MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Pretender

2009-03-18T18:09:49Z

198.189.141.212:

{{picsneeded|Screen captures from TV commercial (muscle guys) and Super-God Masterforce (daily clothes)}}
:''"'''Pretenders''' hide the Transformers inside."''

Disguise has always been a key component of Transformer operations on other worlds. Pretenders attempt to take this concept to the next level. Pretenders are Transformers fitted with special external armor shells that can disguise their very nature as robots. Rather than hiding themselves as the machinery or vehicles of a world, Pretender Shells can allow a robot to take on the appearance of a native lifeform itself.

On top of their exploration and infiltration uses the shells can also function as powerful battle armor, aid in self-repair, and even function independently of their robot as a second combatant mentally controlled by their "wearer." The major drawback of the technology is that the core robot will feel whatever pain is inflicted on the shell, sometimes even more strongly than pain inflicted on the robot itself.

The most common style of Pretender is an inner robot with a single humanoid shell (usually resembling a monster for [[Decepticon]]s or a [[human]] in battle armor for [[Autobot]]s).

==Fiction==

===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Scorponokpretendertothethrone.jpg|left|thumb|250px|What a pervert.]]

{{note|The disguise aspect of Pretender shells emphasized by the toy promotion was established in the comic book, but as the Pretenders in this continuity remained giant-sized in these shells they were odd and rather dubious disguises at best and only really functioned well in that aspect in one story involving [[Femax]]. When [[Simon Furman]] took over the book he instead emphasized the shell's capabilities as advanced super power-boosting armor.}}

Pretender technology was created by [[Lord Zarak]] to help his troops operate quasi-anonymously on an Earth that had become (partially due to his influence with the [[Z Foundation]]) openly and publicly hostile towards giant alien robots. The idea was that giant organic-looking alien monsters would somehow attract less attention. He was [[Monstercon from Mars!|right]].
{{-}}
{{note|Despite Scorponok and Zarak's claims, subsequent stories showed [[Longtooth]], [[Megadeath]] and (possibly) [[Thunderwing]] using Pretender technology long ago in [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s past.}}

This technology was stolen by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (at the time reduced to a computerized personality) and replicated by the Autobots. The Autobots fashioned their shells after humans, with the stated rationalization that the Decepticons were rather unobservant and wouldn't notice that these humans were many stories tall. He was right.

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
Eight thousand years ago, a starship containing the Autobot Pretenders [[Metalhawk]], [[Lander]], [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] and [[Phoenix]] pursued the Decepticon Pretenders [[Blood]], [[Dauros]] and [[Gilmer]] to neolithic-era [[Earth]], where they crashed. Using their Pretender abilities, the Autobots adopted the form of humans. They transformed the very structure of their bodies into an organic equivalent, shrinking down to normal human size to hide in plain sight among burgeoning humanity.

The Decepticon Pretenders, on the other hand, adopted the forms of monstrous creatures, becoming feared as demons by early man. After many battles, the Autobots succeeded in defeating their enemies and sealing them away - Blood in the pyramids of Egypt, Gilmer in the ruins of [[Atlantis]], and Dauros beneath the Nazca Lines in Peru - for thousands of years.

Liberated in the near future by the mysterious Decepticon "god", [[Devil Z]], the three Pretenders entered his service, and immediately began to draw the Autobot Pretenders out of hiding, before turning their attention to a series of plans to acquire energy and to disrupt one of the three Chokon Powers on Earth. After a string of failures, Devil Z supplanted them with his more powerful Godmaster minions, and although they would often participate in missions, their standing was downgraded and their regularity of appearance on the battlefield diminished. Eventually, they generally only served to supply comic relief, and departed Earth with the other surviving Decepticons when Devil Z was destroyed.

Along the way, the Autobots had been joined by [[Grand Maximus]], who was not only a Pretender but a [[Headmaster]].

====''Victory'' cartoon====
By the time Victory rolled around, Pretender technology had advanced to the point that the shells gained sentience, as seen in the shells of the [[Dinoforce]], and could be employed simultaneously with the Transformers' robot modes.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Pretender technology was originally developed as a form of additional body armour. Pretender shells can enhance their wearer’s physical strength and resistance to damage. More advanced shell designs could shrink down to human size and enable their wearer to blend into Earth society unnoticed.

It is possible that the Pretender technology was later adapted to develop the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] beast modes.

''('''Note:''' Pretenders were only mentioned in the Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye handbooks for Dreamwave, and did not appear in the actual continuity.)''

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:Thunderwing stormbringer.jpg|thumb|left|150px|It's just not natural I tell you!]]
In its most gruesome variation, Pretender technology was the invention of the Decepticon [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], and used living tissue painfully culled from live (quite possibly unwilling) subjects to create a powerful symbiotic, living carapace. The goal of this technology was to allow Transformers to survive an impending environmental collapse on their home planet, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Even [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] rejected the concept as unnatural and repulsive. Both cases where the technology was implemented ended in disaster as the melding of the robot's mind with the shell was improperly aligned or hastily executed. Subject one, Thunderwing, became unfathomably powerful but totally insane and destructive. Subject two, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], tried to rush the process and ended up comatose inside his new shell. It is unknown if research will continue further (but it seems rather unlikely given the moral issues and planetary-level threat posed by Thunderwing).{{storylink|Stormbringer}}
{{note| The term "Pretender" is not used at all during the Stormbringer series. Instead the term "polydermal grafting" is used to further illustrate how repulsive, grotesque and dangerous the process appears to be.}}
{{-}}

===Shattered Expectations===

[[Goldbug (Timelines)|Goldbug]], [[Grimlock (Timelines)|Grimlock]], and [[Jazz (Timelines)|Jazz]] sneak into a Pretender laboratory. There are at least six Pretender shells, including four ''Classic Pretender'' Shells and two ''[[:Image:DoublePretenders.jpg|Double Pretender]]'' Shells.

Also, [[Dirge (Shattered Expectations)|Dirge]] appears as a Pretender.

==Known Pretender types==

'''Pretenders'''
: (The default. Single robot with a single humanoid shell.)

*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]
*[[Bomb-Burst]] ([[Blood]])
*[[Bugly]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Cloudburst]] ([[Phoenix]])
*[[Doubleheader]]
*[[Finback]]
*[[Grand Maximus|Grand]]
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
*[[Groundbreaker]]
*[[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]]
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]
*[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] ([[Lander]])
*[[Longtooth]]
*[[Metalhawk]]
*[[Octopunch]]
*[[Pincher]]
*[[Skullgrin]] ([[Dauros]])
*[[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]]
*[[Splashdown]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
*[[Stranglehold]]
*[[Submarauder]] ([[Gilmer]])
*[[Waverider]] ([[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]])

'''Pretender Beasts'''
: (Pretenders with quadrapedal Earth animal-based shells.)

*[[Carnivac]]
*[[Catilla]]
*[[Chainclaw]]
*[[Snarler]]

'''Pretender Vehicles'''
: (Pretenders whose shells are vehicles that transform into combat decks for their inner robots.)

*[[Gunrunner (Pretender)|Gunrunner]]
*[[Roadgrabber]]

'''Mega Pretenders'''
: (Both the inner robot and the humanoid shell transform and can combine their alternate modes into a larger vehicle.)

*[[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]
*[[Vroom]]

'''Ultra Pretenders'''
: (The ultimate. Pretenders whose outermost shell is a large vehicle that can transform into a combat deck for their inner robots. This outermost shell contains another secondary humanoid Pretender shell that is itself able to transform into a vehicle, and that can be piloted by its inner robot. ''Both suffer from [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]''}

*[[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]
*[[Skyhammer]]

'''[[Pretender Monster|Pretender Monsters]]'''
: (Smaller pretenders with rubbery monster shells. Their inner robots can combine to form [[Monstructor]].)

*[[Birdbrain]]
*[[Bristleback]]
*[[Icepick]]
*[[Scowl]]
*[[Slog]]
*[[Wildfly]]

'''[[Crossformers]]'''
: (Japanese counterpart to the US Mega Pretenders, the shells were remolded to be less organic.)

*[[Black Shadow]]
*[[Blue Bacchus]]

'''[[Dinoforce]]'''
: (Possess cyborg dinosaur "Transalts". Can combine to form [[Dinoking]].)

*[[Doryu]]
*[[Gairyu]]
*[[Goryu]]
*[[Kakuryu]]
*[[Rairyu]]
*[[Yokuryu]]

[[Image:DoublePretenders.jpg|thumb|250px|... [[Tarantulas]]? [[Optimus Primal]]?]]
'''Double Pretenders (unreleased)'''
: (Prototypes for "Double Pretenders," two small robots in one shell, that splits into top and bottom at the waist, were designed but never put in production.)

*Unnamed ape duo.
*Unnamed spider-bandito duo.

==Note==
Humanoid Pretenders' outer shells can be classified into three types at least. Human shells with thermostatic plating such as Cloudburst's are '''Space-Defense Pretender Shells'''. Monstrous humanoid shells like Bomb-Burst's are called '''Predator-Class Pretender Shells'''. While shells like Bludgeon's are '''Warrior-Grade Pretender Shells'''.<ref>Transformers: The Ultimate Guide</ref>

==Reference==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Prototypes/PretendersDoubleBC96Displ.html Some photos] of unreleased Double Pretenders from [http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Prototypes/Prototypes.html SUPER TOY ARCHIVE]

[[Category: Generation 1]]
[[Category: Subgroups]]
[[Category: Pretenders| ]]
[[Category: Gimmicks]]

Air Raid (Movie)

2009-03-18T18:04:40Z

198.189.141.212:

{{disambig3|Air Raid}}

:''Air Raid is an [[Autobot]] in the [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] [[continuity family]].

[[Image:AirRaidMovie-R.jpg|right|thumb|250px|I can ''breathe in space''.]]

Criminals. They are a superstitious, cowardly lot, and '''Air Raid''' has zero tolerance for them. He believes that respect for the law is a defining characteristic of sentient beings, separating them from non-living [[Mechanoids/Drones|drones]], and is disgusted by the [[Decepticon]]s' disregard for the laws of their own [[Cybertron (planet)|home planet]].

Air Raid has dedicated his life to tracking down the worst of them, spending centuries pursing them all throughout the galaxy, and he intends to keep this up until every single one has been brought to justice.

==Fiction==
===IDW comics===
Following the defeat of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], Air Raid was part of a small Autobot unit led by [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] that tracked [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], now the leader of the [[Decepticon]]s, to his base on [[Mars]]. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream #2}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
*'''Air Raid''' (Scout, 2007)

[[Image:AirRaidMovie-V.jpg|left|thumb|125px|Well, he can blend into the skies over Los Angeles, at least.]]

: A [[redeco]] of the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] mold, Air Raid transforms into a Cybertronic starfighter. He comes with multiple accessories that can attach to his jet mode for for rocket-boosters and an under-slung cannon. In robot mode, these parts re-assemble to form a giant spear.

: This mold was also used to make his fellow movieverse Autobot [[Skyblast (Movie)|Skyblast]].

: Air Raid is part of the third assortment of Target-stores [[exclusive]] Scouts.

{{-}}
==Trivia==
* This mold was also used as the basis for the non-transforming ''[[Attacktix]]'' Decepticon piece [[Thrust (Attacktix)|Thrust]], as well as the CGI models for [[Backslash]] and pre-beast [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] in "[[Theft of the Golden Disc]]".

* Much like many other Target-exclusive Scouts, Air Raid's only faction marking (aside from molded but unpainted Autobot emblems) is a [[Sector Seven]] logo. How he could ''possibly'' hide in their motor pool is a mystery

* Oddly, the card image on Air Raid appears to be a redeco of [[Skyblast]]'s ''concept model'', keeping the original's "toes". Considering that redeco concept models are usually unpackaged figures that are then hand-painted to show the new design, they probably grabbed some early-production toys, or even the original model, by mistake.

{{-}}
[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Movie characters]]
[[Category: Sector Seven]]
[[Category: Target exclusives]]

Earth

2009-03-18T18:04:00Z

198.189.141.212:

[[Image:The_Earth.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Mostly harmless.]]
The planet '''Earth''', third from its [[sun]] in the Sol System in the [[Milky Way]] galaxy, is a world populated by a wide variety of native organic lifeforms, most notably, [[human|humans]]. Versions of this planet are known to exist in many dimensions within the multiverse, and it frequently becomes involved in the conflicts of the [[Transformers]]. Perhaps too frequently. Whenever something (or someone) leaves, escapes, or is otherwise ejected from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], there's a disproportionate chance it will eventually wind up on Earth.

Earth is superficially similar to the planet upon which you may reside, but has many subtle and not so subtle differences.

==Generation 1==

===American animated continuity===

Around nine million years BC, the Earth was visited by the Transformers [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], but Skyfire was caught in a polar wind storm and separated from Starscream, buried in ice. Then, four million years BC, the Transformers' spacecraft, the [[Ark]], crash-landed in what would become the north-western United States, entombing the robots within in stasis.

Earth is home to many unusual creatures and "hidden civilizations." The underwater city of [[Sub-Atlantica]], populated by water-breathing fish-like humanoids, gave rise to the legends of Atlantis and other sunken cities. Also, fire-breathing [[dragon]]s exist naturally as late as the medieval era, though by the 20th century, they appeared to have died out. A possible descendant was the unique, reptilian creature known as the "Beast of Borneo" captured by big game hunter [[Lord Chumley]].

The magma energy of the Earth's core is channeled by a series of green crystalline structures, which the Decepticons attempted to exploit in 1984, exposing a crystal shaft in the North Pole and tapping the core's energy (while, at the same time, happening upon and reactivating the body of Skyfire). Another unusual aspect of the planet is the natural existence of [[electrum]], a metallic alloy that renders Transformers invulnerable when coated in it.

By the year 2005, human interaction with the Transformers had resulted in an advanced level of technology worldwide, and the foundation of the [[Earth Defense Command]], which operates a series of space stations. Saturn's moon, [[Titan]], was colonised, and an EDC base was established on [[Mars]], while travel between star systems was hugely enhanced by the creation of warp-gates. Earthling [[Spike Witwicky]] became Earth's ambassador, first to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and then to other alien worlds as, through the Transformers, humanity came into contact with other races.

===Japanese animated continuity===

In the expanded fiction of the additional Japanese-exclusive animated series, the existence of the sunken continents [[Atlantis]] and [[Lemuria]] was confirmed. Later, it was revealed that a small group of [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] [[Pretender]]s crash-landed on the planet in the Stone Age. While the Autobots used their Pretender abilities to adopt the form of humans, the Decepticons assumed monstrous forms and were mistaken by early man as "demons." Finally defeating the Decepticons and sealing them away - within the pyramids of Giza, the ruins of Atlantis and beneath the [[Nazca Lines]] of Peru - the Autobots then integrated themselves into human society, serving as secret protectors who quietly and subtly guided the evolution of human society.

===Marvel Comics continuity===
In 1993, the [[Cybertronian]] warlord [[Jhiaxus]] blew up [[San Francisco]].

===Dreamwave Comics continuity===

=== IDW comics continuity ===

Earth was invaded by the Decepticons sometime during 2002, presumably for the purposes of harvesting its local resources. However, the recent discovery of [[Ore-13]] by [[Starscream_(G1)|Starscream]]'s team prompted the treacherous lieutenant to break protocol in an effort to rebel against Megatron.

A detachment of Autobots, led by Prowl, is also present on Earth in an attempt to prevent the Decepticons from pillaging the planet. One of its members, Ratchet, also broke protocol by initiating direct contact with three humans, who proved invaluable in gaining intelligence on Starscream's operations.

The discovery of Ore-13 threatened to make Earth the new front line in the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. Megatron carried on the standard strategem of igniting conflict between humans to weaken their kind for conquest, but Autobot interference made him escalate things drastically. The Transformers are now known to humanity - and the Autobots have temporarily withdrawn from Earth ([[Hot Rod|bar]] a [[Dinobots (G1)|few]] AWOL [[Sunstreaker (G1)|agents]]), leaving it vulnerable to the Decepticons. [[All Hail Megatron|This will not end well.]]

==Beast Era==

===''Beast Wars''===

The mysterious aliens known as the [[Vok]] chose prehistoric Earth, which they dubbed '''Nexus Earth''', as the site of an experiment, and seeded the planet with vast amounts of raw [[Energon]], installing a second, artificial moon into the planet's orbit and placing several devices at strategic points on the planet. Around the time of the emergence of proto-hominids, a group of [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] from Cybertron's future travelled back in time to prehistoric Earth, where they waged a war they dubbed the "[[Beast Wars]]," and encountered the Vok, interfering in their plans. Deciding that the Beast Warriors had contaminated their experiment, the Vok activated the second moon, transforming it into a giant laser weapon with which they planned to detonate the Energon seeded throughout the planet, wiping it clean of life. This plan was foiled by the Maximal leader, [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]], but the vast majority of the raw Energon on the planet was transformed into stable, cube form. Eventually, the Maximals returned to Cybertron with the Predacon leader, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] their prisoner. The only surviving Predacon, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], was left on the planet as the leader of a tribe of protohumans. Although they eventually rejected him and he too returned to Cybertron, it is unclear precisely how much influence Waspinator may have had on the evolution of humanity and their culture. Many would find this dizzturbing.

Interestingly, by the time immediately prior to the Beast Wars, Earth and its sector in space was declared off-limits by order of the [[Maximal High Council]], and likely all information about it tightly regulated. It's unknown precisely when and why this ban was initiated. However, it related to the events in BWII

''(Note: in the Japanese dub of Beast Wars, the Transformers referred to the planet they were stranded on as '''"Energoa"''', before they realised it was prehistoric Earth.)''

===''Beast Wars II''===

A future version of Earth was later visited by Maximals and Predacons under the command of [[Lio Convoy]] and [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]], respectively. At first known only as '''"[[Gaea]]"''', the world was known to have two sentient inhabitants, a girl named [[Artemis]] and her companion [[Moon]]. Although the presence of what seemed to be a decimated Tokyo Tower suggested that Gaea was Earth, it was not fully confirmed until release of the ''[[Robot Masters]]'' toyline's version of Lio Convoy, the bio to which revealed that Earth had been devastated by mankind's tampering with the power source known as [[Angolmois]] energy.

==''Robots in Disguise''==
Thousands of years ago, the Autobot high council hid [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]] on Earth. The many parts of its activation mechanism, such as [[O-Parts]], the [[Orb of Sigma]], and [[Cerebros (RID)|Cerebros]], came to be located within relics left behind by ancient human civilizations. In the 1940s, a crew of Autobots was dispatched to the planet to check up on things, unsuccessfully. In the present day, the biggest problem facing humanity is a lack of access to energy. [[Doctor Onishi]] is the world's foremost expert on locating and cataloguing new energy sources, and during the course of his work he located Fortress Maximus and some of the o-parts. Cue the ''second'' biggest problem for humanity, as their top energy expert is kidnapped by a giant robot hand.

==Unicron Trilogy==

===Animated continuity===
After the first defeat of [[Unicron]], Earth was chosen as one of the planets to receive a [[Cyber Planet Key]], which would have reformatted the planet into a Transformer colony. However, the colony ship [[Atlantis]], also carrying the [[Omega Lock]], crashed onto the planet before it could begin its mission.

(Note: A lost undersea city was found earlier during the [[Transformers: Armada|Armada]] series, one powered by a [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team]]. A hologram described that the civilization had been quite advanced, but was destroyed by its own power. The human children deemed this city to be Atlantis, but it is possible that it was a completely different civilization.)

Some time later, when the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] fled Cybertron to escape being used as tools, their ship came out of warp above Earth. Impacting onto the planet's [[moon]], the Mini-Con ship broke in half sending a large chunk of the craft into Earth's atmosphere. [[Mini-Con storage panel|Mini-Con storage panels]] were spread across the globe and the ship itself crashed onto the surface, where they laid dormant for nearly a million years.{{storylink|First Encounter (Armada episode)}} Earth's fate being tied to that of Cybertron in the Unicron Trilogy is a form of predestination. The human [[Rad]] visited Cybertron millions of years ago via a completely unexplained timeslip and encountered the mini-cons upon birth, releasing them from [[Unicron]]'s control and pretty much sealing this fated relationship for good.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===

==External links==
*[[Wikipedia:Earth|Earth on Wikipedia]]

{{Stub}}

[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Beast Wars locations]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II]]
[[Category:Classics]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Earth| ]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Go-Bots franchise]]
[[Category:Headmasters franchise]]
[[category:Kiss Players]]
[[Category:Masterforce]]
[[Category:Operation Combination]]
[[Category:Planets]]
[[Category: Return of Convoy]]
[[Category:Robot Masters]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Victory]]
[[Category:Zone]]

Clampdown (G1)

2009-03-18T18:03:52Z

198.189.141.212:

:''Clamp Down is an [[Autobot]] in the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ClampDown-card.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The reason Red Alert is paranoid.]]

Assigned to an [[Earth]] police force as part of an exchange program along with his brother [[Deep Cover]], '''Clamp Down''' is a tough, dedicated cop who works tirelessly along with his human partners. Uncomplicated in his way of thinking, the straightforward, sometimes black-and-white, view he has taken thanks to the [[Autobot]]/[[Decepticon]] war occasionally clashes with the views of his new co-workers, not to mention the legal system.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Clamp Down''' (Autobot, 2003)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''91'''

: An [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] [[exclusive]] available only in a set with Deep Cover, Clamp Down is a [[repaint]] of the original [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] toy, transforming into a Lamborghini Countach LP500S, using the exact same base plastic colors, but with different paint and decal applications to make him into a police car. As he was released in Japan, his spring-loaded missile launcher is fully operational. Several factory-applied decals on the original version were replaced by painted [[tampograph]]s, like his headlamps.

: The base mold is also used for [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]],[[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]].

==Trivia==
* Clamp Down's deco is based on the pre-''Transformers'' ''[[Diaclone]]'' toy that became Red Alert, the "New Countach LP500S Police Car Type".

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Cybertron/ClampDown/clampdown.htm Clamp Down at TFU.info]

[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: E-Hobby]]
[[Category: Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category: Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category: Security officers]]
[[Category: Toy-only characters]]

Deep Cover

2009-03-18T18:01:22Z

198.189.141.212:

:''Deep Cover is an [[Autobot]] in the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DeepCover-card.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jerry Orbot]]

Assigned to an [[Earth]] police force as part of an exchange program along with his brother [[Clamp Down]], '''Deep Cover''' specializes in solo infiltration missions. He can not only project illusions, but is capable of shrinking himself down to 1/40th his normal size for brief periods of time.

His many years of undercover work have taken their toll on him; though he remains vigilant and a fierce defender of the innocent, he sometimes comes across as very weary, struggling with inner demons.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Deep Cover''' (Autobot, 2003)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''92'''

: An [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] [[exclusive]] available only in a set with Clamp Down, Deep Cover is a [[redeco]] of the orignal [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] toy, transforming into a Lamborghini Countach LP500S. As he was released only in Japan, his spring-loaded missile launcher is fully operational. Several factory-applied decals on the original version were replaced by painted [[tampograph]]s, like his headlamps.

: The base mold is also used for Clamp Down, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Tigertrack]].

==Trivia==
* Deep Cover's coloration is based on a pre-''Transformers'' ''[[Diaclone]]'' coloration of the toy. This coloration was originally only available in the "Powered Convoy DX set", which also contained the "Powered Convoy" toy (pre-[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]) and an exclusive red redeco of the "F-1 Ligier JS-11" stock car (pre-[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]).

==External Links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Cybertron/DeepCover/deepcover.htm Deep Cover at TFU.info]

[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: E-Hobby]]
[[Category: Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category: Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category: Security officers]]
[[Category: Toy-only characters]]

French Tickner

2009-03-18T17:59:31Z

198.189.141.212:

'''French Tickner''' is a Canadian voice actor. He is also an emeritus professor of music at the University of British Columbia.

Seriously, that's his name.

==''Energon''==
* [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]]

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0862703/ French Tickner at the Internet Movie Database]

[[Category: Voice actors|Tickner, French]]

Bulkhead (Energon)

2009-03-18T17:56:08Z

198.189.141.212:

{{disambig3|Bulkhead}}

:''Bulkhead is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''
{{bigthumb|E32 bulkhead.gif|219px|Gonna break a hip that way old timer.}}
'''Bulkhead''' might seem like a daft old codger at first. And, to be fair, he kind of is. But he's also a seasoned veteran of countless battles, and is ''still'' more than capable in his role as an aerial defense soldier; precious few are his equal. His strength and firepower are backed by a long lifetime of hard knocks that have given him incredibly skill and knowledge of aerial combat strategy.

Despite his age, he's impulsive and eager to spring into battle, loving a good brawl. This is in stark contrast to his cousin and occasional teammate [[Quickstrike (Energon)|Quickstrike]], who prefers a much more strategic attack plan to make sure battles are as short as possible.

{{quote|I may be old, boys, but I've still got what it takes. Age before beauty, gentlemen!|Bulkhead, "[[Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet]]"}}

:''Japanese name'': '''Sprung'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''Tűzfal''' ("Firewall")

==Fiction==
===''Energon'' animated continuity===
:''Voice actor'': [[French Tickner]] (US), ??? (Japan)
{{charstubfiction}}

===Dreamwave ''Energon'' comic===

===Pack-in mini-comics===

{{-}}
==Toys==
===Energon===
[[Image:SuperlinkSprung.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Springer [[homage]]? Yes. [[Triple Changer]]? No.]]
*'''Bulkhead''' (Ultra, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''SC-20'''
**''Accessories'': Artillery drone, 4 missiles

: Bulkhead transforms into a large Cybertronic assault helicopter somewhat resembling an Apache. He has a double-barreled spring-loaded missile launcher on each stabilizer wing, plus pulling the trigger on his tailfin activates a gear that spins his rotor blades. Both [[gimmick]]s are available in robot mode, though the rotor mechanism becomes a hand-held weapon.

: Bulkhead, like [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], cannot [[Powerlinx]] with other Autobot toys; instead, his size-class' gimmick is to Powerlinx with extra parts for form a "brute mode". In this case, Bulkhead comes with an artillery drone that features electronic light-and-sound action. This drone can attach to the underside of Bulkhead's copter mode to form a sort of thruster pack. In robot mode, it forms a large backpack, with the thrusters unfolding to become large cannon/claw arms. These arms also become legs for the drone's "walker" mode, giving it something to do when not attached to Bulkhead.

: The Japanese release of Bulkhead has a variety of minor plastic-color differences, mainly making him a little more primary-colored and turning his legs a more blueish-gray. This has the effect of making him very dimly look like [[Springer]], who the Japanese version is named after.

: This mold was also used to make ''Energon'' Quickstrike.

{{-}}

==Trivia==
* According to [[Aaron Archer]], Bulkhead's goggles-and-mustache look was inspired by Paul Teutul Sr. from ''[http://turbo.discovery.com/american-chopper/american-chopper.html American Chopper]''.

{{-}}
==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/Bulkhead/bulkhead.htm Bulkhead at TFU.info]

[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Energon characters]]
[[Category: Elderly Transformers]]

Metallikato

2009-03-18T17:54:23Z

198.189.141.212:

[[Image:Metallikato.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Metallikato requires "Fools!" to be spoken before most sentences.]]
'''Metallikato''', owing to its heavy influence on spirituality, is believed to be the most obscurely practiced and potentially inaccessible of Cybertronian martial arts. Its teachings cull from a wide variety of other martial arts, such as [[Circuit-Su]] and [[Crystalocution]], cumulatively emphasizing a variety of attack strategies, though bladed combat is its hallmark. Metallikato has a strict code of ethics to attune its "children" to the "One True Path" of the [[Ultimate Warrior]], a figure of religious legend.

Characters known to use Metallikato include:
* [[Decepticon]] [[Pretender]] [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], the first in-fiction practitioner of Metallikato and still the most well-known.
* [[Mini-Con]] [[Kobushi]].
* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Armada Optimus Prime]] has been known to employ a kick derived from the art, although the full extent of the [[Autobot]] leader's knowledge of Metallikato is unknown.
* [[Rollbar (RID)|Rollbar]] of the ''[[Robots In Disguise]]'' universe also knows at least one Metallikato technique.
* ''[[Transformers Animated]]'''s [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] are versed in the Metallikato ninja arts; the latter character has mastered the "5 Servos of Doom" technique.

==Trivia==
*The word Metallikato is Finnish. When translated into English it means "Loss of metal".

==References==
* [[End of the Road! (Marvel US comic)|End of the Road!]], Marvel US #80
* ''[[More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile books, p464
* [[The Elite Guard]]

[[Category: Animated]]
[[Category: Cybertron]]
[[Category: Generation 1]]
[[Category: Martial arts]]

Ascentor

2009-03-18T17:53:58Z

198.189.141.212:

{{picsneeded|Main image (split toy image?)}}
:''Ascentor is a [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

'''Ascentor''' is the only member of the [[Exploration Mini-Con Team]] to have maintained contact with the [[Mini-Con Council of Sages]] after the [[Unicron]] Battles. Although [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] {{m-}}where the Exploration Team reside{{m-}} and the moons of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] {{m-}}where the Council is based{{m-}} are light-years apart, Ascentor maintains a steady back-and-forth with them, discussing philosphy and the Council's course of actions, which makes him appear very distant and distracted.

Normally, this would mean big trouble for him, since the [[Lunar Assault Mini-Con Team]]'s [[Payload (Cybertron)|Payload]] spends most of ''his'' time setting traps for Ascentor, hoping to prove he can out-think his quarry rather than simply pummel him physically. But Ascentor's motor-control systems have become almost subconcious, practically giving him a "sixth sense", enabling him to avoid traps without even thinking about it.

==Fiction==
===Fun Publications ''Cybertron'' comic===
Ascentor appears, oddly enough, as one of the ''rebel'' Mini-Cons in the big asteroid field battle. Whoops.

{{-}}
==Toys==
===Cybertron===
[[Image:CYB_ascentor_withalt.jpg|right|thumb|Most. Unfortunate. [[Powerlinx]] point. ever.]]
*'''Payload vs. Ascentor''' (Mini-Con 2-pack, 2005)

: A [[redeco]] of [[Dualor]], Ascentor transforms into an anti-aircraft tank similar to a Gepard. He features a gear-wheel system that causes his tank-mode cannons to pom-pom back and forth when he is rolled in vehicle mode. He can also be attached to the underside of the ''[[Armada]]'' [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] mold, interacting with the Decepticon’s gear-wheel rotor system. He was only available in a two-pack with Payload.

: This mold was also used to make [[Repeater]].

{{-}}
==Trivia==
* It appears that the Exploration Team and Lunar Assault Team were originally meant to use each other's mold-sets. However, there is no real indication as to which mold Ascentor would have used had this plan continued.

{{-}}
==External Links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/Ascentor/ascentor.htm Ascentor at TFU.info]

[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Cybertron characters]]

Landslide (Mini-Con)

2009-03-18T17:52:59Z

198.189.141.212:

{{disambig2|the Cybertron-series Mini-Con|the unreleased Cybertron-series Decepticon|Landslide (Decepticon)}}
:''Landslide is a [[Mini-Con]] in the [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Landslide-V-Kobushi.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Kobushi's name means "fist." Landslide, left, has a name that means, uh, "landslide."]]

'''Landslide''' has perfected patience and inner peace. He's gotten so good at it that with the proper meditation, his core programming is capable of leaving his bodyframe and enter astral space. The quiet and solitude of [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] is perfect for his contemplation of the inner self and that which lies beyond the physical world.

Or, it would be, if the [[Lunar Assault Mini-Con Team]] weren't there, particularly [[Kobushi]], who has decided to make Landslide his latest target. But Landslide doesn't let this bother him. In fact, his inner calmness has enabled him to create his own form of defensive martial arts that the hot-headed Kobushi may never understand or overcome.

==Fiction==
===''Cybertron'' comic===

[[Image:Landslidecybcomic.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Whose side are you on, anyway?]]

During the [[Mini-Con Civil War]], Landslide and the rest of the [[Exploration Mini-Con Team]] fought with [[Thrust (Cybertron)|Thrust]]'s [[Decepticon]]-allied faction, which is odd for a group with Autobot symbols all over themselves. Regardless, Landslide jumped [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]] with unknown results, and was later part of the final rush against the [[Mini-Con Council of Sages]] and their Autobot allies.

Their secret ally, [[Unicron]], ultimately turned against them. {{storylink|Revelations, Part 5}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Cybertron===
*'''Kobushi vs. Landslide''' (Mini-Con 2-pack, 2005)

: A [[redeco]] of ''[[Armada]]'' [[Buzzsaw (Armada)|Buzzsaw]], Landslide transforms into a bucket-wheel excavation machine. He features a gear-wheel system that causes his bucket-wheel to spin when he is rolled in vehicle mode. He can also be attached to the underside of the ''Armada'' [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] mold, interacting with the Decepticon’s gear-wheel rotor system. he was only available in a two-pack with Kobushi.

: This mold was also used to make ''Galaxy Force'' [[Saw Boss|Zigzag]].

==External Links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/Landslide/landslide.htm Landslide at TFU.info]

[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Cybertron characters]]
[[Category: Martial artists]]

Exploration Mini-Con Team

2009-03-18T17:48:27Z

198.189.141.212:

The '''Exploration Mini-Con Team''' are a trio of Mini-Cons who remain on the dark side of Earth's Moon. They prefer the quiet and solitude so they can contemplate the deep mysteries of life, the afterlife, and beyond. They are constant targets for the [[Lunar Assault Mini-Con Team]], but take the attacks in cool stride, avoiding the traps and fighting back only when necessary. They are rather loosely aligned with the [[Autobot]]s.

The Exploration Team is composed of...

*[[Ascentor]] the Gepard anti-aircraft tank.

*[[Landslide (Mini-Con)|Landslide]] the bucket-wheel excavator.

*[[Monocle]] the tunneling machine.

[[Category: Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category: Cybertron]]
[[Category: Mini-Con teams]]