Torch (G.I. Joe)

Torch
G.I. Joe character
Torch as seen in the Sunbow/Marvel G.I. Joe cartoon.
First appearance	1985
Voiced by	Frank Welker (Sunbow/Marvel) Ted Lewis (Sigma 6) Matthew Yang King (Renegades)
Affiliation	Dreadnoks
File name	Tom Winken
Birth place	Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Torch is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon 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.

His real name is Tom Winken. Torch was born in Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

Torch was remanded to Borstal at age fourteen, but escaped and went to sea in the Merchant Marine, where he learned the use of the cutting torch. He later rode with the Melbourne Maulers motorcycle club. Torch is an illiterate, unrepentant thug with a penchant for violence matched only by the utter depth of his stupidity. He uses his oxy-acetyline torch for remodeling cars and the occasional safe-cracking. He is also known to scavenge the swamps for fun and profit.

Torch was first released as an action figure in 1985.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in #25 The Dreadnoks' love for destruction causes an early warning for the staff at McGuire Air Force Base, after they spotted a Dragonfly landing there. Their vandalism sets off an explosion; the soldiers and G.I. Joe manage to set up a defense that drives off the Cobra troops. The Dreadnoks flee the attention of both sides.

Torch and Ripper get in trouble, after disobeying orders and losing Buzzer to a trio of Joes they had haphazardly attacked. Torch is seen in a running battle of Dreadnoks versus Joes in issue #51. This is after the others rescue Zartan from Joe HQ. Torch is a passenger on the outside of the Thunder Machine. He then participates in an attempt to kill Serpentor. He makes a cameo during an essential Cobra power struggle.