Wikipedia

Cobra (Marvel Comics)

This article is about the Marvel Comics character. For the Cobra organization also in Marvel Comics and other publications, seeCobra (G.I. Joe).For the DC Comics supervillain, seeKobra (DC Comics).

Cobrais the name of a number of different fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.

The most well-known Cobra is Klaus Voorhees, now known as theKing Cobra.He first appeared inJourney into Mystery#98 (Nov. 1963) created by writerStan Leeand artistDon Heck.[1]Klaus Voorhees was a laboratory assistant, working with a professor trying to find a cure for various venomous snake bites. A combination of a bite from a radioactive cobra and the experimental anti-venom granted him superpowers, which led to him becoming the supervillain briefly known as the Human Cobra and then as the Cobra. The Cobra andMister Hydeformed a criminal team for years, fighting various heroes such asThorandDaredevil.[2]He later became a member of theSerpent Squadand a member ofSidewinder'sSerpent Society.During a takeover attempt by theViper,the Cobra actually opposed her rule and sided withCaptain Americato depose the Viper and foil her plans. The Cobra later took the name "the King Cobra" as he assumed leadership of the Serpent Society. When the Serpent Society became Serpent Solutions under the leadership of theViper(Jordan Stryke, a different Viper) the King Cobra became a member of the group.

His nephew, Piet Voorhees, became the second Cobra and first appeared inWhite Tiger#1 (Jan. 2007) in a story written byTamora Pierceand drawn byTimothy Liebe.Piet Voorhees was injected with the same chemicals that gave his uncle his powers and he became the second Cobra, working as a mercenary. On one mission he encountered theWhite Tiger,who defeated him. The Cobra later joined the Serpent Squad, organized bySinand would also work forHYDRAas a mercenary.

Marvel has also used the moniker "Cobra" for twoWorld War IINazi villains and also a mercenary enemy ofMoon Knight.

The original Cobra has appeared outside of Marvel Comics, most notably in "The Mighty Thor" portion ofThe Marvel Super Heroesas well as in episodes ofThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest HeroesandMarvel Disk Wars: The Avengers.

Publication history

edit

Klaus Voorheeswas briefly known as theHuman Cobra,then was known as theCobrafor many years and is currently known as theKing Cobra.The Klaus Voorhees version of the Cobra was most commonly associated withThor,Daredeviland, to a lesser extent,Captain AmericaandSpider-Man.The character was created byStan LeeandDon HeckinJourney into Mystery#98 (Nov. 1963) in which he first battled Thor.[3]His next appearance (Journey into Mystery#105–106 (June–July 1964)) saw him team up withMister Hydefor the first time (with Hyde being the brains of the team) and the duo had a few more encounters with Thor before their first battle with Daredevil inDaredevil#30–32 (July–Sept. 1967).

Fictional character biography

edit

Klaus Voorhees

edit
Cobra
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceJourney into Mystery#98 (Nov. 1963)[4]
Created byStan Lee
Don Heck
In-story information
Alter egoKlaus Voorhees
Team affiliationsThunderbolts
Serpent Society
Serpent Squad
Notable aliasesThe Human Cobra, the King Cobra
AbilitiesVery flexible and slithery body
Superhuman strength, agility, reflexes and reactions, coordination, balance and endurance
Wall-crawling
Various venomous gadgets

Klaus Voorhees was born inRotterdam,theNetherlands.Klaus was an ex-convict and theDutchlaboratory assistant to Professor Schecktor, a scientist working inIndiaand looking for a cure for venomous snake bites. Unsatisfied with his lower position, and intent on stealing Schecktor's discoveries, Voorhees killed Schecktor by using acobra.In order to make himself look less guilty, Cobra let the cobra bite him as well. He used an experimental anti-venom for snake venom to cure himself, but denied it to Schecktor. The cobra was radioactive due to experimentation and in a process similar to that which grantedSpider-Manhis powers, Voorhees gained superhuman abilities similar to a cobra's. Thor's mortal form Don Blake had encountered Schecktor. As Thor, he met the dying man and learned what had happened and that Cobra was traveling to America. Cobra attempted to manufacture a cobra-serum to transform others into similarly-powered slaves, but was thwarted byThor.Although Cobra escaped using Jane Foster as a hostage.[5]

As the professional criminal called Cobra, he fought Thor,Daredevil,and a number of other superheroes. Cobra andMister Hydewere partners for years. They first joined forces to get revenge upon Thor, but were jailed.[6]Cobra and Hyde were then bailed out and employed byLokito kidnapJane Foster,and Loki doubled their powers. Thor followed them to a house where traps had been set up for him. Hyde was defeated and then Thor manipulated the power supply of the house. Using his hammer, he sent a charge through the house that electrocuted Cobra. The weakened Cobra was forced out of a pipe next to Thor. He was easily defeated by Thor and left bound, before being arrested with Hyde.[7]Cobra and Hyde then battled Daredevil for the first time.[8]He later teamed with Hyde and theJesteragainst Daredevil.[9]

Cobra later joined the originalSerpent SquadwithEeland his brotherViper.With the Serpent Squad, he attackedCaptain Americaand theFalcon.[10]He subsequently joined the second Serpent Squad and battled Steve Rogers in hisNomadidentity, then he became involved in an attempt to raise the continent ofLemuriaup from the ocean.[11]He became trapped with the secondViperand his cowardice earned her enmity.[12]

Later, Cobra assisted Hyde in an attempt to acquire Cagliostro's serum.[13]Purple Manthen mind-controlled him, and Cobra fought Daredevil in a prison courtyard alongside Hyde, the Jester, and theGladiator,who were also mind-controlled by the Purple Man.[14][15]Later, Cobra refused to take Hyde along on a jailbreak, effectively ending their partnership, and Cobra got into a battle with Spider-Man.[16]Hyde then began stalking his former partner and battled both Cobra and Spider-Man.[17]

Cobra then joinedSidewinder's crime cartel theSerpent Society.[18]He teamed withDiamondbackto locate theScourge.[19]Later, he went on a mission to poison Washington D.C.'s water supply.[20]He also helped Captain America subdue the Viper.[21]When Sidewinder retired, Cobra became the leader of the Serpent Society.[22]He beat Mister Hyde in personal combat and then assumed a new costume and a new name called King Cobra.[23]He later sentenced Diamondback for treason to the Society.[24]He still leads the Society (complete with a new Sidewinder), though he also teams up with Mister Hyde on occasion.

King Cobra was later summoned byZarrkoto fight the Thor Corps. Upon arriving he attacked Dargo Ktor, a future version of Thor, before he tossed him to Tyrus the Terrible.[25]

King Cobra was enlisted byLucia von Bardas,the former prime minister ofLatveria,and placed in her secret army of technology-based villains. She sent the army againstWolverine,Spider-Man,Luke Cage,Daredevil, and Captain America, the five heroesNick Furyhad sent to Latveria to stop Lucia's secret criminal funding. When the battle started to turn in favor of the heroes, Lucia turned all the armor of her technology-based villain army into a bomb. Nick's unknown agentDaisydefeated her and the army's lives were saved. King Cobra escaped the heroes during the resulting battle between Nick Fury and Wolverine.

After passing of theSuperhuman Registration Actin theCivil Warstoryline, King Cobra was forced to join theThunderboltsand be trained by theSwordsman,along withOxandUnicorn.[26]

In spite of this, King Cobra, Mister Hyde,FirebrandandMaulerattacked Yellowjacket, the Constrictor and other Initiative staff and trainees.[27]

King Cobra was with the Serpent Society when they were robbing banks.[28]King Cobra and the Serpent Society were then defeated byHope Summers.[29]

King Cobra was among the male Serpent Society members attended the Criminal Technology Show Expo, whereMODOKhad disguised himself as Arnim Zola. MODOK followed the men into the restroom where he beat them nearly to death as revenge for his murder many years prior. Iron Man, who had been working with MODOK and disguised as a HYDRA agent, suggested they hide the supervillains before they regained consciousness. However, King Cobra learned of this and alerted the rest of the supervillains in attendance to MODOK's and Iron Man's scheme, causing a fight to break out.[30]

King Cobra reunited with Mister Hyde when they are dispatched to helpRadioactive Managainst Thor. He was credited as coming out of retirement in order to spring Mister Hyde from Ravencroft. When King Cobra seesGrey Gargoyle's arrival where he turns Thor to stone, he is among those present to learn that Thor's belt is resisting Grey Gargoyle's petrifying touch which lasts for an hour causing Mister Hyde to break Thor's petrified form.[31]King Cobra examines Thor's shattered remains which soon pull themselves back together as Thor is restored to normal. After Thor defeats Radioactive Man and Mister Hyde, King Cobra and his fellow villains are teleported away and meet with their employerDario Agger.He mentioned to Dario that he left behind some surveillance that confirmed that some of what happened was Enchantress' doing. After Agger mentions about the surveillance and hearing about Iron Man's upcoming war with Roxxon, Agger states to King Cobra and his fellow villains that he will leak the footage that will expose Enchantress as Roxxon's new CEO and that the villains will get their rematch by drawing Thor to them.[32]King Cobra, Radioactive Man, Mister Hyde, and Grey Gargoyle were instructed by Dario Agger to stand on a rooftop in Manhattan to draw out Thor. They were confronted by Thor who was accompanied by Enchantress, Sif, andMagni of Earth-3515.When Mister Hyde was knocked down by Magni, he asked King Cobra for his serum. When King Cobra told Mister Hyde that a double dose would kill him, Mister Hyde states that he'll kill him if he doesn't. Cobra complies and gives him the serum telling him to make it count as he unleashes his Cobra Gas. Cobra is then taken down by Sif. While being transported in a van that says Daedalus LLC: Private Prison Solutions, King Cobra comments to Mister Hyde that he hasn't seen his Calvin Zabo form in awhile. Calvin states to King Cobra that the large amount of serum he takes burns out faster. They arrive at Daedalus LLC which is a subsidiary of Roxxon Incorporated.[33]

Piet Voorhees

edit
Cobra
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceWhite Tiger#1 (Jan. 2007)
Created byTamora Pierce
Timothy Liebe
In-story information
Alter egoPiet Voorhees
Team affiliationsChaeyi
Serpent Squad
HYDRA
Savage Six
Notable aliasesThe King Cobra
AbilitiesVery flexible and slithery body
Superhuman strength, agility, reflexes and reactions, coordination, balance and endurance
Wall-crawling
Enhanced olfactory senses
Ability to produce and project "cobra venom"

Piet Voorhees is the nephew of Klaus Voorhees. Klaus injected Piet with the same mutagenic serum that first gave him his own superhuman abilities. Using these new powers for selfish means, Piet became a high-level international mercenary. He has performed operations inSoutheast Asia,Bosnia,Central AsiaandChechnya.

More recently, Cobra has become involved with an international cartel known as Chaeyi. He has been working to get stolen passports and visas toillegal aliens.This operation has brought him into conflict with the newestWhite Tiger.

In a new costume, he has since turned up as a member ofSin's new Serpent Squad in the employ of theRed Skull.He broke Crossbones out of jail[34]and later attacked the White House, but he was stopped bythe new Captain America.Cobra escaped with Sin in a helicopter and reported the incident to the Red Skull.[35][36]

Cobra later appears as a member ofHYDRA,led byBaron Helmut Zemo,who are planning to spread poisonous blood extracted from an Inhuman boy named Lucas. He andArmadillolater fightSam Wilson,the new Captain America, until the Armadillo is convinced to turn on HYDRA and stops Cobra from killing Sam Wilson.[37]

As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel",Cobra appears as a member ofViper's Serpent Society under its new name of Serpent Solutions.[38]

During the "Opening Salvo" part of the "Secret Empire"storyline, the Cobra was with Serpent Solutions when they are recruited by Baron Helmut Zemo to join the Army of Evil.[39]

In the prelude to "Hunted", Cobra was among the animal-themed characters that were captured by theTaskmasterand theBlack AntonKraven the Hunter's behalf. He was grouped with theRhino,theScorpion,Stegron the Dinosaur Man,theTarantula,andVultureas theSavage SixbyArcade.In this appearance, the Cobra was identified by Arcade as the King Cobra.[40]

During the "Sinister War"storyline, Cobra accompanied the Savage Six in attacking the movie theater that was playing the debut of the movie that Mysterio was involved in. When Spider-Man fought the Savage Six, he made a comment that he never fought this version of Cobra before.[41]

Cobra was among the villains that were killed byBlack Antand a restored Hank Pym and revived to join theLethal Legion.[42]

Powers and abilities

edit

Klaus Voorhees gained superhuman powers due to the combined mutagenic effects of the venom of a radioactive cobra and an experimental anti-venom. King Cobra is double-jointed, can dislocate and snap back into place his shoulders and hips at will, and has a phenomenal mastery of his musculature. Most notably, his amazingcontortionistpowers and slithery body let him break in, and escape from, buildings. He also has the ability to stick to walls or ceilings. Combined with his superstrength, agility, reflexes and reactions, coordination, balance, and endurance, they make him a formidablewrestler.King Cobra's bones are flexible and nearly impossible to break. King Cobra has moderate knowledge of street-fighting techniques. King Cobra wears a bodysuit made of reinforced synthetic stretch material; the torso section, helmet, and tail are made of a bendable plastoid and the entire costume is coated with silicon and graphite dust compound to make it slippery. King Cobra is also armed with special gadgets that complete his cobra likeness: he is equipped with a "cobra cord" (an unbreakable cable) to tie up his enemies (it is solid enough to resist even Thor's strength), can launch "cobra darts" (venom-filled projectiles) out of his wrists and release toxic "cobra gas". He wears spring-loaded wrist-shooters propelling "cobra-bite" projectiles containing a poison derived from cobra venom. He uses cartridge projectiles filled with various substances: acid, smoke, nerve gas, plastic explosives, etc. He wears micro-suction cups on his fingertips and toes, permitting him to cling to walls and ceilings. In the miniseriesToxin: The Devil You Know,King Cobra himself says:

"My bones are almost impossible to break. My tissue doesn't tear. I don't gethangovers,either. "

Piet Voorhees possesses certain unusual physical powers derived from his mutagenically altered physiology which, among other things, help him simulate the movement of a snake by using his great degree of independent control over every muscle in his body, enabling him to slither across the ground (at up to 50 miles per hour) without using his arms and legs, simply by muscle contraction. All of the bones in his body, including his skull, are malleable and his muscle tissue is exceedingly resilient, making his body very flexible and pliant. It is nearly impossible for him to break a bone or tear a muscle.[43]Cobra's flexibility enables him to slither into and out of very tight and small places. Through compressing his body, Cobra can fit into any hole or slot down to four inches (102 mm) in diameter. By using his flexibility to wrap himself about a victim's body and then exerting his full strength, Cobra traps that victim within his "cobra grip". Unlike his uncle however, Piet also possesses enhanced olfactory senses, which enables him to track his targets by way of their scent. He can also produce a toxic substance from his body which he calls his "cobra venom". He projects his venom at selected targets by spitting at them.

Other characters named the Cobra

edit

Albri Leiricgrie

edit

Albri Leiricgrie is a costumed villain who worked for the Nazis duringWorld War IIand was an enemy of theHuman TorchandToro.[44]

Cobra (Nazi spy)

edit

There was also a Cobra who worked as a spy for the Nazis during World War II and was an enemy ofNamor the Sub-Mariner.[45]

James Lardner

edit

A few months after his brother Amos Lardner disappeared, James Lardner joined the CIA where he met Marc Spector, a.k.a. theMoon Knight.When Marc asked about James' brother Amos, James never talked about him. Three years later, James sought vengeance upon those who were involved with Operation: Cobra. Blaming Marc Spector, he launched a grenade at Marc's mansion, yet Marc survived. James later launched a grenade at Ravencrag Asylum. Meanwhile, Marc received Amos Lardner's corpse and went to Ravencrag to see if there was a connection. Marc Spector was present when James Lardner attacked. Marc changed into theMoon Knightand went after James Lardner, who used a gas grenade to escape. When in Paris, James went after Charles le Blanc, who was the head of Operation: Cobra. Marc Spector also investigated Charles le Blanc and encountered James Lardner. Marc Spector pursued James Lardner in a high-speed chase, where they were knocked unconscious upon colliding. The agents that worked for Operation: Cobra managed to capture James and Marc, only for Marc to escape. James, however, became the successful test subject that was dubbed Cobra. The next night when the Moon Knight went to investigate Charles le Blanc, Operation: Cobra sent Cobra to dispose of the Moon Knight. The Moon Knight had a hard time fighting off Cobra, until he spotted Charles le Blanc using his remote control and shot a dart at it. The dart shorted out the remote control, causing Cobra to go berserk. Charles le Blanc escaped to his car and started to drive off only for the Moon Knight to fire another dart at one of the tires, which caused the car to swerve and catch on fire upon colliding with a tree. When Cobra wanted to seek vengeance and started to lift the front part of Charles le Blanc's car into the air, it exploded and killed both Cobra and Charles le Blanc.[46]

Other versions

edit

Age of Apocalypse

edit

In theAge of Apocalypsereality, Cobra is near-feral and a cannibal. He and Mister Hyde are known to prowl graveyards and attack anyone entering their territory.[47]

House of M

edit

In theHouse of Mreality, the Klaus Voorhees version of Cobra is a member of theHood'sMasters of Evil.[48]Before the Red Guard attacks Santo Rico, Cobra leaves the team alongside Crossbones, Mister Hyde, and Thunderball.[49]

Earth-33900

edit

In theAvengersseries dedicated to theAmerican Armed Forces,Cobra appears as the founder of the Serpent Society.[50]

Ultimate Marvel

edit

In theUltimate Marveluniverse, King Cobra is a member of the gang known as the Serpent Skulls.[51]

In other media

edit

Television

edit

Video games

edit

References

edit
  1. ^Rovin, Jeff(1987).The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains.New York: Facts on File. pp.62–63.ISBN0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  2. ^Comtois, Pierre (2015).Marvel Comics in the 1960s: An Issue By Issue Field Guide to a Pop Culture Phenomenon.TwoMorrows Publishing. pp.69–70.ISBN978-1-60549-016-8.
  3. ^DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019).The Marvel Encyclopedia.DK Publishing. p. 91.ISBN978-1-4654-7890-0.
  4. ^Conroy, Mike(2004).500 Comicbook Villains.Collins & Brown.ISBN1-84340-205-X.
  5. ^Journey into Mystery#98. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^Journey into Mystery#105–106. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^Journey into Mystery#110–111. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^Daredevil#30–32. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^Daredevil#61. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^Captain America#163. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^Captain America#180–182. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^Captain America#183. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^Daredevil#142–143. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^Daredevil#153–154. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^Cowsill, Alan; Manning, Matthew K. (2012).Spider-Man Chronicle: Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging.DK Publishing. p. 102.ISBN978-0756692360.
  16. ^Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man#46. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^The Amazing Spider-Man#231–232. Marvel Comics.
  18. ^Captain America#310. Marvel Comics.
  19. ^Captain America#319. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^Captain America#343. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^Captain America#344. Marvel Comics.
  22. ^The Uncanny X-MenAnnual #13. Marvel Comics.
  23. ^Captain America#365–367. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^Captain America#380–382. Marvel Comics.
  25. ^Thor#440. Marvel Comics.
  26. ^Thunderbolts#104 (2006). Marvel Comics.
  27. ^Avengers: The Initiative#13. Marvel Comics.
  28. ^X-Men: To Serve and Protect#2. Marvel Comics.
  29. ^X-Men: To Serve and Protect#4. Marvel Comics.
  30. ^M.O.D.O.K.: Mind Games#2. Marvel Comics.
  31. ^Immortal Thor#16. Marvel Comics.
  32. ^Immortal Thor#17. Marvel Comics.
  33. ^Immortal Thor#18. Marvel Comics.
  34. ^Captain Americavol. 5 #28–29. Marvel Comics.
  35. ^Captain Americavol. 5 #35–36. Marvel Comics.
  36. ^All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update#3. Marvel Comics.
  37. ^All-New Captain America#1–4. Marvel Comics.
  38. ^Captain America: Sam Wilson#4. Marvel Comics.
  39. ^Captain America: Steve Rogers#16. Marvel Comics.
  40. ^The Amazing Spider-Manvol. 5 #16. Marvel Comics.
  41. ^Sinister War#1. Marvel Comics.
  42. ^Avengers Inc.#4. Marvel Comics.
  43. ^F.B.I. Agent Coville revealed inWhite Tiger#1 that Piet has all of the same superpowers that his uncle possesses.
  44. ^Captain America Comics#21. Marvel Comics.
  45. ^Human Torch Comics#14. Marvel Comics.
  46. ^Marvel Preview#21. Marvel Comics.
  47. ^Tales from the Age of Apocalypse#2. Marvel Comics.
  48. ^House of M: Masters of Evil#1. Marvel Comics.
  49. ^House of M: Masters of Evil#4. Marvel Comics.
  50. ^The Avengers American Armed Forces Exclusive#13 (May 2012). Marvel Comics.
  51. ^All-New Ultimates#3–6. Marvel Comics.
  52. ^"Patch 1.4.0 Preview | Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-08-27.Retrieved2016-07-27.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cobra_(Marvel_Comics)&oldid=1270956038"