For the longest time I always just assumed my CC would have a throne room. Some place where he can plot all his megalomaniacal schemes. Then I got to thinking about Cobra Commander as I've always liked him. A twisted hero of the downtrodden working man. Would such a guy who felt like he embraced the working man put himself on such a lofty symbol of eliteism? I think not, but I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Throne? No. Huge mahogany-encrusted executive suite? Yes.

And his big CEO leather chair would have uber-cool lumbar support.


But yeah, being a "man of the people", I think he'd shun the regal trappings, even if just to keep up appearances for his minions.

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I've always seen CC as a megalomaniac, so I could deffinitely see him sitting in a big ol' comfy throne. I've got the caped comic pack Cobra Commander in front of me right now, and he certainly looks like the throne type.

Of course, he may leave the throne to his figurehead/scapegoat Serpentor, and just have himself a nice comfy leather office chair somewhere.

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I see Cobra Commander changing through out the history of COBRA. The working man CC was from 1985 when the bulk of his troops were American Citizens. Now with the rise of terrorism in the world CC has gone a little right wing religious. The throne room is more for the glory of COBRA than it is for his own power. I see CC getting the bulk of his troops from defunct rebel groups and other idealists and whats more Idealist than a gaudy show of power.

Just my two cents!

Steve

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Throne: http://www.joecustoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=11675

If the answer turns out to be no, I'm driving by to pick up the Flash Gordon throne.

You think I'm joking.

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Every villain needs a throne room. Whether you call it a penthouse, an executive office, or even a personal study, the villain has to have a place to plan his evil business.

It's not like goes into his personal bathroom and picks up his worn copy of 'Global Subjegation for Dummies!'



To him it is not a symbol of elitism. It is simply for the effect. It is a pedestal and soap box all in one.

Plus it just seems cooler having him visually on a throne launching into venom-dripping diatribes about the bourgeoiuse (sp?) fat cat, lazy imperial capitolist symbols of government he's trying to overthrow in the first place.

Scenario, you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Several key personnel/VIPs/family members have been kidnapped. You receive a transmission on your tv, just like any good villain does, detailing the terms of the ransom, etc.

Who are you gonna be more scared of?

-A guy sitting at a simple desk in a chair relaying information...

or

-A guy in a in a snazzy miltary-esque suit sitting on a massive snake-themed chair in a huge, eerie-looking guarded room as his voice raises in pitch and he pounds the arm and gesticulates wildly.

Cobra Commander has to:

1) be on a raised platform or dais (it's a psychological effect designed to place the viewer in a submissive/passive position)

2) have a massive chair or throne. He's the ruler of Cobra. He's not gonna be shy about it. If anything I'm sure if he discovered Serpentor had a bigger/better throne he would have to go bigger/better to remain the top dog/alpha male.

3) do everything he can to subliminally keep others down.

Whether he is at the head of the table, higher up, or is dressed better than the rest-it is all part of the desired look. It has a purpose, it is planned, and that's the way it must be.

No throne or throne room = epic phail.

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At the end of GI Joe Declassified, Major Bludd meets CC in his throne room, so I say Throne.

Depends on the version:

Cartoon CC was always over the top, so yes he would have an elaborate throne room, similar to how The Ming the Merciless throne room was laid out.

Comic Book CC, however, I agree would have more of a Head honcho corporate chair/throne. Kind of a Mix between a Preachers chair, and and Enron exec would sit in....

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Exactly my take on it.

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More like an elevated chair in a situational control room. Like Adama had in the original Battlestar Galactica.

Throne.

That's part of Cobra Commander's arc.... man of the people. downtrodden avengers gets lost in his own ego and becomes a meglomaniac who sees everyone as beneath him. A throne only makes sense.

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I am not always sure which way to go.

I have a lot of respect for the idea of a charismatic paramilitary leader that brings the disenfranchised masses together to rally against the powers that be. So, the early Trotsky-esque minimalist militaristic CC certainly looks good, and realistic, considering the origins of Cobra.

But the lure of luxurious and decadent gold and silver Cobra imagery is so strong, just look at the recent comic Pack CC with the Cobra helmed saber and ornate CG uniform, not to mention the gratuitous use of Cobra iconography and sculpture over the past 2 and a half decades on vehicles and playsets. It is hard to deny the draw to it. I love the theme for an army, but prefer the minimalist grass-roots military.

So....thone AND no throne.

Throne. He was a "man of the people" but lost his way...lost his vision. In many ways, I think this is part of CC being a dynamic character. In his origin, he appears to be a small town man, rallying others to a cause he believes in. But in the end, the system he has created has become larger than himself and he seems to take pleasure in feeling that he is still on top. As said, the throne is a symbol of his megalomaniacal ways.

The real question is...when he sits upon it, does he do so feeling that he has gained some control over the world or does he do it to feel that he still holds the reigns of Cobra? Imo, it must be a mix of both. With the many times that members of Cobra tried to take over, there has to be some psychological element that is causing him to sit there to reinforce his position among his troops.

Throne. With a button to activate a secret pitfall in front of it for unloyal subjects.

Tim 121RVC