What Happened to Zandar (G.I. Joe action figure)?

1986–1990s (feature retired) Toys/Games • United States

ℹ️ Fate: The 1980s UV color-change gimmick was dropped in later releases; the character continues in modern lines without the sunlight effect.

Cobra Dreadnok whose figure turned bluish in sunlight.

Zandar joined the 3.75" *G.I. Joe* roster in 1986 as a Dreadnok and brother to Zartan. Like his siblings, the original figure employed UV-reactive plastic so that in sunlight his exposed ‘skin’ turned bluish, selling the ‘chameleon/disguise’ fantasy on the playground. He arrived with covert-ops style accessories (bandanna/scarf, backpack, weapons) and a grim camo color palette that tied him to the swamp-raider aesthetic.

Across the late 80s and 90s, Hasbro refreshed the character and team, but the sunlight color-change was phased out as materials and play features evolved. Modern Zandar figures emphasize sculpt, articulation, and gear rather than photochromic tricks, leaving the 1986 version iconic for its UV effect alongside Zartan and Zarana.

Timeline

  • 1986

    Zandar v1 debuts; UV-reactive ‘skin’ shifts bluish in sunlight.

  • 1980

    Dreadnok lineup expands; color-change trio (Zartan/Zarana/Zandar) becomes a playground favorite.

  • 1990

    UV/photochromic features largely retired from new releases.

  • 2000

    Character reappears in reissues/new scales, typically without UV color-change.

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