Monday, November 24, 2025

Action Figure Review: Dreadnok Monkeywrench from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Do I gush over each new G.I. Joe: Classified Series release that I review? Often, sure, but hear me out: Monkeywrench is easily a top five figure of the year. Heck, he's easily a top three figure of 2025. That's right, Monkeywrench. A 1986 Dreadnok with a harpoon gun. Seriously, though; Hasbro's Joe team has taken each of the Dreadnoks released in the Classified Series and just radically improved them while still keeping them recognizable. Monekywrench was my first Dreadnok as a kid as the 1986 and 1987 lines were out when I first got into G.I. Joe. He's a cool figure, don't get me wrong, but the vintage Monekywrench was never one of my favorites. Honestly, as a young kid I'm not sure I quite knew what to make of the Dreadnoks. I got more into them as a teenager and young adult getting back into collecting the line in the late 90s/ early 200s and now they're easily one of the best 'subsets' of the Classified Series. Monkeywrench is incredible. Off hand, the only 2025 release I can think of that I like more than Monkeywrench is Crystal Ball. Am I the only one that kind of feels like Hasbro really goes out of their way to elevate some of the more average figures from the vintage line? Let's take a look Bill Winkie, (better known as Monkeywrench) a Welshman born on Guy Fawkes Day who left his hometown of Rhyl to make his way through London's East End and eventually to Australia to join up with the Dreadnoks. 



The Facts:

Height: 6 and a 1/2 inches

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed drop down hips, ball jointed waist, mid-torso hinge, butterfly pecs, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, ball jointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: Necklace, 4 swappable hands, harpoon gun, harpoon, 2 axes, revolver, holster, vest, grenade bandolier, glasses, 2 bandannas, hairpiece, hairpiece w/ attached mask.  

Non-Scalper Price: $25-$28 dollars




Comparison:

* Here's a shot of the Classified Series Monkeywrench (left) with the classic A Real American Hero Monkeywrench (right). That's my original childhood Monkeywrench and he's still complete with his harpoon gun and in excellent shape. Hasbro did an excellent job updating him. 




The Positives:


* Monkeywrench looks awesome! Like the rest of the Dreadnoks, he's a very "busy" figure with lots of chains, necklaces, ripped clothing, bandannas, weapons, and such, but it really works and sets them apart. Despite how wild and unorganized the Dreadnoks look, there's something in their styles that unites them together. Monkeywrench looks like a tough character (the muscles help; the bandolier of grenades helps even more) who's not too hung up on his presentation; ripped jeans, no shirt, random seatbelts from scrapped cars used as accessories. A+. No Notes. 





* Bill Winkie is a tough looking guy. If you heard the hostess call "Winkie, party of 1" you might not be expecting a guy who looks this rough, so maybe that's why he goes by Monkeywrench instead of his surname. He looks like he's just growling here. Not even a human expression; an animalistic growl! Hey, he's know for his rudeness along with a knack for causing trouble and setting a new standard in anti-social behavior. Check out that scar on his face, too. Wicked. You can't see them from hear but he's sporting some earrings in both ears as well.



* Check out those glasses. The paintwork makes them look mirrored, which is very cool. They also fit perfectly. The temples fit under his hair very snugly, keeping them in place and on his face.


* Monkeywrench is also sporting a removable necklace that looks like an upside down horseshoe. That's a neat little extra.







* Want something a bit more... insane, maybe? Well, swap out Monkeywrench's hairpiece (it's removable) and out on this hairpiece with an attached mask. It looks like some sort of respirator with red and blue goggle lenses. You know, like old school 3D glasses. This thing is wild! I love the homemade wackiness of this piece.







* A bandanna is included, too. This one just fits around Monekywrench's neck (you just have to pop his head off to slide it over the neck base). It even looks a bit greasy.








* A second bandanna is included that can fit over Monekywrench's face to disguise his identity or protect his nose and mouth from dust and such.





* Not only is he sporting a cool removable vest but Monkeywrench also has some slick tattoos. He has a Dreadnok skull with fixed wrenches for crossbones on his left bicep and a fancy dagger on his right. 








* The grenade bandolier looks excellent. The grenades are not removable but each one is impressively detailed and they look realistic. They're molded as part of the bandolier, which appears to be a repurposed seatbelt, so they're not removable, but the paintwork is very clean.






* Monekywrench's pants are even plenty interesting with lots of rips and tears in his jeans. He's also sporting bandannas tied below his knees, just like the vintage figure had.








* How's the articulation? Excellent. Seriously, everything is great hear and I don't have a lot new to add from most other Classified Series reviews. He's sturdy, most joints have a great range of motion, and he's incredibly fun to pose and play around with. With so many cool extras this guy is one I've been picking up constantly over the past two months. 






* Besides just having a cool outfit and great articulation, Monkeywrench is also loaded with cool accessories. First up is a classic revolver that appears to be a Colt Single Action Army. Great sculpt, nice paint, and just a clean, simple, powerful weapon.









* Where does such a beautiful and classic firearm get stored? If you're Monkeywrench, it's in a holster with a skull on it and straps made from old seatbelts. Stay classy, Dreadnoks!








* Next up is Monkeywrench's harpoon gun. The vintage accessory was a neat weapon though for years I thought the spool mounted underneath was a grenade launcher. This new version takes the vintage accessory and improves on it. Now you've got a double barreled shotgun mounted underneath the silver harpoon, a spool for retracting the harpoon, and a small gas tank, perhaps for powering the spool. Oh, and the hilt is protected with what looks like brass knuckles. And there's a scope on top. And the handle dispenses grape soda. OK, I made that last bit up. But everything else is true.






* The harpoon is removable so you can impale other figures with it or rotate how it's stored on the gun. You could also attached any spare firing effects to the barrels underneath for extra fun.








* What happens when Monkeywrench wants to get up-close and personal? Really up-close. Uncomfortably close. So close you can smell the little chocolate doughnuts on his breath? Yeah, that close. Well, that's when he breaks out battle axes that have monkey wrenches/ pipe wrenches for handles. The crazy things you make at Dreadnok summer camp, huh?




* He even has storage clips on the back of his bandolier for holding the axes. They stay attached nicely and are just really cool new accessories for the character.











* Last up, Monkeywrench comes with two pair of swappable hands. There's a pair of fists and a pair of trigger fingers. Monkeywrench has so many cool accessories that I doubt I'll want to have him barehanded often, but it's a nice extra all the same.





   Monkeywrench looks very impressive, has multiple different display options, and a plethora of cool accessories, nearly all of which have their own paint applications. Holy smokes! This guy is just darn impressive and is a highlight of the year. I know right now everyone is talking about the recent price hikes Hasbro and other companies have put into place, but I picked up Monkeywrench back when he was still $25 bucks and you can still get him for $26 at BBTS. This guy is loaded and really feels like you're getting something that rivals so many "deluxe" and more expensive releases out there. He's an Epic release and one of the best of 2025. 

This is the first figure Monkeywrench/ Bill Winkie that I've reviewed. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures check out the following:
Flint  








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