I read the Marvel comic up until a few issues after Unmaskings (can't remember the number) Anyway Cobra Commander seemed to be giving up on world domination when his partner shoots/kills him then puts on his battle armor saying "could be anyone inside". How does Cobra Commander survive and make his comeback? I have always wondered about that.

Around issue #97, Cobra Commander returns to reveal that he had Crimson Guardsmen spying on each other. One of these spies dug up his not quite dead body, revived him with the help of a doctor Crimson Guardsman, & started his criminal terrorist empire over again from scratch. He returns to Cobra island, imprisons everyone who worked with the fake CC in the land-locked freighter, then blow a volcano up on top of it. Only Billy, Zartan, & Firefly escape.

Don't forget that Dr. Mindbender manages to "survive" too. His corpse is salvaged from the landlocked freighter and he is cloned from the remains. :D