| Dreadnoks | |
|---|---|
Left to right; Buzzer, Ripper, Monkeywrench, Zarana, Road Pig, Zartan, Zanya, Zandar, Thrasher, Torch |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics Devil's Due Publishing IDW Publishing |
| First appearance | Marvel Comics: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #25 (July 1984) |
| In-story information | |
| Type of organization | Organized crime |
| Leader(s) | Zartan |
| Agent(s) | Notable Members Buzzer Monkeywrench Ripper Road Pig Thrasher Torch Zandar Zarana Zanzibar |
The Dreadnoks are a fictional biker gang who act as villains in the G.I. Joe saga, which have been represented in several types of media, including toylines (produced by Hasbro), comic books series (published by Marvel, Devil's Due Publishing, and IDW), and television cartoons (produced by Sunbow and DIC).
All Dreadnoks are uncouth and violent, and usually engage their enemies with unconventional and creative (many times crude) weaponry. Most, if not all, have shown a particular taste for chocolate covered donuts and grape soda. The Dreadnoks also make a habit of torturing captured enemies, usually in bizarre ways such as exposure to pain-inducing laughing gas or tossing victims into pools of man-eating piranhas. Their headquarters is a compound hidden somewhere in the Florida Everglades. Zartan and the Dreadnoks have been known to use holographic technology and other means to disguise themselves.[1]
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The leader of the Dreadnoks until the end of the World War 3 story arc is a man named Zartan. Believed to have had European military academy training, he was hired as an espionage agent for the evil terrorist group (and main antagonist of the saga's series) called Cobra. He is a master of disguise through masks, make-up, holograms and hypnosis, as well as ventriloquism and linguistics (20 languages and dialects). Another special trait only he is known to have is the ability to change the color of his skin to blend in with his background through genetic manipulation experiments. As a side effect to the gene splicing, he is allergic to sunlight, which throws off his camouflage ability. As well, he is a highly skilled martial artist, and is a master of the bow.
There were originally three Dreadnoks under Zartan's lead, destructive bikers that spent their days terrorizing people and destroying property, they were hired with the promise of easy money. They are known as:
Later the ranks grew with the addition of Monkeywrench and Thrasher. Monkeywrench (Bill Winkie) had spent his recent years building explosive devices for terrorist groups in Rhyl, North Wales, and Thrasher was a spoiled middle class kid with destructive tendencies, who built and piloted the Dreadnoks Thunder Machine. Zartan's sister, Zarana, and brother, Zandar also joined. Like her brother, Zarana is a skilled impersonator while Zandar is a master of stealth and camouflage. Near the end of the first series of G.I. Joe toys and comic books, the pirate Zanzibar (Morgan Teach), the enforcer Road Pig (Donald DeLuca), and a poacher known only as Gnawgahyde were also added. The Dreadnoks were equipped with many vehicles, most of which were built from scavenged parts. This included the Thunder Machine, the Swampfire,[2] and the "Stun".[3]
The Dreadnoks first appeared in Marvel Comics G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #25 (July 1984).[4] Early on, the Dreadnoks operate out of a fully functional gas station, though it is not clear whether they actually serve the public. The gas they have is definitively stolen.
In issue #51, the Dreadnoks work together to spring Zartan out of Joe HQ. They are pursued by Joe forces but a combination of recklessness and disguise skills allow them to escape.[5]
In the next issue, the Dreadnoks are used in an attempt to have Serpentor killed. Disguised as various Joe members, they make an attack but are foiled by other Cobra agents.[6]
They are featured in issue #60. They battle Hawk, Fast Draw, Lt. Falcon, Chuckles and the human/canine team Law and Order. Zanzibar plays a prominent role in the fight. The Dreadnoks help destroy a missile that was aimed at Cobra Island.[7]
Three Dreadnoks, Monkeywrench, Thrasher and Zarana, use the threat of violence against nearby civilians to escape with a G.I. Joe team. Eventually, the Dreadnoks, Joes and civilians all work together to escape to safety.[8]
They play a vital part in the Cobra civil war that takes place on Cobra Island. They serve as personal escorts for the current Cobra Commander. Later, they are sent to guard the west side of the defenses, facing the seemingly impenetrable swamps. The Joes make it through and capture most of the Dreadnoks.[9]
After Destro seizes power, they serve (led by Zarana) for a time as the enforcers of the Cobra-controlled town of Broca Beach. They capture two G.I. Joe operatives, Rock 'n Roll and Clutch for brainwashing.[10]
The Dreadnoks are featured in the Action Force comic book line, starting with issue 5. There, Buzzer and Ripper pursue a wounded Snake-Eyes.[11]
The Dreadnoks resurface in the second series of G.I. Joe comic books published by Devil's Due. During the years after G.I. Joe was disbanded and Cobra defeated, Zartan began to expand the Dreadnoks, spreading his gang to over fifty cities in the United States. The main body, which is under the command of Zartan, is the Florida chapter, nicknamed the Florida Noks. It was also around this time his daughter Zanya found him. Zartan eventually was overcome by a problem with his genetic experimentation, which left him unable to go out into sunlight. This caused him to lead the Dreadnoks through Zanya, who became his new second-in-command (much to the annoyance of Zarana, who left to lead the Chicago chapter).
Early on, they come under attack by G.I. Joe, and several rookie Dreadnoks are killed.[12] The Kansas City Dreadnok chapter is 'given over' to the G.I. Joes as part of a distraction plan by Serpentor.[13]
Later, the Dreadnoks, despite Zandar's traitorous actions, end up fighting on the Cobra side in the Cobra/Coil/G.I. Joe conflict. They were being sent in to assist in rescuing Cobra Commander.[14] The Dreadnoks are called off an issue later after Zartan finds an assailant he has stabbed is actually Zandar.[15]
This list only details Dreadnoks that have played a sizable part in the comics, cartoons, and/or the toyline:
In the Devil's Due run of comics, several Dreadnoks have also appeared in minor and most-often nameless roles.
The Dreadnoks appear in 80's G.I. Joe. The Dreadnoks that appear are Zartan, Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch. In the six-part episode "Arise Serpentor," Zartan's sibling Zarana and Zandar arrive to aid Zartan. When it came to an initiation battle, Monkeywrench and Thrasher joined the Dreadnoks.
They are featured as a fake band in the episode "Cold Slither".[19]
The Dreadnoks appear in the 1989 G.I. Joe cartoon. In the five-part episode "Operation Dragonfire," Gnawgahyde has joined up with the Dreadnoks. Also, Zarana is shown leading the Dreadnoks with no mentionings on what happened to Zartan. In later episodes, Road Pig joins the Dreadnoks.
The Dreadnoks appear in the G.I. Joe: Renegades episode "Dreadnoks Rising". They appear as a small scale but highly dangerous biker gang. The Dreadnoks featured are Zartan, Buzzer, Road Pig, Monkeywrench, Ripper and Torch. They terrorized a local Kansas town and even got their local sheriff on the ropes. When G.I. Joe arrived, they helped the citizens stand up to the Dreadnoks and defeated them (though the Dreadnoks en masse had proven to be enough to bring down Snake-Eyes when cornered). When Flint and Lady Jaye arrived in the town to apprehend the team, they ended up getting the apprehended Dreadnoks.
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