| Monkeywrench | |
|---|---|
| G.I. Joe character | |
 Illustration of Monkeywrench from G.I. Joe: Battle Files #2. | |
| First appearance | 1986 |
| Voiced by | Neil Ross (Sunbow/Marvel) Charlie Adler (Renegades) |
| Affiliation | Dreadnoks |
| File name | Bill Winkie |
| Birth place | Rhyl, North Wales |
Monkeywrench is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is affiliated with Cobra as one of the Dreadnoks and debuted in 1986.
His real name is Bill Winkie. Monkeywrench was born in Rhyl, North Wales.
Monkeywrench was born on Guy Fawkes Day, which in Britain commemorates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. As a youth, he built explosive devices for terrorists, and had made himself a pariah in his hometown by age sixteen. He drifted to London's East End to take part in a "new wave" movement, developing rudeness and crude anti-social behavior. His wandering eventually brought him to Australia, where he joined the Dreadnoks.
Monkeywrench was first released as an action figure in 1986. [1] He was re-released in 2006; at first he was a 'direct to consumer' toy only, but later released in Toys R Us stores. [2] He is again released in 2009 as part of a two-pack with Tunnel Rat. This version is a Wal-Mart exclusive. [3]
In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue 60. There, he allies with Zanzibar to steal already stolen gasoline from the Dreadnoks stations. Despite initial beatings, the two join with the other Dreadnoks in defending Cobra Island from a missile pointed at it. Despite a running battle with Hawk and several unofficial Joes, the weapon is safely neutralized. [4] In issue 69, Thrasher, Monkeywrench and Zarana had been part of a team overseeing a Cobra Terror Drome base in the fictional country of Sierra Gordo.
When the country erupts in civil war, the three take Thrasher's Thunder Machine to a local airstrip. They take several civilians hostage. This gets them transport from Wild Bill, Crazylegs and Maverick of the G.I. Joe team. Eventually the Dreadnoks, Joes and the civilians willingly work together in an ultimately successful attempt to escape to safety. [5]
During the Cobra Civil War, Monkeywrench and the other Dreadnoks sided with Cobra Commander (actually the Siegie Fred VII) against Serpentor, where they served as the Commander's personal bodyguards. When the Thunder Machine crashed into one of Destro's D.E.M.O.N. tanks, Thrasher used Monkeywrench's grenades to blast the upended vehicle upright again. [6]
Monkeywrench is seen in issue 79, urging restraint and calm for his fellow Dreadnoks, although his attempt fails. [7]
Monkeywrench appears in issue #89, teaming up with a Tele-Viper as part of a large effort to capture Clutch and Rock'N'Roll. The two Joes had learned Broca Beach, a New Jersey town, was being run by Cobra and the Dreadnoks. [8]
Monkeywrench appears in the series published by Devil's Due. He stays with the Dreadnoks as they expand into a nationwide network. When G.I. Joe attacks Zartan's sprawling Florida Everglades complex, Monkeywrench is assigned, via radio, to man a turret. [9]
He appears as a supporting character in a two-part flashback story running detailing how Zartan's daughter Zanya joins the group. He is seen working closely with Zanzibar and Gnawgahyde in training and intimidation efforts. [10]
Monkeywrench is listed as one of the fatalities in the gun battle that takes place in the prison known as The Coffin. This is G.I. Joe's maximum security prison, located in Greenland. Another such fatality is Dr. Biggles-Jones. Cobra operatives, led by Tomax and Xamot had raided the place, liberating many and intentionally killing others. As Storm Shadow explains, "Tomax...was able to eliminate those Cobra considered loose ends." [11]
He first appeared in the G.I. Joe cartoon in the second-season episode "Arise, Serpentor, Arise!" Part I. In that episode, he is the winner of a Dreadnok membership audition. [12] He expressed his morbid fear of spiders when he and Zartan went to Montezuma's tomb. Monkeywrench was voiced by Neil Ross. [13]
Monkeywrench also appeared briefly in the 1987 animated film G.I. Joe: The Movie . [14]
Monkeywrench first appears in the G.I. Joe: Renegades episode "Dreadnoks Rising." This version has a green mohawk. He is seen as a member of the Dreadnoks. Monkey wrench and the other Dreadnoks are sent to prison at the end of the episode.
Monkeywrench's figure is briefly featured in the fiction novel 6 Sick Hipsters. In the story, the character Paul Achting spent four years collecting G.I. Joe figures to set up a battle scene between the Joes and Cobra. As he imagined the characters in his head, he described the Dreadnoks as "an elite team of maniacal mercenaries allied with Cobra for this battle", with the figures lying in the thick of the shag carpet, and Monkeywrench, "The Welshman... lying on his belly. His orange beard blending in perfectly with the orangey-rust of the rug. He had only recently come to Australia. His time in East End, London, being a cavalcade of debauchery and psychedelic music." [15]
Cobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and animated series. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and is the principal antagonist and archenemy of the Joes. The character is also featured as an opponent of G.I. Joe in other series, such as Sigma 6 and Renegades, as well as subsequent comic books, video games, and movies. He was portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and by Luke Bracey with the voice of Robert Baker in the 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Serpentor is a fictional character and a recurring antagonist from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the Cobra Emperor and was introduced in 1986. In the original 1980s animated series, he is the main antagonist in the second season.
Zartan is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is one of the main villains in the Marvel Comics series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero as the leader of the Dreadnoks, and a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra Commander. His character was voiced by Zack Hoffman in the 1985 TV series, and he was portrayed by Arnold Vosloo in the live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and its 2013 sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is one of the original members of the G.I. Joe Team, and debuted in 1982 as a Missile Commander, but was later promoted to full commander of the team. Hawk is portrayed by Dennis Quaid in the 2009 live-action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
Zarana is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. She is affiliated with Cobra as a member of the Dreadnoks.
Zandar is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is affiliated with Cobra as a member of the Dreadnoks. He is portrayed by Matt Gerald in the 2013 film G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Sgt. Slaughter is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline series. G.I. Joe used the persona of the professional wrestler of the same name as a model for their character. Though the original G.I. Joe was based on the real-life Sgt. Alvin York, Sgt. Slaughter was the first G.I. Joe figure accurately based on a real person. Sgt. Slaughter was also the most successful toy character, with several versions of his toy action figure being released. Unlike other real-person action figures, Sgt. Slaughter's toy version makes no reference to its real-life inspiration, although the figure does have wrestling moves. The real-life Sgt. Slaughter also did the voice for the animated character, and appeared in person for introductions to the episodes that were originally G.I. Joe: The Movie. He was also the spokesman for the G.I. Joe toys from 1989 to early 1990, introducing the new vehicles and figures.
Wild Bill is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's helicopter pilot and debuted in 1983.
Thunder is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the G.I. Joe team's self-propelled gun artilleryman and debuted in 1984.
Heavy Metal is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's M.B.T. Mauler Tank driver and debuted in 1985.
Cross-Country is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's H.A.V.O.C. driver and debuted in 1986.
Chuckles is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's undercover specialist and debuted in 1987.
Buzzer is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series of the 1980s. He is affiliated with Cobra as one of the Dreadnoks and debuted in 1985.
Ripper is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is affiliated with Cobra as one of the Dreadnoks and debuted in 1985.
Torch is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is affiliated with Cobra as one of the Dreadnoks and debuted in 1985. He is often seen working closely with Ripper and Buzzer.
Thrasher is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is affiliated with Cobra as the Dreadnoks' Thunder Machine driver and debuted in 1986.
Zanzibar is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline and comic book series. He is affiliated with Cobra as the Dreadnoks' pirate and debuted in 1987.
Road Pig is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is affiliated with Cobra as one of the Dreadnoks and debuted in 1988.
Gnawgahyde is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series of the 1980s. He is affiliated with Cobra as the Dreadnoks' poacher and debuted in 1989.
The Thunder Machine is a fictional, four wheeled, armored, weaponized vehicle used by the Dreadnoks, a biker gang/mercenary group in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic books and cartoon series. The Dreadnoks work for Cobra, the primary enemy for G.I. Joe.
