In the cartoon episode "The Wrong Stuff," Cobra Commander seized control of global television broadcasts and replaced regular programming with Cobra propaganda, creating the Cobra Television Network.
Cobra used computer graphics and voice synthesizers to alter existing shows, demonstrating Cobra's ideology through revised endings and dialogue. Cobra very much ahead of its time... foreshadowed modern concerns about deepfakes and misinformation going on today.
Scarlett stared at the screen in disbelief. "You don't think anybody will watch that garbage?" Lady Jaye replied with cynical realism, "Some people will watch anything, Scarlett." Duke's expression darkened as he pushed her thoughts further, "That's not the worst of it, Lady Jaye. Some people will believe anything."
Cobra was counting on public gullibility.
Eroding trust in community:
Father's No Beast
A clear jab at the classic sitcom "Father Knows Best"
Here, Cobra made it into a new story. It was a story of a man who lives two lives.
Good citizen by day, werewolf by night. The werewolf character delivered a chilling message to the viewers: "Don't trust anyone! I could be your neighbor!"
Cobra's strategy with this show was to sow distrust and promote a cynical, simple worldview. DTA! Don't trust anyone. Destroy societal harmony. Then a paranoid public would be more susceptible to Cobra's influence.
Mascots to advance Cobra recruitment:
The C-Team
Parody of the popular 80s show "The A-Team"
Mr. C actively encouraged people to join Cobra, saying to the television that he "pities the fool who doesn't join Cobra!"
Terrorism and tyranny take manpower. Here, Cobra was attempting to gain more recruits in the "Cobra cause," to gain more numbers by manipulating the public with its twist on familiar and trusted pop culture mascot characters.
Skewed version of Cobra's ideology:
Interview with Cobra Commander on a late-night talk show
A parody of typical late-night chit-chat shows
The host started it out, asking. "When did you first discover you wanted to rule the world?"
Cobra Commander didn't miss a beat, always ready to talk himself up. "I was six when I realized I could run society better than the morons in charge!"
The host chuckled. "That old, huh?"
"Since that day," Cobra Commander declared, his voice rising with conviction, "I have devoted all my energies to improving the quality of life for my fellow man! And I shall succeed! This new era in Cobra television is only the beginning!”
By appearing on a seemingly familiar and approachable format, Cobra Commander attempted to present a façade of altruism and competence. He tried to make it appear that Cobra had noble intentions and could potentially be a better force for global leadership than existing governments.
Cobra Commander's organization had resources, near-future technology not found in world governments, and could, in theory, revolutionize medical, industrial, food production, solve homelessness, and so on. The doers should make the decisions. Well, that is, Cobra Commander should make the decisions.
Belief in the supremacy of force:
King Kong
Out went "It was beauty that killed the beast."
In this revised ending, King Kong was the victor, destroyed planes, and featured a detective character who looked directly at the camera, delivering a new message: "You can never win if your enemy is bigger and stronger than you!"
Cobra wanted people to believe in the futility of resistance and also to legitimize its use of force and expansionist goals. The weak must submit to the strong (as Cobra typically put "the weak" to work as slaves in camps in different episodes).
Cobra's vision of free enterprise:
The ad men sat stiffly across from Tomax and Xamot, who stood in eerie tandem.
"You mean to tell me Cobra has the only TV network on which we can advertise?"
"Correct," the twins said in unison.
"And being the only game in town," Tomax went on. "Our client has decided to raise prices," Xamot finished.
"Thirty seconds of commercial time," Tomax explained. "Will now cost five million dollars," Xamot concluded.
One exec blinked. "You're off your rocker."
"Take it or leave it," the twins said bluntly.
"And if we decide to leave it?" another ad man asked.
"Then your competitors," Xamot warned. "Get to sell their deodorant," Tomax continued.
"Or breakfast food," Xamot went on. "Or designer jeans," Tamox added.
"While you go out of business," the twins finished together. "Any questions?"
The ad men spit out, shaking their heads pathetically, "No."
Extensive Enterprises, shown here, was not above price gouging advertising spots.
When potential advertisers balked at this exorbitant fee, Tomax and Xamot explained that the Cobra Television Network was the "only game in town."
Those who didn't pay would find their competitors cornering the market and driving them into bankruptcy. This tactic effectively strong-armed businesses into buying airtime from Cobra, regardless of the outrageous cost.
Conformity over individuality:
The Likables
This was a twisted spoof of "The Smurfs" and illustrated the kind of children's programming the Cobra Television Network had on the air.
A sad, purple-colored character lamented, “Ah gee, Likables… nobody likes me!"
The green girl Likable responded with a chirpy smile, "That's because you're different, Perbee!" and promptly twinkled her hands, using magic on him.
As magical sparks fly, the green boy Likable chimed in, "Only when everyone looks alike…"
"And acts alike, and thinks alike," the girl Likable went on cheerfully.
The boy added, “And never ever gets angry…”
"Then we can achieve world peace!" the boy and girl Likables ended in unison, with beaming, optimistic smiles.
As the spell took effect, Perbee's purple hue faded into the same green as the others, completing his transformation into yet another identical, smiling Likable.
Instead of celebrating individuality and personality quirks, harmonious living like "The Smurfs" often did, "The Likables" emphasized that world peace could only be achieved through uniformity.
Cobra, here, took the format of a children's cartoon to subtly instill harmful ideas in children's heads. Discrimination and exclusion were needed.
"Different" was "bad." Acceptance was conditional on conforming to the group's standards. The only way to be "liked" was to join the majority's appearance and behavior. Cooperation and community were washed away for Cobra's agenda of control and enforced uniformity.
Framing G.I. Joe as authoritarian censors:
Cobra Commander gives an on-air address
Cobra Commander's broadcast was structured like a news commentary or editorial segment, which has been a long tradition on news programming.
Acting as the face and voice of Cobra Television Network, Cobra Commander "delivered" a personal perspective under the guise of informing the public. It mimicked the tone and cadence of real-world opinion pieces, especially those that blend patriotism, grievance, and a call to action.
"Good evening," Cobra Commander said as he began his world address. "Among our most precious human rights is that of free speech."
Lady Jaye couldn't help but scoff, "Now that takes gall." Cobra's theatrics, the twisting of “free speech," were so outrageous that it was not worth a rebuttal.
Cobra Commander goes on, explaining to the viewing public, "Several days ago, this network’s right to inform and entertain you was assaulted by the forces of G.I. Joe. Our orbiting broadcast facility repelled this attack."
"But G.I. Joe may try again to deprive you of your viewing pleasure. We have fortified our defenses, but the price of vigilance is high. Help keep Cobra on the air by sending a generous contribution to this address! Thank you!"
Cobra Commander started his address promoting a universal value, "free speech." This put him on the moral high ground, a classic rhetorical move. He then framed G.I. Joe's attack as an injustice. The tactical strike was not against Cobra, but as an assault on viewers' rights.
He also cast himself as an underdog. Defending truth and entertainment against G.I. Joe, a government military task force acting as authoritarian censors trying to silence dissent.
The words used were intentional, meant as an emotional appeal. Cobra Commander sprinkled in words like "assaulted," "deprive," and "vigilance," attempting to stir fear with the public and create urgency.
Then, to top it off, Cobra Commander solicited public donations. Asking for contributions echoed pledge drives that are seen in some self-broadcasting, but this was twisted to support a terrorist media empire.
Cobra, which aimed to control the world, was casting itself as the last bastion of liberty.
One of my favorite episodes. To those that think the Sunbow toons were just toy ads, they never paid attention. This is more how I like my Cobra Commander, a propagandist and manipulator.
ReplyDeleteThe Likeables segment was especially amusing, because that is really how people think...both on the extremes of the right and the left! It also points to the pro-social messages pushed at kids, telling us to accept others how they are, yet the reality kids dealt with was often segregation by class, status, race, religion, etc, sometimes voluntary, sometimes not. They were bombarded with ideals by media but sent into a world that was often the opposite. Believe the wonderful lie, but live the awful truth. People wonder why Gen X is so pop culture obsessed. Its partly because we were brainwashed and partly because pop culture was our escape from the contradictions and cruelties of life.
Yep, I heard a Youtuber once say, "I was a kid left behind" as he talked about his fandom into toy collecting. We hang onto this stuff because, as cynical as all this hobby stuff is, it still has that positive reasons to enjoy IPs, the lessons He-Man, She-Ra, G.I. Joe, Optimus Prime, and others taught us.
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