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The Legend of Rodimus

2012-10-24T02:43:28Z

134.117.251.41: /* Lost in translation */

{{episode|
|series=Energon
|ep=11
|prev=Energon Tower
|next=Crisis in Jungle City
|title="The Legend of Rodimus"
|japanese=ちっぽけな宇宙
|romaji=Chippoke na Uchū
|translation=This Tiny Universe
|image=E11_titlecard.jpg
|caption=[[Hot Rod (G1)|Once upon a time, there was this guy who replaced Optimus Prime.]]
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Masayuki Ōseki]]
|animation studio=[[Actas Inc.|Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[March 19|19 March]] [[2004]] (Japanese) [[April 9]], 2004 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''Megatron confronts Starscream, Kicker faces the fears of his past, and a legendary Autobot returns.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Decepticon]]s' [[Decepticon mobile fortress|mobile fortress]] emerges from a deep space warp gate and crashes violently into... something. [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] emerges amid the wreckage and questions his troops about what went wrong.

[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] gloats that he will have all the [[energon]] before Megatron even notices, and will bring all of [[Unicron]] to life.

On [[Earth]], another [[energon tower]] emerges from a warp gate above [[Blizzard City]], stabilized by [[Signal Flare (Energon)|Signal Flares]] under [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]'s supervision. In the mines below, [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] and [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] are looking for energon. Kicker speculates that nobody seems to understand how dangerous the mission is, and flashes back to his father assigning him to lead the search, and to a much earlier time when his father lowered him into a deep, dark mine shaft as a young child.

[[Image:Energon-Hot-Shot-Facepalm.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Even his comrades are annoyed.]]

Taking a break from the search, Ironhide tries to pep talk Kicker into appreciating his father more. Hot Shot arrives and relates the tale of his own hero, the legendary [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], who was last seen traveling into the future.

Within Unicron(?), Megatron proposes stealing more energon from Earth. [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] counters that the energon towers make such an attack too dangerous without more energon, and proposes continuing to mine energon from [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] instead. Megatron will only hear of a path of conquest, but gives Scorponok leave to carry out his idea regardless. Scorponok angrily blasts his way out, and departs with a fleet of [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]]s, musing that Megatron isn't as in control as he'd like to think.

Outside Unicron, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] approaches, entering and searching for Megatron.

[[Image:Energon-Giant-Megatron-Head.jpg|200px|thumb|right|''Energon'' would go on to steal the title of "Most Hated ''Transformers'' series" from ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''. [[Grand Mal|Picture unrelated]].]]

Ironhide tells Kicker more about Rodimus. Amid the endless [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|civil war]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Rodimus emerged "8,000 eons ago" and rallied the [[Autobot]]s around a message of peace, calling for the Autobots to leave and find a new world to live in peace. Kicker points out that this makes [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] look bad, but Ironhide says that Optimus stayed and led the Autobots, making the current rebuilding of Cybertron possible, and that Prime is his greatest hero. Rodimus was last seen going from planet to planet, looking for Transformers who were lost in space.

On Mars, Scorponok finds the former base empty and abandoned, and deploys his Terrorcons to claim the energon... in the name of Alpha Q. As they do, a suspiciously well-timed trio appears in the distance.

Starscream approaches the sleep-mode Megatron, and tries to stab him through the chest, but is met with a huge surge of energy. Megatron vanishes; Demolishor engages Starscream; the other Decepticons arrive. Megatron has gained the power of [[invisibility]] through his union with Unicron, and easily assaults Starscream with a horde of duplicates and energon shards. Starscream tries to flee, but the big floating head of Megatron pursues and captures him, placing him in an empty void.

[[Image:Energon-Starscream-Dark.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Starscream takes a shot in the dark.]]

Megatron lectures Starscream, reminding him that he used to be one of his troops, and threatening to leave him in the darkness forever. Starscream goes mad, opening fire in all directions, then lets slip that he was working for Alpha Q.

Kicker has had it with energon mining, and tells Ironhide about an energon expedition when he was a kid, when he lost control in deep space and drifted aimlessly. Landing on an asteroid, he resumed contact with [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Jones]], but then got trapped in a cave-in, left alone in the dark. Ironhide isn't very sympathetic, telling Kicker that Rodimus overcame ''his'' fears, and that he isn't a kid anymore. Ironhide gives up lecturing and storms off; Kicker says he'll find his own way out.

Megatron speaks to Starscream: he has no idea who he is, and has forgotten all his ties to the world. Megatron is the only thing he can believe in, and will shape his reality now. He urges Starscream to use his rage, and revel in destruction. He appears and stabs Starscream through the chest with [[Energon Sword|his sword]], demanding his allegiance in exchange for allowing him to live.

Kicker forges ahead through the dark, and finds an energon seam. As he does, Ironhide returns with the [[Omnicon]]s. He apologizes for being harsh, and the Omnicons find a large seam of energon.

On Mars, the mysterious figure attacks Scorponok's Terrorcons. Observing from afar, Alpha Q notes that Rodimus has returned.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Signal Flare (Energon)| Signal Flare]] (6)
* [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (7)
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] (9)
* [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (10)
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (11)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (3)
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (4)
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] (13)
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (16)

|c3=
* [[Kicker Jones]] (8)
* [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Alpha Quintesson]] (5)
* [[Battle Ravage|Battle Ravage drones]] (14)
* [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb drones]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Megatron:''' "What's going on here, huh? Did someone set the wrong coordinates for the warp gate?...Who's responsible for this? I want answers!" 
'''Cyclonus:''' "Gee, I don't know! You got me, boss!" 
'''Megatron:''' "Ah, I see. ''Renovations''. Of course! Is that it? How amusing 
'''Scorponok:''' "It could be that Unicron is deteriorating from the lack of energon, sir. That could be what happened." 
'''Megatron:''' "Scorponok. You know that can't be!" 
'''Scorponok:''' "Hrnnnn."
:—The Decepticons bring you your daily dose of nonsensical dialog.

"Now listen up. We're going to raid, conquer and destroy. I will accept nothing less than that, Scorponok!"
:—'''Megatron''' lays down the law to Scorponok

"All we do is battle, and nothing happens. Fighting all the time has left Cybertron in ruins. If this continues, we'll have no future. Let's leave and create a better world! Join me! Let's find a place that we can call home. Yes! We will never look back."
:—'''Ironhide''' recites Rodimus's "famous speech"

"''You'' have an important decision to make! Say you'll join me or I'll let you slip away into the ''darkness''. I, Megatron, am your only leader now. Say my name and I'll spare you. What is my name, Starscream?" 
"...Megatron..." 
"''Say it again.''" 
"''Meg-a-tron!''"
:—'''Megatron''' establishes the pecking order for '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Lost in translation===
* The opening scene's animation is missing the background image of Unicron that the fortress crashes into. Without it, Megatron's ship just seems to be floating through empty space, only to abruptly crash into something that wasn't there before.
* The opening conversation is likewise a bit more coherent in the ''Super Link'' version, as Megatron claims that various walls and passages he's created have disappeared, and Scorponok states that Unicron is regressing since he's not been given energon lately. The "walls and passages" got mangulated into "renovations" for the US dub.
* Unicron is regressing because Alpha Q stole his energon, as he gloats to himself in ''Super Link''. The dub omits this bit of back story, which was not actually shown on-screen; the plot point is therefore entirely lost for ''Energon'', leaving a typical example of things seeming to happen for no reason at all. However, he does make vague comments that "Megatron doesn't have a clue" and "the Energon will be all ours", which do sort of hint at the answer. Kinda sorta.
* Ironhide originally told Hot Shot about his own hero-worship of him, with Hot Shot doing a face-palm in response. In the dub, Ironhide just says that he was telling Kicker to respect his father, making Hot Shot's reaction into nonsense.
* The backgrounds of this same scene are incomplete in the dub. The ''Super Link'' version features a mountain-side niche for Ironhide and Kicker, and an interior passage behind Hot Shot, rather than open sky.
* Rodimus originally "journeyed toward the future", in a metaphoric sense. The dub hilariously translates this to say that Rodimus was last seen "traveling into the future".
* When Ironhide tells Kicker about Rodimus, the silhouettes of Rodimus, Prowl and Landmine are shown, but it's a recycled shot from their later arrival on Mars. ''Super Link'' features a new matte painting instead (featuring [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] as one of Rodimus's troops.) This painting reappears in several subsequent episodes, and appears in the dub beginning [[Rodimus Friend or Foe?|4 episodes from this]].
* Rodimus's original speech mentions a call not to fear the vastness of space, giving some context to Ironhide's later claim that Rodimus overcame his fears.
* Ironhide doesn't say he's starting to ''talk'' like Kicker (he isn't), but rather has acquired his "stupid habit" of kicking things.
* The "say my name" bit with Starscream is a dub addition... but for once, it's actually an ''improvement''.

===Pain count===
* "Uh?": 13
* We need/they want energon: 9
* We've gotta: 1
* Come on: 2

...but not a single stock footage sequence!

===Continuity errors===
* "I'll find my own way out of here"—at no point is it implied that Kicker was lost to begin with.

===Trivia===
*Megatron's reasoning is rather petulantly circular: they can't attack Earth because they need more energon to do so; therefore, they must attack Earth to get more energon, allowing them to attack Earth.
*So Rodimus just ''happens'' to show up just as Hot Shot and Ironhide just ''happen'' to be spinning yarns about him. ''Riiiiiight''.
*Megatron never uses his super special awesome new Unicron powers again.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2004 — ''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 003 ([[Interchannel]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of Rodimus}}
[[Category:Energon episodes]]

Silverbolt (G1)

2012-09-27T14:54:36Z

134.117.251.41: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|maximal}}
{{disambig3|Silverbolt}}
:''Silverbolt is an [[Autobot]] [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Silverbolt magnificent six.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''It's not the car or the bus or the train, it's the plane'' ''When we hit top speed, it's always the same'' ''Sweating red hot but chilled to the bone'' ''Side to side, bouncing round the ozone'' ''Tranquilise me! Hypnotise me!'' ''Techno-fear has paralysed me'' ''All around me, people grinning'' ''Laughing while my head is spinning'' ''Shaking like a leaf from my head to my feet'' ''Strapped to a seat at 20,000 feet'']]
'''Silverbolt's''' character is defined by his extreme [[Wikipedia:acrophobia|fear of heights]] and by his refusal to bow to it. He constantly struggles to project the image of a brave, determined soldier to hide his fear from others. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] named him leader of the Aerialbots in the hopes that worrying about them would give him something else to focus on besides his own phobia. This has proven true and, not surprisingly, the mature, responsible Silverbolt makes an excellent commander.

He can combine with his fellow Aerialbots to form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]].

{{quote|"Our mission is accomplished. Further risk would be foolish."
"How come they made you Aerialbot leader, Silverbolt? You've got no sense of adventure."
"Exactly."|'''Silverbolt''' and '''[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]'''|"[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]"|noquote=true}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Charlie Adler|Charles Adler]] (English), [[Tomomichi Nishimura]] (Japanese), [[Jean Claudio]] (French), [[Roberto Alexander]] (Latin American), [[Reinhard Brock]] (German, ''Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2 - 4'' & ''Fight or Flee''), [[Erhard Hartmann]] (German, ''Forever is a Long Time Coming''), [[Bernd Simon]] (German, ''Starscreams Ghost'' & ''The Burden Hardest to Bear''), [[Wolfgang Mascher]] (German, ''Ghost in the Machine''), [[Imo Heite]] (German, ''The Ultimate Weapon'' & ''The Big Broadcast of 2006''), [[Klaus Kessler]] (German, Generation 2 Dub of ''Ghost in the Machine'')

[[Image:G1Silverbolt Key1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"So long, cruel world!" Actual episode quote. Seriously.]]
Silverbolt was constructed out of a low-flying cargo transport vessel, which was modified to resemble an Earthly Concorde. He was later given life by [[Vector Sigma]], along with the other [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], then returned to [[Earth]] with the Autobots via [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. It was soon discovered that Silverbolt had a crippling weakness: an intense fear of heights, due to his low-altitude origins. Conversely, he was the only Aerialbot who wasn't a complete jerk. Because of this, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] made him commander of the Aerialbots, reasoning that it would give him something to worry about other than his acrophobia. He proved worthy of this role when he persuaded his mutinous team mates to help the Autobots protect humanity, by showing them how [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] was able to disregard his fatigue at will due to his concern for Omega Supreme's well-being, something robots cannot do.

[[Image:G1 Silverbolt cartoon.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Has anyone seen my [[Humanization#Lips|lip balm]]?"]]
As the combined forces of the Autobots and Aerialbots sent the Decepticons into retreat, Silverbolt bravely went after [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and destroyed the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], despite his great fear of heights. As he fell, he was saved at the last moment by [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]], who was impressed by his courage. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

Silverbolt led his Aerialbots to the Middle East to discover why aircraft had been mysteriously disappearing from the area. As they flew over a canyon, Silverbolt detected a call from help down below, only to discover it was a Decepticon trick. The Decepticons retreated when Optimus Prime showed up, and Silverbolt pitched in to rescue Slingshot, who had been buried by [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. Later on, Silverbolt and [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] fought the Decepticons and their drones. When the Combaticons merged into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], Silverbolt (after expressing disdain for [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]'s late arrival) ordered his team to become [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. After a bit of combiner-on-combiner action, the Aerialbots separated and ignited the oil that had spilled all around the Decepticons, scattering them. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

[[Image:WarDawn-SilverboltAndOP.jpg|thumb|left|210px|"In the future, you'll be a great Autobot leader." "Sweet!" "And I'm the key to your success." "GET OUT."]]

When the Seekers captured half of the Earth's leaders, Silverbolt seemed to be the only one concerned, and he valiantly rescued the humans when [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] dropped them. Back at the base, Ratchet and Silverbolt couldn't believe the other Aerialbots' admiration of the Decepticons, but that was cut short when strange energy readings were detected on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Boarding Omega Supreme, Silverbolt went with the other Autobots to check it out, but when they arrived, the other Aerialbots were more interested in tagging along with Starscream. Rushing in to help his teammates, Silverbolt was placed with the others into the [[Kronosphere]], where they were sent to Cybertron's past, before the Great War. There, he met a worker named Orion Pax, and Silverbolt was again frustrated by his fascination with Decepticons. When Orion Pax was injured by Megatron, Silverbolt and his team brought him to Alpha Trion, and at Silverbolt's insistence, the damaged Orion was rebuilt into Optimus Prime. Following that, the Aerialbots destroyed the Decepticons' fuel, and Wheeljack managed to repair the Kronosphere and return them to their time. Upon their return, Silverbolt ordered the Aerialbots to combine into Superion and take down a [[guardian robot]] Megatron had sicced on the Autobots. {{storylink|War Dawn}}

The Aerialbots were tasked with applying [[corrostop]] to the [[Statue of Liberty]], but Perceptor was captured by Stunticons, leaving it up to the Aerialbots to locate him. They followed the Stunticons' [[Blitzwing (G1)|escape vehicle]], but Dirge and Ramjet scared Silverbolt's squad off by using their [[Lightning Bug]]. When Megatron offered to let Perceptor free at Fox Creek Canyon, Silverbolt was among the many Autobots to come with Prime to rescue their comrade. Later, Silverbolt commanded the formation of Superion, and in this combined form the Aerialbots defeated Menasor and destroyed the Lightning Bug. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

After the death of Megatron and the retaking of Cybertron, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots became part of the Autobot Fleet. When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and Spike were kidnapped to [[Quintessa]], the rescue party alerted the Aerialbots to swoop by for covering fire and pick-up. By 2006, Silverbolt was showing far more confidence as a leader, and effectively coordinated the entire rescue operation. Briefly, he even [[scale|grew so large]] that all the Autobots trapped on Quintessa's surface were able to board him. Whattaguy. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} When the Quintessons destroyed their own planet to get at the Autobots, the resulting blast wave destroyed the Aerialbots' ship, sending Silverbolt and the rest hurtling through space. They eventually impacted on [[Goo 8739B|Goo #8739B]]. That planetoid was so sticky, Silverbolt couldn't even blast free of its surface in jet mode. They were eventually rescued by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}}

{{Note|In the episode "[[Dark Awakening]]", several jets in the Autobot Fleet resembling the Aerialbots' alt modes were destroyed by the Quintessons. Repeatedly. Since the Aerialbots unquestionably survived the attack, it would seem their character models were merely used to build up the size of the fleet, and the casualty figures.}}
[[Infern
[[Image:ForeverLongTime Air Raid Silverbolt.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Why are you the leader, Silverbolt? I've got a nicer paint job." "[[Inferno (episode)|Yes, but... a Concorde is bigger.]]"]]
As a leader, Silverbolt was something of a killjoy to his fellow Aerialbots, encouraging moderation and self-control over daredevil flying and adventuring. During a battle against the Quintessons, Air Raid was eager to chase after the Quintessons and give them what-for, but Silverbolt insisted they stick with the mission and secure the asteroid base the Quintessons had been operating from instead. When Air Raid gave him some backtalk that basically amounted to "Pussyyyyy!", Silverbolt shrugged it off and reminded his comrades that THIS was why Prime put him in charge. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

Once, Air Raid led the Decepticon duo of [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] into an asteroid field where Silverbolt and his fellow Aerialbots were waiting to spring an ambush. The Aerialbots messed the Decepticons up pretty badly, especially after they transformed into Superion. Eventually, Silverbolt and the others chased the Decepticons through a strange warp in space. This proceeded to have no consequences for [[Sandstorm (G1)|anyone]] [[Paradron|whatsoever]]. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}}

Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were spending a relaxing day watching home movies on [[Teletraan II]] when things suddenly get serious, as the Autobots' computer off-handedly informed them [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] was never destroyed in his last battle with [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. Sure enough, Silverbolt and Skydive were later present at the former site of Fort Knox, investigating Trypticon's handiwork on behalf of the [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|King of Kings]] of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]]. When they tracked Trypticon to his new staging grounds, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots launched from [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], but the Decepticon presence in Carbombya was more than they had anticipated. The Aerialbots made a hasty retreat when confronted with overwhelming firepower, but soon returned with reinforcements and drove the Decepticons from Carbombya. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}

During a battle in space, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots may or may not have been present. Superion, at least, was surely there on the planet [[Eurythma]]... sometimes. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}} Silverbolt was ''definitely'' stationed at Autobot City, though, when [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and Starscream stole Metroplex's eyes. The massive Autobot was nearly driven mad with pain when the Decepticons set off a bomb in his brain, and Skydive, Silverbolt and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] had to keep him contained so that his thrashing didn't destroy anything irreplaceable. Like Portland. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Image:BigBroadcast Silverbolt jet mode.jpg|left|200px|thumb|No one tell him that space is really really high up.]]
After [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] took some hostile fire over the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], Rodimus Prime dispatched Silverbolt and the Aerialbots to investigate. They were caught in a crossfire between the brain-addled Junkions and the Quintessons, who were responsible for messing with the Junkions' air waves, and their minds. Even after becoming Superion, the Aerialbots took heavy fire and had to be brought back to [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] on Cybertron for repairs. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

Normally, Silverbolt is the pinnacle of self-restraint and professionalism. One day, though, he congratulated [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] on strategically getting himself set on fire by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], and then personally flew down the monster's throat, throwing out laser bolts and imaginative taunts all the way down his gullet. Someone slipped a little too much caffeine into Silverbolt's oil that day. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

During the Decepticon invasion of Japan, the Aerialbots fought against [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] when he tried to derail a bullet train full of passengers. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}} Sometime thereafter, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were recruited by Rodimus Prime to rescue the body of Optimus Prime from [[Gregory Swofford|Swofford]] and [[Mark Morgan|Morgan]]. Unfortunately, this only meant they were among the first Autobots exposed to the [[Hate Plague|hate plague]]. Despite the madness induced by the red dust, the Aerialbots were apparently still willing to form Superion. Superion ran amok, causing serious property damage, infecting [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and taking several other Autobots out of action. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

When the Decepticons invaded Cybertron searching for the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], the Aerialbots tried to stop them. Unfortunately, they didn't reckon with [[Sixshot]]. Silverbolt's team was taken down in a matter of seconds, with him being personally eliminated by Cyclonus, wielding Sixshot in gun mode. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}} Silverbolt somehow survived Sixshot's direct hit, and was finally defeated [[The Rebirth, Part 3|two episodes later]] by [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. The [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] then took his [[power pack]] to use as fuel for the giant rocket engine they were constructing for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
When the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] confronted Menasor at a baseball stadium, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots arrived as back-up. They formed Superion to engage Menasor and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. After [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] was injured, Superion targeted the Decepticon combiners' legs, shaking them loose and giving the smaller Protectobots a chance to link up with the Decepticon gestalts and override control of their bodies. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}} After the Autobots discovered a utopia island paradise, it was besieged by Megatron and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], who wanted to build an impregnable fortress. [[Kenji]] radioed for help, and Optimus Prime sent Silverbolt and the Aerialbots to the rescue. As Superion, they fought off [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], using their smarts to outthink the evil warriors. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}}

====''Scramble City'' cartoon====
Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were dispatched from the [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]] project by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] to aid Optimus Prime in battle with the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Their aerial firepower frankly overwhelmed the marauding Decepticons, and sent them home with their transistors between their struts. On his second attempt, Megatron sent the Stunticons, who were considerably more successful in engaging the Autobots. Damaged in jet modes, Silverbolt the Aerialbots chose instead to merge and form Superion. As Superion, they possessed scramble combining abilities, but so did the Stunticons when they formed Menasor. The Aerialbots were in the midst of reconfiguring their limb formation when Fireflight, being...well, a daydreaming idiot, mixed up whether he was supposed to be the right leg or the left. His indecision gave Menasor time to shoot him down, and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] assumed the place of Superion's right leg instead, corrupting his programming. Silverbolt and the others were trapped as Superion, literally fighting themselves, until Fireflight retook his place as Superion's limb. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''The Great Transformer War'' comic====
In 2010, Galvatron kidnapped Doctor [[Dalton (G1)|Dalton]] of [[Eran]] to utilize his skills and improve the Decepticons' combiner technology. Silverbolt and the Aerialbots joined the Protectobots in assaulting Trypticon, in hopes of rescuing the hostage scientist. Silverbolt and his team formed Superion for a first strike, but the Decepticon combiners countered with their deployment modes, launching the Stunticon and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] troops with enough force to tear Superion apart. The Protectobots stood guard over [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] as he performed battlefield triage on the Aerialbots in his repair bay mode, bringing them back online. Silverbolt then transformed into launcher mode and unleashed the Aerialbots in their own scramble attack, blinding Menasor and Bruticus long enough for the Autobots to escape safely with Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were stationed at Autobot City on Earth in 2011. When Galvatron attacked Cybertron via the old [[space bridge]] network, the Aerialbots were summoned to Cybertron as reinforcements. They soon arrived with the [[Trainbot]]s and quickly joined the battle. Silverbolt and his team formed Superion and battled [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and Devastator. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Later, the combined Aerialbots fought alongside [[Raiden]] and Defensor against the Decepticon combiners, and were nearly crushed when Bruticus collapsed a building on their position. They were bailed out by the arrival of the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]]. When Hot Rod began his search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] on Earth, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots returned to the humans' planet to assist him. They confronted the Stunticons in the desert, pitting Superion against Menasor yet again. The battle was so fierce, it eventually carried them to the Arctic, where Hot Rod was searching. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

Silverbolt and his flying comrades joined the [[Triple Changer]]s in distracting the Decepticons long enough for [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] to sneak inside Trypticon and gather data on the [[Madmachine]]. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}} Sometime later, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were on a research vessel that passed near a [[Metamorphose|strange meteorite]]. The meteorite had been altered by Galvatron to produce magnetic warping waves whenever it detected metal, and so it send the Aerialbots and their ship twisting through space. Although the Decepticons tried to intervene, the Autobots eventually recovered Silverbolt and his injured colleagues. {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}}

Following a lengthy repair cycle, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were ready for action when Galvatron and the Decepticons laid siege to Cybertron one last time. Transporting to Cybertron from Earth, they raced into battle (on foot, for some reason). Silverbolt and the team got the drop on the Stunticons when they merged into Superion, smashing and scattering the 'Cons before they could form Menasor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} As the fighting continued, the Aerialbots battled Abominus as Superion and later separated to trade blaster fire with the Stunticons. The warring only came to an end once [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s bombs blew up [[Vector Sigma]] and annihilated the planet.{{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

Silverbolt was stationed at Autobot City when a volcano erupted in [[Peru]], threatening a nearby town. Ultra Magnus sent out the Protectobots and [[Trainbot]]s, but they ran into trouble with the Headmasters and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s. Silverbolt pleaded with Ultra Magnus to send his men in as reinforcements, but Magnus was worried about leaving the base unguarded by sending out too many of his troops. As Ultra Magnus wracked his brain trying to deal with the problem, the Autobot Headmasters had time to ''fly from [[Athenia]]''. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}}

When [[buridanka|a giant carnivorous plant]] attacked San Francisco, Ultra Magnus dispatched Silverbolt and the Aerialbots to combat it. Although they made frequent bombing runs on the organism, the Aerialbots were unable to stop it. Only the arrival of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] and his powerful giant [[Transtector]] brought an end to the creature's rampage. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were part of a strike team that flew to the [[Moon (moon)|moon]] to disrupt Scorponok's gathering of Decepticons. They immediately formed Superion upon entering the battle. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}}

When one of Scorponok's Death Towers emerged in Washington D.C., Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were dispatched to investigate it. As part of Superion, Silverbolt participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Silverbolt aerialbots over america.jpg|right|150px|thumb|<div align="center">'''THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!''']]</div>
The Aerialbots were created when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] filmed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'s combining sequence, ''following a [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-sent vision by [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] of new [[Special Teams]]''. Using the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] gave the Aerialbots life. The leader, Silverbolt's alternate mode is that of a human transport airplane. After being given life and during testing, Prime ordered them to stop the Decepticon assault on the [[Hoover Dam]].

The fight went well, but [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] used his super-sonic ability to bring out a Transformer's deepest fear; it warped Silverbolt's fear of heights (ironic for an Aerialbot) and forced him to land. The Aerialbots prevailed in the fight, however, and as the Decepticons fled, Silverbolt combined them all to form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], trying to stop the drill from absorbing all of the Hoover Dam's electricity.

Superion's reflex was to strike out and kill [[Ricky Vasquez|the human]] who held [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] in his gun form, but Silverbolt mentally stepped in and prevented him from doing so. He forced the Aerialbots to disassemble. The human fired Megatron's gun at the drill, winning the day for the Autobots. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

[[Image:Aerialbots minds wiped marvel 22.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Wheeljack, did you unquestioningly kill the Aerialbots, as per my orders?" "Yep—sure thing, Prime!"]]
Nonetheless, Silverbolt's mind was wiped along with his fellow Aerialbots shortly afterwards, due to Optimus Prime's dissatisfaction with the mission. Silverbolt would appear in other later battles with his teammates, usually getting blown out of the sky, if not to pieces.

Later, when [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] was transporting the human [[Donny Finkleberg]] home, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were sent to do battle with the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. Both combiners fused, creating [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and Superion. [[Circuit Breaker|Josie Beller]], known as Circuit Breaker, fired upon Superion, however, crippling him heavily and leaving Menasor the victor. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

[[Image:Silverbolt perchance to dream.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"This must be a flashback... I'm in monochrome!"]]
''They would battle Menasor again at a Blackrock plant, and this time the fusion worked so well everyone found out the others' weaknesses and neuroses. Horrified at his fear of heights being found out, Silverbolt drove Superion into a vicious, brutal fury.'' {{storylink|...Perchance to Dream}} ''Following this, Silverbolt and the other Aerialbots would come under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command to investigate enemy activity in a small East Coast town. They would combine into Superion for the fourth and final time—their collective neuroses and loathing of each others' weaknesses made it impossible for Superion to focus on more than one thing at a time.'' {{storylink|The Return of the Transformers}} ''Silverbolt would later work to get over his fear.'' {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}}

With Optimus dead, Silverbolt was one of the high-ranking Autobots gathered by [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] to decide their new leader. Silverbolt voted for [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]—nice one... {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} He later got killed by the [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[Image:Grimlockwasthatwise.jpg|left|200px|thumb|[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] and [[Action Master|Action Masters]] right this way.]]
During the [[Unicron]] War, Grimlock revived Silverbolt along with other fallen Autobots to help in the battle against the Dark God, and when the Decepticons tried to strand the Autobots on a ruined Cybertron, Silverbolt was one of the pilots for Grimlock's reserve ships. {{storylink|The Last Autobot?}}

{{-}}
=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Silverbolt sunstreaker perchance to dream.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Hey, who's the joker that left this cyber-bug in my CR chamber?"]]
''Kept in inactive rest after his destruction at the hands of Starscream, Silverbolt was revived by [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] when the future Decepticon infiltrated the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and attempted to reprogram several Autobots into working for him, using their darker impulses as a focus. Galvatron succeeded in reactivating Silverbolt and several others, but failed to command their loyalty, and they turned his own [[mind bug]] technology against him.'' {{storylink|...Perchance to Dream}} ''When Optimus Prime took the Ark out into space shortly thereafter, leaving [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] in charge of Autobot activity on Earth, Silverbolt joined the new Earthforce in opposing the remaining Decepticon factions, led by Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]].'' {{storylink|Break-Away!}} ''Perhaps at Silverbolt's request, the other Aerialbots were also revived in short order, and joined Earthforce as well. When Wheeljack's new defense grid for the Earthbase went awry, Silverbolt assembled the Aerialbots to fly air support for Prowl as he attempted to re-enter the base and shut down the system from the inside.'' {{storylink|The House that Wheeljack Built!}}

''Sometime later, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots were operating as Superion when [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] zapped them with a [[cerebro-shell]], causing the super-robot to rampage through the countryside. A human named [[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] eventually managed to climb inside and remove the shell from Superion's cerebral circuitry.'' {{storylink|Inside Story!}}

''Sent on a mission to [[Stanix]] with five other Autobots, he was captured by [[Megadeath (G1)|Megadeath]], who had tortured his comrades millions of years ago. Silverbolt got them to face their fear and move past it, saving their lives.'' {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}}

=====''Another Time & Place''=====
Silverbolt was part of the Autobot force who travelled to [[Hydrus Four]] to rescue the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. Along with his fellow Aerialbots, [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] and [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], he performed a bombing run on the Decepticon-held medcenter where they were trying to revive Megatron. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
After the defeat of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his Decepticons on [[Klo]], the Autobots split into smaller combat units throughout the universe. Once Optimus Prime and Grimlock learned of the threat posed by the second generation [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian army]], though, the Autobot forces reconsolidated under their command. Slingshot and the other Aerialbots were first seen after the Autobots had retreated to an asteroid sanctuary for retraining. They were, um, outsmarted by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}}

Later, when Grimlock decided to countermand Prime's orders and come to his aid against the Decepticons on Earth, Silverbolt was part of the rescue team he assembled. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} He was also involved in the two major offensives against the Cybertronians, on [[Ethos]] {{storylink|Escalation!}} and at Autobase Earth. {{storylink|Total War!}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' comics===
Silverbolt and his fellow Aerialbots became one of the first Autobot "[[Special Teams]]" several million years ago, adopting the process used to create [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] in order to become Superion. The unchecked destructive power of these super-robots was eventually recognized by the Autobot and Decepticon factions, however. By the time of the [[Dark Ages]], the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] had been ratified, strictly forbidding Special Teams from operating together on any given faction, in order to prevent these titans from tearing the planet apart. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[Image:DWPrimeDirective6_Autobots_wanttheirheads.jpg|thumb|250px|]]

Although they were apparently not part of the Ark's original crew, Silverbolt and the Aerialbots somehow arrived on Earth and were part of Optimus Prime's unit in the 1980s. The war on the human homeworld raged until 1998 when the Decepticons were finally defeated, and in the following year, the ''[[Ark II]]'' was constructed to take the Transformers home. However, the ship was sabotaged by the rogue engineer-turned arms dealer Adam Rook, known as [[Lazarus]], and General [[Robert Hallo]], who planned on reprogramming the Transformers into the service of the United States military. The Aerialbots were some of the few Transformers who were not recovered by Lazarus for his reprogramming venture, now aimed at hiring out the Transformers to the highest bidder. Instead, they lay immobile in the Arctic waters until reactivated as Superion in 2002 by Optimus Prime, using the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

Silverbolt and the Aerialbots in their Superion form, battled the Decepticons in the Northwest Territories of [[Canada]] {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} and again in [[San Francisco]]. During the latter conflict, Superion was broken down into his individual components while battling [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} When Megatron failed to convince Optimus Prime to join his cause, Silverbolt and his team were freed and eventually reunified in order to intercept a nuclear missile (launched by General Hallo) headed for the California coastline. Superion, and by extension the Aerialbots, were destroyed in stopping the missile. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

Their remains were collected secretly by [[Earth Defense Command]] and held in Area 51. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}}

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===
Before the war, Silverbolt was a law enforcer and member of captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]]'s team, serving as their eye in the sky and participating in the capture of [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. {{storylink|Law and Disorder}} During their hunt for the Decepticon spy [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], he reported to Orion where their target was headed and the failed attempts of the other Autobots at taking him down. Once everyone else was defeated or distracted, Silverbolt went after Soundwave on his own, only to crash when [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] ripped off his port stabilizer. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} He later participated in the search for the insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], but was unable to assist his teammates after they entered the maze-like [[Acropolex]]. {{storylink|Ruins}}

Later, he and the Aerialbots responded to Optimus' rallying call for additional support against the Decepticons and fought against the Seekers in the battle that followed. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

Four million years ago, Silverbolt attended a victory celebration on Cybertron after the Autobots stopped a Decepticon energon convoy from reaching its destination. He was seen chatting with [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] at the party. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

[[Image:SpotlightBlaster Silverbolt.jpg|left|150px|thumb|His bedside manner could use some work...]]
In the modern era, with Optimus Prime leading the Autobots in the field, Silverbolt became Operation Commander on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub]]; [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] was one of his senior officers. He was involved in trying to find the attempted assassin of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], deducing the assailant had to be an Autobot. To catch the would-be killer, Silverbolt and Blaster concocted a plan where the Autobot morale-booster set himself as bait. Silverbolt and his men waited as backup while Blaster dealt with the assassin (who turned out to be a mind-controlled [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]), but he nearly stormed into the room when he saw that "the Voice" was not armed with a weapon. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

Several years later, Silverbolt was mentioned as being on Earth by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

Most of the Autobots eventually left Earth, returning to Cybertron to fight [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s army. When Galvatron began to fire at the planet's surface using [[Kimia Facility]]'s particle cannon, Silverbolt led all available flying Autobots in an attack on the facility. Though he didn't know what Galvatron was targeting, he knew the barrage had to be stopped, and volunteered to destroy Kimia by tossing explosives into its barrel. He didn't need to, as it was soon blown up by Autobots on the inside. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers}}

After the Chaos war, Silverbolt's fellow Aerialbot [[Barrel Roll]] died in an explosion and Silverbolt, unable to trust any Decepticons after four million years of war, blamed the survivor, [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. He almost killed the Decepticon if not for Wheeljack spoiling his aim. Shortly after the incident, Bumblebee agreed to accept [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] into the government, which made Silverbolt even more furious. He attacked Bumblebee and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] before announcing that he and his Aerialbots were leaving Bumblebee's government. {{storylink|Stick Together}} They left [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] behind and traveled into the untamed wilderness Cybertron had become, only for something terrible to happen. When [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] was sent out to find them, he found a broken wing belonging to Silverbolt. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt}}

{{-}}

===IDW Beast Wars comics===
[[Image:Maximalimperium.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
Though his aerial insecurities are now mostly a thing of the past, he still mutters a short prayer or mantra as he takes flight. Though taking to the air might bring about some queasiness in him still, Silverbolt believes that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome it. {{Storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

Silverbolt was a member of the Maximal counterpart to the [[Tripredacus Council]], the [[Maximal Imperium]], alongside former Autobot teammates [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 2|The Ascending #2}}

{{-}}
==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1 Silverbolt toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Oh God, I'm in the middle of a white cloud!" *faints*]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Aerialbot, 1986/1991)
**''Team ID number:'' '''A1'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-50'''
**''Accessories:'' "[[Electrostatic discharger rifle|Electrostatic Discharger Rifle]]", "Blast Shield" chest plate, Superion's head, 2 fists (left & right), 2 foot stands (left & right), ramp and "Blast Deflector" waist plate

:Silverbolt transforms into a Concorde SST jet liner, and also has a third launcher/base mode for use with the other Aerialbots. A particular weakness of Silverbolt's design is the way both his legs are connected to his hips by a long pin going through several very small (and weak) plastic hinges that are put under stress as the immediate joint underneath this assembly is a swivel used during transformation. His [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] release has a spring powered launcher mechanism for the "base" mode that was removed from his [[Hasbro]] releases, leaving only a piece that flopped around uselessly on his chest. He was available both alone and in a gift set with his teammates.

: In Japan, the entire Aerialbot team were offered (as individual purchases) as mail-order items in US packaging during ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (toyline)|Return of Convoy]]''. Silverbolt cost 2000 yen and three [[Robot Point|robot points]] and did not include the base mode launcher.

: The Aerialbots were later sold as part of the [[Classics (Europe)|European Classics]] toyline in 1991, still without the "base" mode launcher on Silverbolt.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Silverbolt at TFU.info]''

*'''Superion''' (1986)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-55'''

: Silverbolt was also available with the other Aerialbots as part of a Superion giftset. All of the toys in the set are identical to their individual releases for the same markets (i.e., the Takara version of Silverbolt included the you-know-what).

===Generation 2===
*'''Silverbolt''' (1994)
**''Team ID number:'' '''A5'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 Missile launchers, 2 missiles, chest plate, Superion's head, 2 fists (left & right), 2 feet (left & right), ramp and waist plate

:For the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|''Generation 2'' toyline]], Silverbolt's toy was [[Redeco|redecoed]] in blue and orange, and his wings were [[Retool|retooled]] to hold a new pair of spring-loaded missile launchers (reused from the ''Generation 2'' versions of [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]). No base mode launcher here, either...
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1994/Autobot/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Generation 2 Silverbolt at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

{{picsneeded|Generation 2 toy pics that aren't ganked from TFU.info.}}

===Beast Wars===
[[Image:Silverbolt-bw-magnaboss-toy2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|House the people living on the street. Shoe the children with no shoes on their feet.]]
*'''Magnaboss''' (Ultra, 1997)

: Silverbolt transforms from an eagle into a robot, with portions of his wings turning into a pair of swords. Each wing also contains a spring-loaded missile launcher. He is able to combine with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], his package buddies, forming part of the torso and helmet to the giant robot [[Magnaboss]].

: This mold was used to make ''[[Beast Wars II (toyline)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Skywarp (BWII)|Skywarp]].

:The Magnaboss toy included no information about its 3 components beyond their names. The character was finally established by [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] to be Generation 1 Silverbolt a decade after its release in 2007.

: Silverbolt is rumoured to be a sufferer of the dreaded [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]. Thankfully he is not one of the more common cases and most Silverbolts have survived many years of playwear. Unlike, say, [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] .
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Maximal/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Beast Wars Silverbolt at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
{{picsneeded|Japanese version}}
====Classic Series====
[[Image:Universe2008 Silverbolt toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Will the new [[size class]] solve his long-running [[scale]] problems? Only time will tell...]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Ultra Class, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' "Electron Bolt Rifle", "Electron Bolt"

: Part of the second wave of [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'']] Ultra-class toys, Silverbolt transforms into a (fictional) FB-129 supersonic fighter-bomber. As an Ultra-scale toy, he comes with various light and sound [[Gimmick|gimmicks]] (exactly the same ones as Universe [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]]), including a machine gun type sound when one presses the big red button on the fuselage, and different classic transformation sound effects depending on whether he is being transformed from vehicle mode or vice versa. His spring-loaded missile-launching blaster features a B-2 Stealth bomber as a decorative shape. His '''BOLT-25''' markings reference both his name and the twenty-fifth (silver) anniversary of the Transformers brand.

:The Japanese ''Transformers USA'' version of this toy for the [[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|''Henkei! Henkei!'' line]] features much brighter white plastic, replacing most of his grey plastic with the same white for a better match with his cartoon model. Also, the red on his chest is now a matching shade of red rather than the two tones seen on the ''Universe'' version.

: This mold was also used to make [[Darkwing|Darkwind]] and [[Skyjack|Skyfall]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFUSilverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Universe Silverbolt (Ultra) at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Legend}}
*'''Special Team Leaders''' (Legends Class multi-pack, 2008)

: A [[redeco]] of the [[Legends Class|Legends-class]] ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] toy, Silverbolt transforms into a Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet. He is only available in a Target-[[exclusive]] gift set along with Legends-class versions of [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Zone]], [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattorshot]], [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grrr]] and [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]].

: This mold was also used to make Legends-class ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and 2008's ''Universe'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFULegendsSilverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Universe Silverbolt (Legends) at TFU.info]''

====G1 Series====
[[Image:Universe2008 Silverbolt combiner.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The other guys think I'm acrophobic, but I'm not scared of [http://aceattorney.wikia.com/wiki/Acro some guy in a wheelchair.]]]
*'''Superion''' (Multi-pack, 2008)

:Available only as a component of ''Universe'' Superion, this version of Silverbolt is a white and black redeco of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Storm Jet (Energon)|Storm Jet]], transforming into a futuristic supersonic jet similar to an SR-71 Blackbird or [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]]. As a toy derived from the ''Energon''-series "[[Powerlinx]] [[Combiner]]"s, he can attach any ''Energon'' combiner limbs to the Powerlinx ports located on his arms and legs, though nominally he combines with his fellow Aerialbots to become Superion.

: Like the Storm Jet version of the sculpt, Silverbolt features several instances of [[misassembly]]: Namely, his inside legs are swapped so that the knee joint faces the wrong way. Furthermore, his shoulders are also misassembled, since there is a molded chevron...in his armpit.

:The Superion five-pack, despite being initially intended as a ''Universe'' [[Target]] [[exclusive]], was only released in ''Universe'' packaging on some non-American markets such as Australia and Singapore. Instead, American Target stores (and Zellers stores in Canada) received an unchanged version of the toy in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' packaging, still named [[Superion (ROTF)|Superion]], with all the individual components, including [[Silverbolt (ROTF)|Silverbolt]], retaining their names as well.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Universe Silverbolt (Multi-pack) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G1silverboltchestonoff.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Sometimes Silverbolt just wants to naked it up.]]
* Silverbolt's [[character model]] is based on the toy with Superion's chest plate attached. Even Silverbolt's [[package art]] includes the Superion chest plate, though his robot mode is without it on the back-of-the-box art and in his own instructions. Attaching Superion's chest plate results in limited elbow positioning, so it would appear he was not designed to use it in this mode, though [[Sixshot|it wouldn't be out of the question]]. Either someone along the way made a mistake or realized that he looked really terrible without it.

:* Because the Superion chest plate was used with Silverbolt's robot mode so prevalently, his ''Universe'' toy incorporates details from it.

* Due to the size of his original toy's alternate mode, in that form he should be one of the biggest Transformers around (approximately 164 feet, 5 inches tall!). This means he's one of the most [[Scale|out-of-scale]] Generation 1 characters, both as a toy and in all of his depictions in fiction.

[[Image:SilverboltPrimeVisualworks.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This is the most hardcore Silverbolt has ever been.]]
* Apparently Silverbolt sometimes lets Prime ride on his back while dropping bombs on Decepticons from above. Bet you didn't know Concordes could even CARRY bomb-loads!

* Oddly, the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' depicts him with the eagle head for his robot mode head. It also reveals that Silverbolt had lost most of his fear of heights by the time he gained this form.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Silverbolt''' (シルバーボルト ''Shirubāboruto'')
*''French:'' '''Éclairo''' (Canada, "Lightningo")
*''Italian:'' '''Radiant'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Yín Shǎn-dìan''' (Taiwan, 銀閃電, "Silver Bolt"), '''Yín Jìan''' (China, 銀劍, "Silver Sword")
*''Russian:'' '''Arbalet''' (Арбалет, "Arbalest")

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Silverbolt Silverbolt's ''Universe'' profile at NFTA.net]

[[Category:Aerialbots]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Maximal leaders]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

The Burden Hardest to Bear

2012-09-13T16:12:01Z

134.117.251.41: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=93
|series2=2010
|ep2=28
|prev2=The Face of the Nijika
|next2=Daniel's Adventure
|image=Matrix burden 2.jpg
|caption=You found me beautiful, once.
|title="The Burden Hardest to Bear"
|production code=700-114
|airdate=[[November 19]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Overwhelmed by the burdens of leadership, Rodimus Prime doesn't care too much when the Decepticons steal the Matrix of Leadership away from him.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 重すぎた使命 (''Omo Sugi ta Shimei'', "The Mission Too Heavy")
:''German title:'' '''Die Last der Verantwortung''' ("The Burden of Responsibility")
:''Russian title:'' '''Samaya tyajkaya nosha''' (''Самая тяжкая ноша'', "The Heaviest Burden")
==Synopsis==
[[Image:BurdenHardest Defensor Bruticus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|So, uh... If what it looks like is about to happen happens... does it count as an orgy?]]

At dawn, the people of [[Japan]] are awakening to do their daily tasks: fishing, going to shrines, and sword practice. Then, the [[Decepticon]]s show up to cause random trouble.

[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Predaking]] begin harassing a few fishermen, but are chased off by [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] tries to ram a train head on (real smart) only to have the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] drive him away. [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] fight it out, when [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep|Sweeps]] arrive, but are driven off by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. However, instead of thanking the [[Autobot|Autobots]] for saving many lives, the government of Japan is very upset, saying that the Autobots frightened people and ruined business (thankless bipeds). When [[Marissa Faireborn]] arrives and brings more problems to Rodimus, the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] loses patience, [[Transformation|transforms]], and drives off. Kup explains that Rodimus is merely strained under the burden of command, much like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was in his early days as leader, and Marissa decides to follow him, to let him have someone to talk to.

[[Image:Matrix burden 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Galvatron takes the brown acid.]]

Meeting up on the highway, however, the two are attacked by [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], who knock Marissa into a lake and force Rodimus off a cliff. When they inspect Rodimus, they find the Matrix. Realizing that [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] will be ''really'' happy, they steal it and return to [[Chaar]]. In his throne room, Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, but instead of making it even more powerful like he had hoped, visions of the [[Ancient Autobots]] (including Optimus Prime himself) seep out of the barrel and demand that Galvatron return the Matrix. Galvatron orders [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to destroy the Matrix, believing it better to be destroyed if the Decepticons can't have it. Scourge, however, inserts the Matrix into himself, and becomes more powerful... but at a startling price.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod recover.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Augh... can't get the mental image of Bruticus/Defensor out!]]

Meanwhile, the Autobot leader wakes up, to learn that he's reverted to Hot Rod. [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] argue that they should go after the Decepticons, but Hot Rod feels that the Matrix isn't worth it, and jets off. Real smart idea, Roddy. On Chaar, Scourge challenges Galvatron, defeating him and Cyclonus easily, before leading the Decepticons off to Earth. Galvatron and Cyclonus still function, and set off in pursuit in the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]''.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yoink!]]

On Earth, Hot Rod, while watching a martial arts class, gets some perspective and some wisdom from the kendo instructor, and realizes that he needs to get the Matrix back. Meanwhile, Scourge arrives in Japan with his forces, tossing around the Autobots. Broadside tosses him to the ground and he frightens an elderly woman. Ozu, one of the kendo students, comes to her aid, attacking Scourge with a sword and he begins to chase the pair. He corners them in a blind alley, only for Hot Rod to arrive. Shocked at the changes the Matrix has wrought in Scourge, Hot Rod defeats the Decepticon and reclaims the Matrix, becoming Rodimus Prime once more. Galvatron and Cyclonus find a less powerful, and very frightened, Scourge. And they are none too happy with him...

As the Decepticons retreat, Rodimus realizes that he must deal with his missing part, as have those who came before him. Kup reminds him that no matter who carries the Matrix, he will retain that part forever.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (1)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (8)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (13)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (14)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (21)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (22)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (23)
* [[Ancient Autobots]] (35)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (36)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (37)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (38)

|c2=
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (2)
* [[Predaking]] (3)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (7)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (15)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (18)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (19)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (20)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (25)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (26)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (27)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (28)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (31)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (32)
* [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (33)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (34)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (39)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (40)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (41)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (42)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (43)

|c3=
* [[Ozu's sensei]] (16)
* [[Ozu]] (17)
* [[Prime Minister of Japan]] (29)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (30)
* [[Old Japanese lady]] (44)
}}

==Quotes==
"Eh, you've had worse times." 
"Yeah, when do they get better? That's what ''I'' wanna know."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus'''

"[[Wikipedia:Second City Television|He done blowed up real good]]."
:—'''Wildrider''', master of grammar

"You dropped it, didn't you? You broke the Matrix, didn't you?!"
:—'''Galvatron'''

"Aren't you getting a little carried away here? I'm still me, you're still you: Matrix, schmatrix."
:—'''Hot Rod''' is flippant after losing a hand-me-down.

"I...still...function..."
:—'''Cyclonus''' in a call-back to [[The Transformers: The Movie]]

"We're too late, Galvatron! Scourge has already launched his assault!" 
"He doesn't know the meaning of the word assault, but he's going to learn!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron'''

"Oh no, we're trapped! We'll be killed!" 
"Remarkable! The woman is clairvoyant!" 
:-'''Scourge''' mocks his intended victim.

"The Matrix did this to you? Then I have to take it back. I see now it is my obligation. I belong to it... as much as it belongs to me."
:—'''Hot Rod'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s realization at last.

"Well, son of a gun. Found that missing part, huh?" 
"Not just the Matrix, Kup, a missing part of... myself."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Devastator is colored olive green rather than light green in the opening battle.
* A shot of Astrotrain from the human train's perspective shows no tracks on the ground.
* The first time we see Cyclonus, his nose cone is purple. In the next shot, part of it is grey.
* Rodimus' crest is missing the horizontal line during most shots in this episode.
* When Rodimus is called to the palace, he's missing his Autobot logo.
* Rodimus' spoiler should be orange in the middle, but many shots have it colored completely in yellow.
* As he says, "When do they get better, that's what I want to know," Rodimus' face becomes all glitched up.
* For some reason, the [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] [[insignia|logo]] on Marissa Faireborne's shoulder has been replaced with "AOC".
* When Rodimus drives away from Marissa, his smoke trail appears behind Kup instead of in front of him. Also, Sky Lynx is missing in the shot.
* Rodimus' display shows a rear angle shot of Dead End and Wildrider, but he's in'' front'' of them.
* When Wildrider holds the matrix, it looks like a big yellow blob. The next shot shows it in the usual colors and configuration.
* While Rodimus is reverted to Hot Rod, he's still occasionally drawn using Rodimus Prime's [[character model]].
* When Galvatron is about to put the Matrix in his cannon, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] are among the Decepticons present, and even though they are closer to the viewer, both are [[scale|smaller]] than Cyclonus, who is standing in front of them.
* Galvatron's throne changes color and design multiple times throughout one scene.
* In one shot of Optimus Prime's "ghost", he is colored completely blue.
* When Galvatron tosses the Matrix to Scourge, it's missing its handles.
* When Rodimus wakes and touches his forehead in the next scene, his face is partly purple.
* A few shots later (during the "Matrix, schmatrix..." lines), the depressions in Rodimus' shoulders are blue instead of white.
* Galvatron is missing the red squares on the tops of his shoulders in most shots.
* Cyclonus' gun fires a yellow laser. That's the Autobot color (it should be purple).
* The orange shapes on Cyclonus' chest are colored red in several shots.
* Galvatron's ship is gray instead of purple.
* The first shot of Galvatron aboard his ship has the whole bottom half of his face in dark gray instead of just his chin.
* When Galvatron opens the airlock door, one shot has "AIR LO'''O'''K" written on it.
* Hot Rod carries a gray laser gun rather than the usual red rifle. It has the standard sound effect instead of Prime's rifle sound effect.
* The Matrix is in Scourge's chest, but later Hot Rod pulls it out of his stomach.
* As Hot Rod holds the Matrix, one shot has his arm pipes clipping through it.
* Hot Rod sticks the Matrix into his chest without opening a compartment for it.
* As Galvatron and Cyclonus fly Scourge away from the city, Galvatron is mouthing something, but there's no dialogue.
* In the last shot of the episode, Ultra Magnus is missing his shoulder missiles and Kup is missing the white part of his chest.
* The version of this episode on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVDs features a glitch with an unstable horizontal line appearing at the top of the picture throughout the episode. The error appears to be on the episode's master copy, as the version included on the [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] DVDs has the picture slightly zoomed in order to avoid showing the offending line.

===Continuity errors===
* The Japanese-word "Giri" does not actually carry the rather-negative connotations of "The burden hardest to bear" implied by Kup's mistranslation. Rather, "Giri" more accurately means "Responbility/duty", which is a gladly accepted honor and virtue in Japanese culture rather than a painful annoyance. In the thematic/emotional context of this episode, "The ''duty'' hardest to bear" would have been a more fitting title. An even more appropriate word would have been ''Gimu'', meaning ''"obligation"'', as a ''gimu'' is something which '''must''' be done whether you wish to or not.
* It seems somehow unlikely that Rodimus turning around at speed and crashing into a stopped Wildrider would send him flying back hard and fast enough to go over a cliff.
* Galvatron says the Matrix eluded the Decepticons for year'''s''', but he had it for a while during the movie (which happened less than one year ago in the timeline).
* The ghost image of Optimus has two fog lights instead of four.
* We don't hear Optimus' voice during the "return the Matrix" chant.
* Speaking of the chant, why didn't the ancient Autobots chant when Galvatron had the Matrix during the movie?
* After Galvatron tells Scourge to get rid of the Matrix, the [[scene transition]] has two Decepticon logos, but the next scene is of the Autobots.
* Just before he quits the Autobots, Hot Rod states that "this war has been going on now for a few dozen millennia". Back in "[[War Dawn]]", we learned that the Third Cybertronian War started nine million years ago, which is about ''750'' dozen millennia... assuming, of course, that we want to take Hot Rod's pointedly off-handed remark as being based on historical accuracy, which is kind of a stretch for a guy who's at the end of his rope and sarcastically railing about "the known universe and its outlying suburbs".
* Funny how the old lady with the cane ''runs'' away from Cyclonus during his attack!
* Ozu injures Scourge (a giant metal robot) with his sword.
* It's not really clear why Galvatron put the Matrix in his cannon rather than his chest, or why Scourge got all mutated. Or why Scourge is so powerful early on but is defeated by a ramming and three shots from Hot Rod's gun.
* Those government spokesmen who complained about the fighting in the beginning must be ''pissed'' after all the destruction we see at the end!

===Transformers references===
* When Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, he says "Now, [['Til all are one|all shall become one]], under Galvatron's rule!"
* Optimus Prime is among the Ancient Autobots.
* After he rams Scourge, Hot Rod transforms in a manner similar to one of his transformations from the movie.
* This episode marks the last appearance of Springer, Broadside, Astrotrain, Devastator and Marissa Faireborn in US continuity.

===Japanese version===
* When they recover the Matrix of Leadership, [[Issei Masamune|the Narrator]] mistakenly identifies [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] as [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]].

===Trivia===
* While the episode order can vary, it's a little funny that the episode about Rodimus finally getting used to being leader of the Autobots was followed by the episode in which Optimus returns to replace him.
* Astrotrain actually travels on the railroad his locomotive mode was designed for in this episode.
* One of the "ghosts" emerging from the Matrix when Galvatron puts it into his chest is based on a [[generic]] character design that was previously seen in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]" and "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]". His colors have changed, though, and he dropped the antennas on the sides of his head he sported in "The Key to Vector Sigma".
* The yellow, the red and the orange-and-blue Matrix ghosts' character models were reused in the Japanese [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]] as various generic Autobots.
* When Scourge starts mutating, at one point it looks like he's... crying?
* Wildrider seems to now have a very bad Southern accent.
* This episode marks the first time in Transformers fiction that the word [[Slag (slang)|slag]] is used as an insult.
* Isn't it convenient that Scourge launches his attack on Earth in Japan, where the Autobots happen to be located?
* The voice acting for several Japanese characters in this episode employs a very stereotypical Western view of Asian people and their pronunciation of English words.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 11: The Decepticon Possession ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_burden_hardest_to_bear.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burden Hardest to Bear}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Flying Mind

2012-09-12T16:52:28Z

134.117.251.41: /* Real-world references */

{{picsneeded}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 37
|prev=Armada (episode)
|next=Tunnel Vision
|image=
|caption=
|title="Flying Mind"
|airdate=[[April 28]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron's attempt to repair the ''Nemesis'' has an unexpected side effect, forcing Raf, Jack, and Miko to put themselves in harm's way.'''

==Synopsis==
With the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' down, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] discovers that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|an Autobot]] was responsible for the crash. Despite [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s protests, Megatron infuses [[Dark Energon]] into the ship's power core, hoping its regenerative effects will cut down on the lengthy time it would take to get the ship airworthy. Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s feel this might well be the time to strike. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] reluctantly decides to use the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] to terminate the Decepticons for good.

The Dark Energon infusion of the ''Nemesis'' works perfectly, bringing the ship to full operational status in minutes. The energy is detected by the Autobots, who immediately set out with [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]. They arrive to find the 'Con warship already airborne, and it begins firing on them. The Autobots attempt to get close enough to use the Spark Extractor, but the ship hits them one by one with a [[Stasis Beam|stasis beam]], which a surprised Knock Out notes the ship was not previously equipped with, sending them into [[stasis lock]]. [[Image:Optimus Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Optimus is the ''best'' at freeze tag.]] Megatron is pleased at being able to get the Spark Extractor back, but when he orders the ship to move closer, it abruptly changes course, and it is quickly discovered that the ''Nemesis'' is ignoring its pilots and flying ''itself''. When Megatron demands the ship's computer be overridden, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] at the helm is electrocuted. The ship suddenly speaks up with its own voice, announcing it is in charge and on a mission. Knock Out notes its decoding the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] database. Furious, Megatron demands they retake control, but when [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] attempts to do so, the ship retaliates and he's sent into stasis lock. When Megatron orders the Decepticons to sever all connections to the ship's mainframe, beams of energy sweep through the ship, disabling almost every last one of the 'Cons.

Back at base, Fowler notes that the ''Nemesis'' is heading towards North America, with its cloaking field down, no less, and the decision is made to try and contact Megatron to see what's up. On the warship, Knock Out is put into stasis lock while checking on the Iacon data, and Megatron attempts to disable the ship's power core, only to be put in stasis lock as well. When Ratchet contacts the ''Nemesis'', the ship responds and helpfully lets them know its mission is to find the missing Iacon artifacts of Decepticon origin. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and the humans believe it's the opportune moment to download a copy of the Iacon database, so Fowler and the kids [[Ground Bridge]] on board the ship, determining that the ship cannot detect humans, as it left Fowler unmolested while leaving the battle earlier. They find the [[Project Iacon]] console, and clambering up Knock Out, plug in the [[transfer drive]] Ratchet gave them. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] notices the ship is heading for [[New York City|Manhattan]], the location of the first artifact, and if they don't stop it somehow, the ''Nemesis'' will destroy whatever part of the city lies atop the long-buried relic. While trying to change the ship's course, Fowler is electrically shocked into unconsciousness, but the ship, still scanning for Cybertronian-based life forms, is unable to detect the kids.
[[Image:Megatron flying mind.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Bob Dole doesn't need this...]]

Though Ratchet wants to bridge the kids back, Jack realizes they have to do something now, and head to the ship's power core, hoping to de-activate the ''Nemesis''' intelligence by dumping the dark energon out of the fuel supply. There they find the frozen Megatron, and Jack discovers that the manually-operated fuel injection valve is locked in place by Megatron's frozen hand. While he's still trying, the ship finally detects [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], assuming them to be vermin that are infesting it. As a manipulator arm starts chasing them, they hide among the [[energon cube]]s, but the arm moves the containers aside, eventually exposing them. Jack manages to attract its attention and trick it into hitting Megatron. The Decepticon leader topples over, dragging the lever down and reversing the [[energon]] flow. [[Image:Lower Manhattan Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Man, why can't the aliens attack Jersey for a change?]] Though the ship tries to use the manipulator arm to move the lever back, it's not fast enough to do so before its intelligence is lost. As the ship "shifts into neutral", the stasis locked Transformers inexplicably begin recovering, and the kids make all haste back through the corridors. While Miko and Raf help a still-loopy Fowler through the Ground Bridge, Jack goes after the transfer drive, but he's still struggling with it as Knock Out comes back online. Jack's saved from an untimely end when Ratchet appears through the GroundBridge and clobbers Knock Out, taking Jack and the transfer drive with him, just in time to miss the arrival of Megatron, who is rather unhappy with Knock Out.

Ratchet gives the now-recovered Optimus the good news about the data they retrieved, but they realize they must act quickly, as Megatron has no more scruples than his ship about harming human life, and the ''Nemesis'' is even now bearing down on Manhattan...

[[Tunnel Vision|To be continued]]...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Jack Darby]] (8)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)

|c4=
* "[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]"
|}}

==Quotes==
"Doc Knock is ''knocked out!''"
:—'''Miko''' makes the joke we've all been waiting to hear.

"On your feet, soldier!" 
"...and beavers and ducks and walnuts and Grandma..."
:-'''Miko''' helping a debilitated '''Fowler'''.

"Say ''ahhh!''"
:—'''Knock Out's''' dentistry leaves something to be desired.

"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"
:—'''Ratchet''' gives Knock Out the hint that he might want to consider going back to medical school.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Jack realizes that the ''Nemesis'' will have to tear down Manhattan to get to the first Iacon relic, the camera zooms out to show all 4, including Fowler and Rafael on the control panel. However Knock Out, who should be frozen right behind the two on the control panel, is nowhere to be seen.

===Continuity errors===
* In the previous episode, Bulkhead drove from the ''Nemesis'' crash site back to base rather than use the GroundBridge, suggesting the crash occurred not far away, or at the very least, on the same continent. In this episode, Fowler says the ''Nemesis'' is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading for North America.
* How does Jack on the ''Nemesis'' talk to Rachet back at base without a cell phone? He appears to be using an earpiece, but there's no indication that he received one.
* When stasis-locked Megatron gets knocked over, his hand, still clutching the release lever, opens to allow him to fall all the way down. The rest of him stays completely stiff even upon hitting the ground.

===Continuity notes===
* The Insecticons joining the Decepticons, Bulkhead's damage to the ''Nemesis'' power core and the ship's crash all took place in the [[Armada (episode)|previous episode]].
* Megatron makes note of Optimus's increasing ruthlessness and how he would no longer waste a chance to strike, likely referring to his near-termination by Optimus in "[[Crossfire]]".
* The Decepticons found their Dark Energon supply back in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", but it hasn't seen much use since the [[Unicron#Prime cartoon|Unicron]] revelation.
* Soundwave has been trying to decrypt the Iacon database since Optimus Prime recovered his memory in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", and has apparently made very little progress.
* Though the ''Nemesis'' is established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' to be a stasis-locked [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]], its identity is left unstated here, as it does not refer to itself by name.
* The Autobots attempt to use the [[spark extractor]], which they acquired in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* This is the first time Knock Out has used his drill weapon since [[Deus ex Machina|his premiere episode]].

===Transformers references===

===Real-world references===
* The Nemesis's stasis beam uses the same sound effect of the Zat'ni'katel or Zat Gun from ''Stargate SG-1''.
* Miko's "On your feet, soldier" is a reference to the 1984 film, ''The Terminator''.
* Miko refers to Knock Out as "Doc Knock," most likely in reference to "Doc Ock," a common nickname of Spider-Man villain Doctor Octopus.
* The ship gaining sentience, turning on the crew, and its defeat is a reference to HAL 9000 from the film, ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The grid design that immobilises Dreadwing and the Vehicons is similar to the laser hallways from ''Resident Evil''.

===Trivia===
* The ''Nemesis''' voice is listed only as "Warship" in this episode's credits.
* It seems the amount of power required to stasis lock a Transformer isn't enough to kill a Human, as the ship was unaware carbon-based life forms were aboard when Fowler was electrocuted, and was presumably trying the same trick it used on Soundwave.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]