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Combaticon (G1)

2011-07-07T06:15:14Z

125.237.60.108: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{disambig3|Combaticon}}
:''The Combaticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
<div class="center">[[Image:Combaticons group.jpg|none|600px|thumb|The Dirty Half-Dozen Minus One—from left to right Vortex, Onslaught, Swindle, Blast-Off and Brawl.]]</div>
The '''Combaticons''' are a unit of fierce Decepticon soldiers, operating with (mostly) military precision under the watchful eye of the tactically brilliant Onslaught. They sometimes operate out of [[Combaticons' headquarters|their own headquarters]].

The Combaticons consist of:
*The tactician [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (leader)
*The violent [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*The egotistical [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*The con man [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*The unhinged [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

They combine to form [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].

{{quote|We aim to maim!|Brawl tells us the basic gist of the team|"[[Spotlight: Arcee]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:Starscreams brigade 5 letsgo.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Dad's Army]]
When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] was banished from the Decepticons for Yet Another Failed Coup Against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], he was deposited on the island of [[Guadalcanal]], the site of one of the major battles between the [[United States of America]] and [[Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[World War II]]. There he found and rebuilt several abandoned US military vehicles to pass the time. After he finished, he decided that if Megatron can have a Decepticon army, then so can he!

After bluffing his way past [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to use the [[space bridge]], he travelled to a [[Decepticon Detention Center|detention center]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and liberated the [[personality component]]s of several [[Renegade Decepticon|Decepticon political prisoners]] before destroying the rest. Back on [[Earth]], Starscream installed the sparks into the rusting military vehicles and ordered them to transform.

The reborn Combaticons were less than pleased with their 'new', primitive bodies, nor were they particularly thankful to Starscream for freeing them after millions of years of imprisonment. That is, until the former Decepticon Air Commander revealed that he had neglected to install [[energy absorber]] units into their bodies, so they would have no way of refueling. As he was the only one with the knowledge and expertise to install them, he demanded their allegiance in his aim to overthrow Megatron. The Combaticons agreed to obey Starscream, for now.

[[Image:Starscreams brigade 7 SSrideshoulder.jpg|right|155px|thumb|SQUAWK! Starscream wanna cracker!]]

Under Starscream's leadership, the Combaticons managed to capture several prisoners, then used their energy absorbers to recharge themselves at a power plant. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked, while the Autobots rescued their comrades. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who was quickly defeated by the Combaticons' much more powerful, but dull-witted combined form, Bruticus. Starscream ordered Bruticus to grab Megatron, forcing his former commander to acknowledge Starscream as the new leader of the Decepticons. Under duress, Megatron did so as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] watched nearby. The latter group, deciding that Starscream would be too dangerous as a leader, quickly formed [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and defeated Bruticus with a single attack.

Starscream and the Combaticons were banished from Earth on a small asteroid, left to wallow in their own misery and blame each other for their failures. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

[[Image:Revenge of bruticus 4 changing course.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Lads, we can get the scrambled channels now]]

Starscream and the Combaticons quickly had a falling-out. After Starscream left, the Combaticons attacked Cybertron, easily defeating [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his [[Sentinel (G1)|drones]]. Thirsting for revenge, Onslaught reprogrammed the space bridge to pull Earth closer to the [[Sun]], in the hopes of destroying it and every Transformer there. The Autobots and Decepticons temporarily joined forces to retake Cybertron and prevent Earth's destruction, and with Starscream's help, they deactivated the Combaticons once they formed Bruticus through a failsafe device built into the treacherous giant's back. Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that Bruticus must be destroyed, but the Decepticon leader fooled the Autobots by using Shockwave's [[holographic projector]] to make it appear as though Bruticus was destroyed, when in reality the combiner was reprogrammed to be loyal only to Megatron. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[Image:Revenge of bruticus 15 fakeblowup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Care Bear Stare]]

Soon afterwards, during Megatron's latest scheme on Earth involving the theft of fighter aircraft using Middle-Eastern criminals, the Combaticons were called into service to defend Megatron's [[Giant Purple Griffin]], a large... thing that apparently pumped [[oil]]. Or something. Struggling against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Combaticons formed Bruticus, yet were still knocked over when the Aerialbots twisted a tow cable around his legs. The Decepticon combiner was finally defeated when the Aerialbots ignited the nearby oil wells, causing a massive explosion that sent Megatron, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], Bruticus and gas prices flying away. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

[[Image:Bruticus punch planebot.jpg|left|155px|thumb|"Bruticus punch planebot so hard, make artist draw all over cel!"]]

While attacking a human city, Bruticus was destroyed in battle with [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (man, this guy can't seem to catch a break). Only Swindle survived, and he sold the remains of his comrades to various mercenaries and [[El Presidente|third-world dictator-types]], only to be forced to locate and rebuild the Combaticons by Megatron. The reformed Bruticus was then defeated when Megatron's disruptor cannon was overloaded by the human-built [[B.O.T. (robot)|B.O.T.]], once again sending the Decepticon flying into the sky. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[Image:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Not often you can get a view of the whole team AND their combined form in a single screencap.]]

After the great battle at [[Autobot City]], the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Swindle was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]]; {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} the Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on the Autobots on [[Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

A lone Blast Off later attacked a [[Skuxxoid]] who was using [[Death crystal|death crystals]] to blow stuff up in Decepticon territory, and forced the alien to tell him where he got the ammunition. When a group of Autobots tried to find the crystals as well, Blast Off attacked them alongside [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} The Combaticons later failed to assassinate Decepticon exile [[Octane]] at [[Autobot City]], {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} then succeeded in shooting up a shuttle meant to take human delegates to an interstellar peace conference. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a Decepticon attack on the [[Netherlands]], Swindle infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and stole his [[transformation cog]], whilst Vortex was charged with guarding [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} The Combaticons later participated in the assault on [[Paradron]], where they guarded the imprisoned Paradronians, among other things. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}} When the Earth was infected by the [[Hate Plague]], the Combaticons (Bruticus) were among those infected. Brawl was seen driving along the road and infecting [[Headstrong]] who, in turn, infected [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] while Vortex attacked a civilian plane on a runway. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

Under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s directions, the Combaticons constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. Once Scorponok and Fortress Maximus began to fight the Combaticons ran away. They presumably left Cybertron with Galvatron in Scorponok {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
Bruticus arrived to help the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] fight [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] at a baseball stadium in [[Japan]]. He quickly defeated Defensor, injuring [[Hot Spot (G1)|his torso]] and preventing him from combining. In response, Superion disabled Brawl and Swindle using his [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], allowing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] to steal their places as Bruticus's legs. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus as [[Kenji]] cheered at them to drop the Combaticons into the sea. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5}} Onslaught later joined the Stunticons in a scheme to defame the Autobots by destroying factories around Japan whilst wearing Autobot [[insignia]]s. When confronted by the real Autobots, he "combined" with fellow [[Decepticon Trailer Brigade]] member [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], but they were defeated and sent packing by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

The Combaticons' next mission was to hunt down [[Murdered puppy|an escaped dog]] that Megatron had experimented on, imbuing it with [[Decepticon super science]]. Brawl managed to fatally injure the animal, much to Onslaught's annoyance as they were supposed to capture it alive. The Autobot [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] soon arrived to put a halt to their activities, and the dog expressed its gratitude by using its experimental powers to energize Powerglide with [[Scramble Power]]. As Powerglide used the power to combine with his fellow [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]], the Combaticons responded by forming Bruticus. He proved weaker than this new [[Minibot combiner]], however, as it used the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack" to drill straight through Bruticus's chest, defeating him.

The dog still died, though. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

====Scramble City====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were attacked by the Aerialbots and did not fare too well. The Combaticons arrived to help, and together Bruticus and Menasor easily overpowered Superion. However, Scramble City itself soon arrived and blasted both combiners away. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''====
The Combaticons emerged as Bruticus alongside the other Decepticon super-warriors, ready to storm the Autobot energy tower on the planet [[Feminia]]. Galvatron and his men laughed off the presence of Superion, Defensor and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]... but the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s? Carrying a length of thread?! Oh, the horror. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

====''The Great Transformer War''====
The Combaticons and Stunticons were working out of Trypticon where the kidnapped scientist [[Doctor Dalton]] was being forced to work for Galvatron's evil ends. When the Aerialbots and Protectobots arrived to save the scientist, Onslaught and Motormaster combined with Trypticon in their deployment launcher modes. Hurtling their fellow Decepticons at Superion did such damage that the Aerialbots were forced to disassemble. Somehow, however, the remaining Protectobots managed to hold off both Bruticus and Menasor long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to repair the Aerialbots, and for [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] to sneak past the Decepticons and retrieve Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
The Combaticons participated in an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} until [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] arrived and drove them away. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shortly afterwards, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] set out to find the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bring it to Optimus Prime, and the Combaticons were among the troops sent out to stop him. They were ambushed by the Protectobots, and defeated when Defensor buried Bruticus in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Not long after that, the Combaticons defended [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] against [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]]'s attempted infiltration, but failed when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived and distracted them. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[Image:UltraMagnusDies Combaticons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"All six Combaticons present and accou... Wait! Why are YOU with us?"]]

The Combaticons were later part of ''another'' attack on Cybertron, during which they killed plenty of [[Generic|soldiers]] before getting into another fight with Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They lost. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} When the Decepticons planted a giant carnivorous plant in [[San Francisco]], the Combaticons and Stunticons were ordered to with attack any Autobots who arrived to kill it. When the Aerialbots and [[Trainbot]]s did just that, Bruticus got into a energy-sword fight with [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Sixshot later sent the Combaticons, [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon]]s to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Miami]], in order to lure Autobot troops away from [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

The Combaticons were present when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] held a speech about Galvatron's recent death and took control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} Bruticus was later part of a small group of Decepticons who tried to lead Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} He then stood by and laughed as [[Predaking]] sank the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' in the Atlantic Ocean, before being stationed at one of Scorponok's [[Death Tower]]s in Canberra, [[Australia]]. He defended the tower against Defensor until it activated, at which point [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] ordered him to withdraw. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}

Bruticus participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the North Pole, and fought [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] alongside [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. As Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart, Bruticus retreated into the atmosphere to watch the results alongside the rest of the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{--}}
====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic====
Brawl and Blast Off participated in an attack on [[Athenia]] by forming the right limbs of [[Scramble 7]], a Decepticon combiner using various combiner team members in a supposedly "ideal" configuration. Despite being so great, however, Scramble 7 was defeated by [[Ginrai|Super Ginrai]], [[Lightfoot]] and [[Ranger]] thanks to their use of [[Chōkon Power]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}

====''Zone'' OVA, comic and story pages====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Combaticons were of those summoned, but only in the form of Bruticus. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
''The Combaticons and their fellow [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the [[Creation Matrix]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

On their first mission on Earth, the Combaticons followed [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] to retrieve the human [[hydrothermocline]] plant. When they arrived, they faced [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] waiting for them. The Combaticons formed Bruticus and stared down [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] when a nearby human named [[Ethan Zachary]] suggested that they play a [[Multi-World|video game]] over the plant instead. Optimus Prime and Megatron both agreed, and the Combaticons were sent into the game to attack the Protectobots. However, they lost every battle due to not taking the "wildlife" AI into account. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} After this, the Combaticons didn't do much but follow Megatron around, even when their mentally unstable leader heavily damaged Brawl for mouthing off. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

The Combaticons would later attack the [[Throttlebot]]s in a used car lot, only for the Protectobots and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to interfere and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Shortly afterwards, the group decided to ambush the Protectobots on their way to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. This time, Bruticus claimed victory over Defensor by hitting him with a train, but was soon tricked and broken into his component parts by Blaster. After this, Blaster took control of Blast Off and flew into space, separating the shuttle from the other Combaticons. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Along with most of the Decepticon army, the Combaticons later ambushed the Autobots on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], only to be beaten back by Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

''At some point thereafter, the Combaticons worked with [[Darkwing|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] under the command of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to steal a backup of the [[floppy disk]] containing Optimus Prime's personality. {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}''

====''Generation 2''====
[[Image:Totalwar-combaticons.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Grrrrrr... feisty!]]
After Bludgeon's defeat, Swindle took the returning Decepticon leader Megatron on a tour of the [[Warworld]] battleship he had inherited. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Soon after, Brawl and Blast Off were among the Decepticons preparing to charge into battle against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}} Vortex was seen with various other Decepticons attacking the Cybertronians on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} As the alliance progressed, Onslaught was struck by empathic pains as his apparent spawn [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

During the final battle at [[Earth]], all the Combaticons later attempted to defend the Warworld against a Cybertronian boarding party led by the treacherous Starscream. Despite Onslaught's emphatic orders of "maximum firepower", they didn't do so well. {{storylink|Total War!}}
{{--}}
===Young Corgi continuity===
When the fleshlings discovered a mysterious lost civilization buried underneath the ice, the Combaticons Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off joined [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in seeking whatever treasures the hidden city might have. They were confronted by the Aerialbots named [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Slingshot]], and fought on the surface over the city. Little did they know that the [[city-dweller]]s were robots themselves, remotely storing and copying images of the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, imprinting themselves with the skills of warfare. They were only stopped by the unlikely duo of Ravage and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. After the city-dwellers were defeated, the Autobots granted safe passage to their one-time Decepticon allies. Blast Off expanded to his maximum size to transport his fellow 'Cons back to Decepticon headquarters. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
The five soldiers who would one day become the Combaticons were early participants in the Decepticons' war effort. While Onslaught and the others joined Shockwave in attacking [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] and the [[High Council Pavilions]] being protected by the Autobots, Swindle chose to throw in with Starscream, helping him to disable [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and assume temporary control over Megatron's planetary juggernaut project. {{storylink|The War Within}}

At some later date, these five warriors were officially brought together as a combiner team, given the ability to form Bruticus. Like the other Combiners, they were banned from operating together on any given faction during the Dark Ages, by decree of the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] to prevent any more devastation to the planet at the hands of the super-robot combiners.{{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} The Combaticons were still authorized to operate individually and separately among the various Decepticon factions. Given his previous efforts helping [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and the [[Battlecharger]]s with Starscream's coup, Swindle may have joined them as a member of the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]], although this was never stated. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

By the modern era, the Combaticons had been declared war criminals by the united Cybertronian government under Shockwave and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The details of their crimes and why they were singled-out for imprisonment is unclear—Shockwave may have been intentionally eliminating [[Ratbat (G1)|potential rivals]] or [[Stunticon (G1)|loose cannons]], or may simply have allowed their imprisonment as a token showing of cooperation with the Autobot High Council. Once the Transformers from Earth were contacted, and uprisings began taking place on Cybertron, Starscream managed to worm his way into the [[Detention Banks]] and recover the five stasis pods containing the Combaticons. He loaded them onto his stolen transport and brought them back to Earth with him and the rest of his hand-picked crew. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

[[Image:Onslaught G1DW routeofallevil.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"YOOOOOO JOE!"]]

On Earth, Starscream reactivated the Combaticons as his personal "brigade", scanning Earth military vehicles for their alternate modes. Using the Combaticons as shock troops, he made a two-staged assault on the Ark, and successfully took five of the seven remaining Autobots off-line. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Starscream and Bruticus' efforts to complete their set were interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], Starscream's crazed clone-brother, and Bruticus was damaged in the melee. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After the battle with Sunstorm, Starscream attempted to train the Combaticons into better military shape, using the Autobot prisoner [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as a "tackling dummy". His training efforts were interrupted by the return of Megatron and his combiner team, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Even as Bruticus, the Combaticons quickly fell before the might of [[Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{--}}
===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
The Combaticons were among the Decepticons under control of "the Son of Megatron", [[Serpent O.R.]]. Onslaught tried to protect his leader from a vengeful Optimus Prime while Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off were seen fighting against a combined Autobot-[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] army. Swindle, however, was nowhere to be found. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was one of the worst violators of the [[Tyrest Accord]], constantly selling Transformers technology to alien races, and had gone AWOL from the Decepticons, hunted by both sides of the war. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The other four remained Combaticons, and were a dangerous tactical unit capable of taking on and beating superior numbers (even ones backed up by [[Arcee (G1)|total loonies]]). Under orders from [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], they successfully raided the [[Garrus-9]] Autobot prison and abducted [[Pretender Monster|the six newest inmates]], the gestalt Transformers. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

Soon afterwards, the Combaticons were among the only survivors of an attack by the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, who activated the gestalt combined form, [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], inside Banzaitron's base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron; the Combaticons, remaining DSS members and the crazed Autobot fought Monstructor on [[Rotan]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, Swindle was active on Earth with a small band of Decepticons left behind after the war. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} Onslaught had also come to Earth, and was one of many Transformers captured by [[Skywatch]] using their reverse-engineered energon and Cybertronian technology. He and several other Decepticons were rescued from Skywatch custody by Swindle's team, who removed the mode-locks placed on them by Skywatch's restraint tech. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}} After Swindle failed to take advantage of some rebellious Autobots in an attempt to get off Earth, he disappeared. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

A short while later, Onslaught rejoined Brawl and Vortex (who were also on Earth) and made a deal with [[Kim Jong Du]], the leader of [[North Korea]], helping him invade [[South Korea]] in exchange for energon. Blast Off's whereabouts are unknown, but presumably he was able to leave Earth under his own power. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"}} They ended up in a brawl with both the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] (allied with [[China]]), but were ultimately defeated. Luckily for them, the Autobots didn't have the resources at hand to take them captive. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"}}

{{--}}

===Wings of Honor===
[[Image:EliteGuardCombaticons TheComingStorm2.jpg|thumb|left|200px| DUM DUM DUUUUUUM! ]]
The Combaticons were a [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Onslaught toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"How come the other Combaticons aren't as tall as I am? Because I'm a natural-born leader, HAH!"]]
[[Image:G1Vortex toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Ride the whirlwind! Slag, I got it wrong!"]]
[[Image:Bruticus toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Rargh... humans transform Bruticus wrong... and blame Bruticus's design..."]]
*'''Combaticons''' (1986)
**[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
**[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
**[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
**[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-69'''

:As a [[Scramble City]] [[combiner]] team, the Combaticon team includes four small toys, sold carded at the $5 price point, and one large leader toy, sold boxed for $12 or so and including all the combiner [[kibble]]. They were available as part of the 1986 and 1987 assortments. In most markets, the Combaticons were only sold as individuals; the combined [[giftset]] was only available in Japan and Italy.

:Like their counterparts, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], the four small Combaticons feature unique transformation schemes. All have attachable weapons for their vehicle modes. Posability varies from figure to figure; Brawl and Swindle have knee and "elbow" joints (their shoulder joints are halfway down their arms), but their legs are conjoined at the knees. Blast Off and Vortex feature an early use of [[Ball joint|ball joints]] in their shoulders, giving them near-universal range of motion, but are otherwise similarly limited.

:Like the other three original Scramble City teams, the small limbs can attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s robot mode, while the leader can be used to make an additional ramp/platform for Metroplex or [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].

:The Combaticon molds have been frequently redecoed (and slightly retooled) over the years; they have been used to make ''[[Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Battle Gaia]], ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]], and ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ruination. They are also a favorite for [[Knockoff|bootleg]] toy manufacturers to copy, sometimes sold with bizarre new names like [[Onslaught (G1)|Tugging Gun]], [[Swindle (G1)|Copter]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secpmdary]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Steel Generals]], and [[Blast Off (G1)|Secondary Brain]].
{{--}}
===Generation 2===
*'''Combaticons''' (1993)
**Onslaught
**Brawl
**Blast Off
**Swindle
**Vortex

:A redeco of the Generation 1 molds that looks like they just went through a paintball war... and lost. They all combine and kick Superion's behind as the big, bad, battling Bruticus.

===Alternators===
*'''Swindle''' (2004)

{{main|Swindle (G1)#Alternators}}

===Universe (2008)===
*'''Onslaught''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
*'''Onslaught''' (Ultra, 2008)

{{main|Onslaught (G1)#Universe (2008)}}

[[Image:Universe-ROTF-toy_BruticusMaximus.jpg|right|300px|thumb|]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)

: The ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Combaticons are [[redeco]]s of the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Destruction Team]]. In this incarnation, Swindle is a helicopter and Blast Off is a tank, while their combined formed is known as Bruticus Maximus for [[trademark]] reasons. They were only available as a Bruticus Maximus multi-pack.

: The Combaticons are identical to the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G1OddCombat.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Floro Dery does odd things.]]
*Before the Combaticons were animated, there were apparently two different character model sheets made up for them. The ones we know use the toy heads, but bodies that, for whatever reason, have little resemblance to the actual vehicles or robot modes of the actual Combaticon figures. Another one appears to be based heavily on the toys... but with new heads. These went unused in any media

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Combatron''' (コンバットロン ''Konbattoron'')
*''Italian:'' '''Combacticon'''
*''Russian:'' '''Boevikon''' (Боевикон, "Thrillercon")

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Combaticons| Combaticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Grand Maximus

2011-07-07T06:01:38Z

125.237.60.108: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|Grand Maximus|other uses of Maximus|Fortress Maximus (disambiguation)}}
{{factions|autobot}}
:''Grand Maximus is an [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] [[Pretender]] [[City-bot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Grandmax cartoon.jpg|right|350px|thumb|I am my sister city's brother and so is he.]]
'''Grand Maximus''' (グランドマキシマス ''Gurando Makshimasu'') is the younger [[Relatives|brother]] of [[Autobot]] [[Supreme Commander]] [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. He was among the Autobot refugees who fled [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] four million years ago under the leadership of his brother, and like his sibling, became a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] when they crash-landed on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]]. Grand Maximus's mental functions are contained in his smallest component, '''Gran''', who connects to a larger [[Transtector]] named '''Grand''' to boost his strength to normal Transformer levels. Just like his bro, he pilots a ''Maximus'' battleship, which serves as a second transtector with which Grand combines to form "Grand Maximus". (Though they seem virtually identical in all other respects, Grand Maximus is significantly smaller than his titanic elder brother. Only a bit taller than [[God Ginrai]] in robot mode and with room for just a couple of human-sized rooms at most in his starship form.)

Grand seems to be a bit of a loner, who prefers the solitude of outer space to being tied down to any one planet or team. After becoming a Headmaster, he opted not to remain on Master with the other Transformers, joining up with a group of Autobots under the command of [[Metalhawk]] and travelling space with them. Alongside Metalhawk's crew, Grand crash-landed on Neolithic [[Earth]] and adopted [[Pretender]] capabilities, endowing himself with the ability to transform into a human form.<ref>"[[Shūta and Grand's Masterforce Super-Secrets!]]"</ref> After centuries of working with Metalhawk to battle a group of Decepticons on Earth and guide the evolution of the burgeoning humanity, however, Grand again felt the lure of outer space, and now operates among the space-based Autobot forces battling the Decepticons across [[Athenia]] and [[Chaar]].

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Super God Masterforce'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ikuya Sawaki]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Grand pretender.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Behold! With my pretender shell, I can disguise myself as... a robot. Wait, why did I bother again?]]
In the early 21st Century, when the space-based Autobot forces under the command of Fortress Maximus discovered that [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] was headed for Earth, Grand Maximus was dispatched to alert Metalhawk's Autobots, still on the planet. Entering Earth's atmosphere with his battleship cloaked from sight, Grand met with Metalhawk, [[Lander]] and [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] atop a mountain, where he supplied them with the plans and materials to construct "[[Godbomber]]". This drone would endow the Autobots' mightiest warrior, [[Ginrai]], with the ability to fly and fight in space, thereby allowing him to stop BlackZarak before he reached Earth. {{storylink|Life? Death? The Desperate Lightfoot}} Grand Maximus subsequently headed back into space to keep an eye on the situation, and as the "Bomber Project" was nearing completion, Grand radioed the Autobots on Earth to inform them that BlackZarak was headed for the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Into the Sky!!}} With the construction of Godbomber complete, Ginrai wasted no time in heading for the moon and engaging BlackZarak and [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] in battle. Ginrai did not fare well, but soon Grand Maximus arrived to join the fight, and with their combined might, the Autobot duo was able to defeat the two Decepticons. BlackZarak fled back into space, and Grand Maximus gave chase, assuring Ginrai that he could take care of things. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon}}

[[Image:Grandmax shipmode.jpg|right|220px|thumb|New Battleship Maximus - no really, that's what it's called]]
In the weeks that followed, BlackZarak mastered the art of localized gravity manipulation, enabling him to create powerful black holes that he could use to teleport himself around the galaxy. While pursuing his foe, Grand Maximus was trapped within one of these black holes, exerting all his energy just to hold steady against its pull and prevent himself from being drawn into the heart of the singularity and obliterated. Down on Earth, meanwhile, the Decepticon had succeeded in destroying the Autobots' base, prompting Ginrai to contact Grand in hopes that his battleship could be employed as a new headquarters. When Grand, trapped in the black hole, did not respond to his communiqué, Ginrai headed into space to investigate, only to be pulled into the black hole as well and wind up trapped alongside Grand. Luckily, the pair were able to draw on the electromagnetic waves of the black hole to re-energize themselves, and they then combined their energy into a massive blast of [[Chōkon Power]] that destroyed the black hole from the inside out. Freed, the pair immediately headed to Earth, where BlackZarak had already joined up with the Decepticons and cut a swathe of destruction across the planet. Merging their energies once more, Grand and Ginrai were able to defeat Overlord and BlackZarak again, and the villains pulled out of the fight. {{storylink|BlackZarak - Destroyer from Space}}

[[Image:Grand cartoon.jpg|left|142px|thumb|Blink and you'll miss him.]]
While the Autobots were searching Earth for the Decepticons, Grand Maximus detected the villains heading into space, and transported the Autobots in pursuit of them aboard his battleship. The Autobots discovered that the Decepticons were preparing to unleash the deadly [[Death Para-Machine]] against Earth, but thankfully, Ginrai was able to destroy the evil device before irreparable damage was done to the planet's atmosphere. As it exploded, however, a single blast escaped the Death-Para Machine and struck Grand's battleship, knocking its tachyon converter offline and sending it plummeting down to Earth. [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]] risked his life to save the day by donning one of the ship's jetpacks and repairing the converter, rescuing the ship at the last moment. {{storylink|Crisis! The Day of Human Extinction}}

[[Image:Godginrai vs blackzarak.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Left leg blue, right fist black...]]
Grand Maximus later battled BlackZarak in [[Moscow]], {{storylink|God Ginrai: Showdown at the Decepticon Base}}
and then transported the Autobots aboard his battleship for a full-scale assault on the Decepticon base, during which BlackZarak and the Decepticon ruler [[Devil Z]] fused into one being. {{storylink|The Ultimate Combination!! BlackZarak, the New Lifeform}} The merged BlackZarak/Devil Z entity soon began bombarding North America with his [[Devil Power]], which Grand Maximus traced to the [[Grand Canyon]]. {{storylink|Battle to the Death!! God Ginrai VS Darkwings Reborn}} There, Ginrai was again confronted by Overlord, but Grand Maximus ended the protracted battle by blasting Overlord out of the sky so that Ginrai could focus on more important matters. The Decepticons retreated before the battle could go any further {{storylink|Autobots! Desperate Attack!!}} but the Autobots quickly pursued them to the Matterhorn, where Grand Maximus held back to protect the injured Metalhawk and [[Headmaster Junior]]s while Ginrai engaged BlackZarak in final battle. {{storylink|Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z}} As Ginrai clashed with BlackZarak, Grand lent his aid by opening fire on the villain, but was blasted out of the sky when he was distracted by the sight of Overlord's Transtector being brought to life by Devil Z's power. As the now-living Overlord attempted to join BlackZarak's battle with Ginrai, Grand Maximus transformed to robot mode and kept
him occupied while Ginrai used his Final Fire Guts attack to finally destroy both BlackZarak and Devil Z. With the death of the villain, all the Autobots' Transtectors were also brought to life, and Grand Maximus soon transported them back into space to rejoin their respective factions. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
{{-}}

====''Zone'' cartoon====
Grand Maximus was seen onstage among other high-ranking Autobots when the injured [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] passed the mantle of Supreme Commander to [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

===''Super-God Masterforce'' comic===
[[Image:Grandmax manga.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Insert random white space here]]
After the Earth and space-based Autobot forces consolidated their power to battle the Decepticons on both fronts, Grand Maximus joined with [[Raiden]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] in pursuing Decepticon commander BlackZarak to Earth. Although the Headmasters didn't fare too well in battle with the mighty Decepticon, God Ginrai arrived to defeat BlackZarak and send him fleeing back into space. {{storylink|God Ginrai's Amazing Super-God Combination!}}

When Decepticons kidnapped Shūta and Cab, Grand Maximus was occupied battling BlackZarak and [[Darkwings]] in space with the Autobot [[Godmaster]]s, but was able to make it to Earth to help Ginrai battle Overlord during the rescue mission. Grand didn't beat around the bush, crashing his battleship straight into Overlord's face, and then giving Ginrai his Master Blade, with which he sent the villain fleeing. {{storylink|The Earth Family of Good and Evil}}

[[Image:MFpretendershell bigmode.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Make my monster grow!]]
Grand Maximus and the Autobots were required to depart Earth aboard Grand's battleship when the space-based Autobot forces developed a new weapon known as the [[VX Bomb]], and the Decepticons initiated a major attack in their absence. Grand Maximus sped back to Earth with the VX Bomb on board, and he and the Godmasters occupied BlackZarak while Ginrai used the weapon to defeat Overlord. {{storylink|Live? Die?! The Desperate Super-God Combination}}

During a Decepticon attack on a city, Grand Maximus transported the Autobots into battle, but then surprised everyone when he took an
unexpected, unconventional hand in the fight by transforming into his human form ''without'' shrinking down. After defeating Overlord and BlackZarak with a "Big Mode Pretender Shell Power Kick", Grand explained to the surprised Ginrai that, in ancient times, the
Pretenders did not shrink when they adopted their human forms, remaining gigantic and inspiring legends of giants among early man. Back then, Grand opined, mankind learned from the Transformers, but now, Transformers and mankind were truly equals. {{storylink|Great Turn-Around! Autobots}}

[[Image:Grand and gran.jpg|left|180px|thumb|My mini-me ''is'' me.]]
During Ginrai's final battle with the Decepticons, the villains' evil ruler Devil Z turned upon his minions, seeking to drain their
Jinchōkon in order to become the ultimate lifeform. The Autobot Pretenders arrived in time to save them, with Grand Maximus and the whole Autobot force in tow. The Decepticons joined with the Autobots against Devil Z, and both armies boarded Grand Maximus, combining their energies in the "Perfect Transform Attack". Charged with the energies of all the Transformers, Grand Maximus collided with Devil Z, destroying the evil alien once and for all. With Devil Z's death, all the Autobots' Transtectors came to life as true super-robot lifeforms, and Grand led them all off Earth to rejoin the Autobots and Decepticons in space. {{storylink|The Birth of the Super Lifeforms}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Super God Masterforce''===
*'''Grand Maximus''' (1988)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-311'''[[Image:Grandmax toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|All he needs is a [[Micromaster]], [[Powermaster]] and a [[Targetmaster]] and he'll be PERFECT.]]
**''Accessories:'' Gran Headmaster figure, Grand Headmaster Transtector, Grand's Pretender Shell, Onomisu, Koka, "Proton Master Rifle", "Dual Laser Cannon", Grand's "Heat Blaster", Cog's laser rifle, 2 "Laser Arms", "Master Radar", "Master Blade", "Grand Sword"

: As a [[Redeco|redeco]] of Fortress Maximus, Grand Maximus shares the title of largest Transformer toy ever at two feet tall. Grand Maximus transforms from robot to city to battleship, with a wide array of pop-out (non-firing) guns and gimmicks available in all modes. His left leg hides a small prison cell, plus has a swing-out cannon/helipad. His right leg has a small "medical bay" storage compartment. His torso has a gear-activated spinner for the detachable radar array accessory, a "control socket" for Grand's "communications tower" mode, and a working elevator that can lift small toys up to the central ramp to be launched in his altmodes. (The crank for this elevator ends up in a very unfortunate position in robot mode.) Each arm had a long ramp on the back with sliding launchers for small vehicles.

: Grand Maximus' head can be removed and transformed into a robot called Grand. This component also transforms into a communications room that combines with Grand Maximus' city and battleship modes. Grand can additionally fit inside an included pretender shell. This shell, unlike most other Autobot shells, was robotic in appearance rather than human, although ''Masterforce'' fiction gave the figure a human face behind a robotic visor to better fit in with the other Pretenders in the series. Grand's head can also be removed and transformed into a smaller robot, known as Gran.

: Two smaller vehicles, Onomisu and Koka, fit into the toe areas of the Grand Maximus robot. They can combine into the robot [[Cog (Masterforce)|Cog]]. Also included were a gun for Cog, a "Heat Blaster" gun and "Master Blade" sword for Grand, which could be held in either robot or Pretender mode, and two larger guns—the "Proton Master Rifle" and "Dual Laster Cannon"—and the huge "Grand Sword" for Grand Maximus.

: This mold was used to make ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Car Robots]]'' [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]] and his ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' release as "[[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Cybertron Base]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Cybertron/GrandMaximus/grandmaximus.htm More information on Grand Maximus at TFU.info]''

===''Transform Jr''===
[[Image:Grandmax jr.jpg|right|270px|thumb|Albino Maximus]]
* '''Grand Maximus'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-311'''
**''Accessories:'' Grand Headmaster figure, gun, ramp, "laser block"

:''Transform Jr'' Grand Maximus is a [[redeco]] of ''Transform Jr'' Fortress Maximus, and a heavily simplified version of the larger mold. And we ''mean'' simplified – he only transforms to battleship mode, which involves little more than pulling the head off and laying the figure down. The head does transform into Grand, at least, although overall, the toy doesn't really ''look'' like Grand Maximus, decorated as it is solely in whites and red, without a hint of teal in sight. Grand Maximus is arguably the rarest and most sought after Transform Jr toy.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:Grandmax scf.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
*'''Grand Maximus''' (2002)

:Grand Maximus was the "Build-A-Figure" from the sixth wave of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' line of [[Plastic|PVC]] figurines. Naturally enough, he was a redeco of the previous year's Fortress Maximus Build-A-Figure, sans the Master Sword.

:Grand was divided into six parts, each one packaged with one of the metallic silver "pewter" versions of the six individual figures in the line (the regular color versions of the figures did not come with any of Grand's parts). His head was included with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], his body with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], his left arm with [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], his right arm with [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], his left leg with [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and his right leg with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]]. Each of the parts was available in standard full-color (at a rate of 8 out of every 10 cases), and rare "pewter" (only 2 out of every 10 cases) versons, making two variations of Grand Maximus to assemble.

==Notes==

*Though he never uses his Pretender abilities to take on his human mode in any media (echoing his toy's unique lack of a removable helmet) several extreme close ups on his face in the ''Masterforce'' cartoon seem to confirm that he does have one, showing a definite organic human face beneath/within the Pretender helmet.

*Outside commercial bumpers, and a [[Appearance!! The Final Godmaster|flashback]] he only appears in full robot mode in the episodes "[[God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon]]" and "[[A Battle... and Then...]]".

*Grands normal robot mode is only seen in [[Crisis! The Day of Human Extinction]].
**blink and you'll miss him.

===Foreign names===
*''English:'' '''Fortress Maximus''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Autobot bases]]
[[Category:Autobot starships]]
[[Category:City Transformers]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Starships]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]