Dial Tone (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Dial Tone is code name of two fictional characters from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
toyline, comic books and cartoon series.
The first is male and debuted in 1986. He is the G.I. Joe Team
's communications expert. He is voiced by Hank Garrett in the Sunbow G.I. Joe cartoon series.
The second is female, and makes her first appearance in the new IDW comic series. A version also appears in the G.I. Joe: Resolute
animated series.
.
Dial Tone built his own crystal radio set when he was ten. By fourteen he was part of a CB net, and had his own ham station by the time he was sixteen. Dial Tone made all his own equipment, buying parts with quarters earned bagging groceries. He joined the army to further his education in his chosen field, and became the Joe team's communications expert. Despite this, he has been seen many times fighting on the battlefield.
The figure was repainted and released as part of the Special Missions: Brazil box set in 1986, Sonic Fighters line in 1990, a 2-pack with General Hawk in 2000, an 8-pack in 2002, and sold with the A.W.E. Striker and the Tiger Force 5-pack in 2003.
A new sculpt version of Dial-Tone was released in 1994 as part of the Battle Corps line.
and Tomax and Xamot
trying to kill them, they take it apart and steal all the pieces.
He takes part in a mission to a South American jungle to hunt a Nazi war criminal. Dial-Tone is part of a different team that successfully plants spy equipment at the Cobra Consulate building in New York City.
Later, he is part of a team attempting to stop hostage takers in Frankfurt, Germany. At the end of the comic series it is revealed that Dial-Tone invented numerous State of the art
innovative devices that he patented and made him wealthy.
he was said to be a "probationary member" and that he was hanging on "by the skin of his teeth". In "Sins of the Fathers", he was actually turned down for re-enlistment and hired by a disguised Zarana for a project utilizing his expertise in communications involving "very specific parameters". However, it was revealed at the end that he was only turned down to give him a foolproof cover knowing that Cobra would try and recruit him.
Dial-Tone appeared in the following episodes:
.
in the think tank at the Pit.
, there is a female agent working on the USS Flag is approached by Gung Ho
and asked for information about the recent Cobra attack. She is later identified by the code name, Dial Tone.
Writer Warren Ellis
has said the character was originally just a background character, but she was made a Joe due to the amount of dialogue he gave her; "they gave me several [codenames] to choose from, and I chose Dial Tone, because it amused me".
, a female Dial Tone appears as a non-playable supporting character. Her data file states that her real name is "Jill J. Morelli," and that she took over her brother's post on the team after he disappeared on a mission. This version of Dial Tone is voiced by Aimee Miles.
"speaking on a transistor radio to Dial Tone, the communications specialist, back at G.I. Joe headquarters".
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...
toyline, comic books and cartoon series.
The first is male and debuted in 1986. He is the G.I. Joe Team
G.I. Joe Team
G.I. Joe is the code name of an elite covert special forces unit operating under the control of the United States Military in the fictional G.I. Joe universe....
's communications expert. He is voiced by Hank Garrett in the Sunbow G.I. Joe cartoon series.
The second is female, and makes her first appearance in the new IDW comic series. A version also appears in the G.I. Joe: Resolute
G.I. Joe: Resolute
G.I. Joe: Resolute is an animated television series based on the G.I. Joe franchise. It was written by Warren Ellis, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, and produced by Sam Register. The series debuted on the web at Adult Swim Video April 18, 2009, with a Content Rating of TV-14-V, and premiered in its...
animated series.
Profile
Dial Tone is the G.I. Joe Team's electronics and communications genius. His real name is Jack S. Morelli, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Dial Tone was born in Eugene, OregonEugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
.
Dial Tone built his own crystal radio set when he was ten. By fourteen he was part of a CB net, and had his own ham station by the time he was sixteen. Dial Tone made all his own equipment, buying parts with quarters earned bagging groceries. He joined the army to further his education in his chosen field, and became the Joe team's communications expert. Despite this, he has been seen many times fighting on the battlefield.
Toys
Dial-Tone was first released as an action figure in 1986.The figure was repainted and released as part of the Special Missions: Brazil box set in 1986, Sonic Fighters line in 1990, a 2-pack with General Hawk in 2000, an 8-pack in 2002, and sold with the A.W.E. Striker and the Tiger Force 5-pack in 2003.
A new sculpt version of Dial-Tone was released in 1994 as part of the Battle Corps line.
Comics
In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue #56. He is part of a G.I. Joe assault team in the fictional country of Sierra Gordo. The Joes take over a Cobra 'Terror Drome'. Despite SerpentorSerpentor
Serpentor is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character was introduced in 1986 as a toy with an air chariot and included in the animated series that same year.-Toys:...
and 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...
trying to kill them, they take it apart and steal all the pieces.
He takes part in a mission to a South American jungle to hunt a Nazi war criminal. Dial-Tone is part of a different team that successfully plants spy equipment at the Cobra Consulate building in New York City.
Later, he is part of a team attempting to stop hostage takers in Frankfurt, Germany. At the end of the comic series it is revealed that Dial-Tone invented numerous State of the art
State of the art
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time. It also refers to the level of development reached at any particular time as a result of the latest methodologies employed.- Origin :The earliest use of the term...
innovative devices that he patented and made him wealthy.
Sunbow
In the Sunbow G.I. Joe TV series, Dial-Tone was portrayed as being somewhat nerdy compared to the other tech-savvy Joes as well as having bad taste in clothing when it came to his out-of-date civilian wardrobe. He was often seen in the company of both Wet-Suit and Leatherneck and even fixed them both up with dates although Leatherneck found his friend's taste in women somewhat lacking as well. He was outgoing and eager to please to the point of being obsequious. When he was on the military base, he spent most of his spare time with Mainframe creating and playing video games. When assigned to combat or missions he was under the command of Flint's platoon. His status as a Joe was likewise questionable and in an issue of Marvel AgeMarvel Age
Marvel Adventures is an imprint of Marvel Comics intended for younger audiences, including small children. Unlike the standard comics published by Marvel, which often take place in story arcs spanning several issues, each Marvel Adventures comic tells a standalone story.The idea was initially...
he was said to be a "probationary member" and that he was hanging on "by the skin of his teeth". In "Sins of the Fathers", he was actually turned down for re-enlistment and hired by a disguised Zarana for a project utilizing his expertise in communications involving "very specific parameters". However, it was revealed at the end that he was only turned down to give him a foolproof cover knowing that Cobra would try and recruit him.
Dial-Tone appeared in the following episodes:
- Arise, Serpentor, Arise
- Cobrathon
- G.I. Joe: The Movie
- Glamour Girls
- Grey Hairs & Growing Pains
- Iceberg Goes South
- In The Presence of My Enemy
- Into Your Tent...
- Joes' Night Out
- Last Hour To Doomsday
- Let's Play Soldier
- Million Dollar Medic
- Most Dangerous Thing In The World
- My Brother's Keeper
- My Favorite Things
- Nightmare Assault
- Once Upon A Joe
- The Rotten Egg
- Sins Of Our Father
- The Spy That Rooked Me
G.I. Joe: The Movie
Dial-Tone also appeared briefly in the 1987 animated film G.I. Joe: The MovieG.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie is a 1987 animated film spun off from the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, based on the original Hasbro toyline. It was produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions and was animated in Japan by Toei Animation.Created at the height of the G.I. Joe craze in...
.
Fictional character biography
A blond female character named Dial Tone first appeared in the new IDW comic series. To date, no background information has been revealed about this character. No mention has been made of the Jack S. Morelli character in this series.Comics - IDW Publishing
The new Dial Tone works with ScarlettScarlett (G.I. Joe)
Scarlett is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character is one of the original members of the fictional team and toy line. She is a major character of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and the...
in the think tank at the Pit.
Resolute
In G.I. Joe: ResoluteG.I. Joe: Resolute
G.I. Joe: Resolute is an animated television series based on the G.I. Joe franchise. It was written by Warren Ellis, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, and produced by Sam Register. The series debuted on the web at Adult Swim Video April 18, 2009, with a Content Rating of TV-14-V, and premiered in its...
, there is a female agent working on the USS Flag is approached by Gung Ho
Gung-Ho (G.I. Joe)
Gung-Ho 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 Marine and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
and asked for information about the recent Cobra attack. She is later identified by the code name, Dial Tone.
Writer Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
has said the character was originally just a background character, but she was made a Joe due to the amount of dialogue he gave her; "they gave me several [codenames] to choose from, and I chose Dial Tone, because it amused me".
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
In the 2009 video game G.I. Joe: The Rise of CobraG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (video game)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is the title of a video game adaption of the film of the same name. The game takes place after the film. The 360 and PS3 versions are based on the same code, while the DS is an entirely different game unto itself, and the Wii, PS2, and PSP version are also based on...
, a female Dial Tone appears as a non-playable supporting character. Her data file states that her real name is "Jill J. Morelli," and that she took over her brother's post on the team after he disappeared on a mission. This version of Dial Tone is voiced by Aimee Miles.
Toys
A toy of the female version of Dialtone was released in a Desert Troop Builder 5-Pack exclusive to Toys R Us stores in 2009.Other works
Dial Tone is briefly mentioned in the fiction novel 6 Sick Hipsters. In the story, the character Paul Achting spent four years collecting G.I. Joe figures to set up a battle scene between the Joes and Cobra. Although Dial Tone's figure is not depicted, as Paul imagined the characters in his head he described Sgt. SlaughterSgt. Slaughter (G.I. Joe)
Sgt. Slaughter is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline series based on the professional wrestler of the same name. Though the original G.I. Joe was based on the real life Sgt. Alvin York, Sgt. Slaughter was the first G.I. Joe figure accurately based on a real person...
"speaking on a transistor radio to Dial Tone, the communications specialist, back at G.I. Joe headquarters".
External links
- Dial-Tone at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page