Torch

Tom Winken is a rough-and-tumble biker and brawler who found his niche among the Dreadnoks, Cobra's savage mercenary gang. Armed with a homemade flamethrower he built himself, Torch channels his destructive instincts into being the crew's dedicated pyromaniac muscle.

Torch roared onto the scene in 1984's G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #25 — a Bronze Age debut courtesy of the legendary Larry Hama and Frank Springer — and has been a fixture of that universe's rougher, more dangerous edges ever since. Running with a crowd that includes Zartan, Buzzer, Destro, and the Baroness, this character inhabits the villainous underbelly of one of Marvel's most beloved action franchises, and four of their appearances carry the weight of key-issue status that collectors genuinely seek out. From the original G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero run through crossover territory like G.I. Joe and the Transformers, Torch has kept showing up across an impressive 42-year span — 58 catalog appearances that speak to real staying power in a crowded mythology. If you're building out a serious G.I. Joe collection, this is exactly the kind of persistent, atmospheric presence that rewards a closer look.