In 1982, toy manufacturer Hasbro decided to revamp their popular line of G.I. Joe figures. Instead of 12-inch movable fighting men, the company reduced them to 3.75 inches. Furthermore, they made it an organization of specialized fighters in a seemingly never-ending battle against the evil COBRA.
The line was so successful that Sunbow and Marvel got together to create a syndicated series called G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. Not only did it flesh out the current line of Joe figures but also gave life to the villains that populated COBRA Command.
10 Cobra Commander Likes To Yell A Lot
Cobra Commander is good at a few things. One of them is yelling the name of the organization he runs. The other is shouting "Retreat!" That's about it. Overall, the leader of Joe's arch-nemesis is a typical comic book villain. He talks a good plan, but his narcissistic tendencies and visions of grandeur result in continual failure.
This is why he's in the last position on this list. Take his history stealing a government satellite in the first G.I. Joe miniseries. Though he has success using his matter transmitter device (M.A.S.S.) his head gets too big. It results in the Joes finding COBRA's headquarters.
9 Dr. Mindbender Is A Former Evil Dentist
There's something in Dr. Mindbender's profile that makes him more powerful than Cobra Commander. The former dentist had managed to create several mind-control devices or performed genetic experiments.
However, what Minderbender is really famous for is his creation of COBRA's Battle Android Troopers or BATS for short. Introduced in the second season of G.I. Joe, these tended to be the first wave of soldiers in any attack against the Joe's. In many situations, the near invulnerability to the Joe's attacks has made Mindbender's BATS worthy opponents.
8 Tomax and Xamot Took Care Of COBRA In The Boardroom
These brothers, known as the Crimson Twins, have a level of evil that goes beyond trying to conquer the world. They rarely do it on the battlefield. Instead, Tomax and Xamot conduct their corrupt actions in the corporate boardroom.
Not only are they the primary financial backers for Cobra Commander's schemes, but they are also the leaders of COBRA's elite Crimson Guard. However, that's not to say they won't try to kill a Joe or two to help. For instance, in issue 37 of Marvel's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic, the brothers take a flying gunship and severely injure the Joe named Stalker.
7 The Baroness Is An Underestimated Villain
The Baroness is second in command of COBRA. This is a good thing because it allows her to fix the problems in Cobra Commander's plans to give them some sense of success. On top of this, as head of intelligence, she's one of the few operatives that work outside of the evil organization.
Though it isn't seen so much in the original cartoon as it would be in comics and movies, the Baroness has also used her charm to acquire important information out of the G.I. Joe's. This happened in the series' first cartoon miniseries. Going undercover, she planted a homing device on a government satellite to transport it back to COBRA headquarters. She soon started creating a series of issues for the Joes.
6 Zartan Is A Master Of Disguise
Zartan doesn't work directly within the COBRA organization. Instead, he and his motorcycle gang, the Dreadnoks, are contractors who want to see Cobra Commander take over the world. One reason would be to feel something after a childhood without parents.
However, the character isn't an only child. He has a pair of younger siblings named Zarana and Zandar. Zartan is the only one who's a master of disguise. Not only with the use of masks and voice changes, but also a superhuman ability to blend into most environments. It helped him infiltrate the Joe's HQ, The Pit, in G.I. Joe: ARAH #48. It also helped him nearly escape as he was able to imitate several different team members.
5 Destro Reluctantly Follows Cobra Commander's Lead
Destro is the Lex Luthor of COBRA. A highly intelligent businessman, he wears a mask to disguise himself from the real world. Overall, Destro is the one who builds the doomsday devices Cobra Commander uses to try and take over the world. In turn, the leader tolerates Destro's disdain.
Meanwhile, Destro works with Baroness and the Crimson Twins to undermine Cobra Commander so their plans work out. He even has a romantic relationship with the intelligence officer. Furthermore, he's a part of the team that helps create Serpentor. The fact he was able to create a viable and competent leader that created more trouble for the Joes is the reason he is more dangerous than his boss.
4 Firefly Is COBRA's Top Saboteur
Though his appearances are few in the original cartoon, Firefly is an important player in COBRA. His skills as a mercenary and a saboteur put a dent in G.I. Joe's operations each time they encounter him. The fact he brings specialized flame-based weapons causes even more problems. In addition, Firefly is also the group's contact within the underworld.
Overall, Firefly is dangerous not only to the Joes but also to COBRA. When left alone after a retreat from the Florida Everglades in a 1984 comic book arc, he provides the coordinates to the organization's new headquarters to the Joes. In the Devil's Due series, the mercenary risks killing himself and hundreds of innocents by stealing a modified BAT suit.
3 Storm Shadow Is Cobra Commander's Protector
Every villain needs an arch-enemy. For the ninja known as Storm Shadow, that person is the Joe's fighter, Snake-Eyes. Throughout the history of comics and cartoons, the pair have battled numerous times. On occasion, they have paired up to defeat a connected nemesis.
This is what makes Storm Shadow so dangerous. At any time he can switch sides. In fact, he did so in G.I. Joe: ARAH #85. However, his anger and independent stream made him return to COBRA, with both the Joe's secrets and a further urge to seek vengeance.
2 Serpentor Has The Brains Cobra Commander Is Missing
Where Cobra Commander was evil in a humorous way, Serpentor is a downright sadist. Tired of the commander's antics, Dr. Mindbender, Destro, and the Crimson Twins take the DNA of history's greatest and evilest leaders, along with a sample of the Joe's Sgt. Slaughter, to create a powerful amalgamation. Once he becomes aware, Serpentor takes command of COBRA to make it a more efficient organization.
This was seen in season 2 of the original cartoon. Even before Serpentor was created and ordered the capture of Washington D.C., the determination of COBRA to gather the necessary DNA made them better fighters against the Joes.
1 Cobra-La Is The Group Behind COBRA
Of all of G.I Joe's villains, Cobra-La is the worst. Plus, it's the oldest. Furthermore, the organization is behind the creation of modern-day COBRA. An ancient civilization of human-mutant hybrids, Cobra-La once ruled the Earth. To continue their empire, they disguise one of their noblemen to become Cobra Commander. However, his continued failures cause the group to plant a seed in Dr. Mindbender's brain to create Serpentor.
Cobra-La is the most dangerous group of villains. Being immortal, they have eons of fighting knowledge. They are so dangerous that they were able to critically injure the Joe named Duke with a javelin made out of a large snake.
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