Tunnel Rat 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 ...

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bomb disposal is an explosives engineering profession using the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. ''Bomb disposal'' is an all-encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the militar ...

specialist and debuted in 1987.

Profile

His real name is Nicky Lee, and his rank is that of sergeant E-5. Tunnel Rat is a Trinidadian Chinese who lived in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

prior to joining the

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

. He received

Ranger A Ranger is typically someone in a military/paramilitary or law enforcement role specializing in patrolling a given territory, called “ranging”. The term most often refers to: * Park ranger or forest ranger, a person charged with protecting and ...

training at

Fort Benning Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees ...

and served time in

Grenada Grenada ( ; Grenadian Creole French: ) is an island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Pe ...

. Tunnel Rat specializes in explosive ordnance disposal, and is familiar with most NATO and Warsaw Pact explosive devices. The character's facial appearance is based on G.I. Joe comic book 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 ...

Comics

Marvel Comics

Tunnel Rat made his

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

series debut in Issue #59 (May 1987) of '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'', in which he was assigned for security to

Thunder Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning pr ...

Clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts). ...

, and

Grand Slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...

. 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 receiving his pay. The group joins up with

Dusty Dusty may refer to: Places in the United States * Dusty, New Mexico, an unincorporated community * Dusty, Washington, an unincorporated community * Dusty Glacier, Washington People * Dusty (given name) * Dusty (nickname) * Slim Dusty, Austra ...

Crankcase In a piston engine, the crankcase is the housing that surrounds the crankshaft. In most modern engines, the crankcase is integrated into the engine block. Two-stroke engines typically use a crankcase-compression design, resulting in the fuel/a ...

Hawk Hawks are bird of prey, birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. Th ...

Cross-Country Cross country or cross-country may refer to: Places * Cross Country, Baltimore, a neighborhood in northwest Baltimore, Maryland * Cross County Parkway, an east–west parkway in Westchester County, NY * Cross County Shopping Center, a mall in Yo ...

, and

Outback The Outback is a remote, vast, sparsely populated area of Australia. The Outback is more remote than the bush. While often envisaged as being arid, the Outback regions extend from the northern to southern Australian coastlines and encompass a n ...

to take the equipment to Fort Carson, but Tunnel Rat's new payment method gets them attacked by Cobra forces. The Crimson Guardsman

Fred VII Cobra is the fictional nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro toylines and related media. This is an alphabetical listing of Cobra members with unique identities as well as the members of its factions. Alexander McCullen Alexander McCullen ...

Raptor Raptor or RAPTOR may refer to: Animals The word "raptor" refers to several groups of bird-like dinosaurs which primarily capture and subdue/kill prey with their talons. * Raptor (bird) or bird of prey, a bird that primarily hunts and feeds on v ...

, and

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 ...

track down the Joe convoy via Tunnel Rat's credit records, old intelligence and the abilities of Raptor's birds. Cobra Commander attacks the entire team in a Pogo Plane. Due to the limited maneuverability 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 tunnels and sewer channels. He does so during the

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 ...

civil war in Issues #74-76; his expertise helps his fellow recon teammates escape from Cobra soldiers, and, in other instances,

Iron Grenadiers 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 ...

. He and other Joes come into conflict with the Iron Grenadiers in ''Special Missions'' #23, when the Joes give their newest recruit,

Scoop Scoop, Scoops or The scoop may refer to: Objects * Scoop (tool), a shovel-like tool, particularly one deep and curved, used in digging * Scoop (machine part), a component of machinery to carry things * Scoop stretcher, a device used for casualty ...

, a hard time because he barely meets Joe standards. However, Scoop later saves the life of a wounded Tunnel Rat by defeating an Iron Grenadier in hand-to-hand combat, which earns him the respect of all the other Joes.

Devil's Due

When G.I. Joe was reinstated as seen in the Devil's Due comics, Tunnel Rat returned as a reservist. He was called into action to help battle the returned

Serpentor Serpentor is a fictional character and a recurring antagonist from the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline, comic books, and animated series. Introduced in 1986, the character rules as Emperor over Cobra. Serpentor serves as the primary a ...

. When Joe, Cobra, and the Coil battled it out on Cobra Island, Tunnel Rat was part of Assault Team Beta. After the conflict, Tunnel Rat was part of a group of Joes tracking down a mysterious invasion in Sierra Gordo. Tunnel Rat was wounded during the mission and had a lengthy recovery. By the time he fully healed, the team had disbanded in the wake of the battle against the Red Shadows.

America's Elite/Devil's Due

Tunnel Rat returned to reserve status. He was called into action to help a group of Joes infiltrate an abandoned Cobra facility in New York City. During the World War 3 storyline, Tunnel Rat was reactivated again, this time he deployed to South America alongside

Footloose Footloose may refer to: * ''Footloose'' (1984 film), a musical film ** ''Footloose'' (1984 soundtrack) ** "Footloose" (song), performed by Kenny Loggins * ''Footloose'' (2011 film), a remake of the 1984 film ** ''Footloose'' (2011 soundtrack) ...

, Beach Head,

Lift Ticket A lift ticket or lift pass is an identifier usually attached to a skier's or snowboarder's outerwear that indicates they have paid and can ride on the ski lift(s) that transport people and equipment up or down a mountain. Types of lift tickets ...

, Rapid Fire, and

Windmill A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called windmill sail, sails or blades, specifically to mill (grinding), mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and ...

. As the main team moved to attack Cobra forces in the Appalachian Mountains, Tunnel Rat redeployed to New York City where he battled Alley Vipers in the sewers.

IDW Publishing

Tunnel Rat appears in issue #4 of the IDW Publishing ''G.I. Joe'' series. He assists his teammates when The Pit comes under siege by robotic adversaries.

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 1990, and came with an oversized 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, he was released as part of the "Desert Patrol Squad" set, which also included the figures

Ambush An ambush is a long-established military tactics, military tactic in which a combatant uses an advantage of concealment or the element of surprise to attack unsuspecting enemy combatants from concealed positions, such as among dense underbru ...

, Dusty,

Gung Ho ''Gung ho'' () is an English term, with the current meaning of "overly enthusiastic or energetic". It originated during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) from a Chinese term, ( zh, hp=gōnghé, l=to work together), short for Chinese ...

, Snake Eyes and

Stalker Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them. The term ...

. Both sets 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 ''G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom'' is a 2004 American animated military science fiction action film. The film is a sequel to ''G.I. Joe: Spy Troops'' (2003). It was released in 2004 by Reel FX Creative Studios and distributed by Paramount Home Entertai ...

'').

Comic Book Pack

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.

Rise of Cobra

While he did not appear in the

movie A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

, a figure for Tunnel Rat was created for the toyline. Tunnel Rat is part of a 2-figure Walmart exclusive, packaged with Monkeywrench, an explosives expert for the

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 ...

Animated series

G.I. Joe: The Movie

In the animated series, the character first appeared in the 1987 animated film '' G.I. Joe: The Movie'' as a member of the Rawhides, a group of G.I. Joe rookies. He was voiced by Laurie Faso. Tunnel Rat was depicted as a rather cocky and wisecracking but good-natured individual with a thick Brooklyn accent. He was often partnered with the taller Big Lob. In their training exercise, Big Lob and Tunnel Rat have to complete an obstacle course. Tunnel Rat is berated for his cavalier, macho attitude in the face of a dangerous training course by Beach Head. During the challenge, he avoids the obstacles by crawling through a pipeline that leads him to the end of the obstacle course. The Rawhides would try to operate on their own throughout the movie and are some of the last Joes available for the final assault on Cobra-La. Tunnel Rat plays a role in G.I. Joe's victory by finding a secret tunnel entrance to Cobra-La, allowing the remaining Joes to stage their attack and free the captured Joes. At one point in battle, Tunnel Rat falls into the mouth of a giant slug-like creature, and blasts his way out.

Spy Troops

Tunnel Rat appeared in the direct-to-video CGI animated movie '' G.I. Joe: Spy Troops'', voiced by

Doron Bell Jr. Doron Bell Jr. (born December 8, 1973 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian actor, musician, and singer. He is known for his music, acting and voice work; he voiced the character Waldo in the Netflix animated series ''Dinotrux'' as well as many other ...

Sigma Six

Tunnel Rat also appears in '' G.I. Joe: Sigma 6'', 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.

Resolute

The character appears in '' G.I. Joe: Resolute'', where his character is given a much more gung-ho and cocky treatment.

Renegades

In '' G.I. Joe: Renegades'', Tunnel Rat is portrayed as

Chinese American Chinese Americans are Americans of Han Chinese ancestry. Chinese Americans constitute a subgroup of East Asian Americans which also constitute a subgroup of Asian Americans. Many Chinese Americans along with their ancestors trace lineage from ...

, hailing from

Chinatown A Chinatown () is an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Austra ...

. He is part of the titular "Renegades", a sub-team of Joes on the run from the law, and one of the central characters of the series. He often serves a comedic purpose in contrast to the more serious characters. He serves as the team's medic, having field medic training. He is an outdoor survival expert with extensive knowledge of soil microbes, plants, fungi, and insects. In the episode "White Out," it was revealed that Tunnel Rat was once on the same military team with Snow Job and

Frostbite Frostbite is a skin injury that occurs when exposed to extreme low temperatures, causing the freezing of the skin or other tissues, commonly affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin areas. Most often, frostbite occurs in the han ...

. In the episode "The Anomaly," it is revealed that Tunnel Rat has a brother named Teddy. The siblings work together in saving a friend who had been abducted by a Sewer Viper. At the end of the episode, Tunnel Rat goes to see his family. The reunion takes place off-screen, as the viewers only hear Tunnel Rat's mom yell "Nicky!?" in a surprised tone.

Books

* Tunnel Rat is a featured character in the G.I. Joe novel ''Fool's Gold''. * He is briefly mentioned in the e-book ''Diary Of An American Boy''.

Video games

Tunnel Rat appears as a non-playable supporting character in the video game '' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'' voiced by

Bumper Robinson Larry C. "Bumper" Robinson II is an American film, television and voice actor. He is known for his roles as Bumblebee and Blitzwing on '' Transformers: Animated'', Falcon on '' Avengers Assemble'' and Cyborg in '' Justice League: Doom''. Career R ...

References

* *

External links

Tunnel Rat
at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page {{G.I. Joe Comics characters introduced in 1987 Fictional characters from Brooklyn Fictional Chinese American people Fictional combat medics Fictional commanders Fictional gunfighters Fictional military sergeants Fictional Trinidad and Tobago people Fictional United States Army Rangers personnel Male characters in animated series Male characters in comics G.I. Joe soldiers