There have been around 50 previous versions of Cobra Commander, which started back in 1982 with the mail-in straight-armed version. Since then, he’s been found in any number of ways, even to the 5 POA version we’ve seen that came with the Retaliation HISS tank.
From the classic filecard:
Code Name: Enemy Leader
File Name: (CLASSIFIED)
Grade: Commander-in-Chief
Birthplace: (CLASSIFIED)
Primary Specialty: Intelligence
Secondary Specialty: Ordinance (Experimental Weaponry)
Absolute power! Total control of the world…its people, wealth, and resources—that’s the objective of COBRA Commander. This fanatical leader rules with an iron fist. He demands total loyalty and allegiance. His main battle plan, for world control, relies on revolution and chaos. He personally led uprisings in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and other trouble spots. Responsible for kidnapping scientists, businessmen, and military leaders, then forcing them to reveal their top level secrets.
“COBRA Commander is hatred and evil personified. Corrupt. A man without scruples. Probably the most dangerous man alive!”
From the Amazon pack filecard:
Code Name: Cobra Commander
Name: Rex Lewis(alias)
Military Specialty: Cobra leader
Primary Weapons: Experimental Cobra submachine guns
Absolute power! Total control of the world – its people, wealth, and resources – that’s the objective of Cobra Commander. The deviously brilliant leader of the evil Cobra organization demands complete allegiance from his followers as he works toward his ultimate goal of controlling the world.
Okay, while a bit more tame than the original, this at least draws some inspiration from it, and isn’t complete suck.