss important intelligence by coincidence. This Fred is killed during an attempt by
Destro
Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and cartoon series. He is the leader of the Iron Grenadiers, and founder of M.A.R.S. ...
to kill
Snake Eyes in his mountain cabin. The Fred who replaces him turns out to be Wade Collins, a soldier who served with
Stalker, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow in Vietnam and believes that he was abandoned by the U.S. Army during the war and by his country afterwards, leading him to join Cobra in a fit of bitterness. Collins eventually decides to leave Cobra and, with help from G.I. Joe, relocates with his family. Collins' son,
Kamakura, eventually joins G.I. Joe.
Fred VII
Cobra is the fictional nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro toylines and related media. This is an alphabetical listing of Cobra members with unique identities as well as the members of its factions.
Alexander McCullen
Alexander McCullen ...
is one of the noted Guard members. He is an owner of an auto repair shop and a developer of advanced cybernetic and bionic devices. This Fred would gain infamy when, from 1987 to the early 1990s, he would pretend to be Cobra Commander, donning the silver "battle armor" that the action figures introduced in the late 1980s. Fred VII's coup is destroyed when the real Cobra Commander made his return.
Another Guardsman, Cobra scientist Professor Appel, is featured in multiple G.I. Joe comic books. He is revealed when Joe forces attack his suburban home. He later comes up with part of the plan that creates
Cobra Island
Cobra (sometimes referred to as Cobra Command) is a fictional terrorist organization and the nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro action figure toyline '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' and '' G.I. Joe: Sigma 6'', as well as in related m ...
. Appel's daughter, Candy, also influences the plot at the same time as she is the romantic interest of
Ripcord. At one point, Appel even saves Ripcord from certain death on account of his daughter.
Later, again on Cobra Island, Crimson Guardsmen (with Cobra Trooper backup) are deployed into three sniper teams. They planned to assassinate
Serpentor
Serpentor is a fictional character and a recurring antagonist from the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline, comic books, and animated series. Introduced in 1986, the character rules as Emperor over Cobra. Serpentor serves as the primary a ...
when he arrived with personnel picked up from the town of Springfield. This plan is deduced and the sniper teams are foiled when Serpentor literally hangs onto Cobra Commander, then whips the crowd up into a frenzy of good cheer. They are ordered off their shots for fear of starting a riot.
The Guard end up on the battlefield during the first Cobra civil war.
Action Force
Action Force
Action Force is a brand of European action figures released in the 1980s that was based on the ''Action Man'' toyline. It was also used to introduce '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toys to European markets. Several publishing companies have ...
is a series of comics with the Joe characters based out of London. In issue #11, two Crimson Guards, one male and one female, attempt to destroy the
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower ( ; french: links=yes, tour Eiffel ) is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.
Locally nicknamed "' ...
but are stopped by a Joe team. In the next issue, ten more Guards are captured in a raid on a Cobra base/fast food restaurant. A Guardsman makes a cameo as the co-pilot for
Copperhead
Copperhead may refer to:
Snakes
* ''Agkistrodon contortrix'', or copperhead, a venomous pit viper species found in parts of North America
* '' Austrelaps'', or Australian copperhead, a genus of venomous elapids found in southern Australia and Ta ...
.
Later, a CG undercover is revealed as working as a school teacher. His uniform is uncovered due to an unlocked door and a curious student named Gary. The CG takes the entire class hostage and shoots dead another teacher. While
Footloose
Footloose may refer to:
* ''Footloose'' (1984 film), a musical film
** ''Footloose'' (1984 soundtrack)
** "Footloose" (song), performed by Kenny Loggins
* ''Footloose'' (2011 film), a remake of the 1984 film
** ''Footloose'' (2011 soundtrack) ...
does have the man under the sniper rifle crosshairs it is Gary who talks the man into surrendering.
Devil's Due comics
Not all "Sieges" remain loyal. An older member, Fletcher, is murdered before he can talk to the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
.
A Crimson Guardsman named Agent X-99 is listed as a Cobra operative in the Threat List printed in ''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #25. Agent X-99 was first seen in the Sunbow episode "The Germ".
The flashback series 'Declassified' showcased an early participant in the CG program.
A Crimson Guardsman named Colonel Calvin is featured in an early storyline in ''America's Elite''. He was assigned to a research station in the Amazon, well before the
Crimson Twins joined Cobra. Surrounded only by BATs, cut off from support for unknown reasons, he went mad. He decides to make Cobra Commander pay for abandoning him and rigs an ICBM to attack his current location. Somehow Calvin found out about Cobra Commander disguising himself as a member of the US President's cabinet.
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are rank ...
tracks down Calvin and is held captive by him. Duke breaks free and kills Calvin, but not before finding out about Cobra Commander.
Another Guardsman is featured in later stories. This particular Guardsman rises through the ranks to the elite Shadow Guard. He is picked from them to become part of
The Plague, an elite squad created from Cobra ranks to become an answer to G.I. Joe, and given the codename Infrared. Like the Shadow Guard, the Plague is answerable directly to Cobra Commander. All the Plague members receive biographies in issue 30 of ''America's Elite''. The Joes suspect this Guardsman of being a movie actor.
[''G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' #30 (2007)]
Animated series
Sunbow
These soldiers, which are featured in the cartoon ''
G.I. Joe
''G.I. Joe'' is an American media franchise and a line of action figures owned and produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier ( U.S. Army), Ac ...
'', are the elite of Cobra. As with all soldiers in the first season they fight on land, sea, and air acting almost as officers as well as serving as Cobra Commander's bodyguards. On at least one occasion, Cobra Commander refers to his "Red Guard". In the first-season episodes after the "Pyramid of Darkness" mini-series, Crimson Guard members also act as deep-cover or
sleeper agents
A sleeper agent, also called sleeper cell, is a spy who is placed in a target country or organization not to undertake an immediate mission but to act as a potential asset if activated. Even if unactivated, the "sleeper agent" is still an asset ...
, conducting operations in civilian guises that would require either too many operatives or too long an operation time for
Zartan
Zartan is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and animated series. He is one of the main villains in the franchise as the leader of the Dreadnoks, and a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra ...
to be a feasible agent. In the second season, they seemed to serve more as bodyguards than anything else.
The Crimson Guard is led by the
mirror twins characters
Tomax and Xamot
Tomax and Xamot Paoli (also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders) are fictional characters from the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline, comic books and animated series. They are the co-leaders of Cobra's elite troops, the ...
, who handle all of Cobra's business affairs. They are in direct command of the Crimson Guard; however, Tomax and Xamot are loyal to Cobra Commander, in turn, putting the Crimson Guard at Cobra Commander's disposal. During the second season, Tomax and Xamot became loyal to Serpentor, which in turn placed the Crimson Guard out of Cobra Commander's disposal and into Serpentor's disposal.
Different voice actors have voiced members of the Crimson Guard:
Michael Bell,
Corey Burton
Corey Gregg Weinberg (born August 3, 1955), known professionally as Corey Burton, is an American voice actor. He is the current voice of Captain Hook, Ludwig Von Drake, Dale and others for The Walt Disney Company, Shockwave on '' The Transformer ...
,
Chris Latta
Christopher Charles Collins (born Christopher Lawrence Latta; August 30, 1949 – June 12, 1994) was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He is best known as the voice of Cobra Commander in the '' G.I. Joe'' animated series and Starscream i ...
, and
Lee Weaver
Lee Weaver (born April 10, 1930) is an American film and television actor.
Early life
Weaver was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the son of Josephine and Primus Jest Weaver, a chef.
Weaver was the voice of Alpine in the animated television ...
. The Crimson Guard X-99 from "The Germ" was voiced by
Neil Ross
Neil David Ross is a British-American voice actor and announcer. Noted for his Trans-Atlantic accent, he has provided voices in many American cartoons, most notably ''Voltron'', '' G.I. Joe'', and ''Transformers'', as well as video games, incl ...
.
DiC
In the ''Dragon Fire'' mini-series of the 1989 ''
G.I. Joe
''G.I. Joe'' is an American media franchise and a line of action figures owned and produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier ( U.S. Army), Ac ...
'' cartoon, their new leader was Destro and some were part of a group of Cobra soldiers who became
Python Patrol Crimson Guards and under the newly-restored Cobra Commander overthrew Serpentor. Additionally, an undercover Crimson Guardsman infiltrates G.I. Joe as a reporter and is offered a position on the team as war correspondent
Scoop
Scoop, Scoops or The scoop may refer to:
Objects
* Scoop (tool), a shovel-like tool, particularly one deep and curved, used in digging
* Scoop (machine part), a component of machinery to carry things
* Scoop stretcher, a device used for casualt ...
. He later learns Cobra lied to him and joins G.I. Joe for real. His Cobra handler, another Crimson Guard, switches divisions and becomes an Alley Viper.
In "The Greatest Evil" two-parter, a Crimson Guard Immortal's sister is hospitalized after overdosing on the drug Spark, created by the Headman. This Crimson Guard Immortal (voiced by
Don Brown) teams meets Duke whose brother
Falcon
Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.
Adult falcons ...
is also an addict. The two agree to join forces to stop the Headman. Despite his love for his sister, the Crimson Guard Immortal gets caught up in Cobra's scheme to use the alliance to rob the Headman of his profits. His sister and Falcon team up to replace the money with worthless paper and then donate the real money to drug rehab programs.
Renegades
In the ''
G.I. Joe: Renegades'' episode "Brothers of Light," the Crimson Guard are homaged as the elite guards for Tomax and Xamot's cult. A brainwashed Duke,
Scarlett, and
Roadblock
A roadblock is a temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road. The reasons for one could be:
*Roadworks
*Temporary road closure during special events
*Police chase
*Robbery
* Sobriety checkpoint
In peaceful circumstances ...
were shown as Crimson Guards until
Tunnel Rat
The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War.
Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet–Afgha ...
and Snake Eyes freed them from the mind-control.
References
External links
Crimson Guardat JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
at The Inner Sanctum fansite
{{G.I. Joe
Cobra (G.I. Joe) soldiers
Comics characters introduced in 1985
Fictional private military members
G.I. Joe organizations
Villains in animated television series