When G.I Joe burst on the scene in 1982, everything we knew about action figures changed. Most of us during that time period had Star Wars figures and we all know how much they lacked articulation. The Joes were a sigh of fresh air and a start of something special.
We all had our favorite characters, Duke, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Beach Head, Cobra Commander and so forth.
Over the years Hasbro has made several versions of these characters, each sporting something new and unique. These characters represent something special for each individual and we all have our favorites. At times, we the fans can get very vocal about these characters and we have an idea on what we want to see. Hasbro made 3 ¾ figures and they made 12” figures. The 12” figures were not as popular as their cousins and the articulation was limited due to stiff arms and legs. Even after switching to a new body style, you could tell that the new 12” figures were aimed towards kids as most collectors have shunned away from these.
Sideshow has been a front runner in the collectible toy market for a while and that company revolutionized the Star Wars 12" brand. When
SS announced the Joe license, many fans such as I were thrilled beyond believe. I could only imagine a super detailed Joe figure from my childhood. The first entry was Snake Eyes and he was, to many the definite version of an iconic character. To me, the first figure of a new line always sports a few problems and Snake Eyes did; ammo pockets anyone? Now the question is, did they fix this with the Commander?....keep reading...
After the
SE announcement many wondered who would be next. Cobra Commander seemed the natural choice and Sideshow thought that as well! I was praying it would be the classic battle helmet or the classic hood but what Sideshow did was a surprise.They went with one of the best incarnations of the character yet; the Devils Due version.
This figure sports the cobra emblem across the hood giving him a more sinister, evil look. I really like this version as the others made him look a tad weak. I can imagine this Cobra Commander killing for no reason and definitely kicking puppies for fun. The figure sports a new body style that is now common for Sideshow figures; still not quite as good as the new generation bodies used by hot toys but close and very satisfying.
After busting the figure out of the box the first thing I noticed was the fine details to his suite and gear. The knife sheath actually has a metal chain and the buttons have a metal feel to them. The overall look of the uniform is nice and tight and the colors are sharp. For the collectors, the one problem Snake Eyes had was fixed with this release. The ammo clips slide in smooth and there is no struggle to get them in. To me, that’s a win because I struggled for an hour trying to get those clips in the pouches for Snake Eyes.
The jacket seems a tad low on his shoulders but the overall feel seems good. I really like the leather look and it does give him a more sinister appearance. The real win for this figure is the exclusive accessory. The staff with the concealed blade is awesome and the details are incredible. I do wish this was part of the general release so others could see this incredible accessory. I did enjoy the classic “hair” dryer gun and it fits in fine with the character. This will also make any ARAH fan happy as it is a nod to the vintage character. This accessory reminds me of the classic Cobra Commander. My only gripe with this figure has to be the hood. The color scheme seems off to me and part of me wishes it was cloth and not hard plastic. Overall this is minor and does not take away from an incredible release.
Just like with Snake Eyes, Cobra Commander comes with a ton of gear. Here is the full list:
- Fully articulated Prometheus male body with 30+ points of articulation
- Hooded Cobra Commander Portrait
- Shirt with Cobra emblem
- Pants
- Trench coat
- Boots
- Detailed belt with Cobra Command buckle
- Pistol with holster and 2 x ammo magazines
- Magazine pouch for Pistol Ammo
- MP-7 with short magazine, silencer, and 3 x long magazines
- Magazine pouch for MP-7 Ammo
- Dagger with scabbard and chain
- Cobra Commander gun
- 3 sets of interchangeable gloved hands
- 12-inch display base with G.I. Joe logo
- Sideshow Exclusive: Staff with Concealed Blade**** EXCLUSIVE VERSION ONLY
Overall, this is an excellent collectible and a must have for any G.I Joe fan. I would rate it a solid 8.5 out of 10. If you missed out on this item be sure to join the wait list today.
