MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Barricade (Movie)

2009-08-02T05:25:44Z

24.193.35.27: /* Barricade's fate */

==Threatening Sam image==

HAHAHAHA! -[[User:Rotty|Rotty]] 07:36, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

==He doesn't get blown up==
There's a crazy rumor flying around that Ironhide blew Barricade up during the big city battle just because he was near a black car when it exploded (when Blackout shot it) I wouldn't be surprised if it winds up getting posted here too, since wikipedia has already been hit with it.--[[User:Carrion|Carrion]] 03:20, 10 July 2007 (UTC)
:I assume its the scene where Blackout then transforms (VERY quickly) and flies over Sam as the guy ducks. The prominent wheel that bounces has silver rims. Blackout has black. I think some rumour monger cited it on the wikipedia but it was quickly removed. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 05:32, 10 July 2007 (UTC)
==Premium Frenzy==
Frenzy: Is he or is he not included in Premium Barricade? Images of Premium Barricade seem to suggest no, but official info would be good. -Crosshairs-1

==Transformers 2 Baricade cars==
There are now police cars getting town around covan city or something, with pictures getting posted of it on the internet. This sugests that he actualy will apear in transformers 2.--[[User:Grand-majin|Grand-majin]] 21:13, 28 March 2008 (UTC)
:Whelp! So much for a "thread for movie 2"!
::To be honest, i THINK he was the one who kidnapped Sam's parents, but i might be totally wrong. I hope the DVD gets released soon.--[[User:Sunjumper|Sunjumper]] 13:53, 1 July 2009 (EDT)
:::Rampage did it.[[User:KrytenKoro|KrytenKoro]] 17:55, 1 July 2009 (EDT)

==All Spark Enhanced Barricade==
On an auction site, I discovered that there was another deluxe figure called All Spark Enhanced Barricade, and after doing some research, I found that there indeed was such a figure. Frenzy comes in [[FIRRIB|red]]. Should we add that to the article? [[User:203.173.161.113|203.173.161.113]] 01:28, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
:Not until it has been officially announced by Hasbro and/or Takara. Until then, we have to assume that the toy in question is stolen or a knockoff, and therefor cannot be referenced in any articles. - [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 06:54, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
::Pretty sure the toy has been released already. Just no one's buying it because he's just Barricade with light blue paint added randomly. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 07:55, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
:::Ah, sorry, I made an assumption based on the fact that it came from an auction site. - [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 21:18, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

== ROTF ==

Hard to tell because he's seen so briefly, but it looks like Barricade (or someone with his body type) is kidnapping Sam's parents in Paris. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 19:47, 1 July 2009 (EDT)
:Wait, what? Wasn't that Rampage? --[[User:KilMichaelMcC|KilMichaelMcC]] 19:51, 1 July 2009 (EDT)
::No. The one who captured them in Paris had legs. And a very Barricade-esque head. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 19:54, 1 July 2009 (EDT)
:::He's visible in the New Divide video. [http://emopanda.com/tmp/france-bot1.jpg] [http://emopanda.com/tmp/france-bot2.jpg] I dunno-- ''is'' that Barricade? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 21:18, 1 July 2009 (EDT)
::::No, that's one of the "hatchling" guys that meteors down to Earth for the final battle along with The Fallen. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 21:31, 1 July 2009 (EDT)
:::::I COULD make a screen cap to confirm, but trust me, it's either Barricade or ILM was too lazy to come up with an original model. [[User:ThiAthEhn|Mischa]] 05:57, 3 July 2009 (EDT)
::::::It's not Barricade. It's a generic Decepticon. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 06:27, 3 July 2009 (EDT)
:::::::After staring at his hand for almost half an hour wile pulling my face away from his head, it can't be barricade.--[[User:Sunjumper|Sunjumper]] 15:15, 7 July 2009 (EDT)
::::::::Perhaps it's Barricade, but returned to his protoform mode for reentry, so he needs to scan a new car? [[Special:Contributions/207.181.17.24|207.181.17.24]] 06:26, 15 July 2009 (EDT)
:::::::::No, it's just a generic Decepticon. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 06:37, 15 July 2009 (EDT)

== Barricade's fate ==

Something I found interesting while looking through Japanese Transformers clips.

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VsupXCePM&feature=related]Here, you'll see an extra shot of Barricade at about 1:15, watching him run and transform. The Backdrop looks to be under the bridge where Prime and Bonecrusher fought, so the Prime fighting Barricade could be true.

Why this footage never appeared outside of this trailer, I don't know. But it certainly sheds some light on his fate, at least to me.

I guess this isn't really needed...but I thought it was interesting, especially since it hasn't been mentioned.

Edit: Scratch that. I see that it was included in other adaptions. Oh well. At least we know there's footage for it.
:That's just Barricade chasing after Sam and Mikaela after they left in Bumblebee. After [[:Image:BarricadeVsSam.jpg|this]]. [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 01:12, 2 August 2009 (EDT)

::Haven't seem the movie in a while, and that shot looked new to me.
Damn I'm an idiot. Guh. Thanks for clearing that up.

Feel free to take this out now.

Talk:Barricade (Movie)

2009-08-02T05:05:24Z

24.193.35.27: /* Barricade's fate */

Talk:Barricade (Movie)

2009-08-02T04:50:05Z

24.193.35.27: /* Barricade's fate */ new section

Space bridge

2009-07-22T18:29:18Z

24.193.35.27: /* Movie continuity */ Fixed spelling errors

The '''space bridge''' is a means of moving Transformers from one planet to another almost instantaneously, without the need for a spacecraft.

Space bridges are not to be confused with [[Transwarp]] technology, which is generally used to propel a spaceship between worlds (and, on occasion, through time.)

{{note|Space bridge technology varies widely between continuities, as described below.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====Generation 1 cartoon====
[[Image:DivideConquer Earth spacebridge.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Colonel White has been looking for his control panel.]]
The space bridge was apparently first conceived by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in 1984, as a means of transport back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] for the [[Decepticon]]s stranded on [[Earth]], and to allow them to ferry [[energon cube]]s to revitalize the planet {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}}.

The Cybertronic end of the space bridge is a fixture in Shockwave's command center, where it takes the form of a cylindrical tube, the top of which projects outside of the center's dome; it is through this open end that transportees enter or depart amid a geyser of energy. The Earth-based end of the space bridge is decidedly more flexible—the Decepticons frequently constructed new space bridges in various locations, normally in the form of large metal rings.

In early uses of the space bridge, the dimensional portal could only remain open and stable for a maximum of 11 minutes. Early Space Bridge travel likewise proved somewhat unstable, and required the use of a small vehicle to safely transport any cargo. The vehicle was rolled into the ring on a railed structure, and then had to be piloted along "a beam of light". [[Reflector (G1)|Some]] Decepticons displayed pronounced horror at being chosen for this unenviable task, as not staying on the light beam would cause the pilot and cargo to "cease to exist". {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} In the very first practice run of the mechanism, the villains opted to use the captive [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], rather than risk any of their number.

[[Image:SpaceBridgeCartoon1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Indiana Jones and the Flower of Doom!]]
After being knocked into the bridge by accident, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] proved able to traverse the bridge without a craft. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} Several Autobots likewise survived the trip in their vehicle forms. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} After this, the need for the craft seems to have been removed, as many Transformers and various cargoes would travel by space bridge with no vessel and no difficulties. On one occasion, two humans in a convertible even made the trip with no ill effects. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} The process could, however, still go wrong, as it did when the Decepticons attempted to convert a baseball field into a new space bridge site, and a malfunction blasted a small group of Transformers to an alien world of giants. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}}

It's never made clear exactly how the space bridge works. Typical activation sequences show what appears to be a dimensional portal in the sky above the bridge, opened up by a blast of energy from the bridge ring; the bridge's contents (along with a great deal of rock and detritus) were then drawn into the portal, which then closed with a large discharge of energy. On the Cybertron end, the arrival is marked by a beam or gusher of energy arriving from deep space.

[[Image:TransportOblivion Cybertron spacebridge.jpg|right|200px|thumb|That door wasn't there a moment ago.]]
The space bridge technology was taken to its ultimate extent when the Decepticons constructed three colossal pylons that would generate a "space pyramid", the apex of which extended to Cybertron's location in another galaxy. Using this, Cybertron was transported into Earth's orbit for a brief period. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Cybertron was later removed from Earth's orbit by an explosion; though never explicitly addressed, this event by rights should have left Cybertron ''much'' closer to Earth, possibly accounting for the ease of travel between the two planets thereafter. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}}

The space bridge was used for planetary transportation once more when the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] wired his missile guidance systems into it and used its powers to redirect the orbit of Earth, intending to send it spiraling into the sun, only to be stopped by an [[Autobot]]-Decepticon team-up. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

The space bridge fell into disuse when the Autobots reclaimed Cybertron in 2005, and throughout 2006, both they and the Decepticons were shown to rely on more mundane means of space travel (shuttles, self-propelled flight) in addition to space bridge-like devices called "[[Warp Gate]]s" located throughout space. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{cleanup|May 2009|Needs storylinks.}}
By the year 2011, the Autobots had studied and duplicated the space bridge technology for their own use. They developed their own space bridge network, allowing transport between Cybertron, Earth and the planet [[Athenia]], with fixed space bridge receptors in each base (the transport beam was, of course, now the traditional Autobot orange, as opposed to the Decepticons' iconic purple). They did not, however, destroy the original Decepticon space bridge, as the Decepticons were unable to use it to travel to the planet due to Vector Sigma maintaining an Autobot balance of power. This proved to be a mistake, however, when the [[Matrix]]'s energy was released in 2010 to cure the [[Hate Plague]]; this caused Vector Sigma to become destabilized, and the Decepticons were able to exploit this to use the space bridge to invade Cybertron.

When [[Mars]] was destroyed by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], the gravimetric balance of the solar system was disrupted, making space bridge travel to Earth unstable. This soon ceased to be an issue, however, when the Decepticons headed off on an interplanetary energy raid; in order to slow the Autobots down, [[Sixshot]] destroyed the Earth-based space bridge, causing a chain reaction that detonated the entire network.

The destruction of the space bridge left the only means to travel to Earth as the [[Trainbot]]s and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]] (or on one occasion, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]). This reduced ability to travel to Earth is one of the reasons for the heavy human involvement in the [[Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|following battles]], since Transformers are mostly unable to join the battle on Earth themselves.

===Marvel Generation 1 comics===
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Spacebridgemarvelcomic.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Get it? Space "bridge"? Ahahaha.]]
The space bridge was built by [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]]'s Cybertronian Decepticons, in response to the discovery that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s lost group of Decepticons were alive and had set up operations on Earth. The bridge, which resembles a normal Earthen suspension bridge when not in use, has two halves; one which which remains stationary on Cybertron, and another which teleports to Earth. Passing through the bridge's central arch transports objects across vast distances, instantly and painlessly. Although a properly functioning space bridge is a far more pleasant mode of transportation than the more fuel-efficient Autobot version, the [[Trans-Time Dimensional Portal]], an improperly calibrated space bridge will annihilate any object or being who attempts to pass through its arch. Lord Straxus illustrated this fact when [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] sent him over the edge during transit.

The original space bridge was built from the vast body of [[Spanner (G1)|Spanner]], a neutral scientist who had been captured by Straxus's forces and forced to design the Bridge. ''After the space bridge was almost completely destroyed, a new Bridge was built to replace it.''

===''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
{{main|Global Space Bridge}}

===Dreamwave Generation 1 comics===
The space bridge was developed by the Decepticons as a means of exploring (and presumably conquering) other worlds far away from Cybertron. These bridges were <s>[[wikipedia:Stargate_(device)|stargates]]</s> small portals that could only be programmed for a certain number of people. Megatron himself underwent the first test of the space bridge. However, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] collided with him before he entered. As it had been only programmed to accept one, the space bridge exploded, and both leaders were presumed dead. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages|The War Within: The Dark Ages}} In actuality, they had survived, and been transported to [[Quintessa]], where they remained for several millennia. {{storylink|War Within: The Age of Wrath|The War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
Space bridges are the main mode of traveling in the [[Unicron Trilogy]]. Unlike their Generation 1 counterparts, they do not appear to need the use of a fixed device at both ends.

They appear to change in variation from series to series, although this is likely simply due to art direction. In ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', the Transformers are 'stretched' into warp gates, while in ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'', space bridges tend to appear as a large hole in the sky that may or may not have a clear ramp leading into it.

===IDW movie comics===
There is a network of space bridge terminals scattered across the galaxy, with the furthest from Cybertron being the [[Mars]] terminal, constructed by [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] while the other Decepticons were on Earth. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Image:TFA Space Bridge.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Chevron seven is locked.]]
Space bridges are used to travel around the galaxy. This incarnation takes the form of a large, forked structure and works by generating a sphere of energy between the two prongs. The [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] was thrown into one to keep it out of Decepticon hands. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and his [[Bumblebee (Animated)|small]] [[Bulkhead (Animated)|band]] [[Prowl (Animated)|of]] [[Ratchet (Animated)|Autobots]] were put in charge of repairing space bridges.

These and the AllSpark were apparently the key to the Autobots winning the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], and [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] planed to use some schematics to build his own. He kidnapped [[Isaac Sumdac]] to design it and used [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] and [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]] to build it, but it wasn't enough. {{storylink|The Elite Guard}}

With [[Bulkhead (Animated)|some additional help]] he completed it, {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}} but as often is the case with Decepticon plans, it didn't end well. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}} During the [[Decepticon Uprisings]], [[Team Chaar]] attempted to use a space bridge in order to travel to the [[Space bridge nexus]] on Cybertron but were stopped by Shockwave who was waiting for Megatron's signal to begin the attack. The network was later shut down by the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]]. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Black Arachnia]] used components from a transwarp generator in order to create a teleportation pod which she used to transform [[Wasp]] into a [[Technorganic]] being; however, after its use, the chamber exploded. {{storylink|Predacons Rising}} Bulkhead along with Isaac Sumdac later attempted to work together in making a space bridge on Earth for the Autobots but faced many arguments on how to calibrate the equipment. Luckily, Sari Sumdac managed to activate the system which was later used to transport Optimus Prime onto the [[Elite Guard flagship]] which had been taken over by the former Decepticon prisoners. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}}

===IDW continuity===
[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] created a space bridge using information gained from [[Sixshot]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

===Movie continuity===
Seekers have the ability to create space bridges, teleporting across worlds or possibly between planets.

[[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] mentions the Space Bridge by name shortly before he does a really half-assed job of throwing himself and the rest of the heroes halfway across the world to Egypt, wrecking Sam's hand in the process (Jetfire wasn't entirely sure they were still on the right planet). The even-more-ancient but significantly less senile [[The Fallen|Fallen]] shows a similar ability where he teleports across short distances, seeming to use it as a form of flight. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]

Tarantulas (BW)

2009-07-20T21:14:10Z

24.193.35.27: /* Microverse */

{{factions|predacon}}
{{picsneeded|Toys}}

:''Tarantulas is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] from the [[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
:''His name is also officially spelled "'''Tarantulus'''".''

[[Image:Tarantulasbw.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"And fries! Lots of FRIES!"]]
'''Tarantulas''' is the scheming mad scientist of the Predacon crew. The type of mad scientist who experiments on living beings, cackling in his [[Trademark|trademarked]] laugh all the while, and then if things go wrong, happily eats what's left as his midday snack. (Considering his appetite, that must happen a lot.) He was one of the Predacons to join [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] during his theft of the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] and the search for [[Earth]]. In addition to being an utterly psychotic, sadistic sociopath (even by Predacon standards, which is something he appears to wear with pride), Tarantulas has a record for treachery rivaled by few other Transformers. Tarantulas is actually an agent of the [[Tripredacus Council]], which is trying to coax the Beast Wars toward an unspecified goal, where neither Autobot or Decepticon won the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]].

Tarantulas has a particularly notable hatred of the [[Vok]] aliens, a hatred strong enough to make him work to eliminate them by any means.

{{quote|Lunatic.|[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] on Tarantulas|[[Spider's Game]]}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Tarans''' (タランス ''Taransu'')
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Jr-jū''' (蜘蛛, "Spider"), later '''Húng Jr-jū''' (紅蜘蛛, "Red Spider")
:''Italian name:'' '''Metal Tarantulas''' (Transmetal)
:''Polish name:'' '''Tarantulator'''

==Fiction==
===Toy Bio===
Tarantulas is a sneaky, mysterious ninja feared across the galaxy. A master of the martial arts, he's suspected in the disappearances of many [[Human|Earthlings]], and rumors swirl of giant cocoons where he stores his prey.

===Optimus Primal vs Megatron!===
Tarantulas is guarding the Predacons' jungle-based genetics lab along with Megatron and Waspinator. When the Maximals discover them, he engages Razorbeast in combat briefly before Megatron calls retreat and destroys the lab. {{storylink|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Theft of the Golden Disk====
Tarantulas decoded the information on the Golden Disk, freshly stolen by Megatron. He thought this was quite hilarious, but then, he thinks that about everything. {{storylink|Theft of the Golden Disk|Theft of the Golden Disk}}

====Dawn of Future's Past====
[[Image:Tarantulasdawn.jpg|right|180px|thumb|See? A Planet X key in the corner of the pic. He's working for Unicron! Get him!]]
As [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and his rogue band of Predacons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in their stolen ship, the ''[[Darksyde]]'', Tarantulas was in charge of scanning the disk for a desired set of coordinates. While Megatron was not watching, he was in secret communication with a member of the [[Tripredacus Council]]. (The reflections in his helmet show the silhouette of [[Cicadacon|General Cicadacon]].)

Using the decoded coordinates, the ''Darksyde'' opened a [[transwarp]] portal, which it and the [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']] passed through. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past|Dawn of Future's Past}}
{{-}}
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Alec Willows]] (English), [[Yūichi Nagashima]] (Japanese), [[Fabio Vilalonga]] (Portuguese)

Tarantulas was one of the original crew on the ''Darksyde'' when it crashed on prehistoric Earth. As Megatron's technical leader, he manned the scanners to appropriate beast forms based on the most powerful local creatures. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} At first he takes on the role of mad scientist and appears as vacuous as the other Predacons; by the first full month of the Beast Wars, he is established as a cannibal when he attempts to drink an energy-drained Cheetor's mech fluid. {{storylink|The Web}}

Tarantulas caused as many problems for Megatron as he fixed. He always needed a [[Tarantulas's lair|separate hideout]] to plot other, evil schemes, and he managed to stay one step ahead of most of his "allies". The only partner he worked with frequently—though they betrayed each other just as often—was [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]].

When Tarantulas learned of the [[Vok]] and their impending return to Earth, he spent his best efforts to capture a working [[stasis pod]] to craft an escape shuttle. At the hour of the Vok's return, he finally completed one. Megatron had known of his and Blackarachina's plans and threw a wrench in the works—[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]. Inferno stomped into the room, interrupted Tarantulas's download of the stasis pod's datatracks, torched him, and was defeated by Blackarachnia. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

Fortunately for Tarantulas, Blackarachnia picked up his discarded download visor. Tarantulas jumped into her mind, controlling her (presumably from his stasis-locked body). When the [[quantum surge]] knocked out all of the Transformers on Earth, his body was upgraded to a Transmetal form, complete with a motorcycle vehicle mode. He maintained a link to Blackarachnia's mind, but was forced to sever it when she threatened to to commit suicide, which would also off-line him. He also set up a second lair in [[Grid Arakis]], which held a large cache of stable [[energon cube]]s and had been written off by both sides. {{storylink|Tangled Web}}

At some undisclosed point, Tarantulas discovered the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', the flagship of the [[Decepticon]] fleet. Although his longterm goals for the vessel are unknown, he did manage to restore the ship to working status, complete with a Predacon control console and a transwarp cell, meaning that he may have planned to use it to return to Cybertron once he completed his main objective. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}

When the transwarp explosion finally reached through the time warp and had enough potency to enter Cybertronian space, Tarantulas's true allegiance was revealed: He was a member of the [[Predacon Secret Police]] and an agent of the [[Tripredacus Council]]. The Tripredacus Council was the first alerted of the transwarp explosion and realized it was from where Megatron's ship had gone. Ravage was sent to ally with the Maximals, arrest Megatron, and then betray and destroy them all.

Allied with Ravage and having the use of his stealth ship, the Maximals easily overwhelmed Megatron. Tarantulas knocked out the power to Megatron's ship at that exact moment, allowing an easy capture. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}}

Megatron managed to manipulate Ravage into his servitude using a recording of the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] on the Golden Disk and gained his freedom. Tarantulas joined Ravage on his stealth ship for an attack on the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}} However, Tarantulas was blown to pieces by Rattrap through a combination of the rodent's demolition bombs and the explosion of the ship. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} Tarantulas survived, though, and was quickly put back together by his spider drones. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

Megatron, in all his wisdom, forgave Tarantulas's treachery, as it was simply the Predacon way and the spider was too useful to execute, even though Megatron made it very clear that he'd never trusted Tarantulas, even before the scientist did anything treacherous. Tarantulas appeared back in the Predacon camp on a regular basis—though it would later become clear that he was still very busy working on his own agenda, apparently during his numerous unexplained absences. He battled the Maximals alongside Megatron's Transmetal raptors (a harbinger of [[Dinobot II|things to come]]) {{storylink|Cutting Edge}} and helped the other Predacons construct a massive disruptor ray (which ultimately backfired on them). {{storylink|Go with the Flow}} When the Maximals attempted to remove Blackarachnia's shell program, he revealed to Megatron that he had included "certain safeguards" that guaranteed she would not survive, and joined the other Predacons in an attack on the Maximals that was meant to disrupt the attempted shell removal. He fired the missile which knocked the Maximals' power off-line at a crucial instant, seemingly bringing an end to his "treacherous creation". Enraged by the death of his beloved, [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] attempted to kill the scientist, but was thwarted by [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]], who was later defeated by a revived—and [[Transmetal|Transmetalized]]—Blackarachnia. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

Tarantulas participated in the Predacons' next attempt to retake the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', but manipulated [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] into throwing Megatron into the nearby lava while he himself set the ''Ark'''s engines to overload. At this point, he claimed to be descended from neither the Autobots nor the Decepticons, which was why he was willing to destroy the core members of both factions then present (in stasis lock) in the ''Ark''. Megatron survived his lava-dunking, gaining a new body in the process. However, he had lost his patience. While he'd tolerated Tarantulas's treachery, he could not tolerate incompetence. Tarantulas survived his punishment and fled back to his lair. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

[[Image:Tarantulas death.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Oh, yeah, he [[Primeval Dawn Part 1|meant to do this]]. Right. Sure he did.]]
When the [[Vok]] emissary [[Tigerhawk]] arrived on Earth shortly afterwards, Tarantulas managed to disable and capture him. Tarantulas intended to force the all-powerful being into his servitude by drawing the Vok influences out of his body and reprogramming him. The scheme backfired, however, as his energy beam device expelled two actual Vok out of Tigerhawk. The formless spectres attempted to take over Tarantulas' body. Panicking, he opened fire on them—a futile gesture that merely served to spin the energy device around 'til its rays were blasting him and his lab equipment. Overloaded by the beams, Tarantulas exploded, leaving nothing behind but his boots. The remainder of his equipment detonated seconds later, blowing the lair to rubble. Cheetor managed to rescue the inert Tigerhawk, and Tarantulas was presumed dead. {{storylink|Other Victories}}

While searching the ruins of Tarantulas's lair, Megatron offhandedly referred to him as "[[Unicron]]'s spawn". {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars: Transmetals''====
In an alternate timeline, Tarantulas found a way to escape prehistoric Earth and return to Cybertron.

Then he came back, with an armada of Transwarp battleships under his command, out to end the Beast Wars and enforce the Tripredacus Council's will... {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transmetals|Beast Wars: Transmetals}}

====''Universe'' comics====
[[Image:Primeval Tarantulas.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Tarantulas doesn't really hate the Vok so much as he wants to kill them and wear their skin as a Vok suit.]]
Following the Beast Wars, Tarantulas's body returned to life, reanimated by the Vok powers he'd previously absorbed. The undead Tarantulas, along with a rebuilt Ravage (as [[Ravage (G1)|Tripredacus Agent]]), nurtured new troops to life through enigmatic means, growing [[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]] and [[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] in tubes. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1|Primeval Dawn Part 1}}

The remaining Vok anticipated Tarantulas's plan to destroy the rest of them, take their power, and fashion the timestream to his desires, and so they assembled an army of their own consisting of [[Primal Prime]], [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], and [[Tigatron]]. Tarantulas met this opposition in battle, overwhelmed them, and ripped the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Primal Prime's chest. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 2|Primeval Dawn Part 2}}

Wounded critically, the Maximals withdrew to the ''Ark''. Tarantulas ordered Ravage to take Razorclaw, Iguanus, and their new recruit [[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] and assault the ''Ark'' in order to finish them off. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 3|Primeval Dawn Part 3}}

{{note|[[3H Productions]] dissolved before this storyline could be completed. Based on the subsequent ''Wreckers'' and ''[[Universe (2003 comic)|Universe]]'' storylines, it can be assumed that the Matrix of Leadership was restored to Optimus Prime's body at the end of this altercation, that the Maximals were triumphant, and that Tarantulas somehow fled to return to Unicron.}}
When the influence of [[Unicron]] swayed [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] to the side of darkness, she was surprised to see Tarantulas (still in his undead body) greet her as she joined the ranks of the [[Minions of Unicron]]. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Tarantulas was upgraded into a [[Transmetal]]. Scheming with [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] within their floating island base, the ''[[Hindenburg]]'', Tarantulas developed a plan to revive the deceased [[Optimus Primal]] as a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] slave. Recovering Primal's mindless, raging body, Tarantulas staged a strange voodoo ceremony (complete with boiling cauldron). As Megatron pricked his finger and prepared to use his mutated blood to turn Primal's rampaging body into his slave, the spark of Optimus Primal returned to it just in the nick of time. As Primal turned into a Transmetal, Tarantulas began to celebrate, convinced that his plan had worked out better than he had thought, unaware of what was really going on. An angry Optimus Primal then proceeded to knock Tarantulas's block off. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Tarantulas''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-4'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 spider-leg missiles

: Part of the first wave of ''Beast Wars'' product, Tarantulas transforms into an organic generic spider (''not'' a tarantula). His abdomen contains a spring-loaded missile launcher, which fires the anchor-missile kept in his spider-butt. This missile is attached by a string so he can hang from things like a real spider. The launcher can be removed and used as a robot-mode weapon, using any of his front four spider-legs as missiles. Like all early Deluxe-and-up ''Beast Wars'' toys, he has two different robot-mode "heads"; a robotic face and a "mutant" face. He is almost always depicted using the mutant face.

: There is a variation of this toy in the [[Hasbro]] line: Later releases (the smooth bubble) lack the yellow paint on his elbows.

: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] release of Tarantulas was originally identical to the Hasbro release. Later, a slightly color-altered version was released, using a brighter shade of green and a slightly darker gray. The color-altered version also replaced the blue eyes on the "robot" head and the black eyes of the "mutant" head with gold.

: This mold was used to make the first [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] toy.

{{-}}
====VsPack====
[[Image:VS4-DinobotTarantuas.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The classic battle of dino vs spider. We've all heard the tale.]]
*'''Brutal Showdown: Dinobot VS Tarans''' (VS pack, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-4'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, 4 spider-leg missiles

: In Japan, "Tarans" was available both as an individual and in a two-pack with "[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]". Both toys in this set were identical to their individual releases.

: Currently, it is unknown if the latter "more show-like" redeco of Tarantulas was ever released in a VS set.

====Microverse====

[[Image:Tarantulas-Microverse.jpg|right|100px|thumb|I'm not [[Fantastic Four|The Thing]], I swear!]]
*'''Orcanoch''' ([[MicroVerse]], 1997)

: A small, non-transforming micro-figure of Tarantulas came with the [[MicroVerse]] [[Orcanoch]] playset. It was presumably painted based on the original design, as its upper body is copper rather than purple. Its only articulation is at the waist, letting it sit in any of the MicroVerse mini-vehicles or playset stations.

{{-}}

====Transmetals====
[[Image:BWtoy-TarantulasTransmetal.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I'm-a spawn of-a Unicron! I-a slice-a ya pizza!]]
*'''Tarantulas''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-44'''
**''Accessories'': Sawblade weapon

: Part of the first assortment of [[Transmetal|Transmetals]], Tarantulas transforms into a robotic spider. He also has a third "transport" mode, flipping down a wheel from his abdomen and a saw-blade from under his beast-head, making a spidey-cycle. The saw detaches for robot mode to become a hand-held weapon.

: The Japanese version is slightly different, replacing the "TARANTULAS" [[tampograph]] with "DESTRON" and the Predacon sigil, plus his robot-mode eyes are painted as a single visor to match the show look better.
{{-}}

====Fox Kids Transmetal====
[[Image:Tarantulas-FKTM.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's like Eight Legged Freaks, but classier, and with a pizza slicer.]]
*'''Tarantulas''' (Deluxe "Fox Kids" Transmetal, 1999)
**''Accessories'': Sawblade weapon

: A [[redeco]] of the Transmetal Tarantulas toy in grays, silver and black. He and a Transmetal [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] redeco were part of the little-seen second wave of Toys "R" Us [[exclusive]] "Fox Kids" toys, so called for the advertisements for the Fox channel on the packaging (as the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]] had moved there from syndication). Internal Hasbro documents have listed this toy as "'''Steel Force Tarantulas'''", a name that did not make it to final packaging.

: These colors were used to depict Tarantulas in the ''[[Primeval Dawn]]'' and [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comics]]. With the toy's limited availability, secondary-market pricing for this item due to its fictional use has gone up.

===Beast Wars 10th Anniversary===
*'''Predacon Tarantulus''' (Deluxe, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, 4 spider-leg missiles

:This toy is a slight [[redeco]] of the original Tarantulas toy, more closely resembling Tarantulas's appearance in the cartoon (save the big Predacon faction sigil tampograph). Part of the second wave of ''Beast Wars'' 10th Anniversary product, he came with a DVD of the episode "[[Spider's Game]]", plus the left leg to [[Trans-Mutate]].

==Merchandise==
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroestarantulasprimal.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't take your eyes off your mech fluid, Primal.]]
*'''Optimus Primal vs Predacon Tarantulas''' (2008)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Robot Heroes]], this PVC figurine of Tarantulas' original body has articulation in the shoulders and neck. He was available only in a "Beast Wars Series" two-pack with [[Optimus Primal]] (amusingly enough, the [[Maximal]] he also came with in the ''[[MicroVerse]]'' [[Orcanoch]] playset).

{{-}}
==Notes==
* Tarantulas's origins are a bit complicated. He declares in "[[Other Victories]]" that he and the [[Tripredacus Council]] have origins other than Autobot and Decepticon, such that they would not be affected by the destruction of the ''Ark''. Megatron's line about "Unicron's spawn" was apparently not intended by [[Bob Forward]] to be taken literally; it was to have been a generic insult rather than a statement of fact.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/f06828ec523295c1?dmode=source&output=gplain]</ref> (Forward's own inkling, albeit never realized, was that they might be descended from [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s Cybertronian Empire.) A Unicronian origin also creates potential canonical issues, as Tarantulas says that "under our rule, Cybertron will conquer the universe" ("[[Other Victories]]"), whereas Unicron's goal would have been to eat Cybertron. (Although being creations of Unicron does not necessarily mean they would be loyal to him or forever share his agenda.) But, much like [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]'s line about "[[Darksyde|the dark side]]", this line developed a life of its own. Eventually this connection was reasserted in [[3H Productions]]' ''[[Primeval Dawn]]'' storyline.

* In the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', Tarantulas retained his trademark cackle, but it was a little ''different''. His voice was very high-pitched and he shrieked almost constantly. His trademark laugh more closely resembled a wicked witch of sorts.

[[Image:TarantulasArm.jpg|right|150px|thumb|He tastes everything he holds.]]
* Early promotional pictures showed the original Tarantulas toy as being transparent orange, but the final toy was a clear deep purple instead. Presumably, this was for a little visual variety in the early line, which already had a largely tan toy ([[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]) and a largely yellow toy ([[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]) in the Deluxe range, plus a Mega-sized Predacon arachnid then planned to be orange ([[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]), and [[Tigatron]], who was at one point slated to be a traditional orange tiger.

* The original Tarantulas toy has ''nine'' eyes in beast mode, as does the show model. This makes characters' references to him as "eight-eyes" rather... interesting.

* In the original control art for Tarantulas, the claws are shown in the same configuration as used in the show. In other words, the claws were somehow swapped during the assembly process and have remained as such on every version of the mold thereafter.

* Tarantulas's body in "[[Theft of the Golden Disk]]" is based on [[Ransack (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Ransack]].

*Tarantulas is referred to as simply "Tarantula" in the [[commercial]] advertising his toy.

* Despite being a creepy, ninja-like agent of Unicron who transforms into a motorcycle, he is absolutely not [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]]. Nope! Nosirree.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Tarantulas/tarantulas.htm Tarantulas at TFU.info]

[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
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