The Thunder Machine is a Dreadnok vehicle, appearing in the A Real American Hero continuity.
Vehicle Profile[]
The Thunder Machine was the Dreadnoks heavy forward strike vehicle. It weighed 4.2 tons and had a maximum range of 750 miles. The vehicle's maximum road speed was 115 mph and it's maximum cross-country speed was 53 mph.
While most of the Dreadnoks prefer to ride on their motorcycles, Thrasher favors his patchwork monstrosity, the Thunder Machine. Assembled from spare parts found in automobile junkyards and airplane graveyards, the Thunder Machine is a hulking mess of armor and weaponry. The weaponry, armor and other configurations of this vehicle were constantly changing due to Thrasher's propensity to constantly tinker with his favorite pet project.
The Thunder Machine features dual synchronized "Penetrator" gatling guns, a reinforced tubular roll cage, and a jet engine with 21k lbs of thrust.
Features[]
From Blueprints:
- "HIGH NOON" HIGH INTENSITY XENON SPOT LAMPS
- INFRARED TARGET ACQUISITION SCANNER
- PRESELECTABLE MULTI-BAND PROCESSOR/ANTENNA
- REINFORCED TUBULAR ROLL CAGE
- RACE CAR FRONT GRILL (1982 PONTIAC TRANS-AM)
- DUAL SYNCHRONIZED "PENETRATOR" GATLING CANNONS
- "FAST FIRE" WOVEN ALLOY AMMO BELT
- 205/50 VR15 RACING TIRES (FRONT)
- FULLY ADJUSTABLE VARIABLE SELECT SUSPENSION
- TWO-STATION LATERAL PERSONNEL PLATFORM
- INDIVIDUAL HIGH-BACK BIO-FORM COMMAND SEATS
- PERSONNEL PROTECTION SIDE ARMOR SWING-UP SHIELDS
- EXTENDED TUBULAR SPACE FRAME ROLL CAGE
- MULTI-VANE ADJUSTABLE ALLOY JET INTAKE
- "KNOCK-DEAD" 21K THRUST TURBOJET ENGINE
- 225/60-HR15 OFF-ROAD TIRES (REAR)
- HAND-LAID CARBON/GRAPHITE TIRE SHIELDS
Fiction[]
Comics continuity[]
RAH Comics[]
- The Thunder Machine make's it's debut appearance in the RAH #51 comic, titled Thunder Machine, from Marvel Comics in 1986. Zarana helps Zartan escape from the Pit. They escape in the Swampfire and meet up with the other Dreadnoks, who have the Thunder Machine.
- The Dreadnoks parked the Thunder machine outside of an office building that formerly housed Cobra Commander, who was in hiding. Zartan meets up with Crystal Ball, Big Boa, Cesspool and Slice & Dice, searching for clues, while Buzzer, Ripper and Torch cause mayhem to the office walls and wastebaskets.
- The Thunder Machine has a small cameo in G.I. Joe RAH #306 from Skybound, May 2024. It is seen parked outside a shack in the swamp, while inside Zartan speaks to the Dreadnoks about the treachery going on. They have to decide who to side with. Most of the better known Dreadnoks are present.
Blackthorne[]
The Thunder Machine is the vehicle in the second issue of Blackthorne's series of how to Draw G.I. Joe. Each issue features one Joe, one Cobra and one vehicle.
Devil's Due[]
- In G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #3, Buzzer and Thrasher are driving the Thunder Machine on a hidden road in the swamp when Wild Bill drives them off the road with a large bug-like helicopter.
- The Thunder Machine plays a role in the 2-part saga, Closure, where Storm Shadow briefly shakes Cobra Commander's mind control, and Snake Eyes, Billy and Kamakura try to save him. Meanwhile Storm Shadow has many run-ins with the Dreadnoks.
- In G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #24, the Thunder Machine is loaded onto a transport while Dreadnoks stand around and watch. Part of a big military action in the offing.
Energon Universe[]
- The Thunder Machine appears in Cobra Commander #2 from Skybound. Buzzer and Ripper tie a man to the bumper and drag him to his death. Later they try to menace Cobra Commander with the Thunder Machine, but he eventually blows it up. They mention this to Zarana in the following issue when speaking about how unhinged Cobra Commander is.
Animated continuity[]
The Thunder Machine and Thrasher first appeared during the Arise, Serpentor, Arise! miniseries. They appeared throughout the second season of Sunbow's animated series, and in G.I. Joe: The Movie.
Toys[]
Toy editions[]
The Thunder Machine was released in 1986 and included the Thrasher action figure.
Re-uses/re-makes[]
The Thunder Machine was retooled and released in 1993 as part of Hasbro's Street Fighter II toyline. It was called the Beast Blaster and came with Blanka and Chun Li.
Trivia[]
- In the Sunbow version of the 'G.I. Joe' animated series, the Thunder Machine was drawn a little too toy-accurate: on the standing plates on sides of the Thunder Machine, you can see the pegs that's used to place action figures on.
References[]
- G.I. Joe: Field Manual Vol 2
External links[]
The Thunder Machine at YoJoe!
The Street Fighter II Beast Blaster at YoJoe!