One & Done - TORCH

"Everyone gotta be afraid o' Dreadnoks!" - Torch, G.I. Joe, Issue #35.

DREADNOK - TORCH

    In 1985, Hasbro released the first 3 original Dreadnoks - Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch.  The Dreadnoks worked for Zartan who was a Mercenary under Cobra's employ.  Often Cobra would hire this misfit biker gang to take care of some of the nasty, dirty jobs that was maybe beneath that of a Cobra Trooper.  They were a destructive lot, always wreaking havoc wherever they went.  The Dreadnoks were typically armed with unconventional weaponry.  For Torch, his specialty was with flame weapons.

    Torch's file card tells that he escaped his Reform School at the age of 14.  He has rode with the Melbourne Maulers Motorcycle Club and spent time with the Merchant Marines.  He can't read, doesn't care about anything, and is described as violent and dumb.  He uses his torch for cracking safes (a hobby shared with Ripper) and for work on stolen cars.

    Torch is all decked out in his biker gear!  He has his leather vest, skull necklace, and sunglasses (which might actually be welding goggles).  He wears blue jeans and has tall gray boots.  On his right leg he has a spiked-knuckle knife, and on his left he has a pistol.  Torch has moppy brown hair, a beard, and wears a red bandana.

    Torch came with two accessories - his acetylene torch with attached hose and a backpack to connect it to, both were molded in silver plastic.  The backpack was a fuel tank to properly go with the torch.  

    It is strange that in 1985, Torch had a accessory with an attached plastic hose.  By this year, the other figures in the standard assortment had made the switch to having a separate rubber hose piece.  It is theorized that the 3 original Dreadnoks were originally planned for the 1984 / Wave 3 group of figures.  This would also explain why they all lacked the ball-jointed necks found among the 1985 line-up.  On the other hand, Ripper came with a separate rubber hose, so go figure...

    I wasn't allowed to have Torch...  If you read the Buzzer and Ripper write-ups, you'll know I had made a silly deal regarding the Dreadnoks.  Buzzer was "my" Dreadnok and Ripper was my friend Aaron's.  Aaron crafted a deal that we should only buy OUR Dreadnoks!  In 1985, this meant I was prohibited from buying Ripper and Torch.  When Aaron moved away and Hasbro started producing MORE Dreadnoks, I decided this deal was ridiculous and did away with it.  By that time, I couldn't find Torch and did not acquire the figure till many years later as a collector!

    Of the many Dreadnoks, Torch was never a top favorite, but he was still an important piece of the puzzle.  The collective uniqueness between the Dreadnoks with their individual looks and weaponry made an interesting team.  If I had the figure when I was younger, I probably would have wished he had a flamethrower rather than a cutting torch though.  Torch is going to be in trouble when a G.I. Joe Mauler comes rolling his way and he has nothing to throw at it.  As a figure though, he looks great and has fitting accessories for his character.  Torch will therefore catch a rating of 4 out of 5 Bic Lighters!!!

    So what are your thoughts on Torch or the Dreadnoks?  Which one was your favorite?  Were you ever locked out on buying a Joe figure?  Add your thoughts in the comments below...

More heated discussion about Torch:

---  Though the figure came with an acetylene torch, however, the various media would have him carrying a flamethrower.

---  In the cartoons, Torch melted an entire tank with his flamethrower.  Uhh, yeah, sure, why not?