Long ago, in ancient Egypt, Apep was driven into the desert by Prince Rapses's grandfather. Apep started looking for revenge, but was unable to get his hands on his grandfather, and his father, Amenhotep, so now he looks to take his revenge on the next in the throne, Rapses, and make him suffer.
During a night in San Francisco, Apep and the Desert Princes come through the Western Gate. They attack a biker gang driving on the Golden Gate bridge, and steal their identities, becoming human. Apep whispers something to one of the bikers, revealed later to be information on Prince Rapses's whereabouts. Later that night Apep comes across Nefertina driving the Hot-Ra, and recognizes it as the royal chariot of the sun, making him realize that the prince must be close. They attack Nefertina and the Hot-Ra, but Nefertina manages to defeat all of the Desert Princes, crashing the Hot-Ra in the process. Nefertina steals a bike to run away from Apep, but crashes into an alley. Apep shares a moment with Nefertina, surprised that she was a woman, and enamored by her skill and beauty, says he will come back for her after completing a task. They visit Scarab, and catch him by surprise. Apep asks for his help on capturing Rapses, and Scarab "advertises" Apep as a star, making him star on music videos and commercials to attract Presley's attention. The plan sure enough works, grabbing his attention, after a small ad asking for a boy over 11, but under 13 years of age, that felt like he was a born leader, to participate in some tryouts to become a new member of the Desert Princes, at Golden Gate Park. Seeing the ads, Nefertina feels like something is wrong, and attacks the Desert Princes at their base. Apep tells her to join him in a ride, to spend time together, and tells her to be his queen. Nefertina reveals to him that she is Rapses's guardian. Horrified that the woman he fell for serves his enemy; Apep snaps, capturing Nefertina, holding her hostage. Presley arrives at Golden Gate park the next day, where he is being ambushed by Apep and the rest of the Desert Princes. Ultimately, Apep and his team are double crossed by Scarab, wanting to take Prince Rapses's spirit for himself. Apep takes Presley away, followed by Nefertina, who offers him a choice. To race together with their motorcycles, and if she wins, she takes Presley back. If she loses, Apep takes both her and the prince. Apep agrees, but as they start racing, Nefertina accidentally falls off the Golden Gate bridge, and Apep tries to save her, jumping down from the bridge, taking the blow for her, telling her that he raced to win her, not lose her. Apep then returns to the Western Gate, alongside the rest of the Desert Princes.
After Nefertina wished upon a star to find someone who loved her, Apep returns from the Western Gate. During an ambush from Scarab, her and and the Mummies are cornered inside a tunnel, after Heka commanded some Shabties do block one of the exits using dynamite. Apep and two members of the Desert Princes suddenly arrive to save Nefertina and the rest of the Mummies, defeating Scarab and his Shabties. Apep locates Presley's house and asks for one of the Desert Princes to stay close to it, while the rest are looking for Nefertina. Soon enough, they find the Mummies and follow them but manage to lose them once more, after a small accident involving a road cleaner vehicle. Meanwhile Joe and Bob chase after them, but Apep attacks them in his snake form, scaring Joe and making him faint. Nefertina leaves the Sphinx in secret, going on the same beach they first met with Apep. Apep is also there, knowing Nefertina would be there. Apep once again proposes to her to be his. Despite her own feelings towards the serpent, Nefertina refuses, saying her duties lie with Rapses's protection. Apep refuses to let her go, and will not let stand Rapses stand between them. Apep once again visits Scarab, offering to bring Presley to him. Apep sneaks into Presley's home, kidnapping him. Khati tries to stop him, but Apep tells her she'll find him where "the great ships float without water". Apep reveals to Presley that he has no intention to hurt him, and that he will be seen as a hero in Nefertina's eyes. Khati tries to tell the Mummies of Presley's location, pointing them at a ship out of water. Apep delivers Presley to Scarab, but then turns on him, revealing that he was using him as a means to save Presley himself, a future wedding gift for Nefertina. Scarab attacks Apep, defeating him. Apep revealed his plan to Nefertina, offering to make up for his mistake, and try to save Presley once more, with the help of the Mummies. During the fight with Scarab, Apep constricts him, giving the Mummies time to escape with the prince. The ship goes through the Western Gate before the sun rises, locking Apep and Scarab inside. It's unknown what happened to Apep afterwards.
Apep appears in this episode in stock footage, seen in the Golden Gate Park fight from Desert Chic.
Personality
Apep is a violent force, not hesitating to harm anyone to get what he wants. Apep is, however, a good leader, leading the Desert Princes. Apep is also a liar and a trickster, shown to lie about his true intentions and plans. Despite that, Apep is also seen showing respect, compassion and love for people, specifically Nefertina, falling in love with her. Apep has also shown that he is capable of doing good, saving both Nefertina from certain death, as well as Presley himself from the hands of Scarab, despite their history.
Powers and Abilities
Apep is shown to have a strong and somewhat elastic body, using it to constrict or tackle people. Apep also has a sharp rattle at the end of his tail. Apep, like other members of the Desert Princes, can also shapeshift into a human. Apep posseses enhanced physical strength and durabilty, being able to take many fatal hits that would kill a normal person. Apep can also spit fire and has some basic knowledge of magic.
Gallery
Production Art
Desert Chic
Apep knocking a member of the Desert Princes biker gang down.
Apep reveals himself.
Apep about to steal the biker gang member's identity.
Apep on a bike.
Apep changing his form.
Apep's human form, "Pep".
Apep spitting fire.
Apep with Scarab.
Apep staring in a music video.
Apep staring in a "Got Pep?" commercial.
Apep staring in a "Pepsicle" commercial.
Apep's "Desert Prince" ad.
Apep with Scarab.
Apep riding a bike with Nefertina.
Nefertina hugging Apep.
Apep attacking Nefertina.
Close up of Apep's face.
Apep with Presley.
Apep trying to save Nefertina from falling to her doom.
Cobra Strike Pep figure with snake parts by Kenner.
Cobra Strike Pep figure without snake parts by Kenner.
Cobra Strike Pep figure packaging.
Trivia
Although not seen, Apep is mentioned by Ja-Kal in Sleep Walk Like an Egyptian. Ja-Kal says, "Apophis will soon swallow the disk of the sun, and Ra will hide his face". Ja-Kal is referring to an eclipse, and Apophis is yet another ancient name used for Apep.
This is further supported by the fact that in ancient Egyptian mythology, Ra and Apep were mortal enemies, having many battles.
Apep is the only villain (outside of Scarab and a Shabti) to have a toy made of him.
Apep in Egyptian mythology was the complete opposite of Ra: darkness, evil, and chaos. Storytellers said that every day Apep must lay below the horizon and not persist in the mortal kingdom. Apep was also said to surround the Earth and his roar would cause the underworld to rumble.
