2004, the beginning of the comic packs.
Convention figures as well as all TRU exclusives are not in.
Let everyone know what figure you like best (and please explain why)!

http://www.yojoe.com/action/04/

Tim 121RVC

You know, this one wasn't easy for me, because all of these figures were pretty unremarkable. I went with one of the Crimson Guards, because they were a bit more impressive than the Cobra Trooper, Officer, or even Commander.

I think my favorite Cobras around this time period was the Python Patrol set.

Where's Baroness?

Hey, good point! That figure was a little weird, though. The uniform design was okay, but the head was too small (Scarlett had the same problem), and the removable glasses with the Coke-bottle lenses were -- maybe a good idea in theory, but...

Had to go witht he crimson guards!

removable helmets, versitale weapons... Plus, and ingeneous Idea: Multicultural army builders! Now you get to see disgruntled villians of all cultures and creeds. it better reflected the ex-cons, street gangs, and disenfranchised with america recruits that Cobra would recruit.

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Very unremarkable year for RAH Cobra. I voted for the dark-skinned CG, diversity in the ranks is great. Although in theory I have to wonder if Cobra would allow an African American to rise to the level of CG, I always thought of them as somewhat of a white-supremacist organization.

Interesting thought. I kinda figured he was an equal oppurtunity terrorist, as you notice he doesn't really associate with too many racist groups on a big level. he has hired Quinn the Eskimo on several occasions, and had operations in Sierra Gordo, Trucial Abysma, and several other ethnic spots.

Not to mention his personal Bodyguard (Storm Shadow ) is Japanese.

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The absolute closest thing to a racist remark I have ever found Cobra Commander make in a public statement was a speech during which, perhaps ironically, he first introduced the Crimson Guards. It was in issue #29 of the comic book, and he said to the crowd (thank you, trade paperbacks):

"Do not let the false rumors of our military mishaps alarm you! Cobra is WINNING! When the citizenry loll back on their fat haunches and hire the poor minorities to do their dirty work, we WIN! When love of money eclipses moral conviction, we WIN! When good men see the ascension of evil and do nothing, we WIN!"

Try to picture that in that screeching voice...

I don't think Cobra was ever racist. I think one of the reasons we never saw any African-American Cobras in the original G.I.Joe toy line -- and I'm probably pushing the political envelope here -- is because some political group or other somewhere probably would've raised hell over a toy of a black terrorist.

Consider the grief caused when Zartan's original file card described him as a "paranoid schizophrenic". And there's been no shortage of protestors over the years loudly denouncing G.I.Joe as a war toy that promotes violence. There were actually sign-wavers outside the USS Intrepid during the 30th Anniversary Convention in 1994, and I recall seeing a bunch of G.I.Joe vehicles in 1988 in a Target whose packages had been vandalized with stickers (right around the Christmas season, of course), "warning" people that this was a WAR TOY and should not be purchased as such.

So, how'd Hasbro get away with it years later? I personally suspect it was a combination of the fact that there was a larger percentage of collectors buying the product, and the unfortunate fact that G.I.Joe wasn't quite the influence in the toy world that it had been in the 1980's.

Why are TRU exclusives disqualified yet KB toys exclusives aren't?

As for COBRA as racist, issue #1 shows ridiculously overt Nazism, which didn't make sense as it didn't jibe with the stuff the Baroness was saying.

I guess they were trying to up-play the Facism and anti-Patriotism of America, while later on, increcing the ugliness of capitalism.

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Uh............uh..........you just didn't look good enough...........
Nope, my mistake. Has been edited, but now all votes are gone. So if everyone who voted would please do that again, we'd have the right stats again. Sorry!



KB are just a few figures, TRU had like seven packs (x 5/6 figs) this year. That would make the list quite long. But don't worry, all those figures will return in either a team or TRU poll.

Tim 121RVC

Revoted for the dark-skinned CG.

Good comments on Cobra, CC does operate in ethnic hot spots and employ a Japanese bodyguard, I guess he goes where the skills are and recruits where it suits his business needs.

Cobra Trooper. Simple, but OK new paintjob. Better new blueshirts than the TRU 6-pack.
CG's are nice but the removability of the helmet makes those helmets a bit big. That's the only minor, but I do like 'em!

Tim 121RVC