2022 Cobra Commander

In 1997, Hasbro planned to release a newly colored Cobra Commander figure.  The release was going to use the classic 1983 mold and color it a deep, dark Cobra blue and give it golden highlights.  It was both an homage to the Hooded Cobra Commander coloring and also a needed repaint of a figure that, really, didn't get a lot of use.  The Cobra Commander mold had been used for Chinese releases as recently as 1994.  Other figures in that series would later appear.  But, for some reason, Hasbro could either not locate the original Cobra Commander mold or it was damaged and unusable.  Regardless, the 1997 release of the character used the 1987 mold.  Then, for the next decade, Hasbro released the Cobra Commander character a multitude of times.  But, it was never in his classic 1983 look.  While Hasbro remade figures like Mutt, Lady Jaye and Scrap Iron, they never bothered to make a new 1983 Cobra Commander mold.  

The reasons for this are likely just tied to money.  Hasbro would sell 20,000 sets of 6 figures to Toys R Us if the Cobra Commander was an expensive, remade 1983 figure or if it was an easily accessible repaint of the 1992 Talking Battle Commanders mold.  So, they had no incentive to really revisit the original Cobra Commander mold.  I don't agree with the premise.  But, at least there's some business reasoning behind it.  Leaving one of the most iconic molds in the Joe line's history, though, did seem like a misstep.  But, the helmeted look was parroted in both the JvC era figures and the Anniversary style releases.

When Factory Customs became a thing in the late 2000's, the focus was on army builders.  But, one of the earliest figures made was a re-do of the 1983 Snake Eyes.  This figure was repainted into a variety of colors: almost exclusively as Cobra characters.  This release proved there was a market for underserved characters, even if they used molds that Hasbro had repainted nearly a dozen times.  So, the quiet calls for the classic Cobra Commander to return began.  But, the Joe market slimmed in the early 2010's and only a handful of new factory custom molds really appeared.  Around 2016 or so, Red Laser Army joined Black Major as a second factory custom faction.  RLA was heavily character focused and was glad to create obscure characters and figures for their library.  With RLA producing a couple of dozen figures per year, the calls for Cobra Commander to return grew louder.  But, again, they were simply not to be.

As 2021 ended, Hasbro debuted the Skystriker as a Haslab.  After a few slow weeks of sales, Hasbro tossed in a Cobra three pack of figures. Among them was, finally!, a 1983 Cobra Commander figure.  The Haslab figure was going to feature the poorer, but collector loved Mickey Mouse logo.  But, the appearance of the mold in this set all but guaranteed that we would see a wide release Cobra Commander in 2022.  And, in the late summer of that year, Hasbro delivered a carded Cobra Commander figure.  With it, Hasbro produced a toy that is very much the definitive figure for the character.

The original 1983 Cobra Commander figure is extremely well done.  However, as they head into their fifth decade of existence, the original figures have become overly brittle and tend to discolor with even a hint of heat or light exposure that occurred during their lifetimes.  So, premium Cobra Commander figures demand premium prices.  And, even if dropping over $100 isn't a concern for you, the reality is that the purchase is still going to be fragile and not something you're going to want to take out into the garden for some photos all that often.  Enter this 2022 version.  It's everything the 1983 figure is, plus a little more.  It is fresh and bright.  And, his thumbs are flexible and aren't going to snap with slight pressure.

The aesthetic of the figure is nearly identical to the 1983 original.  The bright blue is in line with the vintage color.  And, he features black and red highlights that offset the silver facemask.  The Pulse figure, though, also adds in some white details.  There is a white patch on his head.  And, his waist detailing is also white.  It's a small add.  But, it brings a ton of new color to this mold.  In comparison, the 1983 now looks a little basic as it lacks the coloring to really stand out.  It's a nice differentiation between the two figures.  It's different enough to matter.  But, it's similar enough that the figures are completely interchangeable.  And, for a modern remake, that works.  Had we gotten a dozen 1983 Cobra Commander figures released between 1997 and 2005, I'd be more critical of one that's such a close homage.  But, really, a new Cobra Commander to replace the original was badly needed.  And, Hasbro delivered upon that quite well.

This Cobra Commander is odd in that he is not carded with his classic "hair dryer" gun that appears on his card art.  Instead, he is given a new rifle that is based on a cartoon  design.  It's actually pretty nice.  Personally, I don't see it as a fit for Cobra Commander.  But, it does look excellent with the Baroness.  But, collectors were not to worry as the iconic weapon was still included in the total package.  All the Pulse releases included a tissue paper bundle of additional accessories with every 2 figure set.  And, for Cobra Commander, the extra gear was a wealth of amazing additions to the Joe line.  Sure, he got his classic pistol.  But, there were also 2 other pistols based on cartoon designs.  It also included Cobra branded binoculars, 2 computer pads that are detonators and timers and a golden Cobra staff.  Finally, the Commander features an abundance of gear that was worthy of and sensical to the character.  Best of all, none of it will snap his thumbs.

As this figure is a recent release, it's not really something that has tons of memories associated with it.  Sadly, missing out on this mold during the heyday of the repaint era prevented it from really mattering in my collection.  I was far more likely to use another Cobra Commander mold because there were so many of them and those figures weren't brittle or discolored like my 1983 version.  With this 2022 release in hand, though, I have found myself photographing it quite a lot.  The original Cobra Trooper mold is one of my personal favorites.  And, this Cobra Commander mold is the perfect complement to it.  So, I do use this Cobra Commander more than pretty much all of the other Pulse era releases because he brings life to photos using repaints/remakes of other, classic molds.  It's nice to be able to use Cobra Commander again, even if he was never a really big part of my collection.

I've been very critical of the Pulse releases.  I don't hold many of them in all that high of esteem.  It's not true for this Cobra Commander, though.  I feel he is, exactly, what the Pulse figures should have all been.  He is a solid replacement for a very expensive, brittle and easily discolored vintage figure.  Of the Pulse figures, only Stormshadow also fits those criteria.  (Only, Stormshadow got used quite a bit in the repaint era and has some alternative figures for collectors.  The Commander didn't.)  The Pulse era got a lot of things wrong.  But, they got this Cobra Commander right.  And, they should be lauded for that.  My lament is that we didn't get more figures like him in the series.  But, like the legacy of the repaint era, we do have to enjoy it when Hasbro got a figure really correct and hit on all accounts.

Of the three Hasbro Pulse figure packs, I felt the Duke and Cobra Commander was the best value.  The figures featured tons of paint applications.  And, the extra gear was abundant and matched to the characters.  The price, since you had to pay for shipping, was still, probably, too high.  But, it's also the reality of the collector based product.  Of course, though, the packs didn't sell through, even with a raised limit of 5 per collector.  Hasbro sold off their remaining overstock of the packs to other online retailers.  There, they still sit, unsold.  And, while I'd love to pick up a couple of extras of this pack, I just can't find $50 worth of value in having those extras.  I had hopes the overstock would show up at Ollie's in 2023.  But, they only got the leftover Wal Mart Hiss Tanks.  We'll see what 2025 holds.  At $18 or so for the 2 pack, I'd buy a whole lot of extras.  But, so would everyone else.  In the summer of 2024, the packs were dropped to about $30 by some online retailers.  Even the 25% discount wasn't enough to move the product, though.  And, I still have just the one loose set.

My fear on this figure (and all the Pulse era releases) is that they won't age very well.  The 2000's Joes are discoloring at alarming rates.  (I don't think there are any 2005 Scrap Irons left whose don't have discolored upper arms.)  And, many of the figures will crack now that they've aged a bit.  The soft plastic of the 2020's figures is similar.  So, I fully expect to find this Cobra Commander with dark upper arms or yellowed legs when I take him out for photos in 2031.  And, that is one reason I'm not too keen on spending a ton to acquire multiples of the figure.  I hope I'm wrong.  But, Hasbro seems more interested in selling remakes of existing figures to replace discolored versions from just a few years prior.  But, if Cobra Commander some day becomes available again, that wouldn't be the worst fate in the world.

Hasbro has, so far, released this mold twice.  While the Mickey Mouse figure from the Skystriker is considered the "premium" figure by the community, I also think that it exists in very similar numbers to this Pulse figure.  We don't know the Pulse figure's production numbers.  But, they were high enough to not sell out while also low enough for a few, small, independent toy dealers to buy up the remainder.  In the early 2000's, figures like this saw production runs between 16,600 and 20,000.  We know there were around 16,500 Skystriker figures.  So, I would expect this Pulse figure to exist in slightly larger numbers than that.  But, it will be interesting to see which figure commands collector attention in the future.  The Mickey Mouse figure holds cachet as people associate it with "rare" figures.  But, this Pulse figure is substantially better.  We'll see which wins out.

Since this figure's release, factory custom makers have also tackled the Cobra Commander mold.  There are now dozens of colorings of it available: with both helmet and hooded heads for each scheme.  Some are amazing, some are inventive and some are just weird.  But, if you wanted a rainbow of Cobra Commander figures, you now have options outside of Hasbro, too.  Super 7 has even tackled the character in multiple releases in the first few waves of their ReAction+ line.  Personally, I think the head is very off.  But, you might find additional value looking at the character in this new styled format.

With this figure still available for "retail" pricing, it's extremely tough to find open market sales.  If you do luck upon one, though, this Cobra Commander is pretty worthless.  You can get the set of him and Duke for under $20.  But, it might take you 6 to 8 months to find someone willing to take that kind of hit.  But, the 2000's era Toys R Us figures were often below retail for quite a while before they took off and are now overly expensive.  With this Cobra Commander being so well done, it's likely to have a following in future years.  But, nothing is going to happen until the retail stock is bought up and people who want the figure have no option but to buy second hand.

1997 Cobra Commander - Random Photos of the Day

A decade after the debut of the 1987 Cobra Commander, Hasbro released a repaint.  Originally, the figure in the 1997 Cobra Command set was supposed to be the 1983 Cobra Commander mold.  It was supposed to be a helmeted version of the classic character but in the color scheme of the 1984 Hooded mail away.  It would have finally gotten collectors a Cobra blue version of the faction's titular leader.  (A gap that still exists today!)  But, mold shenanigans reared their head and Hasbro could not locate the original Cobra Commander mold.  (It had been used as recently as 1994, even!)  So, they went with the less popular 1987 mold.  Instead of the metallic silver of the original, though, Hasbro kept the Cobra blue with gold highlight motif.  And, collectors were gifted the 1997 Cobra Commander.

I looked at this figure almost 8 years ago.  But, at the time, I really didn't have much to say about him.  The profile was a rush job as, I still hadn't really found a great use for the figure.  Since then, I've found value in the 1997 Cobra Commander.  The color scheme is classic.  And, between factory customs and the Pulse era releases, there are now more options for classically blue Cobras who can match up with a properly colored Cobra Commander.  So, I've had more occasion to use the 1997 figure in my photos.

The real story of this figure is the intricacy of the paint masks.  Against the dark blue, the figure features gold, red and black details.  The layering of gold and red on the chest is especially impressive.  Hasbro really worked hard to deliver high quality paint jobs on the 1997 and 1998 figures.  After that, the retail masks got more sparse while the finely detailed molds became the domain of premium priced convention figures.  The main reason the 1997 and 1998 series have held up so well is due to the complex paint masks that give even bland character designs and base colors tremendous additional depth.

It's amazing how much of a difference the air hose on the figure's head makes.  Sans this accessory, the head is bland and strikingly plain.  The hose adds a tremendous amount of detail.  But, the hose was not included with the 1997 figure.  So, you have to take one from a 1987 or 2001 figure to make the 1997 figure whole.  The mouth hole, though, is shortened on this version.  So, the hose is a precarious fit at best.  And, it isn't practical to actually use the figure with the hose attached as it will just fall off and get lost in the weeds, forever.

I miss the days when Hasbro would take weird chances with figures.  They missed way more than they hit.  But, when they did hit, like with this Cobra Commander, the results were spectacular.  The first couple of waves of the Super7 ReAction+ line were too staid and predictable for me.  I'm glad that they deviated a bit with some weird repaints as SDCC exclusives.  I assume the lack of previews of future waves was just due to the uncertainty of...everything.  I'm holding out hope that they start to get a little more daring and can come up with some weird combos of mold and parts that creates an unexpected classic like this 1997 release.

Rarities - Unproduced Brazilian Figures

While Estrela produced around 150 total figures in their exclusive Comandos Em Acao line, they  had intended for there to be more.  In the 1990's, Estrela showcased 5 figures in various forms that ended up never getting released.  These figures not only appeared as cross sells on various cardbacks, but even appeared in catalogs used to sell the products.  The 5 figures were all 1991 releases from Hasbro.  The figures were: Grunt, Crimson Guard Immortal, Mercer, Tracker and Cobra Commander.  (Their names in Brazil would have been Arsenal, Flagelo, Desertor, Correnteza and Tirano.)

Hasbro's 1991 figures were one of the rare years that didn't see a second year of release.  This was due to Hasbro trying to reboot the line in 1992 with familiar characters.  So, 1991 molds became common sights in later repaint lines and international releases.  You'll note that all of the figures that appear in the Estrela promotional material shown below are Hasbro made figures and not the Estrela figures.  So, this marketing propaganda was made prior to Estrela having their own wares to photograph.  

You'll often find international guides that list these figures as being available in Brazil.  But, many of these were from the early days of collecting before it was determined that these figures never saw production.  One early guide even features a few Hasbro figures in the placeholders for these names.  And, one thing that's constant in the Joe line is that mistakes and errors from the early collecting years are often repeated and rarely corrected.

Below are two promo photos.  One features just the 5 cancelled figures.  The other shows them interspersed with some other figures that were released in Brazil.  Seeing them all in one shot suggests to me that they were planned as a new wave at one point.  But, the entire wave was halted.  Maybe Hasbro didn't send the molds for whatever reason.  Or, it could have just been that Estrela determined they didn't want another wave.  These figures would have appeared closer to the end of the Comandos Em Acao line.  And, this was the time when Estrela was starting to move away from the standard carded figures that had defined their line and towards the themed subsets of figures that featured bigger cards and more gimmicks.

It's interesting to note that all 5 of these unproduced figures from Estrela did, later, appear as exclusive Funskool releases.  So, Hasbro did recoup more of their cost as they moved the molds around the world.  And, the molds weren't in an unusable state for Esrela.  But, the reasons for these figures being cancelled in Brazil remain lost.  

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander - Around The Web

We were introduced to Cobra Commander in the early pages of G.I. Joe #1.  At the time, he was wearing his casual hood.  Later, he donned the battle helmet that would become the basis for his first action figure in late 1982.  Two years later, though, kids were graced with a new Cobra Commander, this time wearing the hood.  This figure was only available as a mail away.  But it was available for about a decade.  So, the dealers from the mid 1990's who wanted people to pay a premium for this figure because it was "rare" were taking advantage of naïve collectors.  Fortunately, Ebay rectified that as it became obvious there were plenty of Hooded Cobra Commanders to go around.  

The massive overstock that was still available back in 2012 when I profile this figure, though, has dried up.  So, while this version of the Commander is still cheaper than a mint 1983 helmeted figure, you'll pay a premium for it today.  Being a key figure of, perhaps, the most important character in the line, there's tons of content on the figure out there.  Here's some of the best from around the web.

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander Profile

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by dreadnokdread

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander Photos at the Attica Gazette

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by Scarrviper

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander at Nekoman's Viper Pit

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by viper_space

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by Roland da Thompson Gunner

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by cobra_rules_cybertron

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by Slipstream80

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander at JoeADay.com 

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by master bungle

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by Nekoman

1984 Hooded Cobra Commander by Sintechness

2005 Comic Pack Cobra Commander - Clear

The Star Wars line has long been about scene specific figures.  Collectors clamour for their favorite characters as they appeared in just a few seconds of screen  time.  For the first 20 years or so of the Hasbro Stars Wars renaissance, Hasbro was happy to oblige.  One of the weird offerings, though, came in the line's earliest days.  You could buy some Lay's chip brands and send away for a clear "Spirit of Obi-Wan" figure.  Personally, I didn't really see the appeal of such a limited figure.  But, I was a sucker.  And, I mailed away for one of the figures.  (And, like everyone else, I actually thought the figure would have some future collectability due to the obscure release method.  Oops.)  The translucent blue plastic that was used was a pretty solid representation of the character's appearance on screen.  And, over the next decade, Hasbro would release a cornucopia of "spirit" figures using the same basic plastic.  Finally, in 2005, though, the concept was brought to the G.I. Joe line.  Instead of the figure representing a ghost, though, we were given an interpretation of Cobra Commander as his image is projected through a camera.  For a figure mold that had been a bit overdone by 2005, though, this approach of a clear Cobra Commander was an interesting and refreshing choice for a figure release.

Of course, the real question is what can you do with a translucent version of Cobra Commander?  With no paint, you can't really pretend it's a stealth suit.  (Like you can with the clear, Arctic Mirage figure.)  So, you're really left with the figure as a projection of the Commander who can gloat in front of his enemies and inspire his troopers: all while he is safe inside a basement bunker where he can feel safe.  Cobra's armies, in their brainwashed glory, fall for this cowardice.  Which, speaks to the gullibility of those who the Commander recruited from small town America.  The issue with a projection figure is that you need something to project the image.  This can be accomplished in various ways.  But, the best is just to use a Tele-Viper and his camera/gun.

And, that's about the end of the use for this figure.  But, like the figure's Star Wars cousins, the appeal lies not in the quality of the actual toy and it's playability, but the possibility of filling a very niche purpose.  In the right setting, this figure can look great.  Some Star Wars collectors have built amazing displays using the holographic figures.  But, you don't really see these set pieces in the Joe world.  Joe fans will display their figures standing on parade.  Or, maybe, on vehicles or in the few bases.  You don't see too many custom scenes that are built, specifically, to showcase a small selection of figures.  It's just a difference in the collector base.  And, is why there wasn't a huge upswell of support for more translucent Joe figures.

Originally, the Comic Packs were going to continue their numerical procession.  And, this Comic Pack #9 was planned for a much earlier release date.  But, the Comic Packs were kind of DOA by the end of 2004.  The Oktober Guard packs were under-produced.  And, Hasbro had to quickly retool and move up some more interesting packs in the release schedule.  While these diversified the figure releases, they didn't really help improve the lot of the Comic Packs at retail and all of the non-October Guard waves were pretty much clearance and discount store fodder.  For a while, it appeared that the pack with this Cobra Commander, Scarlett on her skis and a lame attempt at "Breaker" would end up cancelled.  But, Hasbro was able to pigeon-hole it into the initial waves of the DTC launch after the Joe line failed at retail in 2005.  

Collectors were lukewarm to this pack, though.  The contemporary packs to #9 featured some less used molds and had more potential for great figures.  But, none of the releases actually caught on with collectors.  And, instead, they all ended up clearance fodder, too.  I only acquired this pack because they were half price or less at the old Hasbro Toy Shop.  The Breaker in the set was useless.  Though, the Scarlett actually turned out kind of nice.  Sadly, though, she badly discolors and is near impossible to find in decent condition these days.  I kept the Cobra Commander because he was unsellable in 2010 or so.  No one wanted him.  So, he remained in my collection even as his contemporaries were dumped for pennies on the dollar.  Now, though, I'm glad I held onto the figure: if for nothing more than a conversation piece.

Did you know that even translucent plastic can discolor?  Well, it can.  And, you'll often find this figure with darker upper arms than lower.  The upper arms of the 2000's figures are always the first to go.  So, it's likely that other parts of this figure will discolor, too.  And, it's pretty much guaranteed that no mint versions of this figure will exist in another two decades.  The darkening isn't really detrimental to the appeal of this figure.  The main issue is that the figures don't discolor uniformly.  So, you get two tone figures that don't look all that good.  Once all the pieces go, though, it will be back to a solid looking figure.  The soft plastic that Hasbro uses in the 2000's doesn't hold up all that well.  And, it likely that vintage figures will hold up better into the 2040's and 2050's than these newer figures from the same century.

The original body mold for this Cobra Commander debuted in 1992 on the Talking Battle Commanders Cobra Commander figure.  In 1993, the figure was repainted in black and also given a new back piece that wasn't the flat version used to accommodate the talking backpack.  In 2000, the figure was repainted in dark blue.  But, the flat back from 1992, somehow, returned.  The same mold was used in the 2003 convention set.  In 2004, Hasbro sculpted the new head sculpt that you see on this clear figure.  It debuted in a Comic Pack and was then repainted in a coppery red color in the Imperial Processional set.  Then, finally, this translucent figure appeared.  The flat back ruins many of the figure.  Though, the 2003 and Processional figures were aided by the inclusion of capes that hide the multi-holed backpiece.  I don't really consider the new head to be an improvement or a detriment when compared to the original head.  It's just different.  But, I do think that it looks the best on this translucent release.

For some, unknown, reason, Hasbro also updated this figure to have 1984 Roadblock arms.  2000's era Hasbro loved the 1984 Roadblock arms and used them way too often.  They are scrawny and undefined.  And, when paired with a rather bulky mold that debuted in 1992, they look out of place.  Just months before this Comic Pack figure was released, Hasbro used the original arms on the Imperial Processional figure.  So, there was no real reason why they couldn't also have been used for this Cobra Commander.  It's less of an issue since this figure has such a limited purpose.  But, it's just one of those weird choices that Hasbro made in the early 2000's.  And, we really don't know why.

This Cobra Commander includes his classic 1983 hair dryer pistol.  While it's not a great fit with the bulkier mold from 1992, it is iconic to Cobra Commander.  But, in another baffling move, the weapon is cast in black plastic.  So, you have a translucent figure holding an opaque weapon.  You just can't reconcile that.  The upside is that black hair dryers were never all that common.  So, extras were always welcome...especially since the Processional Cobra Commander didn't come with a weapon.  It would have been nice to have gotten the classic weapon in translucent blue plastic.  But, it doesn't make much sense for a projection to be holding a gun.  A staff or pointer?  Sure.  But, the gun isn't necessary.  So, it's one of the weird inclusions that's useful to have around, even if it's useless with the actual figure for which it's intended.

This figure has turned out to be kind of hard to find.  It wasn't a pack that collectors army built.  And, it was released during one of the lowest points in Joe fandom.  Today, this is a $22 to $30 figure based on timing and the number in the market.  Dealers tend to get closer to $30.  But, the figure has cachet and sells for a slight premium just due to the uniqueness of the design.  It's certainly not a figure that you need in your collection.  But, it is a neat set piece that can help define a display.  I, certainly, wouldn't pay a premium for one, especially with the spectre of discoloration looming so large in the figure's future.  But, for a cheap buy, the figure is worth owning.  I've used mine three times in almost 20 years.  But, I paid, maybe, $3 for him.  So, the price was worth it.  I'll leave it to you to determine if today's market also makes him a worthwhile acquisition.

1987 Cobra Commander - Around The Web

I had no idea that I had not taken a photo of the 1987 Cobra Commander figure since 2008.  But, that was the case.  It's rare for a figure as prominent as that to go so long without appearing in some scene I concocted.  And, as this figure was an integral part of my collection during my final years of playing with Joe, it has an emotional connection with me.  It just goes to show that the vastness of the Joe line allows for even famously good figures to simply slip away.

1987 Cobra Commander Profile

1987 Cobra Commander by gen_liederkranz

1987 Cobra Commander by battlearmordad1

1987 Cobra Commander by Attica Gazette

1987 Cobra Commander by yojoe_collectibles

1987 Cobra Commander by 00zxcvb

1987 Cobra Commander by vader9900

1987 Cobra Commander by jeremie_capitaine

1987 Cobra Commander Flesh Neck Variant by Hit and Run

1987 Cobra Commander by yojoe_collectibles

1987 Cobra Commander by yorktownjoe

1987 Cobra Commander by fun_time_at_serpentors_lair

1987 Cobra Commander by yojoe_collectibles

1987 Cobra Commander by total_madness_kustom

1987 Cobra Commander by Mate Mylar

1987 Cobra Commander by yojoe_collectibles

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" Cobra Commander - Around The Web

Comic Packs were a mixed bag.  They were full of pretty bad figures.  But, there were also some pretty good ones.  And, this Fred is one of the best.  The head really captures the essence of the character.  And, more importantly, the head was also compatible with some of the contemporary Cobras released and could be used on Crimson Guard heads to really recreate the concept of "Fred".  These sets were heavily clearanced as they didn't sell well.  So, it was cheap to get extras to use the heads for customs.  That isn't so much the case today.  

There's lots of great content out there on this figure.  Many people have done cool things with it.  So, check out the links below and enjoy!

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" Cobra Commander Profile

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by corpscommandercody

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by dashiellrfairborne

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" at JoeBattleLines.com

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by relinquished1979

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" at JoeADay.com

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by mrmikevinthepit

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by corpscommandercody

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by misterbungle

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by sintechness

2005 Comic Pack "Fred" by corpscommandercody

Top 10 Spring Loaded Accessories

Starting in 1991, Hasbro began to move the standard Joe accessories in a different direction.  Instead of leaving them the static pieces from 1982, they began to incorporate more action into the toys.  At first, it was simple kid interaction where you could flick a missile.  But, soon, it evolved into a series of spring loaded action features that allowed for kids to have their figures interact through propulsion.  While I title this article spring loaded accessories, that's just because the spring loaded pieces dominate Hasbro's offerings.  But, there are a few other gimmicks in the 1990's that are worthy of inclusion as they added interactive elements to G.I. Joe action figures without forcing the figures to be something incompatible with what came before.

So, you will not see Ninja Force on this list as those features were limited to the figures.  You won't see Sky Patrol, either, as the parachutes only worked with proper preparation and was designed as a stand alone toy that was commandeered for Sky Patrol.  This list covers 1991 through 1994 as those were the years when the action feature accessories were dominate.  And, while older collectors tend to revile this gear, the reality is that there are some amazing toys in here that are both tons of fun to play with while also being in line with the look and feel of the Joe line from the decade prior.

10. 1994 Lifeline Grappling Hook

I'm a sucker for grappling hooks.  As a kid, I loved them.  But, I never got any that actually worked.  So, things like Alpine's grappling gun were left to imagination.  Which, was fine.  But, there were times it would have been cool to have actual hooks that could shoot up and grip something.  Enter the 1994 Lifeline.  His grappling launcher is huge and his two pronged hook is, too.  But, you can tie a rope to it and shoot it at rocks, walls or plants and it might actually stick: just like the real thing.  That's  enough for me to view it as an essential accessory.

09. 1991 Eco Warriors Squirt Guns

Among the first of the action feature weapons are the Eco Warriors squirt packs and guns.  Instead of using a spring for their action, these packs can draw up and hold water that is then expelled from the nozzle of the gun when you press on the soft plastic container that is held in place by a harder plastic frame.  For Eco Warriors, this made perfect sense.  And, the water was used in conjunction with the figures as they would change colors when water of hot or cold temperature hit the special paint on the bodies.  The self contained squirt gun was a solid design.  The guns are pretty large, but not so much that they aren't usable.  But, the weapons are very useful and a lot of fun to have around.

08. 1992 Duke Bronco Launcher

So, this toy is dumb, stupid, lame and incredibly fun for any kid in 1992.  Who wouldn't want a missile launcher that a figure can ride?!?  This piece is an integral part of the 1992 Duke's card artwork.  And, it translates very well into the actual toy.  The only downside is that the brown tripod is made of plastic that has turned to glass.  I literally had one crumble to dust, yes, dust, in a box of other launcher parts.  I didn't know what all the dirt was until I found one intact foot.  The one in the photo below spidered all those while lines just from me gently trying to insert the peg into it.  So, using it today isn't overly practical.  But, man, this is just a stupid idea that made for an iconic piece for Duke.

07. 1992 Destro Disc Launcher

The 1992 Destro disc launcher is another one of those ideas that actually kind of works as a toy.  It's similar to Scrap Iron's missile table.  But, this one shoots discs.  The fact that they actually shoot, though, helps sell the idea of the weapon.  The disc launcher looks like something a comic book supervillain would use.  And, Destro is as close to that trope as the G.I. Joe line tends to get.  So, it's a perfect match of character and weapon.

06. 1992 Firefly Top Spinner

This spinner is also ridiculous.  But, as a toy, it works well.  You can set up a bunch of figures on a hard floor and let the ripcord fly.  The top can then knock over the figures.  Hours of fun!

05. 1991 Cobra Commander Drone

So, this thing is either a radio controlled surveillance drone or a buzz bomb depending on which part of the card you read.  But, any way you look at it, this is a little drone with a spring loaded launcher.  The drone is laminated plastic with cardboard pieces.  It's a neat little idea that worked out.  The launcher features a powerful spring.  It is mounted on a bi-pod and is meant as a stationary weapon.  The idea of a drone was rather innovative back in 1991.  So, it's inclusion is akin to things like the JUMP showing up in 1982.  

04. 1992 Eel Robo Shark

Full disclosure: I don't much care for the robo-shark.  In general, I think robots are dumb.  And these things are a pain in the ass for anyone who, like me, tends to army build 1992 or Funskool Eels.  The sharks are huge, sharp and just a pain to store away.  With that Andy Rooney moment past me, though, what kid in 1992 would not have loved a robot shark with a moving tail that shoots a missile out of its mouth?!?  This is the exact type of over the top ridiculousness that Cobra would have created in their descent into super-villainy.  

And, to top it off, the toy is amazing.  It's full of detail.  The tail moves and the mouth opens.  And, it can then shoot a spring loaded missile out of the creature's mouth.  To top it all off, the shark is also a backpack that affixes to the Eel to be used underwater!  Really, this has a case to be number 1.  But, what's a list without some controversy?  And, personally, I find the Flak Viper's missile backpack to be much more useful than the robo-shark.  But, I'm an adult who was in college when this came out.  If I'd have gotten it when I was 9, there's a good chance this is my favorite toy ever created.  So, if you're going to refute me in the placement of this piece, come with some good anecdotes of how it fit into your play and was a major part of your childhood. :)

03. 1992 Cutter Grappling Hook

I'm kind of cheating as there are two grappling hooks on this list.  But, as I said for Lifeline, I'm a sucker for grappling hooks.  As a kid, I used them not just as tools used to scale mountains, walls or buildings.  They were also Batarang type weapons that could be used to apprehend and tie up villains.  I'd use them between vehicles to either tether boats or even just capture an enemy vehicle that was about to outrun the good guys.  For me, the grappling hook was my irrational childhood dream toy because I got one when I was about 9 and it locked in the idea of a hook on a rope that could be used as a tool in most any situation.

I rank Cutter's hook higher for a couple of reasons.  It came first.  So, it has that going for it.  But, more importantly, Cutter's hook has four prongs.  This made it much more likely to actually catch onto something.  I have memories of being a kid and tossing Alpine's grappling hooks into a pile of rocks.  When the figure went to use it, the hook wouldn't catch anything and it would slip out, sending Alpine to his doom.  I had weird rules where if a rope didn't catch, then the Joes couldn't use it.  (I actually had a little, metal four pronged hook that was attached to a long length of white string.  I used this since it worked more often than the Hasbro toys.)  Cutter's hook is comically large.  But, that's what makes it fun.  If the hook hit anyone, it would kill them.  But, honestly, that's a plus in my book.  

In doing this article, I noticed that the tripod for Cutter's launcher looks the same as that included with the 1992 Duke.  The white plastic isn't nearly as brittle as the brown, though.  

02. 1994 Star Brigade Cobra Commander Suction Cup Walker

The 1994 Star Brigade Cobra Commander includes this oddball harness that's attached to a suction cup walker.  It actually works, though.  And, that alone makes it the 2nd best action accessory in the line.  It's a marvel of engineering and also a fun toy.  It's like those old wall walkers you got for birthday prizes except that it's high quality and a lot of fun.  Everyone should have one of these.

01. 1992 DEF Mutt Net Launcher

You really can't go wrong with this contraption.  It is a massive net launcher.  The launcher is fairly large.  But, it stands by itself and looks like something that would launch nets.  The best part is that the included net is massive.  It's large enough to cover an entire figure with plenty left over.  The four corners of the net are anchored.  The top two are attached to the firing missiles and the bottom two corners have weighted balls to hold down the net.  The net is perfect as a stand alone toy and the launcher just adds more play value.  The only downside is that the weight of the four anchors limits how far the launcher can shoot the net.  But, of all the action play features that Hasbro released, this is the best.

Here is a video from corpscommandercody showing the net in action.

This list is my own.  And, while all of these have their merits, I'm sure you have opinions of ones I overlooked, deliberately omitted or just plain ignored.  So, please let me know your favorites.  These were not the toys of my childhood.  So, my appreciation of them is based on what I think I would have liked as a kid and, more importantly, what I really like now.  So, seeing how kids of the day actually felt about them and which were their favorites is definitely something I'd like to hear about.  

2022 SDCC Carded Skystriker Figures

I was really hoping these figures would be released on the old resealable bubble cards that were used for convention figures.  You'll have to tear up the cards to get a set of loose figures, which is what I'm after.  So, that kind of sucks for loose collectors.  

The artwork on the never before carded figures looks pretty weak, though.  It's similar to the fan art inspired stuff we see on Super7 cards.  It's definitely lost the feel of the vintage work.  It's just a bunch of guys (and one girl) standing around.  Meh.  These will definitely look out of place among either vintage carded figures and even the 2022 releases that were based on the standard vintage artwork.

But, these will resell for stupid amounts.  I'm guessing over $300 easy for the Cobra Commander, maybe higher if the vintage market hasn't cratered by the time this is released.  But, man, is his artwork weak.  It's really amazing how much the Ripcord artwork (which is based on the vintage) stands out among the rest of the statues.

1991 Cobra Commander - Around The Web

The 1991 Cobra Commander is an under rated gem.  Few people pay attention to it as it's a non-traditional look for the Commander.  But, the colors are very Cobra and are a great way to have a field ready Cobra Commander.  Being a 1991 figure, he's not overly easy to find.  But, he's still a lot cheaper than a high quality 1983 release.  And, he perfectly matches up with figures from 1991 through 1994.  

There's some nice work on this figure out there.  Much of it shows how this figure can really work as the Commander.  And, you can see how well he does integrate with later figures in the line.

1991 Cobra Commander Profile

Funskool Cobra Commander - 1991 mold

1991 Cobra Commander by yotothejoe

1991 Cobra Commander by jogunwarrior

1991 Cobra Commander by tituslester32

1991 Cobra Commander at JoeADay.com

1991 Cobra Commander by general_liederkranz

1991 Cobra Commander by Wes Ferguson

1991 Cobras at The Dragon Fortress

1991 Cobra Commander by slipstream80

1991 Cobra Commander by jogunwarrior

1991 Cobra Commander by fun_time_at_serpentorslair

1991 Cobra Commander by gen_liederkranz

Rarities - 2009 Funskool Carded Figures

Funskool stopped producing Joe figures in 2004.  Sales had been slipping for a while.  So, the line was cancelled even though Funskool had some additional new figures slated to appear later that year.  However, in 2009, Funskool fired up the molds again in an attempt to cash in on the G.I. Joe movie.  They re-introduced several figures from molds they still had in their possession.  While there were no "new" figures produced, they did create several more minor variants of their existing paint schemes.  On top of the oddball figure and accessory changes, each figure featured a new cardback with an explosion more akin to the pre-1986 version on Hasbro cards.

These figures were not heavily imported to the US.  Dealers didn't really bother with them as, at the time, most of the figures in the assortments were still pretty common.  And, many US dealers were still dealing with overstock from their Funskool buys more than 5 years earlier.  As there were no "new" figures in the assortment, there wasn't much incentive for anyone to really track them down.  A few people did import some cases.  And, those are the source of most of these figures today.  In 2009, no on really thought that Trip Wire would become a $200 figure.  But, the Funskool market of the 2020's has proven to have a short memory of what were once common and pegwarming figures. 

The assortment that was released doesn't really have a theme beyond the molds that Funskool still had.  We had a pretty good idea of which molds Funskool returned to Hasbro in 2003 just due to the last production run of bagged figures that Funskool ran.  But, seeing Scrap Iron in here was a surprise.  But, we've long known that the 2004 Hasbro Scrap Iron was a brand new sculpt.  So, maybe his retention by Funskool shouldn't have been so unexpected.

The cardbacks were updated to show the new figures that were put into production.  Some feature just 11 figures.  While others feature 17.  There are 18 total figures in the series.  The one figure difference is because Funskool did not put the actual character who you were buying onto the cardback.  So, Scrap Iron doesn't appear on the Scrap Iron cardback while Blaster does.  But, on the Blaster cardback, Scrap Iron does appear but Blaster does not.

Desert Scorpion

Back in February of 2001, the Funskool Desert Scorpion was among the first cheap Funskool figures I ever bought.  The Desert Scorpion is another figure that doesn't have many variants.  It's also a figure that's gotten somewhat expensive in recent years.  This later release doesn't appear to be materially different from the earlier figures, though.  This figure features the 11 back card.

Budo:

Budo has a variety of subtle coloring variants.  He also has an upper arm variant.  You'll note the very dark hair on this version and that his upper arms do not have the red pockets.

Scrap Iron:

In 2004, it was somewhat assumed that Scrap Iron was returned to Funskool.  However, when the 2004 Scrap Iron figure was released by Hasbro, it was obvious that they had made an all new mold for the character.  Funskool kept the figure.  Scrap Iron was among the first Funskool figures to appear in the 1990's.  After he was taken out of production, he appeared again in 2002.  Now, he's also appeared in the 2009/2010 timeline.  

Blaster:

Blaster is one of the biggest and easiest variants to notice.  The Roadblock machine gun has been removed and replaced with a black version of Mercer's rifle.  It makes you wonder if Funskool returned the 1992 Roadblock gun mold to Hasbro when they returned the figure mold.  And, if that's the case, it really makes you wonder why Hasbro didn't release it with either of the 1992 Roadblock repaints they released in 2004 and 2005.

Deep Six:

There's no obvious differences between this Deep Six and those made earlier.  Surely, though, there are slight shading differences.

Dialtone: 

The original Funskool Dialtone has an upper arm variant.  There are color shading differences on his chest, too.  As the Tunnel Rat mold was returned to Hasbro, this 2009 version features different upper arms than the most common early 2000's era figures.

Tripwire:

Tripwire is probably the most desirable figure from the 2009/2010 releases.  While he was always interesting, the figure has taken on a spectacular aftermarket appreciation in recent years.  This late version features the new explosion back but also has a variant filecard.  The 2003 era figures have a more closely cropped picture of Tripwire on the filecard.  The figure itself does have variations on the "Bomb Squad" text on his chest.

General Hawk:

There are many variants on General Hawk's red/orange highlights.  So, it's likely these are different than the earlier releases.  As General Hawk debuted in 2001, most of his figures tend to be of very poor quality and feature bad paint masks and construction issues.  I do need to pick up one of these General Hawks and see if the quality is improved.

Mainframe:

Continuing the theme, Mainframe is pretty similar to his earlier releases.  Funskool Mainframe's are one of the few figures that's not known for its variants.  But, with just grey, black and silver, there's not a lot of color matching to create noticeable differences.

Wild Bill:

Wild Bill also debuted in 2001.  And, there are two main variants as the figure can have either black or silver sunglasses.  For the 2009 releases, all of them I've seen have featured the black glasses.  This is another figure, though, I'd like to compare to my earlier samples to find any other changes.

Croc Master:

Croc Master features quite a few shading differences among his figures.  It appears that the wrist guard on his right arm is a darker grey than earlier figures.  And, his upper arms appear to be changed, too.

Cobra Commander:

The Funskool Cobra Commander figure never really got popular.  That's likely due to the fact that the collectors who knew this mold as the character didn't really come of age until after the era of cheap Funskool was long over.  The original Funskool figure isn't know for variants.  And, this figure appears very similar to the original.

Sci Fi:

Sci Fi is known for his belt color variations.  This version would have to be checked against the earlier figures.  But, it's likely there's another variant in the later production run.

Lifeline:

Lifeline is another once common Funskool figure that has seen a sharp upturn in popularity and pricing in recent years.  I'm not sure why.  This version features yellow arms with a green chest.  I got this same combo back in 2001.  But, this 2009 version likely has color shading differences on his green plastic parts as well as the painted highlights.

Psyche Out:

The Funskool Psyche Out is great because it's an easy and still somewhat cheap way to get a complete version of this figure mold.  The Hasbro version has gotten expensive.  But, the Funskool has stayed affordable.  Sadly, though, the figures made in the early 2000's are starting to badly discolor, even if they've been taken care of.  Hopefully, the 2009 plastic is different.

Dodger:

The Funskool Dodger is fairly obscure.  Even during the Funskool heyday, you didn't see him often.  His face paint looks a bit different than the earlier figures.

Blocker:

Blocker doesn't appear all that different from his original release.  His card art features a weird dart coming out of his gun with some bubbles around it.  There are likely color shading differences between this figure and the earlier releases, though.

Quick Kick:

The Quick Kick mold has been around forever.  And, the Funskool variants have a ton of sash and belt color variants.  

There's the 18 figures that comprise the later run of Funskool figures.  At this point, Funskool could still have these molds and make more figures in the future.  Or, the molds could be gone.  We're not sure.  The fact that classic Joes didn't appear to coincide with the Snake Eyes movie in India, though, implies that there probably isn't a domestic market for these figures any longer.  Though, I wouldn't mind if Hasbro got a couple of these molds back and put them into production.  But, that will never, ever happen.