1982 Cobra Commander: Enemy Leader v1 (mail order, straight-arm)
Includes: "Venom" laser pistol (plugs into back)
A note on Cobra Commander v1 releases:
Cobra Commander v1 was available as a mail-in offer in 1982. This mail order Cobra Commander was the straight arm version seen above. Cobra Commander v1 was also released with the Sears Exclusive 1982 Cobra Missile Command Headquarters. In 1983, Cobra Commander v1.5 (with swivel arms) would be released as a carded figure as part of series 2. Cobra Commander v1.5 was also released with the same Sears Exclusive Cobra Missile Command Headquarters in 1983.
Cobra Commander v1 variant:
Early versions of Cobra Commander v1 came with a slightly different Cobra sigil on his chest. This version is referred to as "Mickey Mouse Cobra Commander" in the G.I.Joe community due to the Cobra's eyes looking like Mickey Mouse ears.
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Action figure image gallery:
Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them. Photos courtesy of Phillip Donnelly.
Accessory image gallery:
All accessories were photographed on a 1" grid. Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.
1982 Hasbro Direct mail order offer
The offer below was inserted with 1982 vehicles. There were also carded 1982 figures featuring the Cobra Commander offer on the front.
Creator Commentary: Overwhelming Demand
As can be heard in the creator commentary below, the response to the Cobra Commander Offer was overwhelming.
Kirk Bozigian (G.I. Joe Product Manager) discusses the birth of the Flag Points program and one crazy Christmas in 1982.
All sixteen 1982 straight-arm figures were re-released in 1983 with updated swivel-arm articulation. The 1982 straight-arm figures are known as v1, while the 1983 swivel-arm figures are known as v1.5, since they aren't entirely new figures.
