Tripwire (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Tripwire is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
, a line of military
-themed toys created by Hasbro
. He appeared as a minor character in both the comic books and the animated series.
. Because his father was a career naval officer Tripwire went to high school in Yokosuka, Japan. However, he dropped out of that facility. He spends two years in a zen monastery, pondering the meaning of life. However, he was evicted for multiple accidents due to his clumsiness. He joined the army at age nineteen. Claims to have received spiritual awakening on the grenade range.
His file card states that he "freaks people out. He's always clumsy, jittery, and dropping things except when he's working with high explosives. Explosives are the only things that calm him down". This source of humor is played up in the comics (see below).
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #16 (October 1983). There, he saves the U.S. Treasury from a bomb planted by Doctor Venom.
Tripwire, Mutt
and Torpedo
are assigned to investigate Cobra activity in the Florida Everglades. They enounter most of Cobra high command and temporarily capture Firefly
and Wild Weasel
.
In issue 28, Tripwire attempts to save the lives of other Joes by throwing himself on top of a makeshift bomb. Roadblock
safely disposes of the bomb and lectures Tripwire on unneeded heroism.
Tripwire is one of the Joes assigned to test out the new, mobile battle platform. It comes under heavy attack by Cobra forces. After that threat is defeated, all available Joes take part in an aborted raid on the newly formed Cobra Island
.
Tripwire, like all active Joes, takes part in the invasion of Springfield. Later, he saves a Joe assault team by defusing bombs moments before Tomax and Xamot
would have set them off.
Tripwire is used as a source of comic relief
, playing-off the juxtaposition
of his extreme clumsiness and his role as the Joe team's EOD
expert. For example, in issue 16 Tripwire trips over his metal detector while carrying a backpack full of mines; in issue 22 he falls over while carrying a tall stack of dishes; and in issue 25 he falls off the Dragonfly's skids during an airborne
insertion.
He is there to take control of a nuclear bomb stolen from Cobra forces, or so the Joes believe. As is typical for his appearance in comics, he trips right after warmly greeting Clutch
. Upon taking the device from Deep Six
, he pretends to drop it as a joke.
Tripwire works with Flash
, Beach Head and Airtight
to destroy a terroristic militia. They also come into conflict with the G.I. Joe undercover agent Chuckles
, who had infiltrated the same group.
Tripwire is later seen as a member of one of many Joe squads fighting Cobra across the world.
.
Tripwire appears in the following Episodes (in alphabetic order):
Captives of Cobra
Cobra Claws is Coming to Town
Flint's Vacation
G.I. Joe I
G.I. Joe II (Revenge of Cobra)
The Synthoid Conspiracy
episode "Homecoming" Pt. 2 voiced by Andrew Kishino
. In a flashback, Skoog steps on a land mine and is eventually rescued by Duke
who pushes him off the landmine taking the brunt of the explosion.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
, a line of military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
-themed toys created by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. He appeared as a minor character in both the comic books and the animated series.
Fictional character biography
Tripwire's real name is Tormod S. Skoog. He was born in Hibbing, MinnesotaHibbing, Minnesota
Hibbing is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 16,361 at the 2010 census. The city was built on the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range. At the edge of town is the largest open-pit iron mine in the world. U.S...
. Because his father was a career naval officer Tripwire went to high school in Yokosuka, Japan. However, he dropped out of that facility. He spends two years in a zen monastery, pondering the meaning of life. However, he was evicted for multiple accidents due to his clumsiness. He joined the army at age nineteen. Claims to have received spiritual awakening on the grenade range.
Hasbro Toy
In the Toy line, Tripwire was first released in 1983. Overall, he has had 6 releases, using a total of 2 unique molds. His basic appearance has remained the same for each of his releases. He has had the same basic uniform for all of his variations, painted in different colors. He has had a green/grey uniform (1983, 2001, and 2008), a red/orange (1985, packaged with a "Listen n Fun" audio tape), and a brown/yellow/black Tiger Force style (1988). His 2001 issue is a double pack with the G.I. Joe member 'Big Brawler'. All versions include a mine detector/metal detector and several mines.His file card states that he "freaks people out. He's always clumsy, jittery, and dropping things except when he's working with high explosives. Explosives are the only things that calm him down". This source of humor is played up in the comics (see below).
Marvel Comics
Tripwire first appeared in the Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #16 (October 1983). There, he saves the U.S. Treasury from a bomb planted by Doctor Venom.
Tripwire, Mutt
Mutt (G.I. Joe)
Mutt 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 dog handler , and debuted in 1984.-Profile:...
and Torpedo
Torpedo (G.I. Joe)
Torpedo is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's original SEAL and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
are assigned to investigate Cobra activity in the Florida Everglades. They enounter most of Cobra high command and temporarily capture Firefly
Firefly (G.I. Joe)
Firefly is a fictional character in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe. He is a mercenary who works for the Cobra Organization as a saboteur.-Profile:...
and Wild Weasel
Wild Weasel (G.I. Joe)
Wild Weasel is a fictional character appearing in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series and comic-books. He is a member of Cobra and pilot of the Cobra Rattler...
.
In issue 28, Tripwire attempts to save the lives of other Joes by throwing himself on top of a makeshift bomb. Roadblock
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
safely disposes of the bomb and lectures Tripwire on unneeded heroism.
Tripwire is one of the Joes assigned to test out the new, mobile battle platform. It comes under heavy attack by Cobra forces. After that threat is defeated, all available Joes take part in an aborted raid on the newly formed Cobra Island
Cobra Island
Cobra Island is a fictional country located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the main base of operations for the fictional Cobra Organization featured in the G.I. Joe toyline from the 1980s. It is featured in the G.I. Joe cartoon and the comic book series created by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due...
.
Tripwire, like all active Joes, takes part in the invasion of Springfield. Later, he saves a Joe assault team by defusing bombs moments before Tomax and Xamot
Tomax and Xamot
Tomax and Xamot, also called the Crimson Twins or Crimson Guard Commanders, are the code names of identical mirror twin brothers in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe...
would have set them off.
Tripwire is used as a source of comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
, playing-off the juxtaposition
Contrast (linguistics)
In semantics, contrast is a relationship between two discourse segments. Contrast is often overtly marked by markers such as but or however, such as in the following examples:# It's raining, but I am not taking an umbrella....
of his extreme clumsiness and his role as the Joe team's EOD
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is 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 following fields:*Military:...
expert. For example, in issue 16 Tripwire trips over his metal detector while carrying a backpack full of mines; in issue 22 he falls over while carrying a tall stack of dishes; and in issue 25 he falls off the Dragonfly's skids during an airborne
Air assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces...
insertion.
Devil's Due
Like many Joes, Tripwire makes the movie to Devil's Due publishing when they gain the G.I. Joe license.He is there to take control of a nuclear bomb stolen from Cobra forces, or so the Joes believe. As is typical for his appearance in comics, he trips right after warmly greeting Clutch
Clutch (G.I. Joe)
Clutch is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is one of the G.I. Joe Team's motor vehicle drivers and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
. Upon taking the device from Deep Six
Deep Six (G.I. Joe)
Deep Six 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 S.H.A.R.C. driver and debuted in 1984.-Profile:...
, he pretends to drop it as a joke.
Tripwire works with Flash
Flash (G.I. Joe)
Flash 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 original laser rifle trooper and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
, Beach Head and Airtight
Airtight (G.I. Joe)
Airtight 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 hostile environment specialist and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
to destroy a terroristic militia. They also come into conflict with the G.I. Joe undercover agent Chuckles
Chuckles (G.I. Joe)
Chuckles 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 undercover specialist and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
, who had infiltrated the same group.
Tripwire is later seen as a member of one of many Joe squads fighting Cobra across the world.
Sunbow Series
Tripwire appeared in the original G.I. Joe animated series. Tripwire in his first uniform appeared throughout the first and second season of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and was voiced by Rob PaulsenRob Paulsen
Robert Fredrick "Rob" Paulsen III , sometimes credited as Rob Paulson, is an American voice actor, best known as the voice behind Raphael from the 1987 cartoon of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yakko Warner and Dr...
.
Tripwire appears in the following Episodes (in alphabetic order):
Captives of Cobra
Cobra Claws is Coming to Town
Flint's Vacation
G.I. Joe I
G.I. Joe II (Revenge of Cobra)
The Synthoid Conspiracy
G.I. Joe: The Movie
Tripwire is shown in a few scenes of G.I. Joe: The Movie, but like many of the characters of the Sunbow Cartoon, he has a very minor role. He observes the trial of Lt. Falcon and is later seen retreating from Cobra-La before it explodes.G.I. Joe: Renegades
Tripwire as Private Skoog appears in the G.I. Joe: RenegadesG.I. Joe: Renegades
G.I. Joe: Renegades is an American animated television series based on the G.I. Joe toy franchise. The series premiered on November 26, 2010 on The Hub. The series aired on Teletoon in Canada....
episode "Homecoming" Pt. 2 voiced by Andrew Kishino
Andrew Kishino
Andrew Kishino is a Japanese-Canadian voice actor in video games, animation and voice-over narration.-Animation:*The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy - Additional Voices...
. In a flashback, Skoog steps on a land mine and is eventually rescued by Duke
Duke (G.I. Joe)
Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 lines of military-themed toys. The character is featured in both the animated series and comic books. Duke is portrayed by actor Channing Tatum in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of...
who pushes him off the landmine taking the brunt of the explosion.