I'm watching the series on Netflix, and it's interesting to note how many changes there were between Episodes 5 and 6. Cobra Commander was arrested at the end of Episode 6, but you get to Episode 6 and Commander is free + there a whole new batch of Joes and Cobras (like Stormshadow). It's cool but I was kinda wondering how Cobra escaped...
Was there ever a comic book or episode that detailed what happened?
I can see how watching it that way would be confusing. The two mini-series are actually separate stories that originally aired a year apart. The first, G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO (AKA - THE MASS DEVICE), aired in 1983, while THE REVENGE OF COBRA aired in 1984.
It's never specified what takes place between the events of the two mini series, as the comic book was a separate continuity from the animated series. It's assumed Cobra Commander escaped, as he and other top Cobra agents often did when captured at the end of an episode or mini-series. The influx of new characters is a result of the toy line having expanded and the characters from the first two waves being phased out for the ones from the 1984/85 line, who would then go on to be the featured players of the weekday series that began airing in 1985.
Hope that helps .
'Cause there's thunder in your heart... every move is like lightning!
To be perfectly honest, Revenge of the Cobra could have just as easily as not have picked up where the first mini-series left off. Cobra Commander gets captured in the first episode and has to be rescued. Considering that he was captured at the end of the first mini-series, they could have just started out Revenge of the Cobra with Cobra Commander in a military prison.
All they would really need is a different opening sequence, or even the same one, but with someone other than Cobra Commander leading the charge. Just let that someone escape instead. There really wasn't any need for a gap in continuity like that.
At the end of Revenge of the Cobra, Cobra Caommander is arrested at the end. Destry escapes with Sartan (just as the Mass Device epiodes in which Destro also escapes). Somtimes I think that Destro was a major threat than Cobra Comander. Even on the arrise Serpentor episodes he and Dr Mindbender take Control of Cobra Org and cobra comander character is degrade as comic relief.
shareI always thought Destro was a lot more intimidating, no telling how Cobra Commander even rose to power, he must've been really good at politics
..or at least I think so lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JphygYybU
Maybe Cobra Commander got parole.
So it's treason then!