Review – G.I. Joe (1988) Cobra Battle Barge

Hasbro’s G.I. Joe action figure series (Amazon.com search*) has had some strange vehicles over the years. Transforming cycles. Tanks that don’t look like real tanks. Crazy aircraft. But it’s the 1988 Cobra Battle Barge that might be one of the weirdest designs of the A Real American Hero line of the eighties; a floating gun emplacement? Okay. Sure.

Gray and Red Plastic

Below you can see the assembled Cobra Battle Barge. The chunk of gray plastic base of the barge slides out of the box as one piece and then you have to snap the red guns and gun mounts off of a sprue and snap them in place. The red radar tower is another piece of red plastic and assembly — including applying the six stickers — is over in a matter of moments. Quick, easy, and you’re soon ready to send the Cobra Battle Barge into action against G.I. Joe.

Holds Three Action Figures

Sitting back-to-back-to-back, the Cobra Battle Barge has spots where three action figures can “ride” the floating weapons platform. I’m not sure this would be all that effective of a weapon in battle, but the seats are large enough that even modern G.I. Joe action figures can fit nicely in the toy. Shown in the Cobra Battle Barge in these photos is the Cobra Viper Commando that was packed with the Serpent Armor a few years ago (review here).

Only Released Once?

I suspect the Cobra Battle Barge was never a very popular toy for Hasbro. The yojoe.com entry for the toy lists it as released in 1988 and then used as a mail-order toy after that. My understanding of where Hasbro got the toys for the main-in offers back in the past was that the toys were returns, so there’s a really good chance that the Cobra Battle Barge was only manufactured once for the US market. Maybe someone will decide to pull the molds and run the toy again, but I kinda doubt it since it really isn’t all that exciting.

(NOTE: There is a Brazillian version of the toy. Weird choice!)

Closing Thoughts

The G.I. Joe action figure series (Amazon.com search*) has had many better toys, but there’s some weird charm surrounding the Cobra Battle Barge that makes it a fun addition to my toy shelf. I didn’t seek this out specifically — it was part of an auction lot — but now that I’ve got it I’ll load it with figures and add it to one of the shelves of G.I. Joe toys.

I really cannot suggest anyone chase this toy down, but if you find one really cheap and enjoy the odder side of the G.I. Joe toys of the eighties then go ahead and grab the toy. It should be really cheap and there isn’t much to lose or break so a complete version shouldn’t be a challenge to find. Not the best toy, but definitely an imaginative use of plastic and a unique item in the classic series.