~ Nomenclature = Rhyme; the name Brandon with the word ‘command+ing’.
~ Cobra codename: Cobra Commander (Enemy Leader) – The fanatical
leader wants total control of the world, demanding totaly loyalty and
allegiance, ruling with an iron fist.
def’n: Command – To give an authoritative order; to be in
a strong position (of power).

1b 
LEE DER

~ Nomenclature = Leader (of Cobra).
~ Cobra codename: Cobra – The organization which is the
nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro action figure toyline
(A Real American Hero, Sigma 6, etc).
def’n: Leader – The person who leads or commands a group,
organization or country.

GPK FILE
CARD FACTS:

~ The character is wonderfully modeled after the Garbage Pail Kids
image for OS2 cards 46a Rappin’ RON and 46b RAY Gun painted by artist
John Pound. The GPK character shows a caricature of the then 80’s
leader, (P)resident of the United States, Ronald Reagan.
~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the Commander is in the same ‘all
hail’ and praise pose showcasing his 1984 cloth hood rather than his
1982 visor helmet and his rarely worn cape. The cobra snake replaces
his microphone.

2a  ZAR TANNER

~ Nomenclature = Zartan.
~ Cobra codename: Zartan (Master
of Disguise) – Has the ability to alter his skin color at will
in order to blend into his surroundings like camouflage.
He is a master of make-up and disguise and known for his lingistics.
def’n: Camouflage – To hide
or disguise the presence of (a person) by means of camouflage. The
disguising of military personnnel, equipment and installations by
painting or covering to blend in with the environment.

~ For the G.I.JOKES image, the man of many faces is depicted
living up to his repertoire of split personalities. The 1984 G.I.JOE
action figure came with a bearded mask (like the one the character is
holding) that slipped over his regular face and was held in place by
the hood. Later anniversary releases came with additionals ‘mask’ faces.
The figure’s skin would turn a greenish color in the sun.

~ Nomenclature = Chrome dome.
~ Cobra codename: Destro (Enemy Weapons Supplier) –
He dons his silver ‘battle’ mask, a family tradition, and enters into
battle himself — either with Cobra or against if it’s better for business.
Circa 1983.
def’n: Chrome dome – slang. A bald head; a person
who is blad.
def’n: Chrome – A chromium plate as a decorative and/or
protective finish on fittings and other objects.
def’n: Dome – An object shaped like a dome (a rounded vault).

~ Nomenclature = Destro/destroy.
~ Cobra codename: Destro (James McCullen Destro) – The ‘faceless’
power behind the Military Armaments Research System (MARS), the largest
manufacturer hight-tech weaponry. A weapons supplier and terrorist.
def’n: Destro – Italian. Agile, artful, clever, deft,
dexterous, right-hand, et cetera.
def’n: Destroy – To ruin or defeat utterly. To put an end
to by damaging and attacking. Beyond repair.
def’n: Destruction – The action or process of killing; annihlation,
obliteration, elimination, eradication, etc.

~ Nomenclature = Gemini.
~ Cobra codename: Tomax / Xamot (Crimson Guard Commanders)
– Much like their reversgram (reversible anagram) code names, the
twin brothers are a mirror image of one another except for a scar on
Xamot’s face.
def’n: Gemini – Twin brothers in Greek mythology known as
the Dioscuri (sons of Zeus).

~ Nomenclature = Tomax.
~ Cobra codename: Tomax / Xamot (Crimson Guard Commanders)
– The two mercenaries are skilled in infiltration, espionage, sabatage,
propaganda and corporate law. Circa 1985.
def’n: Two – A group or unit of two people (or things).
The sum of one and one.

~ Although, the painting does not directly replicate any Garbage
Pail Kids image from yesteryears, it does pay homage to all of the
weapon rearing characters of the first few original series with a foot
up, including OS1 cards 33a Mad MIKE and 33b Savage STUART and OS2 cards
62a Greaser GREG and 62b CHRIS Hiss, both painted by artist John Pound.
~ For the G.I.JOKES image, the twins’ poses and eyes are in a
mirrir image-like imposing gait down to their weapon holding, ambidexterous
hands. With this double image the set is more like 10 characters.

~ Nomenclature = Baroness.
~ Cobra codename: Baroness (Intelligence Officer) –
The internation terrorist born from European aristocratic wealth is
a qualified expert of the M-16, AK-47, RPG7, Uzi and H.I.S.S. tank.
Circa 1984.
def’n: Baroness – The wife (or widow) of a baron; a woman
holding the rank of baron either as a life peerage or as a hereditary
rank. A title of honor.

~ Nomenclature = Femme fatale (French. Fatal woman).
~ Cobra codename: Baroness (Intelligence Officer) –
Her loyalty is divided between Cobra and Destro but is able to play
both sides against each other. Is romantically involved with, and knows
the true identity of, Destro.
def’n: Femme fatale – An attractive and seductive woman,
especially one who will ultimately bring disaster to a man who becomes
involved with her. An irresistibly attractive, but dangerious woman.
A siren.
def’n: Fatal – Leading to failure or disaster; causing death.

~ NA. Albeit, Pingitore smartly replaced the Baroness’ infamous black,
horn-rimmed spectacles with the CPK/GPK eyeglasses accessory most prominantly
seen on the OS2 character for cards 77a Ghastly ASHLEY and 77b Acne
AMY painted by artist John Pound.
~ For the G.I.JOKES image, the seductive Baroness is seen with
the hand-on-hip pose, fully bespectacled. Thus, answering the prayers
of guys (and girls) with a specs-fetish. 20/20 is not always ‘perfect’.

~ Nomenclature = Rhyme; the name Rye with the word ‘firefly’.
~ Cobra codename: Firefly (Saboteur) – Specializes in sabotage,
demotlitions and terrorism. An expert in all NATO and Warsaw Pact explosives
and detonators. Later part of The Coil. Circa 1984.
def’n: Firefly – A soft-bodied, nocturnal beetle related
to the glowwarm pocessing luminescent organs.
def’n: Fire – The shooting of projectiles from weapons,
esp. bullets from guns.
def’n: Fly – To move quickly.

~ Nomenclature = ‘Hordak’.
~ Cobra codename: Firefly (Saboteur) – A ninja master and
mercenary whose skills include infiltration, demolition via detonation,
terror and above all else, high-profile sabotage missions.
def’n: Sabotage – To deliberately destroy, damage or
obstruct, esp. for political or military advantage.

~ The character is duplicated after the Garbage Pail Kids image
for OS6 cards 250a Newly-Dead ED and 250b Dyna MIKE painted by artist
John Pound. The GPK character is detonating himself in a pleasurable,
self-sacrificing way.
~ For the G.I.JOKES character, the saboteur is seen in the same
self-sabotaging way, saving (a bit more) face, down to the intact brain,
flying eyeball and loose (bolt and) nuts. The merciless mercenary shows
no-mercy or pity even to himself. Detonation destination.

~ Nomenclature = Rhyme; the name Norman with the word ‘storm+ing’.
~ G.I. JOE codename: Storm Shadow (Cobra Ninja) –
A ninja assasin that runs in the family for thirty generations and an
8th degree black belt in five different martial arts. Qualified expert
with the long bow, samurai sword, throwing stars and Nunchaku sticks.
Circa 1984.
def’n: Storm – (weather) To be violent with strong winds,
rain, thunder lighting, snow or a combination.
def’n: Storm – (troops) To suddenly attack and capture by
means of force.

~ Nomenclature = Dark cloud; aka ‘storm cloud’.
~ Joe codename: Storm Shadow – Trained by the Arashikage
Clan’s Hard Master alongside his long time nemesis Snake Eyes. His weapon
of choice being two hand-forged steel katana swords.
def’n: Dark – A machine or mechanism used to reduce
the size of material such as waste. A trash compactor.
def’n: Storm cloud – A heavy dark cloud presaging rain
or a storm. A herald of disturbance, anger or violence.
def’n: Shadow – To follow and observe closely and secretly;
to track, trail, pursue, hunt, et cetera.

~ The character is mainly modeled after the Garbage Pail Kids
image for OS1 cards 7a Stormy HEATHER and 7b APRIL Showers, but is also
reminiscent of OS1 cards 4a Fryin’ BRIAN and 4b Electric BILL (all yellow
‘electricity’) along with OS2 cards 53a Jolted JOEL and 53b Live MIKE
all dealing with electricution and all painted by John Pound.
~ For the G.I.JOKES image, although metal doesn’t attract lightning
(myth), it does provide a path for lightning to follow. Suicide by samurai
sword.

~ Nomenclature = Mind-bender.
~ Cobra codename: Dr. Mindbender (Master of Mind Control)
– Through experimentation with electric brainwave stimulation,
underwent a complete personality change becoming hateful. Circa 1986.
def’n: Mind-bender – To intensely affect the mind, especially
to the extent of producing hallucinations. A person that radically and
suddenly affects one’s thinking, perceptions, psyche, etc. slang.
mindblower.
def’n: Mind – A person’s intellect.

~ Nomenclature = The name Ben to go with the word ‘brain+y’.
~ Cobra codename: Doctor. Mindbender (Master of Mind Control)
– Invented a hand-portable weapon for his digital brain-scrambling.
A scientist allied with both Cobra Commander and Destro.
def’n: Brainy – Having or showing intelligence. Being
clever, intelligent, smart, bright, gifted, et cetera.

~ The character is modeled after the top half of the Garbage Pail
Kids image for OS2 cards 72a Mad MAX and 72b Brainy BRIAN painted
by artist John Pound. The GPK character has opened his brain-case and
studying his own brain with his bifocal glasses.
~ For the G.I.JOKES character, the full-bodied Doctor is also
inspecting his bloodied mind with his single monocle eyeglass.
~ Moth’s can be a symbol, like a butterfly, of a transformation.

~ Nomenclature = Serpentor.
~ Cobra codename: Serpentor (Emperor) – A Cobra Emperor
created through DNA, under the direction of The Interrogator and Destro,
from the traces of Napolean, Julius Caesar, Hannibal and Attila the
Hun.
def’n: Serpentine – Of or like a serpent or snake; serpentlike,
snakelike.
def’n: Serpent – A large snake. A sly or treacherous person;
one who exploits a position of trust and betrays it.
def’n: Snake – A long, limbless reptile. A treacherous or
deceitful person.

~ Nomenclature = Cobra.
~ Cobra codename: Serpentor (Emperor) – A master
of political intrigue and tactician that battles for power with Cobra
Commander. Later a leader of The Coil. Circa 1986.
def’n: Cobra – A highly venomous snake native of Africa
and Asia that spreads the skin of its neck into a hood to appear bigger
and more menacing.

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the king cobra character is in a
classic CPK pose wearing a special edition GPK shoe with green stripes
that match his green reptile eyes. The serpent of supreme power holds
his scepter, an ornamented staff often carried by rulers (or wizards),
that, instead of a snake head, has a CPK/GPK face.

~ Nomenclature = Snake eyes.
~ Joe codename: Snake-Eyes (Ninja Master) – Trained by the
Arashikage Clan’s Hard Master alongside his long time nemesis Storm
Shadow. His weapon of choice being a hand-forged steel heirloom katana
sword.
def’n: Snake eyes – informal. A throw of two ones
with a pair of dice. The pair of pips resemble a set of reptile eyes.
The snake is associated with treachery, deceit and betrayal.

10b COMMAND
OWEN

~ Nomenclature = Commando.
~ Joe codename: Snake-Eyes (Unidentified) – Joined the
G.I. Joe team within the U.S. Army service branch and rised
through the ranks as an master sergeant (E-8); a love interest of
fellow soldier codename Scarlett.
def’n: Commando – A soldier that is specially trained
to carry out raids and special missions/operations.

GPK FILE
CARD FACTS:

~ This is the first Joe team character for the G.I.JOKES brand,
the previous nine characters were taken from the Cobra team
canon.
~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the ninja master can be seen sporting
his black bodysuit (with the red Arashikage ba gua symbol), balaclava
and visor, holding his Japanese sword, packing trench knives and explosives
and petting his trusty sidekick wolf, Timber.

~ Nomenclature = Rhyme; the name Matty with the word ‘batty’.
~ Cobra codename: B.A.T. (Battle Android Troopers) – Manufactured
cheaply, quickly and en masse as modular arm-mounted, weapon-based
mechanical infantry for the Cobra army.
def’n: Batty – informal. Crazy; insane. Out of one’s
mind, nutty, bonkers, loopy, wacko, loony, et cetera.

~ Nomenclature = Accessories.
~ Cobra codename: B.A.A.T. / B.A.D. (Battle Armored Android Trooper
/ Battle Android Driver) – Various makes, marks and models whose
weapon mounts include a claw-hand, flamethrower, energy projector, etc.
def’n: Accessory – Having a plethora of attachments,
extras, add-ons, appendages, fitments, et cetera.

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the Cobra battle droid can
be seen in the iconic GPK-esque charging stance. Instead of a
variety of way-cool weapons, the robot is fully equiped with a surplus
of household gadgets including batter beaters, a toilet bowl plunger,
a vacuum cleaner brush extension and a shower head. The battle ‘bot
does have two trusty grenades as part of his gear.

~ Nomenclature = Crocodile. Croc informal for a ‘crocodile’;
from Australia.
~ Cobra codename: Croc Master – A member of the Cobra
team that works as an animal trainer and security on Cobra Island. Although
called ‘Croc’ master, he stems from Florida with alligators as pets
and ‘weapons’.
def’n: Crocodile – A large predatory reptile with long jaws,
short tail, short legs and horny textured skin.

~ Nomenclature = Reptile.
~ Cobra codename: Croc Master (Cobra Enemy) – An
alligator wrestler and animal trainer that sports a green scaled vest
and boots and a black oxygen face mask for wrestling the aforementioned
alligators underwater.
def’n: Reptile – A vertebrate animal of a class that
includes alligators and crocodiles distinguished by having dry, scaly
skin and laying soft-shelled eggs on land. informal. A person
regarded with loathing and contempt.

~ Nomenclature = Monkey wrench.
~ Cobra codename: Monkeywrench (aka Bill Winkie) –
A member of the Dreadnoks within the Cobra team, controlled by
Zartan, that specializes in explosives and demolition, including grenades.
def’n: Monkeywrench – An adjustable wrench with large jaw.
To sabotage, especially as a form of protest.

~ Nomenclature = Dreadnok.
~ Cobra codename: Dreadnoks – A deplorable group of mercenaries,
vandals and theives specializing in violence, destruction and mayhem.
A money-grubbing group of greedy gunman.
def’n: Dread – To anticipate with great apprehension
or fear. To strike fear and dread.
def’n: Mercenary – A professional soldier hired to
serve in a foreign army for the purpose of making money only.

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the road hoggin’ Dreadnok member
is seen holding a namesake monkey wrench instead of a can of beer, leaving
a trail of smoke in its wake, sporting similar black boots, patched
jeans, a necklace, sunglasses and leather accessories. The red skull
& crossbones headlight has been replaced with the Cobra emblem.

~ Nomenclature = Golobulus.
~ Cobra codename: Golobulus (Supreme Ruler) – The ruler
of the secret race of Cobra-La, an ancient civilization that
once ruled Earth but eventually retreated to hideaway caves in the Himalayas.
def’n: NA

14b WORMY
ERNIE

~ Nomenclature = Rhyme; the name Ernie with
the word ‘wormy’.
~ Cobra codename: Golobulus – The Cobra-La have
perfected bio-technology and have replaced most of the leader’s body
parts where his central nervous system being the only original part.
def’n: Wormy – informal. A weak, abject or revolting
character. Infested with or eaten by worms.

GPK FILE
CARD FACTS:

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the Cobra-La character
can be seen sporting his red crustataean eyepatch and chest armor,
a green arm with signature red veins and a very long segmented reptile-like
tail appendage as his hindmost part.
~ Although not pictured, Golobulus’ (sounds like ‘glob-ulus’) weapon
of choice is a red bio-gun.

~ Nomenclature = Shipwreck.
~ Joe codename: Shipwreck (aka Hector X. Delgado) –
A member of the Joe team through the U.S. Navy and trained as
a S.E.A.L. and Naval Gunnery school and rising as a E-7 chief petty
officer.
def’n: Shipwreck – The destruction of a ship at sea by sinking
or breaking up by storm or running aground.

~ Nomenclature = Wrecked ship.
~ Joe codename: Shipwreck – A sailor on the Joe team known
for his rowdy and brash personality and his weapon and vehicle expertise
including the M-16, M-14, Browning .50 cal, et cetera.
def’n: Wreck – A sunken ship. A person whose physical
or mental health or strength has failed.
def’n: Ship – A vessel larger than a boat for transporting
goods or people by sea.

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the stubborn and headstrong sailor
is seen with the ship on it’s side, with his trusty parot Polly on his
shoulder (the same shoulder as pictured on the file card) but missing
his percussion pistol and boarding hooks, sometimes listed as a grappling
hook.

~ Nomenclature = The specific forename Jaye to go with the word ‘jacked’.
~ Joe codename: Lady Jaye (aka Alison R. Hart-Burnett)
– A member of the Joe team through the U.S. Army and trained
in Airborne, Ranger and Intelligence school and rising as a E-7 staff
sergeant.
def’n: Jacked – Having very well-developed muscles. Physically
stimulated from the effects of a drug.

~ Nomenclature = Testosterone.
~ Joe codename: Lady Jaye – Specializes in covert operations
and intelligence, using her gifts of linguistics, actress and mime artist
whose weapons of choice being a Reflex crossbow, M-16 and power javelin.
def’n: Testosterone – A steroid hormone that stimulates
development of male secondary characteristics.

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the stoic Joe team member
is seen showcasing her veined and bulging ‘strong-arm’ with a quiver
of arrows on her backside, videocamera with strap and decked out in
her Army attire.

~ Nomenclature = Beachhead.
~ Joe codename: Beach Head (aka Beachhead; Beach-Head)
– A member of the Joe team via the U.S. Army specializing as a
Ranger and small-arms armorer trained in Ranger and Covert Ops schools.
def’n: Beachhead – A defended position on a beach taken
from the enemy by landed forces from which an attack can then be launched.

~ Nomenclature = The specific forename Wayne to go with the words ‘washed-up’.
~ Joe codename: Beachhead (aka Wayne R. Sneeden) –
Highly motivated soldier and part of the Night Force team rising in
the ranks as a staff sergeant (E-6) and later as a command sergeant
major (E-9).
def’n: Washed-up – Deposited on a shore by waves and
the lowering tide. informal. No longer successful.

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the beach bum Joe team member
is seen in his battle gear with his weapons deposited unceremoniously
in the sand along with toys and sea creatures.

~ Nomenclature = Scarlet fever.
~ Joe codename: Scarlett – A member of the Joe team
through the U.S. Army and trained at AIT, Ranger, Covert Ops, Marine
Sniper and SASR schools specializing in counter intelligence as a sergeant
(E-5).
def’n: Scarlet fever – An infectious bacterial disease causing
a high fever and a bright red, scarlet rash.

~ Nomenclature = The specific forename Shana to go with the word ‘sick+ly’.
~ Joe codename: Scarlett (aka Shana M. O’Hara) –
Part of the Ninja Force and Desert Patrol Squad subteams and skilled
wtih a XK-1 power crossbow, throwing stars, M-14, M-16, etc. weapons.
Has eyes for Snake Eyes.
def’n: Sickly – An individual who is often ill and
in poor health. Insipid, pale and nausea inducing.

~ For the G.I.JOKES edition, the ill-favored Joe team
member is seen with the same relief ice bag on her noggin, chills, thermometer
and pill bottles. The bottle on the right, as with the OS image, has
the same red-white-and-blue stripes as the G.I. JOE logo.