HCC788 - 1991 COBRA COMMANDER v4 - Vintage G.I. Joe toy review!

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Special Thanks to:
Geoff Adams, Sean Dowling, Jason Galligan,
Droidwhisperer, Jeff Mills (Biggypines),
Ryan Wagner, James Swindell, Brian Zahn,
Byron Kellogg, Michael Johnson, Ben Penserga,
Mike Smith, Tyler Levens, Shaun Drefahl,
Raz Holly, David Tejerina, William J. Stelmack,
Philip Hanks, Todd Humphrey, Kurt Kesler,
Martin Day, Venetian Snares, Magnus Lauglo,
Mike Murdock, Daryl Beck, Chris Piers,
Brad Williams, Troy Smith, Hector M. Martinez,
Brandon Knight, David Fitchner, Mark Taylor,
John Logan, Judson Mabee, Donald Koehne,
Brent McMillan, Dennis Pederson,
Abomb Justice of the Clan MacDonald, Hikaru,
C.S. "Chuckles" McKee, Chris Lucero,
Jason Malvuccio, Jason Youngberg,
Jeffrey Sharp, Gazz, Daemon Donigan, Ryan Sweeny
steve, Bradley A. Good, Armen Nakashian
Robert Hawkins, dacca, the baron, Chris Mc.83,
Robert Bone, William Phillips, Lachlan McLeod,
Joseph C. Melli, Daniel Mullin
Sources and Information:
Cobra Commander v4 on Yojoe.com:
www.yojoe.com/...
Cobra Commander v4 on 3DJoes.com:
www.3djoes.com/...
V-1 flying bomb:
en.wikipedia.o...
Image:
By Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1975-117-26 / Lysiak /
CC-BY-SA 3.0,
CC BY-SA 3.0 de,
commons.wikime...
Savings and loan crisis:
en.wikipedia.o...
Michael Milken:
en.wikipedia.o...
Image:
By US Government -
akaka.senate.gov/ [1], Public Domain,
commons.wikime...
Cobra Commander on JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page:
www.myuselesskn...
www.myuselesskn...
Cobra Commander on Halfbattle.com:
www.halfbattle....
M3 submachine gun:
en.wikipedia.o...
Image:
By Curiosandrelics - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
commons.wikime...
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book published
by Marvel Comics
G.I. Joe animated series produced by Sunbow
G.I. Joe animated series produced by DiC
G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987)
Sesame Street: Me Lost Me Cookie at the Disco
Mony Python and the Holy Grail
"Savings and Loan Crisis Explained," Kimberly Amadeo, The Balance, 1/24/2019
www.thebalance...
Tomart's Action Figure Digest No. 7, 1992, p. 25
Music:
Your Voice is American by Letter Box
Yacht Stomp by Spazz Cardigan
Future Gladiator, Ether Disco
by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution license
(creativecommon...)
G. I. Joe is (c) Hasbro.
All copyrighted material is used for the purpose of
comment and criticism, which constitutes a fair use
of such material
This video is (c) Bryan Lower.

[@pimpapotimus]

It is so heart warming to see how committed HCC788 is to the cheesy skits! I salute you sir!!

[@OldManTheseDays]

Cobra Commander spent the summer at the gym gettin’ BIG.

[@lowkee1205]

I had a similar theory back when I collected the comic and the toys, that the Fred series CGs were all modeled after himself. One of the reasons Baroness could have known that Fred VII was indeed not Cobra Commander is she knows him too well. She could possibly instantly recognize the Commander from a Fred Clone through body language and voice. Anyway, I liked the theory too. There seems to be a weird contradiction that I noticed in the Marvel comics. In the flashback where Cobra Commander is narrating how he survived being shot in the back in issue 98, he is wearing a jacket and no disguise. In the issue where he was shot #61, he is wearing his disguise and a purple shirt. Now, it's possible Fred VII took off the disguise and put him in a jacket. Why? Who knows. Now look at issue number 91, Storm Shadow is fighting a Red Ninja and stumbles upon the grave of the original Fred CG. That Fred was wearing a jacket, but the grave has him wearing a purple shirt and glasses from the disguise that Cobra Commander was wearing when he was shot. Strange right? I thought this was all leading up to something, that maybe the real Commander was dead and that original Fred somehow survived, and made his own power play. But alas, and fortunately (because I love the Commander), this was not so. Maybe Hama was building up something and just ditched it, or the artists just flubbed up. Just some interesting trivia.

[@chadkimmel8957]

This just might be the greatest intro in the history of ever!

[@affoster79]

Cobra Commander looks like actor Michael Shannon who played General Zod in Man of Steel.

[@paulwalsh2344]

Good call !

[@frozenpumpkin9083]

Came to post this! :D

[@beach7694]

Maybe that's who should play him in the next gi Joe movie?

[@Drawkcabi]

@@frozenpumpkin9083 same here!

[@nicholasborelli2112]

Hah! I also came to post that! 🤣

[@delvis7842]

CC looks like a young Ernest Borgnine...

[@johnpenguinthe3rd13]

Oh my god, 1991 Cobra Commander does look like a young Ernest Borgnine. LMAO. I saw the 1953 movie "From Here To Eternity" (an excellent military movie) around Christmas with family and a young Ernest Borgnine plays this evil bully character named "Sgt. Fatso Judson" (who isn't really fat, he's just an evil bully who does something highly evil and illegal later on). Now I'm stuck thinking about that young Ernest Borgnine (Fatso) as Cobra Commander.

[@OldManTheseDays]

Haha, good spot!

[@paulwalsh2344]

LOL that's true too !

[@xdshepard37]

Damn. Harsh... but true.

[@captainsteroid2454]

That's what I said! XD

[@russellharrell2747]

The Fred agents may have had their faces altered to look like CC’s brother who died in a car wreck

[@Rezikai]

This is what I thought as well, since it was something that'd remind CC of his motivation and why the Baroness knew it wasn't him when she saw his face.

[@Pegwarmers]

Great episode, I love the disco shtick!

[@theygone6962]

I keep on thinking two wild and crazy guys from SNL

[@WeaselJuice]

Cobra Commander’s been hitting the weights! Lol!

[@violagreene4643]

That 12 incher makes me think "Finally...The Rock...has come back...to Cobra Command!"

[@Rexerman89]

Nothing beats the original. I still have mine! "Cobra!"

[@robertkenny1201]

Supisingly Cobra Commander was never depected in this suit during in the DIC seasons of G.I.Joe.

[@lo1bo2]

I get the impression this Cobra Commander is wearing undercover body armor which makes him look bigger than he really is. Maybe after Serpentor and Fred, he was getting paranoid about his survival.

[@ProfessorHurt]

I remember mine's tab on the right side of the mask broke. The left could still tab in, I felt it was always a fun little feature. To have Baroness, Hawk, or Snake-Eyes smacking CC so hard his mask would fall off.

[@BIGLOB235]

One of the best sculpts of a vintage Cobra Commander. Looks great had this figure and loved it.

[@christianhafer9819]

Awful sculpt. Probably the worst Cobra Commander.

[@CJDrischler]

lol this was my favorite cobra commander as soon as he came out when i was young. so I'm glad you're reviewing it.

[@littlenomad]

This is by far my favorite of your intros.

[@toygigante]

Very informative! Love this!!

[@scockery]

Fun fact: the live-action tv commercial Cobra Commander was played by Roger Cross, a Jamaican born Canadian actor who has appeared in many tv shows including CONTINUUM with Rachel Nichols (Scarlett in GI JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA).

[@cyberfrank-bx2nv]

I had him, but hooded v 1 always was my fav. the uniform was lacking his usual class, it looked like a sport version by nike or addidas... I never dared cracking the mask. I agree on your conclusions. good show!!!

[@vcry51394]

Even as a kid, this didn’t feel like Cobra Commander to me. I ended up buying a couple of these figures and using them as a subset of elite troops, like the Crimson Guard or Destro’s Iron Grenadiers, but who were under the command of Overlord in the same way the C.G.’s were led by Tomax & Xamot or the I.G.’s were led by Voltar (it was the only way I could make sense of where Overlord fit at the time). Wasn’t perfect for Hasbro’s intended use for each figure, but I made it work.

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

Even as a adult you are curious on what Cobra Commander looks like under the mask. Thank you for sharing!

[@xeppozanfilms]

In issue 145 you can clearly see the pony tail when he unmasks to Zartan and Destro. He also has brown hair.

[@charlesdavis4887]

Early in the original Sunbow series, It was revealed that he is disfigured in some way. In the episode, He was eating when Destro asked him to put his hood on.

[@demgutts]

I definitely took that face plate off when I had him

[@mrbluesteen]

Love this channel! Thank you

[@madhat2k]

Cobra Commander unmasks in one of the last issues and he still has that ponytail.

[@nyquist75]

this is the best intro i have ever seen

[@ThatJohnKillion1970]

This figure feels like someone couldn't decide if it was another version of Serpentor or Cobra Commander and decided to smoosh both together.

[@DareDevilDave75]

I like to imagine that Cobra Commander looks just like you!

[@stevendunkley8890]

I think the original version of CC was the best. there was something genuinely sinister about the combination of his powder blue uniform and blank faceplate and is his definitive look for me

[@DamnDave]

This was my second version of Cobra Commander I own as a kid and I used him as his regal outfit. As crazy as the design was I love that toy.

[@woofan25]

I like how Hasbro matched CC's gaudiness with Gen. Hawk from that year.

[@robvegas9354]

Is that the Hawk with the flying suit and jet pack?

[@woofan25]

Rob Vegas indeed!

[@robvegas9354]

@@woofan25 wow!! i remember he popped up in the comic wearing that one time while he was in a helicopter and everyone is like 'yeah no worries mate'......

[@jamesschulziii9098]

Still enjoying your older videos. BTW, I picked up a 1984 hoodie coco...😎

[@aqgy]

HCC, I’d like to suggest a review about G.I. Joe card art and its artist, mr. Hector Garrido. It’s very hard to find any information about Garrido, despite the fact his amazing artwork has indeed a great importance to the gi joe mythos.

[@jasonkerest394]

LOL What? You mean this version of Cobra Commander wasn't available in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century toy line? I could have sworn he was in the background disco dancing in the Pilot movie with Gil Gerard and Princess Ardala. Also, with the translucent features on the figure, I feel the GI Joe: Rise of Cobra version of Cobra Commander seems to be a wink and a nod to this figure, for better or worse.

[@PhilipAJones]

Wait! This design was briefly used in the first issue of the recent COBRA COMMANDER comic mini-series by Skynound! I didn't know it was an actual toy way back when.

[@glennrobbins2372]

If he had glasses he'd look like Garrison Keillor of Lake Woebegone fame. My son had him and who ever had him before we got him tore the bubble off. I was asked to glue it back on. One thing I noticed before gluing the plastic back on was that he seemed to have small fangs. My son used him as a deep sea diver.

[@jackgoff4668]

Solid Goooooolllldddd!!!

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

That COBRA COMMANDER is hard to find. I couldn't find him anywhere. His mask looks orange. His face looks like RA from STARGATE movie. He is still cool! They also made a red Hooded COBRA COMMANDER & a Parachute COBRA COMMANDER. The newer set & one with a Cape. Are you into the remakes?

[@dalesanteford7432]

Great show hooded Coco

[@chadkimmel8957]

He looks like the gym teacher from The Wonder Years!😂

[@grios5530]

The dr from Voyager

[@chadkimmel8957]

Yeah, that’s him, am I wrong?

[@tilarium2]

I tried to pull the hood off of my version 2 Cobra Commander. If I had gotten this one, I would have pulled the mask off... just like I did with Serpentor! I never got this figure, I thought it was ugly and really didn't want it. When the V5 and V6 figures came out, they became my main Cobra Commander figures when I played.

[@LacquationsAceptance]

From my understanding, Cobra Commander’s face has been scarred, like Snake-Eyes. Cobra Commander was eating in one early episode and Destro was disgusted. Which the movie would have answered this look. Larry Hama made him a used car dealer before his life intertwined with Snake-Eyes. I wish Hasbro would have protected his face in the toy to continue the mystery.

[@humungus3]

omg i wasnt ready for that face reveal 😂😂

[@ExUSSailor]

This version of Cobra Commander has a chest like Captain America, when Rob Liefeld drew him.

[@shermaneagles5903]

I always hate it when the credits roll because that means I have to wait till next week😭. Definitely love your reviews

[@johnpenguinthe3rd13]

Whoa, 1991 Cobra Commander does look like a young Ernest Borgnine. LMAO. I saw the 1953 movie "From Here To Eternity" (an excellent military movie) around Christmas with family and a young Ernest Borgnine plays this evil bully character named "Sgt. Fatso Judson" (who isn't really fat, he's just an evil bully who does something highly evil and illegal later on). Now I'm stuck thinking about that young Ernest Borgnine (Sgt. Fatso Judson) as Cobra Commander.

[@jeenkzk5919]

That theory makes sense! I consider the Larry Hamma continuity as cannon

[@droiduseruserdroid1731]

That's the face of Chris Latta. It has to be. It looks EXACTLY like the guy.

[@michaelpytel3280]

HCC788-- he's your Boogie Man, yes he is, Boogie Man.

[@gemstonehiphop]

LOVED THIS FIGURE. I REMEMBER BREAKING HIS FACE PLATE OFF HE LOOKED SO PISSED HAHAH GOOD MEMORIES

[@zzaproot]

You out did yourself this time HCC788! Love it. Keep it coming!

[@robdcollector2808]

I remember as a kid i quit GI Joe when the 87 Battle Armor Cobra Commander came out along with a gold ghetto headed Destro figure. It just didnt feel like GI Joe to me past that point.

[@lonesquiff6551]

This is the Cobra Commander I had and yes I was absolutely obsessed with taking off that faceplate as a kid! I was disappointed there wasn't any effort put into the face, mine was just a blank face.

[@supersho93]

Another great review, I always thought that this was suppose to be an update to Serpentor. Also I was surprised the Mrs. HCC didn't come out to join you with those cool moves, and the amazing medallion! She could have come out with a giant wig, platform shoes, and funky sunglasses.

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Awesome review I love this version of CC and don't care that he looks nothing like his past versions, does the 87 BA CC look like his other versions NO so who cares, I think he's cool 😎

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

What did #5 & #6 look like? I think he was in a Space COBRA COMMANDER.

[@diosoth]

His face was shown multiple times in the comics with consistency. Billy's flashback memories look similar to his "disguise" only without the ponytail and he had that same look in the Headman story when he infiltrated the drug operation to destroy it(his motivations in the comics were... MUCH different than the cartoon in that regard).

[@doctorgoodguy1]

This version of Cobra Commander did not like to miss leg day. :)

[@neobluemax]

The buzz bomb looks like the missile from the Sears base almost. Weren't German v2 rockets called buzz bombs too?

[@michaelpytel3280]

V1 were smaller pulse jet cruise missiles, the V2 were large rocket powered Ballistic missiles. Buzzing noise came from the V1 engines.

[@neobluemax]

@@michaelpytel3280 that s right. The v1 engines made the distinctive buzzing sounds. Thank you.

[@nicholasborelli2112]

YES!!!! Thank you!!! I always thought all the Fred Series were altered to look like Cobra Commander. You see his red hair when they exhumed his body, his face when he’s being operated on, and the eyes visible though his hood look just like all the unmasked Freds surrounding him when he’s taunting Raptor. Does it make any sense for him to flaunt his own face on his unmasked Crimson Guards while covering that same face? Nope. But it does kinda make some twisted sense since he’s a megalomaniac and probably narcissistic. I figured any inconsistencies were just Larry Hama either messing with people on purpose or possibly forgetting things. Maybe Baroness still somehow knew Fred VII wasn’t the real Commander. Maybe the artist or the colorist just made a mistake. I don’t care. I love that theory still.

[@f.d.english5080]

Hate your skits....until now! Luv the suit

[@agnethaladuff8559]

I like to think that this version of Cobra Commander is a stand in guy for the real Cobra Commander for the sake of the real Cobra Cammander getting assassinated.

[@jackburton3212]

So what was so disturbing about watching him eat if he looks like a normal guy? Can't remember the episode, but destro walks in on him eating (you can't see CC ' cause he's doing the villain from Inspector Gadget thing where you only see the back of his chair and his arm) and asked CC to put on the mask as he's grossed out. Then CC tells him it takes a strong stomach to watch him eat.

[@randaleastwood6836]

Great intro!!!

[@Sturmdude]

Without the mask, that figure looks like the holographic doctor from Star Trek Voyager.

[@JomasterTheSecond]

Dear god... Cobra Commander was really Steve Buscemi in disguise!!

[@robdcollector2808]

Hahah...what did i just see?lol you got a new subscriber!...im talking about the disco intro.

[@bryedtan]

Great that you show the Hall of Fame Series I was always tempted but never bought it. Would you be reviewing the Hall of Fame Series I hope so.

[@FitnFire]

Do you think then made the Commander’s facial features overly pronounced to be seen through the face plate?

[@ThatBrownBat777]

Without the mask, Cobra Commander looks like Fish from Barney Miller

[@samanthaadams619]

That face sort of looks like Ernest Borgnine under the orange mask. Having said that, the comic seems to imply he looks like the Freds.

[@DarkWizard83]

Ah, I remember this one. I can't remember if the figure belonged to my brother or to one of my cousins, but I do remember it being really cool. The faint image of Cobra Commander's face behind that mask was really tantalizing, and so I tried prying it off, but stopped because I was afraid I'd break something. It wasn't my toy, after all.

[@johnramey333]

Oh no bro, you spoke so much on old school c.c. and new versions little rocket jet, but no mention to the 100 % homage to the background cardboard rocket jet playset from sears? And the little launch jet?.... was i the only one?😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@captainsteroid2454]

10:29 - My GOD! Ernest Borgnine was Cobra Commander this whole time! :O

[@kalajel]

Looks like Cobra Commander is smelling what the Rock is cooking...

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

Hooded COBRA COMMANDER is cool! Your intro was,,,silly. He's more Rock music. Great video the!

[@robdcollector2808]

ROCKETJEFF Matejek cobra lalalalalallalala

[@nyquist75]

i chuckled

[@raulzavala9061]

I still have this version of CC in good shape and Ive never attempted to crack open that mask to see his face.

[@Shockwave-ob2tx]

I suspect this was supposed to be a specific Cobra trooper of some sort, probably having something to do with the buzz bomb-drone, but for whatever reason Hasbro changed it to the Cobra Commander...well, it was the nineties after all...

[@cowpuddles4851]

Back in the day I broke open a Cylon’s head to see its face. Sadly, there was nothing inside. The helmet was hollow. I also smashed my Etch-A-Sketch to see what made it work, so Cobra Commander’s face mask would not have been safe with me. Glad this version arrived after I stopped playing with toys. That suit looks great on you!

[@torpedo8384]

OMG Sesame Street Fever. Couldn't stop laughing. My wife thought I was nuts. Then she heard the music... It's as if Flava Flav and Destro tried to dress a Dorito as CC.

[@k-dawgbroadcasting5444]

I have never seen you describe a CC origin in any of your reviews, that has been chronicled at least in the early series. Have you any plans to do an origin video at some point? Especially how he ties in with Snake Eyes and his family; I do realize some of it probably veered into the Devils Due series...

[@kaylemathewcomendador7614]

Formbx257 speculated that this figure was designed with appearing in the DIC series at the time. But DIC used the talking one instead. Which might explain the cheesy look.

[@sirgrunt99]

Haa on the sold GLOD part as far as the face, it almost reminded me of Colobulus face in way

[@cronocomics]

It seems Cobra Commander wants to protect his organization's symbol copyright.

[@Vasculio]

Wasn't a fan of this Cobra Commander or the Silver Suit version. But i did enjoy this video!

[@mwg500]

He was alright. The uniform was a little out there, but it fit the personality of the cartoon CC. The helmet could've been partly blue with a non-traslucent face shield. I can see CC's face being the model for the Fred series Crimson Guard (and "Fred" being CC's actual name). As for the other Cobra leaders, there was the Overlord character from 1990 who was basically ignored by both cartoon and comic but seemed like he might have been in charge in the toyline catalogs. Overlord also wore a lot of gold.

[@the_freebeard]

HCC788: Yes, it's kind of ridiculous for him to have another mask under a mask. 2021: Hold my beer.

[@rileyhall9320]

you inspire me

[@CJDrischler]

You know without the mask he looked to me a bit like Dieter Laser from the Human Centipede movies.

[@kaylemathewcomendador7614]

And I think the artist of issue that involve showing Cobra Commander getting revived had that "CC looking like the Fred's" theory in mind while illustrating. But it didn't catch on. But that's just me.

[@beach7694]

Shake it, but don't break it HCC! 🤣😂🤣 another great review! 🕺

[@christophermoody6840]

A full decade and some change after disco was popular?

[@cobra-emperor6starwars665]

cool but it looks like your missing a few of the Cobra commanders and I need to get a few of the ones you have to :))

[@ZedKaizoku]

All though cobra commander face was revealed thru comics or media... but now modern era starting rise of cobra and renegades his face was scarred due to battle injuries among other random explication

[@johnnyfletcher1961]

I’m just an O G. The first version, will always be the best imo.

[@Psychof1st]

Is version 7 Cobra Commander the one with the transparent red disk shaped bubble helmet?