HCC788 - 1986 Dreadnok MONKEYWRENCH - vintage G. I. Joe toy review! S02E42

[@michaelterrell9645]

Just never did like his weapon but i like him when he threw the grenade during the Dreaknok try outs and he was the only one left standing.

[@ishkabibble2204]

The original three will always be best just because they were first. Its a nostalgic thing.

[@tonyjackson7610]

OK this will sound dumb...but if Monkeywrench had a big mad max style wrench he'd been top tier.

[@christianhafer9819]

I like Monkeywrench. His head looks a little small, but as you mentioned he has great details.

[@glennrobbins2372]

His head sculpt reminded me of the Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase a wrestler/manager in the WWE at the time.

[@josephnicolino8529]

Good point, I didn't notice that.

[@ryanvictoria6206]

Yep! But without Virgil. They should have made a black dreadnok too.

[@dozerfan1979]

Totally

[@GeoffreyToday]

My most vivid memory of Monkeywrench comes from episode 2 of Arise Serpentor Arise, where it's revealed that Monkeywrench is deathly afraid of "big, hairy spiders" which prompts Zartan to call him a wimp. Something about hearing Zartan say the word "wimp" just tickles me.

[@HCC788]

+Geoffrey Today! I'm with Monkeywrench on this. I hate big, hairy spiders, too.

[@lazarus30001]

You reviewed this character with true passion.

[@lazarus30001]

Destro and Monkeywrench were regular fixtures at the local discotheques; The Baroness on Destro's arm, and Zarana with Monkeywrench, on occasions where he could con her into it.

[@nedflanders8968]

I know your primary focus is on the official vintage figures from about 1982-1987, but have you ever considered reviewing any of the following:The 2007 Convention Exclusive "Tanks For The Memories" set with the female Cobra troopersThe 2010 Collector's Club Exclusive "Big Lob"Any of the customs done by The Black MajorOf course I know that means you have to have them first in order to review them. Are any of those figures you have or want as well?

[@nealg6810]

Great review!!! Hilarious reference to Little Britain. I think I know where Monkeywrench got the idea for the bandana around his leg. Chachi from Happy Days had one around his thigh.

[@HCC788]

+Neal G We enjoy Little Britain 'round this house. I never would have made that connection to Chachi.

[@nealg6810]

I would make that connection because I am a super nerd. Lol

[@HCC788]

Hah! You'll fit in here!

[@nealg6810]

Yay!!!!

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

The metal bands from the 80s were fond of leg bandanas, as well as break dancers

[@joshuachristian5443]

We used him once as Cobra Commander out of uniform in a pit fight.

[@DBUP-l8h]

Dreadknocks have always been on the back burner for my collection. I only have Ripper, Torch, Buzzer, Zandar and I have a broken Zartan. I guess I'm not the only one with the problem of Zartan breaking. The figures knees seem brittle and fragile. I would love to get another one complete but he's just to expensive for me at the moment. But I will eventually one day finish collecting all the Dreadknocks. I am just more interested in army building and the more realistic side of the toy line. Although, some of those later 80's and 90's figures do have some cool molds, just awful color choices. But Great review as always man! Funny and in-depth.

[@HCC788]

+Silent Wobby Thanks! Watch out for Zartan's heels, too. They can crack. Be careful putting him on a figure stand.

[@DBUP-l8h]

HoodedCobraCommander788 Thanks for the pointer! I'll make sure to keep him away from figure stands when I pick one up.

[@DBUP-l8h]

***** Yikes! I think I'd cry if that happened to me. I've noticed That all my vintage Cobra's and Cobra Officers are very brittle now. Compared to about 5 or 6 years ago. I'm afraid to even pose them. I just use the 2003 Infantry team blue shirts for diorama photo's now. I will use the classic 83 figures every now and then, but only inside. Vipers on the other hand, they seem fine. I fear they will soon start to become brittle. I wish Hasblow would remake some 0-ring figures. I'm not a fan of the new style body sculpts.

[@HCC788]

+Silent Wobby Some of the modern figure stands have fat pegs. I grind them down a bit so they don't stress the heels.

[@DBUP-l8h]

HoodedCobraCommander788 That's true, I've noticed that in the past few months. I wanted to put Firefly and Storm Shadow in cool poses on my display but the foot pegs were too big. When I get home I think I might shave them down a bit.

[@anionhero]

I loved this figure as a kid. He was my second favorite Dreadnok. My first being Torch. I loved his weapon. I would pretend it shot the trident harpoon out and reeled things in, or use it like a grappling hook gun. Fire it off and use it to pull him up.

[@christianbrix5211]

He was my second favourite too, and Torch was my first

[@JMitsuruDavis]

He always reminded me of Lemmy Kilmister

[@HighFalutinTootin]

The Drednoks are my favorite Gi Joe figures

[@nedflanders8968]

According to "The Ultimate Guide To G.I. Joe" by Mark Bellomo, Larry Hama originally intended Monkeywrench to be from Belfast, North Ireland, and had later taken part in the Skin-Head movement. This was when the figure and his file card were still in the prototype stages. Bellomo says it was drastically changed by Hasbro before the cards went to print.

[@HCC788]

+ned flanders I can see why they would change it.

[@samfrito]

Great review. I like your research into the "new wave" movement, the tunes favored by Monkey Wrench etc. He held some promise, but fell short due to his accessory shortage and lack of relevance. the trident harpoon seems like something Zanzibar would have carried. I like Monkey Wrench, but he was better off captured by GI Joe. His file card sounds like a phony resume. I hope you do a few more Dreadnoks this month. oddballs that they are, still love them.

[@HCC788]

+sam torres I like the Dreadnoks as well, even though they can be weird and quirky. I still have hopes of doing a Dreadnoks theme month someday, but I have some non-Dreadnok ideas for this month.

[@dirus3142]

I bet Monkey Wrench, Rock N Roll, and Thunder have similar tastes in music.

[@gaulergolf]

your reviews are improving by the week now! your they've always been good, but there's a noticeable difference between the recent stuff.and the older stuff. nice work.

[@HCC788]

+kero wack Thank you. I always try to do the best video I'm capable of doing.

[@gaulergolf]

+HoodedCobraCommander788 that's half the battle!

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Monkeywrench is a great figure I've always liked his weapon and always thought he was a solid character.

[@jmsberetta]

cool video and I always thought of him as a explosive expert.

[@LostyMC]

I loved his weapon yall are crazy!

[@ralang999]

I NEVER used his goofy trident gun. gave him the dark grey Viper assault rifle from the battle accessory pack instead.

[@HighFalutinTootin]

I'd equip the Drednoks with m16/m4 from gi joe grunts kits lol

[@andrewluchsinger]

My nick name is The Monkey Wrench. Also my CB Handle. I just subscribed. I often listen to New Wave and Punk Rock music.

[@gazz_N7]

lol, he was the clean cut looking Dreadnok.

[@HighFalutinTootin]

Monkey wrench fits in with the original Drednoks style of Mercs/bikers, later additions like Road pig,Zanzibar,Thrasher and Gnawgahyde were more like mad max style, Zandar and Zarana are something in between those styles

[@lazarus30001]

Torchwood was brilliant, but I do like your Wales imagery quite well. LMAO!

[@robertlogan5354]

I'm not sure if the same concept is applicable to motorcycles, but in the 80s bmx movie 'rad', the main character wore a bandana tied around one leg, on the side without the chain guard. Best i was able to figure out was that it kept his pants leg from getting caught in the chain

[@williamhill638]

None the less the dreadnox where my some of my favorites

[@affoster79]

I liked ol Monkeywrench, he was second only to Gnawgahyde as my two favorite Dreadnoks. I always considered him as the Dreadnoks answer to Firefly.

[@HCC788]

+affoster79 I can see where you're coming from. If that angle had been played up more, I might have had more fondness for the figure.

[@affoster79]

I don't think Monkeywrench comes anywhere near the lever of Firefly. Monkeywrench is a anarchist and enjoys watching things go boom. Sure he can build the occasional bomb or two, but Firefly is a professional at his craft with years of experience, knowledge of explosives and where to place them.

[@white-dragon4424]

What do I think of when I think of Wales? Long abandoned coal mines and abused sheep. As for the figure, he's "alright", I guess? As you said, he's a bit boring. I don't know what it was, but I always thought of him as a kind of lackluster version of Torch, the only Dreadnok that we didn't get in the UK. My guess is that they didn't release Torch because of the arson aspect of the character, whereas they were a-okay with the idea of ripping people apart and drilling into them.

[@KUTTTHROATSLICKY]

have you done the flacon glider

[@temazros6112]

According to me *Monkeywrench* is the Dreadnok's *_explosives expert_* .

[@Brutal_Waste_Productions]

Dude great job with your reviews keep up with the good work, i have a question... have you done the review of the Cobra B.A.T. S. ?

[@Tr0nzoid]

I liked pretending that the trident on Monkeywrench's weapon was spinning blades. That's what I thought it was until I read otherwise.

[@dalesanteford7432]

I only had the dreadlock pirate Zanzibar monkey wrench and all the rest of the members when I did have Thrasher and the Thunder machine if I had the monkey wrench I would have noticed a demolition specialist I'm working on the vehicles from kobra and the dreadnoks serpentor arise first time I saw a monkey wrench joining the dreadnoks and the GI Joe movie it was showing a lot with the other dreadlocks I have a matter to dream with comic with the dreadlocks it's a good GI Joe comic

[@jakubbuszko3089]

Pocher was his speciality his name was " Grewhade " .

[@HCC788]

+Jakub Buszko We had a Dreadnok called Gnawgahyde. Same guy?

[@jakubbuszko3089]

Yes that's one !

[@timbo8442]

His head sculpt closely resembles Vernon Wells, the actor.

[@SatansSimgma]

The dreadnoughts were all fashioned after the swamp. He had a giant frog gig, not a triton. You more on.

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

Monkewrench is a badass character, one of my favs from the 85-86 series. His weapon sucks, Ive always thought so. It doesn't fit his name or "occupational" talents of mayhem and explosives. If anything give him a huge oildrillers wrench w/ a nasty ripping hook on the back. But a trident gun? Sorry Zeus, you been punked son.

[@galaxyoftoys]

The crotch on my Monkeywrench snapped. So, I replaced it with an extra Ripper crotch. Looks fine, but still bugs me. Anyway, great review.

[@HCC788]

+Galaxy of Toys Heh heh heh. "Ripper crotch."

[@christianbrix5211]

I've owned several Monkeywrenches over the years, and they've all been "Bobbitted". Weak design maybe

[@Bucky749]

Maybe he's a fan of the rock n roll express.

[@chrisnwi1209]

oi oi oi I used monkeywrench as the driver toy swampfire. the fact that he came with a harpoon gun and no backpack made him the perfect driver to the swampfire which came without an action figure. oi oi oi

[@HCC788]

+Chris Michalec That's a fair pairing. At least that gave him something to drive.

[@chrisnwi1209]

I wonder if Hasbro made him a carded figure at the last minute due to the fact that they already had thrasher w/ the thunder machine come out the same year as monkeywrench and the swampfire. To me with his lack of accessories he just seems like a driver. Just look at the commercial what is monkeywrench driving.

[@HCC788]

Right, he is shown driving the Swampfire. In the comic book he was introduced at the same time as the Cycle. But I think if they had emphasized his explosives expertise and given him a corresponding accessory, it would have been a big improvement.

[@chrisnwi1209]

Agreed he still looks cool driving the swampfire

[@BrownieSomma]

what weapon would you reccomend for him?

[@williamhill638]

Should of came with different weaponry

[@robbyritter4245]

When I think of Wales I think of Scotland yard

[@jakubbuszko3089]

Am not sure the Dreknoks what are ... I have was Road Pig & Hunter with Warthog ... But am sure that place when Dreknok are in my imagination of Cobra island is biker bar close too big junk yard when they are not on World tourne ...

[@HCC788]

+Jakub Buszko They definitely fit in a biker bar or a junk yard. In the Marvel Comics and in Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch's file cards, they lived in the swamps for some reason.

[@jakubbuszko3089]

HoodedCobraCommander788 Or In " Fallout Tactics " game ... Also this weird gun looks for me like Dirty Harry harpon gun complete un practical or made in scrap yard ...

[@nodtomodley9114]

Man, it's so weird that they made him Welsh. He looks like an American biker more so. Over all it seems like they kinda tried too hard to make a kinda dull figure interesting.

[@HCC788]

+nodto modley Yeah, the file card was more interesting than the figure.

[@soterioncoil2163]

He was ok and fitting for a dreadnok and I didn't like his accessory either.

[@grotezakhooi]

first thing he said when he introduced himself he said i like heavy metal (new wave ) so i don't think he's Oi !

[@cf2228]

gi joe should have made them in to a biker gang.

[@bluebeard6189]

I always like the action figure but to me there are just three dreadnoughts, and their leaders Zartan All the ones that came later including zartan's siblings never quite felt right to me. And I mean really but dreadlock car. I try to look at that as a complete want to be rip off of mad Max, but not the biker gang in mad Max and actual rip off of the character

[@mgvillanmp478]

awesome work man I liked this dude but I did not like the weapon since he was a explosives expert he should have come with a grenade launcher or something like that then I probably would have got this guy ..hahahahahaaaa!!whenever I heard whales I think of whales....like real whales..haahaaaa

[@HCC788]

+mgvillanmp478 Like the big sea mammals that go "Aaaawooooooooo." A grenade launcher would have been a logical weapon for him, but they had to give Dreadnoks these weird blade/projectile weapons.

[@mgvillanmp478]

HoodedCobraCommander788 for some I don't understand why they did that kind of like the lacrosse stick they gave to thrasher and this guy with the harpoon these guys would have been cool with some other kinds of weapons in the mix like what they did with buzzer and ripper ..yea exactly real whales..hahahahahaaaa

[@HCC788]

Maybe Monkeywrench uses his harpoon gun for whaling.

[@mgvillanmp478]

HoodedCobraCommander788 I wouldn't be surprised

[@ralang999]

The grenade launcher that came with Hardball would be perfect for Monkeywrench!

[@robdavis4777]

Great figure but a trash weapon.