Heavy Metal (G.I. Joe)

Heavy Metal
G.I. Joe character
Heavy Metal as seen in the Sunbow/Marvel G.I. Joe cartoon.
First appearance	1985
Voiced by	Neil Ross (Sunbow/Marvel)
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	MBT Mauler Driver
File name	Guderian, Sherman R.
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York
SN	632-45-6200
Rank	Corporal E-4
Primary MOS	Armor
Secondary MOS	Finance

Heavy Metal is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's M.B.T. Mauler Tank driver and debuted in 1985.

His real name is Sherman R. Guderian (which is a combination of Sherman Tank and Heinz Guderian), and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Heavy Metal was born in Brooklyn, New York.

Heavy Metal's primary military specialty is armor, and his secondary military specialty is finance. He enlisted to go to Finance School, in order to become a CPA, but after witnessing a column of tanks roll by at Fort Belvoir, he put in a transfer to Armor that same day. Heavy Metal is a qualified expert in the M-16, M-1911A1, M-2 50 cal. MG, and M-60 MG.

A figure of Heavy Metal was released with the Mauler M.B.T. tank in 1985. This figure, if complete with original microphone, is considered by most collectors to be the rarest G.I. Joe figure released in the USA and United Kingdom.

The same figure was also released under the name "Rampage". The Rampage version has a different file name, and lighter facial hair then the original. Also, while Rampage came with the same submachine gun as Heavy Metal, he did not come with the communications piece.

In 2009, the character was renamed "Speed Metal", and released as part of The Rise of Cobra toyline, in a three pack with Grunt and Sgt. Stone.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #44 (February 1986). In that issue, he is a trainee with Airtight, Bazooka and Crankcase. The mission involves the Mauler tank and A.W.E. Striker, Crankcase's vehicle. They are led in a training mission by Lady Jaye. Airtight rides in the Mauler as well. Cobra forces, headed by Doctor Mindbender, kidnap all five for a weapon's test. The Joes are left with their vehicles yet no actual offensive weaponry. Despite this, they destroy all the robotic Battle Android Troopers sent against them; for example Heavy Metal uses the motion of the tank cannon to launch improvised explosive devices. The Joes escape and are awarded official Joe status.