Torpedo is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and animated series. He is the

G.I. Joe Team G.I. Joe is the code name of a fictional elite covert special operations unit operating under the control of the United States Military in the G.I. Joe universe. In the 1960s and 1970s, a toy military adventure character based on General Jos ...

's original

SEAL Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to impr ...

and debuted in 1983.

Profile

His real name is Edward W. Leialoha, and his rank is that of navy chief warrant officer WO-4. Torpedo was born in

Aiea, Hawaii Aiea (; haw, ʻAiea, ) is a census-designated place (CDP) located in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the CDP had a total population of 9,338. Geography Aiea is located at (21.385900, −15 ...

. His primary military specialty is Navy SEAL (Sea, Air & Land) and his secondary military specialty is demolitions. Torpedo was originally a scuba instructor and also achieved black belts in the martial arts Wu-Shu,

Kenpō is the name of several arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "''quánfǎ''". This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use ...

and Go-Ju-Ryu by age 19, and is skilled with wielding the Balisong. His training records after completing SEAL school are classified, but he is a qualified expert in most small arms used by

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

as well as explosive devices used by both NATO and

Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact (WP) or Treaty of Warsaw, formally the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, was a collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland, between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republic ...

nations. Torpedo keeps a strict vegetarian diet and continues to spend time perfecting his fighting skills and marksmanship in his off-duty hours. His teammates recognize him as a very competent professional, but they also say his personality is like a cold fish. Writer

Larry Hama Larry Hama (; born June 7, 1949) is an People of the United States, American comic-book writer, artist, actor, and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s. During the 1970s, he was seen in minor role ...

gave him his file name after

Steve Leialoha Steve Leialoha (born January 27, 1952) is an Americans, American comics artist whose work first came to prominence in the 1970s. He has worked primarily as an inker, though occasionally as a penciller, for several publishers, including Marvel Comi ...

Toys

Torpedo was first released as an action figure in 1983. A version of Torpedo with no accessories came with the

Built to Rule Built to Rule is a building blocks toyline from Hasbro that is compatible with such leading brands as Lego. These sets were released from 2003 to 2005. Sets are usually based upon existing toys and characters from the Hasbro brand, such as Tonka, ...

Rapid Runner in 2004. The forearms and the calves of the figure sported places where blocks could be attached.

Comics

Marvel Comics

In the Marvel Comics ''

G.I. Joe ''G.I. Joe'' is an American media franchise and a line of action figures owned and produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier ( U.S. Army), Ac ...

'' series, he first appeared in ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #13 (July 1983). He assists in repelling a Cobra terrorist attack on the

U.S. Mint The United States Mint is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce, as well as controlling the movement of bullion. It does not produce paper money; that ...

; he is shown shooting a Cobra soldier in the chest with his spear gun. Later, he assists Mutt and

Tripwire A tripwire is a passive triggering mechanism. Typically, a wire or cord is attached to a device for detecting or reacting to physical movement. Military applications Such tripwires may be attached to one or more mines – especially fragme ...

in recon of

Zartan Zartan is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and animated series. He is one of the main villains in the franchise as the leader of the Dreadnoks, and a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra ...

Dreadnoks Cobra (sometimes referred to as Cobra Command) is a fictional terrorist organization and the nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro action figure toyline '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' and '' G.I. Joe: Sigma 6'', as well as in related m ...

headquarters. This takes place deep in the Florida Everglades. They get into a running gunfight with most of Cobra high command. The trio escapes successfully. Torpedo and Snow-Job pilot the Joe hovercraft, the ''W.H.A.L.E.'' and destroy a Cobra force operating on an atoll in the middle of the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin, ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of ...

. Torpedo and

Wet Suit A wetsuit is a garment worn to provide thermal protection while wet. It is usually made of foamed neoprene, and is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports and other activities in or on water. Its pu ...

are sent to infiltrate

Cobra Island Cobra (sometimes referred to as Cobra Command) is a fictional terrorist organization and the nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro action figure toyline ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' and ''G.I. Joe: Sigma 6'', as well as in related med ...

after a mission of passive surveillance sees the

Oktober Guard The following list (organized by faction) covers every known character in the ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toy line to have received his/her own action figure. It includes the year the characters' version 1 action figure debuted, their cod ...

doing the same. The two come into conflict with Croc Master's crocodiles and try to take the opportunity to kidnap

Cobra Commander Cobra Commander is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' franchise. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra and the archenemy of the G.I. Joe Team. He was portrayed by Josep ...

. They ally with the Guard, battle Cobra forces and are forced to retreat in a stolen Cobra vehicle. Torpedo is one of the many G.I. Joe soldiers to take part in the Cobra Island civil war. In ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' #76 (Sept. 1988) he is shown as part of a secondary assault team attack Cobra Commander's position from the swampy west.

IDW

Torpedo goes undercover as a surfer, along with

Lady Jaye Lady Jaye is a fictional character in the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline, comic books and animated series. She was originally created as a character for the ''G.I. Joe'' animated series produced by Marvel Productions and Sunbow Produ ...

to spy on suspected Cobra operations. This goes bad when both are assaulted and injured by the

Baroness Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher th ...

Animated series

Sunbow

Torpedo appeared in the original ''

'' animated series. He first appeared in the episode "The Worms of Death", the third part of "The M.A.S.S. Device" miniseries, in which he is one of the Joes participating in the mission to obtain a heavy water element and the ensuing battle with Cobra. He also proposes to the Baroness that both G.I. Joe and Cobra team up against the giant tubeworms. Torpedo appears in a G.I. Joe Public Service Announcement where he tells a kid who had fallen into the ocean how to tread water until help arrives.

DiC

Torpedo appeared in the DiC ''

'' cartoon.

Spy Troops and Valor vs. Venom

Torpedo appeared in the direct-to-video CGI animated movies '' G.I. Joe: Spy Troops'' and '' G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom'', voiced by Phil Hayes.

Video games

Torpedo is one of the featured characters in the 1985 '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' computer game.

References

External links

Torpedo
at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page {{G.I. Joe Comics characters introduced in 1983 Fictional characters from Hawaii Fictional Gōjū-ryū practitioners Fictional kenpō practitioners Fictional knife-fighters Fictional underwater divers Fictional United States Navy SEALs personnel Fictional warrant officers Fictional wushu practitioners G.I. Joe soldiers Male characters in animated television series Male characters in comics