This mini-series marks the first appearance of Cobra Commander in his ceremonial hood. In the comics, he has worn the hood since the first issue of the Marvel Comics series.
The mini-series features the first appearance of the SHARC submarine. However it is seen being driven by Torpedo instead of its real driver, Deep six. Deep Six appears later in the first season episode "Cobra Stops the World."
The opening sequence to Revenge of Cobra is the only time in the cartoon Snake-Eyes battles Storm Shadow.
This mini-series marks the first appearance of Grunt. Grunt and Hawk are the only members of the 1982 GIJoe lineup to not appear since the beginning. Another Joe, Grand-Slam, appears in the opening of "Real American Hero" but never appears in any episode.