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1987 Characters, Page 4

Click-to-Reveal Profiles for Golobulus, Nemesis Enforcer, Royal Guard,
Zanzibar, Back-Stop, Sea Slug, and Ice Viper

Click a code name to show the character's profile.

+ Golobulus

GOLOBULUS - Latinesque personal name; resembles the word globular (resembling a globe).

Char. #117, 1st misc. enemy individual

Sunbow Cartoon Notes: Voiced by Burgess Meredith, who had a major role in the 1945 movie The Story of G.I. Joe, which inspired the name of the toy line. Spoke 42 lines in 2 episodes. Total appearances: 3 (The Movie parts 1, 3, and 5). Similar to his 1987 design, but his tail was grey and more naturally serpentine, and he had no red veins on his arm. Until the end of the movie he was concealed in a huge, floating green pod.

Cartoon Notes: Golobulus did not appear in the comic.

1. 1987 (Cobra-La)

Version 1: 1987 Cobra-La three-pack
Fig. #0132: Cobra-La Ruler
	head: Golobulus (87) arms: Golobulus (87) torso: Golobulus (87) tail: Golobulus (87)
	Accessories: red rifle (new, bio-laser gun)
	Descended from the serpent kings of pre-history, Golobulus rules over Cobra-La, a hidden, secret valley in the Himalayas where the high priests of the Bio-Mechanical cult have created a technology based solely on living organisms. The buildings of Cobra-La are really colonies of crustaceans, and the clothes of inhabitants are as alive as the people who wear them. Golobulus has achieved immortality through symbiosis . . . at the cost of his humanity. "The plates of Golobulus' body armor are living mutations of lobsters and crabs, each genetically altered to perform a specific function and bred for the tensile strength of their chitonous shells. Over the centuries, so much of Golobulus' body parts have been replaced or bio-mechanically altered that very little of the original is left except for his brain and his central nervous system."
Toy Notes: Carded in a three-pack with Nemesis Enforcer (87) and Royal Guard (87). Item #6141. Reportedly a Toys 'R Us exclusive a few months before general release. The prototype shown in the 1987 insert catalog had various mold differences, a silver gun, and a grey tail that coiled, allowing the figure to stand unattended.

+ Nemesis Enforcer

NEMESIS ENFORCER - agent of an unavoidable righteous infliction of retributive justice

Char. #118, 2nd misc. enemy individual

Sunbow Cartoon Notes: Spoke only in shrieks voiced by Peter Cullen. Heard in parts 2, 3, and 5 of the Movie; also appeared in parts 1 and 4 of the Movie. Had his 1987 design with normal eyes, no scales on his armor, bare upper arms, and large talons extending from his gloves. He wore only the large bat wings and not the tentacles.

Comic Notes: Nemesis Enforcer did not appear in the comic.

1. 1987 (Cobra-La)

2. 2008 (Comic #8)

Version 1: 1987 Cobra-La three-pack
Fig. #0133: Cobra-La Team
	head: Nemesis Enforcer (87) arms: Nemesis Enforcer (87) torso: Nemesis Enforcer (87) waist: Nemesis Enforcer (87) legs: Nemesis Enforcer (87)
	Accessories: grey backpack (new, with bat wings); bright green backpack (new, with tentacles)
	They say in Cobra-La that Golobulus raised the Nemesis Enforcer from a pile of dead things and that where his soul should be there is nothing but emptiness. His leathern wings have beat across the night skies since before the ice age as he tirelessly carried out the dark will of his master and creator. Fleeting glimpses of his sinister form gave rise to legends of vampires, harpies, and countless other things that go bump in the night . . . "He can glide silently and land without a sound. He is the other presence in the pitch-black room. He is the lurker in the dark, just outside your bedroom window. He rattles the garbage cans and makes your floors creak. He is the dread that stands behind you in the dark and dares you to turn and face him!"
Toy Notes: Carded in a three-pack with Nemesis Enforcer (87) and Royal Guard (87). Item #6141. Reportedly a Toys 'R Us exclusive a few months before general release. The prototype shown in the 1987 insert catalog and in the character art had different face details and green trim instead of cream.

Version 2: 2008 Wave 5 comic two-pack assortment
Fig. #1308: Cobra-La Soldier
	head: Nemesis Immortal (08) arms: Nemesis Immortal (08) chest: Serpentor (07, 08/I, 08/II), Nemesis Immortal (08) midsection: Serpentor (07, 08/I, 08/II), Nemesis Immortal (08) legs: Nemesis Immortal (08)
	Accessories: red vest (new, with white armor on shoulders) red backpack (new, U-shaped) with attaching blue bat-wings (new, huge and veiny); green tentacle backpack (new, with suction-cup tips); red belt (new, with embossed tentacles); black Cobra figure stand
	They say in Cobra-La that GOLOBULUS raised the NEMESIS IMMORTAL from a pile of dead things, and that where his soul should be, there is nothing but emptiness. His leathery wings have beat across the night skies since before the Ice Age, as he tirelessly carried out the dark will of his master. Fleeting glimpses of his sinister form have given rise to legends of vampires, harpies, and countless other things that go bump in the night. "He can glide silently and land without a sound. He is the other presence in the pitch-black room. He is the lurker in the dark, just outside your bedroom. He rattles the garbage cans and makes your floors creak. He is the dread that stands behind you in the dark and dares you to turn and face him."
Toy Notes: Carded in a two-pack with Lt. Falcon (08) and an original comic (#8). Item #31523.

ROYAL GUARD - elite military bodyguard responsible for the protection of royalty

Char. #119, 1st misc. enemy troop type

Sunbow Cartoon Notes: Various voices. Uttered battle cries in parts 1, 2, and 5 of the Movie. Royal Guards also appeared in part 3 of the Movie. Had the 1987 design with large black capes, red upper legs, and additional cream designs on the chest, arms, and legs.

1. 1987 (Cobra-La)

Version 1: 1987 Cobra-La three-pack
Fig. #0134: Cobra-La Team
	head: Royal Guard (87) arms: Royal Guard (87) torso: Royal Guard (87) waist: Royal Guard (87) legs: Royal Guard (87)
	Accessories: red antenna (new, with peg hole); dark grey pistol (new, with inwardly curved trigger); silver scythe (new, jagged)
	Bred and surgically enhanced for size, strength, and endurance, the royal guards of Cobra-La are responsible for the personal protection of Golobulus, supreme ruler of the hidden valley and last descendant of the serpent kings. Encased from head to foot in organic insectoid armor, Cobra-La are impervious to any ordnance up to a High-Explosive Anti-Tank round. Although formidable in battle, the guards tend to be tactically unimaginative and are relatively useless without close supervision. "There was an attempted coup in Cobra-La around the time when Emperor Hadrian was building his wall. Five hundred irate noblemen stormed the inner sanctum of Golobulus' summer palace and were confronted by just twenty guards. Golobulus slept through the entire incident. One guard was slightly wounded. Of the five hundred noblemen, there were no survivors."
Toy Notes: Carded in a three-pack with Nemesis Enforcer (87) and Royal Guard (87). Item #6141. Reportedly a Toys 'R Us exclusive a few months before general release.

ZANZIBAR - archipelago off the east coast of Tanzania

Char. #120, 9th Dreadnok individual

Morgan Teach (Caribbean-born with Saxon English surname) of the Cayman Islands.
The Cayman Islands (pop. 45,017) is a British territory in the Caribbean Sea about 100 miles southwest of Cuba. They are a popular tourist destination and a business-friendly financial services center (no direct taxation). The other Caribbean characters are Snow Storm of Havana, Cuba, Gristle of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Rampage of the US Virgin Islands.
Note: Edward Teach (1689-1718) was the English pirate known as Blackbeard. There was also a famous Welsh pirate named Henry Morgan.

Comic and Animation Notes: Zanzibar appeared in 7 issues between 1987 and 1994: #60, 79, 81, 83, 89, 90, and 145. He was animated only for commercials.

1. 1987 (Air Skiff)

2. 2004 (Convention)

Version 1: 1987 Dreadnoks boxed Air Skiff vehicle
Fig. #0135: Dreadnok Pirate
	head: Zanzibar (87, 04) arms: Zanzibar (87, 04) torso: Zanzibar (87, 04) waist: Zanzibar (87, 04) legs: Zanzibar (87, 04)
	Accessories: black laser pistol (new, with trapezoidal barrel, no trigger guard); brown spear (new, barbed); brown sledgehammer (new, with strap). The brown weapons are sometimes considered parts of the Air Skiff since they attach to clips on the vehicle
	Zanzibar was raised on a garbage scow and spent most of his formative years lurking on crowded piers with his hands in other people's pockets. He tried his hand at river piracy, stock fraud, and smuggling but found all of it too much real work and not nasty enough for his tastes. His lucky break came when he delivered a load of bootleg gasoline to Zartan's filling station and was immediately taken on as a Dreadnok. "This guy is so nasty that the other Dreadnoks hate his guts! He sneaks around at night and goes through their pockets for change. He takes one bite out of each chocolate covered donut and throws them back in the box. He brushes his teeth with grape soda and never changes his socks!"
Toy Notes: Item #6070. Zanzibar's commercial mistakenly refers to him as a "Dreadnoks."
Re-releases: Also available by mail with his Air Skiff in 1991 through the offer Attack of the Swamp Creature.

Version 2: 2004 Dreadnok Rampage special two-pack release
Fig. #0876: Dreadnok Pirate Dreadnok Zanzibar
	head: Zanzibar (87, 04) arms: Zanzibar (87, 04) torso: Zanzibar (87, 04) waist: Zanzibar (87, 04) legs: Zanzibar (87, 04)
	Accessories: grey laser pistol (87 Zanzibar's); grey spear (87 Zanzibar's); grey sledgehammer (87 Zanzibar's); clear figure stand
	DREADNOK ZANZIBAR made a name for himself as a freelance pirate, using his natural talent for vehicular engineering to devise his own "air skiff" out of stolen and discarded parts long before such technology seemed possible. When he met up with the Dreadnoks while unloading a stolen shipment of bootleg gasoline, the similar attitudes and attire seemed like kismet, and he became a Dreadnok on the spot—a decision every other Dreadnok came to regret. They soon realized he was even more despicable, idiosyncratic, and bizarre than all of the others combined. DREADNOK ZANZIBAR refers to himself as a globe-trotting rogue, a romantic mercenary, and a modern-day swashbuckler. The bottom line is that he's a freak with a ponytail and an eyepatch. ZARANA suspects there isn't even anything wrong with his eye! His fellow Dreadnoks put up with him because of his apparent skills in banditry, extortion, and hijacking, but his flamboyant personality rubs everyone the wrong way. "It's a pirate's life for me!"
Toy Notes: Bagged together with Dreadnok Thrasher (04) at the Dreadnok Rampage-themed 2004 Convention.

BACK-STOP - device that prevents train carts from rolling off a railroad track.

Char. #121, 76th Joe Team member

Robert A. Levin (Canadian-born with Jewish surname) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Montreal is Quebec's largest city (pop. 1,854,442) and was the largest city in Canada until overtaken by Toronto in the 1970s. By US-released filecards, Back-Stop is the only Joe from Canada.

Grades/SNs: none listed!

Comic and Animation Notes: Back-Stop appeared in 2 issues between 1987 and 1988: #64 and 68. He was animated only for commercials.

1. 1987 (Persuader)

Version 1: 1987 boxed Persuader vehicle
Fig. #0136: Persuader Driver	MOS 1: Armor [19K] MOS 2: Mechanized Infantry [formerly 11M]
	head: Back-Stop (87) arms: Back-Stop (87), Static Line (90) torso: Back-Stop (87), Static Line (90) waist: Back-Stop (87), Static Line (90) legs: Back-Stop (87), Static Line (90)
	Accessories: light grey helmet (new, with chinpiece jutting out); silver revolver (new, Ruger Blackhawk)
	Back-Stop injured so many opposing players in junior league hockey that his family had to move to the United States to escape angry parents. During his adolescent years in Detroit, he boxed in the Golden Gloves until he was barred from competition. He spent two terms as the undefeated wrestling champion of his high school simply because no one would get on the mat with him. After a short career in the demolition derby, Back-Stop found his true calling in the Army and eventually on the Joe Team. "Don't mess with Back-Stop. Even though he's had more broken bones, ripped tendons and severed arteries than anyone else in the Joe Team, he's still strong enough and strong-willed enough to break, rip, or sever something of yours."
Toy Notes: Item #6038.

SEA SLUG - soft-bodied, shellless mollusks living at all depths of salt water.

Char. #122, 17th Cobra troop type

1. 1987 (Sea Ray)

Version 1: 1987 boxed Sea Ray vehicle
Fig. #0137: Sea Ray Navigator
	head: Sea Slug (87) arms: Sea Slug (87) torso: Sea Slug (87) waist: Sea Slug (87) legs: Sea Slug (87)
	Accessories: silver undersea-capable pistol (new, with fin on top)
	Sea Slugs are chosen from the ranks of EELs (Cobra frogmen). As such, they are qualified in underwater demolitions, small boat tactics, and a wide range of SONAR gear. Specialized Sea Slug training concentrates on the use of the SEA RAY Tactical Submersible and its variants. The three phases of SEA RAY training are: river sand ports, deep ocean, and Arctic. The training cadre expects a 35% attrition rate during the Arctic phase. "The SEA RAY is coated with a rubberized damper that sends back an extremely indistinct "bounce" on all known SONARs. It is also equipped with a noise generator that can mimic the sounds produced by a humped-back whale. It has almost no heat signature and sits low in the water when on the surface. In other words, they are very hard to detect and once you've found them, you have to deal with the Sea Slugs that man them!"
Toy Notes: Item #6040.

ICE VIPER - environment characterized by patches of frozen water.

Char. #123, 18th Cobra troop type

2007 identity: Charles L. Mehtal (American with Hindi surname) of the United States

Comic and AnimationNotes: Ice Vipers were animated only for commercials.

2. 2007 (Flaming MOTH)

Version 1: 1987 boxed WOLF vehicle
Fig. #0138: Cobra WOLF Driver
	head: Ice Viper (87, 07) arms: Ice Viper (87, 07) torso: Ice Viper (87, 07) waist: Ice Viper (87, 07) legs: Ice Viper (87, 07)
	Accessories: dark grey helmet (new, flared with goggles); two silver sai (new)
	Ice Vipers are the mechanized branch of the Snow Serpents, both of which must first qualify as Cobra Eels (Cobra frogmen). They must take the additional training of Techno-Vipers and be prepared to service and repair their own vehicles in hostile Arctic environments. Ice Vipers are fed a special high-fat diet to help retain body heat and have their faces depilated to prevent frost from their breath icing up their beards. "When it's 40 degrees below zero on the tundra and everybody is buttoned up tight in their shelter because an ice storm is blowing in from the north, that's when you have to worry about the Ice Vipers sneaking up on you. Out there in the big whiteness, there isn't any place to hide. Whoever bundles up first because he figures it's too cold to fight, loses!"
Toy Notes: Item #6039. The prototype shown in the 1987 insert catalog has a differently molded head and a squatter helmet.
Re-releases: Also available by mail at some point (per red-backed filecard), and carded for a 1993 convention.

Version 2: 2007 Operation Flaming MOTH two-pack assortment, #4
Fig. #1156: Cobra Arctic Technician, Operation Flaming M.O.T.H. Ice-Viper	MOS 1: Arctic Operations MOS 2: Transportation
	head: Ice Viper (87, 07) arms: Ice Viper (87, 07) torso: Ice Viper (87, 07) waist: Ice Viper (87, 07) legs: Ice Viper (87, 07)
	Accessories: white helmet (87 Ice Viper's, with black goggles and gold trim); two black ice shoes (88 Blizzard's); black attack rifle (92 Big Bear's AK-88); two silver sai (87 Ice Viper's); clear figure stand
	ICE-VIPERS are the mechanized branch of COBRA's polar assault troops, specially trained to operate, service, and repair the fleet of various cold weather vehicles in hostile arctic environments. Because of the likelihood of mechanical weapons freezing, they are further trained in several Martial Arts as well as the use of exotic edged weaponry. Unfortunately, the cold climate causes most of their tools and weapons to freeze in mid-use and otherwise become unusable. Thus, the ICE-VIPERS often end up using their field-issue sais to scrape ice off the frozen parts of their vehicles, as well as battle opposing forces. This ex-soldier was a born rebel who yearned for something other than his dead-end existence as an auto repair mechanic. He joined various militant groups looking for excitement until he finally found a home in COBRA. His natural talent for driving and maintaining virtually any vehicle led to his being assigned as COBRA COMMANDER's personal driver and bodyguard during arctic operations. He can drive any tracked, articulated, all-terrain, amphibious, & multi-role transport vehicle in even the harshest weather conditions. An expert at navigating normally impassible "black road" conditions, the SNOW SERPENT COMMANDER has chosen him for the final mission of Operation: Flaming M.O.T.H., in a race against time to locate the last component of the military satellite. I am the wolf and you are the prey. . . let the hunt begin!"
Toy Notes: Boxed in a Collector's Club-exclusive Arctic Theater two-pack with Snow Serpent Commander (07).

Character Contributions

Cobra-La Ruler: acts as head of state and head of government for the currently-underground Cobra-La Empire.

Nemesis Enforcer

Cobra-La Team: general-purpose freelance agent; responsible for Cobra-La's information gathering and other covert operations in the human world.

Royal Guard

Cobra-La Team: responsible for the personal protection of Golobulus and other Cobra-La dignitaries; provides homefront security and elite combat operations for Cobra-La.

Dreadnok Pirate: commits acts of robbery and creative procurement on land and waterways in support of Dreadnok operations.

Persuader Driver: operates and maintains the Joe Team's six-wheeled armor-piercing laser cannon tank.
Armor: operates tracked and armored vehicles in combat and training exercises. Has special knowledge of tank-launched and tank-mounted weapons.
Mechanized Infantry: leads, supervises, and serves as a member of a fighting vehicle unit or activity employing vehicular and dismounted weapons in combat operations.

Sea Ray Navigator: operates and maintains Cobra's flying submersible aircraft in combat and training activites.

Cobra WOLF Driver: operates and maintains Cobra's Winter Operational Light Fighting Vehicle.
Cobra Arctic Technician: serves as an engineer operations technician in a broad range of capacities in cold-weather environments. Plans, supervises, and coordinates construction of base camps and interment facilities.
Arctic Operations: specializes in polar-environment combat operations in snowy and icy terrain or on ice-covered bodies of water.
Transportation: supervises or operates wheel and tracked vehicles to transport personnel and cargo over varied terrain and roadways for support of combat operations.

Continue to 1987 Characters, Page 5 (WORMS, Gyro-Viper, Rumbler, Steam-Roller, Hardtop, Payload, Starduster, and Steel Brigade)

Go back to 1987 Characters, Page 3 (Croc Master, Fast Draw, Techno-Viper, Sneak Peek, Mercer, Red Dog, and Taurus)

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