Cobra Command
| Cobra | |
|---|---|
Logo of Cobra
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher |
Marvel Comics Devil's Due Publishing IDW Publishing |
| First appearance | G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero |
| Created by | Larry Hama |
| In-story information | |
| Type of organization | Terrorist military group |
| Base(s) | See Bases |
| Leader(s) | Commander: Cobra Commander Emperor: Serpentor Weapons supplier: Destro Director of intelligence: Baroness Chief of science: Doctor Mindbender |
| Agent(s) | Crimson Guard co-leaders: Tomax Crimson Guard co-leaders: Xamot Ninja bodyguard: Storm Shadow Primary field commander: Major Bludd Anti-armor specialist: Scrap-Iron Dreadnoks leader: Zartan Dreadnoks 2nd in command: Zarana Dreadnoks 3rd in command: Zandar |
Cobra (sometimes referred to as Cobra Command) is the nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro action figure toy-line G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6, as well as in related media.
Cobra was first introduced during the launch of the toy-line G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero in mid-1982. The toy-line was accompanied by a Marvel Comics series, written by Larry Hama, and an animated television series by Sunbow and Marvel Productions. Each series portrayed the G.I. Joe team the same way, however, the origin and portrayal of Cobra has differed in each of them.
Marvel Comics used the Cobra concept, with the name having been invented by Archie Goodwin. When Marvel brought Cobra into the Hasbro story-line, they were reluctant to make toys of the villains, believing that they would not sell. According to Jim Shooter, "later...villains became 40% of their volume."
All members of the Cobra organization are portrayed as to be fighting against G.I. Joe, however, there are several internal power struggles within the group.
Cobra Commander - The leader and founder of the Cobra organization. His face is mostly hidden, either with a hood, with only his eyes visible, or with a featureless, high-tech battle helmet. In the Sunbow cartoon, this concealment was said to be used in order to hide inhuman disfigurement, but it was discovered later that it was actually done to maintain the secret of his civilian identity - he was revealed to be an agent from a race of reptilian serpent people known as "Cobra-La". In the comic, he is regarded as the most dangerous man on Earth because of the extent of his ability to attract followers. Only the Baroness and Destro have seen his face.
Serpentor - The Cobra emperor, created through a breakthrough in cloning research by Doctor Mindbender. The process used DNA extracted from the remains of ruthless military leaders, including Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Attila the Hun, Vlad Tepes (cartoon only), Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Genghis Khan, and Sgt. Slaughter. In the comics, Storm Shadow is the tenth and only live source of DNA instead of Sgt. Slaughter. In addition to his genetic disposition, an early experiment also gave him access to the brain patterns of G.I. Joe HALO jumper Ripcord, allowing him to use their strategies against them. Serpentor was said to have been killed by Zartan, only to be revived by a splinter group known as the Coil. Serpentor was killed by Cobra Commander after his revival by the Coil.
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Wikipedia