Dreadnoks

Dreadnoks
Left to right; Buzzer, Ripper, Monkeywrench, Zarana, Road Pig, Zartan, Zanya, Zandar, Thrasher, Torch
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 Gnawgahyde Monkeywrench Ripper Road Pig Thrasher Torch Zandar Zarana Zanzibar

The Dreadnoks are a fictional biker gang from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. They are affiliated with Cobra as shock troops, offering their mercenary services as subordinates of Zartan.

The Dreadnoks were originally meant to be a race of humanoid bears, to capitalize on the popularity of the Ewoks from the then-recently released Return of the Jedi. Larry Hama, writer of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book, was highly critical of the proposal, telling Hasbro "you can't have the good guys running around shooting at teddy bears." Hama suggested to Hasbro that "obnoxious bikers" would be a more realistic alternative.

The leader of the Dreadnoks 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: Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch. These men were destructive bikers, who spent their days terrorizing people and destroying property, hired with the promise of easy money. Later, the ranks grew with the addition of Monkeywrench and Thrasher. Monkeywrench 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. The pirate Zanzibar, the enforcer Road Pig, 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, and the "Stun".

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