Crankcase (G.I. Joe)

G.I. Joe character
Illustration of Crankcase from G.I. Joe: Order of Battle. Art by Herb Trimpe.
Crankcase
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	A.W.E. Striker Driver
File name	Indiana, Elwood G.
Birthplace	Lawrence, Kansas
SN	451-61-5102
Rank	E-4 (Corporal)
Primary MOS	Motor Vehicle Driver
Secondary MOS	Armor
Year introduced	1985

Crankcase is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's A.W.E. Striker driver and debuted in 1985.

Profile

His real name is Elwood G. Indiana, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Crankcase was born in Lawrence, Kansas.

Crankcase's primary military specialty is motor vehicle driver, and his secondary military specialty is armor. He was building street machines by the age of thirteen and racing them at sixteen. He worked the stock car circuit for years, until a recruiting sergeant signed him up with promises of speed and glory. Crankcase graduated from Ranger School and Desert Warfare School, and attended the Special Air Service Tactical Driving School under the NATO Exchange program. He is a qualified expert in the M-16, M-1911A1, M-60, and TOW.^[1]

Toys

Crankcase was first released as an action figure in 1985, packaged with the A.W.E. Striker.^[2]

Comics

Marvel Comics

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #44 (February 1986). He is part of a training group with Bazooka, Airtight and Heavy Metal. They are led by Lady Jaye. The four's efforts in fighting a Cobra-led weapons-testing attack earns them battlefield promotions into the team.^[3] Later, he is part of a small team of Joes who are attacked by Raptor and Cobra Commander.^[4]

Crankcase is sent to an unnamed middle-eastern country with Leatherneck, Stalker and the aircraft pilot Slipstream. The four using a modified plan to fight their way onto an enemy air force base and they steal a valued plane. An American mercenary pilot named Deke voluntarily sacrifices his life to save the four Joes.^[5] Later, Crankcase escorts new Joe officers to the Utah base. He is one of many who works underground building the secret part of the facility.^[6] He later escorts new Joes into the top floor part; they had not quite received authorization for anything beyond that. His A.W.E. Striker is almost crushed by the USS Defiant space shuttle.^[7]

Crankcase is killed in action when he was executed by a SAW Viper in #109. On a mission to Trucial-Abysmia, a group of Joes are kidnapped by Cobra forces and kept in a pit. Doc is shot first by a S.A.W. Viper taking 'orders' that Tomax and Xamot have misunderstood. Crankcase, Thunder and Heavy Metal are killed next. The survivors escape due to a hidden knife they use to wound the Viper.^[8] Crankcase is buried in Arlington Cemetery.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Action Force

Crankcase makes several appearances in "Action Force", a slightly different G.I. Joe continuity, also produced by Marvel Comics. He debuts in #8, as one of the field officers trying to stop the destruction of the Eiffel Tower.^[9] He is featured in the next issue. As an artillery expert, he tries to disarm the motion-triggered bomb Lady Jaye is holding.^[10]

Crankcase drives support on a mission to protect an important ambassador and to rescue Shipwreck, who is impersonating the man.^[11]

Crankcase has a cameo during a confrontation with the alien robot Megatron. He is seen assisting an injured colleague.^[12]

IDW Publishing

Crank-Case makes appears in issue #4 of the IDW Publishing series.^[13]

Cartoon

Sunbow

He first appeared in the G.I. Joe animated series in the second season episode "The Most Dangerous Thing in the World".^[14]

Video game

Crankcase drives his AWE Striker in the first Action Force computer game.

References

1. ^ Hama, Larry (1987). Howard Mackie. ed. G.I. Joe Order Of Battle. Marvel Entertainment Group. p. 29. ISBN 0871352885. 
2. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 105. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
3. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #44 (February 1986).
4. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #59 (May 1987)
5. ^ "G.I. Joe Special Missions" #3 (May 1987)
6. ^ "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #63 (September 1987)
7. ^ "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #64 (October 1987)
8. ^ G.I. Joe (vol. 1) #109
9. ^ "Action Force" #8 (April 25, 1987)
10. ^ "Action Force" #9
11. ^ "Action Force" #19-22 (1987)
12. ^ "Action Force" #26 (August 29, 1987)
13. ^ G.I. Joe #4 (April 1, 2009)
14. ^ "The Most Dangerous Thing in the World". G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

External links

• Crankcase on Joepedia, an external wiki
• Crankcase at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page