Zap (G.I. Joe)

Zap
G.I. Joe character
First appearance	1982
Voiced by	Buster Jones (Sunbow/Marvel)
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	Bazooka Soldier
File name	Melendez, Rafael J.
Birth place	New York, NY
SN	RA633980744
Rank	E-4 (Corporal)
Primary MOS	Engineer
Secondary MOS	Infantry, Artillery

Zap 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 bazooka soldier and debuted in 1982.

His real name is Rafael J. Melendez, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Zap was born in New York City.

His primary military specialty is combat engineer and his secondary military specialty is infantry artillery. Zap is the team specialist in armor-piercing and anti-tank weapons but also functions as demolitions man. He has received advanced infantry training, and specialized education in engineer school and ordnance school. Zap is a qualified expert with the M-14, M-16, M1911A1 Auto Pistol, M79 grenade launcher, M-72 LAW (Light Anti-Armor Weapon) Rocket, XM-17A TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link guided) Missile, and the XM-47 (Dragon Missile).

Zap was first released as an action figure in 1982.

A new version of Zap was released as part of the Super Sonic Fighters line in 1991. He has a 2009 figure as a part of the 'Assault On Cobra Island' box set.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, Zap is featured in the first issue, along with the rest of the original roster. One of his first missions was helping to rescue peace activist and committed pacifist Dr. Adele Burkhart from the forces of Cobra.

Zap is featured in issue #4. Crazed militia commander Vance Wingfield, whose organization is partly funded by Cobra, has armed a nuclear bomb in the wake of his defeat. Assisted by Grunt, Zap successfully disables the bomb. Later, Zap helps defend the Kennedy Space Center from Cobra attack.

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Wikipedia