For a list of the other versions, see Zandar.
- Zandar is a Dreadnok character from the A Real American Hero series.
Zandar is a world-class master of camouflage and covert movement, which means he’s an expert at hiding and sneaking up on people. He is so talented at it that he often does it in plain sight. Despite his garish outfit, he somehow manages to make himself unnoticeable until it is too late for his intended target. It is a skill he has worked to near perfection. We don't know why he chose this particular ability. Maybe his siblings' more dominant personalities pushed him at the back so he decided to be the best at hiding?
On his first filecard and cartoon, he only was presented as a stealth and camouflage expert while in the comics and second filecard, he is also an accomplished character actor, playing the roles of “everyman”, which can easily be overlooked by adversaries. He uses these skills in infiltration and assassination.
In the IDW version, Zandar and his sister Zarana are twins (and not related to Zartan) while other versions never mentioned this, only presented them as siblings and siblings of Zartan) and are largely inseparable, with Zandar so psychologically and emotionally attached to his sister that they continue wearing matching clothing elements even as adults, even having hair dyed the same color and styled the same way at times. Still in the IDW version, the twins are the same height (5’8”) and have auburn hair. They also are so close that they share a secret twin language.
In the Sunbow cartoon, Zandar and Zarana's relation is more like an aggressive one, both insulting and fighting each other like some siblings do. Despite being voiced by Peter Cullen, Zandar has very few presence or lines in all of the series.
On his second filecard, Zandar is said to be possibly born in Florida while his big brother Zartan seems to possibly be born in France (and also made his military service in France). It may mean that the family travelled a bit. And in the IDW comics, where Zandar and Zarana are not Zartan's siblings, it is said they are born in England.
The first filecard stated that both Zandar and Zarana had the ability to change their skin color like their brother Zartan, their action figures also changing color. But aside from the original commercial, they never were shown having those powers.
Fiction[]
A Real American Hero Continuity[]
Marvel Comics Continuity[]
Devil's Due Comics Continuity[]
In G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #2 (2001), Zandar and Road Pig ambush invading Joe forces attacking the Dreadnocks' Everglades headquarters. They succeed in capturing Scarlett and Snake Eyes, Zandar tells Road Pig how Zarana would be proud of him which makes Road Pig happy, and then they hand the prisoners to Destro.
Later, Serpentor is revived and the Cobra Civil war as well. As Serpentor's forces attacks Cobra Island, Cobra Commander makes his escape in a boat. But the pilot of the boat instead takes him to Serpentor. Then Serpentor shows Dr. Mindbender his new army The Coil and he also reveals in front of his forces that the brave soldier, who abducted Cobra Commander, is in fact Zandar. The soldiers applause Zandar as he enjoys the fame. Serpentor explains to the Commander that the soldiers who now serve him are people who feel they have been ignored and neglected by him, the Cobra Commander, while Zandar has also felt ignored and neglected by his brother Zartan. Serpentor promised to give them all what they lacked.
Serpentor later asks Zandar if he feels the victory drawing near and Zandar answers quite enthusiastically. Serpentor thanks him for spying on Cobra since the day they reformed and for having brought Cobra Commander prisoner. He explains that he had been watching Zandar since years and noticed how, while Zartan's Dreadnoks grew in power into a worldwide biker gang, Zandar didn't get anything from this, didn't get any more power. Zandar confides that he was tired to be a subordinate, that he would never be seen as more than the brother in the shadow of his older brother. Serpentor promises him fame and power, tells him that everyone will know his name, and Zandar smiles. Serpentor then presents Robert Skelton to Zandar, telling him that Skelton killed many G.I.Joes and Cobras. Skelton now calls himself Overkill and starts to work for Serpentor. Then Dr. Mindbender comes and brings the young Serpentor clones with him. When Serpentor gives important positions to the children, a soldier opposes it weakly and Zandar is then witness to Serpentor's real temper as the Cobra Emperor grabs the soldier by the neck, calling him 'miserable worm', saying that there is not one among them that will ever be worthy of doubting his orders.
Later, the allied forces of Destro, Cobra, the Dreadnoks and G.I.Joe are invading The Coils' headquarters. Looking at the battle on the giant screens, Dr. Mindbender tells Zandar that they are losing and Zandar asks what can they do. Mindbender says that they need to deploy all android troopers while a sulky Zandar asks where is their leader, where is Serpentor. Dr. Mindbender replies he doesn't know, then, noticing something, he quickly runs out of the room, leaving the more disillusioned Zandar alone. But just at this moment, Firefly calls Zandar and tells him there is an intruder near the light aircraft hangar and that he needs back-up.
In the hangar, Firefly fights Zartan and sticks explosives to him, then quickly leaves, telling Zartan to enjoy his family reunion, something Zartan doesn't quite understand as he gets rid of the explosive on him. Disguised as a simple soldier again, the still resentful Zandar then tells his brother to turn around. Zartan doesn't recognize that masked soldier holding knifes and they fight. Zandar then tells him that it was now the last time he would push him away. Zartan still doesn't understand and defends himself, stabbing Zandar in the stomach. Suddenly stopped in his furious attack, Zandar takes off his mask and Zartan realizes with horror who it was. Zandar asks Zartan to tell Zarana that he is sorry and faints in his brother's arms. Zartan calls Destro and tells him that he and his Dreadnoks are leaving the fight as he takes Zandar out of the now burning hangar.
Some times later, Zandar is seen to have recovered from his wound in the Dreadnok Compound, in the Florida Everglades as he enters the room where Zartan, now masked because of a sickness, is with the captive Dr. Mindbender. Minbender asks Zartan how he can forgive Zandar so easily since Zandar betrayed him and even tried to kill him. Zandar explains that he was confused, he was lost. That Serpentor twisted him around and manipulated his emotions but thanks to Zartan, he was now healed and not lost anymore. Then Zartan accuses Dr Mindbender to gives his loyalty to the leader who offers more every time which is why, contrarily to Zandar, he doesn't believe the doctor can be loyal. After Zartan tells Dr. Mindbender that he will give him all his secrets, he and his brother leave, leaving some Dreadnoks to beat up the doctor.
The Dreadnoks then go to the Quad where Cobra Commander is held captive by the Joes. While the Dreadnoks are fighting the Joes, Zartan takes Zandar and Burn Out with him to free the Commander. Zandar says he would feel better if their sister was with them instead of fighting the enemy in the front lines, a thing to which Zartan replies that Zarana can handle herself just fine but he suggest that they both watch their backs and be ready for surprises. They fight along the way while trying to reach for Cobra Commander and Zanya, who was already in the place under a disguise. Zandar tells Zartan to go ahead while he wants to finish the interfering Joes himself. Zartan says 'How very brave of you, Zandar' and leaves his brother to deal with the enemies. During the fight, Zandar receives an electromagnetic weapon in the stomach and is out of the fight but not before he pulls a lever to close the door, forbidding the Joes to go after Zartan and telling the Joes they are still too late. Once Cobra Commander is free and all the Dreadnoks reunited, they go to see Dr. Mindbender where the rescued Commander reveals himself to be Zartan. The masked Zartan takes off his mask and stuns Mindbender by being the real Cobra Commander who had been impersonating Zartan this whole time. Cobra Commander then tells the doctor that he will deal with his treasonous acts later, after Zandar has answered for his, leaving Zandar, Zarana and Zartan surprised at those words.
Later, Zartan and Zandar are both in front of Cobra Commander, having to answer to Zandar's betrayal. Zandar for having joined Serpentor and Zartan from keeping it a secret from Cobra Commander since the Commander only learned it from Dr. Mindbender when the doctor accused Zandar in front of the disguised Commander. Zartan explains that it wasn't that simple, that he also felt betrayed and was blindsided by all this, that protecting Zandar and keeping his secret was an instinctive reaction. If the Commander could not understand that, then he was sorry. To which Cobra Commander replies that Zartan was only sorry that he, the Commander, found out. That if it wasn't for Dr Mindbender, he would never have found the truth. Ordering the Dreadnoks to take Mindbender away, Cobra Commander then tells Zandar that 'The days of loose association have come to an end, you either stand with Cobra or you fall before us. Which do you choose, Zandar?' Zandar then replies that he was ready and willing to work with Cobra again but that he was a Dreadnok first. Zartan was their leader and he respected his wishes above all else. Cobra Commander replies that it was fair enough and asks Zartan about his opinion. Zartan tells the Commander that if he is offering a new beginning, then the Dreadnoks will stand with him. Cobra Commander accepts both their explanations and tells them to be ready to go see Destro tonight and take care of his treachery. Having killed the Baroness and imprisoned Destro, Cobra Commander gets his hands on the Tempest, a machine able to change the weather and cause rain. But the way the Commander wants to use it doesn't please everyone and Major Bludd is uncomfortable, saying he caused enough bloodshed already and some weapons are meant never to be used. Dr. Mindbender tells Cobra Commander that the machine is now ready, causing them both to rejoice.
Later at the new Cobra stronghold, Cobra Commander explains to his followers that he intends to put a deadly virus in the clouds the Tempest will provoke. People will die in horrible way, with their skin burning, their musculature eaten away and their bones revealed but it is all worth it for the absolute power Cobra will gain. Zartan smiles while Zandar does not but later after the Commander organized for the ex-Coil members to be nuked on Cobra Island by the American government, Zartan and Zandar discuss together and Zandar asks Zartan at what point does revolution becomes genocide to which Zartan replies that he wished he had found the answer to that question before today, saying they founded the Dreadnoks in pursuit of anarchy and independence, not mass murder. Then Cobra Commander introduce Dr. Knox to the others, once more says that Destro paid for his betrayal, that Zandar's sins has been purchased by Zartan's obedience but then says that Dr Mindbender's betrayal carries too high a price and must be killed. Mindbender says that Cobra Commander needs him to activate the Tespest but Dr. Knox explains that she could duplicate his palm print so they no longer needed him. Cobra Commander then shoots him. When Cobra Commander unleash the Tespest, killing the people of the (fictional) country of Badhi and that the G.I.Joes invade the base, Zartan and Zandar have enough of all this and leave.
Sometimes later, general Philip Rey and Duke go to the Dreadnoks headquarters in Florida and beat some Dreadnoks, saying they want to speak to Zandar, before Zartan, his daughter Zanya and his brother Zandar, appear before them on a platform. Zartan asks them what they want with Zandar and Duke replies that they only need information and how Zandar's alias James Nurss was involved in this. Zartan mentions that James Nurss was the name Zandar used when he betrayed him and served the Coil and Serpentor. Feeling the anger in Zartan's voice, Zandar says: "Zartan... I..." But Zartan does not listen and continues, saying: "It seems the misdeeds of my siblings are causing you as much trouble as they have me, Joes. Zarana steals my tech from under my nose, and creates the ridiculous Phoenix guard alongside Cobra Commander. Now, Zandar's past indiscretions come back to haunt us, as well." To which Zandar weakly tries to defend himself again but, still resentful of that betrayal from not long ago, Zartan doesn't leave him any time and pushes him off the platform. He then tells Zandar that Zarana made her own bed and that she will face the repercussions without his help and that James Nurss was something Zandar enacted on his own, so he will deal with the fallout without him as well. Lying down on the ground, Zandar clutches his fist, angry about the situation. Then Zartan tells Duke and general Rey: "Short of killing him, my brother is yours, Joes. A word of warning though... I doubt he'll offer you much without as fight..." Meanwhile, Zandar got up and prepared his knifes to fight. (G.I.joe America's elite #19 Emperor's new clothes, part 1 of 2)
As Zandar fights and gets beaten, Zanya asks her father if they should intervene but Zartan tells her no since this fight is Zandar's doing and that he needed to get out of this on his own. Duke tries to reason Zandar from stopping the fight and says that they only need some information but a stubborn Zandar tells him to go to hell. General Rey then jumps on Zandar, immobilizes him and threatens him with his gun, warning him he got the choice to answer or start losing pieces. The Dreadnoks run toward them to save Zandar but once more Zartan tells them to stop, that it is not their fight. Finally vanquished, Zandar starts to speak. He says that James Nurss was a persona he used when he worked with Dr. Mindbender and the Coil. The doctor had hired him to broker a deal between him and some group of generals in the army. Duke guesses it must be the Jugglers and General Rey gets angry. He grabs Zandar and points his gun at him once more, asking him what deal. Zandar says he doesn't know, that it was a delivery of some sort, a big one. But he doesn't know what it was since Mindbender wanted to keep him in the dark. Zandar says if they want to know more, they should go ask their shrink and that Scott Stevens knows everything. The revelation seems to trigger General Rey who points his gun at Zandar once more, asking him threateningly what he said. But Duke interferes and says that Zandar is telling the truth. After a moment of general Rey and Zandar staring each other angrily in the eyes, the general pushes Zandar on the ground and starts to leave. As the two men leaves, an angry Zandar yells that this isn't over and that they both made a big mistake coming here and making a fool of... Before he has the time to finish his sentence, Duke turns back toward him and says: "I wouldn't go starting more trouble with anyone else, Zandar... I think you've got more than enough to be concerned about right here at home." To which Zartan is shown, crossing his arms and saying nothing. (G.I. Joe America's elite #20 Emperor's new clothes, part 2 of 2)
Zandar files from the comics (Emperor's new clothes 19)
Action Force (British) Comics Continuity[]
IDW Comics Continuity[]
In this continuity, Zandar and Zarana are not Zartan's siblings (Zartan being a clone from an experiment) and come from London. They are twins, with Zandar being the youngest, raised in an orphanage and mostly only speak among themselves in weird ways. Fearing to be separated, they fled the orphanage and began a life of begging, stealing and hustling on the streets. Zandar, then being small, regularly got beaten on the streets and needed his sister's protection while he also began to learn to be more stealthy in hopes of avoiding bullying. They later meet Zartan and the Dreadnoks but have completely no family ties with Zartan, still making them ordinary humans while Zartan is a lab specimen.
Previously IDW made the G.I. Joe: Disavowed Series. This series collects issues of the "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" comic book series published by Image and Devil's Due Publishing from 2001-2005. These comics were retroactively called "G.I. Joe: Disavowed" and considered an alternate universe once the separate comic "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" began publication with IDW in 2010. In it, Zandar and Zarana are still Zartan's siblings.
Energon Universe[]
- Zandar and the Dreadnoks appear in the pages of the Cobra Commander comics from Skybound.
Animated Continuity - Sunbow[]
- Voiced by: Peter Cullen
Zandar from the A Real American Hero animated continuity.
Zandar in in the intro of the entire Season 2.0 as he is piloting a trouble bubble.
Arise, Serpentor, Arise! Zandar makes his entrance in the series when General Hawk present Zartan's siblings on screen to the Joes, telling them that what Zartan was tasked by Dr Mindbender was so important that he had to take his brother and sister to help him. Zandar is then seen for real at the Dreadnok place where Zartan is recruiting a new Dreadnok. Later when the Dreadnoks are in Mexico to get Montezuma's DNA, Zandar goes to spy on the Joes and tells their positions to the other Dreadnoks before he engages the Joes on combat. Much later, once Serpentor has just been created, he is seen complaining like his sister to Zartan that things are dull around the Cobra headquarter. Then Sgt. Slaughter runs toward them and pushes them as Serpentor fires on him. as soon as they get up, Dr. Mindbender and Destro push them down again. Then the siblings notice Cobra Commander calmly following the pursuit. The Dreadnoks are then in the final battle and the three siblings leaves when the other Dreadnoks run away.
Computer Complications Zandar first tries to get an anti-matter powered space probe for Cobra but he fails and Zarana says she could go. Zandar protest but Zarana is the next to go. In the end Zandar is seen mocking Zarana with Zartan and the other Dreadnoks for falling in love with Mainframe and she shoots near them to make them flee.
Once Upon a Joe Zandar is seen fighting the other Dreadnoks over a stupid argument.
The Million Dollar Medic Zandar and Buzzer accompany Tomax and Xamot to threaten the Van Marks.
Cobrathon Zandar is seen in the background, answering the phone.
The Rotten Egg Zandar and the Dreadnoks happen to pass when Leatherneck escapes and Leatherneck jumps on him and steals his bike so Zandar orders the Dreadnoks to go after him.
Raise the Flagg! Zandar and his siblings are sent to recover the anti-matter pod that sunk in the Computer complication episode but like the Joes, they are captured by an ex-Cobra who uses B.A.T.s to do his commands.
G.I. Joe: The Movie Zandar was briefly seen in the movie as he asked Pythona about her knowledge of the Dreadnoks, those were his only lines.
The DIC Series[]
Like all the Dreadnoks except Zarana and new Dreadnoks, Zandar makes no apparition in the DIC cartoon, maybe indicating they all died when the Cobra La mountain crumbled. The cartoon shows that it is some continuity but there is no mention of the old Dreadnoks except Zarana and the Joes mention that Extensive Enterprises are now abandoned which may means that the Crimson Twins died in the movie, like the Dreadnoks.
Toys[]
| Generation 1 | |
|---|---|
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A Real American Hero (1986)
Zandar, with the exception of the upper arm that was used on the original Zartan and Zarana figures, was an original mold. Like Zartan and Zarana, the Zandar figure featured light-sensitive plastic that turned his skin blue, though it was never shown in any of the series, only Zartan having those powers (sometimes, since sometimes it's also just holographic images), Zandar and Zarana always being shown as normal humans. Appearance: red hair; blue headband; bare chest with red lightning bolt tattoos; pink neckerchief; blue chest holster and shoulder armor; brown gloves; grey pants with yellow belt, brown boots, and gold kneepads Accessories: small, flat, blue quiver-backpack (with engraved arrows); black projectile rifle with scope and large stock. |
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Merchandise[]
Trivia[]
- The India version of Zandar featured a darker shade of blue.
See Also[]
- Appearances of Zandar (RAH)
- Image Gallery: Zandar (RAH)
External Links[]
Footnotes[]
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