One & Done - RIPPER

"Shut up Ripper!  You wouldn't recognize your own grandmother if she was wearing a nametag!" - Zartan, G.I. Joe Issue #30.

DREADNOK - RIPPER

    The character known as Ripper was one of the original Dreadnoks in the G.I. Joe Line in 1985.  The Dreadnoks were basically a biker gang / groups of thugs that were often used as as mercenaries for the Cobra Organization.  These were the guys that were sent in when there was some nasty work to be done!  They are loud, unruly, destructive and don't necessarily care about or like anything!

    There was a total of 3 Dreadnoks released in 1985.  In addition to Ripper, there was also Buzzer and Torch.  Over the years, they would continue to add members to their gang.  They were led by the evil Master of Disguise - Zartan and were often depicted as operating in the swamps.  

    The individual Dreadnoks typically differed from one another in the way of their chosen field of destruction.  Ripper had a preference for the use of edged weapons - usually the large, exaggerated blade at the end of his rifle.  The cardback calls the blade a "metal splitter".

    According to Ripper's file card... the guy is mean and nasty!!!  This is a trait that began as early as nursery school and only went downhill from there with him spending a lot of time in different correctional institutions (which clearly didn't help).  Ripper is the only Dreadnok actually FROM Australia.  At one time I thought they all were from there.

    The figure for Ripper had a head that sported short, spiky black hair and a raised mohawk going down the middle.  He has a full beard and moustache and wore red sunglasses.  Around his neck, it appears he is wearing some kind of necklace made of metal shards.  He wears a shredded camo shirt with no sleeves, blue jeans and black boots.  

    Additional details include a gold band around his right bicep, a spike-knuckled knife on his chest and a pistol on his right leg.  Also, on his fingers he sports several rings.  This may be the first time a Joe figure has had rings?

    Ripper had several accessories.  His main one was the aforementioned rifle with large blade, which was cast in silver plastic.  His other accessories go together.  He came with a backpack which is a motor mounted on a frame and then it has a black rubber hose running to a set of "power jaws".  This is the weapon he is using on the cardback.  The power jaws can be clipped onto the backpack for storage.  Unfortunately, the jaws are not articulated, so for many years I thought this was a jackhammer...?

    Though the figures for the original 3 Dreadnoks were released by Hasbro in 1985.  They all actually appeared in the comics and cartoons the year before.  The fact that their necks are all articulated to turn left and right while the rest of the 1985 figure assortment had ball-jointed necks, suggest that the figures were planned for the year before.

    When word got out that these figures were coming out in Wave 4, my friends and I were immediately on the hunt for them.  They were extremely difficult to find at first.  My friend, Aaron, was the first to get one.  His step-mom had found Ripper and some of the other new figures and put them aside for him and his 2 brothers.  Occasionally, she would give them a new figure if they did a good job on their chores.  So you can believe Aaron was going above and beyond the call-of-duty so he could have first pick.  He wanted that Ripper!!!

    Obviously, he succeeded and eventually later... I found Buzzer.  We decided that these were OUR Dreadnoks... I was Buzzer and he was Ripper.  Aaron extended the idea to the level that - A.) Neither of us would buy the other's Dreadnok, and B.) we both would NOT get Torch.  Okay, when you are kids this stuff is kind of fun to talk about...  But let's be realistic - this was a terrible idea!!!

    Aaron moved the next year, but we stayed in touch and he would still visit occasionally.  I don't know about him, but I might have broke the "pact" when I got Monkeywrench.  I mean, he wasn't part of the original deal.. and I wanted more Dreadnoks!!!  So I decided Monkeywrench was okay.  But I was kicking myself for ever agreeing to that original idea... 

    A few years later, after the original 3 had been discontinued... I found a Ripper figure at a drugstore.  You know how the toy sections in drugstores were always piddly and outdated in those days?  They would have like 1 Joe figure, 2 Hot Wheels, a Barbie and the rest was goofy stuff like jacks and those army figures with the parachutes.  Well, their 1 Joe figure was a slightly dusty, overpriced Ripper figure.  I decided our deal was unrealistic and finally bought him!

    So... what do I think of Ripper...?  I have to say, strangely there still is a "wow factor" for me with the Dreadnoks.  I still recall that rush my friends and I had to find these guys!!!  They were so different then the standard Joe figure with each having a unique look and weaponry.  Plus the figure for Ripper is spot on!  He is supposed to have a nasty disposition and the figure pulls that off - and looks grumpy and even kinda ugly.  He is not my favorite Dreadnok of the gang, but he is still great and catches a rating of 4 out of 5 Can Openers!!!

    So was anyone else recall being jazzed about finding the Dreadnoks back when they were first released?  Was there a race to find them?  Who was your favorite of the original three?  I assume no one else was "banned" from buying them, were they???