The code name used by U.S. Army Sergeant and Joe team flamethrower, Timothy P. Hanrahan. Ever since he was a child growing up in Tampa, Florida, Blowtorch was fascinated by firefighting and fire safety. He became disgusted by cigarette smoke and is always concerned about escape routes wherever he goes. Some consider him to be paranoid, but he bases his feelings on an intimate knowledge of fire. Learning to control fire and harness its power was Blowtorch's interest when learning all about various incendiary weapons. In general, Blowtorch is wary of unnecessarily risky or dangerous situations.
Blowtorch was one of the new members assigned to the G.I. Joe team after many of the original members of the team were taken off active duty. He first arrived at the Pit shortly before the celebration dedicating the rebuilt Joe headquarters. Blowtorch and Ripcord were taking an injured Spirit to buy natural healing remedies at the Staten Island Mall when they stumbled upon Cobra Crimson Guardsman Fred II and his family. A firefight and car chase followed, during which the Joes borrowed the delivery van owned by Candy, a woman in the guise of Bongo the Balloon Bear. The Cobras made their escape, but the Joes arrived back at the Pit with a van full of party balloons just in time for the Pit's re-dedication. In appreciation for "Bongo's" assistance, Blowtorch, Ripcord and Gung-Ho helped Candy deliver a van load of balloons to the Arbco Brothers Circus. Again, the Joes stumbled upon the Crimson Guard, but this time their were dozens of them, including the Crimson Guard commanders, Tomax and Xamot. While riding a roller-coaster, Gung-Ho and Blowtorch were fired on from below by the Cobras. When their car came to a stop, the two Joes appeared to be dead, but it was only a trick to lure the Cobras in so the Joes could get the drop on them. In the firefight that ensued, the Crimson Guardsmen were defeated, though Tomax and Xamot escaped. Following a lead on where the twin brothers had gone, a team of Joes including Blowtorch raided a house in Staten Island. They discovered Crimson Guard uniforms and equipment inside after a group of Cobra agenst escaped. The house was nearly in ruins, and Blowtorch was surprised to see Candy arrive. The house had been hers and her father's, though Candy had no idea of his involvement in Cobra. Some time later, Blowtorch helped secure the Pit when it was infiltrated by Cobra's master of disguise, Zartan, and soon after was one of the many Joes who participated in the invasion of the Cobra-controlled town of Springfield. Blowtorch would be involved in another massive operation against Cobra when the Joe team fought in the Cobra Island civil war. Blowtorch continued to serve the Joe team for years. Many of his subsequent missions remain classified, but he served the Joes until the team was shut down in 1994. Some time later, Blowtorch returned home to Tampa, and helped begin a fire safety education program for inner city schools. His efforts proved very successful and he received commendations from the mayor of Tampa. After the team was reinstated years later, Blowtorch rejoined and played a role in the Joes' fight against the terrorist Tyler Wingfield. He was later one of the many Joes to take part in the battle against the forces of a revived Serpentor on Cobra Island. (#32, 33, 37, 38, 48, 49, 50, 76; YB 2; v2 #24; FL #13)