X Review: FSS2 Cesspool

Cesspool was released carded as part of the tenth series (1991) as part of the Eco-Warriors subset. He was discontinued domestically in 1992. The updated version is part of the GIJCC Figure Subscription Service wave 2 of figures.

Note: It was common practice for Hasbro to name and/or sculpt G.I.Joe characters after real-life individuals. Cesspool was given the real name “Vincent D’Alleva” – the Hasbro executive that oversaw the G.I.Joe division at that time.

Courtesy of YoJoe.com.

From the classic filecard:

Code Name: Cesspool
C.E.O. – Chief Environmental Operative
File Name: D’Alleva, Vincent A.
Birthplace: Newton, Massachusetts

CESSPOOL was the Chief Executive Officer of a huge multi-national corporation with vast holdings in oil refineries, chemical plants, and mills. In an effort to placate environmental groups that were constantly assailing him about the toxic wastes spewing from his operations, he took them on a tour of one of his chemical plants to prove his operations were environmentally sound. While demonstrating the efficiency of a toxic waste containment area outside the plant, the scaffolding collapsed and he fell into the sludge below. The accident left him horribly disfigured.

“More ruthless and despicable than before, Cesspool is convinced that environmentalists were responsible for his accident and is determined to make the world as ugly and nasty as he is. Armed with an acid assisting chainsaw, he’s taken his knowledge of high-level dirty dealings and corporate subterfuge straight to the organization that will make the best use of him — COBRA!”

From the updated FSS filecard:

Code Name: Cesspool
File Name: D’Alleva, Vincent A.
Primary Military Specialty: Chief Executive Officer
Secondary Military Specialty: Laboratory Director
Birthplace: Newton, Massachusetts

CESSPOOL was the Chief Executive Officer of a huge multi-national corporation with vast holdings in oil refineries, chemical plants, and mills. In an effort to placate environmental groups, he took them on a tour through one of his chemical plants, where an accidental exposure to the toxic waste left him horribly disfigured. For reparations, he took his knowledge of high-level dirty dealings and corporate subterfuge straight to the COBRA organization. He soon created a weapons grade Plasma-Tox and portable dispersal system. However, he found that long-term exposure turned some of his men into uncontrollable creatures. He was eventually caught by the G.I. Joe team and incarcerated for many years.

CESSPOOL secretly plotted to find ways to get back at society, and discover an additive that would let him control exposed personnel. Upon his release, he went directly back to where his experiments left off. He now oversees all chemical engineering and custom synthesis of Compound Z at Cobra laboratories. Anyone exposed to this chemical becomes a zombie-like drone. He plans to create an army of ZOMBIE-VIPERS and exact his revenge on the world.

“I will make the world as ugly and nasty as I am!”

Courtesy of YoJoe.com.