Editing Cobra Commander issue 4

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]'' #4
|prev=Cobra Commander issue 3
|next=Cobra Commander issue 5
|next2=Transformers Energon Universe Special story
|image=Cobra Commander 4 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]]<br>[[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[April 17]], [[2024]]
|coverdate=April 2024
|written by=[[Joshua Williamson]]
|art by=[[Andrea Milana]]
|colors by=[[Annalisa Leoni]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editors=[[Sean Mackiewicz]] 
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Cobra Commander discovers the secret to controlling energon, but will he live long enough to use it?'''

==Synopsis==
Under duress, [[Ripper (G.I. Joe)|Ripper]] leads [[Cobra Commander]] to a bunker where the [[Dreadnok]]s have been keeping a [[Laszlo Vandermeer|scientist]], forcing him to experiment with [[energon]]. The scientist thanks Cobra Commander, believing he’s come to rescue him, and explains how the Dreadnoks would harvest the raw energon from the swamps, then he would convert it into new forms of energy. The Dreadnoks wanted him to make more energon, but he soon found that it was possible to create new forms of the substance by diluting it with other forms of radiation to create a less pure, but still useful form. He demonstrates this by electrifying a shard of pink energon, converting it into a blue cube form. Cobra Commander places it before his insectoid robots, which quickly devour the cube and are transformed by the energy. Pleased with the results, the Commander tells the scientist that they’ll need to get him a much bigger lab. 

Meanwhile, [[Nemesis Enforcer]] has killed most of the Dreadnoks, leaving just [[Zarana]], [[Zandar]], [[Torch (G.I. Joe)|Torch]], and [[Buzzer (G.I. Joe)|Buzzer]] alive to face the behemoth. Knowing they can’t take him on in a fight, Zandar concocts a plan to distract Nemesis by blowing up a bottle of their unrefined energon. The plan works, allowing the surviving Dreadnoks to escape on an airboat. Nemesis decides to let them go and meets up the Commander at the bunker, who tells him of their good fortune: with the scientist’s work and the Dreadnok’s list of buyers, they can bring the greatest army the world has ever seen to [[Cobra-La]]! 

However, Nemesis then turns his claws on Cobra Commander! In the commotion, Ripper escapes and flees into swamps. The Commander pleads for his life, proclaiming his loyalty to Cobra-La, but Nemesis balks at this and reveals that [[Golobulus]] never trusted the Commander, and he is no longer needed now that they have the scientist. The two trade jabs, both verbal and physical, before Cobra Commander reveals his secret weapon. His insectoid robots form a mechanical glove around his hand and, charged with the dirty energon of the scientist, fires a beam of energy directly through Nemesis’ torso.

Cobra Commander then finds Ripper, limping away, and forces him to tell him who the Dreadnoks were planning on selling the energon to. Ripper tells him it was a “bloke” with the “biggest company in the world”... [[Destro]] of [[M.A.R.S.|M.A.R.S. Industries]]!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.<br>
{{Featuredcharacters
|h2=[[Cobra]]/[[Cobra-La]]|c2=
* [[Cobra Commander]] (1)
* [[Nemesis Enforcer]] (8)

|h3=[[Dreadnok]]s|c3=
* [[Ripper (G.I. Joe)|Ripper]] (2)
* [[Torch (G.I. Joe)|Torch]] (4)
* [[Zarana]] (5)
* [[Buzzer (G.I. Joe)|Buzzer]] (6)
* [[Zandar]] (7)

|h4=Others|c4=
* [[Laszlo Vandermeer]] (3)
* [[Destro]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==


==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* On the first page, Cobra Commander is seen wiping away the bloody smile that was painted onto his mask in [[Cobra Commander issue 3|the previous issue]].
* Cobra Commander's little insect-bots were first seen in [[Cobra Commander issue 1|issue 1]], where they were used to kill Golobulus's [[Royal Guard]]s.
* This issue finally begins to intersect with the Destro and M.A.R.S. plotline first featured in ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' and will soon be followed up on in the upcoming ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'' series.

===G.I. Joe references===

===Transformers references===
* While energon has traditionally been depicted as pink in Generation 1-inspired media, energon has also been depicted as blue in prior media. This issue uses both as different forms of energon. 

===Errors===
* As with previous issues, the back cover incorrectly reads "The contents of this booklet is confidential. This unauthorized disclosure of information within is prohibited."

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Cobra Commander hides from Nemesis Enforcer, by Andrea Milana and Annalisa Leoni.
* '''Cover B:''' Nemesis Enforcer descends on an energon-grabbing Cobra Commander, by [[Andrei Bressan]] & [[Adriano Lucas]].
* '''Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover, by [[Chris Burnham]] & [[Brian Reber]]
* '''Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' Nemesis Enforcer on explosion background, by [[Taurin Clarke]].
* '''Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' Cobra Commander stands ready to face Nemesis Enforcer, by [[Ben Oliver]].

<gallery>
File:Cobra Commander 4 Cover A.jpg|
File:Cobra Commander 4 Cover B.jpg|
File:Cobra Commander 4 Cover C.jpg|
File:Cobra Commander 4 Cover D.jpg|
File:Cobra Commander 4 Cover E.jpg|
</gallery>

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===Reprints===
* '''''Cobra Commander Volume 1: Determined to Rule the World''''' <small> ([[June 12]], [[2024]]) ISBN 1534398155 / ISBN 978-1534398153 </small>
** Collects issues #1–5.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Codename: G.I. Joe Deluxe Edition Book One''''' <small>([[June 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 153432822X / ISBN 978-1534326910 </small>
** Collects ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' issues #1–5, ''Cobra Commander'' issues #1–5, and the [[G.I. Joe Energon Universe Special story|''G.I. Joe'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe Special 2024]]''.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:Cobra Commander V1.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Determined to Rule the World''''' – cover art by [[Andrea Milana]]
File:Codename - G.I. Joe B1.jpg|'''''Deluxe Edition Book One''''' – cover art by [[Andrea Milana]], Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire
</gallery>

==External links==
* 

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Cobra Commander issues]]