Tunnel Rat (G.I. Joe)

Infobox G.I. Joe character
name = Tunnel Rat


caption =
affiliation = G.I. Joe
function = E.O.D.
realname = Lee, Nicky
birthplace = Brooklyn, NY
serial = 367-84-9090
rank = E-5
primaryMOS = Explosive Ordnance Disposal
secondaryMOS = Combat Engineer
subgroup = Night Force, Sonic Fighters
previous =
series =
voiceby = Laurie Faso
debut = 1987

Tunnel Rat is a character from the G.I. Joe series. He has appeared in all toyline, cartoon and comic incarnations of .

Tunnel Rat is the code name of Nicky Lee, a Trinidadian Chinese who lived in Brooklyn, New York prior to joing the US Army where he had Ranger training. He specializes in explosive ordnance disposal. The character's facial appearance is based on G.I. Joe comic book writer Larry Hama. [ [http://www.yojoe.com/action/87/tunnelrat.shtml YoJoe.com] ]

Cartoon

In the cartoon series, the character first appeared in as a member of the Rawhides, a group of G.I. Joe rookies. He was often partnered with the taller "Big Lob". The Rawhides would try to operate on their own throughout the movie.

He was not seen again in the following seasons from DiC.

Marvel Comics

In the comics, his first appearance was in G.I. Joe #59. He had been assigned for security to Thunder, Clutch, and Grand Slam. The entire team had been out for some time testing equipment. Tunnel Rat teaches Grand Slam all about the Joe credit cards, as the latter had been having problems with getting his pay.

The team joins up with Dusty, Crank-Case, Hawk, Cross-Country and, later, Outback. They are to take the equipment to Fort Carson.

It is Tunnel Rat's new methods of pay that get them attacked by Cobra forces. The Crimson Guardsman Fred, Raptor and Cobra Commander track down the Joe convoy via Tunnel Rat's credit records, old intelligence and the abillities of Raptor's birds. Cobra Commander attacks the entire team in a 'Pogo Plane'. Due to the limited manuverability of the mountains, the battle is precarious for both sides. Clutch's driving skills saves the day but Cobra Commander escapes with the knowledge that Tunnel Rat has unwittingly given him.

Tunnel Rat often serves as pointman in missions where the Joes have to travel through underground tunnels and sewer channels. Such as in one of his more notable appearances in issue #74, where he leads a brutal attack on the Cobra Island airfield tower. In this mission Tunnel Rat personally kills several Cobra soldiers. This specific mission would keep Tunnel Rat and his squad out of the majority of the Cobra civil war.

Sigma Six

Tunnel Rat also appears in the new series, , although his character design is overhauled that there is no resemblance to his previous version. In that series, he has a penchant for portable hi-tech devices and a specialty in infiltration and demolition materials. He is also somewhat lazy and will eat anything, including live insects. He often works with Heavy Duty, who seems to be his best friend.

Toys

A Real American Hero

The first Tunnel Rat figure was released as part of the 1987 series of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. A second version was made available a year later as part of the Night Force sub-set packaged with Psyche-Out. A third Tunnel Rat figure was part of the Sonic Fighters sub-set in 1991 and came with an over-sized backpack that featured electronic sounds.

G.I. Joe vs Cobra/Valor vs Venom

The original Tunnel Rat sculpt was revived as part of a new Night Force set released in 2004. That same year it was also used as part of the Desert Patrol set both of which were only available at Toys "R" Us stores.

Two all-new sculpted Tunnel Rat figures were released as well. The first (G.I. Joe vs Cobra) portrayed him as being much taller than previously seen in other media. This was corrected in the second version (Valor vs Venom).

Comic Book Pack

A last Tunnel Rat figure using the original mold but with a newly sculpted head to reflect his comic book appearances was packaged along with Flint, General Abernathy and a reprint of Marvel Comics G.I. Joe #76.

References