Zartan (G.I. Joe Film Series)

"Yeah, I can see that was wrong."

- Zartan, before being stabbed to death by Storm Shadow for betraying and killing the Hard Master "On my orders, the covert special forces unit, codenamed Cobra, terminated with extreme prejudice Joe command, facilities, personnel. The GI Joes... are no more."

- Zartan, as the President

Zartan is a villain from the G.I Joe franchise. He is depicted as a member of Cobra in both films. Zartan is a minor villain in G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and the secondary antagonist (as the President) in G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

He was portrayed by Arnold Vosloo (Jonathan Pryce in his President disguise) who also portrayed Imhotep.

G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra
Zartan is first seen as a henchman of Destro. He is shown to have the ability to disguise himself as basically anybody he chooses. Throughout the film he has a habit of whistling 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow' each time he appears. First of all he goes on a mission with Storm Shadow and Baroness to the GI Joe Pit to retrieve McCullen's warheads. His next scene in this film is where he is given a special disguise formula by Cobra Commander to make him look like the US President.

He is next seen at the climax as a decoy President when his Neo-Viper henchman shoots the real President's guards and capturing him. It was all part of Destro's evil plan to have the world turn to the most powerful man in the world (meaning Zartan is the President).

G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Zartan is the secondary antagonist in this movie, Zartan's first scene in the sequel is when he is still in his Presidential disguise meeting with a Security council about retrieving warheads from Pakistan. Through a Cobra set-up scheme, he suggests that they send the G.I. Joe Team to retrieve the warheads themselves. He is next shown discussing his plans for his own political campaign from his predecessor.

He reveals that he used Cobra agents as his new Secret Service while he asks about the prison holding both Cobra Commander and Destro. Zartan then reveals that Cobra has taken down the GI Joe team under his orders and that they are the new protection unit for the United States. He is next shown when he welcomes back Cobra Commander alongside Firefly. He is next shown when his World Leader Summit takes place to discuss Nuclear arsenal.

He then reveals that Cobra has developed a special satellite program entitled Project Zeus which can destroy an entire continent. He then turns over world control to Cobra Commander who then tries to escape due to a GI Joe infiltration. His last scene in the film is when Storm Shadow confronts him about the death of his Blind Master. He is killed by Storm Shadow to avenge The Hard Master's death, as well as avenging the citizens and the Joes he had killed.