Character Creation
The most well-known Cobra is Klaus Voorhees, now known as the King Cobra. He first appeared in Journey into Mystery #98 (Nov. 1963) created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck.
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 and Mister Hyde formed a criminal team for years, fighting various heroes such as Thor and Daredevil.
He later became a member of the Serpent Squad and a member of Sidewinder's Serpent Society. During a takeover attempt by the Viper, the Cobra actually opposed her rule and sided with Captain America to 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 the Viper (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 in White Tiger #1 (Jan. 2007) in a story written by Tamora Pierce and drawn by Timothy 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 the White Tiger, who defeated him. The Cobra later joined the Serpent Squad, organized by Sin and would also work for HYDRA as a mercenary.
Marvel has also used the moniker "Cobra" for two World War II Nazi villains and also a mercenary enemy of Moon Knight.
The original Cobra has appeared outside of Marvel Comics, most notably in "The Mighty Thor" portion of The Marvel Super Heroes as well as in episodes of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers.
Klaus Voorhees was briefly known as the Human Cobra, then was known as the Cobra for many years and is currently known as the King Cobra. The Klaus Voorhees version of the Cobra was most commonly associated with Thor, Daredevil and, to a lesser extent, Captain America and Spider-Man. The character was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck in Journey into Mystery #98 (Nov. 1963) in which he first battled Thor. His next appearance (Journey into Mystery #105–106 (June–July 1964)) saw him team up with Mister Hyde for 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 in Daredevil #30–32 (July–Sept. 1967).
Fictional character biography
Career Criminal
Soon after deciding to start a criminal career, he was stopped by Thor. He then forged an alliance with Mr. Hyde, that continued for a very long time. They faced enemies like Daredevil and Spider-Man. Cobra also joined the Serpent Squad, they helped an Atlantean warlord known as Krang, but Cobra felt out of his element. Soon he again teamed with Mr. Hyde, but this time the partnership didn't last long. Cobra left Hyde behind when escaping Rikers Island. Later, Hyde was hunting him and he feared for his life, with the help of Spider-Man he was able to escape Hyde's wrath.
Serpent Society
King Cobra again teamed with others like him, this time it was called the Serpent Society. After several betrayals, Cobra was left the leader of this group. Now feeling like a new man, he decided to face his greatest fear, Mr. Hyde. He fought him face-to-face. After defeating him, he renamed himself King Cobra. He tried to get some order into this group, but it backfired and the group fell apart. King Cobra soon was arrested, and sent to the Vault. When the breakout happened he was among the escapees. A new hero Toxin tracked him down with the help of Mr. Hyde.
Civil War and Thunderbolts
When the Superhuman Registration Act went through, King Cobra joined the Thunderbolts.
The Savage Six
Cobra was captured by Taskmaster and Black Ant for a big trophy hunt set up by Kraven the Hunter. Kraven chose villains that were animal themed to punish them for disgracing the animal kingdom. King Cobra was one of six main animal villains that Kraven used to sell rich patrons on the hunt. Arcade, Kraven's partner, referred to them as The Savage Six.
Once freed after Spider-Man's interfering with Kraven's plan, Vulture liked the sound of the Savage Six and pitched to his other advertised big game baddies (Rhino, Scorpion, Tarantula, and Stegron) that they should stick together. Once together, they made their way to Hollywood to shut down a production of a biographical movie produced by Mysterio that painted them in a less than ideal life. Mary Jane was on set and confronted them to no avail. Luckily, Screwball, Master Matrix, and other supervillains getting a second chance as crew members were there to rescue her.
Sinister War
The team gets a second chance to ruin Mysterio's movie by attacking the premiere. Unfortunately, because Mary Jane is starring in it, she was in attendance, with Spider-Man as her plus one. He leapt into action, but his attempt was short lived. The new Sinister Six showed up to recruit Mysterio and did battle with the Savage Six.
They regroup with other supervillain teams at a graveyard where Spider-Man was hiding. Kindred let them know they were all hellbound and gave them all the same offer, the villain that kills Spider-Man will get a free pass in Hell. Eventually, Doc Ock uses a piece of Black Ant's helmet to knock everyone, including the Savage Six, out through the ear centipedes Kindred was using to control them.
Roxxon
King Cobra was hired by a resurrected Dario Agger to join a team of Thor's old foes to stand ready in case the god return to Midgard. Thor had been framed for Agger's own murder and been manipulated with "skald magic" (storytelling incantations). When Thor arrived to clear his name, he was attacked by these foes. They were able to get the jump on him, and Grey Gargoyle managed to turn him into stone, which Mister Hyde proceeded to destroy.
Thor recently upgraded his power with a new belt, materialized from the power of Zeus, which fought back against Grey Gargoyle's stone touch. Cobra and the others were scared by Thor's feat and retreated to Agger's side. He used them as bait once more, however, this time Thor brought reinforcements. Cobra filled the battlefield with his cobra gas, but Sif managed to knock him out.
When the dust settled, the foes were arrested and moved to a private prison owned by Roxxon.
Powers and Abilities
The Cobra possesses certain unusual physical powers derived from his mutagenically altered physiology which among other things help him simulate the movement of a snake. 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. Hence, the Cobra can survive impacts that would kill or inflict major injury upon a normal human being with little or no injury to himself.
The Cobra's flexibility enables him to slither into and out of very tight and small places. Through compressing his body, the Cobra can fit into any hole or slot down to four inches in diameter. By using his flexibility to wrap himself about a victim's body and then exerting his full strength, the Cobra traps that victim within his "Cobra Grip." No normal human being can break free of his grip unless he is extraordinarily well trained in fighting, and even many superhumanly strong beings would have difficulty freeing themselves.
Strength: able to lift own body weight, speed peak range - 700 MPH, Enhanced Durability. Short range energy projection, short duration, single energy type.
⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽
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A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Secret Identity: Klaus Voorhees
Publisher: Marvel
First Appearance: Journey into Mystery #98 (Nov. 1963)
Created by: Stan Lee (Writer)
Don Heck (Artist)
