Hasbro’s G.I. Joe San Diego Comic-Con 2017 exclusive this year was the Cobra Missile Command Headquarters. This set was discovered by Darryl Depriest inside Hasbro’s corporate headquarters while documenting everything G.I. Joe related that Hasbro had. Because of this find, Hasbro was able to offer this set once again to attendees at San Diego Comic-Con, and HasCon on September 8th-10th. This set is reissued from the 1982 Sears exclusive that was difficult to find back in the day. For the first time in 35 years, fans can once again own this set. This set includes a cardboard diorama of Cobra’s Headquarters, figures of Cobra Commander, Cobra Officer and Cobra Soldier, bio cards, and a bio card holder.
The HasCon edition of this will include a battle pack of 2 each of the Cobra Officer and Cobra Soldier to booster Cobra ranks. This set is limited to those that hold a VIP badge or if they are attending the G.I. Joe dinner.
Thank you to Hasbro and Hasbro PR for providing the Cobra Command Headquarters for review.
G.I. Joe Cobra Missile Command Headquarters
(Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available at Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
Cobraaaa! One of the rarest of all G.I. Joe playsets is back! The G.I. Joe Cobra Missile Command Headquarters, this convention exclusive is a faithful reproduction of the original and iconic Cobra Missile Command Headquarters Set from 1982. It recreates the classic design of the original in exacting detail with a weathered finished, following the original die-lines with all new re-created graphics. Assemble the highly detailed, sturdy graphic board components to build a headquarters that includes missile base, missile support systems, cruise missile, control panel, movable elevator, work platform, and seats. The set also comes with reproductions of the three figures that came with the original set – Cobra Commander (with a logo that is an homage to the original, first version Cobra Commander logo), Cobra Officer, and Cobra Trooper. Set includes file cards for the figures, as well as a file card holder for the cards. The G.I. Joe Cobra Missile Command Headquarters will be for sale during San Diego Comic-Con 2017. Following the convention, a limited number will be available on HasbroToyShop.com.
Availability: San Diego Comic-Con 2017; HasCon 2017
The packaging of the Cobra Command Headquarters is inspired from the vintage 1982 Sears exclusive packaging art with the pre-weathered look that Mark Weber had thought of. This is to show the age of the original packaging, which is more noticeable on the back and sides of the box. Every aspect about the packaging pays tribute to the original 1982 look, including the old Hasbro logo as seen on the bottom right on all sides of the packaging. What is different however is that the new modern figures in this set are shown on the package, as opposed to the original ARAH (A Real America Hero) figures that came with the vintage edition.
The Cobra Command Headquarters is reissued from the 1982 Sears exclusive and comes as cut flat sheets that need to be folded and put together to create the Headquarters. Setting this up can be time consuming, and the best reference we found was the packaging art itself over the instruction sheet that was hard to read at times while figuring out the folds. Each individual cardboard section included the Cobra Missile base backdrop, main missile support system, moveable cruiser missile, control panel, three seats, moveable elevator, and the work platform. Also the bio card holder comes flat and needs to be folded up.
Even though this was meant to work with shorter figures from 35 years ago, the modern G.I. Joe figures work very well with it. The movable elevator moves to the side and up and down by holding onto the screws on the back, which is easier to move it as opposed to holding onto the cardboard itself. The computer console and chairs are compatible with the figures as well, and 1 to 3 figures can fit and use the station. The detailing of this set is quite good and there is a lot of various colors on the computer consoles including buttons, panels, wiring, and various other details. Even though it’s 35 years old, the computer console, missile, and otherall design still looks great and it pays a nice homage to what technology looked like back then (and some of today’s as well). The backdrop showcases a larger portion of the headquarters, with an orange vehicle in the background and a circular room. The artwork shows a great expansion of the size if this headquarters, even if it’s just a flat backdrop, it doesn’t look like it is.
Just like the 1982 set, this set includes Cobra Commander, a Cobra trooper and a Cobra Officer. Cobra Commander includes revised forearms that gives him a short gloved look just like the original figure had, which was also thought of by Mark Weber. Cobra Commander is painted in his blue outfit with some black deco on the gloves, shoes, sheath for the knife, belt, and bottom part of the shirt. The head is chromed, and the helmet fits perfectly over it. On his back there is a storage spot for his blaster. He also has the red Cobra logo, red stripes down his pants, and a red belt buckle.
Both Cobra Troopers are in their blue and black uniforms, with the black chest harness with pouches and storage for accessories, that are also different for each figure, as well as a different color Cobra logo on the shirt. Each trooper also includes a different style rifle, and shares the same hair color. Included with all three figures is a figure stand with their name on it.
In addition, the bio card holder can hold all three (and more) bio’s that are included with the figures. On the back is original artwork of several G.I. Joe characters as this artwork was also used in the 1980’s. The old G.I. Joe logo is used on the front, and the Cobra logo on the sides. Included this bio card holder was a nice touch.
Overall, there is a lot to love about this set, as this is a play set that many G.I. Joe collector’s would most likely not own due to the age of it, and the fact it was hard to find in 1982. Fans of the vintage and modern G.I. Joe line would want to own this.
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