Head:Gung-Ho (SpyT) (modded)
Torso, Arms: Destro (SpyT)
Waist, Legs: Cobra CLAWS (v5)
Cape: Chap Mei Ninja Raider

The idea of Crystal Ball as ambassador comes from johnarmijo/zombieguide, and my interpretation will borrow heavily from his excellent backstory: In my Joeverse, Crystal Ball will also have grown up in Las Vegas, although I like the idea that he has the rare flash of true mind-reading (mixing in a touch of Harry Potter's clairvoyant teacher here.)

He too relies heavily on 'regular' hypnotism, stage tricks, and charm to achieve initial success (and suspicion) at the casinos, where he's caught and sent to prison, where he has to hone his charm and persuasion for survival. However, in my 'verse, some of his protectors are the brutish Road Pig and a couple Cobra thugs, and Crystal Ball's smart enough to help make prison life easier for his protectors as well, to keep them on his good side. So it is, when a Crimson Guard lawyer springs the trio on 'surprisingly good behavior', the thugs return the favor and convince the CG to get the remainder of Crystal Ball's sentence commuted.

He arrives in Cobra first as the CB we're all familiar with, spinny shield, fur boa and all. However, when Cobra retreats to an isolationist stance after Trucial Absymia, the time for silly costumes has passed. Crystal Ball starts to focus his skills of persuasion on more political ends, and while he's not yet considered a member of Cobra's High Command, there is no denying that his skills and Talent have helped strengthen the Cobra nation's prestige among like-minded rulers throughout the Third World and Communist Bloc.