Editing Cobra Commander (section)

===UK continuities===
In the UK ''[[Battle Picture Weekly|Battle Action Force]]'' comic, Cobra Commander was originally known as [[Baron Ironblood]], leader of the Red Shadows, a ruthless terrorist organization. The Red Shadows were legions of brainwashed fanatic soldiers armed with sophisticated, high-tech weapons. The group was declared the single greatest threat to world security by the UN, with Ironblood being labeled "World Enemy #1".<ref name="File">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/baf/093/index.html|title=The File on the Baron|access-date=2009-03-11}}</ref>

In 1985, Hasbro began moves to market G.I. Joe in the UK, under the Action Force name. This would affect the comic version of ''Battle Action Force'', as the writers were to get rid of the Red Shadows and Baron Ironblood and replace them with Cobra and Cobra Commander. To preserve continuity within the comic, the decision was made to transform Baron Ironblood in to the Action Force version of Cobra Commander.<ref name="world">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/baf/034/index.html|title=World Enemy No. 1|access-date=2009-03-11}}</ref>

The transition came as Baron Ironblood grew tired of his group's failures and decided to destroy the Red Shadows, by secretly informing Action Force of the group's bases. Going into hiding, Ironblood relocated to Southeast Asia, where he had [[plastic surgery]] on his face, constructed a new mask and costumed identity (that of Cobra Commander), and underwent extensive treatment to give him immunity towards all forms of snake venom (a process known as [[mithridatism]]). He then began the process of recruiting a new inner circle and organisation, known as Cobra.<ref name="File"/><ref name="world"/>

Unfortunately for Ironblood, his illicit fortune to finance this new army is stolen by former Red Shadow member, Red Jackal, who he is forced to rebuild as a cyborg (and rechristened as "[[Destro]]"). Furthermore, both surviving members of the Red Shadows and the retooled Action Force repeatedly foil his plans. In the final ''Battle Action Force'' storyline, after an attempt to locate the headquarters of the Action Force team fails and leads to a crushing defeat of his forces, Ironblood/Cobra Commander goes insane and collapses into a near catatonic state.

In ''Action Force Weekly'', Cobra Commander is a featured character starting from issue #1, where he is depicted as bald.<ref>"Action Force" #1 (March 1987)</ref> Destro believes Cobra Commander's excesses are the greatest risk to Cobra's success.