MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things

2012-03-13T04:22:02Z

141.218.8.33: New page: ==Transformation Cog Death== What about the NAIL from issue 1? He transformed himself to death. ~~~~

==Transformation Cog Death==
What about the NAIL from issue 1? He transformed himself to death. [[Special:Contributions/141.218.8.33|141.218.8.33]] 00:22, 13 March 2012 (EDT)

The World & Everything in It

2012-02-22T23:43:07Z

141.218.8.33: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' #2
|prev=The Autonomy Lesson
|next=
|next2=
|caption=
|image=RID2_cvrB.jpg
|title="The World & Everything in It"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 22]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=February 2012
|story by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

'''Starscream helps the Autobots to foil Ratbat's plans.'''

==Synopsis==

After witnessing [[Horri-Bull]]'s death, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] teleports back to the Decepticon HQ. [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] warns the Decepticons about the consequences of disobedience, but [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] protests and leaves, followed by [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] by Ratbat's orders. Starscream thinks to himself that he despises Ratbat more than anything, being the personification of everything the Decepticons stood against in the first place.

[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Metalhawk]] discuss the memorial and the incident, with Metalhawk stating that he cannot endorse Bumblebee if he were to murder another Cybetronian, Decepticon or not. [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] interrupts them, as he has just sighted Starscream. The later is received at Autobot HQ by Bumblebee no less, who gets furious at him and shocks him with his cane that [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] modified for him. Both he and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] take Starscream away.

Starscream wakes up in a cell, with Prowl interrogating him. He has no choice but to tell the truth : Ratbat wants to assassinate Bumblebee at the memorial, using Skywarp's defectuous I/D chip to blame a [[NAIL]] for it, after which he'll launch a full-scale assault and make his coup.

Elsewhere, Skywarp and [[Needlenose]] beat up the [[Zetca (G1)|NAIL]] that was responsible for Horri-Bull's death. Skywarp teleports away with him.

At the memorial, Starscream and Long Haul discuss whether the latter will denounce Starscream or not. Long Haul has hidden from Ratbat the fact that Starscream was in the HQ of the Autobots, which Starscream appreciates. As the memorial begins, Bumblebee makes a rallying speech, while Skywarp, hidden with Zetca in a nearby tower, aims for him with his rifle... only to be stopped by Prowl. After a quick fight, Skywarp is deactivated, and Metalhawk pledges his devotion to the new Cybertron. Long Haul is disturbed by the fact that Bumblebee is not dead as he should be, but Starscream tells him to inform Ratbat that the assassination was successful.

Back at Decepticon HQ, [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] tells Ratbat that Bumblebee died, and Ratbat tells the remaining Decepticons to prepare for his assault, while he retreats to his quarters. He is attacked by [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who easily disposes of him before joining Prowl at the tower. The two agree that Arcee tried to arrest Ratbat, but he was armed and aggressive, and Arcee was merely defending herself.

While Bumblebee continues his speech, Starscream interrupts him, declaring that, for the new era of unity to work, Starscream had to be part of the government.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (4)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (19)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (21)

|c2=
*[[Horri-Bull]] (2)
*[[Needlenose]] (3)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (6)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (7)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (10)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (11)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (12)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (13)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (14)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (20)

|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*[[Zetca (G1)|Zetca]] (1)
*[[Metalhawk]] (5)

}}

==Quotes==

"''Fantastic.'' I'll go back to ''Earth'' and strike up a conversation with a ''fortune cookie'' when I want ''nuggets'' like that."
:-'''Starscream''' whines. Again.

==Notes==

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Shockwave, Bombshell, Soundwave, and Ratbat; art by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Cover B:''' Skywarp punching Prowl; art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
* '''Cover RI:''' Sketch version of Cover A by Andrew Griffith

<gallery>
Image:RID2_cvrA.jpg|"I get another closeup: extremely logical!"
Image:RID2_cvrB.jpg|Skywarp thinks he's Ironhide.
Image:RID2_cvrRI.jpg|Ratbat sucked out the colors.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

{{issuestub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World & Everything in It}}
[[Category:Robots in Disguise issues]]

Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On

2012-02-16T21:33:00Z

141.218.8.33: /* Notes */ Nick Roche isn't writing this, ya know.

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #2
|prev=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|next=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg
|title="Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 15]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=February 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

'''The recovering crew of the ''Lost Light'' are joined by Skids, a bot on the run... but on the run from what?'''

==Synopsis==

On the barren planet where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' has put down, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and others go about gathering up the [[Autobot]]s who have been scattered across the world's surface. [[Brainstorm]] radios in that he has discovered the source of their explosive mishap: the [[Duobot]] [[Ore]] was standing too close to the [[quantum generator]] when it activated, and wound up being "totally mashed" into it. Perturbed by Brainstorm's general tone of levity, Rodimus orders him to start helping with the search, then takes a call from [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], who is with [[Rewind]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], hauling [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] out of a lake.

Meanwhile, in the skies above the planet, a small ship materializes. It's sole occupant is [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], who awakens with an [[inhibitor claw]] on his back and the knowledge that he is running from ''something''... but cannot remember what, finding that all of his recent memories are missing. Spotting a [[mode lock]] on the shuttle's console and realizing that it is trying to transform into something, he sets the ship on collision course with the planet and bails out. He watches the ship crash, but from the flames, its remnants transform into a pair of gigantic sword-wielding robots that speak only one phrase: "nineteen eighty-four". Apparently lacking in any weapons, Skids improvises with the nearby corpses of [[Polaris]] and [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]]: he magnetizes the former to one of the giant robots, then uses the latter's gun to blow Polaris up, taking the monstrous mechanoid with it.

Aboard the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] tends to the wounds [[Rung]] received before take-off, startling the timid psychiatrist by smashing his own hand with a hammer to loosen his joints. They discusss [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who is being carbon-dated by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and Ratchet grumbles about [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s newfound sense of unbearable positivity before half-heartedly turning his attention to the unconscious [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. Suddenly, Whirl awakens, seizes Rung, and begins throttling him, heedless of Ratchet and Swerve's attempts to calm him. The maddened Autobot only stops when Rung chokes out the warning that if he kills him, he'll go back to prison. Whirl snaps out of it and stalks off, the ruckus having awakened Tailgate, who is relieved to find out he did not kill the unhinged Autobot. Realizing that Tailgate is a 'bot out of time, Swerve begs Ratchet to allow him to be the one to tell him, and the "gentle" manner in which Swerve relates the information elicits a horrified bellow from Tailgate that is heard outside the ''Lost Light''.

Elsewhere on the ship, Rodimus meets with Cyclonus, who explains that he attached himself to the hull of the ''Lost Light'' to join in its mission. Though unapologetic for his past actions, he pleads his case for being allowed to stay and manages to sway Rodimus to his side, though Ultra Magnus is less than convinced. Having found Whirl skulking around, Magnus brings him into the room, and orders him to settle his argument with Cyclonus. Whirl does so without admitting any guilt, and is surprised when Cyclonus hugs him... only for him to whisper during the embrace that Whirl should watch his back, because he's going to kill him.

Swerve and Tailgate go for a walk outside, with Tailgate rebuffing Swerve's request to see his [[alternate mode]] on the basis that Ratchet told him to take it easy. They meet up with Chromedome and Rewind for some proper introductions, when Skids suddenly falls out of the sky with the last of the giant 'bots on his tail. Recognizing the Autobot—and noting that he has long been thought dead—Chromedome removes Skids's inhibitor claw for him, allowing him to deploy his weapons and finish his pursuer off with impressive ease. As things calm down, though, Chromedome points out that Skids has been holding a handgun all along, which he somehow never noticed...

Skids returns to the ''Lost Light'' with the other Autobots, quickly discovering he's earned himself a fan in Swerve, who artfully balances proposing that he and Skids team up and badgering Tailgate into transforming. Rodimus addressed the assembled Autobots on recent issues, but Whirl pipes up with a "pressing issues"—unimpressed with just about everyone else on the ship, he thinks the group should at least have a cool name. Swerve proposes "The Crusadercons", but Rodimus and Skids take issue with the -con suffix. Before any further discussion can be gone into, Rodimus gets a call from [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], who has been investigating reports of noises on the lower decks with [[Shock]]... who is now lying dead by Red's side, his [[spark]] ripped out. Panicked, Red Alert relates his fear to Rodimus... that there's a [[Sparkeater]] on board!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm]] (1)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (5)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (6)
*? (7)
*? (8)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (9)
*[[Ore]] (10)
*[[Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (12)
*[[Hoist (G1) |Hoist]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (17)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Rung]] (19)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (20)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
*[[Polaris]] (23)
*[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] (24)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (25)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (26)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (27)
*? (28)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (30)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (31)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (32)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (33)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (34)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (35)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (36)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (37)
*[[Pointblank]] (38)
* ? (39)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (40)
*[[Shock]] (41)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (14)
*"Massive 'bots with swords" (16)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)

}}

==Quotes==

"Why are you—''aak!''—doing this?" 
"It's your '''eyebrows'''! He's jealous of your capacity for self-expression!"
:—When '''Rung''' is throttled by Whirl, '''Swerve''' proves to be little help.

'''Rewind:''' "'''Wow.''' It's time like this I'm glad I have a camera bolted to my head..." 
'''Swerve:''' "Nice '''moves'''! Who '''are''' you? An '''ex-Wrecker'''? One of the '''Warriors Elite'''? An old '''pit fighter'''?" 
'''Skids:''' "I'm a '''theoretician.'''"
:—That last line kinda feels like it's missing a "...motherf@#!er!" at the end.

'''Rodimus:''' "'''Look''' at them all. What do I tell them?" 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "The '''truth'''. We've lost contact with Cybertron, we can't find ourselves on the map, Ore is dead, Hyperion and Polaris are dead, but Cyclonus is happy, so that's okay". 
'''Drift:''' "I think you should accentuate the positive. We've got the quantum generators working again—big tick. We're ready to resume our quest—big tick. And we've managed to save '''virtually''' all of the Autobots who got pulled outside—that's more of a '''little''' tick, '''but it's still a tick!'''" 
'''Rodimus:''' "Hmm. I think I'll go for a mixture of depressingly gloomy and offensively upbeat. Thanks, guys."

"So, you gonna show me your alt mode or what?" 
"Ooh, '''alright''' then. But I'm taking it '''slow''', okay?" 
"Tell you what: I'll speak to Skids and pop back in about '''six million years' time''', okay?"
:—'''Swerve''' only teases '''Tailgate''' because he loves him.

"'The Crusadercons.' The more you say it, the cooler it sounds." 
"Someone hears that, they're gonna think we're Decepticons." 
"What, so it has to end in 'bot'?" 
"Well... '''yeah'''. Omnibots, Monsterbots, Duobots... it's kind of an '''unwritten rule''', isn't it." 
"Forget the '''rules'''! The war's over—it's time to '''reclaim the suffix'''!"
:—'''Swerve''' is just a really quotable 'bot, okay? '''Skids''' doesn't share our enthusiasm for him.

==Notes==

* If you don't get the double-meaning that British writer James Roberts has hidden in the Duobots' names, try saying "Shock and Ore" out loud with a British accent.
* The last page includes a summary of the crew members already introduced, with short introductions beneath. These include factoids such as Swerve's weapon of choice is his mouth, and Ultra Magnus once smiled, and has regretted it ever since.
* The big-bots-with-swords keep saying [[1984|"nineteen eighty-four"]]. James Roberts knows how to tease the [[GEEWUN|fandom]].

===Errors===
* TBD

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Rodimus amongst injured Autobots; art by Alex Milne, colors by [[Josh Perez]].
* '''Cover B:''' Skids gets blown out of the ship; art by [[Nick Roche]], colors by Josh Burcham.
* '''Cover RI:''' Sketch (uncolored) version of cover A by Alex Milne.

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE2_cvrA.jpg|"Quit lying down on the job, ya bums!"
Image:MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg|Skids gets a helluva intro.
Image:MTMTE2_cvrRI.jpg|Cover RI
</gallery>

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* ''Road Rage''
* ''Jack Avarice is The Courier''

[[Category:More than Meets the Eye issues]]

Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It

2012-02-14T04:10:37Z

141.218.8.33: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #1
|prev=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
|next=Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On
|next2=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE1_cvrE.jpg
|title="Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[January 11]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=January 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2011)]]
}}

'''It's launch day for Rodimus and the crew of the ''Lost Light''—what could possibly go wrong?'''

==Synopsis==
Following [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|departure]] from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] publicly announces his intent to do likewise aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', following the map found within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] in hopes of locating the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] predicts virtually no [[Autobot]]s will respond to his open invitation to join him, but Rodimus winds up with a little over two hundred recruits, including (much to [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s consternation) [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]—who believes he is getting old, a concern punctuated by his failure to save the life of a [[NAIL]] who has committed suicide as a political protest—[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]—the loss of whose scientific talents particularly infuriates Prowl, prompting him to order the loading of a mysterious cargo onto the ''Lost Light''—and Chromedome's friend, [[Rewind]]. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], of course, has misgivings about nearly every recruit, but Rodimus is thrilled to have so many.

In the skies above Cybertron, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] grieves in his own way for the loss of the world he had known and all the memories he made there. Detecting a life-sign resembling [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s, he investigates a small shack, only to find the unhinged [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] talking to a collection of [[Sweep]] corpses that he has strung up inside. Cyclonus enters and interrupts him just as he is about to burn down the [[energon]]-soaked building, and Whirl immediately attacks him, professing innocence and explaining the bodies were already dead: he had merely collected them. Cyclonus, for his part, doesn't care in the slightest, but can't convince Whirl of this fact.

Elsewhere, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] is running security checks on the Autobots who have signed up to join the ''Lost Light'': [[Brainstorm]], carrying a mysterious briefcase but exempted from security checks by Rodimus; [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], in the mood for "a good quest"; and [[Rung]], whom Red Alert does not recognize at first, despite having been a patient of his for six centuries. Rung tempts fate by commenting on his knack for staying out of trouble: before the sentence is even finished, Cyclonus and Whirl's running battle swoops through the area, and Rung winds up with his forearm cleaved off by Cyclonus's wing.

Ratchet, Chromedome and Rewind, meanwhile, are making for the ''Lost Light'' through the [[Mitteous Plateau]], but are running behind schedule due to Rewind's lack of a vehicular [[alternate mode]], a trait of his that Chromedome has never understood. Just as the group are about to start having an argument about the validity of alt mode variety, Cyclonus and Whirl come crashing down out of the sky, their battle at an end with Whirl the victor. Whirl spins a few quick lies and is about to deliver a killshot when a sudden, unexpected energon explosion from beneath the ground blows him to bits. Peering into the blast crater, the Autobots find [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who, unbeknownst to them, is a Cybertronian from six million years ago who was supposed to be on the ''[[Ark (G1)#IDW Generation 1 comics|Ark I]]'', but became trapped underground in a subsidence. He has spent the past six thousand millennia periodically going offline and reawakening, unaware that any time has passed, until he was just now finally able to detonate the energon rations he had with him in bid for freedom. Panicking and passing out before he can tell anyone any of this due to his belief he has killed Whirl, Tailgate is brought aboard the ''Lost Light'' by the Autobots, as are Whirl and Cyclonus. Rewind takes advantage of the brief confusion to slip off and purchase some golden discs from [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]].

Soon after, the ''Lost Light'' takes off, and Bumblebee complains to Prowl that he thought he had a plan... at which point the ship is crippled by a mysterious explosion that forces the ship to [[quantum jump]] before preparation is complete, hurling it off to some far corner of the galaxy. A fifth of the ship's crew is sucked out into space before the breached hull repairs itself, and Rodimus orders them to set down on a desolate nearby planet, where they watch as the Autobots come raining down, burning up as they enter the atmosphere. All in all, as Rodimus succinctly puts it: "Not a good start."

And back on Cybertron, as Bumblebee sits in horrified mourning, back in Prowl's quarters a scrambled transmission plays. A transmission from one of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>'s crew. A transmission that has been sent back in time, from the future. But it has arrived too late, and now Rodimus will never hear the warnings of the dangers that await them...

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (2)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (3)
*[[Dipstick]] (4)
*[[Xaaron]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (12)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (14)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (15)
*[[Brainstorm]] (16)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rung]] (18)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (21)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (22)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (23)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (24)
*[[Fizzle]] (25)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (26)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (27)
*[[Siren]] (28)
*[[Polaris]] (29)
*[[Waverider]] (30)
*[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] (31)
*[[Rad]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (19)

|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==

"Did he give you all that scrap about finding the Knights of Cybertron and retracing our steps to the Golden Age? It's all scripted, you know, Drift writes it for him."
:—'''Bumblebee''''s not bitter!

"You know what '''your''' problem is, Chromedome? You think that just because the war is '''over''', we can afford to stop '''fighting'''!"
:—'''Prowl''', summed up in one sentence.

"'''Please''' tell me you're here to wave us off." 
"No, no, no, I'm here for the quest. Love a good quest. Haven't been on a quest since the whole Luna 1 thing. The Moonquest." 
"Stop saying 'quest.'" 
"So, can I go on board?" 
"Of course—if you promise to never, ever speak."
:—'''Red Alert''' and '''Swerve''' evidently have a history.

"Oh, it's started. The alt mode bashing. Every time you get '''agitated'''... Let's have a go at Rewind because he turns into a '''giant memory stick''' and not a... '''super space tank''' or—or—whatever..."
:—'''Rewind''', on the defensive.

"Remember the old saying? 'Everyone's shape serves a purpose.'" 
"Yeah? Tell that to Sky Lynx."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Ratchet''' have a difference of opinion.

"Don't open the coffin. Don't let them take [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. Don't go to Delphi. And do not — I repeat do not — look in the basement. And for the sake of the Cybertronian race itself, please don't''kzzzzzzzk''"
:—'''Ominous Future Message'''

==Notes==

*The title of this issue pays homage to the Dexys Midnight Runners song, "Liars, A to E" (with A and D of course standing for "Autobot" and "Decepticon"). James Roberts previously used it as the title for a comic-strip prequel to his unofficial Transformers novel, "Eugenesis", published in the souvenir magazine for UK convention Transforce 2001.
*The NAIL who dies on Ratchet's table could previously be spotted in three scenes in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', carrying the placard that lies discarded in the corner of the room in this issue. He was red in that issue, indicating that he has turned grey upon his death, a trait that stretches back to ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', but which has only been seen in IDW continuity before now in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', which was not coincidentally the work of this issue's creative team.
[[Image:Mtmte brainstorm teaser.jpg|right|thumb]]
*The trailer Tailgate is carrying his energon rations in is a [[Micro Trailer]].
*Tailgate thinks the ''Ark'' is doomed without him. The mission ''did'' go [[Spotlight: Galvatron|horribly wrong]]...
*After having spent the entirety of ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]'' being misidentified in-story as a Decepticon, Cyclonus is finally back to asserting that he is an unaffiliated Cybertronian.
*Several concepts introduced in Roberts's earlier story "[[Bullets]]" reoccur: Brainstorm's [[Malevolent Counterintuitive Pathogen|mysterious briefcase]], Rung's fondness for model spacecraft, Whirl being kicked off the Wreckers under unspecified circumstances, and an unseen Autobot named [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]].
*Brainstorm's security pass sports a [[Tech Spec]]s graph and a [[rubsign]].
*Their small size makes them hard to determine, but at least some of Rung's model spaceships are recognizable: they at least include the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] as it appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], the [[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]] from Beast Wars, and a [[Trident Attack Craft]]. We wager there are more familiar ships in there!
*We don't know if Prowl was responsible for the explosion, but...
*Among the list of lost Autobots is one new name: [[Polaris]]. This ''might'' be a reference to online Transformers fanzine [http://www.polarismagazine.co.uk/ Polaris Magazine], whose publisher Graham Thomson is a long-time member of Transmasters, the UK fan group that Roberts and Roche were both major contributors to.
*The release of this issue was preceded by a "scavenger hunt" of sorts on [[January 10]]th, with one each of a series of twelve images spotlighting individual characters being released to twelve different websites, both Transformers fansites and popular comic book new sites. Only eight actually made it up before the book's release: [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/transformers-mtmte-1-promo-image---out-tomorrow-174117/ Brainstorm at TFW2005] (at right), [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-120110.html Drift at Newsarama], [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36350 Ratchet at ComicBookResources], [http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/121/1216240p1.html Red Alert at IGN], [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/exclusive-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-promo-art/23642/ Rewind at Seibertron], [http://tformers.com/transformers-exclusive-transformers-more-than-meets/16985/news.html Rung at TFormers], [http://www.allspark.com/content/view/9829/ Swerve at the AllSpark] and [http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/idw-transformers-more-than-meets-eye-1-treasure-hunt-exclusive-image-2604/ Whirl at FullMetalHero]. Subsequently revealed were [http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=269973&highlight=#269973 Chromedome on the IDW forums], [https://twitter.com/#!/TheJohnBarber/status/157175756353585152/photo/1 Cyclonus on John Barber's Twitter], [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150512162858279&set=a.10150239372238279.337626.8473603278&type=1 Rodimus on IDW's Facebook] and [http://ryalltime.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/mtmte-teaser-ultra-magnus/ Ultra Magnus on Chris Ryall's blog].
* Geographic features that Cyclonus mourned the loss of due to the rebirth include [[Mesmerica]], [[Obex]], [[Pess Pess]], the [[Pious Pools]], [[Subterrania]], [[Tetrahex]], the [[Transeptum of Infinite Reach]], the [[Vaulted Heights of K'th Kinsere]], and the [[Warrior's Gate]].
* Nick Roche's design for Ultra Magnus's vehicle mode went unused, but he revealed it on the blog [http://eclecticmicks.blogspot.com/2012/01/almost-met-eye.html Eclectric Micks] on January 6th. Alex Milne chose to use a different design in the next issue.

===Errors===

===Covers (7)===
All seven covers to this issue feature a silver foil-stamped logo.
* '''Cover A:''' Ratchet by [[Alex Milne]] and Josh Perez
* '''Cover B:''' Ultra Magnus by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
* '''Cover C:''' Rodimus by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
* '''Cover D:''' Drift by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
* '''Cover E:''' The assembled cast by Nick Roche and Josh Burcham, in homage to 1987's ''Justice League'' #1.
* '''Cover RIA:''' Fold-out gatefold cover combining the interlinked covers A-D.
* '''Cover RIB:''' Hand-drawn Sketch Covers by Josh Burcham

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE1_cvrA.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrB.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrC.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrD.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrE.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrRIA.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrRIB.jpg|Finally, Polar Claw's time to shine!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The Autonomy Lesson|#1]]
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*''Memorial''
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[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Trailbreaker (G1)

2012-02-09T07:38:25Z

141.218.8.33:

{{picsneeded|appearances in fiction}}
{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Trailbreaker}}

:''Trailbreaker is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Trailbreakerg1.jpg|right|240px|thumb|I may not be fast... but I'm effective and provide soothing relief.]]
It's hard not to like '''Trailbreaker'''. He's a good-humored cheerleader, always ready with a joke or comment to lighten the mood when things get dark. Sadly, Trailbreaker's joking is often a cover for his low self-esteem. His form is the most fuel-consumptive of the ''Ark'' crew, and his vehicle mode is very slow. As such, he feels like a useless drain on their limited resources. The Autobots know better, of course. Trailbreaker's good humor, bravery, and impenetrable [[force field]] are all of great use, but convincing him of that is hard, especially when he begins to mope about his handicaps.

He is sometimes known as '''Trailcutter''' or '''Trailblazer'''.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
Trailbreaker was part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s original crew, crashing to Earth four million years ago aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''.

Trailbreaker joined a detachment of Autobots investigating robot sightings in [[United Kingdom|Merry Ol' England]]. After making contact with a young boy named [[Sammy Harker|Sammy]], the Autobots were caught by surprise when the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] fire-bombed them from the sky. Trailbreaker was blasted before he could activate his force field. Like a freakin' drama queen, he went offline whimpering, "It's no good. Everything's gone... just plain ruined..." {{storylink|Man of Iron (story)|Man of Iron}}

Like many Autobots, Trailbreaker was too low on fuel to join Optimus and the others in what would've been their climactic battle with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s forces, and was taken prisoner without a fight when [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] assumed command of the Decepticons and the ''Ark''. He was revived after [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] reclaimed the ''Ark'', however. When the Autobots went to recover Optimus Prime's head and restore their leader to functionality, Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots caught off-guard by the false Prime created by Shockwave and was shot down before he could raise his force field. {{storylink|Prime Time!}}

''On another occasion, the Dinobot [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] was under the control of a human scientist and attacking the Autobots. Trailbreaker jumped in his path and tried to wrestle the pteranodon to the ground. Instead, he was lifted up and slammed into the cliffside...'cause he never turned on that force field. {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} During the Dinobot Hunt, Trailbreaker joined [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] in hunting [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] among the sands of the [[Black Rock Desert]]. They managed to collect him virtually without a fight once Snarl wandered into a secret military base and unleashed a molecular disintegrator bomb that ended his rampage. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}''

''When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and his future Decepticons arrived in the present, the Autobot chain of command was crippled as Optimus Prime, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and Ratchet vanished and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] was taken prisoner. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] attempted to rise to command, accepting support from [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], but the Autobots were simply outclassed. Trailbreaker was part of a group of more than a half-dozen Autobots who collectively failed to bring down even one of Galvatron's lieutenants. In desperation, the Autobots turned to Megatron himself (who had quickly been disposed of by Galvatron when he first arrived) as a temporary ally and battlefield advisor. Under the Decepticon's direction, the Autobots staged a trap for the lone future Decepticon [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] in order to weaken Galvatron's power base. Unfortunately, Scourge's enhanced sensors detected the trap almost immediately, and his acid ray nailed Trailbreaker THROUGH a wall before the battle even began. (Too early to have activated that force field, huh?) Scourge was ultimately brought down, but Trailbreaker was left inactive for days until Ratchet was restored to the present and able to repair him. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}''

''Well, he was up and about soon enough, and accompanied Prowl and Jetfire on a mission to stop the Decepticons from accessing a [[NASA]] space transmission facility, only to get knocked around helplessly by [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and beaten to the ground long enough for the Decepticons to escape... all because he didn't turn on that slaggin' force field to protect himself. Remember, Trailbreaker? The force field? You're not built for speed or energy efficiency; you were built for power, specifically that one power that makes you ''special'' and ''unique''. Or is it "just plain ruined" these days? {{storylink|The Gift}}''

====Marvel UK future timelines====
''In 2008, Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots taken down and strung up by the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] when they invaded [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}''

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese), [[Roberto Alexander]] (Latin American), [[Toni Orlandi]] (Italian)

[[Image:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
Trailbreaker was part of the bridge crew of the ''Ark'' spaceship when it blasted off from Cybertron to search for new sources of energy four million years in the past. When he was awakened in 1984, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] reformatted him so that his alt-mode was a terrestrial Toyota 4WD camper truck. Trailbreaker accompanied his fellow Autobots on their first mission to stop the Decepticons on Earth, a mission that took him to an off-shore oil rig. The Decepticons plundered the rig for energon and destroyed it, leaving it a flaming wreck that endangered its human crew. Trailbreaker used his force field to contain the fire, while [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] used his built-in fire-suppression systems to douse the flames. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

Later, Trailbreaker served as a spy despite his stated function as defensive strategist. ([[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] was apparently busy that day.) He, along with the humans [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], camped out near the Decepticons' headquarters and eavesdropped on their plans to raid the ruby mines of Burma. Their surveillance did not go totally unnoticed, however, as a set of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] spotted the Autobot making his getaway. Trailbreaker summoned the brothers [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] to fend off his pursuer and got the information safely back to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prime]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:MTMTE3 Trailbreaker jogging.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Trailbreaker took up jogging after Sunstreaker made a crack about his weight.]]
Trailbreaker watched [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] fish [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] out of a lake during the mission in [[Burma]]. He volunteered along with all of the rest of the Autobots to attempt to prevent the Decepticons from leaving Earth with the Energon they'd gathered. He fired on the Decepticons as they boarded the [[Victory (G1)|space cruiser]] they'd built. Though the ship still launched despite their efforts, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] brought it crashing back to Earth. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was part of a group of Autobots who were lured into a cave by a reprogrammed [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and ambushed by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} He also took part in the assault on an antimatter laboratory when the Decepticons got their hands on an antimatter formula, and was damaged when the lab exploded during the Decepticon withdrawal. {{storylink|Roll for It}}

[[Image:SOSDinobots Trailbreaker in force field.jpg|thumb|left|230px|"I'm trapped in a Fabergé egg! Help!"]]
A team of Autobots, including Trailbreaker, rolled out to give Optimus backup at an ammunition plant, but arrived too late, and found Prime badly damaged. When Prime needed a new [[Cosmitron]], Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to retrieve a replacement from [[Wheeljack's workshop]]. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] had his forces on that planet use [[acid rain]] on the group, but after a pep talk from [[Chip Chase]], Trailbreaker remembered he could use his force fields to protect them. They subsequently returned to Earth and, while the replacement Cosmitron was being installed, helped defend Headquarters against a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} When the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s ran amok during their unveiling, Trailbreaker protected himself from [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]'s [[fire-breath]] with a force field. Of course, this merely deflected the fire onto Sunstreaker. Some time later, Trailbreaker and most of the rest of the Autobots went to the [[Great Falls]] to try and stop the Decepticons from raiding it, and were all captured. They would have been terminated, had Wheeljack not come to the rescue with the upgraded Dinobots. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

Trailbreaker and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] were going for a drive one day, only to find two [[Thundercracker (G1)|suspicious-looking]] [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|jets]]. The jets revealed themselves as Decepticons who had come to a nearby refinery to make off with its steel to build a weapon. Brawn and Trailbreaker interrupted them, but Starscream blasted missiles at them, destroying the refinery, and made his getaway. The Autobots reported the incident back to Optimus Prime. Toward the end of the ensuing battle in [[Peru]], Trailbreaker pitched in to fire at the new weapon. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}}

[[Image:UltimateDoom3 Trailbreaker firing.jpg|thumb|right|220px]]
When the Autobots began studying a meteorite that had fallen to Earth, Wheeljack discovered the sample fragment was highly unstable and summoned Optimus and Trailbreaker to his laboratory. On command, Trailbreaker unleashed his force field around the meteorite to contain the explosive blast. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} In the aftermath of a Decepticon attack on Headquarters, Trailbreaker took part in cleanup efforts. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Following Cybertron's arrival in Earth orbit, he and Jazz mocked [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] when the Seeker's was blasted by his own fire, whipped back by the strong winds. Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to rescue Sparkplug, intending to use his jammer beam to mask their approach. Unfortunately he left it too late, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] was able to dodge the incoming missiles. The team arrived on Cybertron, but became separated, with Skyfire, Trailbreaker and Wheeljack left on the surface. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}}

The trio made their way down and arrived in time to rescue Spike and the smaller 'bots from the Decepticons. After a swift retreat, they reached the relative safety of Wheeljack's workshop, where the scientist worked to construct a counter for the Decepticon [[hypno-chip]]s. That done, they rescued Sparkplug, and headed back to Earth in time to liberate the enslaved humans and prevent Megatron from getting away with a shuttle full of Energon. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was at headquarters when they discovered that Megatron was still operational and leading the Decepticons. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}}

[[Image:PlagueOfInsecticons Trailbreaker projecting forcefield.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
With the emergence of the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] in [[Bali]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who went to investigate. They arrived in time to reinforced the smaller team who'd already found the Insecticons, and the foe, now teamed up with the Decepticons, took off. During the pursuit, [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] used his control beam on Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, compelling the pair to try and ram their fellows, but Trailbreaker used a force field to sever the beam. They eventually reached an oil refinery, but during the battle, Shrapnel harnessed lightning from a storm that had moved in, and zapped Trailbreaker and Wheeljack. Both survived, and Trailbreaker was later able to use his force field to disable the Insecticon clones, rescuing Bumblebee and Spike. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} After Megatron challenged Optimus to a one-on-one duel, Trailbreaker and the rest of the Autobots turned out to cheer their leader on. To their horror, Optimus lost, meaning they'd have to leave Earth forever, but once they returned to headquarters, they used Teletraan I to establish that Megatron had cheated, rendering the result void. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

During Sparkplug's demonstration of his latest invention, [[Autobot X]], the creation went wild. Trailbreaker, Ironhide and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] tried to charge it, only to be blasted on their cans. Trailbreaker's force field provided his companions with cover so they could take down the beast. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}} He was on the ill-fated mission to come to the aid of some gold miners, during which [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] was captured by the Decepticons. He subsequently joined the effort to rescue Gears and disable Megatron's [[Solar Needle]]. When they found that Megatron had temporarily reprogrammed Gears to be a happy-go-lucky kind of Autobot, Trailbreaker was the one who voiced what everyone was thinking and said maybe they should just leave him that way. {{storylink|Changing Gears}} He was also on the mission to [[New York City]] when the Decepticons started replacing buildings in an attempt to create a new Cybertron, {{storylink|City of Steel}} and was turned evil by Megatron's [[personality destabilizer device]]. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}}

[[Image:TheImmobilizer Trailbreaker force field.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"And the only side effect is Ratchet's mouth disappears!"]]
Trailbreaker witnessed the demonstration of the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer]], and protected his comrades with a force field when the Decepticons attacked. Though they managed to steal the Immobilizer, the Decepticons fell into a river and Trailbreaker lightened the situation with a healthy joke. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} He took part in a charity race, though he wasn't the fastest of Autobots, and still managed to outrun Ironhide. When the old timer complained about a weird jolt in his circuitry, Trailbreaker suggested he was making an excuse, but it was actually the effects of Megatron's [[Transfixatron]]. Locked in their vehicle modes, the Autobots were taken to an old ghost town, and it looked like they were going to be destroyed, until the Autobots who'd remained at base turned up to rescue them. Ironhide and Trailbreaker took great delight in smashing the Transfixatron to bits. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}} Trailbreaker took part in the defense of [[Washington, D.C.]] when the Decepticons teamed up with the residents of [[Sub-Atlantica]]. {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!}}

[[Image:EnterNightbird flying Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|left|260px|In an early example of [[Slogism]], here's Trailbreaker stuck to the roof of a building with a wad of cotton candy.]]
Trailbreaker was also a guard when [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] revealed his [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], though when Decepticons inevitably attacked, they blasted through the door Trailbreaker was standing in front of, sending him across the room. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}} After an apparently successful attack on the Decepticons at a crevasse, the Autobots found that they somehow had two Optimus Primes—the real one referring to Trailbreaker as "'''Trailblazer'''". Trailbreaker was one of the proponents of using a series of trials to work out which was the real thing. When that was unsuccessful, the Autobots ended up going on another mission to the crevasse to investigate strange readings, and once again encountered the Decepticons. After [[Optimus Prime clone|one of the Primes]] apparently destroyed [[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream]], Trailbreaker announced that he must be the real thing, because he offed the Decepticons' "number two varmint". As it turned out, that Prime was a phony, trying to lure them into a ravine filled with dangerous [[korlonium crystal]]s, as they discovered moments later when he disregarded a threat to Spike's life. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}}

[[Image:DinobotIsland1 Trailbreaker projects force field.jpg|thumb|right|230px]]
When the Dinobots attempted to demonstrate their newfound "finesse" to the other Autobots, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] accidentally set fire to the Ark, threatening Teletraan I. Thinking quickly, Trailbreaker projected his force field over the Autobot supercomputer, allowing [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] time to extinguish the blaze. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} The Decepticon's pillaging of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] began causing time warps to appear across the world, and Trailbreaker flew to the island by [[jet pack]] to investigate with the rest of the Autobots. After a prolonged battle, the Autobots and Dinobots succeeded in chasing the Decepticons from the island. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

On another occasion, the Autobots were forced to abandon Earth by Megatron aboard a spacecraft set on a course into the sun. After the Autobots discovered they couldn't alter their course, their ship exploded. Trailbreaker cast a massive force field large enough to contain the entire Autobot force safely; from within the field, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] towed the group back to Earth. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} Trailbreaker was incapacitated by [[Cybertonium]] depletion, as were the rest of the Autobots. They were only saved when Spike, [[Carly]] and the Dinobots brought more back from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:Trailbreakerdance.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Do a little dance...make a little love... get down tonight... I said get down tonight!]]
Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who arrived too late to prevent the theft of the [[Voltronic Galaxer]]. When Megatron used the device to knock out radio transmissions during a blizzard, Trailbreaker's force fields proved to be a valuable asset, protecting humans and Autobots alike from snowfall. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He took part in an attempt to defend an [[Electrum]] pool from the Decepticons, {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} and a baseball stadium incident during which Optimus and a number of other Autobots were lost through the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}}

After that, a Decepticon coup by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] resulted in a city being flooded. Trailbreaker used his force field to protect himself and a small group of Autobots from a large tidal wave. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}} He rolled out with the majority of the Autobot forces to rescue [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] from the Decepticons, though it resulted in them all being infected with [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} He was also hanging around Headquarters when the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] were captured, and a group of Autobots disguised as them in an attempt to find out what Megatron was up to. {{storylink|Masquerade}}
{{-}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] sent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to raid [[Tokyo]] for energy, Trailbreaker accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and a unit of Autobot vehicles to defend the city. Trailbreaker didn't perform very well, cowering in fright beneath Menasor's size and taking the [[combiner]]'s humongous fist to the face. Luckily, his pummelling made the perfect distraction for Optimus Prime, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], who drove up a ramp and slammed Menasor and the Seekers directly in their faces, sending them into retreat. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #1}}

As a member of the [[4-Wheel-Drive Brigade]], Trailbreaker accompanied [[Kenji]] and the rest of the team to a crater in Kyushu where Decepticon activity had been discovered. Entering the crater, however, Trailbreaker and the Brigade were caught off-guard by numerous landmines that had been planted by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. As they sunk toward as steaming pit of magma, the other four members of the Brigade managed to defeat the Decepticons by forming a human pyramid and using their "4-Wheel-Drive Robo Combination Scrumbuster" attack. Trailbreaker, unfortunately (or perhaps ''fortunately''), had to sit that one out because he was escorting Kenji within himself and couldn't transform to robot mode. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3}}

====''Story of Binaltech''====
Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots who suffered from an outbreak of the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] virus after the Decepticons unleashed it on Earth. He was supposed to receive a new body thanks to the [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]] Institute of Technology, but the Decepticons managed to infiltrate the Binaltech Project. Through the use of [[hypno-chip]]-controlled spies and pawns, Trailbreaker's new body was hijacked and used to upgrade the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] known as [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] instead. {{storylink|Expose All of Evil's Designs!}}

===Marvel Colouring Books===
[[Image:Bumblebeetdr-trailbreaker.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yikes!]]
Trailbreaker, who looks... ''odd'', was captured by the Decepticons under unknown circumstances and put in their special Autobot prison. He and the other prisoners were eventually freed by Bumblebee, after which they struck back against the Decepticons. Trailbreaker projected his force field around some of the villains in order to trap them, and after the battle was won, he and the other Autobots cheered for Bumblebee. Hip hip hooray! {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
Trailbreaker was present under the command of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] at the battle of [[Altihex]] when the Decepticons destroyed a building full of neutral Cybertonians. Unable to save the city, the Autobots helped evacuate civilians before retreating. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} When Decepticon Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] led a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capital of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who defended the city-state. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}}

When Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] disappeared in an accident with a [[space bridge]], the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Trailbreaker stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. He and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak ]] filled in [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] on what was happening after Jetfire returned from a survey. {{storylink|Devastation}} Trailbreaker was later part of the group of reinforcements that helped battle the giant [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Revelation (The Dark Ages)|Revelation}} They returned to [[Autobase]] for repairs, only for [[The Fallen]] to break in to rescue [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}}

Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. After being boarded, the ''Ark'' crash-landed on [[Earth]], where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the ''Ark'''s computer, Teletraan I, and it repaired all on board.

Eventually, the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. In 1999, a ship called the ''[[Ark II]]'' was built to take the Cybertonians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertonians were lost in the ocean, again in stasis lock. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Three years later, Spike Witwicky assisted the US "Defense Ministry" in reactivating Optimus Prime by placing a piece of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] into his chest. Optimus traveled to the remote Arctic shoreline where he'd been found after the crash and used the Matrix to revive Jazz, Mirage, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], Trailbreaker and Wheeljack from where they lay under the waves. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

Shortly afterwards, the Autobots assisted the US military in rescuing the survivors of the Smitco Oil Refinery attack. When Optimus Prime learned the attackers were Autobots and Decepticons under the control of terrorist arms dealer [[Adam Rook]], he asked his Autobots to accompany him to fight for '''Great JUSTICE.''' Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who agreed to come along, stating that Prime only needed to point him in the right direction. Trailbreaker participated in the battle at Rook's destroyed base when [[General Hallo]] double-crossed them and attempted to destroy all the Transformers with a low-yield nuclear weapon. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

[[Image:DW Trailbreaker Devastatorstomp.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Devastator crush puny Autobot... and make scale joke while crushing. Har har har!]]
After the Autobots extricated themselves from the nuke-absorbing hardened virus shell, Trailbreaker helped rescue the captive Autobots Megatron was using to fuel his technovirus. After Ironhide informed the other Autobots of Megatron's imminent attack on [[San Francisco]], they flew there and engaged the Decepticons. Trailbreaker smashed Grimlock in the face with a steel girder and informed the former Dinobot commander that he'd made the wrong choice in leaving the Autobots and was now going to pay. Unfortunately, Superion was taken down by the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], prompting Trailbreaker to join Optimus Prime, Sideswipe and Megatron in a moment of [[dull surprise]], gaping at Devastator as if they had never seen him before. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}}

As Jazz and the Autobots in [[Canada]] were preparing to deal with the technovirus, Trailbreaker frantically radioed them for backup, reporting that Superion was down. As he was distracted, Devastator attempted to stomp on the Autobot. Trailbreaker caught the foot in time, but was crushed into the pavement. He was later retrieved and placed into restraint by the Decepticons as Megatron attempted to convince Optimus Prime to join his cause to wipe out the humans and rule the universe. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} Once Prime managed to free the Autobots with assistance from human firefighters, Trailbreaker resumed his assault on Grimlock by sending him flying with a punch. After Superion sacrificed himself to save San Francisco from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear strike, Trailbreaker called Optimus over when he and Sideswipe discovered the abandoned Grimlock under rubble. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''While the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] were invading Earth, the Transformers also had to deal with an over-reaching American President who wanted to destroy all the Cybertronians. He offered the Autobots his help in setting up an ambush for the Decepticons, but Prime and his advisors quickly realized the President planned to eliminate all of them. Taking what seemed to be the lesser of two evils at the moment, the Autobots forged an alliance with the Decepticons before travelling to the ambush site. Trailbreaker was among the Autobot soldiers Optimus chose for the battle. He fought against the military forces and apparently survived the attack of the [[deconstructionite]]s relatively unharmed. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

Months later, the united Cybertronian army arrived on Earth, demanding the surrender of all combatant Autobots and Decepticons. Trailbreaker suffered serious injuries battling [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and the Seekers and had to be placed in a [[CR chamber]] for repairs on the flight back to Cybertron. He fought alongside the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew and the various insurgency groups on Cybertron to reclaim Iacon for the Autobots and force Shockwave out of power. {{storylink|War and Peace}} Afterwards, he joined Prowl and the rest of the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s old crew in returning to Earth to work on the construction of a new Autobot City.

===3H comics===
[[Image:Rattrap legs.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Gah! Someone call an exterminator!]]
Hundreds of years later, Trailbreaker and fellow Autobots [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]] arrived on the newly technorganic Cybertron roughly one year after the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)|this era's Megatron]]. They were welcomed by the surviving members of [[Optimus Primal]]'s band of [[Maximals]], including [[Rattrap]], who offered to share a vintage keg of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's Old Oil]] with the Autobot veteran. Unfortunately, Trailbreaker did not have an opportunity to take Rattrap up on his offer, because immediately afterwards, he and his associates were abducted by [[Unicron]] and teleported to the [[Cauldron]]. There, they were rebuilt against their will into new bodies... except Trailbreaker, because why mess with success? {{storylink|Abduction}}

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|left|150px|thumb|You've got me? Who's got you?!]]
{{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}
[[Optimus Primal]] led the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]], which included Trailbreaker, into a final fight with the [[Minion of Unicron|Minions of Unicron]] on the surface of Unicron himself. However, as their victory was imminent, Unicron began to dissolve beneath their very feet, and [[King Atlas]] had to carry Trailbreaker and Roulette to safety, through a transwarp portal back to their native Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}
===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:GIJoevsTF5_Autobots.jpg|thumb|right|200px|]]
Trailbreaker was among the Transformers discovered on Earth by [[Cobra]], and reworked into a piloted death mechanism known as a [[Stinger (Cobra)|Stinger]]. The Transformers were eventually freed, and the Autobots fought both their Decepticon enemies and their Cobra oppressors. During the battle, Trailbreaker and several other Autobots located [[Cobra Commander]] and tried to capture him, but he was protected by Cobra troops in robotic [[S.N.A.K.E.]] suits. Unfortunately, the Autobots underestimated their human opponents, and Trailbreaker was decapitated by [[Storm Shadow]] during the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

This was apparently not as fatal as it seemed, however, as Trailbreaker was up and fighting again shortly afterwards. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegsOrigin4 Trailbreaker.jpg|left|150px|thumb|I STILL SUPPORT THE RAILING SYSTEMMMMmmmmm!]]
Trailbreaker (along with nearly every other Autobot, apparently) served in the Autobot Security Forces under the command of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. He participated in the battle of [[Kaon]] where the criminal known as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] began a rampage with his army of convicts. Trailbreaker grabbed [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] as the criminal was flying away, only to be kicked off for his trouble, falling to his apparent demise... {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

[[Image:SpotlightKup Trailbreaker.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Mommy told me never to open the door to strangers.]]
Except he survived. Many years later, Trailbreaker was a specialist called in by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to extract a deranged [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] safely from the planet where he had crash-landed. The planet possessed a radiation which was dangerous to Transformers without special protective covering, causing Kup, in his delusions, to believe his rescuers were monsters trying to attack him. Trailbreaker's force fields allowed him to walk on the planet without any protective gear, and his appearance shocked Kup for long enough that he could save the old bot's spark core from meltdown. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

Later, he was one of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s old friends who took time off duty to greet the return of "The Voice". {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A year later, Trailbreaker had joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s team of Autobots on [[Earth]]. They made a plan to drive the Decepticons off the planet once and for all, but fell into a trap and were defeated by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Trailbreaker and the rest were subsequently dumped on the ruined [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to be finished off by the [[Insecticon swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} His primary role appeared to be playing bodyguard to [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], making sure nobody lynched the guy for being a suspected traitor. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} After the Autobot starship ''[[Trion]]'' crashlanded on the planet, Trailbreaker and the others listened to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]'s story about what happened. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} They proceeded to mingle with the rest of ''Trion''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} Trailbreaker later oversaw the process of putting a giant cannon in place on the Autobots' temporary base. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

After the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], Trailbreaker briefly left Earth to serve on the [[Ethics Committee]] meetings at the [[Kimia Facility]], alongside [[Xaaron]] and [[Animus]]. He sat in consideration of [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s new invention, [[cerebro-sensitive bullet]]s that used onboard computers to ensure a killshot to the head with every pull of the trigger. Unlike his fellow committee members, Trailbreaker openly expressed his horror at such a weapon, and his disapproval of its creator. Ultimately, the bullets were banned by the committee under Protocol III of the [[Non-Conventional Weapons Act]], and use of them in future would be deemed a war crime under the [[Tyrest Accord]]. {{storylink|Bullets}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, Trailbreaker was present when Hot Rod announced his plans to abandon Earth and what was left of the war. He chose not to join the Autobot cavalier or his followers. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

Along with all the other Autobots, Trailbreaker volunteered to return to Cybertron and fight [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s army. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix}} During the trip, he spent a lot of time staring at Megatron, now in Autobot captivity. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

Upon arriving at Cybertron, the Autobots were faced with Kimia Facility, which had been captured by Galvatron, transformed into a giant laser cannon and used to fire on the planet. Rodimus (formerly Hot Rod) grabbed Trailbreaker and had him project a force field around the cannon's muzzle, but it proved too weak to stop the next blast. The shock of having his force field ripped apart knocked him unconscious, and he had to be repaired by [[Garnak]]. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers}}
{{--}}

===''Wings Universe''===
Trailbreaker was among the Autobots chosen to be part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s new military. He agreed with [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] that dealing with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] would be a piece of [[oil cake]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} A week later, he was part of the Autobot forces at [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s city walls as the Decepticons broke through with [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}} The battle was won, but not without casualties. In search for energy to replenish the Transformers, an Autobot crew including Trailbreaker left the planet in the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 6}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Trailbreaker could come to Optimus Prime's aid, helping him navigate more quickly through the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Trailbreaker was one of [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon forces, in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Trailbreaker toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|If your vehicle mode looks like this, you might be a redneck! You also happen to be indestructible]]
* '''Trailbreaker''' (1984, 2001, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''25'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 "Twin Blasters", 2 missiles, radar scanner, 2 fists (left & right)

: Trailbreaker transforms in a Toyota 4WD Hi-Lux camper truck. In robot mode, both of his lower arms are projectile launchers, able to load and fire either his fists or his projectiles, which consist of two [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum metallized]] silver missiles and two silver "twin blasters". The [[Hasbro]] version of the toy severely weakened the springs [[for safety reasons]].

: This mold was later [[retool]]ed to make [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]].

: In 2001, Trailbreaker was given a short-run reissue (limited to only 1,000 pieces) by Takara as a convention-exclusive item, bundled together with Hoist. Since this toy was never reissued by Hasbro, it remained one of the more elusive reissues by Takara, until his 2008 ''[[Encore]]'' reissue. While the original had a red visor, the Encore reissue was notable for having a blue visor and a [[tampograph|tampographed]] Autobot symbol on his hood/chest.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Trailbreaker/trailbreaker.htm More information on Trailbreaker at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
[[Image:TF2010-toy Trailcutter.jpg|thumb|300px|Cutting a trail to a closeout shelf near you!]]
*'''Trailcutter''' (Legends class, 2011)

:Part of the second wave of "[[Reveal the Shield]]" [[Legends Class]] toys, Trailbreaker is now renamed "Trailcutter" due to [[Trademark]] reasons. He converts into a camper truck again, but with a front section similar to that of a Cadillac Escalade. His head sculpt is essentially the Generation 1 toy's head, including the visor, with the more humanoid face of the [[character model|cartoon model]]. The same "hybrid" design had been previously used by [[Dan Khanna]] for [[3H Productions|3H's]] [[Transformers: Universe (comic)|''Universe'' comics]] and by Hasbro for ''[[Transformers: Alternators| Alternators]]'' [[Swindle (G1)#Alternators|Swindle]] (originally intended as Trailbreaker) and his [[redeco]] [[Rollbar (G1)#Alternators|Rollbar]]. As with all "Reveal the Shield" toys, he has a heat-sensitive [[rubsign]].

: The "Reveal the Shield" Legends toys were largely released in discount and closeout chains in the US, most predominantly at Five Below stores.
{{-}}

===Other attempts===
There are quite a few Transformers toys that were at one point in their development supposed to be a new form for (or tribute to) Trailbreaker, but before the Universe Legends toy, all of these became other characters with other names, most likely due to [[Hasbro]]'s inability to secure the [[trademark]].

Trailbreaker's appearance in the [[3H Productions|3H]] [[Universe (2003 comic)|Universe comics]] stems from early plans to release a Trailbreaker redeco of the [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]] [[X-Brawn]] mold as a convention exclusive in 2003. Reportedly, Hasbro themselves also had the same idea for the mass retail Universe Deluxe assortment, but due to the aforementioned reasons, the toy was ultimately given a different deco and released as [[Ratchet (Universe)|Autobot Ratchet]] instead.

Later, a [[redeco]] of the [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]] [[Spy Changer]] [[Ironhide (RID)|Ironhide]] was released as a Wal*Mart exclusive under the [[Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]] banner, a black pickup truck with the distinctive red and yellow stripes from Trailbreaker's original toy. Ultimately, this toy would be released as [[Ironhide (Universe)|Ironhide]] instead.

The next attempt was in the [[Alternators]] line, the toy that would eventually become [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and later [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]]. A [[retool]] of the [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] Jeep Wrangler toy, its head is a cross between the original Trailbreaker toy's helmet and the cartoon model's face, surprisingly similar to [[Dan Khanna]]'s rendition of the character in 3H's Universe comics. A black and white version of a proposed color guide for the unreleased Trailbreaker version of the sculpt was depicted in the Japanese ''[[The Transformers: Binaltech & TF Collection Complete Guide]]'' book.

Finally, the [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] Autobot [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] was originally going to be called "Trailbreaker", and the head sculpt was to have more elements from the Generation 1 character's design. These plans were again scrapped, but the character's upgraded form, '''Leobreaker''', retains the "breaker" portion of the name, since "Leohaul" sounds really silly. (The name "Overcast" was temporarily considered, but quickly dropped again.)

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 9''' (multi-pack, 1986)
**''ID number:'' '''Collection No. 3'''
: In Japan, a red rubber mini-figure of Trailbreaker was available in part of a [[Decoy|multi-pack of similar mini-figurines]]. The number etched into his back is the sum total of his [[Tech Spec|tech spec]] ratings, as these figurines were used as game pieces for a variety of ''Transformers'' board games in which this number had some meaning to how the game was played or something.

*'''Trailbreaker''' (1987)
**''Decoy number:'' '''10'''

: The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Trailbreaker/trailbreaker.htm More information on Decoy Trailbreaker at TFU.info]''

===3D Battle-Card Game===
[[Image:MovieTrailbreaker3DCard.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Admit it. That head peeking up from the truck mode is hilarious.]]
*'''Trailbreaker''' (2007)

: A 26-point "common" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game|3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, Trailbreaker "transforms" into a black pickup truck with a camper shell. He uses the same parts layout as [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]] and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]].

:The Battle-Card may or may not actually represent [[Trailbreaker (Movie)|the live-action movie version of Trailbreaker]], as the design is clearly in the live-action movie aesthetic (and a version of the Trailbreaker character exists in the "movie" universe anyway). The card's listed abilities — an Invisible Force Field and a Radio Jammer — line up with Trailbreaker's G1 abilities, however, so who knows.
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:DiacloneTrailbreaker.jpg|thumb|250px]]
* Trailbreaker's mold was originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "4WD Hi-Lux", available in three different colors: black, blue or yellow. The blue version was sold by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] in North America as the ''[[Diakron]]'' "DK-3" Car/Robot in [[1983]], seemingly just a few months before the toy would be rebranded as a Transformer. There is an easy way to tell the black ''Diaclone'' 4WD Hi-Lux apart from a ''Transformers'' Trailbreaker, though - the ''Diaclone'' toy's vehicle-mode stickers have a yellow background.

*Trailbreaker had the preliminary name of '''Guzzle'''.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071230210811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41003]</ref>

*Like many of the early ''Generation 1'' Transformers, Trailbreaker's toy and [[character model|animation model]] differ a lot, especially as far as the head design is concerned. In recent years, both comic book artists and Hasbro and Takara typically aim for an amalgamation of both designs, usually with the toy's helmet and the animation model's face. However, no-one can seem to agree whether his force field projector is supposed to be directly attached to the back of the head (as it was on the toy) or attached to the back of the robot. The [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics originally had it attached to a massive "[[kibble]]"-like backpack before switching to a design more akin to the original animation model with ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''. Meanwhile, had the ''[[Alternators]]'' Jeep Wrangler mold been released as Trailbreaker like originally intended, he would have lacked his characteristic force field projector entirely.

* In storyboards for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Trailbreaker's dead body is seen at the end of the Autobot City battle. However, this didn't make it into the final film. In an early draft script, Trailbreaker survives the two initial attacks on Autobot City and is part of a guerrilla unit led by Blaster on Earth.

* Originally, ''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' was going to be used in ''Spotlight: Kup'', but Roche put Trailbreaker in after re-looking at the guy's tech spec and thought his power and cheery personality would work better. "It's nice to use a character who gets no love."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIkqheta3GE Nick Roche interview with Moonbase Two]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Trailbreaker''' (トレイルブレイカー ''Toreirubureikā'')
*''French:'' '''Glouton''' (Canada, "Glutton")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Ösvényvágó'''
*''Italian:'' '''Tuono''' ("Thunder")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Kāi-lù Hsīen-fēng''' (Taiwan, 開路先鋒, "Trailbreaker")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Pica-Trilhos''' (Portugal comic), '''Abre-alas''' (Brazil comic)
*''Russian:'' '''Sledopyt''' (Следопыт, "Tracker")

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Defense specialists]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Strategists]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It

2012-02-02T01:27:53Z

141.218.8.33: /* Notes */ Nick Roche's design for Ultra Magnus's vehicle mode has been revealed, and we didn't catch it til now.

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #1
|prev=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
|next=Liars, A to D Part 2
|next2=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE1_cvrE.jpg
|title="Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[January 11]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=January 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2011)]]
}}

'''It's launch day for Rodimus and the crew of the ''Lost Light''—what could possibly go wrong?'''

==Synopsis==
Following [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|departure]] from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] publicly announces his intent to do likewise aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', following the map found within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] in hopes of locating the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] predicts virtually no [[Autobot]]s will respond to his open invitation to join him, but Rodimus winds up with a little over two hundred recruits, including (much to [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s consternation) [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]—who believes he is getting old, a concern punctuated by his failure to save the life of a [[NAIL]] who has committed suicide as a political protest—[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]—the loss of whose scientific talents particularly infuriates Prowl, prompting him to order the loading of a mysterious cargo onto the ''Lost Light''—and Chromedome's friend, [[Rewind]]. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], of course, has misgivings about nearly every recruit, but Rodimus is thrilled to have so many.

In the skies above Cybertron, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] grieves in his own way for the loss of the world he had known and all the memories he made there. Detecting a life-sign resembling [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s, he investigates a small shack, only to find the unhinged [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] talking to a collection of [[Sweep]] corpses that he has strung up inside. Cyclonus enters and interrupts him just as he is about to burn down the [[energon]]-soaked building, and Whirl immediately attacks him, professing innocence and explaining the bodies were already dead: he had merely collected them. Cyclonus, for his part, doesn't care in the slightest, but can't convince Whirl of this fact.

Elsewhere, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] is running security checks on the Autobots who have signed up to join the ''Lost Light'': [[Brainstorm]], carrying a mysterious briefcase but exempted from security checks by Rodimus; [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], in the mood for "a good quest"; and [[Rung]], whom Red Alert does not recognize at first, despite having been a patient of his for six centuries. Rung tempts fate by commenting on his knack for staying out of trouble: before the sentence is even finished, Cyclonus and Whirl's running battle swoops through the area, and Rung winds up with his forearm cleaved off by Cyclonus's wing.

Ratchet, Chromedome and Rewind, meanwhile, are making for the ''Lost Light'' through the [[Mitteous Plateau]], but are running behind schedule due to Rewind's lack of a vehicular [[alternate mode]], a trait of his that Chromedome has never understood. Just as the group are about to start having an argument about the validity of alt mode variety, Cyclonus and Whirl come crashing down out of the sky, their battle at an end with Whirl the victor. Whirl spins a few quick lies and is about to deliver a killshot when a sudden, unexpected energon explosion from beneath the ground blows him to bits. Peering into the blast crater, the Autobots find [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who, unbeknownst to them, is a Cybertronian from six million years ago who was supposed to be on the ''[[Ark (G1)#IDW Generation 1 comics|Ark I]]'', but became trapped underground in a subsidence. He has spent the past six thousand millennia periodically going offline and reawakening, unaware that any time has passed, until he was just now finally able to detonate the energon rations he had with him in bid for freedom. Panicking and passing out before he can tell anyone any of this due to his belief he has killed Whirl, Tailgate is brought aboard the ''Lost Light'' by the Autobots, as are Whirl and Cyclonus. Rewind takes advantage of the brief confusion to slip off and purchase some golden discs from [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]].

Soon after, the ''Lost Light'' takes off, and Bumblebee complains to Prowl that he thought he had a plan... at which point the ship is crippled by a mysterious explosion that forces the ship to [[quantum jump]] before preparation is complete, hurling it off to some far corner of the galaxy. A fifth of the ship's crew is sucked out into space before the breached hull repairs itself, and Rodimus orders them to set down on a desolate nearby planet, where they watch as the Autobots come raining down, burning up as they enter the atmosphere. All in all, as Rodimus succinctly puts it: "Not a good start."

And back on Cybertron, as Bumblebee sits in horrified mourning, back in Prowl's quarters a scrambled transmission plays. A transmission from one of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>'s crew. A transmission that has been sent back in time, from the future. But it has arrived too late, and now Rodimus will never hear the warnings of the dangers that await them...

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (2)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (3)
*[[Dipstick]] (4)
*[[Xaaron]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (12)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (14)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (15)
*[[Brainstorm]] (16)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rung]] (18)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (21)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (22)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (23)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (24)
*[[Fizzle]] (25)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (26)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (27)
*[[Siren]] (28)
*[[Polaris]] (29)
*[[Waverider]] (30)
*[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] (31)
*[[Rad]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (19)

|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==

"Did he give you all that scrap about finding the Knights of Cybertron and retracing our steps to the Golden Age? It's all scripted, you know, Drift writes it for him."
:—'''Bumblebee''''s not bitter!

"You know what '''your''' problem is, Chromedome? You think that just because the war is '''over''', we can afford to stop '''fighting'''!"
:—'''Prowl''', summed up in one sentence.

"'''Please''' tell me you're here to wave us off." 
"No, no, no, I'm here for the quest. Love a good quest. Haven't been on a quest since the whole Luna 1 thing. The Moonquest." 
"Stop saying 'quest.'" 
"So, can I go on board?" 
"Of course—if you promise to never, ever speak."
:—'''Red Alert''' and '''Swerve''' evidently have a history.

"Oh, it's started. The alt mode bashing. Every time you get '''agitated'''... Let's have a go at Rewind because he turns into a '''giant memory stick''' and not a... '''super space tank''' or—or—whatever..."
:—'''Rewind''', on the defensive.

"Remember the old saying? 'Everyone's shape serves a purpose.'" 
"Yeah? Tell that to Sky Lynx."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Ratchet''' have a difference of opinion.

"Don't open the coffin. Don't let them take [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. Don't go to Delphi. And do not — I repeat do not — look in the basement. And for the sake of the Cybertronian race itself, please don't''kzzzzzzzk''"
:—'''Ominous Future Message'''

==Notes==

*The title of this issue pays homage to the Dexys Midnight Runners song, "Liars, A to E" (with A and D of course standing for "Autobot" and "Decepticon"). James Roberts previously used it as the title for a comic-strip prequel to his unofficial Transformers novel, "Eugenesis", published in the souvenir magazine for UK convention Transforce 2001.
*The NAIL who dies on Ratchet's table could previously be spotted in three scenes in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', carrying the placard that lies discarded in the corner of the room in this issue. He was red in that issue, indicating that he has turned grey upon his death, a trait that stretches back to ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', but which has only been seen in IDW continuity before now in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', which was not coincidentally the work of this issue's creative team.
[[Image:Mtmte brainstorm teaser.jpg|right|thumb]]
*The trailer Tailgate is carrying his energon rations in is a [[Micro Trailer]].
*Tailgate thinks the ''Ark'' is doomed without him. The mission ''did'' go [[Spotlight: Galvatron|horribly wrong]]...
*After having spent the entirety of ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]'' being misidentified in-story as a Decepticon, Cyclonus is finally back to asserting that he is an unaffiliated Cybertronian.
*Several concepts introduced in Roberts's earlier story "[[Bullets]]" reoccur: Brainstorm's [[Malevolent Counterintuitive Pathogen|mysterious briefcase]], Rung's fondness for model spacecraft, Whirl being kicked off the Wreckers under unspecified circumstances, and an unseen Autobot named [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]].
*Brainstorm's security pass sports a [[Tech Spec]]s graph and a [[rubsign]].
*Their small size makes them hard to determine, but at least some of Rung's model spaceships are recognizable: they at least include the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] as it appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], the [[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]] from Beast Wars, and a [[Trident Attack Craft]]. We wager there are more familiar ships in there!
*We don't know if Prowl was responsible for the explosion, but...
*Among the list of lost Autobots is one new name: [[Polaris]]. This ''might'' be a reference to online Transformers fanzine [http://www.polarismagazine.co.uk/ Polaris Magazine], whose publisher Graham Thomson is a long-time member of Transmasters, the UK fan group that Roberts and Roche were both major contributors to.
*The release of this issue was preceded by a "scavenger hunt" of sorts on [[January 10]]th, with one each of a series of twelve images spotlighting individual characters being released to twelve different websites, both Transformers fansites and popular comic book new sites. Only eight actually made it up before the book's release: [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/transformers-mtmte-1-promo-image---out-tomorrow-174117/ Brainstorm at TFW2005] (at right), [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-120110.html Drift at Newsarama], [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36350 Ratchet at ComicBookResources], [http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/121/1216240p1.html Red Alert at IGN], [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/exclusive-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-promo-art/23642/ Rewind at Seibertron], [http://tformers.com/transformers-exclusive-transformers-more-than-meets/16985/news.html Rung at TFormers], [http://www.allspark.com/content/view/9829/ Swerve at the AllSpark] and [http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/idw-transformers-more-than-meets-eye-1-treasure-hunt-exclusive-image-2604/ Whirl at FullMetalHero]. Subsequently revealed were [http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=269973&highlight=#269973 Chromedome on the IDW forums], [https://twitter.com/#!/TheJohnBarber/status/157175756353585152/photo/1 Cyclonus on John Barber's Twitter], [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150512162858279&set=a.10150239372238279.337626.8473603278&type=1 Rodimus on IDW's Facebook] and [http://ryalltime.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/mtmte-teaser-ultra-magnus/ Ultra Magnus on Chris Ryall's blog].
* Geographic features that Cyclonus mourned the loss of due to the rebirth include [[Mesmerica]], [[Obex]], [[Pess Pess]], [[Subterrania]], [[Tetrahex]], the [[Transeptum of Infinite Reach]], the [[Vaulted Heights of K'th Kinsere]], and the [[Warrior's Gate]].
* Nick Roche's design for Ultra Magnus's vehicle mode went unused in this issue, but he revealed it on the blog [http://eclecticmicks.blogspot.com/2012/01/almost-met-eye.html Eclectric Micks] on January 6th.

===Errors===

===Covers (7)===
All seven covers to this issue feature a silver foil-stamped logo.
* '''Cover A:''' Ratchet by [[Alex Milne]] and Josh Perez
* '''Cover B:''' Ultra Magnus by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
* '''Cover C:''' Rodimus by by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
* '''Cover D:''' Drift by by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
* '''Cover E:''' The assembled cast by Nick Roche and Josh Burcham, in homage to 1987's ''Justice League'' #1.
* '''Cover RIA:''' Fold-out gatefold cover combining the interlinked covers A-D.
* '''Cover RIB:''' Hand-drawn Sketch Covers by Josh Burcham

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE1_cvrA.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrB.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrC.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrD.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrE.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrRIA.jpg
Image:MTMTE1_cvrRIB.jpg|Finally, Polar Claw's time to shine!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The Autonomy Lesson|#1]]
*''Heroic: A Womanthology''
*''[[Infestation 2]]''
*''Memorial''
*''Danger Girl: Revolver''

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Talk:Bot Shots (toyline)

2012-01-31T01:42:38Z

141.218.8.33:

So one day Hasbro decided, full out, "How can we break TFWiki's brains," and created these little guys that are a continuity family's worst nightmare: http://www.allspark.com/content/view/9850/20/ --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 11:00, 19 January 2012 (EST)
: I guess, really, they'll probably go in with Aligned, even though it's guys with G1 heads featuring movie characters like Barricade and DOTM Sentinel Prime. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 11:01, 19 January 2012 (EST)
::I think that would be the best and easiest solution, yes. (Does Sentinel Zeta Prime count as "Sentinel Prime"?) [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 13:26, 19 January 2012 (EST)
:::God dammit, Aaron. I will hate you forever. -[[User:LV|LV]] 14:14, 19 January 2012 (EST)
::::On the bright side, if they're part of Aligned, the articles don't get an unfortunate parenthetical. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 22:36, 19 January 2012 (EST)
:In non Sentinel Prime news, I suspect they'll be sold in packaging that matches something else. But if not, well, we knew this day was coming sooner or later. -[[User:LV|LV]] 22:46, 19 January 2012 (EST)

Not going to work too well, as a number of the figures now revealed clearly take designs ques from other lines. Jetfire, for instance, is clearly G1-based. Lockdown is from the movie line. Topspin is from Dark of the Moon. Mirage is... confused. For the time being, I changed the character links to match the closest 'source' for each figure, but I imagine that Bot Shots will either have it's own play brand (like RPMs) anyway. Either that, or Walky's brain will explode. - [[User:Vanguard|Vanguard]] 14:53, 30 January 2012 (EST)
:It does seem like a multiversal toyline ala Robot Heroes. We'll need to amend the note if we're going to treat it that way though. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 15:37, 30 January 2012 (EST)
::Personally, I would just wait for ToyFair and see how Hasbro's officially selling it and have done with it. It's only a couple of weeks away now, anyway. - [[User:Vanguard|Vanguard]] 15:42, 30 January 2012 (EST)
:::The Bot Shots Prime looks much more like an amalgamation of various versions of the character, to me. He has a cab that looks a heck of a lot more like Armada Prime's vehicle mode, even with a robot mode that skews closer to G1. [[Special:Contributions/141.218.8.33|141.218.8.33]] 20:42, 30 January 2012 (EST)

Transformers Universe (Jagex)

2012-01-27T03:09:51Z

141.218.8.33: /* External links */ link broke.

{{disambig3|Universe}}
[[Image:TransformersUniverseMMOlogo.jpg|thumb|]]
'''''Transformers Universe''''' is an [[Wikipedia:Massively multiplayer online game|MMO]] set to begin in 2012. It is being developed by [[Jagex]] and it is set in the ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' universe. Gamers can choose to be an [[Autobot]] or a [[Decepticon]] and customize their appearance, while gameplay is very team-based. The game will feature ''Prime'' characters as well as introduce new ones like [[Prowl (Prime)|Prowl]] and [[Barricade (Prime)|Barricade]].

==See also==
*[[Transformers Online]], the game's counterpart for Asian markets.
*[[Transformers: War for Cybertron]], a store-bought game with online multiplayer gameplay.

==External links==
*[http://transformersuniverse.com/ Official website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyc0fuDuPcc&feature=player_embedded Video interview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Universe}}
[[Category:Online games]]
[[Category:Prime media]]

Sludge (Dinobots)

2012-01-27T02:51:14Z

141.218.8.33: /* Dinobots */ Years of wear have scratched my Sludge's spark, revealing this surprising tidbit.

{{Factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Sludge}}
:''Sludge is an [[Autobot]] from [[Transformers: Dinobots|Dinobots]].''

[[Image:Sludge-DBcard.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Feed me, Seymour!]]
'''Sludge''' is a member of the [[Dinobot (Dinobots)|Dinobots]]. Isn't that nice?

==Toys==
===Dinobots===
*'''Snarl & Sludge''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2003)

: A [[redeco]] of the ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Sling]], Sludge transforms into an organic dimetrodon. His beast-mode back-sail opens up to form a spring-loaded trap, also usable as a shield for robot mode. He was available only in a Wal-Mart [[exclusive]] two-pack with [[Snarl (Dinobots)|Snarl]]. Scratching off the [[Tampograph|tampographed]] Autobot symbol placed on his [[spark crystal]] reveals a crystal with the [[Dinobot (BM)|Beast Machines Dinobot]] symbol.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Sludge/sludge.htm More information on Sludge at TFU.info]''

[[Category:Dinobots characters]]

The Transformers: Robots in Disguise

2012-01-25T22:24:18Z

141.218.8.33: /* Overview */

{{disambig3|Robots in Disguise}}
[[Image:Robots in Disguise -1 CVR A.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Ironhide, Go-Bots ahead!" "ATTACK!"]]
'''''The Transformers: Robots in Disguise''''' is a new ongoing comic series to be published by [[IDW Publishing]] in [[2012]]. The series focuses on [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and the [[Autobot]]s trying to organize peace among the [[NAIL]]s and [[Decepticon]]s and bring [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to a new [[Golden Age]].

The series picks off from "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]", the final issue of the previous [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing]], and will take place in the same continuity as the second new series for 2012, ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''.

{{chapters |title=''The Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' issues: |style=3 |prev=The Transformers (IDW)|next=|content=
*[[The Autonomy Lesson|#1]]
*[[Robots in Disguise issue 2|#2]]
*[[Robots in Disguise issue 3|#3]]
}}

==Overview==
Based on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the series focuses on [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s new government, and their attempts to lead and rebuild the primordial planet. They must deal with new arrivals daily- [[NAIL]]s, ex-[[Autobot]]s and ex-[[Decepticon]]s, along with the Decepticons left around after [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s disappearance, and attempt to unify them all.

==Creative team==
The series will be written by [[John Barber]] with [[Andrew Griffith]] on art.

{{stub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robots in Disguise}}
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:IDW titles]]

Tech Spec

2012-01-12T03:38:16Z

141.218.8.33: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the character-rating system|information about character write-ups|Bio}}

[[Image:MegatronG2Hero_Bio&TechSpecs.jpg|right|275px|thumb|"Tech Specs" ≠ "[[bio]]". Clip and save ''that,'' jack.]]

'''Tech Specs''', short for "technical specifications", are the character-ratings that many [[Transformer]]s have received on their packaging or on Hasbro.com, ranking qualities like "Strength" and "Intelligence" and "Skill" on a scale of 1-10. These have also been called '''Technical Data''' or '''Vehicle Data'''.

While technically the character [[bio]]s included on most toys are separate from the Tech Specs—and are sometimes called out as such on the packaging itself—the graphic design traditionally merged them into a single box/card (which you are encouraged to "clip and save!"), along with a reduced version of the character's [[package art]]. Thus, "tech specs" has become, in casual use, a shorthand term for the entire bio/art/Tech-Specs combination.

The current lineup of stats is:

*'''Strength'''
*'''Intelligence'''
*'''Speed'''
*'''Endurance'''
*'''Rank'''
*'''Courage'''
*'''[[Fireblast]]''' (formerly '''Firepower''', which meant something)
*'''Skill'''

The [[Micromaster]] teams replaced "Rank" and "Firepower" with:

*'''Teamwork'''
*'''Cooperation'''

The ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' ''[[Robot Powered Machines|RPMs]]'' line features a reduced list of "Vehicle Data" stats presented in much the same manner:
*'''Max Speed'''
*'''Horsepower'''
*'''Ramming Power'''
*'''Armor'''

While these stats often correspond at least loosely to the described abilities of the characters, parity ''between'' characters is virtually nonexistent. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], for instance, has traditionally maxed out most or all of his stats, despite the existence of much [[Omega Supreme (G1)|stronger, faster, fireblastier]] characters. The only category with anything really close to a sense of scale between characters is "Rank," where faction leaders tend to be 10s, group leaders tend to be 9s and 8s, and most others are below that. There are of course many exceptions, but at least there's a solid trend.

==History==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Trailbreaker_Bio&TechSpec.jpg|left|250px|thumb|The original style, with decoder overlaid.]]
[[Image:Mainframespec.gif|left|250px|thumb|The last ''Generation 1'' style. Did dropping the decoder gimmick [[Ruined FOREVER|kill the franchise]]? Undoubtedly yes.]]

Tech Specs were present right from the start. With the very first Transformers also came a packaging gimmick: Kids were instructed to "use the special decoder inside to decipher your Tech Specs." A fuchsia criss-cross pattern obscured the blue line that indicated the various ratings, so overlaying a piece of clear red plastic made the blue line much easier to see. This design was used for five years, then was replaced with a bar-graph design that required no decoder to read. The description was also changed from just "Tech Specs" to "Bio and Tech Specs". ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' ended two years later, but in all the ''Transformers'' revivals and re-envisionings since then, the decoder gimmick has not yet made a comeback.

In addition to the packaging, Tech Specs were once briefly seen on the toys themselves: The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster figures]] contained abbreviated Tech Specs bar-graphs inside their chests. When the head was plugged into the body, bars would emerge on the graph.

[[Image:MicroSpec.gif|right|200px|thumb|The Micromasters got two stats all their own. Awww... it's like they're real toys.]]

After the cartoon was canceled and the comic entered the [[Simon Furman|Furman]] years, many new toys were made whose corresponding characters never appeared in the fiction. But, with an extremely small number of exceptions, Hasbro continued writing bios and Tech Specs for every toy, and this was the only source of "life" for dozens—perhaps even hundreds—of characters. While [[Rescue Force|some European toys]] were released with virtually no character information (not even names), even this was a small hiccup in the larger trend.

The [[Micromaster]] patrols were notable for being the first variation in stat categories, replacing "Rank" and "Firepower" with "Teamwork" and "Cooperation". The difference between Teamwork and Cooperation isn't quite clear.
{{--}}

===Generation 2===
[[Image:Realactionpopups3dtransformertradingcard.jpg|left|120px|thumb|What? It was the '90s. You had to be there.]]

The early ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' packages kept all the same information as the ''Generation 1'' toys before them but reorganized it, placing the portrait and bio sections above the stats so that the whole thing resembled a trading card ''(see image at top of page)''.

Some later ''Generation 2'' toys took this further: While a figure's packaging had the bio and Tech Specs printed on it like usual, it would also contain a separate pack-in card that not only featured the bio and Tech Specs again, but could also be folded into a free-standing pop-up image of the character.

In [[Europe]], ''Generation 2'' packaging was crammed with multilingual text, so the bios were shorter, and in many cases there were no Tech Spec ratings at all.
{{--}}
===Beast Wars / Machine Wars===
[[Image:OptimusMinor_TechSpecs.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Put it in your spokes, and your bike will go EEK EEK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK.]]

The tech spec designs on ''Beast Wars'' packaging kept the "trading card" dimensions established in ''Generation 2'', but the internal elements were rearranged. For the first time, the stats were represented numerically rather than via a chart, which allowed them to be run vertically alongside a much-enlarged space for the portrait. Earlier cards also included a space displaying the toy's hidden weapons.

The short-lived ''[[Machine Wars]]'' line, running concurrently with ''Beast Wars'', used the same design.
{{--}}
===Beast Machines===
[[Image:StrikaBM_ToyBio.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The dotted line is pretty much a formality at this point.]]

''Beast Machines'' altered the tech spec format once again, most obviously by replacing the illustrated portrait that had been included since ''Generation 1'' with a photo of the actual toy. More subtly, it took the first steps toward disintegrating the picture/bio/Tech-Specs unit: While a clip-and-save rectangle still framed the design, the elements within were more loosely structured and less consistently arranged. The lack of a standardized size, shape, or backing made them seem less like distinct collectible cards and more like... well, just bits of the box you might want to keep.

Where previously there had always been a description of the card by the "Clip and Save" note, ''Beast Machines'' omitted it. With it went the term "Tech Specs", which would never be seen on packaging again.
{{--}}
===Robots in Disguise===
[[Image:AxerSidewaysRID BoxBack.jpg|thumb|right|150px|What the...?]]

It was ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' that marked the first real break in tradition, brought on by a move to [[Multilingual packaging|trilingual packaging]]. Toys on the smallest packaging cards, such as the [[Spy Changer]]s, literally did not have room for character information. Most Deluxe-sized and larger packaging still retained bios, Tech Specs, and "art," but the bios were graphically separated from the "clip-and-save" box that contained the rest. In at least one case, creative use of space put the Tech Specs box at a 90-degree angle to the rest of the layout, including the bios ''(see image at right)''. And in [http://www.seibertron.com/toys/fullsize.php?id=392&size=1&image=5 another], there was no bio at all.

Later on, individually-carded Kay-Bee and Target [[exclusive]] versions of the six show-character Spychangers were released with bios and Tech Specs, since the exclusive packaging was English-only. However, this didn't last; the final ''Robots in Disguise'' exclusives had ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''-style trilingual packaging with no character info except for names and allegiances. All told, a little less than half of RID releases lacked bios and Tech Specs, which meant more than a third of the characters.

===Unicron Trilogy / Universe===
''Armada'' continued the departure from tradition, eliminating all character information from the packaging beyond names, allegiances, and a few trilingual "blurbs" noting the vehicle modes and conspicuous weapons or gimmicks. The toys came with sticker cards that had their pictures and names on them, but no further information. This was also true for the ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, which started halfway through ''Armada'''s run. The Japanese release, ''Micron Legend'', continued the use of stats on the more traditional trading card for Super-con and larger sized toys.

Some bios and Tech Specs did appear, but only on the Hasbro website, only for the main ''Armada'' characters, and only on a somewhat haphazard schedule. The fandom response ran from neutral to negative; certainly no one was ''happy'' about the dwindling output, especially since the supplementary character info had had the most impact on characters who had no other fiction.

But by the time of ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', the in-package stickers had become trading cards, and in response to the fandom, each had Tech Specs on the back. However, the casual use of the term had muddied the issue: In granting the request for "tech specs," Hasbro hadn't realized that the most important part was the ''bio,'' not the actual Tech Spec ratings. So some more time passed before packs of trading cards with bios were released. And, of course, bios continued appearing on the Hasbro site for ''Energon'' and ''Universe'' characters, though not every character in those series got in before the practice was discontinued. Meanwhile, two new specifics were added: "N/A," which was used for [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]'s rank and courage and [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]]'s Fireblast, and "?" which was Starscream's Strength rating, and the rating for every statistic for [[Unicron]] and [[Dreadwing (Energon)|Dreadwing]].

It was with ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' that bios and Tech Specs (now called "Technical Data") finally returned to the packaging, with even more information (sometimes further bio info, sometimes toy-trivia) hosted online and accessed via [[Cyber Key Codes]]. The Technical Data also introduced "unknown" in lieu of some numerical ratings, such as for [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]'s stats.

===Transformers Animated===
Though Animated toys have on-package bios, they are mostly free-form, with call-out section for "Galactic Powers and Abilities" listing three vaguely technical facts or trivia items in a bullet-point style. However, [[BotCon 2011]] featured two lithographs, each with 26 bios done up as early G1 style Tech Specs.

===Other===
The [[Alternators]] line never got more than names, allegiances, and mottoes; but the ''[[Titanium Series|Titanium]]'', ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'', and [[Movie (toyline)|live-action film]] lines have all continued the old tradition. ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' never had the stats on the packaging, but had the rest, including three special facts about each character. [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Hasbro TFCC]] made up for this by printing ''Generation 1''-style tech specs for upcoming characters in their magazine, starting with 10 in issue 24, and 2 in each of the next 6 issues.

==Fiction==
===''Generation 1''===
====Toy instructions====
A Transformer's Tech Specs were determined by means of a ratings test. The [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s were not given a ratings test because they were a new type of [[Autobot]] still young in their evolution.<ref>The Omnibots' [[instructions]], specifically panel three [http://www.botchthecrab.com/archive/instructions/autobot/1985/instr_camshaft.jpg (scan at BotchTheCrab.com)]</ref>
====Japanese cartoon continuity====
[[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s and [[Headmaster Junior]]s would often briefly flash their abbreviated tech specs on their chest displays when they attached their heads. {{storylink|Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters}} {{storylink|Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce}}

===''Timelines''===
====''TransTech'' text stories====
As part of the processing performed at [[Axiom Nexus]] by the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s, each [[offworlder]] is given an [[identification bolt|identification card]] which includes, among other things, his or her Tech Specs. [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] did not know what to think about his "Strength=3". At one point he told a [[Cheetor (TransTech)|security official]] "check our tech specs". {{storylink|Gone Too Far}}

===''Transformers Animated''===
====''The AllSpark Almanac''====
After [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] confronts [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] in an [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] training simulation, his test evaluation is given in the form of a Tech Spec.{{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
* When Hasbro went to trilingual packaging, [[Aaron Archer]] said it was because they believed in the near future all products, down to mundane items such as sticks of butter, would require it; they were attempting to get "ahead of the curve." Years later this obviously has not come to pass, to the relief of most Transformers fans, but not necessarily [[Jorge Figueroa|everyone]].

==See also==
* [[Bio]]
* [[Package art]]
* [[Packaging]]
* [[Power Plans]]

==References==
<references/>

{{stub|Non-US sources for all eras; imagery for later lines.}}

[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Transformers]]

Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It

2012-01-10T02:37:16Z

141.218.8.33: /* Featured characters */

Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It

2012-01-10T02:34:08Z

141.218.8.33: /* Notes */

Darksteel (DOTM)

2011-11-09T08:36:28Z

141.218.8.33: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon}}

:''Darksteel is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:DarksteelToyPromo.JPG|thumb|350px|Snakeman! Call Dennis Quaid!]]
'''Darksteel''' is dark and presumably made of steel. Tarnation! He was trained on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as a master swordsman, and although he's still capable of utilizing blasters, he doesn't trust them. There's nothing else with the killing power or reliability of a good blade.

==Toys==
===Dark of the Moon===
*'''Darksteel''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Accessories:'' 2 MechTech Cannons/Swords

:Part of the fifth wave of ''[[Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' ''[[MechTech]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Darksteel is a [[retool]] of MechTech Deluxe [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], with a new head and new weapons. Darksteel changes into a Corvette Stingray concept convertible in very dark brown with a teal flame deco. The interior is highly detailed, with seats, dashboard and steering wheel all molded into the compartment, though it's missing its floorboards.

:He comes with retooled versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream's]] MechTech weapons, with one weapon being static and the other being functional. Both weapons are double-sided, featuring a cannon barrel (which looks like a machine-gun barrel) on one side and a "sword" on the other. Pushing forward the scope on the functional weapon will cause the sword weapon to extend, increasing its reach. The peg and cannon barrel on the static weapon correspond to the peg-hole and the hole of the scope of the functional weapon, meaning his weapons can combine to form a long, double-sided bladed weapon. This means that he is one of the few Deluxe figures to have a MechTech weapon that can remain locked in both modes.

:This retool changes the appearance of the weapons, with the static weapon gaining a second blade and now resembling snake fangs, and the functional weapon now resembling a scorpion's stinger. Additionally, the lever and the slide mechanism, which were originally two separate pieces, are now molded as a single piece. The holes and the pegs used to combine the two weapons have also been widened, making the static "fangs" weapon incapable of combining with the original version of the spring-loaded weapon. One could still combine the original static weapon with this version's spring-loaded "stinger" weapon, however.

:The packaging [[stock photography]] shows his stinger weapon painted the same red-orange as his fangs weapon, when the final product leaves it unpainted.

:The static weapon's cannon barrel is ''slightly'' longer than the hole it's meant to combine with, meaning that it's pegged a bit crookedly.

:In Japan, this figure was a BIC Camera [[exclusive]] released in September for 3,150 yen (approximately $40 US at then-current conversion rates).

==Notes==
*As revealed at [[BotCon 2011]], Darksteel is an intentional [[homage]] to ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]. This occurred because designer [[Lenny Panzica]] likes snakes.
*Darksteel's name was originally announced at BotCon 2011 as Dark Iron (possibly Darkiron). Evidently plans changed at some point in production. Incidentally, Darksteel is a term from [[Wizards of the Coast]]'s Magic: The Gathering game.
*Darksteel's instruction sheet incorrectly refers to him as an Autobot.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Darksteel''' (ダークスチール ''Dākusuchīru'')

[[Category: Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category: Toy-only characters]]