Dreadnok
| This subject of this article goes by multiple names that apply to other articles as well. See Buzzer (Diaclone), Ripper (Diaclone). |
- The Dreadnoks are affiliates of Cobra from the G.I. Joe portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Dreadnoks are a mercenary biker gang often employed by Cobra. They love grape soda, chocolate covered donuts, and destroying things—not necessarily in that order, but all at once if possible. They'd really like that. They are led by Zartan, and their members include the disgruntled intellectual Buzzer, the vicious Tasmanian Ripper, the pyromaniac Torch, Zartan's siblings Zandar and Zarana, the modern-day pirate Zanzibar, and the barbaric Road Pig.
Fiction
G.I. Joe and the Transformers
The Dreadnoks Torch, Ripper, and Buzzer were ordered to monitor the unveiling of the powerful energy-creating device Power Station Alpha, but since they were bored, they blew their cover and attacked it on their motorcycles. After being forced to retreat when their "plan" was ruined by G.I. Joe, they failed to take potshots at a little yellow car and then were chewed out by Zarana. Blood on the Tracks
Great job, guys!
Torch, Ripper, and Buzzer were on Cobra Island later when the Decepticon/Cobra alliance was formed. Torch remarked that Shockwave looked like "an overgrown Tinker Toy." Buzzer told him to shut up, in case the Decepticon leader overheard. Ashes, Ashes...
After the treachery of the Decepticons was revealed, Cobra found itself allied with both G.I. Joe and the Autobots against them. After having retreated to the Autobots' headquarters on Earth, the Ark, the ground trembled underneath the feet underneath them, due to the effects of the renegade Power Station Alpha. Torch feared the giant robots surrounding them would topple over, sealing their doom. ...All Fall Down!
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers
Despite defeating Cobra and the Decepticons two years ago, G.I. Joe was still hunting down rogue Cobra members who had stolen away with Transformers technology. Stalker, Scarlett, and Beachhead invaded a Boston warehouse, finding Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch. These Dreadnoks had replaced their arms with prosthetic cyborg weapon-limbs. G.I. Joe defeated them (with the help of Transformers technology of their own) and the Dreadnoks were taken into custody. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1
After an explosive accident with Teletran 3 that flung dozens of Transformers into the past and future of Earth, Barbecue, Spirit, Tomax and Xamot, and Dr. Mindbender traveled into the future to retrieve Ratchet. In this timeline, a severely disfigured Duke led a resistance movement (consisting of further cyborg-ized Dreadnoks riding Junkions) against the ruling Decepticons. Thankful for a way to "undo" this future, Torch helped the Joes and Cobras find Ratchet. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #3
Transformers/G.I. Joe
The mercenary Dreadnoks confronted Lady Jaye on the Fera Islands alongside Zartan and Major Bludd. She beat them all with a pointy stick. The Iron Fist
Decades later, in 1986, a new Dreadnok biker gang hired by Cobra intervened when the Joes tried to raid one of the terrorist organization's bunkers in the Everglades. Divided Front #2
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe
Buzzer was part of a Decepticobra strike force that attacked the USS Flagg. Tasked with finding the remains of Soundwave he instead happened upon Doctor Venom being escorted about by Shipwreck and Dial-Tone. After his squad mowed down the two Joes, Buzzer offered Venom a pistol, welcoming him back into the fold. Little did he know that Dr. Venom had defected to the Joes; Buzzer got his brains blown out as soon as he turned his back on the ex-Cobra operative. Funeral for a Friend
Later, Torch and Ripper were stationed in Trypticon. There, they taunted the newly captured Roadblock as he was forced to make gourmet meals for Cobra. They warned him to not get any funny ideas, such as say... poison their meals, or something along those lines. Expelled from the Garden During Cobra's dinner to celebrate finding a new home on Cybertron, the Dreadnoks had to sit at the "kids' table" away from everyone else. Torch then suddenly died at the dinner table, revealing that Roadblock had poisoned the meals after all. Earth: R.I.P. After Cobra and the Decepticons were defeated and the war was over, Buzzer reemerged alive and well, seemingly resurrected through Cybertronian implants. He teamed up with a bus Decepticon to kidnap Roadblock's children and went up against Roadblock and Duke. The War Never Ends
Ask Vector Prime
After Galvatron ravaged the galaxy with his Zod army, he intended to transfer his gargantuan Spark into Cybertron in order to become Grand Galvatron. However, the Dreadnoks, some of the last surviving humans, alongside The Autobot, destroyed his Spark at the cost of their own lives. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/04
2005 IDW continuity
The Dreadnoks and Crystal Ball helped insurgents take over Inner Mongolia. The Chinese government asked G.I. Joe's help in getting rid of 'em. G.I. Joe vol. 5 #1
