Serpentor
- Serpentor is alternately the leader of Cobra or the Decepticons in the Generation 1 continuity family.
Serpentor is a genetic amalgam of history's greatest warriors, bred into one mighty emperor who wears a hilarious snake-themed costume.
Don't laugh.
He'll throw a live snake through your heart.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
G.I. Joe and the Transformers
Serpentor was a man created by Cobra from the combined DNA of past military geniuses, clothed in a snake-themed costume. He looked for weaknesses in Cobra's leader at the time, Cobra Commander, in order to usurp him. Cobra Commander began to seriously worry about his position when the Dreadnoks failed to take Power Station Alpha. Indeed, he was not seen thereafter. Blood on the Tracks Serpentor's plan to take Power Station Alpha met with greater success. As Serpentor complimented the Baroness on her high-society tastes, Dr. Mindbender had managed to wrest control of Power Station Alpha from the Decepticons using an electronic helmet. With G.I. Joe trailing Power Station Alpha to Cobra Island, Serpentor ordered his troops to fire on a nearby cruise ship to keep them occupied. Unfortunately for Serpentor, the cruise ship belonged to industrialist G.B. Blackrock, friend of the Autobots.
Serpentor's actions also caught the attention of the Decepticons, and Cobra was soon greeted by Dirge and Bombshell, and an alliance was forged. Power Struggle Both sides had ulterior motives; Serpentor in particular planned to eventually wrest control of these intelligent machines and use them to Cobra's ends. (Meanwhile, Decepticon leader Shockwave mused at Serpentor's stupid-looking costume.) Serpentor agreed to send Cobra forces to battle the Decepticons' enemies, the Autobots, at the Ark. Ashes, Ashes...
It was quickly discovered that the Decepticons had doublecrossed them all with intentions to use Power Station Alpha to destroy Earth, and Serpentor was forced to team his Cobra troops with both G.I. Joe and the Autobots. However, the Autobots were concerned that Power Station Alpha may have been an intelligent being, an idea that Serpentor laughed at. It was just a machine, and it must be destroyed! Cobra took to the air in their various battlecraft, including Serpentor. When Power Station Alpha's destruction was assured, he ordered Cobra to fall back. ...All Fall Down!
Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity
The Art of War
Serpent O.R. was created in secret by a rogue group in the U.S. military using captured Decepticon technology, including the remains of Megatron. He was prematurely activated by a Cobra attack, and due to a programming malfunction came online as "the Son of Megatron." Learning some of the Transformers' history (and perhaps future) from Soundwave's captured head, he returned to Cybertron, took control of the ragtag Decepticon forces there, unified them, and launched a deadly campaign to capture the Matrix of Leadership and conquer the planet.
It almost worked, but when Serpent O.R. absorbed the Matrix, it changed him, enlarging and transforming his body into the mechanical Serpentor Prime, but also illuminating his mind and soul to the wonder of life and the error of his ways. Serpent O.R. sought then to end the fighting he'd started and take his own life so that another might receive the Matrix, but Cobra Commander took control of his body before he could enact his plan for peace. Serpent O.R.'s body was destroyed shortly thereafter when Hawk unleashed the power of the Matrix. The Art of War
Trivia
- Though not a Transformer, Serpentor's original toy was notorious for Gold Plastic Syndrome. To this end, there were reports of brand new figures taken out of the package and disintegrating almost immediately. Yo Joe?
