cobrah-manbeastsnewmen-ihii177-vhulk COBRAHcobrah-manbeastsnewmen-ihii176-face

Real Name: Presumably Cobrah

Identity/Class: Terrestrial fauna (cobra) mutate (New Men) relocated to extraterrestrial worlds (including the High Evolutionary's Counter-Earth)

Occupation: Agent of/aide to the Man-Beast;

Group Membership: New Men; specifically the Man-Beast's New Men (Barachuudar, Haukk, Kohbra, Lizhardus, Monck, Phrogg, Pih-Junn, Rhodan, Snakar, Triax the Terrible, Weezhil, others)

Affiliations: Man-Beast,

Enemies: High Evolutionary (Herbert Edgar Wyndham), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Porcunius and his New Men opposing the Man-Beast's agenda (Eaglus, others unidentified), Sir Ram, Recorder #211, US Air Force of the High-Evolutionary's Counter-Earth (notably including General Ross), Adam Warlock;
|   presumably Count Tagar, Knights of Wundagore (notably Sir Lepard, Sir Lyan, Sir Ossilot, and other unidentified Knights), Thor Odinson;
    possibly the Beyonders, Prime Movers of Tarkus, Sphinxor, Thanos

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None known

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly active within underground laboratory base below Washington, D.C., on the High Evolutionary's Counter-Earth;
    at least formerly various hidden base on the High Evolutionary's Counter-Earth;
    presumably formerly Wundagore-3;
    formerly somewhere in the galaxy Dromisana;
    presumably created in the High Evolutionary's Citadel of Science atop Mount Wundagore, Transia;

First Appearance: (Possible first appearance, behind-the-scenes) Thor I#135 (December, 1966);
    (confirmed, identified) Incredible Hulk II#176 (June, 1974)

Powers/Abilities: Presumably a cobra evolved into humanoid form, Cobrah did not possess any obvious serpentine features beyond being tall and lean.

    Like many New Men, he presumably possessed enhanced strength, speed and/or reflexes.

    He may or may not be poikilothermic ("cold-blooded"), making his body temperature and metabolism somewhat dependent on the ambient temperature.

    He at least once used a mask that could bond to a victim's face with a molecular adhesive strong enough that even the Hulk could not get it off before the anesthetic gas it dispensed rendered him unconscious.

Height: Unrevealed (he seemed to be shorter than Barachuudar and Weezhil, but then he also seemed to be taller than the 7' Hulk)
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 200 lbs., or perhaps 280 lbs. if he was indeed taller than the Hulk)
Eyes: Unrevealed (dark); his illusory human form had very dark brown if not black irides)
Hair: Unrevealed (he wore a skullcap but seemed to have an orange mustache (or orange facial markings superior to his upper lip (see comments))); he used an illusory form (presumably via Man-Beast's power) that had brown hair.
Skin: Gray (or orange; see comments)

History:
(Thor I#135 - BTS / Quicksilver I#9 (fb)) - Locking himself within the Evolutionary's genetic laboratory in his Citadel of Science atop Mount Wundagore, the Man-Beast used his evolutionary ray (presumably still powered by Isotope C) to create a number of his own New Men, presumably including Cobrah.

(Thor I#135 - BTS) - The Man-Beast and his New Men engaged Thor and the Evolutionary and his Knights of Wundagore.

    Thor subdued the Man-Beast, and Count Tagar and the Knights forced the rest of the New Men into the Evolutionary's Star Chamber, which then transported them to the "galaxy Dromisana" (see comments).

(Marvel Premiere#1 (fb) - BTS / (Marvel Premiere#2 (fb) - BTS) - The Man-Beast and his New Men (presumably including Cobrah) secretly returned to Earth's solar system from Dromisana to which the High Evolutionary had banished them. The Man-Beast covertly monitored the High Evolutionary's activities.

(Marvel Premiere I#1) - After the High Evolutionary became exhausted by the process of creating his Counter-Earth, the Man-Beast led a group of armored New Men (presumably including Cobrah to invade the Evolutionary's asteroid base, apparently slaying Sir Ram in the process.

     The Man-Beast then using the High Evolutionary's machinery to guide the newly developed humanity on Counter-Earth to commit the violent crimes the High Evolutionary had sought to prevent. The High Evolutionary revived and attacked the Man-Beast, who summoned his New Men (apparently including Cobrah to aid him. Though the High Evolutionary stopped them as well, the distraction allowed the Man-Beast to strike down the Evolutionary with a psychic blast. Before the Man-Beast could slay the Evolutionary, however, Him -- the creation of the Enclave whom the Evolutionary had rescued from space --  rushed to attack the New Men. The Man-Beast teleported himself and his followers down to Counter-Earth, and the Evolutionary considered destroying his now-tainted world, but Him convinced the Evolutionary to allow him to track down the Man-Beast and to save humanity. The Evolutionary gave Him the Soul Gem and sent him to Counter-Earth with the new name of Adam Warlock.

(Marvel Premiere#2 (fb) - BTS) - The Man-Beast and his New Men established the base of Wundagore-3.

(Warlock I#1 - BTS) - The High Evolutionary altered Counter-Earth so that it vibrated on a different plane, a mere micro-second out of sync with the rest of the dimension, so that a rocket from Earth approaching Counter-Earth could neither see nor be seen by Counter-Earth.

(Incredible Hulk II#158 (fb) - BTS) - After the Man-Beast dissolved into mist to escape de-evolution by Adam Warlock (although he secretly possessed Rex Carpenter), Kohbra assumed leadership of the New Men and plotted to conquer Counter-Earth.

    Porcunius led a rebel group of New Men who sought only acceptance, not dominance.

(Incredible Hulk II#158 - BTS) - Cobrah was presumably present with Kohbra's forces in assaulting Porcunius' forces, drawing the attention of the US military, and allying with the Rhino against Porcunius' forces' ally, the Hulk. After the two aliens were sent back to their own world, both groups of New Men fled to escape the US military.cobrah-manbeastsnewmen-ihii177-carrybanner

(Incredible Hulk I#176 (fb) - BTS) - Adam Warlock was defeated and taken captive by the Man-Beast who had him brought to an underground base where his agent Lizhardus tortured him to break his spirit.

(Incredible Hulk I#176 - BTS) - Two weeks later, the Hulk returned to Counter-Earth.

(Incredible Hulk I#176) - Learning of the Hulk's arrival via General Caraway, the Man-Beast met with his "most trusted aides," Barachuudar, Cobrah, Snakar & Weezhil. One of them asked their master if he had news on Warlock's disciples, but he informed them that while he did not, it was only a matter of time until they located, captured and destroyed them all. He further swore to them that before the week was out, they would crush all resistance on the planet and war would explode between America and her most cherished allies. When only they survived, they would have their revenge on the High Evolutionary who had previously banished them.

(Incredible Hulk I#176 (fb) - BTS) -  Returning to their most immediate plans, the Man-Beast informed his aides of the Hulk's arrival, warned them of his strength (although they didn't believe this), and sent them out with a plan to capture him (presumably involving using a gas mask).

(Incredible Hulk I#176) - Presumably via the Man-Beast's power, Cobrah and the others appeared to be normal human as they departed the White House, and they had a soldier prepare the heli-jet so they could take off at once.

    They subsequently landed near the Washington monument after the Hulk had climbed up and entered its top level. After Barachuudar ordered the US troops present to fire at the Hulk's location, the Hulk was knocked out of the building but landed ready for a fight. Cobrah and the others engaged the Hulk but swiftly found that they were no match for his power. Returning to the Man-Beast's plan, as the others occupied the Hulk, Cobrah approached him from behind and then slapped the mask over his face. As its molecular adhesive prevented the Hulk from removing the mask, anesthetic gas was pumped in, rapidly rendering him unconscious and then causing him to revert back to the form of Bruce Banner.

(Incredible Hulk I#176 - BTS) - Lizhardus was ambushed and incapacitated by a Rigellian Recorder (apparently #211) who subsequently freed Adam Warlock.

(Incredible Hulk I#177) - As Cobrah and his associates carried the still unconscious Banner toward the White House, Cobrah instructed Weezhil to be careful with him, as the president would be most displeased in they injured Banner before he had been interrogated. Weezhil told Cobrah to give him a little credit, as he was not the only New Man who could think. Barachuudar advised the others not to quarrel as their master was waiting.

(Incredible Hulk I#177 - BTS) - Lizhardus reported Warlock's escape to Man-Beast, enraging him.

(Incredible Hulk II#177) - Resolving to use the Hulk against Warlock, Man-Beast met his aides in a White House sub-level as they brought in Banner. The Man-Beast then had a micro-transmitter implanted into the base of Banner's skull, and testing of its sonic probe led to Banner transforming into he Hulk, fighting off Cobrah and his associates and escaping into the tunnels below.

(Incredible Hulk I#177 - BTS) - In the tunnels, the Hulk encountered Porcunius, whom he remembered from his previous trip to Counter-Earth, and accompanied him and his associates back to Warlock's base. After a week, the Man-Beast again activated the sonic probe, sending the Hulk into a mindless rampage where he battered his new friends.

(Incredible Hulk II#177) - Cobrah accompanied his associates in aiding the Man-Beast in ambushing the Hulk, Warlock and his associates. After the Man-Beast used a similar weapon to transform the Hulk back into Banner, Cobrah and his associates restrained Warlock while the Man-Beast sentenced him to death by public trial. cobrah-manbeastsnewmen-ihii178-hulkhold

(Incredible Hulk II#178) - Cobrah and his allies restrained Banner as the Man-Beast used his equipment to execute Warlock, leaving behind only a cocoon. Infuriated, Banner transformed back into the Hulk; at Barachuudar's urging, Cobrah and the others tried to restrain the Hulk but were swiftly tossed aside. The Hulk then took Warlock's cocoon and fled. Man-Beast told his aides that they would next conquer Counter-Earth and then the original Earth as well.

(Incredible Hulk I#178 - BTS) - The Man-Beast gathered the USA's military in preparation for nuclear war.

(Incredible Hulk II#178) - Cobrah and the others were present as the Man-Beast attempted to activate their nuclear arsenal, only to find that his top general had deactivated the controls, knowing that mankind would not survive nuclear war.

    Apparently having received word of the Man-Beast's plans from the general, the Hulk subsequently attacked alongside Porcunius and the New Men loyal to Adam Warlock. Cobrah and his associates were swiftly dropped by the Hulk, who also overwhelmed the Man-Beast.

    A resurrected Adam Warlock subsequently arrived and transformed the Man-Beast back into his original animal form, which fled. Warlock then departed Counter-Earth to seek his destiny in the stars.

(Incredible Hulk II#179 (fb) - BTS) - The Hulk was sent back to Earth in a re-programmed lunar exploration rocket.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Gil Kane, and Dan Adkins.

    As far as I know, there is not anything that indicates that the Man-Beast was able to create additional New Men on his own without the High Evolutionary's evolutionary ray, which would indicate that Cobrah was likely created and present in Thor I#135.
    In fact, the Man-Beast specifically notes, referring to Barachuudar, Cobrah, Snakar & Weezhil, that the High Evolutionary had exiled each of them.
    I am listing Cobrah as behind-the-scenes in Thor I#135, etc.

    I had long assumed that the similarly named Cobrah appearing in Incredible Hulk I#176-178 was just a misspelling or variation of the same being, but the two characters don't look anything alike.
    Perhaps Man-Beast eliminated Kohbra for his failure...or perhaps he was transformed and did become Cobrah or Snakar. Although there was nothing to indicate that Cobrah considered himself in anything of a leadership role.
    Beyond the name similarities, Counter-Earth base of operations and the temporal proximity, the characters have little in common.

    To the best of my knowledge, Cobrah did not appear after the battle in Incredible Hulk I#178

    Assuming Cobrah did not perish at some point earlier (for example, if the Man-Beast did not have him executed for allowing Warlock's escape), he was presumably present on Counter-Earth when Sphinxor and the Prime Movers took the world for the Beyonders' museum circa Marvel Two-In-One I#61-64 (1980)...and when Counter-Earth was apparently destroyed by the Infinity Gauntlet-possessing Thanos (as revealed circa Warlock and the Infinity Watch#4 (1992).
    I am not really certain what the deal is with the Counter-Earth that appeared circa Uncanny Avengers II#1 (2015), but I do not believe Cobrah was seen with them.

    In Incredible Hulk II#176, Cobrah had gray skin with what looked like an orange mustache (which is an odd thing for a guy evolved from a snake, as snakes don't have hair). The opening page of Incredible Hulk II#176 shows him with orange skin, with the region that previously looked like a mustache just a prominently demarcated region between his nose and lip. There are not great images of Cobrah thereafter, but they did seem to show him with orange skin, so I'm inclined to think that there was a coloring error in Incredible Hulk II#176, and that he should be orange-skinned with no mustache.
    Still, for a guy named Cobrah, he wasn't particularly serpentine...

    Thanks to David Zuckerman for providing digital images while I was having trouble with Marvel Unlimited.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Cobrah should be distinguished from:
gas mask
cobrah-manbeastsnewmen-ihii176-gasmask1cobrah-manbeastsnewmen-ihii176-gasmask2
     The mask that could bond to a victim's face with a molecular adhesive strong enough that even the Hulk could not get it off before the anesthetic gas it dispensed rendered him unconscious.

(Incredible Hulk II#176) - Cobrah approached the Hulk from behind and then slapped the mask over his face.

     As its molecular adhesive prevented the Hulk from removing the mask, anesthetic gas was pumped in, rapidly rendering him unconscious and then causing him to revert back to the form of Bruce Banner.

--Incredible Hulk II#176


images: (without ads)
Incredible Hulk II#176, pg. 12, panel 1 (four New Men's faces);
          panel 2 (New Men's seemingly human faces);
       pg. 17, panel 2 ( applying mask to Hulk's face);
          panel 4 (mask on Hulk's face);
    #177, pg. 1 (carrying Banner);
       pg. pg. 7, panel 3 (grabbing Hulk's back);
    #178, pg. 11, panel 5 (picked up by Hulk)

Appearances:
Thor I#135 (December, 1966) - Stan "The Man" Lee (writer/editor), Jack "King" Kirby (penciler), Vince "The Prince" Colletta (inker) - BTS; presumed
 Marvel Premiere#1-2 (April-May, 1972) - Roy Thomas (writer), Gil Kane (pencils), Dan Adkins (inks), Stan Lee (editor) - BTS; presumed
Warlock I#1 (August, 1972) - Roy Thomas (plot), Mike Friedrich (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Tom Sutton (inker), Stan Lee (editor) - BTS; presumed
Warlock I#2 (October, 1972) - Roy Thomas (plot), Mike Friedrich (script), John Buscema, Tom Sutton & Gil Kane (pencils), Tom Sutton (inker), Stan Lee (editor) - BTS; presumed
Incredible Hulk II#158 (December, 1972) - Roy Thomas (plot/editor), Steve Gerber (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Sal Trapani (inker) - BTS; presumed
Incredible Hulk II#176-177 (June-July, 1974) - Gery Conway (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Jack Abel (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Incredible Hulk II#178 (August, 1974) - Gery Conway (plotter), Tony Isabella (script), Steve Gerber (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Jack Abel (inker), Roy Thomas (editor; also conceived story)

All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z#8 (August, 2006) - Jeff Christiansen (head writer/coordinator), Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Michael Hoskin, Mark O'English, Chris Biggs, Eric J. Moreels, Mike Fichera, Al Sjoerdsma, Barry Reese, Chad Anderson, Madison Carter, Anthony Flamini & Rich Green (writers), Michael Short (assistant editor), Jeff Youngquist & Jennifer Grunwald (editors)

First posted: 11/09/2024
Last updated: 11/26/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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