Cobra Commander

Code Name:

Enemy Leader

version 1.5 (Swivel Arm)

Desimone Guide: #16

Tomart's Guide: #GI5135 (swivel arm)

Carded Figure

Cobra Commander's Filecard

Biography from the G.I.Joe Comics Homepage

Figure Description:

This swivel-arm version was released carded as part of the second series (1983). The swivel-arm Cobra Commander was available in stores in 1984 and was discontinued domestically in 1985.

At some point - perhaps 1986 or 1987 - Cobra Commander was available directly from Hasbro Direct - as the filecards have the glossy red backing that all filecards from Hasbro Direct have.

Versions of Cobra Commander:

• Cobra Commander (1982)
• Cobra Commander v1.5 (1983) (Swivel Arm)
• Cobra Commander v2 (1984)
• Cobra Commander v3 (1987)
• Cobra Commander v4 (1991)
• Cobra Commander v5 (1991)
• Cobra Commander v6 (1993)
• Cobra Commander v7 (1994)
• Cobra Commander v8 (1997)
• Cobra Commander v9 (2000)
• Cobra Commander v10 (2001)
• Cobra Commander v11 (2002)
• Cobra Commander v12 (2002)
• Cobra Commander v13 (2002)
• Cobra Commander v14 (2003) (Convention)
• Cobra Commander v15 (2003)
• Cobra Commander v16 (2003)
• Cobra Commander v17 (2004)
• Cobra Commander v18 (2004)
• Cobra Commander v19 (2004)
• Cobra Commander v20 (2005)
• Cobra Commander v21 (2005)
• Cobra Commander v22 (2005)
• Cobra Commander v23 (2005)
• Cobra Commander v24 (2007)
• Cobra Commander v25 (2007)
• Cobra Commander v26 (2007)
• Cobra Commander v27 (2008)
• Cobra Commander v28 (2008)
• Cobra Commander v29 (2008)
• Cobra Commander v30 (2008)
• Cobra Commander v31 (2008)
• Cobra Commander v32 (2008)
• Cobra Commander v33a (2008)
• Cobra Commander v33b (2008)

Accessories:

Cobra Commander came with a black laser pistol.

Click the link to see the figure with its weapon - All Geared Up!

Variations:

When the old version of Cobra Commander was replaced in 1983, the straight-arms were replaced with arms that could swivel at the bicep. Also, the date stamp on the figure was changed from "1982" to "82-83". While technically only a variation, the changes are substantive enough to consider this a new version. However, as many people consider this only a variation, we have chosen to list this figure as version 1.5, rather than version 2.

The filecards that came with the Cobra Commanders from Hasbro Direct have a glossy red backing, like all filecards from Hasbro Direct, while the filecards that came with the carded Cobra Commander do not.

Body Construction:

When the figure was released in 1982, except for the arms, the body construction was original. The only parts from previous molds were his arms, which were originally used on Cobra Officer (v1.5).

The back of Cobra Commander's torso is interesting to note, as it has a groove in the back where his laser pistol could snap in and be carried.

Note that the figure's head only turns left and right - it does not allow the head to look up and down. The heads only turned left and right until the the swivel ball head that was introduced in 1985 (Series Four).

The molds of the torso, arms, waist, and legs of this Cobra Commander were re-used in 1984 for the Hooded Cobra Commander (version 2).

International Variants:

In the United Kingdom and Europe, the swivel-arm version of Cobra Commander was molded in red with black highlights, renamed Red Laser and packaged with a red version of the HAL laser cannon.

In 1992 in China, the figure was released carded in China. While at first glance the figure looks exactly like the U.S. release, the Chinese version was stamped "Made in China". The U.S. version of the figure was stamped "Made in Hong Kong". Also, this version of the figure came with a different handgun.