Cobra Island

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Cobra Island is a fictional country located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the main base of operations for the fictional Cobra Organization featured in the G.I. Joe toyline from the 1980s. It is featured in the G.I. Joe cartoon and the comic book series created by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due Publishing.

Contents

Origin

In the comics, Cobra Island is in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is artificially created as the result of a plan by Crimson Guard scientist Professor Appel. False information in Appel's home led the Joes to target an underwater bunker with a massive drop of non-nuclear bombs. The explosion triggered a faultline releasing volcanic stresses forcing an area of the ocean floor containing a sunken freighter Cobra base to rise above sea level. [1]

Realizing the strategic value of the new territory, G.I. Joe attempts to dislodge Cobra from the island via a pitched assault. The G.I. Joe team had nearly won when they were called off by the United States, as lawyers in Cobra's employ had successfully maneuvered to get the island sovereign nation status and recognition by the U.N. [2]

Features

Many important facilities are established on the island, such as a Terror Drome fortress, a dedicated surgical hospital [3] , an airfield, and luxury hotel for visiting dignitaries (usually third-world dictators looking to buy weapons). One of the main features is the now "land-locked freighter" the ARBCO Star, a seemingly mundane sunken cargo ship raised up with the island which hides a storehouse of advanced technology (including the Cobra space shuttle and launch facility) and is frequently used as an operations center. After Cobra is forced to retreat from Springfield [4] , the island gains a significant civilian population.

Geographically, the island is very small, barely 5 square miles (10 km2) in area. The most prominent feature on Cobra Island is an active volcanic peak, created by the same forces which originally raised the island. The G.I. Joe team mountaineering expert Alpine commented that the volcano is unusually rough, jagged, and steep, whereas most volcanic mountains are characterized by smooth regular slopes. Other terrain include tropical jungles (which grew quickly on the new island) and a swamp in which Croc Master maintained security with his trained crocodiles. [5]

As an actual nation, it was forbidden for the G.I. Joe team to violate its airspace or territory, though of course Cobra had no qualms about spying on U.S. soil. [6]

Some time later, Cobra Island is threatened by an advanced missile controlled by a rogue faction in the United States military. The threat results in a battle between unofficial Joe forces, General Hawk himself, and the mercenary Dreadnoks. A Cobra transport helicopter, sent from the Consulate in New York City destroys the weapon. [7]

Cobra Civil War

The largest conflict to occur on the island was the Cobra Civil War. [8] Tensions between Serpentor and the Crimson Guardsman Fred VII (masquerading as Cobra Commander) caused by competition for control of Cobra exploded into open combat between the different factions. The fighting would grow to involve G.I. Joe and Destro's Iron Grenadiers as well, with the Joes ordered to side with Serpentor's constitutional monarchy and Destro remaining neutral to either faction. Control of the airfield became a major turning point in the short war. Serpentor's faction was on the verge of seizing victory when he was assassinated by Zartan, leaving Fred VII unopposed, while Destro was permitted to leave with his prize, the Baroness. [9]

The true Cobra Commander later returns and reclaims his position. He uses the land-locked freighter as a prison for many who opposed him, such as Doctor Mindbender and Raptor. [10] He causes a mountain-damaging lava flow that buries the freighter. Most of the prisoners perish; Firefly, [11] Zartan and Cobra Commander's son Billy [12] manage to escape, while Doctor Mindbender is revived years later by Cobra Commander using the very cloning technology the doctor used to create Serpentor. [13]

After the Trucial Abysmia war with G.I. Joe, Cobra Island is largely abandoned as Cobra Commander takes the organization's operations around the world. Some operatives, such as Zarana and Cesspool, are stationed there, and are present when Firefly and his personal army of Battle Android Troopers take over, but the island is deserted again after a confrontation with the Joes. [14]

Devil's Due

Following Cobra's defeat in 1994, Cobra Island is annexed by the United Nations. [15]

It later serves as the base of operations for a revived Serpentor and his personal army called The Coil. Over the years, the geography has greatly changed. While in the past it had been a relatively flat island with one mountain, now it had towering cliffs surrounding a fortified harbor. [16]

After the defeat of Serpentor, the U.S. Government sells Cobra Island to what seems to be a research firm called "Gen-Tek". As discovered by a Joe assault force, this company is yet another Cobra front. [17] The purchasing was handled by the Cobra businessmen Tomax and Xamot. It serves as Cobra's headquarters before the organization moved to the Monolith Base. Remnants of The Coil, abandoned on the island following the defeat of Serpentor, are present when the island was destroyed after the G.I. Joe team drops a nuclear weapon on it. [18]

Alternate versions

In the alternate universe of G.I. Joe Vs. Transformers 2, Cobra Island is a natural island in the Caribbean. It is the site of a showdown between Cobra, G.I. Joe, Autobots, and the Decepticons. [19]

Cartoons

Sunbow

In the Sunbow G.I. Joe cartoon, Cobra Island's location and origins were never explained. It debuted in the first season two-parter "There's No Place Like Springfield" as the secret location of Cobra's main headquarters. The island served as the home of the Terror Drome throughout season two.

The Terror Drome is largely destroyed during the events of G.I. Joe: The Movie . After Sgt. Slaughter, Lt. Falcon, and the Marauders successfully infiltrate the Terror Drome to spy on Cobra's activities, they rig the complex to explode and make a hasty (yet combative) departure.

Novel

Cobra Island is a featured location in the G.I. Joe novel Fool's Gold. [20]

Related Research Articles

Cobra (G.I. Joe) fictional organization

Cobra is the nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro action figure toyline G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6, as well as in related media.

Cobra Commander Fictional character

Cobra Commander is a fictional character and the main antagonist from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books,movies,video games,novels, and animated series. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and is the main archenemy of the Joes. The character is also featured as an opponent of G.I. Joe in other series, such as Sigma 6 and Renegades, as well as subsequent comic books, video games, and movies. He was portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and by Luke Bracey with the voice of Robert Baker in the 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Serpentor fictional character from the G.I. Joe universe

Serpentor is a fictional character and a recurring antagonist from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the Cobra Emperor and was introduced in 1986. In the original 1980s animated series, he is the main antagonist in the second season.

Fred VII is a fictional character in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book, a member of the Crimson Guard, the elite Cobra combat and covert operations/infiltration force. He has appeared only in the comics; the battle armor he is noted for was in toy form but worn by the Cobra Commander character.

Zartan

Zartan is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is one of the main villains in the Marvel Comics series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero as the leader of the Dreadnoks, and a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra Commander. His character was voiced by Zack Hoffman in the 1985 TV series, and he was portrayed by Arnold Vosloo in the live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and its 2013 sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Zarana

Zarana is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. She is affiliated with Cobra as a member of the Dreadnoks.

Destro Enemy Weapons Supplier

Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and cartoon series. He is the leader of the Iron Grenadiers, and founder of M.A.R.S. Industries, a weapons manufacturer and supplier for Cobra. Destro is portrayed by Christopher Eccleston in the 2009 live-action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Baroness (<i>G.I. Joe</i>) character in "G.I. Joe"

Baroness is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline by Hasbro, originally appearing in the first issue of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic series by Marvel Comics in June, 1982. The Baroness is a villainess, associated with G.I. Joe's nemesis, Cobra.

Doctor Mindbender

Dr. Mindbender is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is a scientist who works for the fictional terrorist organization Cobra; like other characters in the fictional universe, his characterization has fluctuated from that of comical villain to dangerous fascist depending on the release. He is often allied with the Cobra Commander and Destro. In his first live-action film appearance in 2009, he was played by American actor Kevin J. O'Connor.

<i>G.I. Joe: The Movie</i> 1987 animated film

G.I. Joe: The Movie is a 1987 animated action-adventure film produced as a spin-off from the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, based on the original Hasbro toyline. It was produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions and was animated in Japan by Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

The Cobra Terror Drome is a playset from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line.

Firefly (<i>G.I. Joe</i>) fictional character in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe

Firefly is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is a mercenary who works for the Cobra Organization as a saboteur. He is portrayed by Ray Stevenson in the 2013 film G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Rip Cord (<i>G.I. Joe</i>)

Rip Cord is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's HALO Jumper and debuted in 1984.

Scrap-Iron fictional character from G.I. Joe

Scrap-Iron is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is Cobra's anti-armor specialist and debuted in 1984.

Thrasher (<i>G.I. Joe</i>) fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series

Thrasher is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is affiliated with Cobra as the Dreadnoks' Thunder Machine driver and debuted in 1986.

Voltar (<i>G.I. Joe</i>)

Voltar is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline and comic book series. He is affiliated with the Iron Grenadiers as Destro's general and debuted in 1988.

Billy Kessler

Billy Kessler is a fictional character in the comic book series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. He is the son of the main villain of the series, Cobra Commander, but fights against his father and the forces of Cobra Command, learning martial arts under the tutelage of Storm Shadow, who helps him after a botched attempt on Cobra Commander's life. While still a boy, he loses an eye and a leg when a Cobra operative destroys a car in which he is riding, and after recovering he goes on to become a member of his father's greatest enemy, the G.I. Joe team.

The Thunder Machine is a fictional, four wheeled, armored, weaponized vehicle used by the Dreadnoks, a biker gang/mercenary group in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic books and cartoon series. The Dreadnoks work for Cobra, the primary enemy for G.I. Joe.

<i>G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero</i> (Devils Due) comic book

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a comic book that was published by Image Comics from 2001 to 2005. Based on Hasbro, Inc.'s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys, the series picks up seven years after the end of the Marvel Comics series, and has been credited for bringing back attention to other 1980s properties such as Transformers, Masters of the Universe and Voltron.

<i>G.I. Joe</i> (2019 comic book) American comic book series

G.I. Joe is an American comic book series published by IDW Publishing, being written by Paul Allor and drawn by pencillers Chris Evenhuis, Niko Walter and Ryan Kelly, alongside colorist Brittany Peer. Based upon the G.I. Joe franchise by Donald Levine and Hasbro, this series is a reboot of the previous comic book series that used to take place in the Hasbro Comic Book Universe. The series began in September 18, 2019.

References

  1. "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" Vol1 #40
  2. "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" Vol1 #41
  3. "G.I. Joe" issue #46
  4. "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #50
  5. G.I. Joe Yearbook #4 (1988)
  6. "G.I. Joe Special Missions" #28
  7. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #60 (June 1987)
  8. "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #71-78
  9. Pearson, Lars (2002). Now You Know: The Unauthorized Guide to G.I. Joe TV & Comics. Mad Norwegian Press. ISBN   978-1-57032-902-9.
  10. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" #98
  11. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" #126
  12. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" #114
  13. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" #140
  14. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" #135
  15. "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" Vol.2 #1 (2001)
  16. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" Vol.2 #24
  17. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" Vol.2 #28
  18. "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero" Vol.2 #40
  19. G.I. Joe Vs. Transformers 2 #1-5 (2003)
  20. FOOL'S GOLD-G.I.JOE#3. Fool's Gold on. Amazon.com. ISBN   0345350960.