Crankcase (DOTM)

2011-07-18T05:00:40Z

203.129.61.137:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Crankcase}}

:''Crankcase is a [[Decepticon]] [[Dread (subgroup)| Dread]] from the [[Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DOTMCrankcase.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The hunt has begun...]]

A rarity among Decepticons, '''Crankcase''' is known for his subtle and shadowy nature, though it would be a mistake not to see him as a threat. A member of the elite [[Dread (subgroup)|Dreads]], the Decepticon’s top infiltration and assassination team, his specialty is hacking, data theft, and destructive sabotage of vital systems. origianly, crankcase was thought to be the leader of the dreads, but the leader turned out to be crowbar.

==Fiction==
===''Dark of the Moon'' adaptations===
{{spoiler|Dark of the Moon (novel)|when=July 29, 2011}}
When [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] was being retrieved from [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], [[Hatchet]], [[Crowbar]], and Crankcase surfaced quietly and secretly hitched a ride on the Autobots' shuttle back to Earth. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (novel)}}{{storylink|Dark of the Moon (comic series)}}

===''Dark of the Moon'' film===
{{spoiler|Dark of the Moon (film)|July 29, 2011}}

After [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] was retrieved from [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] and reactivated, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] put into motion the plan that had been waiting in the wings for hundreds of years. With the [[human]] [[Sam Witwicky]] believing that the Decepticons wished to capture Sentinel and force him to use the control pillar to activate his space bridge, Crankcase, [[Hatchet]] and [[Crowbar]] were sent to pursue the Autobots. Despite their best collective efforts, Hatchet was quickly destroyed, and the remaining Dreads were soon confronted by the Autobot heavy-hitter, [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], who stopped them in their tracks with a head-on collision. Faced with Ironhide's heavy weapons and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], the Dreads seemingly capitulated by dropping their ranged weapons, but as soon as the Autobots followed suit, deployed spears to attack their enemies. Though his partner was initially successful in injuring Ironhide, Crankcase was destroyed when Ironhide forced Crowbar's spear through his head, slammed the Decepticon's body into an abandoned car, and kicked the wreckage into a nearby auto shop, which exploded. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game''===
====(Xbox 360/PS3)====

{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
===Dark of the Moon===
====Cyberverse====
[[Image:DOTM_Cyberverse_Crankcase_toy.jpg|thumb|300px|''':D''']]
* '''Crankcase''' (Cyberverse Legion, 2011)
**''Series:'' '''1'''
**''Number:'' '''003'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''CV11'''

: Part of the first wave of [[Cyberverse]] Legion single-pack toys, Crankcase is a [[Legends Class|Legends-scale]] figure that transforms into a modified [[Wikipedia:Chevrolet Suburban|Chevrolet Suburban]]. This mode is lightly detailed but looks very much like the Deluxe version. For his size class, he has an incredibly detailed face mirroring the Deluxe version. Compared to others of his range, he is one of the taller ones. In a rarity for [[Legends Class|Legends-scale]] figures, he has weapons, which look like dual blades.

{{-}}
{{anchor|Battleinthemoonlight}}
*'''Battle in the Moonlight''' (Cyberverse multi-pack, 2011)

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
{{anchor|Deluxe}}
[[Image:DOTM_Deluxe_Crankcase_toy.jpg|thumb|300px|Pinsir, use Vicegrip!]]
* '''Crankcase''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''DD04'''
**''Accessories:'' MechTech Blaster/Blade Claw

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' Deluxes, Crankcase transforms into a modified Chevrolet Suburban. As part of the [[MechTech]] series, he has a Blaster weapon that features a nasty grabby-claw action feature. He also has a pair of huge pincers above his robot-mode head that can also be flipped forward whilst in vehicle mode. His dreadlocks are supposed to be able to swivel, with the intent that they be swung behind his head to fit under his hood for vehicle mode, but in practise, this proved an either impossible or inadvisable prospect: on most, the gold paint applied has made them too thick to be rotated, running the risk of tearing the soft plastic. And even if you do get a Crankcase that doesn't have this problem, the tiny translucent plastic hinges to which the dreadlocks are connected won't last long. This means that they end up stuffed inside his chest in vehicle mode (this is how the toy comes packaged), competing with everything else for space and putting the car under enough tension that it feels like it's about to spring apart.

:In an apparent [[Variant#Running_changes|running change]], the otherwise long and pointed middle digit on each hand (as per the stock photo on the right) was shoddily cut off into a noticeably thick stump (compared to the more slender fingers remaining), often cut to a different length on each hand. It is unknown if this was done for safety reasons, an error during assembly, or maybe Hasbro decided that long, extended middle fingers just weren't a tasteful design choice for a children's toy. Later releases, however, featured retooled hands with a much shorter middle finger.

:The [[TakaraTomy|Japanese]] ''Dark Side Moon'' release features the remolded hands exclusively. It also comes packed with a character card and an accompanying transparent plastic card of his MechTech weapon for the MechTech Wars online game.
{{-}}

==Notes==
* Crankcase appears to be modeled after the [[Predator (alien)|eponymous alien hunter from the ''Predator'' series]], possessing similar "dreadlocks", mandibles, fangs, and claws.
[[Image:DOTM Crankcase Josh Nizzi.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Plenty of [[Dread (subgroup)|dread]], but no wind.]]
* In early production, the [[Dread (subgroup)|Dreads]] were announced to be a pair of modified Chevrolet Suburbans, and were referred to by the [[fandom]] as twins. [http://screenrant.com/transformers-3-characters-dreads-rob-95462/ Photos] were even taken on-set, but the final movie shows three Dreads, all of whom transform into Chevrolet Suburbans. In the toyline, only Crankcase has this [[alternate mode]], while [[Crowbar]] and [[Hatchet]] transform into different vehicles.
* According to one of [[Josh Nizzi]]'s concept arts, Crankcase originally sported "nose" and "ear" rings. <ref name="nizzi">[http://www.joshnizzi.com/TF3.htm Josh Nizzi DOTM concepts.]</ref>
* An early working name for him was "Dreadwind".<ref name="nizzi"/>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Crankcase''' (クランクケース ''Kurankukēsu'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Cyberverse]]
[[Category: Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category: Wal-Mart exclusives]]

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Crankcase (DOTM)