Hooded Cobra Commander File Card
In the Power of Packaging feature, we take a look at the paintings and other marketing images that have enticed us to pick up GI Joes from the shelves over the years. In the 80s, the Joes we loved weren’t always available in stores. Some of the most special figures to me were the mail-away exclusives, which were either released ahead of later single-card editions, or product that never saw a retail carded release.
The Hooded Cobra Commander, available in 1984 as a mail-in, gives us only a glimpse at painted art for this new version of old snake face. A tiny picture is better than nothing, and some thought went into the image. Even the different shade of blue in the uniform and the black gloved hands more closely match the new figure. I made a quick-and-dirty mashup of the file card and the single-card 1983 art below. The outfit did show up carded in the 25th Anniversary line, but the art on many of those packages are wonky or modified re-creations. Too bad we never got the original on his own card back in the day.
My first mail-away figure was the Fridge. My first Cobra Commander was the Talking Battle Commanders figure and I made sure to pick it up the very first time I saw it, because I never saw a Cobra Commander figure in person until that one.
I’m positive Cobra Commander was a corporal at one point in his life. Dictators usually start out as corporals
Check out the crazy eyes.
This filecard certainly paints him as more a military commander than the character later became.
”Hail Cobra Commander-The Great Snake rules Forever.”-The line from 1985 Animated G.I.Joe movie:”The Pyramid of Darkness.”
A part of history!
Nice edit on the cardback! I just noticed their misspelling in “Ordinance”. Never had this filecard; I think I got this figure second-hand. Kinda wanted one back then, but mail-aways took a lot of parental persuasion.
ordnance – 1. mounted guns; artillery. 2. a branch of the armed forces dealing with the supply and storage of weapons, ammunition, and related equipment.
ordinance – 1. a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority. 2. an authoritative order; a decree.