The Characters...

Joseph Payne Astor (a.k.a. Joe) was once a thief named Michael Payton, until he was caught. Now, he's the Viper's driver. Constantly haunted (and hunted) by his past (and people from it), he still finds the strength to hold true to himself and his cause: defeat crime and corruption wherever it lurks. The money he'd stolen and saved over the years now go to the upkeep of the Viper... and compensating his friends.

As a kid caught in the middle of a gang shooting that paralyzed him, Dr. Julian Wilkes is committed to coming up with inventions the police can use to fight crime. The Viper is his dream. Married to a loving, caring wife and with two daughters (one of which is old enough to start out-inventing him), Julian and his family provide a piece of home that lightens up an otherwise dark world....

Franklin X. Waters (or Frankie)... "Poke out my eyes!" Discovered spying on Julian, Joe, and the Viper Project, he pulls all the stops to make sure that piece of gem in his eye everyone knows as the Viper stays with all four wheels to the pavement. Occasionally he finds himself way over his head, but he never strays (on the off chance he might just get lucky enough to touch the Viper's steering wheel once more, and for much longer than a two minute drive outside a gate...).

Other characters:

Delia Thorne once worked for Metropol and was the one who authorized Joe's induced amnesia. She's always felt guilty about it. Later on, she joins a group called "The Consortium," a kind of anti-Outfit organization that occasionally employs the Viper team.

Lieutenant Sally Gerraro used to be Detective Sally Gerraro until she got promoted in the series. The team helped her put away a couple of criminals, including exposing a few crooked cops she didn't know about.

Mister Townsend was a major player in the Outfit. We never find out what happens to him. Mister Lane Cassidy appears to have replaced him. To everyone else, Lane Cassidy is a charity guy, but as Delia has said, "He is as crooked as they come."