MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!

2012-05-25T08:48:40Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=18
|image=Danielcrisis.jpg
|caption=Star Blazers: The Next Generation
|title="Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!"
|japanese=ダニエル史上最大のピンチ!!
|romaji=Daniel Shijō Saidai no Pinch!!
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[December 4]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Takao Yoshizawa]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Spike attempts to negotiate peace with Galvatron, but all is not as it seems as the Decepticons, now joined by the Horrorcons, plan their next evil scheme.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HM18 meet the new guys.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
When the [[Decepticon]]s' early warning system on [[Chaar]] detects two unidentified robots entering the planet's atmosphere, the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] leap to the conclusion that the [[Autobot]]s have launched an attack on them. The Headmasters open fire on the two jet-mode robots, who land and transform into animal forms to battle the beast-mode Headmasters, but the battle is soon halted by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], who reveals that these two new robots are the [[Horrorcon]]s, [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], who he has summoned to bolster their forces.

Autobot double-agent [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] informs the Autobots on [[Athenia]] of the Horrorcons' arrival, and the Autobot Headmasters recall how, on planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], the two villains had been allies of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and had been exiled to space for the crimes they committed. In the midst of this discussion, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] suddenly makes an announcement—he wishes to arrange to personally negotiate with Galvatron, in hopes that the Autobots and Decepticons can work together to develop a new energy generation program. Spike expresses to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] his fear that further damage to the universe could be caused by the Decepticons' continued destruction of more planets, like [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] before them, but Fortress is unsure. When [[Shōki]] presents Fortress with tangible proof of that damage—noting that [[space bridge]] travel has already become unstable due to the disruption of the solar system's gravimetric balance caused by the loss of Mars—Fortress is convinced to allow Spike's plan.

[[Image:HM18 Spike receives response.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
A communication from the Autobots soon reaches Chaar, but Galvatron crumples it and tosses it away in utter disgust. Scorponok speaks up, however, suggesting that they use the Autobots' offer as a cover, using it to lure them into an attack, and Galvatron agrees. The response is sent back to Athenia, with one condition—that Spike bring [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] and [[Carly]] with him. Perturbed by the request, the Headmasters come along as guards, and the [[Trainbot]]s carry the group on an unpleasant, unsteady space bridge journey to Earth. They set down on [[Shangri-La Island]] in the South Pacific, where they are soon met by Galvatron, the Decepticon Headmasters and the Horrorcons. Galvatron reveals that either Carly and Daniel are to be held hostage by the Decepticons for the duration of the meeting as a safety measure, or the Decepticons will refuse negotiations. The pained Witwicky family agrees, and Galvatron warns the Headmasters not to interfere if they value the humans' lives.

[[Image:Hm18 negotiating with galvatron.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Shortly, the talks between Spike and Galvatron begin, with Spike offering peaceful co-existence and a joint ownership of any new energy that their alliance will develop. Galvatron, on the other hand, insists on complete control of all energy, questioning Spike's allegedly neutral standing as an [[Human|earthling]] by pointing out that he lives with the Autobots on Athenia and demanding that he return to Earth to prove that he is unbiased. Spike cannot comply, as his energy research requires that he remain on Athenia, so Galvatron offers an alternative—as a show of good faith, Spike must leave the thing which is most precious to him on Earth... his son, Daniel. A tearful Daniel agrees to the request, and Carly decides to stay with him.

[[Image:HM18 Apeface vs trees.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Back on Chaar, in his Counterpunch guise, Punch is gathered with the other Decepticons in their base, but receives a rude shock when the doors open and Galvatron, supposedly in negotiations on Earth, enters! Galvatron reveals his new plan to ransack other planets for their energy, and Punch immediately reports to Athenia that the negotiations are being used as a distraction to cover this scheme. The news is relayed to the Autobots on Earth, and, not wanting to tip their hand, the Autobots have Shōki and [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] stage an impromptu sumo match to distract the Decepticons while the Headmasters sneak away. [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] bursts in on the meeting, and the "Galvatron" negotiating with Spike reveals his true identity—a disguised [[Sixshot]]! With [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] having already seen to the rescue of Daniel and Carly, a battle erupts, ending when Galvatron orders the Decepticons to return to Chaar. The villains escape via the Decepticon space bridge, but as he vanishes through it, Sixshot prevents the Autobots from following by triggering an explosion that tears the bridge apart. The explosion causes a chain reaction throughout the space bridge, which destroys the Autobot installations linking Earth and Athenia as well, leaving the Autobots stuck on Earth.

On Chaar, the Decepticon army boards Scorponok, and the giant craft takes off, setting course for other energy-rich plants while the Autobots are fractured and unable to immediately pursue. Some time later, Fortress arrives on Earth with Battleship Maximus and gathers a team of Autobots to join him in following the Decepticons' trail. Furious and emotional over having had his family manipulated by the Decepticons, Daniel requests that he be allowed to go on the mission, and Fortress and Spike permit it. Battleship Maximus blasts off, marking the beginning of a new stage in the Headmasters' battle!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Punch (G1)|Punch/Counterpunch]] (8)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (9)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (10)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (11)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (15)
* [[Brainstorm]] (16)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (17)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (18)
* [[Shōki]] (19)
* [[Suiken]] (20)
* [[Getsuei]] (21)
* [[Kaen]] (22)
* [[Seizan]] (23)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (30)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (31)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (32)

|c2=
* [[Weirdwolf]] (1)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] (3)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (4)
* [[Apeface]] (5)
* [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] (6)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (7)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (24)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (26)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (27)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (28)
* [[Sixshot]] (29)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (13)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (14)
* [[Carly|Carly Witwicky]] (25)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When the Autobots are studying the computer information on the Horrorcons, Fortress is colored like Fortress Maximus.
*When Scorponok proposes attacking the Autobots, Soundblaster is colored in the traditional blue of Soundwave.
*As the Autobot Headmasters react to the Decepticons landing on Earth, Brainstorm's chest is white instead of dark blue. The same error occurs later when Chromedone's team receives the news that Galvatron is a fake.
*The very last shot of Fortress has him missing his chest Autobot insignia.

===Continuity notes===
*Cybertron was destroyed in "[[Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2]]".
*Mars met its end in "[[Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears]]".
*As ''The Headmasters'' crosses the halfway-point, this episode marks the beginning of a new story arc for the series. Running for the next half-dozen or so episodes, the Decepticons travel from planet to planet gathering energy for Galvatron's new, mysterious master plan, culminating in "[[The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''English
:*''Title:'' "'''Danny, the Little Hero'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Mindwipe notes that the Horrorcons wear the Autobot symbol.
::*In the [[Omni Productions]] dialogue script for this episode, Apeface is called "Sela", Snapdragon is referred to as "Wimpus" whilst Punch/Counterpunch is "Carter".

:*''Title:'' "'''Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)

'''Spanish'''
:*''Spanish:'' "'''La Trampa de Galvatrón'''" ("Galvatron's Trap")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The Spanish translation of the ''Headmasters'' cartoon presents some problems with Snapdragon's name. On Snapdragon's first appearance, Galvatron himself calls him "Zela". (However, it's a bit hard to understand Galvatron; if you don't listen carefully, it sounds like he says "Zedda", which has caused further confusion.) Then Snapdragon presents himself as "Ozela", after which both the narrator and Chromedome call him "Zela". Later, Hardhead calls him "Zedda", and finally, Galvatron calls him "Zela" again. This would seem to make "Zela" his official name, since it's used the most frequently.
::*Also, in the Spanish dub, Mindwipe mentions both Horrorcons have the Autobot symbol, just as the Horrorcons' Decepticon symbols shine.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Un patto per salvare lo spazio'''" ("A pact to save space")

===Trivia===
*Jaar, the Japanese name of [[Chaar]], is [[Romanization|romanized]] in this episode as "Jarl".
*This episode is also known by the title "The Most Important Thing in the World". This title originates with the ancient list of ''The Headmasters'' episodes that has been on the Internet since man rode around on dinosaurs, but precisely ''how'' it came to be called this is a mystery that will likely never be solved, because, although it's perfectly appropriate as a title for the episode, it is not even ''close'' to the actual translation. Frustratingly, because this oh-so-old episode list was the basis for most online ''The Headmasters'' episode guides, this is the actually the title that the episode is most frequently known by!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

SOS from Planet Sandra

2012-05-25T08:46:10Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=17
|image=SandaSOS.jpg
|caption=FLASH!!!! AHHHHH-AHHHHH!!!!!
|title="SOS from Planet Sandra"
|japanese=惑星サンドラSOS
|romaji=Wakusei Sandra SOS
|airdate=[[November 27]], [[1987]]
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Katsutoshi Sasaki]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots respond when an emergency request for energy comes from the other-dimensional planet Sandra.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HM17 Fortress Sandra diagram.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Gentlemen, we get signal."]]
On [[Chaar]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] pick up an SOS signal from the planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]], asking for help in replenishing their dwindling energy reserves. They bring it to [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s attention, but [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] dismisses it out of hand, preferring that they not get involved in interplanetary affairs. Galvatron agrees, but dispatches [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] to find out whether or not the [[Autobot]]s have also picked up the SOS.

[[Image:HM17 Daniel and Wheelie have fun with hoses.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
On [[Athenia]], Galvatron's suspicions prove correct—the Autobots have indeed received Sandra's SOS, and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] maps the location of the planet, which exists in a parallel dimension, in that universe's version of [[Earth]]'s solar system. The Autobots debate the virtues of aiding Sandra, with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] unsure if it is wise to sacrifice any of their own limited energy supply. Eventually, after Fortress receives a report from [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] that the Decepticons have received but ignored the SOS, they decide to ship the minimum amount of [[energon cube]]s that they can spare directly from Earth, rather than from Athenia's stockpile. [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] request that they be allowed to go too, and are permitted. The whole affair, however, has been witnessed by Ratbat, who informs Galvatron of the Autobots' plan of action. Proclaiming that all of Earth's energy belongs to the Decepticons, Galvatron prepares to stop the Autobots from sending any to Sandra.

A short time later, on Earth, Galvatron co-ordinates the Decepticon forces with [[Sixshot]] while [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] oversees the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] as they load energon cubes onto the [[Trainbot]]s. [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] arrives to inform them that Galvatron has arrived on Earth, but the warning comes too late, as Galvatron, the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] swoop down out of the sky and open fire. The Trainbots try to make a break for it as the combiners and leaders brawl, but Sixshot shoots them out of the sky.

[[Image:HM17 Chromedone Hardhead fly to green ship.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Wait, when did we get this green spaceship?"]]
News of the attack reaches Athenia, and Fortress and Spike make the difficult decision to send Athenia's own energy on to Sandra while the Decepticons' attention is on Earth. Battleship Maximus takes off from Athenia with the energy on board, but Galvatron is quick to realise the deception and sends Scorponok, kept on standby on Chaar for just such an occasion, after the Autobots. When the battle erupts, Fortress has Wheelie, Spike and Daniel board a small shuttle, intending for them to sneak away conflict to deliver the energy while the villains are busy. [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] disconnect from their [[transtector]]s and join the team, boarding the shuttle in their small robot forms, and the group travels through the dimensional rift to Sandra and successfully delivers the energon cubes.[[Image:HM17 Sandra building explodes.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Uh, hey, that building that just exploded was our energy research lab."]] Daniel and Spike, in particular, are dismayed to see what a wasteland Sandra has become as a result of their diminished energy; the group is met by a trio of Sandra representatives, who explain that the planet's civilization foolishly expended their natural resources, believing them to be unlimited. They also reveal that they are only a few years away from developing new sources of energy, but that their remaining supplies will run out before then, hence the SOS. This affirms Spike's belief that he made the right choice in agreeing to help them, but just then, Fortress Maximus appears in the sky, with Scorponok hot on his tail. While the two giants fight, Chromedome and Hardhead use their diminutive stature to sneak explosives onto Scorponok, which explode and badly damage the Decepticon. Recombining with their transtectors, they join in fighting the other Decepticons, forcing them to retreat.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Brainstorm]] (6)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (8)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (9)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (10)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (12)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (14)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (15)
* [[Punch (G1)|Punch/Counterpunch]] (16)
* [[Shōki]] (19)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (20)
* [[Kaen]] (21)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (22)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (23)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (24)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (25)
* [[Suiken]] (26)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (27)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (28)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] (29)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (36)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (37)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (38)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (40)
* [[Getsuei]] (41)
* [[Seizan]] (42)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (43)
{{!}}}
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (3)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (4)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (5)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (17)
* [[Sixshot]] (18)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (30)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (31)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (32)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (33)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (34)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (35)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (39)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (44)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (45)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (46)
{{!}}}
|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (11)
* [[Carly|Carly Witwicky]] (13)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:HM17 stereo Twincasts.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Twin''cast.]]
*As Twincast runs up to Ultra Magnus, guess who's already standing behind him? It's Twincast!
*When the Decepticons attack the Autobots on Earth, Brawl appears to have been included in place of [[Blot (G1)|Blot]], since all the other Terrorcons appear, and none of the other [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] do.
*When Battleship Maximus heads through the dimensional rift, the small shuttle Chromedome and the others blasted off in moments earlier can still be seen on the back of it.
*Carly is shown instead of Daniel during the group shots of the Autobots waving near the end.

===Continuity notes===
*Punch's double-agent status was established in "[[Return of the Immortal Emperor]]". Despite being a bit of a doof when backed into a corner, Punch continues to be quite effective and important for much the story arc that is about to begin.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''An SOS from a Lost Planet'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''SOS from Planet Sandra'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*As is expected at this point, the [[Mini-Cassette]]s are called "Deployers".
::*"Sparks" is used in place of "lives" at one point.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''SOS dal pianeta Sandra'''" ("SOS from Planet Sandra")

===Trivia===
*When voicing his opinion on the Sandra situation, Scorponok speaks "through" his city-mode transtector for the first time as an echoing, disembodied voice. Up to this point, all of Scorponok's interaction with his fellow Decepticons has been done while in his small robot form, but this is the beginning of a trend that continues throughout the upcoming story arc, where the small robot does not appear on-screen (apart from in transformation sequences), and the character is simply treated as a giant, transforming spaceship. This comes at the same point in time that his role in the series is reduced to simply ferrying the Decepticons from planet to planet and fighting Fortress Maximus a bit, so perhaps it was done to make this a bit more palatable. Once this story ends, though, the small robot returns to the fore to carry on with his own plans.
*This episode is the first to depict any of the Headmasters besides Scorponok or Fortress as spending time apart from their transtectors. Chromedome and Hardhead even use their small robots to tactical advantage.
*Although it may be due to translation inconsistencies, Planet Sandra wavers between being simply an Earth-like planet in a 'parallel solar system' to a full blown alternate reality version of Earth. If the latter is the correct interpretation, the Autobots seem exceedingly casual about travelling into ''an entirely different reality''. They're more bothered about giving away their precious, precious energy.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sos from Planet Sandra}}
[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Return of the Immortal Emperor

2012-05-25T08:44:25Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=16
|image=Immortalemperor.jpg
|caption=You know what would be awesome? If they gave away the surprise ending on the title screen! YEAH!
|title="Return of the Immortal Emperor"
|japanese=帰って来た不死身の帝王
|romaji=Kaette Kita Fujimi no Teiō
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[November 20]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Takao Yoshizawa]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''In the middle of Scorponok's coronation as the new Decepticon emperor, the Autobots attack and an old enemy makes a surprising return!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:UFO Athenia.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
In the aftermath of the destruction of [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] survey the field of rubble that remains, attempting to discern what effects the loss of the planet has had on the solar system. They report back to [[Athenia]] that the damage done is just within safety limits, and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] become determined to keep track on the Decepticons' movements before any further planets can fall victim to them. As they talk, outside, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] argue, with Wheelie's fears for Autobot safety being shouted down by Daniel insisting that Fortress is stronger than [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Daniel pushes Wheelie in a lake, but their argument is immediately forgotten when [[Galvatron's UFO|a mysterious, iridescent globe of light]] swoops down out of the sky, spraying water everywhere as it flies low over the lake, and then vanishes into the sky.

[[Image:HM16 Scorponok dangles under Maximus.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
The Headmasters have since departed to monitor the Decepticons' movements, and Fortress soon receives a report of Daniel and Wheelie's mysterious UFO sighting. Such things are not the concern of [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], however, who refuse to partake of such passive action against the Decepticons—in an attempt to be proactive, they sneak out of Battleship Maximus and head to attack [[Chaar]] on their own. Although they are able to sneak past the lone sentry patrolling the planet's perimeter, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], they are unaware of the fact that Scorponok has been made aware of the Headmasters' movements by his intelligence officer, [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], and has allowed the two [[Autobot|Autobots]] to get as close as they have. Scorponok transforms to scorpion mode and carries the Decepticon Headmasters into space, where they defeat Chromedome and Hardhead, and send them hurtling back, to collide with the approaching Battleship Maximus. The two warships collide, and Scorponok transforms to robot mode and thrashes Maximus, when suddenly, the strange glowing UFO appears over their heads. Using the distraction, the Autobots are able to escape, and the Decepticons puzzle over what the mysterious object is as it disappears into the depths of space.

Back down on Chaar, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] receives an unhappy report from [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] on how Counterpunch has shown them up by finding out information that they couldn't. Soundblaster takes his team to [[Earth]] in the hopes of digging up some new information to improve his standing, but a search meets with nothing but failure—a fact that [[Sixshot]] is not afraid of pointing out. As the two stand outside the Decepticons' Earth base, the UFO appears in the sky and floats down. Soundblaster dives behind a rock for cover when the UFO bathes Sixshot in bright light, and a second later, as the amazed communications officer emerges, both Sixshot and the UFO have vanished.

[[Image:HM16 Scorponok in front of crowd.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
As the Headmasters return to Athenia, Daniel is trying out a trick he saw in a [[Wikipedia:Close Encounters of the Third Kind|movie]], using a musical keyboard to play a tune in hopes of contacting the UFO. The Headmasters crowd around, with Fortress wondering if the alien is friend or foe, but time passes, and nothing happens. A little later, Fortress is led by [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] to meet the Autobots' new informant—it is Counterpunch, who steps from the shadows with his gun drawn! He's just fooling around, however, and reveals his true identity—Counterpunch is really [[Punch (G1)|Punch]], an Autobot double-agent within the Decepticon camp. Punch explains to Fortress that the Decepticons are active on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], where they are planning to hold a ceremony for Scorponok's coronation as the new Decepticon emperor.

[[Image:HM16 spotlight Galvatron.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
In [[Moon Stadium]] at [[Mare Tranquillitatis]] on the Moon, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] introduces Scorponok to the assembled Decepticons, and Scorponok proclaims himself the new Decepticon emperor. No sooner are these words spoken, however, than Battleship Maximus and the [[Trainbot|Trainbots]] appear overhead, deploying the Headmasters, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] for battle. Scorponok again transforms into his giant robot mode and attacks Battleship Maximus, and once again, the UFO suddenly appears, just as Soundblaster arrives to try and inform Scorponok of what he has learned. The Autobots are all cut down by energy beams emanated from the UFO, and Sixshot steps out of the light, much to all the Decepticons' surprise. Then, the light dims, and its source is revealed—the UFO is a spacecraft, which projects a beam of purple light down to the lunar surface. From this beam, a familiar figure strides—[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] lives! Both Autobot and Decepticon react with total shock, but the reappearance of their leader gives the villains their second wind, and the Autobots are forced to retreat. Quietly incensed that his leadership is clearly over before it has even truly begun, Scorponok demands to know where Galvatron has been; Galvatron claims to have been observing, interested in seeing how the Decepticons function without him. He commends Scorponok for the strides he has made for the Decepticons' cause in his absence, but quickly makes it clear that he is now back in charge.

As the Autobots observe the ceremony from back on Athenia, Daniel, now realizing what the UFO was, smashes his keyboard and runs from the room, more angry at himself than anything. Wheelie catches up to him and soothes his temper, but the spectre of Galvatron's renewed evil hovers over the Autobots...

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (1)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (2)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (4)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (5)
* [[Brainstorm]] (6)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (7)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (8)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (10)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] (27)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (33)
* [[Suiken]] (34)
* [[Getsuei]] (35)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (36)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (37)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (38)
* [[Shōki]] (40)
* [[Seizan]] (41)
* [[Kaen]] (42)

|c2=
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (11)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (12)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (13)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (14)
* [[Punch (G1)|Punch/Counterpunch]] (15)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (16)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (17)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (18)
* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (19)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (20)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (21)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (22)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] (23)
* [[Sixshot]] (24)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (25)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (26)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (28)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (29)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (30)
* [[Tantrum]] (31)
* [[Headstrong]] (32)
* [[Sweep |Sweeps]] (39)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (40)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (3)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's an honour to drive with a woman, and I even get to see her transform."
:—'''Chromedome''' making his best attempt to try and creep Arcee out.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*In the group shot of Decepticons at Scorponok's coronation, Skullcruncher is colored yellow instead of green.
*As the Trainbots arrive on the Moon, Soundblaster is again colored like Soundwave.
*When Computron combines, he is colored as Superion.
*When Fortress gives the order for all Autobots to retreat from the Moon, he is missing his chest Autobot insignia.

===Transformers references===
*It's taken a while for the other [[Mini-Cassette|cassettes]] to catch up to [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], who first spoke in robot mode in "[[The Great Cassette Operation]]", but beginning with this episode, Ravage and Laserbeak are heard to clearly speak in their animal forms.
*This episode continues the running joke of Chromedome having something of a crush on Arcee, which we first got a hint of when the Statue of Liberty's look was compared to Arcee's in "[[Terror! The Six Shadows]]". The big lug got up the courage to ask her for a dance in "[[The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok]]", and here, he's just happy to get the chance to drive alongside her, as well as to, ahem, watch her transform. Kinky?
*Galvatron met his apparent end in "[[Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2]]". How he survived an explosion capable of destroying a planet and where he acquired the ship he has in this episode are never explained.
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] professed to know where Galvatron was, and to have been appointed leader in his absence, in "[[The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok]]". It was clear to the audience that he was lying from the outset, but although this episode makes his deception publicly obvious, he doesn't actually suffer any repercussions for it. Well, Galvatron basically turns him into a bus for the next eight episodes, so maybe that counts.

===Real-wold references===
*The movie that Daniel picked up the musical communication trick from is, of course, ''[[Wikipedia:Close Encounters of the Third Kind|Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''The Indestructible King Galvatron'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''The Return of Galvatron!'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub), "'''Return of the Immortal Emperor'''" (Shout! Factory menu)
::*The Decepticon Earth Base is subtitled as "Planet Earth Decepticon Command".

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nepobedimy Galvatron'''" (Непобедимый Гальватрон, "The Invincible Galvatron")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'immortale imperatore è tornato'''" ("The emperor immortal is back")

===Trivia===
*With the wrapping up of its major running plot points in the previous episode, ''The Headmasters'' took a five-week break before it returned to Japanese TV screens with this new installment.
* Daniel and Wheelie want to make contact with aliens while the other Autobots and Spike state that there ''is no such thing'' as an alien. But, but [[Transformer|giant shape-shifting alien robots from outer space]]!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears

2012-05-25T08:41:41Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=15
|image=Marsexplode2.jpg
|caption=Looks like another Tequila Sunrise...
|title="Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears"
|japanese=火星爆破!!出現メガザラック
|romaji=Kasei Bakuha!! Shutsugen MegaZarak
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[October 16]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Jōhei Matsūra]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''With Fortress Maximus out of power and the destruction of Mars looming ever nearer, Scorponok reveals his true face at last.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:ExplosionMarsMegaZarak MarsExplodes.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
As [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] desperately tries to contact the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Brainstorm]] undergo repairs for their injuries and the Decepticons continue with their plan to blow up the planet. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] deduces that the energy used against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] that drained him of his power was [[plasma energy]], released in the destruction of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and realizes that the Decepticons' goal in destroying Mars must be to generate more. Alerted to this fact, the Autobot Headmasters redouble their efforts to locate the Decepticons' bombing co-ordinates and attack the Decepticon Headmasters. Fortress orders the [[Trainbot]]s to join them from [[Athenia]], and they soon arrive and lend a hand.

[[Image:HM15 MegaZarak arrives on Chaar.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Meanwhile, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] has been informed that the bombs have been planted in two of the three key sites on Mars, and relocates to planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]], where work on his secret project there is in the final stages. He orders the Decepticon Headmasters to pull out of the conflict on Mars and join him on Zarak, prompting the Autobots to investigate. Fortress contacts [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] on Earth, who dispatches [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] to spy on the Decepticon base on Earth to learn what the villains are up to. [[Rewind]] sneaks into the base and watches as [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] calls on [[Sixshot]] to join the Decepticons on [[Chaar]]. After he reports back to Twincast, Twincast opts to follow the ninja through the [[space bridge]] to the Decepticons' base there so that he can observe the meeting that is being held.

[[Image:HM15 MegaZarak arrives on Mars.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Aw snap.]]
[[Weirdwolf]], [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] and [[Skullcruncher]] meet their leader on Zarak, as Scorponok steps out of the shadows at last—then, as assembled Decepticon forces watch through a viewscreen, the surface of Zarak cracks and the entire world is torn asunder. From the core of the planet emerges Scorponok's secret project, his own colossal [[transtector]]! Transforming his new craft from city mode to the form of a gigantic robot scorpion, Scorponok sets course for Chaar to collect the Decepticons, just as Twincast is spotted by Soundblaster, and a brief battle between the communicators and their cassettes ensues before Twincast escapes.

[[Image:HM15 Fortress Maximus escapes Mars.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Back on Mars a little while later, Fortress receives Twincast's report and readies for his impending battle wth Scorponok. He does not have long to wait, as Scorponok appears in the skies overhead while the Headmasters and Trainbots are battling the Terrorcons at the final bombing site. Battleship Maximus, however, is still drained of all energy and unable to transform, and after Scorponok smashes his way through the Headmasters and Trainbots, he transforms into his own massive robot mode and begins to pound on the helpless craft. Then, the report comes that all the bombs have been put in place, and Scorponok orders Soundblaster to detonate them. The key bomb clusters in the polar regions explode, and a chain reaction occurs, sending a string of explosions tearing through Mars. The Decepticons pull out as the planet erupts in flame all around them, but Fortress has one last ace up his sleeve—Battleship Maximus is able to absorb some of the energy released in the explosion, and, back to full power, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] emerges from the conflagration and cleaves Scorponok's shoulder with the [[Master Sword]], forcing the villains to retreat. Although the Decepticons may have been forced back for now, Mars has been lost, and the Autobots' toughest battles are still ahead of them.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Suiken]] (1)
* [[Shōki]] (2)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (3)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (4)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Getsuei]] (6)
* [[Seizan]] (7)
* [[Kaen]] (8)
* [[Brainstorm]] (11)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (13)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress/Fortress Maximus]] (14)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (15)
* [[Raiden]] (22)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (23)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] (24)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (25)
* [[Rewind]] (26)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (39)
{{!}}}
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (16)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (17)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (18)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (19)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (20)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (21)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (27)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (28)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (29)
* [[Sixshot]] (30)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (31)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (32)
* [[Tantrum]] (33)
* [[Headstrong]] (34)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (35)
* [[Octane]] (36)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (37)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (38)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (40)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]/[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]? (41)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (42)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (43)
{{!}}}
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:Hm ep15 rumble or frenzy.jpg|right|400px|thumb|[[e-Hobby]] duo-pack with [[Enemy (G1)|Enemy]]? Pretty please? Pretty pretty please?]]
*As the Trainbots watch the monitor on Athenia at the beginning of the episode, Shōki's lower right leg is colored white, while the left is colored blue.
*When initially conferring with Spike, the back of Fortress' head is brown instead of gray. In the next shot, he is missing some of the chest detail surrounding his insignia.
*Thrust's wings appear to be attached to the underside of his forearms. A moment later, Dirge is colored like Thrust.
*Rewind is colored as Steeljaw when he spies on Sixshot while in cassette mode.
*As Sixshot arrives on Chaar, Blitzwing is present, and his head is purple. In the same shot, Soundblaster is missing the red stripe around each forearm.
*Just after Soundblaster punches up the Mars status on screen, there is a peculiar robot standing behind Sixshot's right. It looks like [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]], but his colors are all wrong.
*The tapes Twincasts ejects to fight Soundblaster are all colored like Steeljaw.
*When Soundblaster ejects cassettes to fight Twincast, one of them is the Rumble/Frenzy robot model, colored... ''yellow and black''?
*Rippersnapper and Cutthroat are shown to be among the Decepticons watching from Chaar when Scorponok unveils his transtector... while Raiden is fighting ''Abominus'' on Mars. Mmn.
*When Scorponok lands on Chaar, Tantrum is colored blue and grey. In the same shot, Soundblaster is colored in the traditional blue of Soundwave. The right-side of his helmet is left uncolored and stars can be seen through it.
*Just before the Terrorcons merge, Brainstorm and Highbrow can be seen fighting alongside the other Headmasters, despite the fact they're supposed to be back at base. A few minutes later, they arrive at the fight for real.
*In general, this episode's animation is lackluster. It resembles some of Toei's poorer efforts from season 2.

===Transformers references===
*This episode represents the culmination of various plot threads that have been running throughout ''The Headmasters'' thus far.
**Having remained hidden in shadow since his debut in "[[The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery]]", Scorponok finally steps in to the light in this episode.
**The construction of Scorponok's transtector was foreshadowed back in "[[Rebellion on Planet Beast]]", and brought to the fore alongside the Decepticons' activities on planet Zarak in "[[The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok]]".
**The power of plasma energy was introduced in "[[The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts]]", its origin tied back to the events of the "[[Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger]]" two-parter.

:It's not unfair to say that with the wrapping-up of these story points, the series becomes largely directionless—with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s return in the next episode, it launches into a very random planet-hopping story arc that serves no real purpose but to vary the scenery, until Galvatron is removed from the series again, and focus shifts back to Scorponok and his plans.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mars Explodes! The Scorpion Appears!'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''Explosion on Mars! Scorponok Appears!'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The review of the last episode shown before the title card is omitted.
::*The MegaZarak transtector is referred to as... the "Scorponok Transtector", despite the Headmaster himself already being named "Scorponok". The Destron City mode of the transtector is subtitled as "Decepticon Headquarters".

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vzryvy na Marse! Scorponog Poyavlyaetsya'''" (Взрывы на Марсе! Скорпоног появляется, "Explosion on Mars! Scorponok Appears")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La distruzione di Marte - Appare Lord Zarak!'''" ("The destruction of Mars - Lord Zarak appears!")

===Trivia===
*The "MegaZarak" spoken of in the title is, of course, the Japanese name for Scorponok's transtector, the giant robot that we in the West also know as Scorponok.
*When the Autobots first learn of Scorponok's plan to blow up Mars, their reaction is one of horror. They also mention the incredible damage the Mars' detonation will surely bring to Earth, which is made even more direct by a series of still images showcasing the potential destruction. Yet when Mars actually ''is'' blown up Earth seems to get off without any damage whatsoever. Okay, then.
*The loss of Mars isn't much of big deal through-out the rest of the series either. The Autobots don't even bother to update their space-maps to reflect its destruction when travelling through the Mars-Jupiter asteroid belt.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears

2012-05-25T08:41:14Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=15
|image=Marsexplode2.jpg
|caption=Looks like another Tequila Sunrise...
|title="Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears"
|japanese=火星爆破!!出現メガザラック
|romaji=Kasei Bakuha!! Shutsugen MegaZarak
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[October 16]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Jōhei Matsūra]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''With Fortress Maximus out of power and the destruction of Mars looming ever nearer, Scorponok reveals his true face at last.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:ExplosionMarsMegaZarak MarsExplodes.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
As [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] desperately tries to contact the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Brainstorm]] undergo repairs for their injuries and the Decepticons continue with their plan to blow up the planet. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] deduces that the energy used against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] that drained him of his power was [[plasma energy]], released in the destruction of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and realizes that the Decepticons' goal in destroying Mars must be to generate more. Alerted to this fact, the Autobot Headmasters redouble their efforts to locate the Decepticons' bombing co-ordinates and attack the Decepticon Headmasters. Fortress orders the [[Trainbot]]s to join them from [[Athenia]], and they soon arrive and lend a hand.

[[Image:HM15 MegaZarak arrives on Chaar.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Meanwhile, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] has been informed that the bombs have been planted in two of the three key sites on Mars, and relocates to planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]], where work on his secret project there is in the final stages. He orders the Decepticon Headmasters to pull out of the conflict on Mars and join him on Zarak, prompting the Autobots to investigate. Fortress contacts [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] on Earth, who dispatches [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] to spy on the Decepticon base on Earth to learn what the villains are up to. [[Rewind]] sneaks into the base and watches as [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] calls on [[Sixshot]] to join the Decepticons on [[Chaar]]. After he reports back to Twincast, Twincast opts to follow the ninja through the [[space bridge]] to the Decepticons' base there so that he can observe the meeting that is being held.

[[Image:HM15 MegaZarak arrives on Mars.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Aw snap.]]
[[Weirdwolf]], [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] and [[Skullcruncher]] meet their leader on Zarak, as Scorponok steps out of the shadows at last—then, as assembled Decepticon forces watch through a viewscreen, the surface of Zarak cracks and the entire world is torn asunder. From the core of the planet emerges Scorponok's secret project, his own colossal [[transtector]]! Transforming his new craft from city mode to the form of a gigantic robot scorpion, Scorponok sets course for Chaar to collect the Decepticons, just as Twincast is spotted by Soundblaster, and a brief battle between the communicators and their cassettes ensues before Twincast escapes.

[[Image:HM15 Fortress Maximus escapes Mars.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Back on Mars a little while later, Fortress receives Twincast's report and readies for his impending battle wth Scorponok. He does not have long to wait, as Scorponok appears in the skies overhead while the Headmasters and Trainbots are battling the Terrorcons at the final bombing site. Battleship Maximus, however, is still drained of all energy and unable to transform, and after Scorponok smashes his way through the Headmasters and Trainbots, he transforms into his own massive robot mode and begins to pound on the helpless craft. Then, the report comes that all the bombs have been put in place, and Scorponok orders Soundblaster to detonate them. The key bomb clusters in the polar regions explode, and a chain reaction occurs, sending a string of explosions tearing through Mars. The Decepticons pull out as the planet erupts in flame all around them, but Fortress has one last ace up his sleeve—Battleship Maximus is able to absorb some of the energy released in the explosion, and, back to full power, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] emerges from the conflagration and cleaves Scorponok's shoulder with the [[Master Sword]], forcing the villains to retreat. Although the Decepticons may have been forced back for now, Mars has been lost, and the Autobots' toughest battles are still ahead of them.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Suiken]] (1)
* [[Shōki]] (2)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (3)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (4)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Getsuei]] (6)
* [[Seizan]] (7)
* [[Kaen]] (8)
* [[Brainstorm]] (11)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (13)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress/Fortress Maximus]] (14)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (15)
* [[Raiden]] (22)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (23)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] (24)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (25)
* [[Rewind]] (26)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (39)
{{!}}}
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (16)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (17)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (18)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (19)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (20)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (21)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (27)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (28)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (29)
* [[Sixshot]] (30)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (31)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (32)
* [[Tantrum]] (33)
* [[Headstrong]] (34)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (35)
* [[Octane]] (36)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (37)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (38)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (40)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]/[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]? (41)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (42)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (43)
{{!}}}
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:Hm ep15 rumble or frenzy.jpg|right|400px|thumb|[[e-Hobby]] duo-pack with [[Enemy (G1)|Enemy]]? Pretty please? Pretty pretty please?]]
*As the Trainbots watch the monitor on Athenia at the beginning of the episode, Shōki's lower right leg is colored white, while the left is colored blue.
*When initially conferring with Spike, the back of Fortress' head is brown instead of gray. In the next shot, he is missing some of the chest detail surrounding his insignia.
*Thrust's wings appear to be attached to the underside of his forearms. A moment later, Dirge is colored like Thrust.
*Rewind is colored as Steeljaw when he spies on Sixshot while in cassette mode.
*As Sixshot arrives on Chaar, Blitzwing is present, and his head is purple. In the same shot, Soundblaster is missing the red stripe around each forearm.
*Just after Soundblaster punches up the Mars status on screen, there is a peculiar robot standing behind Sixshot's right. It looks like [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]], but his colors are all wrong.
*The tapes Twincasts ejects to fight Soundblaster are all colored like Steeljaw.
*When Soundblaster ejects cassettes to fight Twincast, one of them is the Rumble/Frenzy robot model, colored... ''yellow and black''?
*Rippersnapper and Cutthroat are shown to be among the Decepticons watching from Chaar when Scorponok unveils his transtector... while Raiden is fighting ''Abominus'' on Mars. Mmn.
*When Scorponok lands on Chaar, Tantrum is colored blue and grey. In the same shot, Soundblaster is colored in the traditional blue of Soundwave. The right-side of his helmet is left uncolored and stars can be seen through it.
*Just before the Terrorcons merge, Brainstorm and Highbrow can be seen fighting alongside the other Headmasters, despite the fact they're supposed to be back at base. A few minutes later, they arrive at the fight for real.
*In general, this episode's animation is lackluster. It resembles some of Toei's poorer efforts from season 2.

===Transformers references===
*This episode represents the culmination of various plot threads that have been running throughout ''The Headmasters'' thus far.
**Having remained hidden in shadow since his debut in "[[The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery]]", Scorponok finally steps in to the light in this episode.
**The construction of Scorponok's transtector was foreshadowed back in "[[Rebellion on Planet Beast]]", and brought to the fore alongside the Decepticons' activities on planet Zarak in "[[The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok]]".
**The power of plasma energy was introduced in "[[The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts]]", its origin tied back to the events of the "[[Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger]]" two-parter.

:It's not unfair to say that with the wrapping-up of these story points, the series becomes largely directionless—with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s return in the next episode, it launches into a very random planet-hopping story arc that serves no real purpose but to vary the scenery, until Galvatron is removed from the series again, and focus shifts back to Scorponok and his plans.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mars Explodes! The Scorpion Appears!'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''Explosion on Mars! Scorponok Appears!'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The review of the last episode shown before the title card is omitted.
::*The MegaZarak transtector is referred to as... the "Scorponok Transtector", despite the Headmaster himself already being named "Scorponok". The Destron City mode of the transtector is subtitled as "Decepticon Headquarters".

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vzryvy na Marse! Scorponog Poyavlyaetsya'''" (Взрывы на Марсе! Скорпоног появляется, "Explosion on Mars! Scorponok Appears")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La distruzione di Marte - Appare Lord Zarak!'''" ("The destruction of Mars - Lord Zarak appears!"

===Trivia===
*The "MegaZarak" spoken of in the title is, of course, the Japanese name for Scorponok's transtector, the giant robot that we in the West also know as Scorponok.
*When the Autobots first learn of Scorponok's plan to blow up Mars, their reaction is one of horror. They also mention the incredible damage the Mars' detonation will surely bring to Earth, which is made even more direct by a series of still images showcasing the potential destruction. Yet when Mars actually ''is'' blown up Earth seems to get off without any damage whatsoever. Okay, then.
*The loss of Mars isn't much of big deal through-out the rest of the series either. The Autobots don't even bother to update their space-maps to reflect its destruction when travelling through the Mars-Jupiter asteroid belt.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger

2012-05-25T08:32:18Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=14
|image=Marsexplode1.jpg
|caption=Fort Max binary bonds with Evel Knievel.
|title="Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger"
|japanese=火星爆破!!危うしマキシマス
|romaji=Kasei Bakuha!! Ayaushi Maximus
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[October 9]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Jōhei Matsūra]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots attempt to stop a Decepticon plot to destroy the entire planet Mars.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HM14 Daniel trips Wheelie.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] unveils his latest plan to the gathered [[Decepticon]]s; by planting a series of [[plasma energy]] bombs beneath the surface of Mars, and then triggering key explosions at the north and south poles, they can create a chain reaction that will destroy the planet, releasing more plasma energy for their devilish purposes. [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] brings up the fact that they now know [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] has a giant form, but Scorponok cryptically responds that he'll handle it.

As coincidence would have it, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]], [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and the [[Trainbot]]s are currently conducting a geological survey on Mars when unusual seismic activity on the planet attracts their attention. They head for the South Pole to investigate a huge explosion, but the cause isn't immediately obvious, and they split up to investigate. Daniel, Wheelie and [[Shōki]] watch as [[Hun-Gurrr]] and [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] emerge from a smoking crater, and they immediately radio a report to [[Athenia]] for help. The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] depart for Mars in [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]—[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], however, is still concerned with the mysterious Decepticon activity on planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]].

On Zarak, Scorponok looks over his finished giant [[Transtector]], and promises to use it to end Fortress.

[[Image:HM14 Headmasters vs Predaking.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
On [[Earth]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] orders the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] to join the fight on Mars, but as they depart, they are intercepted by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and [[Sixshot]]. Although [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] comes to their aid, they are not able to make it to Mars.

Back on Mars, the Headmasters arrive in the midst of a firefight between the Trainbots and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. As the battle rages, Wheelie, Daniel and Shōki are still keeping an eye on the crater when they're bushwhacked by the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who take the trio to the Decepticons' base in the tunnels beneath the planet's surface. Spike and the rest of the Trainbots fly overhead, but are unable to find their friends.

Elsewhere the Predacons merge into [[Predaking]], but the four Headmasters also transform and topple the giant combiner.

Wheelie, Daniel and Shōki are imprisoned behind energy bars, and hear the Terrorcons talking about the imminent destruction of Mars. Daniel worries about the destruction that will cause on Earth.

On [[Chaar]], Scorponok plans to lure Fortress to Mars, and orders Sixshot to make sure the other Autobots are too busy to come to Fortress's aid. Sixshot and Trypticon continue to keep the Technobots and Metroplex busy, so Ultra Magnus sends word to Fortress. Fortress is reluctant to go to Mars himself, and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Carly]] wonder why.

[[Image:HM14 Daniel and Wheelie fight.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Daniel has an emergency beacon hidden in the Autobot symbol on his [[exosuit]], and to hide its activation, he and Wheelie stage a fight between themselves—much to the amusement of the Terrorcons—that allows Wheelie to grab it and throw it into the energon bars, alerting Spike. The Headmasters rescue the two youths, who relay the fate the Decepticons have in store for Mars, and Chromedome sends message back to Fortress. Stirred into action, Fortress rushes to Mars in Battleship Maximus. Fortress sends Spike, Daniel and Wheelie back to Athenia in the Trainbots, while he and the other Headmasters stick around to try and force the bombing co-ordinates from the Decepticon Headmasters whom they've just spotted.

[[Image:HM14 Skullcruncher gets hypnotized.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
The Headmasters go into battle, with the Autobots attempting to question the Decepticons. They apparently succeed when [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] is able to trick [[Skullcruncher]] into becoming hypnotised by [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]. While the Decepticons flee, the Autobots jump into the crater he indicated but it turns out to be a trap—the four Autobots are trapped into a series of explosive energy coils. Chromedome calls out to Fortress to use the [[Master Sword]], but the commander is not mentally and physically prepared for the task, and the sword will not draw. As the explosions wrack the Headmasters below, a scream from Chromedome galvanizes Fortress, bringing the energies of his mind and body into harmony, and the Master Sword is unsheathed. However, as Fortress leaps from Battleship Maximus to initiate his transformation into [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], the Decepticon Headmasters launch a plasma energy bomb directly at him. A huge explosion follows, with the power of the Master Sword and the power of the plasma energy cancelling each other out. Drained of all his power, Fortress plummets back to the surface of Mars as the Headmasters watch in horror...!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Kaen]] (8)
* [[Seizan]] (9)
* [[Getsuei]] (10)
* [[Suiken]] (11)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (12)
* [[Shōki]] (14)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (15)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (19)
* [[Brainstorm]] (20)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (21)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (22)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (23)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (24)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (25)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (26)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (27)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (28)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (29)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (30)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (31)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (32)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (34)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (45)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (1)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (2)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (3)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (4)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (5)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (6)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (7)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (17)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (18)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (33)
* [[Sixshot]] (35)
* [[Headstrong]] (36)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (37)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (38)
* [[Tantrum]] (39)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (40)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (41)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (42)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (43)
* [[Predaking]] (44)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (13)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (16)
* [[Carly|Carly Witwicky]] (46)
}}

==Quotes==
{{note|The following quotes are from the [[Omni Productions]] dub.}}

"Mars is the fourth largest planet in the solar system. It is more than fifty percent bigger than Earth."
:—The '''Narrator'''. Neither of these statements are correct!

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Hun-Gurrr first leaves the crater on Mars, he is colored like Sinnertwin.
*When the Technobots are shot down by Trypticon, Strafe's head is red instead of white.
*Trypticon's black armor is colored purple after he initially collides with Metroplex.
*The Predaking transformation sequence has a number of coloring mistakes, as does the Autobot Headmasters "Head On" sequence immediately after.
*Sinnertwin is colored white where he should be yellow as he and Rippersnapper watch Daniel and Wheelie fight.
*As Spike receives Daniel's signal, Brainstorm's torso is colored the same mustard color as his face.

===Continuity notes===
*Plasma energy, and Scorponok's plan for it, was introduced in "[[The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts]]".
*The mysterious Decepticon activity on planet Zarak was introduced back in "[[The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok]]". This plot thread culminates in the [[Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears|second installment]] of this two-parter.
*This episode marks the final appearance of Jazz.

===Real-world references===
*As Fortress first tries to draw the Master Sword, sound effects of the TARDIS dematerialization from ''[[Doctor|Doctor Who]]'' are used.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''

:*''Title:'' "'''Mars Explodes! Watch Out, Fortress Maximus!'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The opening narration helpfully explains that Mars is the fourth largest planet in the solar system, and is more than 50% bigger than Earth. This is stupid.

:*''Title:'' "'''Explosion on Mars! Fortress Maximus Is in Danger!'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub), "'''Explosion on Mars! Maximus Is in Danger'''" (Shout! Factory menu)

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Marte Explota ¡Cuidado, Fortress Maximus!'''" ("Mars Explodes. Take Care, Fortress Maximus!")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Soundblaster is called "Sanders".

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La distruzione di Marte - Fortress è in pericolo'''" ("Mars's destruction - Fortress is in danger")

===Trivia===
[[Image:GalvyChallenger.gif|thumb|right|200px|Battling Seizure Robots!]]
*Beginning with this episode and continuing throughout the series, the [[title sequence]] is modified as part of a tie-in promotion with the interactive [[Video Challenger]] light gun system. Henceforth, most of the Decepticons flicker white, essentially emitting a visual signal which could be picked up by the light gun that denoted them as targets to be fired on. The more Decepticons the kid with the gun shot, the more points they got!
*The Decepticon Headmasters defy anime tradition in the final moments of the episode by interrupting Fortress' Head-On transformation sequence by ''shooting a goddamn bomb in his face''. This is both underhanded and hilarious.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Head On!! Fortress Maximus

2012-05-25T08:28:59Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode|
|series=Headmasters
|image=Headonfortmax.jpg
|caption=Apply directly to the forehead.
|ep=13
|title="Head On!! Fortress Maximus"
|japanese=ヘッドオン!! フォートレスマキシマス
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[October 2]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Katsutoshi Sasaki]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Fortress must reveal his ultimate transformation when the Decepticons attack San Francisco with a carnivorous plant.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Buridanka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Bring Your Plant To Work" day goes tragically wrong.]]
The lack of recent Decepticon activity has [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] restless and eager to hunt the villains down. Fortress warns them to cool off, pointing out that there's no reason to go looking for trouble during such a rare moment of peace.

Such peace, of course, does not last long, as, down on [[Earth]], an office building in [[San Francisco]] is suddenly and violently overwhelmed by a rapidly-growing alien plant that bursts through the ground beneath it. Local authorities open fire on the plant as it attempts to devour the citizenry, and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] scrambles the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] and [[Trainbot]]s to help. An Autobot response has been anticipated by the authors of the event, however—[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] lie in wait and spring an attack on the teams as they arrive on the scene. As Ultra Magnus calls upon the Headmasters for aid, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] reports to [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] on [[Chaar]] that another of his plans to divert Autobot attention to Earth has succeeded. With Fortress having identified the plant as the [[buridanka]] species from the planet [[Darhos]], the Headmasters enter the fray on Earth. As they wrestle with the plant, and clash with the Decepticon Headmasters, the vicious vegetable uproots itself, becoming mobile!

[[Image:HM13 Buridanka knocking.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"We're not home! Come back later!"]]
Meanwhile, on [[Athenia]], Daniel is in the botanical gardens, tending to the seeds of a plant he brought from Earth, which have not yet sprouted. He soon discovers, however, that the Decepticons have replaced his seeds with those of the carnivorous plant, as it blooms with terrifying speed and attacks him and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. Daniel calls upon his father for help, and when [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] sees the monstrous plant, he has [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] help him identify it via the base computers. Spike realises that the Decepticons have used Daniel to bring the plant to Athenia, just as it uproots itself and attacks the base.

[[Image:HM13 Master weed whacker.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
As the situation worsens back on Earth, Fortress receives the report from Athenia just as Battleship Maximus becomes entwined in the still-growing plant's tendrils. As Scorponok celebrates the success of his plan for vengeance over Fortress, Fortress realises that he has no options left—he must unleash the power of the [[Master Sword]]. Reaching beneath his control console, he seizes the hilt of the weapon, only to find that it will not unsheathe, until the cries of the helpless Headmasters below ring out and he successfully draws the blade. Its energies course through Battleship Maximus, blasting the plant free, but this is only a fraction of the sword's power—to the shock of all onlookers, even Scorponok, Battleship Maximus ascends into space, and reveals itself to be a colossal [[Transtector]] by transforming into robot mode. Assuming head mode, Fortress connects to Battleship Maximus, forming the colossal [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]! With a huge version of the Master Sword forming in his hand, Fortress Maximus makes salad out of the buridanka in seconds, causing a chain reaction that destroys the plant menacing Athenia. As the Headmasters marvel at their commander's surprising new transformation, Scorponok prepares to destroy him with his own secret weapon, and the Headmasters head back to Athenia.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (1)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress/Fortress Maximus]] (2)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (3)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (8)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Getsuei]] (12)
* [[Shōki]] (13)
* [[Seizan]] (14)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Suiken]] (15)
* [[Kaen]] (16)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (17)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (18)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (19)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (20)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (21)
* [[Raiden]] (23)
* [[Brainstorm]] (25)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (30)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (31)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (41)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (42)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (22)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (24)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (26)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (27)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (32)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (33)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (34)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (35)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (36)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (37)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (38)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (39)

|c3=
* [[San Francisco Police|Police]] (5)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (28)
* [[Carly|Carly Witwicky]] (29)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (40)
}}

==Quotes==
{{note|The following quotes are from the [[Omni Productions]] dub}}

"Now watch, a men-eating flower than can dance!"
:—'''Weirdwolf''' is weird.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Daniel is so excited by his plant sprouting that he completely disappears for a couple of frames.
*When Battleship Maximus is smashed to the ground by the plant, Fortress is shown falling over inside his ship, and his chest Autobot [[insignia]] is missing.
*The Autobot insignia on Fortress Maximus's chest is missing its "jaw" during his transformation sequence. As this becomes stock footage for future transformations, the error repeats throughout the series.

===Transformers references===
*The human helicopters which attack the plant are of a rather futuristic design, one of the few times that any of the Japanese ''Transformers'' carry on the futuristic theme seen in season 3 of the original series.
*Fortress's "head mode" was previously seen in "[[Rebellion on Planet Beast]]" and "[[The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok]]". Its true purpose is revealed in this episode. Given the surprise expressed by the Autobot Headmasters, despite the fact they were aware of his big head alternate mode, they apparently never stopped to ask their leader what was up with that.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fortress Maximus's Gigantic New Being!'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''Head On! Fortress Maximus'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*Fortress ("Cerebros" in the subtitles) bizarrely asks "What's that?" when confronted with the Master Sword. A better translation would have been "That...?"
::*Likewise, Soundblaster is apparently surprised at the existence of the carnivorous plant after it explodes. The original dialogue actually has him express surprise that it is destroyed.
::*The plant's name, "buridanka", is completely omitted from the subtitles, with the vegetation only being referred to as "carnivorous plant".

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Krepysh Maximus Obretayet Novouyu Silou'''" (Крепыш Максимус обретает новую силу, "Fortress Maximus Becomes More Strong")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La potenza segreta di Fortress Maximus'''" ("Fortress Maximus's secret power")

===Trivia===
*Why Fortress is unable to draw the Master Sword at first is not explained in this episode. The situation repeats itself in the [[Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger|next episode]], where the answer is given—to use the sword's power, his physical and mental energies must be in complete harmony. In the next episode, a cry for help from Chromedome is what galvanizes Fortress, synchronizing his energies—presumably, then, it is the calls for help from the Headmasters in this episode that allow him to draw the sword after his first failure.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts

2012-05-25T08:25:41Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=12
|image=Dormantvolcano.jpg
|caption=This dish cheap, but undeniably tasty.
|title="The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts"
|japanese=謎の休火山大噴火
|romaji=Nazo no Kyūkazan Daifunka
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[September 25]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Akinori Ōrai]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots race to rescue a Peruvian village when the Decepticons cause a nearby volcano to erupt.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Favouritehonkey.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Buried with a donkey / He's my favorite honkey!]]
In [[Autobot City]] on [[Earth]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] detect some unusual seismic activity centered on the South American village of [[Pan]]. At that moment in this village, as a young orphan boy named [[Pipiro]], along with his donkey [[Koro]], returns to the home he shares with his sister, [[Alyssa]], and her donkey, [[Dodo]], a seismic tremor occurs, putting the village in danger.

Meanwhile, on [[Athenia]], the Autobots are examining the data they have acquired on the mysterious planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]] in the dark nebula, and [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] deploys [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] to acquire information. Simultaneously, on [[Chaar]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] converses with [[Sixshot]] on Earth, instructing him to occupy the Autobots with Earth affairs as much as possible—this seismic tremor is the first of such attempts. Scorponok's aim is to draw the Autobots' attention away from their operations on planet Zarak, where [[Octane]] is running a slave labor camp forcing imprisoned [[Beastformer]]s to construct a giant robot.

[[Image:HM12 volcano threatens Pan.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Back on Earth, the volcano near Pan erupts, and molten lava sweeps toward the village. The [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Trainbot|Trainbots]] are scrambled for a rescue mission, but Sixshot dispatches the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] and Decepticon [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] to stymie them. As [[Raiden]] and [[Predaking]] fight, [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] is paralyzed by a blast from [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], while Pipiro and the rest of the village watch. With Ultra Magnus unable to spare any more troops, the call goes out to Athenia, and the Autobot Headmasters are transported to Earth by [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] to join the fight. As the Headmasters take out Predaking, the Trainbots save the villagers. A burning hot ash cloud soon fills the sky from the volcano's eruption, but [[Brainstorm]] is able to use it to his advantage, flying around and through it to drag the hot vapors down, forcing the Decepticon Headmasters to retreat.

[[Image:HM12 Brainstorm is this your donkey.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Earlier, the Headmasters' departure for Earth had been observed by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who, along with [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] report back to Scorponok that his strategy is working. When the Autobots claim victory on Earth, however, Cyclonus and Scourge question the validity of Scorponok's strategy—more seismic and volcanic activity like that can only ultimately result in the Earth's destruction, and if that were to occur, what would become of all the natural energy it offers? Scorponok dismisses these concerns, revealing that he has discovered a new source of energy far beyond the simple [[energon]] that Earth's natural resources can offer—[[plasma energy]], an unlimited force of planetary energy that was released when [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was destroyed. On the day that the Decepticons have gathered the power of plasma energy for their own, Scorponok vows, he will reveal his true face, and destroy the Autobots. This revelation, however, is overheard by Steeljaw and Ramhorn, who are pursued by Soundblaster as they try to escape.

[[Image:HM12 Decepticon Headmasters with prisoners.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Back on Earth, the Autobots and humans are relaxing, only for the Decepticon Headmasters to make a devious move, emerging from the undergrowth to seize Pipiro and Koro, threatening their lives if the Autobots do not disconnect from their [[transtector]]s. It is [[Dodo]] the donkey who saves the day, charging at [[Skullcruncher]] long enough to create a distraction that enables the Autobots to get the upper hand, saving Pipiro and forcing the villains to retreat. As goodbyes are said, Alyssa gives [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] her necklace as a token of thanks.

Returning to Athenia, the Autobots hear Steeljaw and Ramhorn's report, and their resolve to defeat the Decepticons strengthens even more.

{{--}}
==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)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (2)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] (6)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (7)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (8)
* [[Brainstorm]] (9)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (10)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (11)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (12)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (13)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (14)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (21)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (22)
* [[Seizan]] (23)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (24)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (25)
* [[Suiken]] (26)
* [[Kaen]] (27)
* [[Getsuei]] (28)
* [[Shōki]] (29)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (30)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (31)
* [[Raiden]] (38)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (42)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (43)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (44)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (45)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Sixshot]] (15)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (16)
* [[Octane]] (17)
* [[Tantrum]] (32)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (33)
* [[Headstrong]] (34)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (35)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (36)
* [[Predaking]] (37)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (39)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (40)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (41)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (46)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (47)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (48)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (49)

|c3=
* [[Pipiro]] (3)
* [[Alyssa]] (5)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (50)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (51)

|c4=
* [[Koro]] (4)
* [[Rabbit Kid]] (18)
* [[Beafox]] (19)
* [[Dodo]] (20)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:HM12 Autobot Decepticon fight.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Meanwhile, a short distance away a dance party had broken out.]]
*Lava is shown to flow down the side of the volcano and just about reach the village several times (sometimes through reuses of the same animation) without any apparent effect, which goes some way to explaining why the Autobots are somewhat laissez-faire about fighting the Decepticons rather than saving the villagers.
*After the Trainbots find the villagers, we switch to a shot of the Autobots and Decepticons grappling, though Predaking seems to be mostly flailing at the air over Chromedome's head.

===Transformers references===
*The mysteries of planet Zarak, the dark nebula and the robot being built there first came to light in "[[The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok]]". See that article for the details.
*Beastformers previously appeared in "[[Rebellion on Planet Beast]]", where the Decepticons also had them toiling in a factory.
*The Autobots previously dealt with a problematic Peruvian mountain in "[[Fire on the Mountain]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''The Dormant Volcano Erupts Again'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*In the [[Omni Productions]] dialogue script for this episode...
::**Twincast and Razorclaw are again identified, respectively, as "Platon" and "Lee". Octane is identified as "Bear". Kaen, who had previously been "Powell", is now "Al". Defensor is simply "Robot".
::**Shōki is at first identified as "Sogo" (which had been used for Razorclaw in an earlier episode), but is later referred to as "Sogi" (which would be used for Scorponok in subsequent episodes).
::**Hot Spot is referred to as "Hok".
::**Predaking, who had been "Puda" in the last episode, is referred to in dialogue as "Polita".
::**Silverbolt is identified as "Fai".
::**Soundblaster—most recently "Citos", but also "Bulada" and "Puda"—is identified here as "Sand".
::**Broadside is referred to as "Planton".
::**Raiden—in what is the closest approximation of a real Trainbot name so far—is referred to as "Ladeen".
::**Hardhead, whose name had not been giving Omni Productions any troubles up to this point, is identified as "Train" in the dialogue directions for the final portion of the episode.

:*''Title:'' "'''The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The cold open of Scorponok standing and diabolically plotting is omitted.
::*The subtitles translate the mention of [[Autobot City|Scramble City]]'s seismograph into a completely made-up "Autobot Seismic Research Center".
::*Dialogue where the old man at Pan expresses belief that Koro is the reincarnation of one of Pipiro's parents is cut.
::*As is the norm for Shout!'s translation, the [[Mini-Cassette]]s are referred to as "Deployers".
::*Immediately after the Predacons have combined into Predaking, Shōki strangely seems to express confusion that the "Trainbot's" have combined. The original simply has him utter an order to the Trainbots to combine.
::*The subtitles once again try to prematurely claim that Earth is a source of [[plasma energy]] in Scorponok's evil plan rant. In the original, he simply states that the plasma energy released by the destruction of Cybertron is a more rewarding source of energy than anything Earth has to offer. Subtitle Scorponok also claims that the plasma energy will bring forth "everlasting Energon"—a change from the simple "eternal energy" of the original.
::*The Decepticon Headmasters hold Pipiro and Koro hostage so that the Autobot Headmasters will teach their "transforming technique" to the Decepticons. This strange ransom diverges from the original demand that the Autobots give up their transtectors.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La misteriosa esplosione del vulcano spento'''" ("The mysterious explosion of the extinguished volcano")

===Trivia===
[[Image:Scorponok flames.jpg|thumb|200px|[[The Fallen|Coincidence or foreshadowing]]? YOU DECIDE!]]
*Even while ''surrounding himself with flames'', Scorponok can still remain entirely hidden in shadow. That takes a certain kind'a skill.
*Exactly how the Decepticons cause the volcano to erupt is never explained.
*Octane has gone from an opportunistic outcast to a sadistic foreman. Maybe he's found his niche?
*For some reason, all the Autobots think that the best way to save the endangered villagers is to ''fly directly at the mouth of the erupting volcano''.
*Pipiro is ''waaaay'' too friendly with his donkey.
{{--}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}}
[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok

2012-05-25T08:21:45Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=11
|image=Shadowemperor.jpg
|caption=Mmmm, Cajun blackened Scorponok!
|title="The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok"
|japanese=影の大帝スコルポノック
|romaji=Kage no Taitei Scorponok
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[September 18]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Masao Itō]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Scorponok takes command of the Decepticons, and the Autobot Headmasters must thwart his plan to seize control of an Earth satellite that can harness the energy of the Sun.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HM11 Spike Fortress present satellite.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Good news, everyone! We fixed the coffee machine!]]
On [[Athenia]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] sadly reflect on the destruction of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the departure of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]. By and by, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] arrives to inform them that [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]'s party is about to start, and they join the other Autobots there just as Fortress and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] announce the joint Autobot-human construction of the [[Sun|solar]]-energy-gathering satellite, [[Sol 1]]. With that, the revelry begins, as [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] sings karaoke to [[Kimi wa Transformer |music]] played by [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]], Wheelie over-energizes on [[energon wine]], and Arcee and Chromedome dance.

[[Image:HM11 Scorponok takes over.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Meanwhile, on [[Chaar]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] reports to the Decepticons that a search has turned up no trace of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], who vanished during the explosion that destroyed Cybertron. Suddenly, the room is clouded with darkness, and a silhouetted figure that seems to be Galvatron appears. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] rush to greet him, but Soundblaster holds them back, having proven with a voice pattern analysis that it is not Galvatron—in truth, the shadowy Decepticon is Scorponok, who tells them that Galvatron is still alive, and has appointed him as leader in his place while he recovers. Unsure about this, Cyclonus and Scourge question Soundblaster in private over whether they can trust Scorponok, but he tells them they have no choice.

[[Image:HM11 Chromedome shot.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Some time later, on Earth, the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Trainbot]]s, Daniel and Wheelie are all present for the launch of Sol 1, but predictably, the Decepticons are spying on the whole affair, and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and Soundblaster report back to Scorponok with news of the impending launch. Tired of constantly being shown up by him, Cyclonus and Scourge head to Earth and recruit the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] for an attack on the launch site, so that they can destroy the Sol 1 and improve their standing in Scorponok's eyes. Their attack is anything but subtle, and they are met with resistance in the form of [[Raiden]], who battles [[Predaking]] while the Headmasters take on Cyclonus and Scourge. Sol 1 is successfully launched and immediately begins absorbing energy, but this is just what Scorponok desires, as he arranges for the Headmasters and [[Triple Changer]]s to steal it. With the Autobots unable to mount a counterattack thanks to [[Sixshot]] keeping them occupied, the Sol 1 is captured by the Decepticons and spirited away.

[[Image:HM11 Chromedome plants a bomb.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
A little later, Fortress traces Sol 1's signal, and discovers that the Decepticons have moved it into the vicinity of the planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]], a world hidden within a dark nebula. The Autobots track it down, but find that it is defended by the Decepticon Headmasters. As the two sides clash, the energy stored within the satellite is beamed down to planet Zarak, where, within a mysterious facility, a giant robotic body absorbs it. Warning the Autobots that they will destroy Sol 1 telepathically if they try to move it back to Earth, the Decepticons make a retreat, and the Autobot Headmasters realise that they have no other course of action but to destroy the satellite themselves. After doing so, they return to Athenia, where Spike assures them that they did the right thing, and that relations between the Autobots and Earth will remain undamaged.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (1)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (3)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (4)
* [[Brainstorm]] (5)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (6)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (7)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (8)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] (10)
* [[Shōki]] (27)
* [[Suiken]] (28)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (29)
* [[Getsuei]] (30)
* [[Kaen]] (31)
* [[Seizan]] (32)
* [[Raiden]] (33)

|c2=
* [[Sixshot]] (11)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (13)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (14)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (15)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (16)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (17)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] (18)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (19)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (20)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (21)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (22)
* [[Tantrum]] (23)
* [[Headstrong]] (24)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (25)
* [[Predaking]] (26)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (34)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (35)
* [[Octane]] (36)

|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (2)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:HM11 Cyclonus Scourge Animation error.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
*When Fortress walks past the camera with a glass of energon wine in his hand, Blurr can be seen in the background, despite the fact he's meant to be on a journey with Rodimus and Kup.
*In a couple of shots as the Decepticons react to "Galvatron"'s arrival, Cyclonus's eyes are miscolored, with the space between his eyes and his eyebrows being filled in red, as if were his eye, making it look like he's seriously been missing out on his sleep. Scourge's eyes are similarly affected, and his [[Facial hair|beard]] disappears at one point, leaving only a "clean-shaven" chin.
*When Arcee expresses surprise that Chromedome can dance, the grills or whatever they are on the fronts of her Leia buns are inexplicably colored red.
*As the Predacons gather, Rampage is coloured a mixture of black, yellow and red, rather than his normal red and orange. Usually in situations like this, it means that the color scheme of another character has been imposed on the character in question, but here, he doesn't actually look like anyone else. It's rather random.
*After getting slugged by Brainstorm, Cyclonus' insignia is all white.
*Multiple times during the fight on the launchpad, the lion's mane on Predaking's chestplate is yellow instead of orange.
*As Scorponok tells Weirdwolf that he understands, Weirdwolf and Mindwipe have switched places.
*When the Decepticon Headmasters approach Earth to steal Sol 1, there are two Astrotrains.
*After the satellite is stolen, Highbrow is animated in Hardhead's colors, and speaks with Hardhead's voice.
*Just before Chromedome gets up from the repair table, Brainstorm is animated with only one arm... and it's missing its hand.
*The Trainbot Suiken suddenly appears after the brief space battle between the Headmasters. He's initially colored like Brainstorm, but reverts to his normal scheme before disappearing completely. Incidentally, Brainstorm is missing in all of the shots with Suiken, so it's likely the Trainbot was accidentally animated in the Headmaster's place, explaining the coloring mistake. There's still no excuse.

===Transformers references===
*Transformers becoming inebriated and passing out after over-indulging on energon, as Wheelie does in this episode, were previously seen in "[[Microbots]]".
*The giant body on planet Zarak, seen only in shadow, should be quite recognizable to fans as Scorponok's [[Transtector]], the larger robot body that we know as Scorponok in the West, but which is called "MegaZarak" in Japan. Like Scorponok himself, it will not be unveiled until "[[Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears]]".
*The Headmasters' telepathic powers, seen previously in "[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime]]" and "[[Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2]]", are mentioned again in this episode.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''King of Shadows, Scorponok'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*In the [[Omni Productions]] dialogue script for this episode...
::**Twincast is referred to as "Platon".
::**Hardhead was going to be referred to as "Dobo", but this was corrected with pen.
::**Soundblaster is referred to as "Citos"; he was previously identified as "Puda" and "Bulada".
::**Razorclaw is referred to as "Lee" in this script; he had previously been "Sogo".
::**Despite Twincast being "Platon" a couple pages ago, the shorthand for his name, "Plat", is used to identify Shōki when he talks. "Plat" refers to the Trainbots as the "Scout Unit".
::**''Predaking'' is identified as "Puda" in this one.
::*Hardhead's karaoke singing is untranslated, with the Japanese version being retained.

:*''Title:'' "'''The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub), "'''Zarak-The Shadow Emperor'''" (Shout! Factory menu)
::*Sol 1 is renamed "Solar 1". Thus, when Wheelie asks about the significance of the satellite's name, he gets the answer that "solar means the sun". The [[Sol System Center]] is also consistently renamed.
::*The alcohol and drunkenness references are slightly toned down, with the glowing drinks referred to as "[[energon goodie]]s". The [[energon wine]] that Wheelie drinks is still referred to as such.
::*Scorponok's position as "acting Emperor" is translated as "Deputy Commander".
::*Soundblaster makes a bizarre reference to being "Galvatron's representative" himself and commands Cyclonus and Scourge to believe Scorponok's claim. The original simply has Soundblaster be satisfied with Scorponok being Galvatron's substitute and that they, Soundblaster included, have no choice but to believe.
::*When Skullcruncher tries to figure what 10^15 means, the original has him stupidly say it's "fifteen times more powerful than a gun"; the Japanese words for "ten" (十) and "gun" (銃) are homophones, both pronounced "jō". The subtitles have him fail at math by saying it's "10 times 15".
::*Spike specifically names the next satellite to be built "Sol 2". This name is not in the subtitles.

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Scorponok, el Rey de las Tinieblas'''" ("Scorponok, King of Darkness")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Povelitel Tjmy Scorponog'''" (Повелитель Тьмы Скорпоног, "The Dark Emperor Scorponok")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skorpion, il signore delle ombre'''" ("Scorponok, lord of shadows")

===Trivia===
*The song which Hardhead sings is the show's closing theme, "[[Kimi wa Transformer]]".
*Ratbat can use his eyes to project images.
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] must've had the day off, as Arcee is shown to be repairing Chromedome.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}}
[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2

2012-05-25T08:18:17Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=10
|image=Cybertrondanger2.jpg
|caption=You might want to get that Van de Graaf generator fixed.
|title="Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2"
|japanese=セイバートロン星危機一髪後編
|romaji=Seibertron-sei Kiki Ippatsu Kōhen
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Katsutoshi Sasaki]]
|animation studio=Toei
|airdate=[[September 11]], [[1987]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The end looms for Cybertron as Scorponok's plan to secure power nears fruition.'''

==Synopsis==
As [[Weirdwolf]] and [[Skullcruncher]] outfit [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] with the bombs Scorponok has specially prepared, the [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] wonder why the villains broke off their fight so suddenly, and begin investigating.

[[Image:HM10 Defensor and Bruticus close up.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Kiss me, you fool!" "...I don't have a mouth, you idiot."]]
Elsewhere, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s are brought to a halt by the [[Trainbot]]s and quickly begin fighting them. [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] grapple. As [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] orders [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] to call for reinforcements, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] pops up to suggest maybe it's time to change strategy, and Galvatron tells him to get lost.

[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] announces that the [[Cybertonuron]] is completed and must not fall into Decepticon hands!

As the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s and [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s clash, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] spots Mindwipe and Weirdwolf, and follows them as they meet Skullcruncher at an entrance to the planet's sub-levels. After Mindwipe disappears inside, Chromedome summons the other Headmasters with his telepathic powers. [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] lets him know that the Cybertonuron is complete and the Headmasters assume that that's what the Decepticons are after. Weirdwolf and Skullcruncher block their way, but Chromedome makes it through and pursues Mindwipe. Minutes later, Battleship Maximus arrives overhead and provides covering fire so the other Headmasters can run inside as well.

[[Image:HM10 Chromedome dangling.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Hang in There!"]]
Chromedome somehow takes a wrong turn, and gets into trouble as the walkway collapses under him, sending him plummeting into the depths. The other three Headmasters run into other defenses, while Mindwipe finds himself under attack by [[Denki kōmori|bats]]. Chromedome comes around to find himself in an area filled with sulfuric acid. On the surface, the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons for control of the planet rages on.

In the Autobot base, Rodimus tells [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] that he believes with the Cybertonuron, they'll soon gain more allies, but first they must repel the Decepticon attack.

[[Image:Hmep10 mindwipe and bomb.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"I know that ain't the bomb!"]]
Shaking his bat escort, Mindwipe reaches [[Vector Sigma]] and starts planting the bombs. Chromedome arrives and challenges him, but Mindwipe informs him that the bombs are tamper proof, and they have 30 minutes to get out. While the Decepticon scarpers, the other Headmasters arrive. Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf spot that the bombs are set and immediately head in the other direction while the four Autobots make a futile attempt to try and remove the bombs. With time running shot, the Headmasters are forced to abandon their attempt and flee to the surface to sound the alarm.

[[Image:HM10 Cybertron destroyed.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Don't worry, the explosives are always defused right when the countdown reaches 1... ah, crap.]]
On the surface, Scorponok informs [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] that he has arranged for the planting of the bombs and the destruction of Cybertron, ostensibly to prevent the newly-created [[Cybertonuron]] from falling into Autobot hands. As Galvatron departs for Vector Sigma's chamber to stop Scorponok's plan, the Autobot Headmasters inform Rodimus of the situation, and he quickly and regretfully arranges for the evacuation of the planet. As the Autobots and Decepticons escape to safety, Galvatron enters Vector Sigma's chamber—just as the bombs go off and he is consumed in the fireball. The explosion devastates Cybertron utterly, reducing it to a charred, broken hunk floating in space.

Touching down on the ruined, uninhabitable surface of Cybertron, Rodimus Prime realises that the age of his generation of Transformers has come to an end. Vowing to find a new planet for the Transformers to live on, he appoints Fortress as the new [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots, and accepts [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s offer to accompany him. When [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] moves to join them, he refuses, telling her to stay and take care of [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]]. Promising to return, Rodimus and his companions depart for space.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (5)
* [[Brainstorm]] (6)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (7)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (8)
* [[Shōki]] (12)
* [[Seizan]] (13)
* [[Getsuei]] (14)
* [[Suiken]] (15)
* [[Kaen]] (16)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (17)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (18)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (22)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (23)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (24)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (25)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (26)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (30)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (31)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (33)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (34)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (37)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (38)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (41)

|c2=
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (1)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (2)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (3)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (4)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (9)
* [[Tantrum]] (10)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (11)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (19)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (20)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (21)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (27)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (28)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (29)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (32)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (35)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (36)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (39)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (40)

|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (42)
}}

==Quotes==
{{note|The following quotes are from the [[Omni Productions]] dub.}}
"Eh, you bunch of mooncalves!"
:—'''Galvatron''' breaks out one of the more [[Wikipedia:Mooncalf|obscure insults]] for his men.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Several pieces of footage are reused from "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]", including aerial dives by Vortex and Blast Off, Jazz returning fire, and a skirmish between Superion, Abominus and Devastator.

===Transformers references===
*Previously hinted at in "[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime]]", the Headmasters' telepathic powers are properly explained in this episode (albeit by the narrator) as an ability they developed on planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
*Galvatron is not out of commission for too long — although he is missing for several episodes, he returns in "[[Return of the Immortal Emperor]]".
*Despite his promise, Rodimus Prime did not return in the course of the ''Headmasters'' cartoon. He did, however, come back from his journey in [[The Headmasters issue 8|the final chapter]] of the comic.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Crisis on Cyberton, Part 2'''" {{sic}} ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The Omni Productions dialogue script included on the R2 release of the ''Headmasters'' series gives the episode title as "Crisis on Cybertons Part Two".
::**Shōki, rather than Raiden, is identified as "Grimlock" in this script. Razorclaw and Soundblaster are still identified as "Sogo" and "Puda", respectively. Divebomb is referred to as "Bo".

:*''Title:'' "'''Planet Cybertron Is in Grave Danger: Part 2'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The review of the last episode shown before the title card is omitted.
::*The bombs' countdown in "minutes" is at first translated as "cycles" and then as "clicks" onward.

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Crisis en el Planeta Cybertron, Segunda Parte'''" ("Crisis on the Planet Cybertron, Second Part")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cybertron è in pericolo - Parte 2'''" ("Cybertron is in danger - Part 2")

===Trivia===
*The devastation of Cybertron is probably the single most famous event from the ''Headmasters'' anime, and is well-known even among those fans who have not seen the series themselves. It was rebuilt during the Japanese ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' storyline, so don't go crying about how the [[Beast Era]] can't possibly be in Japanese continuity or anything like that.
*On occasion, people wonder why Rodimus did not give Fortress the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] when he made him leader. Well, for no real reason, that's just not really how things work in Japan — there are fewer Supreme Commanders who have held the Matrix than there are those who haven't.
*Not only does Rodimus feel the need to run away very quickly on his Boy's Own mission with Kup and Blurr (presumably lest Arcee followed them), it doesn't seem to occur to him that the Autobots already have a peaceful planet to live on—[[Athenia]]. But of course that wouldn't allow for him to get out of the way and let Fortress assume command.
*Furthermore, his decision to install Fortress as new leader because of his 'youth' makes little sense given that Fortress is roughly the same age as most other Transformers seen since the start of G1, having left Cybertron 4 million years ago and having known Kup. If anything, Rodimus is the more youthful of the two given that, as Hot Rod, he was shown to be something of a Cybertronian teenager, implying that he was built later than Optimus and co. It's ''probably'' supposed to refer to Fortress and the other Headmasters not literally being "younger", but being more of a "new generation" of Transformers, with their crazy new powers and tech, but it's still really iffy.
*It certainly doesn't help that Cybertron's destruction makes not only Optimus' sacrifice back in "[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime]]" completely pointless, but pretty much every character who died on both sides did so completely in vain.
*It has been speculated that the planet Rodimus goes out to find is [[Micro]], because when Rodimus returns years later in ''[[Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]'', he is a [[Micromaster]].
*Mindwipe doesn't seem to like [[Denki kōmori|bats]]. Hmm.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2

2012-05-25T08:14:52Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=10
|image=Cybertrondanger2.jpg
|caption=You might want to get that Van de Graaf generator fixed.
|title="Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2"
|japanese=セイバートロン星危機一髪後編
|romaji=Seibertron-sei Kiki Ippatsu Kōhen
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Katsutoshi Sasaki]]
|animation studio=Toei
|airdate=[[September 11]], [[1987]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The end looms for Cybertron as Scorponok's plan to secure power nears fruition.'''

==Synopsis==
As [[Weirdwolf]] and [[Skullcruncher]] outfit [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] with the bombs Scorponok has specially prepared, the [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] wonder why the villains broke off their fight so suddenly, and begin investigating.

[[Image:HM10 Defensor and Bruticus close up.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Kiss me, you fool!" "...I don't have a mouth, you idiot."]]
Elsewhere, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s are brought to a halt by the [[Trainbot]]s and quickly begin fighting them. [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] grapple. As [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] orders [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] to call for reinforcements, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] pops up to suggest maybe it's time to change strategy, and Galvatron tells him to get lost.

[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] announces that the [[Cybertonuron]] is completed and must not fall into Decepticon hands!

As the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s and [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s clash, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] spots Mindwipe and Weirdwolf, and follows them as they meet Skullcruncher at an entrance to the planet's sub-levels. After Mindwipe disappears inside, Chromedome summons the other Headmasters with his telepathic powers. [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] lets him know that the Cybertonuron is complete and the Headmasters assume that that's what the Decepticons are after. Weirdwolf and Skullcruncher block their way, but Chromedome makes it through and pursues Mindwipe. Minutes later, Battleship Maximus arrives overhead and provides covering fire so the other Headmasters can run inside as well.

[[Image:HM10 Chromedome dangling.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Hang in There!"]]
Chromedome somehow takes a wrong turn, and gets into trouble as the walkway collapses under him, sending him plummeting into the depths. The other three Headmasters run into other defenses, while Mindwipe finds himself under attack by [[Denki kōmori|bats]]. Chromedome comes around to find himself in an area filled with sulfuric acid. On the surface, the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons for control of the planet rages on.

In the Autobot base, Rodimus tells [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] that he believes with the Cybertonuron, they'll soon gain more allies, but first they must repel the Decepticon attack.

[[Image:Hmep10 mindwipe and bomb.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"I know that ain't the bomb!"]]
Shaking his bat escort, Mindwipe reaches [[Vector Sigma]] and starts planting the bombs. Chromedome arrives and challenges him, but Mindwipe informs him that the bombs are tamper proof, and they have 30 minutes to get out. While the Decepticon scarpers, the other Headmasters arrive. Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf spot that the bombs are set and immediately head in the other direction while the four Autobots make a futile attempt to try and remove the bombs. With time running shot, the Headmasters are forced to abandon their attempt and flee to the surface to sound the alarm.

[[Image:HM10 Cybertron destroyed.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Don't worry, the explosives are always defused right when the countdown reaches 1... ah, crap.]]
On the surface, Scorponok informs [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] that he has arranged for the planting of the bombs and the destruction of Cybertron, ostensibly to prevent the newly-created [[Cybertonuron]] from falling into Autobot hands. As Galvatron departs for Vector Sigma's chamber to stop Scorponok's plan, the Autobot Headmasters inform Rodimus of the situation, and he quickly and regretfully arranges for the evacuation of the planet. As the Autobots and Decepticons escape to safety, Galvatron enters Vector Sigma's chamber—just as the bombs go off and he is consumed in the fireball. The explosion devastates Cybertron utterly, reducing it to a charred, broken hunk floating in space.

Touching down on the ruined, uninhabitable surface of Cybertron, Rodimus Prime realises that the age of his generation of Transformers has come to an end. Vowing to find a new planet for the Transformers to live on, he appoints Fortress as the new [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots, and accepts [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s offer to accompany him. When [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] moves to join them, he refuses, telling her to stay and take care of [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]]. Promising to return, Rodimus and his companions depart for space.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (5)
* [[Brainstorm]] (6)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (7)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (8)
* [[Shōki]] (12)
* [[Seizan]] (13)
* [[Getsuei]] (14)
* [[Suiken]] (15)
* [[Kaen]] (16)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (17)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (18)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (22)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (23)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (24)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (25)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (26)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (30)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (31)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (33)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (34)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (37)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (38)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (41)

|c2=
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (1)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (2)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (3)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (4)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (9)
* [[Tantrum]] (10)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (11)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (19)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (20)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (21)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (27)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (28)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (29)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (32)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (35)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (36)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (39)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (40)

|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (42)
}}

==Quotes==
{{note|The following quotes are from the [[Omni Productions]] dub.}}
"Eh, you bunch of mooncalves!"
:—'''Galvatron''' breaks out one of the more [[Wikipedia:Mooncalf|obscure insults]] for his men.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Several pieces of footage are reused from "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]", including aerial dives by Vortex and Blast Off, Jazz returning fire, and a skirmish between Superion, Abominus and Devastator.

===Transformers references===
*Previously hinted at in "[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime]]", the Headmasters' telepathic powers are properly explained in this episode (albeit by the narrator) as an ability they developed on planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
*Galvatron is not out of commission for too long — although he is missing for several episodes, he returns in "[[Return of the Immortal Emperor]]".
*Despite his promise, Rodimus Prime did not return in the course of the ''Headmasters'' cartoon. He did, however, come back from his journey in [[The Headmasters issue 8|the final chapter]] of the comic.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Crisis on Cyberton, Part 2'''" {{sic}} ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The Omni Productions dialogue script included on the R2 release of the ''Headmasters'' series gives the episode title as "Crisis on Cybertons Part Two".
::**Shōki, rather than Raiden, is identified as "Grimlock" in this script. Razorclaw and Soundblaster are still identified as "Sogo" and "Puda", respectively. Divebomb is referred to as "Bo".

:*''Title:'' "'''Planet Cybertron Is in Grave Danger: Part 2'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The review of the last episode shown before the title card is omitted.
::*The bombs' countdown in "minutes" is at first translated as "cycles" and then as "clicks" onward.

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Crisis en el Planeta Cybertron, Segunda Parte'''" ("Crisis on the Planet Cybertron, Second Part")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cybertron è in pericolo - Parte 2" ("Cybertron is in danger - Part 2")

===Trivia===
*The devastation of Cybertron is probably the single most famous event from the ''Headmasters'' anime, and is well-known even among those fans who have not seen the series themselves. It was rebuilt during the Japanese ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' storyline, so don't go crying about how the [[Beast Era]] can't possibly be in Japanese continuity or anything like that.
*On occasion, people wonder why Rodimus did not give Fortress the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] when he made him leader. Well, for no real reason, that's just not really how things work in Japan — there are fewer Supreme Commanders who have held the Matrix than there are those who haven't.
*Not only does Rodimus feel the need to run away very quickly on his Boy's Own mission with Kup and Blurr (presumably lest Arcee followed them), it doesn't seem to occur to him that the Autobots already have a peaceful planet to live on—[[Athenia]]. But of course that wouldn't allow for him to get out of the way and let Fortress assume command.
*Furthermore, his decision to install Fortress as new leader because of his 'youth' makes little sense given that Fortress is roughly the same age as most other Transformers seen since the start of G1, having left Cybertron 4 million years ago and having known Kup. If anything, Rodimus is the more youthful of the two given that, as Hot Rod, he was shown to be something of a Cybertronian teenager, implying that he was built later than Optimus and co. It's ''probably'' supposed to refer to Fortress and the other Headmasters not literally being "younger", but being more of a "new generation" of Transformers, with their crazy new powers and tech, but it's still really iffy.
*It certainly doesn't help that Cybertron's destruction makes not only Optimus' sacrifice back in "[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime]]" completely pointless, but pretty much every character who died on both sides did so completely in vain.
*It has been speculated that the planet Rodimus goes out to find is [[Micro]], because when Rodimus returns years later in ''[[Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]'', he is a [[Micromaster]].
*Mindwipe doesn't seem to like [[Denki kōmori|bats]]. Hmm.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1

2012-05-25T08:12:05Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=9
|image=Cybertrondanger.jpg
|caption=I feel a great disturbance... like a million robots crying out at once and then being silenced.
|title="Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1"
|japanese=セイバートロン星危機一髪前編
|romaji=Seibertron-sei Kiki Ippatsu Zenpen
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[September 4]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Jōhei Matsūra]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''When Vector Sigma develops a powerful new alloy, the Decepticons initiate an all-out strike against Cybertron to claim it for their own.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HM9 Highbrow rowing.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Man, this is really working out the muscles I don't have!]]
On a spying mission on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] and his cassettes discover that Vector Sigma is in the process of developing a powerful new alloy named [[Cybertonuron]]. They report back to [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] who begins making plans to attack Cybertron so they can seize the new material. Meanwhile [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] has discovered the development as well, and reports it to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] on [[Athenia]]. The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], deep in their training, wonder if they shouldn't be doing more against the Decepticons.

[[Image:HM9 Blurr stuck in chair.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Galvatron dispatches the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Cybertron as an advance squad, and a short time later is cautioned by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who is actually more concerned over the level of power that Galvatron will achieve with the alloy more than anything else. Despite this, Galvatron, Soundblaster and the Decepticon Headmasters head to [[Earth]] in [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to gather up their forces there. Their arrival is observed by Twincast, who lets Rodimus's team know. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] observes that Galvatron seems to always have three days of rest followed by four days of making things hard for the Autobots. [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] immediately decide to head for Earth, though [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] warns them to only observe and not get involved in any fights.

On Cybertron, two Autobot scouts spot the Predacons readying their weapons. Though one of them is spotted and shot, the other runs off to raise the alarm.

[[Image:Sixshot Scorponok.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]
Back on Earth, Galvatron inspects the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s as he prepares for the attack. [[Sixshot]] informs Scorponok that Galvatron plans to exile him, as his services will no longer be required if Galvatron can acquire the Cybertonuron, galvanizing the shadowy villain into action. Chromedome and Hardhead reach the [[Decepticon Earth Base (Headmasters)|Decepticon Earth Base]], but are too late—the entire Decepticon army has already used the [[space bridge]] to invade Cybertron! Storming out of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], Galvatron's men begin shooting the place up and blasting the Autobot security guards.

Rodimus gets a call from one of the guards, alerting him to the invasion and alerts the other Autobots to prepare to depart, though they have a momentary problem when [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] turns out to be stuck in his chair. Although Fortress recommends holding off on a counter attack, suspecting a trap, Rodimus is determined to go free Cybertron. Fortress is reluctant to accompany the mission, but Chromedome and Hardhead contact him from Earth to say they're heading for Cybertron with the Autobots' Earth forces. With no other choice, Fortress fires up Battleship Maximus and Rodimus and his men jump aboard as it's departing.

[[Image:HM9 headmasters with bombs.jpg|thumb|right|200px|We set Cybertron up the bomb!]]
The Decepticons are wiping out the last of the Autobot guards when the Autobot forces from Earth turn up and join in the battle. Chromedome and Hardhead confront the Decepticon Headmasters, but are marginally outnumbered. Fortunately Battleship Maximus arrives on the planet and lets Rodimus off some distance from the battle so he can inspect the dead Autobot guards. While [[Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] go to help their fellow Headmasters, Rodimus Prime confronts Galvatron himself. After they exchange blows, Galvatron uses his cannon mode to bring down a wall on Rodimus. Before he can finish off the Autobot leader, Soundblaster arrives with the important news that Vector Sigma has completed the formula for Cybertonuron, and is poised to begin production of the alloy. The distraction gives the other Autobots time to dig out Rodimus.

The news has also reached Scorponok, who realizes it's time to act. Recalling [[Weirdwolf]], [[Skullcruncher]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], he equips the Headmasters with three bombs, which they will plant in Vector Sigma's chamber at the heart of the planet. When they explode, the entire planet will be destroyed, taking the Autobots and Cybertonuron with it...!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] (7)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (9)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (10)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (11)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (12)
* [[Brainstorm]] (13)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (14)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (15)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (26)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (27)
* [[Rewind]] (28)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (29)
* [[Scout A]] (30)
* [[Scout B]] (31)
* [[Getsuei]] (43)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (44)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Seizan]] (45)
* [[Shōki]] (46)
* [[Kaen]] (47)
* [[Suiken]] (48)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (49)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (50)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (51)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (52)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (53)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (54)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (55)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (56)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (57)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (58)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (59)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (60)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (62)
{{!}}}
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (1)
* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (3)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (4)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (5)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (6)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (16)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (17)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (18)
* [[Tantrum]] (19)
* [[Headstrong]] (20)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (21)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (22)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (23)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (24)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (25)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (32)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (33)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (34)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (35)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (36)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (37)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (38)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (39)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (40)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (41)
* [[Sixshot]] (42)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (60)
{{!}}}
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:HM9 Headstrong insignia.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
*When the cassettes are shown sneaking into Vector Sigma's chamber at the start of the episode, Soundblaster is with them, shimmying up a tower. It is apparent that he has been animated in place of Rumble, who pops his head through the floor of the chamber in the next shot, especially since the cassettes are all then shown returning to Soundblaster, who is waiting outside.
*When Rewind transforms and enters Twincast, he's colored blue, red and yellow, looking like Twincast himself.
*Throughout the episode, [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] is miscolored as [[Great Dome|Iacon]].
*Headstrong's insignia—when he shoots at the generic guards—is an odd fusion of both factions' insignias. Maybe he read his [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|debut issue at Marvel]], and got the concept of symbol-switching confused?
*Astrotrain's regular [[size changing]] is one thing, but here it becomes downright preposterous. Astrotrain, in shuttle mode, enters Decepticon Headquarters through the [[space bridge]], at which point the audience might think this is a rare moment of him not size changing. Only, next shot, it turns out he had passengers. Five Stunticons, five Combaticons, three Headmasters, Soundwave and Galvatron to be exact. How is that supposed to fit?
*As the Aerialbots charge into battle, they are led by... Superion.
[[Image:JHeadmasters09Tracks.jpg|thumb|200px|Maybe he's homophobic or something.]]
*When the combiners merge, their torsos hop into the air and just ''hover'' there while their arms connect, with their legs linking up last. One might argue that the Decepticons and Aerialbots can get away with this (as they can fly), but the Protectobots don't got no excuse.
*Arcee's left shoulder thingy is drawn oddly pointy throughout Rodimus's fight with Galvatron.
*In a dramatically drawn panning shot, Tracks is seen being kicked in the face by fellow Autobot and noted pacifist First Aid.
*Weirdwolf is colored like Skullcruncher when he and Mindwipe are ganging up on Chromedome.

===Transformers references===
*Cybertonuron is noted as being many times stronger than [[Cybertonium]], the element introduced in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|Desertion of the Dinobots]]". This is stated, however, with the implication that Cybertonium is unusually strong itself—something that is in no way indicated in its debut episode.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Crisis on Cyberton, Part 1'''" {{sic}} ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*In the [[Omni Productions]] dialogue script for this episode...
::**Rumble is identified as "Inka" and Soundblaster as "Puda" (who was "Bulada" in a prior episode script).
::**Razorclaw is identified as "Sogo".
::**Twincast is referred to as "Kister" in narration, while Blurr is referred to as "Bill" and "Billy".
::**Onslaught is identified as "Dow", and he refers to the Combaticons as the "Dolong Regiment".
::**Scorponok was originally identified in dialogue as "Locke". However, this was crossed out and replaced by "Scorponok". This correction will only be made baffling by later scripts that alternately refer to him as "Sogi" and "Chandler".
::**In an incredibly bizarre mix-up, the Sixshot/Scorponok conversation is written out with Sixshot identified as "Lok" (the script's shorthand form of "Locke") and Scorponok identified as "Jart".
::**Sadly, the generic guards are only identified as "A" and "B".

:*''Title:'' "'''Planet Cybertron Is in Grave Danger: Part 1'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The Predacons are outright ordered to attack the Autobot guards on Cybertron in the original, and they do. The subtitles present it as more of a stealth mission.
::*The attacked Autobot guard strangely orders the other guard to tell "the Rodimus Prime". This is an artifact from the original translation being simply "the commander".

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Crisis en el Planeta Cybertron, Primera Parte'''" ("Crisis on the Planet Cybertron, First Part")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cybertron è in pericolo - parte 1'''" ("Cybertron is in danger - Part 1")

===Trivia===
*Tracks makes a rare (and very brief) appearance just before the Headmasters mix it up on Cybertron.
*This episode originally aired in a double-bill with "[[Terror! The Six Shadows]]" on [[September 4]], 1987.
*Exactly why Sixshot told Scorponok that Galvatron planned to banish him after getting the cybertonuron is a mystery. Despite getting useful info, Scorponok wasn't very grateful to Sixshot in later episodes.
*The Headmasters are shown to be training on exercise equipment such as treadmills and exercise bicycles, despite the fact they're robots.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

Terror! The Six Shadows

2012-05-25T08:02:47Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=8
|image=6shadows.jpg
|caption="All I can give you is a name: Edgar Neubauer."
|title="Terror! The Six Shadows"
|japanese=恐怖! 六ッの影
|romaji=Kyōfu! Mutsu no Kage
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[September 4]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Masao Itō]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The Trainbots take center stage when six shadowy figures attack countries all across the world.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HM8 Trainbots watching TV.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
The [[Trainbot]]s have brought [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on a trip to their birthplace of [[Japan]], but the fun is brought to a crashing halt when a video transmission cuts into a large-screen television on the side of a building, displaying a shadowy robotic figure who demands the entirety of Japan's energy, or he will destroy the country. Unable to identify the mystery mech, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] contacts [[Athenia]], and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] depart for Earth.

On [[Chaar]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] are incensed that anyone other than the [[Decepticon]]s would dare to steal Earth's energy, and vow to steal it from the unknown robot, despite a strange lack of interest in their plan from [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticon Headmasters. Heading to Earth, they receive no more help from a relaxing Sixshot.

[[Image:HM8 Trainbots in lounge.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Back on Earth, the Autobots have discovered that, in addition to Japan, five other countries have been threatened by shadowy beings—the [[United States of America|United States]] by a giant gun, the [[Soviet Union|USSR]] by a tank, [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]] by a winged wolf, [[France]] by a jet and [[Canada]] by an armored car. The Trainbots, however, are not worried, convinced that their six-strong team can handle the six blackmailers, but their relaxation is interrupted by the discovery of [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], spying on the group. Ratbat escapes and returns to [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]], who reports back to the Decepticon base that the Autobot Headmasters have come to Earth. Cyclonus and Scourge, however, are more concerned with the revelation that there are six enemies to fight, even if Sixshot is not.

[[Image:HM8 Sixshot vs Raiden.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
In [[London]], the winged wolf shows itself, and the Headmasters and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] head out, only to arrive too late. While they are there, however, [[New York City|New York]] is attacked by the giant gun, and both the Autobots and Cyclonus and Scourge are unable to get there in time to stop it. As Rodimus speculates that the blackmailers will hit Japan next, Daniel and the Trainbots enter—the brash young Headmasters are disgusted that they have been shopping in [[Tokyo]] while everyone else has been worried about the blackmailers. The Trainbots profess to have been patrolling Japan while Daniel went shopping, but an argument ensues, and when Daniel tries to intervene, Chromedome silences the boy, causing him to run from the room. Chromedome follows, seeking to make amends, and discovers Daniel playing with a toy ninja star that he purchased. Intrigued, Chromedome learns from Daniel of Earth's stories of ninjas, and their ability to appear in many places at once, and the stories stir up the memory of the time an energy-stealing ninja able to duplicate himself and transform into six shapes visited planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] and killed his friend [[Abel]]. Realising that the ninja is definitely their blackmailer, Chromedome vows revenge.

[[Image:HM8 multiple Sixshots.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Tokyo soon comes under attack from the robotic villain, and the Trainbots plead to be allowed to defend their homeland. Rodimus allows it, and the team heads for Earth, merging into their combined form of [[Raiden]] to thrash the blackmailer. The fight takes a new twist, however, when Cyclonus and Scourge arrive with [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], and the Headmasters rush to the Trainbots' aid, fending off Trypticon while Raiden deals with the blackmailer's various forms. Transforming into jet mode, the villain flees, but is pursued by both the Autobots and Cyclonus and Scourge, and when he is finally brought down, his identity is finally revealed—Sixshot! Duplicating and transforming to wolf mode, Sixshot savages Raiden, but the Headmasters, seeking to avenge Abel, beat him down and send him retreating.

Back on Chaar, an enraged Galvatron—in on the plan the whole time—pummels Cyclonus and Scourge for their incompetence, while on Earth, the Headmasters and Trainbots reconcile, and all is well.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Shōki]] (2)
* [[Kaen]] (3)
* [[Getsuei]] (4)
* [[Seizan]] (5)
* [[Suiken]] (6)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (7)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (8)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (10)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (12)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (14)
* [[Brainstorm]] (15)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (16)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (17)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (26)
* [[Abel]] (27)
* [[Foo]] (28)
* [[Raiden]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Sixshot]] (1)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (18)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (19)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (20)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (21)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (22)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (23)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (24)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] (25)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (29)

|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (9)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Sixshot attacks Tokyo in robot mode in the final stages of the episode, rather than being entirely shrouded in shadow, as he has been up to this point, he is in full colour. Although it was ''always'' astonishingly obvious that he was Sixshot just based on his silhouette, this must surely be a mistake, as the shocked reaction to his true identity does not come until he is blasted from the sky some minutes later.
[[Image:HM8 London.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Since they introduced the congestion charge, the fog has really cleared up.]]
*[[London]] is depicted as a fog-shrouded forest that people ride through on horseback. For God's ''sake''.
*Ultra Magnus is sporting his all-white antennae again in this episode.
*During the flashback, the mysteriously shadowed Sixshot is using Twincast's weapon, which is also mysteriously shadowed.
*When New York City was last seen in "[[Only Human]]", it had tons of ridiculously goofy "futuristic" buildings about it, so tall they dwarfed even the World Trade Center. These buildings are nowhere to be found in this episode, and New York appears as it did in the '80s.
* When Sixshot attacks Tokyo, he's as big as a combiner, then later appears at normal size.
* Cyclonus and Scourge fail to make the transformation noise when they transform to retreat.

===Continuity notes===
*For ''Transformers'' fans who already own his toy or otherwise know Sixshot's deal, it's really quite easy to forget the fact that this is the first time he has displayed his six-changing abilities in the series (indeed, it is the first time he has transformed at all, aside from the commercial bumper), hence the confusion of all the other characters. It also does not help the story that you can tell it's blatantly him from the second his robot-mode silhouette appears.
*In addition to debuting Sixshot's transformations, it also introduces his assorted ninja-related powers, including the ability to create numerous solid-light duplicates of himself (and, apparently, the ability to remain entirely cloaked in shadow, even in the middle of a shade-free, sun-baked desert). He'll be making good use of this power, and more, later in the series.
*The Trainbots merge into Raiden for the first time in this episode, but this is treated with ''shockingly'' little dramatic flourish, especially for Japan—in fact, absolutely nothing special is made of this first combination at all. Perhaps it's because we've been seeing them do it in the [[title sequence|opening credits]] for eight episodes already, completely stifling any sense of surprise about the whole thing.
*Along with "[[Thief in the Night]]", this is another episode which proves that the [[Soviet Union]]'s 1991 collapse didn't occur in the animated series continuity. It's almost like it was produced before that happened, or something!

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Terror Six Shadows toys.jpg|thumb|200px|It's past 2011 now, where are these toys?!]]
*When Daniel drops the box, several figures that ''could'' be Transformers figures fall out. BUT they show a surprising amount of articulation for toys during the time the show was made. Looks like they correctly guessed that Transformers figures would be more articulated by 2011!

===Real-world references===
*The Decepticon Headmasters are playing Poker when Cyclonus and Scourge go to bug them.
*Chromedome presents information back to Rodimus on a VHS tape. So futuristic!

===Foreign localization===
:*''Title:'' "'''The Shadow of Evil'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The [[Omni Productions]] dialogue script included on the [[Metrodome]] release of the ''Headmasters'' series gives the episode title as "The Show of Evil".
::*According to the dialogue script, the shadowy Sixshot is "Saul" and Scattershot is "Garth"... and so are Cyclonus and Scourge, who were named as such in the previous script! (The un-shadowy Sixshot is listed under his own name.) As Cyclonus and Scourge are consistently Saul and Garth in the script otherwise, these identifications were presumably in error.
::*Shōki's lines are listed as coming from "Hard"—the script's shorthand for "Hardhead"—even when Hardhead himself appears only a few lines prior. Kaen is referred to "Powell", and Soundblaster's lines come from "Bulada".
::*Shockingly, the script gives a name to the generic worker robot who speaks before Abel! He is identified as "[[Foo]]".

:*''Title:'' "'''Terror of the Six Shadows'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The point that Japan has succeeded at [[Energy Development Center|generating energy at the bottom of the ocean]] is glossed over as an unspecific "successful energy generating program".
::*Foo's single line of "Get out, energy gangster." is translated as "Go away you thugs!" The plural in the translation makes little sense, as Sixshot is acting alone in the flashback and has yet to perform his clone illusions.

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Espectáculo Malévolo'''" ("Malevolent Spectacle")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tenj zla'''" (Тень зла, "The Shadow of Evil")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Paura! Le sei ombre del mostro'''" ("Fear! The monster's six shadows")

===Trivia===
*This episode originally aired in a double-bill with "[[Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1]]" on September 4th.
*What appears to be part of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] can be seen in an outside shot of [[Autobot City]], although the ship was destroyed much earlier in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".
*Apparently stores are perfectly happy to sell toy ninja stars to a little boy with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|no parental]] [[Carly|escort]] and accompanied only by [[Wheelie (G1)|an annoying orange alien]]. This ''was'' aired in [[For safety reasons|the '80s, though]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]

The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery

2012-05-25T07:58:57Z

151.84.145.19:

{{episode
|series=Headmasters
|ep=7
|image=Mysteryveil.jpg
|caption=Lawrencebot of Arabia
|title="The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery"
|japanese=四百万年・謎のベール
|romaji=Yon Hyaku Man Nen Nazo no Veil
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[August 28]], [[1987]]
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Akinori Ōrai]]
|animation studio=Toei
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Scorponok lures the Autobot Headmasters into a trap on the planet Praum, where they must call upon all their training to survive.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HM7 Galvatron meets Scorponok.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
While [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] complains that he's surrounded by worthless incompetents, the shadowy [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] arrives on [[Chaar]] to converse with him. Scorponok complains that the work is preventing him from getting revenge on [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], but Galvatron screams at him to do his job. Scorponok gathers the Decepticon Headmasters in preparation for his new plan.

On [[Athenia]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] receives a report that their base on desert planet [[Praum]] is under attack, but as [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] points out, they're shorthanded because [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] is on Earth to oversee a new energy discovery. Fortress and the [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s volunteer to head over and sort the Decepticons out. When they arrive on Praum, the Autobot base is dead quiet, and they split up to look around, though Fortress has to warn the others that there might be landmines. They find many bodies, but when they call out for survivors, someone lets off a gun from the base's defensive wall. The Headmasters venture inside and find a puzzle—the Autobot holding the discharged weapon is already dead. Fortress swears to avenge the victims.

[[Image:HM7 Rodimus Magnus wrecked base.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Meanwhile in [[Autobot City]] on [[Earth]], Rodimus discovers that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has no knowledge of the supposed energy source. Confused, the pair set out to find [[infantry unit P-21]] who had called in the find from central [[Asia]]. They reach the facility to find the occupants have been slaughtered by Decepticons. When Ultra Magnus finds that the energy data is still there, Rodimus realizes something's up and contacts Athenia. Arcee plays back the recording of the energy report, and Rodimus quickly spots [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]'s silhouette in the background. Realising that the Autobot Headmasters are walking into a trap on Praum, Rodimus hastily departs aboard the [[Trainbot]]s.

[[Image:HM7 Highbrow Brainstorm sand.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
On Praum, the Headmasters finish their search of the base having found only corpses. The Autobots are soon caught by surprise when every one of the base's exits are sealed, and the domed structure begins to spin, burying itself in the sand. The Headmasters are pinned against the walls as the cackling voice of Scorponok promises them their doom. Outside, the Decepticon Headmasters lament that this method of dispatching the Autobots is no fun at all. The dome finally stops spinning, and the Autobots attempt to break out, only for a torrent of sand to come rushing into the buried structure. They begin to recall the events that transpired when they first reached planet [[Master (planet)|Master]]

:''Four million years ago, their ship was forced down onto Master and they trudge through the desert, only to be caught in a sandstorm. Narrowly surviving a tornado, the Headmasters are next sucked into a whirlpool sand and have to struggle to get free. Not only did they have to contend with the desert, but with acid rain and deadly ice ages. They survived, and developed [[Transtector]]s, learning the hard way to connect with them and transform.''

Remembering this, the team perform a "[[Head Formation|Cross-Head On]]," exchanging Transtectors to boost their powers, and escape the sand-trap. They clash with the Decepticon Headmasters waiting above, who perform a Cross-Head On of their own, at which point Galvatron and Rodimus arrive. The Headmasters step between the two leaders, requesting that they take the Decepticons on themselves, and manage to hurl the villains into the sand-trap themselves. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] plucks the Decepticons from the trap, and they retreat as the Autobots look on.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Autobot operator|Operators]] (8)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (9)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (10)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (11)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (12)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (13)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (14)
* [[Brainstorm]] (15)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (16)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (17)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (18)
* [[Kaen]] (19)
* [[Seizan]] (20)
* [[Getsuei]] (21)
* [[Shōki]] (22)
* [[Suiken]] (23)
* [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]] (24)

|c2=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (1)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (2)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (3)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (4)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (5)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (6)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (7)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (25)

}}

==Quotes==
"Loyalty is tactically useless."
:—'''Galvatron''' on Cyclonus's worth.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When arguing with Arcee (what ''else'' do they do in this series?) Kup and Blurr's Autobot insignias are rendered instead as little red squares. A few moments later, Kup's insignia disappears completely. Later in the episode, Kup and Blurr are sporting Decepticon insignias.
*Ultra Magnus's antennas change color multiple times throughout his appearances, from completely white, to their correct blue and white, to one side correct with the other all white.
*Right before Rodimus boards the train, the rim of his helmet is colored grey.
*In the aerial shot of the Headmasters-to-be trekking through the desert on Master, Fortress is drawn as his Transtector, not his smallest robot form. This is rectified as the angle changes.
*During the flashback, as the sand gives way under Chromedome's feet, said feet are those of his Transtector, not his small robot mode.
*When Fortress tells the Headmasters to remember their training, Brainstorm is colored like Highbrow.
*As the Headmasters are sealed in the dome trap, Highbrow's rotors are violently ripped off. After switching heads with Braimstorm, however, they are suddenly back without explanation.
*For Galvatron's first few shots on Praum, he's missing his arm cannon. When it finally does show up, the barrel is initially purple.

===Continuity notes===
*Referenced previously in "[[The Mystery of Planet Master]]" and "[[The Great Cassette Operation]]", Decepticon Headmaster leader Scorponok makes his first proper appearance in this episode. He is, however, permanently shrouded in shadow, and will remain as such (even in fully lit rooms) until "[[Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears]]".
*When preparing to switch heads, Highbrow calls Chromedome "Chrome." This is the name of Chromedome's Headmaster robot form in the Japanese toyline, although at no other point in the animated series is it indicated that the small robots have different names when they are not connected to their Transtectors. In the same scene, Hardhead calls Brainstorm "Storm" - this is ''not'' the name of Brainstorm's Headmaster in the Japanese toyline, where it is called "Cana" (a squishing-up of [[Arcana]]). What this means is anyone's guess... perhaps Hardhead and Highbrow's heads are named "Hard" and "Brow"? Or perhaps they're nicknames?
*The Autobots previously exchanged heads in "[[Rebellion on Planet Beast]]"; the Decepticons do it for the first time in this episode, and it is named for the first time as the "Cross-Head On." The process is ''supremely'' ill-defined - one would assume that it would simply allow the different robots to employ the different strengths and weaknesses of the individual Transtectors, but instead, it serves as a very generic save-the-day power-up that energizes them for no apparent reason.

===Real-world references===
* As Brainstorm wonders if they reached Praum too late, he makes the Sign of the Cross.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Four Million Years—the Veil of Mystery'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The [[Omni Productions]] dialogue script included on the R2 release of the ''Headmasters'' series gives the episode title as "4 Million Yrs . The Evil of Mystery ". "Veil" was originally written in where "Evil" was, then crossed out in pen and replaced.
::*The dialogue script also reveals depths of madness as yet unheard of from the company. According to it, Cyclonus is "Saul" and Scourge is "Garth", who informs Galvatron that "Bronco" (Scorponok!) is there to see him. Scorponok would later be identified in scripts as either "Sogi" or "Chandler".

:*''Title:'' "'''The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*This episodes begins a common tendency for characters to use "[[scrap]]" in place of rough language found in the original dialogue. As it occurs in nearly every episode after this, it's somewhat pointless to note its presence at every point onwards.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il ritorno del passato, Leaderbots in pericolo!'''" ("Past comes back, Headmasters in danger!")

===Trivia===
*Praum is stated to be "northeast" of Athenia. This is an absolutely nonsensical direction to use in relation to objects in space.
*The character referred to as Scorponok is, of course, the small Headmaster figure that, in the West, represents [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]]. However, while the larger robot that we recognize as Scorponok in the West (called "MegaZarak" in Japan) and Lord Zarak are separate characters in Hasbro fiction, thanks to the mechanics of Japanese Headmasters, here, they are the same guy; hence it's not particularly inappropriate to continue referring to him as Scorponok, even if you're trying to anglicize the names, as we do here on '''TFWiki.net'''.
*''The Headmasters'' took a two-week break between the airing of the previous episode and this one.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}
[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]