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The Ultimate Doom, Part 3

2007-08-26T23:18:13Z

24.207.235.109: /* Summary */

{{episodenav|g1|13|prev=The Ultimate Doom, Part 2|next=Countdown to Extinction}}

As [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s orbit ravages [[Earth]], the [[Autobot]]s take the fight to the [[Decepticon]]s.

'''Writer:''' [[Leo D. Paur]]

'''Major Characters (in order of appearance):''' Characters

'''Minor Characters (in order of appearance):''' Characters

'''Original Air Date:''' Date

==Summary==
On Cybertron, a brainwashed [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] sounds an alarm on [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]], [[Brawn]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. As [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] attempt to destroy them, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] rescue them. Heading to Wheeljack's lab, they review the [[hypnochip]] data gained.

On Earth, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] is overseeing the construction of a large hydroelectric generator that will allow the Decepticons to harvest more energy. [[Doctor Arkeville]] is becoming increasingly dissatisifed with Megatron's disregard of his interests, and feels that [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] may be more sympathetic. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] leads [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], and [[Bluestreak]] (on surfboards) to the generator, where their wipeout prevents them from being able to stop the Decepticons from leaving in a [[Decepticon shuttle|shuttle]] carrying [[Energon cube]]s. Arkeville is left to die, but Starscream saves him, having his own plans for the scientist.

On Cybertron, Wheeljack develops a device that should disrupt the hypnochips control over the Humans. Spike attempts another rescue of his father, but is discovered by Shockwave. However, Wheeljack's device disrupts the hypnochip, and the Autobots flee back to Earth, with Sparkplug freed from the Decepticons' control.

On an island, Megatron is overseeing the loading of a shuttle with Energon cubes, while [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] goes to see if he can direct the humans away from the ship. Nearby, Starscream's own experiments in draining neural energy from Arkeville have failed to fill a single Energon cube. Megatron discovers them, and prepares to execute Starscream for treason (again). However, Mirage managed to direct the humans away from the shuttle, and Prime orders an attack. The Decepticons outnumber the Autobots, but Skyfire and company soon arrive to even the odds. However, Cybertron comes into view of the island, causing a tidal wave. Megatron flees in the shuttle for Cybertron. Spike declares that they just need to knock Cybertron out of Earth's orbit, and Prime orders the Autobots to shoot Megatron's shuttle. The plan works, with the [[Energon]] onboard knocking Cybertron out of Earth's orbit.

Back on the island, Spike feels thinks that Megatron is dead. Optimus, knowing his mortal enemey's survivability rate, is not so sure. In space, Megatron comes back on line, and flies away from the wreckage. of the shuttle.

==Quotes==

"My slaves will drown!" -'''Dr. Arkeville'''<br/>
"I thought humans ''liked'' to play in the ocean?" -'''Megatron'''

==Notes==

*This episode is subtitled "Revival" in scripts and other official materials.

===Technical/Animation Glitches===
* As usual, most of the Cybertronian [[seeker]]s are colored as Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp.
* While escaping from the Decepticon lab in Cybertron, Soundwave's Decepticon insignia is not shown.
* When Thundercracker is wrestling with Ironhide, his color is a significantly brighter shade of blue than usual. It is back to normal in the next scene, when he flies away.

===Continuity Errors===
*In the jungle, when the energon cubes are being loaded, Megatron says: "I want the slaves to work faster. Where is Dr. Arkeville?" But it was he who previously abandoned Arkeville on the power plant, and the doctor would have drowned had Starscream not rescued him unknown to Megatron.
*Oddly, Megatron was able to survive an explosion which had enough energy to shift the orbit of Cybertron. How Megatron had the durability to survive a planet moving blast is a mystery considering his previous durability showings.
*And for that matter, if the explosion pushed Cybertron away, why wasn't Earth moved in the opposite direction?

===Transformers References===
* Wheeljack's place in Cybertron, previously seen in "[[Divide and Conquer]]", is shown again.
* For someone who turns into a gun, Shockwave has terrible aim.
* Starscream's attempts to convert Doctor Arkeville's neural energy into Energon fail. What this says about the intelligence of both scientists is debatable.

===Real-World References===
*Reference

===Miscellaneous Trivia===
* A couple of Decepticon-cars are shown in this episode, but it's not clear if they are Transformers. They seem to be similar to Jazz in Cybertronian vehicle mode.

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_ultimate_doom_part_3.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes|Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]{{stub}}<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Unicron Singularity

2007-08-25T21:44:28Z

24.207.235.109: /* Notes */

[[Image:Unicronsingularity.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Brings new meaning to "plot hole."]]

The '''Unicron Singularity''' is a frightening black hole near [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] that threatens to swallow it, and eventually the rest of the universe, whole. The only way to destroy it and put the universe back in order is to gather up the four [[Cyber Planet Key]]s and the [[Omega Lock]], hidden on various planets, and use them to awaken [[Primus]].

The Unicron Singularity was born after the end of the [[Powerlinx Battles]] as a result of Primus' attempt to bury his eternal nemesis [[Unicron]] in the center of a newborn sun. This plan backfired, and Unicron's essence collapsed in on itself, creating a black hole. The black hole's pull was so strong even Unicron's presence in alternate realities was affected, and the fabric of space-time itself was increasingly unstable, altering even the minds, memories, and histories of all who live within this chaotic universe.

All this adds up to an all purpose answer for glaring continuity errors. That's right - it sucks up continuity along with everything else.
==Notes==
* The [[Fun Publications]] ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' fan club comic created the idea that the Unicron Singularity was warping and altering space-time to explain away continuity errors between the English dub of the [[Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]] and the two [[Armada (cartoon)|previous]] [[Energon (cartoon)|series]] that it was supposed to be a sequel to. It is possible that it could also be used as a blanket explanation for continuity errors in the previous series and things like [[Sky Shadow (Cybertron)|Sky Shadow's]] backstory as well. Using this excuse, one could effectively explain away every plot hole from every fictional continuity ever, even non-Transformers series. Gotta love FP.

* The alternate, stand-alone Japanese version of ''Cybertron'', ''Galaxy Force'', made no blatant stated connection between Unicron and the "Grand Black Hole." However, the Grand Black Hole appeared in the present time because the (unspecified) Dark God, the source of darkness in the universe that opposes Primus, was trapped within a [[Matrix]]-type object, separating it from the universal balance. Although, since then, Takara has released an official timeline of events that ties up the three series. The explanation given for the Grand Black Hole now agrees with the American fiction.

*The planet Cybertron itself was swallowed up by the Grand Black Hole in ''Galaxy Force's'' first episode. In the American version, these scenes were omitted, and the black hole merely hovered threateningly near the planet. This does make more sense, given that characters would return to the planet later in the series and not face any of the negative effects of being in a black hole, such as dying horribly.

[[Category: Cybertron]]
[[Category: Objects]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Transformers timeline

2007-08-19T01:03:13Z

24.207.235.109: /* 1984 */

{{Template:Disambig2|real world events|
the 'Timelines' convention-exclusive toy and comic series|Timelines}}

''This is a timeline of Transformers-related events that occured in the "real" world, including release dates and other major occurences.

==The dawn of time==
* The Big Bang creates the universe as we know it. The protons, neutrons, and electrons that will eventually compose Transformers are formed. A Tuesday.

==1980s==

===1982===
* March - The first two toys from [[Takara]]'s ''[[Diaclone]] Car Robo'' line, No.1 Countach LP-500S Super Tuning (red version) and No.2 Onebox Cherry Vanette (black version), are released to stores in Japan. These toys' molds would later be used in Transformers as [[Sunstreaker]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], respectively.

===1983===
* January - The first three toys from Takara's New Microman: MicroChange line, MC-01 Micross (available as blue and red variations), MC-02 Jaguar (available as blue and black variations) and MC-03 Condor (available as blue and black variations), are released to stores. These would later make up the first wave of [[Mini Cassette]]s.
* Unknown date - A Hasbro delegation discovers Takara's Diaclone and Microman toys at the Tokyo Toy Show.
* Late 1983 - Takara releases three of their Diaclone toys (red Sunstreaker, black Ironhide and blue [[Trailbreaker]]) in the USA under the name "[[Diakron]]". Due to the new licensing agreement with Hasbro, the Diakron line is discontinued following these three toys.

===1984===
''The Transformers'' launches in the US, in toy, comic and cartoon formats, [[Ruined FOREVER|forever ruining]] ''Transformers''.
* February - [[Hasbro Bradley]] unveils their new ''Transformers'' toyline at Toy Fair.
* March - [http://www.electric-escape.net/node/590 ''Marvel Age'' #17] announces the April debut of the ''Transformers'' comic book.
* Spring - The first animated commercial advertising the Marvel comics airs on US TV.
* May 8? - [[The Transformers (comic issue)|Issue one of the Marvel comic]] is released.
* May 22 - The [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/1cdaf7df610e0376?dmode=source&hl=en first Usenet post about Transformers] is posted by Ted Nolan to net.comics. In a prediction of things to come, it is mostly complaints.
* Spring - ''Transformers'' toys start filtering into stores across the United States.
* September 17 - [[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1]] premieres on U.S. television Saturday morning.
* Unknown date - the UK is the only European country to get Transformers toys this year. Toys are being distributed by Hasbro. Megatron is not available until 1985.
* September 20 - The Marvel UK comic begins publication.
* December - Transformers mania is in full swing, as the figures fly off store shelves, becoming the year's best seller for Hasbro.
* Unknown date - Takara conduct test market sales of the Hasbro toys in Japan, under the working name "Henshin Sentai Transformers" ("Transformation Squadron Transformers").

===1985===

* July 6th - Seasons 1 and 2 of the US cartoon begin airing in Japan as ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer''.
* The Transformers toyline starts getting released to most European markets, with Hasbro using Milton Bradley's facilities for the continental European market, due to an initial lack of resources on their own. The MB toys would be available in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain and include lots of oddities unique to Europe, such as a red version of Tracks. Concurrently, [[GiG]] launches their own version of the Transformers line in Italy, whereas El Greco launches their short-lived version of the line in Greece.
* October 6 - The [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/fce7a2ddb7e35a81?dmode=source&hl=en first Usenet post about the Transformers cartoon] is posted to net.comics by Bill Flanagan.

===1986===
* August 8 - ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' is released in theatres in the United States. International releases follow, except for Japan and Germany.

===1987===

The American version of the G1 cartoon ends its run, to be replaced in Japan by the [[Headmasters (cartoon)|Headmasters cartoon]].

===1988===

===1989===
* August - Hasbro begins manufacturing and selling Transformers toys in mainland China. [http://www.allspark.com/hydras-tf-pulp/the-little-sticker-in-the-corner-the-truth-about-early-1990s-chinese-g1-transformers-toys-20070811.html]
* August 9 - ''The Transformers: The Movie'' finally is released in Japan, where it is not actually called "Matrix Forever".

==1990s==
===1990===
*The last year of Generation 1 toys are released in North America, while the franchise continues in Japan and Europe.

===1991===
* (Cover date of July) - The Marvel Comic ends in the United States with [[End of the Road|issue 80]].

===1992===
*[[Operation Combination]] comes to an end, signalling the end of the original ''Transformers'' series in Japan.

===1993===
*''[[Generation 2]]'' attempts to revive the ''Transformers'' franchise in North America.
* The last year of Generation 1 toys are released in Europe.
* On September 11th, the Usenet newsgroup [[alt.toys.transformers]] is established. Fans now have a dedicated online public forum on which to discuss whatever is ruining Transformers.

===1994===
* July 16 - The first [[BotCon]] is held, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
* ''Generation 2'' is released in Europe.

===1995===
* ''Generation 2'' begins in Japan, the first ''Transformers'' series there in years.
* ''Generation 2'' craps out in every market, including Japan.
* August 5-6 - [[BotCon 1995]] is held in Dayton, Ohio.

===1996===
* ''[[Beast Wars]]'' is launched. The fandom declares it will forever destroy ''Transformers'' and nobody will ever like it ever, certainly not ten years into the future.
* ''Beast Wars'' revives the franchise.
* ''Beast Wars'' is the best ''Transformers'' anything ever.
* July 12-14 - [[BotCon 1996]] is held in Rosemont, Illinois.

===1997===
* July 18-20 - [[BotCon 1997]] is held in Rochester, New York, by the newly-formed [[3H Enterprises]].

===1998===
* June 19-20 - [[BotCon 1998]] is held in Anaheim, California.

===1999===
* July 16-18 - At [[BotCon 1999]] in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the first episode of ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', "[[The Reformatting]]" is previewed, to overwhelming fan enjoyment.

==2000s==
===2000===
* Everyone hates ''[[Beast Machines]]''.
* July 28-30 - [[BotCon 2000]] is held in [[Fort Wayne]], Indiana.

===2001===
* Everyone loves "[[Transformers 2000]]," but they hate ''[[Robots in Disguise]]''.
* July 13-15 - [[BotCon 2001]] is held in Durham, North Carolina.

===2002===
* Hasbro ''Transformers'' lead designer [[Aaron Archer]] begins to post on the Transfandom.com boards as ORSON, at first primarily to refute various false claims about [[Armada (franchise)|''Transformers: Armada'']]. Skeptical fans remark that if he is a Hasbro designer, then they are various members of the British Monarchy.
* April 3 - [[Dreamwave Productions]] begins publishing Transformers comics with [[Prime Directive, Part 1|Transformers Generation 1 #1]]. There is much rejoicing.
* [[Aaron Archer]] does his best to kill ''Transformers'' through incredible sales; ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' kicks off the [[Unicron Trilogy]], the toys appear on store shelves in mid-July, the cartoon premieres in August.
* July 6 - ''Armada'' toys begin arriving in small toy stores and Kay-Bee. [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/b22311a4862b3c07?dmode=source]
* July 26-28 - [[BotCon 2002]] is held in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

===2003===
* June 10 - [[Don Murphy]] and [[Tom DeSanto]] team up to produce a feature-length, [[Transformers (2007)|live-action ''Transformers'']] movie. They claim it will be exactly the same as G1. Really.
* July 25-27 - [[OTFCC 2003]] is held in Chicago, Illinois.
* Everybody loves ''Masterpiece/20th Anniversary'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].
* Everyone loves [[Binaltech]] / [[Alternators]].

===2004===
* June 19-20 - Although no longer the official convention, [[BotCon 2004]] is held in Pasadena, California.
* July 22 - [[Dreamworks]], [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Hasbro]] sign an agreement to produce a [[Transformers (2007)|live-action ''Transformers'']] movie.
* July 30-August 1 - [[OTFCC 2004]] is held in Chicago, Illinois.

===2005===
* January 4 - [[Dreamwave Productions]] goes bankrupt. Many artists complain about being unpaid for their work and/or being stuck with FedEx fees. [[Pat Lee]] gives them the finger and drives off in his Porsche.
* April 18 - Don Murphy reports that he wants to please the fans, Dreamworks want to change everything, and Hasbro don't care either way as long as the movie gets done in time.
* [[Michael Bay]] announced as the director for ''Transformers''. It will still totally be G1, honest.
* May 19 - [[IDW Publishing]] acquires the ''Transformers'' comic book license.
* September 22-25 - [[BotCon 2005]] is held in Frisco Texas, for the first time by [[Fun Publications]]. It's the official convention again.
* October 19 - [[Infiltration]] #0, IDW's first ''Transformers'' comic, is released in comic book stores.

===2006===
* January 18 - ''[[Infiltration|Transformers: Infiltration]]'' #1 is released in comic book stores.
* May 29 - Filming begins on the live-action [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'']] motion picture.
* July 24 - [[Peter Cullen]] is announced at San Diego Comic-Con as the voice of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] in the ''Transformers'' film. There is much rejoicing.
* September 15 - The first ''[[Classics]]'' toys arrive at a small store in Canada.
* November 28 - ''[[Escalation|Transformers: Escalation]]'' #1 is released in comic book stores.
* Takara settles the ''[[Michael Bay]] is raping my childhood'' debate by ''[[Kiss Players|actually raping your childhood]]''. Realizing that Michael Bay only touched your childhood in the swimsuit area, you apologize.

===[[2007]]===
*June- The first promotional images for ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' are released. Take a guess as to the reaction. G'wan.

*June 27-July 1- [[BotCon 2007]] is held at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island, Hasbro's hometown. It was expected to be the best Transformers convention ''ever''. It was also expected to be the worst Transformers convention ''ever''.

*July 2- US theatres start showing the live-action [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'']] motion picture at 8:00 PM. By midnight, it's made $8.8 million USD.

*July 3- The ''Transformers'' release date. It makes $27.85 million, more money on a Tuesday than any film in history. Transformers ruined forever.

*July 4- Americans celebrate their Independence Day by giving $29 million to that Hollywood movie about an [[Bumblebee (Movie)|alien robot]] summoning his friends to [[Earth]] where they disguise themselves as [[General Motors]] vehicles and team up with the [[United States Military]] to smash the evil robots. Unsuprisingly, this is more money than a movie's ever earned on the Fourth of July. Apparently, what's good for General Motors really ''is'' good for the country.

*July 25- As of this writing, the ''Transformers'' movie has grossed $270 million in the United States, with worldwide gross earnings of nearly '''one half billion dollars US'''.

*July 28- A ''Transformers Animated'' preview is shown to the public. The fandom rejoiced (and complained).

===2008===
*January- ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', which is sure to ruin Transformers to an even greater extent than was previously thought possible, is scheduled to premiere. The toys will be available in spring.
[[Category:Chronologies]]
[[Category:Franchises| ]]

----<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Transformers: Armada (cartoon)

2007-08-19T00:41:08Z

24.207.235.109: /* Story setup */

{{nav-armada}}'''''Armada''''' was the first Transformers cartoon to be co-developed in the United States and Japan. The show was produced in Japan, aired first in the United States, and then aired later in Japan. The cartoon served as a media tie-in for the overall ''[[Armada|Transformers Armada]]'' franchise.

==Story setup==

''Armada'' is set in a [[Unicron Trilogy]] universe, and is the first series in its continuity. Thus, the ''Armada'' cartoon was responsible for establishing the animated UT universe. (There are also [[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|comic books]] based on ''Armada'' that are set in slightly different UT continuities.)

''Armada'' added to Transformers mythology the notion of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]], a tiny (human-sized) race of Transformers that, when "[[powerlinx|powerlinxed]]" to their larger brethren, would unleash a floodgate of energy. Because of the great potential for their exploitation, the Mini-Cons attempted to abstain from the [[Autobot]]/[[Decepticon]] war and fled [[Cybertron]], crashing several of their ships on or near [[Earth]]. When some Mini-Cons are accidentally reactivated in 2002 by clumsy teenagers, a beacon alerts both the Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron, who track them to Earth and continue their battle here.

==Production==
''Armada'' was plagued with translation errors, particularly the repeated misnaming of characters in dialog, and also wildly varying animation quality. This is due in large part to an extremely rushed production schedule; the ADR studio Viocebox often recieved unfinished animation to work with, and rarely had time to get more than a first-draft translation of the script together in time for recording.

The nature of this rushed-job is still under speculation, but there appear to be two primary suspects. Initial plans called for [[Dreamwave]] to supply character models for the series (at least, that was the claim), but that never materialized, possibly throwing production schedules off. Also, it has been mentioned that Cartoon Network, the channel that aired the show, would not sign off on the series without a certain number of episodes already finished, forcing a rush-job to get the cartoon out in a timely manner to coincide with the toyline's release.

Although fans had a mixed reaction towards the product as a whole (which is in reality typical of ''any'' new series), it was ''incredibly'' successful with the target audience, children ages 4-9. The success of Armada lent to the more expensive R&D that went into the next two toylines, [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]] and [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]], as well as help launch the Transformers [[Universe]] subline. Armada remains a toyline of controversy still to this day.

==Episodes==

1. [[First Encounter]]<br>
2. [[Metamorphosis]]<br>
3. [[Base]]<br>
4. [[Comrade]]<br>
5. [[Soldier]]<br>
6. [[Jungle]]<br>
7. [[Carnival]]<br>
8. [[Palace]]<br>
9. [[Confrontation]]<br>
10. [[Underground]]<br>
11. [[Ruin]]<br>
12. [[Prehistory]]<br>
13. [[Swoop (Armada episode)|Swoop]]<br>
14. [[Overmatch]]<br>
15. [[Gale]]<br>
16. [[Credulous]]<br>
17. [[Conspiracy]]<br>
18. [[Trust]]<br>
19. [[Vacation]]<br>
20. [[Reinforcement]]<br>
21. [[Decisive Battle]]<br>
22. [[Vow]]<br>
23. [[Rebellion]]<br>
24. [[Chase (Armada episode)|Chase]]<br>
25. [[Tactician]]<br>
26. [[Link Up]]<br>
27. [[Detection]]<br>
28. [[Awakening]]<br>
29. [[Desperate]]<br>
30. [[Runaway]]<br>
31. [[Past, Part 1]]<br>
32. [[Past, Part 2]]<br>
33. [[Sacrifice]]<br>
34. [[Regeneration]]<br>
35. [[Rescue]]<br>
36. [[Mars (Armada episode)|Mars]]<br>
37. [[Crack (Armada episode)|Crack]]<br>
38. [[Threaten]]<br>
39. [[Crisis]]<br>
40. [[Remorse]]<br>
41. [[Depart]]<br>
42. [[Miracle]]<br>
43. [[Puppet]]<br>
44. [[Uprising]]<br>
45. [[Dash (Armada episode)|Dash]]<br>
46. [[Drift]]<br>
47. [[Portent]]<br>
48. [[Cramp]]<br>
49. [[Alliance]]<br>
50. [[Union]]<br>
51. [[Origin]]<br>
52. [[Mortal Combat]]<br>

==External links==

*[http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Knight/6670/my_micron/armada-legend.html Site comparing animation differences between Armada and Micron Legend]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Armada| ]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Scale

2007-08-13T22:03:21Z

24.207.235.109: /* Real world scale */

[[Image:OptimusSnakeEyes.jpg|right|thumb|300px|And the truck's ''how'' big...?]]
'''Scale''' in the ''Transformers'' multiverse is, to put not too fine a point on it, screwed.

Virtually no generation, era, franchise, fiction, toyline or other incarnation of ''Transformers'' has presented scale in a consistent, logical or easily-believable fashion (Save perhaps, [[Alternators]], but we all know where [[Kiss Players|having a scale consistent with a young girl leads]]). Most fans would agree that one needs to either ignore it or accept it, lest they be tempted to actually explain away these problems and in the process undoubtedly fanwank themselves into oblivion.

However, this does not mean that the chronic scale problems of ''Transformers'' do not merit description.

== Scale within toylines ==
As is generally well known, the early [[Generation 1 (toyline)|Generation 1 toyline]], especially the entire pre-[[Transformers: The Movie|Movie]] lines, were created from repackaged and [[redeco]]ed toys from several different Japanese transforming toylines. The crucial point being that they came from ''different'' toylines. All characters (well, virtually all; see below) ''should'' be in correct scale to each other as they all are supposed to represent real-world altmodes that can pass for correctly-scaled vehicles etc. However, since the ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys were not designed to be part of the same line as ''[[Microman]]'' toys, scale issue arise. While ''Diaclone'' figures such as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] are more-or-less in correct scale to each other, many of the [[Mini Vehicle]]s from the ''New Microman'' line are clearly far too small by comparison. Even aside from the deformed [[penny-racer]] style proportions, even a comparatively small car such as a [[Bumblebee (G1)|Volkswagen]] is disproportionately tiny when compared to a [[Jazz (G1)|Porsche]] that should be in the same scale. The disparity becomes all the more obvious with other [[minibot]]s such as [[Warpath]] and [[Seaspray]] whose [[altmode]]s would suggest that they should be many times their actual size.

[[Image:DiacloneScale.jpg|left|thumb|400px|That little guy --who comes from the same toyline as all those vehicles-- is supposed to be a normal-sized human. Yyyeah.]]

Another glaring scale problem comes in the form of the [[Seeker]]s, who turn into F-15 Eagles which, in real life, are 63.8 ft (19.44 m) long. Clearly not in scale with the Autobot cars then...

Neither, for that matter, are the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], despite also coming from the ''[[Diaclone]]'' line. Even ''more'' out-of-scale are the other ''Diaclone''-born combiner team the [[Trainbot]]s who, as the name implies, have train engine altmodes, considerably larger than cars and most construction equipment, yet their toys are among the smallest of the original ''Diaclone'' releases.

Even toys specifically designed to interact with each other often suffer from this problem. The [[Combaticon]]s, for instance, are wildly out of scale to each other--[[Blast Off]]'s space shuttle mode should be the largest by far, and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] should be significantly smaller than the others. Among the aforementioned Constructicons, [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], like most dumptrucks in ''Transformers'', is actually one of those gigantic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Liebherr_t282_1.jpg "earth-mover" mining trucks], which would make him significantly bigger than his teammates.

Other scale problems come from characters who transform into the same (or very similar) altforms but whose toys are very different sizes. For example [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] transforms into and F-15 Eagle, but his toy is half the size of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s. In reality they should be an identical size (in fact, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], transforming into a Concorde passenger jet should in fact be one of the largest G1 Transformers with an Earth altmode). The same can be said for [[Breakdown]], who, having a Lamborghini Countach altmode, should be in scale with [[Sunstreaker]]. This also goes for the other [[Stunticon]]s and all the Special Teams/[[Scramble City]]-type combiners with Earth-based altmodes, whose toys are all out of scale to earlier waves. By the same token, Warpath should be roughly the same size as [[Blitzwing]].

Speaking of Blitzwing, [[Triple Changer|Triple-Changers]] create a whole new set of problems. [[Octane]] transforms from a roughly 60-foot tanker truck into a 200-foot plus jumbo jet. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from an Earth jet into an entire ''aircraft carrier'', presumably sized to carry quite a few Earth jets. More recent series, such as [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[More Than Meets The Eye]]'', suggest that this is possible due to a variety of sliding panels, essentially making the transformations akin to incredibly elaborate origami. You heard right; origami Transformers. Yup.

Also, from an in-universe logic perspective, the characters with role-play altmodes such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] or [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Armada Laserbeak]] are scaled to be human(well, kid)-scale. Although [[size changing]] is obviously not possible for real toys (or at least, that's what [[Takara]] ''wants'' us to think...), this human-scaling makes in some cases for inordinately large robot modes, e.g. [[Blaster]].

Most post-[[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|Movie]] G1 characters (and, for that matter, most post-G1 ''lines'') are difficult to accurately scale, as they generally transform into "futuristic" or "Cybertonian" vehicles for which there are no real-world specifications, or indeed don't transform into vehicles at all. Therefore the scale of characters such as [[Hot Rod]] or [[Leobreaker]] are fairly arbitrary and can at best be estimated by their relative size to more scale-friendly characters within the same fictions, although most animation is highly inconsistent in this regard (see below). Nevertheless, if one presumes that most vehicle altmodes are intended to house human passengers, comparisons of toys such as [[Chromedome]] and [[Lightspeed (Technobot)|Lightspeed]] suggest a scale disparity similar to other combiners.

There has only been one notable exception to all of this scale weirdness; the ''[[Alternators]]'' toyline, where every item is a 1:24-scale representation of a real car model, and thus remain in near-perfect scale with each other.

One last interesting case, related to the aforementioned Triple Changer difficulty, is when the toy is not in scale ''with itself''. For example, 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime has wheels which are proportionally too small for a Freightliner truck, while similarly his rear section onto which a trailer would be hitched is much too thick. These out-of-proportion vehicle parts were necessary to give to his robot mode better robot proportions.

== Scale within fictions ==
[[Image:TeenyCliff.jpg|left|thumb|Cliffjumper is one ****ing tiny car. Or Hound is a ****ing huge Jeep.]]

Scale issues abound within fictions, especially the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]]. A lot can be attributed to animation errors, or even "lazy animation". For example, in the episode "Make Tracks", [[Hoist]], who is depicted as one of the larger Autobots in robot mode, is shown riding inside [[Huffer]], a Minibot whose truck mode is usually depicted as being smaller than Optimus Prime's. So either Huffer is extremely large in that scene, or Hoist is the size of a human.

[[Size changing]] is rarely depicted on screen outside of characters such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], but is rather implied (or, one could argue in many cases, inferred) in the following method: a character such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] transforms in-frame from robot to shuttle with no visible expansion of size relative to his surroundings. Cut. In the following shot his fellow Decepticons are shown running into frame, suddenly tiny in stature so that they can board the shuttle. Although Astrotrain has not been shown to actually grow (in the way Megatron is usually seen to perceptibly shrink in-shot), one infers that it is more likely that Astrotrain has expanded rather than all his confederates have individually shrunk. The same goes for [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and other "transport" characters.

Some scale problems appear to be arbitrary, for example Optimus Prime (and, indeed, most Transformers in general) is routinely shown as being throughly gargantuan, equal to several stories in hight and capable of cradling humans in the palm of one hand. In reality, Prime would probably be about 25-30 feet tall, at best. Conversely, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] is sometimes shown as being only a few feet taller than an average human, where in reality he would be around 10-15 feet tall. And those pesky [[Seeker]]s remain a walking scale problem; in reality they would be amongst the largest Transformers of all and would ''tower'' over their Autobot adversaries, whereas the animation generally depicts character such as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] as being approximately the same height.

In most cases, the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] adopts approximations of the toy scale (with all its inherent problems) when depicting the characters in robot modes; Prime, Megatron and Soundwave are generally animated at the same height, Seekers and Autobot cars slightly shorter (although not ''as'' much shorter and unevenly so as the actual toys are), and [[Minibot]]s are given a smaller stature again. However, these depictions were ''far'' from consistent.

Some fans interpret these discrepancies to also be the result of [[size changing]], but this is debatable. If virtually all characters used mass-shifting (or whatever) to gain or drop just a few feet for no apparent reason (other than to make the animation more plausible), the technology would seem pointlessly mundane. Furthermore there is no strong evidence in the series to indicate that size changing truly is so widespread as opposed to the animation having a particular style to it that favors emphasizing the hugeness of the Cybertronians.

It is worth noting that the [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]] has taken great pains to avoid size-changing and out-of-scale issues among characters with Earth-based alternate modes. This is sometimes reflected in the choice of vehicle ([[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] is a long-nosed truck cab in order to offer more mass to make a taller robot mode out of) or the design of their robot modes. [[Image:DreamwaveCover6.jpg|right|thumb|200px|...since when is a sedan 9 stories tall?]] For example, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s robot mode is nearly as wide as it is tall, with shorter, digitigrade-style legs, so the massive jet-former won't end up twice as tall as Optimus. In the case of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], his huge alternate mode simply results in a huge, hulking, towering robot mode.

All that said, size-changing technology clearly exists in ''some'' form in the movie continuity, as [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] somehow shrinks the [[All Spark]] down to a manageable size and mass. Thus far, there's no evidence this trick can be applied to anything except the All Spark.

=== Combiner scale ===
[[Combiner]] characters are often depicted as far larger than the sum of their parts. Characters such as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] are frequently shown being as tall as large buildings, sometimes even the size of small skyscrapers. When one thinks that their individual limbs are composed of mere cars and construction vehicles, this becomes patently absurd. Logically, this can only be accounted for by serious [[size changing|size-change-o-rama]] and yet, again, no clear depiction of this process actually taking place is ever shown in the case of combiners.

[[Superion (G1)|Superion]], however, actually ''would'' be fairly massive, if one considers the much larger real-world size of his component parts.
{{-}}

== Show scale vs. toy scale ==

Some characters have great discrepancies between their cartoon scale and their toy scale. "Giant" characters such as [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] are, even aside from any [[size changing]] for transport purposes, clearly not in the same scale in toy form as they are depicted on screen. [[Mini-Cassettes|Cassette characters]] such as [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s toys are roughly the same height as most [[Minibot]]s, while in the show they are usually portrayed as human-sized (which is odd, considering that Soundwave is capable of expanding to massive size).

[[Hot Rod|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are usually shown to be of a fairly similar height (although Magnus is much bulkier), whereas there is a considerable difference between the size of their toys. By the same token, Rodimus is always depicted as being an equal stature to his opposing leader [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], whereas the toy Galvatron is instead the same size as Magnus. Optimus Prime is also usually shown as only a head or so shorter than Magnus (if that), which gets very strange when you realise that a recolour of Prime's toy forms but a small part of Magnus' robot mode.

[[Image:ShrinkingHeavy.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I lost thirty tons, thanks to the Jump-Cut! Thank you, Jump-Cut!]]

[[Metroplex (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Metroplex]] and the other citizens of [[Gigantion]] are depicted as gargantuan in animation, whereas the toys are merely among the normal boxed size-classes. (Although, the Japanese [[Galaxy Force]] release, dubbed "Megalo Convoy", included an exclusive [[redeco]] of the [[Legends of Cybertron]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to indicate the "correct" scale.) Within the animation, though, this causes problems with their Mini-Con partners, who are depicted as human-sized in robot mode by themselves, but when directly interacting with their larger partners, retain their size in relation to the toy... meaning some temporarily-gigantic Mini-Cons!

{{-}}

== Pretender scale ==

The G1 concept of [[Pretender|Pretenders]] had some interesting scale issues. In the [[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|original comic]] the pretenders appeared fairly literally as their toy counterparts; normal-sized robots inside humanoid shells. The logical result of this was that the [[Autobot]] Pretenders were depicted as giant-sized humans. Which ain't much of a disguise. By comparison, the [[Decepticon]]s merely look like garden-variety giant Saban monsters. In one issue of the comic Cloudburst transformed into jet mode, and his shell, as well as Landmine, who was inside his shell, boarded him. It was difficult to tell if Cloudburst was supposed to have grown in size, or if his shell and Landmine had shrunk to fit inside.

In the U.S. toy commercials Classic Pretenders Grimlock, Bumblebee and Jazz were depicted as small enough to fit in Powermaster Optimus Prime's hand, so it is assumed they were human sized.

Although the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|original American cartoon]] did not feature any [[Pretender|Pretenders]], the Japanese-only continuity did, in their series ''[[Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]''. Here the Pretenders were not shells so much as ill-defined wholistic transformations which involved [[size changing]], allowing the large Autobots to achieve human size and convincingly pass themselves off as such. The Decepticons, by comparison chose to retain their gigantic proportions when in Pretender-mode.

Although never depicted in any of their actual fiction, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book included a description of their continuity's take on the Pretender concept. Something of a fusion of the above two, it described a physical shell that utilizes [[size changing|shrinking]] technology to achieve the ''[[Masterforce (cartoon)|Masterforce]]''-like capacity to pass the wearer off as a real human (or other bipedal lifeform of choice). Intriguingly, the profile also obliquely implies that such Pretender technology would/could later lead to the development of the synthetic faux-organic beast-mode tech of the [[Beast Era]].

== Mini-Con scale ==
The [[Mini-Con]]s of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] are small robots who stand approximately the same height as a human. However, they almost all transform into vehicles (of either Earth or Cybertronian design) which are clearly modeled to include cockpits etc. for carrying passengers, and yet they are obviously too small to accommodate humans (the only exceptions being [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]], [[Sureshock]] and [[High Wire]], who become small one-man vehicles... well, ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' Grindor doesn't). Who then these smaller-than-human passengers could possibly be is something of a mystery, setting aside the posibility that the mini-cons simply scan "normal" vehicle modes and resize them to fit their smaller bodies.

In the [[Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]], the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] retain their slightly-larger-than-human robot modes, but their alternate modes are large enough to contain a human passenger.

== Micromaster scale ==
By the same token as Mini-Cons, [[Micromaster]]s are depicted as being roughly human-sized, and yet virtually all turn into real (albeit generic) earth vehicles that are patently incapable of fitting human passangers inside them. The illogic of this was never really addressed in contemporaneous G1 fictions, however the [[Dreamwave]] miniseries ''[[Micromasters]]'' hinted at some kind of explanation, but it was pretty much bollocks. The Marvel comic series featured some of them size-changing to vehicles that definitely ''were'' to human scale (as humans got in them), but this wasn't applied consistently (it also brings up the question of how much energy the downsizing really saves if they have to change their mass every time they transform).

Like their larger G1 brothers, the Micromaster line was plagued with scale problems even within the line itself, as all Micromasters conformed to a virutally identical robot-mode height yet transformed into all manner of vehicles which would be drastically different sizes to each other if they were supposed to be in relative scale. Furthermore, some Micromaster bases transformed into vehicle altmodes much larger than their operators, creating a further scale headache. However, there is no indication in any fiction that the Micromasters were, unlike the rest of G1, even ''supposed'' to have any accurate scale, even compared to each other. What, therefore, was the point of their "realistic" altmodes (other than to sell cute mini-toys) is anyone's guess.

== Citybots ==
[[Image:EarlyGalvatronTVMagazine1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Okay, if you were ever ''this'' big in the cartoon, THEN we might be able to call you a city.]]

The characters [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Trypticon]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] each have altmodes which are described as a "city" (with Fort Max being supposedly the biggest of the 4). However, the scale at which they could plausibly house enough humans, ''let alone'' Transformers to be in any way reasonably defined as a "city" would suggest a robot-mode scale that would make [[Hojoni|Godzilla]] look like a gecko. No fiction to date, not even the very large depictions in the Japanese ''[[Headmasters (cartoon)|Headmasters]]'' cartoon, even ''begins'' to approximate the size that a true "citybot" would logically become. In reality, the grossly-undersized depiction of [[Unicron]] (see below) would probably be closer to the scale of an actual transformed city. Which is ironic, as in Season 3 of the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] Unicron requires citybot eyes to replace his own shattered ones. That's right, citybot eyes fit a ''planet''bot. Explain that one...

Rare examples which even suggest such a realistic city scale include occasional Japanese promotional art (e.g. see left).

Furthermore, there is virtually no way to reconcile the "city" altmodes of the actual toys with any believable use of the term. Using windows as even a vague scale, they would hardly qualify as a city ''block''. The cartoon episode ''[[Thief in the Night]]'' makes some headway in explaining this via an establishing shot that shows Metroplex to be only a small smaller sub-section of the "actual" Autobot City, although this was not repeated. It seems that in Transformer terms, "city" is better read as "large building".

Although little fiction to date has significantly featured the Headmaster leaders fulfilling their "city" roles, they have in the Japanese-exclusive cartoons been employed in their tertiary modes as massive starships capable of transporting and housing many normal-sized transformers. Conversely, the Marvel [[Generation 1 (comic)|G1 comic]] depicted Fort Max and Scorpy as merely "large-standard" size characters, of an equal height to Powermaster Optimus Prime and, in some UK issues, even the same as Rodimus Prime (to be fair, Powermaster Prime was often drawn "undersized" in the comics). Parts of ''[[Time Wars]]'' were notable in this department for featuring characters as diverse as [[Goldbug]], Fortress Maximus and [[Blaster]] as all being the ''exact'' same height.

== Planets ==
[[Image:Cybertronplanet.jpg|left|thumb|Those are some mondo gigantically big buildings...and a mondo gigantically big gash.]]

Scale when it comes to planets is almost so fraught it's actively painful. The logic problems of describing citybots as "cities" is a thousand times worse if [[Unicron]] is supposed to have a planet-sized altmode, and that Cybertron is in turn supposed to be in scale with him. Although different fictions have compared both [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]/[[Primus]] and Unicron to drastically different Sol-system planets, the fact remains that they are supposed to be ''planets'', and yet across most fictions they are shown in such insane scale-relation to characters that it would suggest they are barely the size of a very, very small moon (or a space station).

To start with, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself was depicted throughout G1 as having buildings visible from space. Although this was clearly intended to make it immediately obvious that the planet was entirely technological in nature, it actually makes no sense whatsoever, as such structures would have to be the size of small continents to actually be visible from such a distance. If the buildings were in fact supposed to be Transformers-scale skyscrapers (or even 2000 A.D. style mega-bocks), Cybertron would therefore be barely a fraction the size of Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. By comparison, the rather [http://www.starwars.com/databank/location/coruscant/index.html Coruscant]-like orbit-views of Cybertron in the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon may be less distinctive or recognizably "Cybertronian", but are ''far'' more believable.

[[Image:UnicronEatsGalvyMmmm.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Either Galvy is humungo, or Lithone is ''tiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyy!!!'']]

Unicron, however, is a much more extreme problem. If one presumes that no obvious [[size changing]] occurs during his transformation (and really, why would he want to become ''smaller''?), he would be so massive that any shot that features even a ''part'' of his body, let alone the whole thing, would be of such a scale that no normal Transformer, however massive, would even be visible in the same frame. His depiction in the ''[[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|The Transformers: The Movie]]'' in which he directly interacts with normal-sized Cybertronian characters is blatantly absurd (regardless of how totally phat it looks). Shots such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] fleeing his grasping hand, a starship penetrating his eye or ''especially'' picking up Galvatron between his thumb and forefinger before swallowing him (or, similarly in the comic, impaling [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] on his fingernail before crunching him between his teeth) bend any concept of plausible scale beyond breaking point. If Unicron is the size of a planet, his hands would be the size of continents. This would make Galvatron the size of Great Britain.

There is no possible explanation for any of this. Just go with it.

The depiction of Unicron's scale in ''[[Armada]]'' was (very debatably) a slight improvement, at least in as much as the concept of physical interaction (or much bodily movement for that matter) with such tiny beings was not even attempted, preferring instead to communicate with normal Transformers by possessing [[Sideways|another body]] in their own scale. Nevertheless, shots featuring [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] standing on his neck region are still ''farcically'' out of scale.

== ''Beast Era'' scale ==
[[Image:RattrapLOVEScheetor.jpg|thumb|250px|right|I'm tellin' ya, ''all'' da rats in Brooklyn are dis big!]]
In the ''[[Beast Era]]'' scale is not such a large issue, although it certainly does crop up in less obvious (depending on your point of view) ways.

=== Real world scale ===
Although the Beast Warriors all seem to exist quite happily in their own relative scale, their scale in relation to the real-world animals they have adopted as [[altmode]]s is more problematic. While the "giant insect" characters such as [[Waspinator]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] are obviously not in real world scale, when considered carefully virtually none of the characters actually are. The only characters who have been clearly depicted interacting with real members of their adopted species are [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]], who (to take the former example) is seen attempting to interact with other cheetahs in ''[[Beast Wars, Part 1]]'', who react in fright. Cheetor was shown here to be in the same scale as real cheetahs, which effectively makes him the measuring stick for all other characters. [[Rattrap]] is therefore obviously a monstrously huge rat, about the size of a large dog, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] is a rather small rhinoceros, and [[Optimus Primal]] is probably a roughly normal-sized gorilla. However, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is therefore a positively dwarfish specimen of a ''Tyrannosaurus rex,'' possibly closer to a [[Wikipedia: Nanotyrannus|Nanotyrannus]].

The ''[[Beast Wars]]'' writers once noted that first-season Rattrap was five feet (1.5 metres) tall, and that the other characters can be scaled around that. This would make Rattrap one of the few Transformers who are ''shorter'' than the average adult human in robot mode.

In their few interactions with (adult) protohumans, the Cybertronian characters seem between twice and three times the average height of protohumans. Considering human ancestors really were smaller than modern humans, this scale issue is not as extreme as it may appear, but the point deserves addressing.

=== Scale relative to G1 ===
[[Image:Beastwarriors scale.jpg|thumb|left|Beast Megatron's size vs. Optimus Prime in America... and Japan. I guess the Blastizone adds on a few tons to [[Beast Era]] characters]]

[[Size changing]] appears to be a thing of the past by the Beast Era, as the majority of the Cybertronian race seems to have considerably downgraded in size, apparently due to the [[Maximal Upgrade]] Program (although this is of course a backwards rationalization, since the show's basic premise requires the characters to transform into (vaguely) normal-sized animals, compared to the G1 characters transforming into large vehicles etc.). When entering the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the Beast Warriors are very small compared to the dormant G1 characters, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. They are roughly the size humans should be (but usually weren't) depicted in relation to these characters.

On the other hand ''[[Robot Masters]]'' depicted G1 and BW characters like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Primal]] as being exactly the same size. Yup. It's possible that passage through the [[Blasty Zone]] may somehow [[Wikipedia:Boom tube#Later Additions to the Concept|account for this discrepancy]],
{{-}}

=== Toy scale vs. cartoon scale ===
[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Pick the Ultra-class figure.]]

The first season's cast of ''[[Beast Wars |Beast Wars]]'' characters were not designed in the same relative scale to each other as depicted in the toyline, although from Season 2 onwards the scales (and general toy-accuracy) of the cartoon became much more consistent with the toys.

For example, of the Season 1 Maximal crew, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], Cheetor, [[Tigatron (BW)|Tigatron]] and Rhinox are all from the same deluxe [[size class]], while [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] and Rattrap are considerably smaller basics. Optimus Primal, an ultra, stands at virtually twice the size of the deluxes. In the show, Dinobot is the tallest, followed by Rhinox and a slightly shorter Optimus Primal, shorter again is Tigatron, while shorter still is Cheetor (despite being an identical mold) and Airazor, while Rattrap is marginally the shortest, but by no means to such a degree as his toy would suggest.

The ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]''' toyline was far worse in terms of scale discrepancies with its cartoon, with the tallest character [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] becoming the shortest ([[micro-continuity|show-featured]]) Maximal toy, and similarly the diminutive [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] was enlarged to a massive ultra-class. And, sadly, the most show-accurate toy in the line (well, ''sorta'' in the line...) "Air Attack [[Optimus Primal]]" was rendered as an enormous supreme figure, completely incompatible with the other toys.

==External links==
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6db411e03e75a342?dmode=source Estimated "real-life" heights for several Transformers, derived from the size of their alt-modes, archived from alt.toys.transformers on groups.google.com]

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Planets]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category: Things that don't exist]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Energon cube

2007-08-13T20:46:24Z

24.207.235.109: /* ''Beast Wars'' */

This is the safest form of [[energon]], used for transportation and storage.

==Fiction==

===G1 Animated Series===

[[Image:EnergonCubesCartoon1.jpg |right|250px|thumb|NRG]]

As originally introduced, energon cubes seemed as though they could only be created by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1}}, who generated the empty cube framework from his similarly-shaped chest, but later, several other Decepticons proved able to produce them as well. It seemed as if energon cubes were a recent Decepticon invention -- precisely when they were concieved is unclear -- as the [[Autobots]] were apparently unaware of them until their reawakening on [[Earth]] in 1984, when [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] described them to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Prime]] as simply "some kind of cube". (This is a little perplexing in light of the fact that energon cubes were also shown to have existed by the time of Optimus Prime's creation at the end of Cybertron's [[Golden Age]]. {{storylink|War Dawn}}) By 2005, however, the Autobots had begun to use energon cubes for power as well.

Exactly how an energon cube operates is unclear, especially as their framework appears to be some sort of self-sustaining force field with no internal mechanisms. Most frequently, the empty cube is simply attached to or placed near the energy source from which it is to drain power, and the energy in question is automatically converted into liquid energon that fills the cube. Energon cubes have proven able to transform a vast array of resources into energon, including electricity, magma, oil and steam. The liquid energon within energon cubes is a glowing pink color, although the cubes could also be compressed for easy storage and transport, causing them to take on an irridescent rainbow effect.

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

In [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'']], the naturally-occuring energon on prehistoric [[Earth]] appeared only in an unstable, highly-explosive raw [[energon crystal|crystalline form]]. However, after the [[Planet Buster]] baked Earth's surface, the crystals were all either incinerated or somehow "converted" into more stable cubes. These cubes no longer emitted the dangerous radiation which prompted the Beast Warriors to adopt their beast modes in the first place. They were significantly smaller than G1 cubes and colored blue rather than pink. Rather than some sort of force field containing liquid energon, these smaller cubes may have simply been a different configuration of energon crystal, much as substances like salt can exist as cubical grains but can also grow into more traditional crystalline forms. [[Blackarachnia]] threatened to detonate an energon cube near her head if [[Tarantulas]] would not remove the mind-link he had with her. The explosion would have killed them both via the link, so Tarantulas did remove it. {{storylink|Tangled Web}}

==Things that look like energon cubes but aren't==
*[[Personality component]]s for some reason look like small energon cubes. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}
*Refined [[Cybertonium]] looks like a green coloured energon cube. {{Storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}
*The refined heat resistant alloy developed by [[Jessica Morgan]]'s father resembles yellow coloured energon cubes. {{Storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

The reason why all share the shape of energon cubes is a mystery that plagues us to this day....

==Toy==

[[Image:EnergonCubeToy1.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Rubix, the Amazing Cube!]]

Energon Cubes were available with Takara's "TF Collection" reissue of the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], and the set's [[redeco]], the Collector's Edition [[Insecticon (G1)|Insectron Clone Army]] ([[Shothole]], [[Salvo]] and [[Zaptrap]]) box set released in Japan in 2004.

There were also "energon cube" accessories available with the fast-food kids meal premiums in European McDonald's restaraunts. These cubes were little more than a cheap, battery powered gimmick (the battery couldn't be replaced; the triangle-headed screws used by McD's are notoriously impossible to remove) that would make sound or light the toy up. The cubes were interchangable, but not all of them were "compatible," so to speak - Unicron's light-up feature didn't work on the more opaque plastic of the other toys.

==Merchandise==
Released along side the Movie Preview protoform figures, Energon now takes on the delicious form of candy! Held inside clear, plastic containers, the "energon" inside is more or less flavorless balls of condensed sugar with articial colors. The cubes are held together by stickers, depicting scenes from G1. the larger cube, made of 8 smaller ones, can be open and folded, in one direction, until it returns to its original position.

Out of the eight cubes, only two have candy in them. Most of the art on the cube is taken from Dreamwave art by [[Pat Lee|Superstar Funana]], with the exception of two parts that feature art by [[Don Figueroa]]

[[Category:Power sources]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Mini-Con

2007-08-13T20:17:57Z

24.207.235.109: /* Powerlinx and Evolution */

:''Mini-Cons are a [[faction]]/type of [[Transformers]]. They exist in both the [[Unicron Trilogy]] and in the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]''

[[Image:Minicon symbol.png|250px|right]]

'''Mini-Cons''' are a race of small Transformers capable of [[powerlinx|powerlinxing]] with a larger Transformer and to impart extra abilities or greatly increase their strength. They share some of their history with the planet [[Gigantion]] and may have links to the cosmic origins of Transformers. In some timelines they are creations of [[Unicron]], while in others, they are creations of the [[Last Autobot]]. Their minds are very similar to those of [[human]]s.

:''Japanese term: '''Micron''' ''<br>
:''French-Canadian/Spanish term: '''Minimodus'''

==Fiction==
===''Universe: The Wreckers'' comics===
[[Ramulus]] uses "Mini-Con" as a term of derision, implying that [[CatSCAN]] is timid or insufficiently assertive.

===Unicron Trilogy===
====Animated continuity====
[[Unicron]] created the Mini-Cons to be mindless tools, sent to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as an agitating element to the Transformers' civil war. The power-enhancing "smart tools" would be unleashed upon the populace, who would snap them up, bond with them, and the war would only get more destructive, as Unicron drank in the negative psychic energies from the death and destruction. Once he'd gathered the power he needed, the Mini-Cons would turn on their supposed masters, incapacitating them, and Unicron would fully awaken to devour the planet and all Transformers on it, eliminating his biggest obstacle to devouring all of existance.

But through a strange warp in space and time that no one really bothered to explain, three [[human]] children from the future -[[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and [[Alexis]]- were sent to the Mini-Cons' birthing chamber on Cybertron just seconds before the small robots emerged from their pods. As the Mini-Cons had been designed to form mental bonds with other life forms, when Rad touched the Mini-Con who he knew from the future as [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]], High Wire apparently formed his bond then, with Rad... and through the Mini-Cons' shared "soul dimension", the [[Linkage (dimension)|Linkage]], sentience and free will spread throughout the Mini-Cons, forming "souls", and crippling Unicron's plans drastically.

====Dreamwave comics continuity====
[[Image:Mini-cons.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Gotta catch 'em all!]]
Mini-Cons are a second race of Transformer, mostly living in designated sectors by themselves, which left them open to attack when [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] led his Decepticons on capture raids. Mini-Cons are capable of adding their power (disproportionate to their size) to a Transformer with whom they [[Powerlinx]]. Mini-Cons are also capable of tapping an extradimensional energy source of unknown origin, but are wary of doing this, and most have inhibitors installed to prevent this from happening.

[[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]], a Mini-Con refugee from another dimension led Cybertron's collected Mini-Cons in tapping that dimension's energies and channeling them into an attack on Unicron which left him stranded on the far fringes of space.
After Unicron's defeat, most Mini-Cons re-established their villages in the Mini-Con sector. When Unicron appeared again 10 years later, no one went to fetch the Mini-Cons to battle Unicron again, so it seems likely the Mini-Cons connection to their extradimensional power source was severed.

:('''Note''': ''There is no indication that Mini-Cons are related to Unicron in Dreamwave continuity.)''

====Powerlinx and Evolution====
Mini-cons have the special ability to actually evolve other machines. From transforming simple cars into jet-powered assault vehicles, to upgrading Transformers to have new weapons spring from their body. The nature of Powerlinxing is emphasized more in the Japanese [[Micron Legend]] counterpart to Transformers [[Armada]]. Once powerlinked, the Autobot would call out "EVOLUTION!" and a portion of their body would literally reconfigure to become a new weapon. Afterwards, they retained this new ability without the powerlinking of the mini-con which granted it. Linking to that mini-con again simply enhances their firepower. The mini-con is not required in order to use the evolved weaponry afterwards. This has caused some confusion in the Armada viewing audience due to dub issues and the downplaying of the "Evolution" theme. Despite this, the term is used twice in the American series by Megatron.

====Gigantion Mini-cons====
The exact origin of the Gigantion Mini-Cons is questionable as presented within the context of the show itself. The show offers little to nothing on their genesis, merely their function as "little detail" workers whose brains developed similarly to human children because of this (uh, yeah). In ''Galaxy Force'', they are stated to have existed since ancient times and controlled the larger Transformers. There are even ancient ruins discovered with inscriptions using ''Armada'' Mini-Con model sheets.

The [[Fun Publications]] fiction has linked these Mini-Cons to those of ''Armada'', which simply has them migrating to Gigantion (as well as the other colony worlds) with the Transformers carrying the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, and offering the only definitive origin of those Mini-Cons. This would also make them creations of Unicron. However, this does not line fully with the fiction, as the Mini-Cons in Armada are shown appearing in the time of Optimus Prime, years after the world colonization - so the matter is left more than a bit vague.

===Generation 1===
====Classics====

Mini-cons were created by the [[Last Autobot]] to cleanse Cybertron of [[Demon]]s and [[Mutant]]s before the Autobots returned.

==Toys==
''This section talks about toys representing Mini-Cons in general. For toys representing '''specific''' Mini-Cons, see their individual pages.''
===Micron Legend===
*'''Big green Unicron exclusive redeco thing'''

===Attacktix===
[[Image:AttacktixMiniConS1.jpg|left|thumb|125px|Goooood.]]

*'''Mini-Con''' (Booster, 2006)
: ''Attacktix ID number'' '''TF01'''
:Faction: Autobot
:Class: Trooper
:Special: Attackback - 4/26 (15%) success ratio
:Point Cost: 10
:Base Speed: 4
:Attack Type: Shooter (Small Missile)

:The first assortment of Transformers ''[[Attacktix]]'' figures included a "generic" Mini-Con, based on [[Skyboom (Energon)|Skyboom]]. Each Mini-Con figure has 3 points of articulation, including waist and shoulders; however, their shoulders move together due to their gun. One of the shortest, most squat ''Attacktix'' figures, the Mini-Con is very stable despite its small base.

:Its Special Power, ''Attackback'', allows a free move and attack for any of your in-play Autobot pieces. Mini-Con is an excellent support figure for [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], whose ''Shootback'' power allows up to three Mini-Cons to make a free attack.

{{-}}

[[Image:AttackitxMiniConS2.jpg|right|thumb|125px|Eeeevil.]]

*'''Mini-Con''' (Booster, 2007)
: ''Attacktix ID number'': '''TF03'''
:Faction: Decepticon
:Class: Trooper
:Special: Attackback
:Point Cost: 10
:Base Speed: 4
:Attack Type: Shooter (Small Missile)

:An as-yet unreleased redeco of the ''Attacktix'' Mini-Con piece is set for the second series' Booster Packs, though this time as a Decepticon-aligned piece. It features a color scheme not on any incarnation of the actual [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]]/Skyboom toy, but wouldn't that be neat? The exact details of its Attackback special power are as yet unknown.

: This piece was later characterized as "[[Bunker-Buster]]" in the members-only portion of the [[Fun Publications]] [[Official Transformers Collectors' Club]] website.

{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/faction/minicon.htm Mini-Cons at TFU.info]
*[http://www.tfarchive.com/toys/references/mini-cons_microns.php TFArchive's complete Mini-Con/Micron list]

{{stub}}
[[Category: Armada]]
[[Category: Attacktix]]
[[Category: Classics]]
[[Category: Cybertron]]
[[Category: Energon]]
[[Category: Mini-Cons | Mini-Cons ]]
[[Category: Universe]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Mini-Con

2007-08-13T20:16:00Z

24.207.235.109:

:''Mini-Cons are a [[faction]]/type of [[Transformers]]. They exist in both the [[Unicron Trilogy]] and in the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]''

[[Image:Minicon symbol.png|250px|right]]

'''Mini-Cons''' are a race of small Transformers capable of [[powerlinx|powerlinxing]] with a larger Transformer and to impart extra abilities or greatly increase their strength. They share some of their history with the planet [[Gigantion]] and may have links to the cosmic origins of Transformers. In some timelines they are creations of [[Unicron]], while in others, they are creations of the [[Last Autobot]]. Their minds are very similar to those of [[human]]s.

:''Japanese term: '''Micron''' ''<br>
:''French-Canadian/Spanish term: '''Minimodus'''

==Fiction==
===''Universe: The Wreckers'' comics===
[[Ramulus]] uses "Mini-Con" as a term of derision, implying that [[CatSCAN]] is timid or insufficiently assertive.

===Unicron Trilogy===
====Animated continuity====
[[Unicron]] created the Mini-Cons to be mindless tools, sent to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as an agitating element to the Transformers' civil war. The power-enhancing "smart tools" would be unleashed upon the populace, who would snap them up, bond with them, and the war would only get more destructive, as Unicron drank in the negative psychic energies from the death and destruction. Once he'd gathered the power he needed, the Mini-Cons would turn on their supposed masters, incapacitating them, and Unicron would fully awaken to devour the planet and all Transformers on it, eliminating his biggest obstacle to devouring all of existance.

But through a strange warp in space and time that no one really bothered to explain, three [[human]] children from the future -[[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and [[Alexis]]- were sent to the Mini-Cons' birthing chamber on Cybertron just seconds before the small robots emerged from their pods. As the Mini-Cons had been designed to form mental bonds with other life forms, when Rad touched the Mini-Con who he knew from the future as [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]], High Wire apparently formed his bond then, with Rad... and through the Mini-Cons' shared "soul dimension", the [[Linkage (dimension)|Linkage]], sentience and free will spread throughout the Mini-Cons, forming "souls", and crippling Unicron's plans drastically.

====Dreamwave comics continuity====
[[Image:Mini-cons.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Gotta catch 'em all!]]
Mini-Cons are a second race of Transformer, mostly living in designated sectors by themselves, which left them open to attack when [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] led his Decepticons on capture raids. Mini-Cons are capable of adding their power (disproportionate to their size) to a Transformer with whom they [[Powerlinx]]. Mini-Cons are also capable of tapping an extradimensional energy source of unknown origin, but are wary of doing this, and most have inhibitors installed to prevent this from happening.

[[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]], a Mini-Con refugee from another dimension led Cybertron's collected Mini-Cons in tapping that dimension's energies and channeling them into an attack on Unicron which left him stranded on the far fringes of space.
After Unicron's defeat, most Mini-Cons re-established their villages in the Mini-Con sector. When Unicron appeared again 10 years later, no one went to fetch the Mini-Cons to battle Unicron again, so it seems likely the Mini-Cons connection to their extradimensional power source was severed.

:('''Note''': ''There is no indication that Mini-Cons are related to Unicron in Dreamwave continuity.)''

====Powerlinx and Evolution====
Mini-cons have the special ability to actually evolve other machines. From transforming simple cars into jet-powered assault vehicles, to upgrading Transformers to have new weapons spring from their body. The nature of Powerlinking is emphasized more in the Japanese [[Micron Legend]] counterpart to Transformers [[Armada]]. Once powerlinked, the Autobot would call out "EVOLUTION!" and a portion of their body would literally reconfigure to become a new weapon. Afterwards, they retained this new ability without the powerlinking of the mini-con which granted it. Linking to that mini-con again simply enhances their firepower. The mini-con is not required in order to use the evolved weaponry afterwards. This has caused some confusion in the Armada viewing audience due to dub issues and the downplaying of the "Evolution" theme. Despite this, the term is used twice in the American series by Megatron.

====Gigantion Mini-cons====
The exact origin of the Gigantion Mini-Cons is questionable as presented within the context of the show itself. The show offers little to nothing on their genesis, merely their function as "little detail" workers whose brains developed similarly to human children because of this (uh, yeah). In ''Galaxy Force'', they are stated to have existed since ancient times and controlled the larger Transformers. There are even ancient ruins discovered with inscriptions using ''Armada'' Mini-Con model sheets.

The [[Fun Publications]] fiction has linked these Mini-Cons to those of ''Armada'', which simply has them migrating to Gigantion (as well as the other colony worlds) with the Transformers carrying the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, and offering the only definitive origin of those Mini-Cons. This would also make them creations of Unicron. However, this does not line fully with the fiction, as the Mini-Cons in Armada are shown appearing in the time of Optimus Prime, years after the world colonization - so the matter is left more than a bit vague.

===Generation 1===
====Classics====

Mini-cons were created by the [[Last Autobot]] to cleanse Cybertron of [[Demon]]s and [[Mutant]]s before the Autobots returned.

==Toys==
''This section talks about toys representing Mini-Cons in general. For toys representing '''specific''' Mini-Cons, see their individual pages.''
===Micron Legend===
*'''Big green Unicron exclusive redeco thing'''

===Attacktix===
[[Image:AttacktixMiniConS1.jpg|left|thumb|125px|Goooood.]]

*'''Mini-Con''' (Booster, 2006)
: ''Attacktix ID number'' '''TF01'''
:Faction: Autobot
:Class: Trooper
:Special: Attackback - 4/26 (15%) success ratio
:Point Cost: 10
:Base Speed: 4
:Attack Type: Shooter (Small Missile)

:The first assortment of Transformers ''[[Attacktix]]'' figures included a "generic" Mini-Con, based on [[Skyboom (Energon)|Skyboom]]. Each Mini-Con figure has 3 points of articulation, including waist and shoulders; however, their shoulders move together due to their gun. One of the shortest, most squat ''Attacktix'' figures, the Mini-Con is very stable despite its small base.

:Its Special Power, ''Attackback'', allows a free move and attack for any of your in-play Autobot pieces. Mini-Con is an excellent support figure for [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], whose ''Shootback'' power allows up to three Mini-Cons to make a free attack.

{{-}}

[[Image:AttackitxMiniConS2.jpg|right|thumb|125px|Eeeevil.]]

*'''Mini-Con''' (Booster, 2007)
: ''Attacktix ID number'': '''TF03'''
:Faction: Decepticon
:Class: Trooper
:Special: Attackback
:Point Cost: 10
:Base Speed: 4
:Attack Type: Shooter (Small Missile)

:An as-yet unreleased redeco of the ''Attacktix'' Mini-Con piece is set for the second series' Booster Packs, though this time as a Decepticon-aligned piece. It features a color scheme not on any incarnation of the actual [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]]/Skyboom toy, but wouldn't that be neat? The exact details of its Attackback special power are as yet unknown.

: This piece was later characterized as "[[Bunker-Buster]]" in the members-only portion of the [[Fun Publications]] [[Official Transformers Collectors' Club]] website.

{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/faction/minicon.htm Mini-Cons at TFU.info]
*[http://www.tfarchive.com/toys/references/mini-cons_microns.php TFArchive's complete Mini-Con/Micron list]

{{stub}}
[[Category: Armada]]
[[Category: Attacktix]]
[[Category: Classics]]
[[Category: Cybertron]]
[[Category: Energon]]
[[Category: Mini-Cons | Mini-Cons ]]
[[Category: Universe]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Transformers: The Movie Storybook

2007-08-13T16:55:24Z

24.207.235.109: /* Items of Note */

[[Image:Tf_moviestorybook_2007.jpg|thumb|250px]]
==Vital Statistics==
ISBN 978-0-06-088836-7 <br/>
'''Writer:''' [[Kate Egan]], based on the screenplay and story of the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 Movie]]<br/>
'''Illustrator:''' [[Marcelo Matere]]<br/>
'''Pagecount:''' 48pp

'''Major characters:'''
* All major characters from the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 movie]] appear in this retelling ''except'' the one from the Quatar SOCCENT Base ([[William Lennox]], [[Robert Epps]], [[Jorge Figueroa]]) and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] (who only appeared in scenes fighting them)

Originally published: In the US by Harper Entertainment, an imprint of Harper Collins ''Publishers'', 2007

==Synopsis==
Long ago the [[Transformers]] battled over the [[All Spark|Allspark]], the source of their life force, which was lost in space and eventually fell to Earth.
Years later, [[Archibald Witwicky]] activated an [[Megatron (Movie)|iceman]] in the Arctic, which burned strange symbols into his glasses...

[[Samuel James Witwicky|Sam Witwicky]] went to buy a used car after giving a report on his ancestor. A beat-up [[Bumblebee (Movie)|yellow camaro]] honked when he tried to look at other cars, so he bought it.

[[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] attacked a military base, and analyst [[Maggie Marconi]] is brought in to find out who was responsible. When Air Force One is also attacked and a virus left behind, she consults with her hacker-friend [[Glen Whitman|Glen]] who thinks the virus must be alien.

[[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] cross-references the file he stole from [[Air Force One]] and finds out Sam is auctioning off Archibald Witwicky's belongings online.

In the middle of the night, a [[Mustache Man|mustached man]] drives off with Sam's car. He follows it to a factory where he sees the car stand up and beam a light into the sky. The camaro departed before Sam could find out more. ''Sam's encounter with the dogs, the police report, etc... does not occur.''

Sam's car is back in the driveway the next day, and Sam follows it on bike when it leaves, encountering [[Mikaela Banes]], who follows him out of curiosity. Sam is attacked by a police car, which turned into the [[Decepticon]] [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]]. Bumblebee rescues them both, and then scans a new-model Camaro to impress his new friends. ''The fight with [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] does not occur''.

Outside of town, four meteors land and unfold into [[Transition form|spindly robots.]] They all scan cars passing on the nearby highway and introduce themselves as [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]. Optimus Prime explains that his brother Megatron is leader of the Decepticons, and he burned a map into the glasses of Sam's ancestor long ago.

Sam and Mikaela return to their home to search for the glasses, but the secret government agency [[Sector Seven]] arrives and grabs them into custody before they can deliver the glasses. The Autobots attack the Sector Seven convoy and free Sam and Mikaela. Bumblebee is captured protecting the humans, who are also taken back into custody, but Optimus Prime recovers the dropped glasses.

[[John Keller|Defense Secretary Keller]], not believing Maggie Marconi's claim the attacks are alien, is preparing to attack either Russia or China- when the virus Frenzy planted shuts down worldwide communications. Sector Seven agent [[Tom Banachek]] shows him the attackers are aliens.

All parties converge on [[Hoover Dam]], Sector Seven's secret headquarters. They have megatron here frozen in ice, and the Allspark. The Decepticons attack the dam, and Megatron begins to awaken. Sam convinces them to free Bumblebee so he can transport the Allspark. They meet up with the Autobots as Megatron escapes.

The Autobots and Decepticons battle in the nearby city. Sam ends carries the Allspark to the top of a building to get away but it attacked by Starscream and Megatron. Optimus Prime yells for Spike to shove the Allspark into Megatrons' spark, which overloads it.

With their lifeforce destroyed, the Autobots vow to survive for those who did not. Later, Optimus Prime sends a message into space for any other Autobots who may have survived telling them to come to their new home.

==Items of Note==
* The [[All Spark|Allspark]] is described as 'the only remaining Allspark.'
* The [[Pentagon]] was aware their base had been attacked by a robot, but assumed it was created by Russia or China. [[Maggie Marconi]] is their top analyst, not one of many.
* The characters from [[Qatar]] are completely absent in this retelling, including [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]].
* [[Glen Whitmann|Glen]] is white and skinny, for no apparent reason. ''Glen is identified by his first name only.''
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]'s holographic driver is specifically noted to have a [[Mustache Man|mustache]], just like [[Blackout (movie)|Blackout's]] and [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream's]].
* Bumblbee's 'guardian' function is explained to mean he has apointed himself Sam's personal bodyguard.
* Tom Banachek uses a mac. He's also dressed like an army officer. The pictures on from Mars include clear views of Barricade and Frenzy.
* Hoover's reason for building the dam around the Allspark was not to hide it, it was to contain the dangerous energy which could turn any machine into a monster.
* Frenzy did not relay the location of Sector Seven's base to the other Decepticons, rather the base's location is explained to be in the file he stole from Air Force One. ''This makes very little sense. Why bother attacking Sam then?
* [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz's]] death is not directly addressed. He is 'hit by a massive pulse' from Megatron, then never mentioned again. (Conspicuously so; he his absent from the list of triumphant Autobots at the end of the book.)
* Sam's 'throw the football' Allspark attack reflects early drafts of the movie script.

==External links==
* [http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Movie-Storybook-Kate-Egan/dp/0060888369/ref=sr_1_1/002-1913954-2293612?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184229958&sr=1-1 Transformers: The Movie Storybook at Amazon.com]

[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Movie]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Ultra Magnus (G1)

2007-08-12T16:03:31Z

24.207.235.109: /* IDW comics continuity */

{{disambig3|Ultra Magnus}}

:''Ultra Magnus is an [[Autobot]] in the [[Generation 1]] continuity family.''

[[Image:Ultramagnusg1.jpg|250px|right|thumb|"I can't deal with that now!"]]

'''Ultra Magnus''' feels he is a soldier and nothing more. He very much prefers taking orders to giving them, and even avoids opportunities for higher responsibility. But when he is forced into those opportunities, he betrays his real talent for the job. He's strong, resolute, dependable, selfless, and courageous. Sadly, Ultra Magnus is the only Autobot who doesn't realize this.

Believing he is nothing but a soldier, Ultra Magnus is perfectly willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good if need be. He knows he's more powerful than the average Autobot, and will throw himself at larger threats accordingly. There is a special enmity between him and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] for this reason, for Galvatron may be the most deadly foe of all. (Also, Galvatron, given his mental state, probably doesn't approve of people he's had blown up getting back up afterward. This can be seen as a sore point for Magnus, too.)

He is possibly [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s brother.

:''Italian name'': '''Convoy'''<br>
:''French-Canadian name'': '''Ultramag'''

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===

====Manga====

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer'' manga (Japan-only)=====

''(The "Fight! Super Robot Life Transformer" manga takes place before the events of Transformers the Movie and around the events of Scramble City)''

Ultra Magnus first appeared to deliver Optimus Prime his trailer, containing a special cannon upgrade, the "Scramble Power Buster". They engage the Decepticons in battle and Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime team-up to defeat the villains with their "Convoy Magnus Double Cross Kick".

Ultra Magnus also came up with the idea for the global underground transportation system, the [[Autobot Road]].

''(The manga specifically notes that Optimus Prime looks upon Ultra Magnus as his "Kid Brother". Although the manga is a suppliment to the TV series, this family-dynamic between the two characters was never used in the cartoon.)''

=====The Transformer=====

=====Transformer: Big War=====

====''Scramble City'' (Japan-only)====
Voice actor: [[Banjō Ginga]] (Japan)

''(Note: Scramble City takes place before the events of [[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|Transformers the Movie]].)''

Ultra Magnus first came to Earth around the year 1986 to head-up the [[Scramble City]] (AKA [[Autobot City]]) project. Under his supervision, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] was built. Unfortunately, Metroplex was discovered by the spy [[Ratbat]] under Ultra Magnus' watch, who leaked the location back to Megatron.

====''Binaltech'' (Japan-only)====

While Optimus Prime was fighting the Decepticon on Cybertron, he charged [[Ultra Magnus]] to protect the earth and to lead the construction of the new Autobot city. When the crisis annouced by Ravage arrived, he went with Ultra Magnus on a last chance mission to stop Unicron, while sending [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] into the past to restore the timeline so that recent events instigated by Ravage would not happen.

====''Transformers The Movie''====
Voice actors: [[Robert Stack]] → [[Jack Angel]] (US); [[Show Hayami]] (Japan)

By 2005, Ultra Magnus was the full-fledged City Commander for [[Autobot City]]. Autobot City was under his authority when Megatron and the Decepticons waged their full-scale attack. Ultra Magnus ordered [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] to transform it to battle-mode, but it only held the Decepticons off for so long. In the fight, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was mortally wounded and passed the [[Matrix]] of Leadership on to Ultra Magnus, making Magnus the new Supreme Commander of the Autobots.

Autobot City was quickly attacked a second time by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], the upgraded version of [[Megatron (G1)| Megatron]]. Ultra Magnus lured him away on his shuttle, but was eventually shot-down onto the [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]]. Galvatron tracked him there and Ultra Magnus managed to draw him away from the other Autobots to face the enemy alone. Magnus attempted to open the Matrix, but the Matrix would not open, and Ultra Magnus was blown to pieces. Galvatron took the Matrix, intending to use it to destroy [[Unicron]].

After the Autobots befriended the [[Junkion]]s, they used their expertise to rebuild Ultra Magnus. Magnus joined the other Autobots in the battle with Unicron on [[Cybertron]] and helped drive the last of the Decepticons from their home planet. {{Storylink|The Transformers: The Movie (1986)}}

====''Kiss Players'' (Japan-only)====

When [[Rodimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Galvatron]] in 2005 led to the catastrophic destruction of [[Tokyo]], the new Autobot leader was consumed by guilt. He passed on the [[Matrix]] to Ultra Magnus in order to revert to [[Hot Rod]] and return to [[Earth]].
====''Season 3/2010''====

In 2006 (or 2010, if you're Japanese), Ultra Magnus ceased his role as a City Commander and became head-adviser to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], the new Supreme Commander of the Autobots and chosen one of the Matrix. At various times he was [[The Killing Jar|sucked into a black hole]], [[Only Human|turned into a synthetic human]] and [[Surprise Party|had a birthday party]].

When the [[Hate Plague]] possessed all of Earth and Cybertron, Ultra Magnus singled Rodimus Prime out of all the other Autobots and focused all his rage on him, vowing to track him wherever he went. Ultra Magnus was eventually cured of the Hate Plague when Optimus Prime came back from the dead (again). {{Storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime}}

====''Rebirth'' (America-only)====

Some time later, Ultra Magnus helped defend Autobot City from a massive Decepticon assault, which was actually a diversion for the theft of the key to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]]. Subsequent to the battle and discovery of the theft, Magnus accompanied Optimus Prime on a shuttle to Cybertron. After Prime got the answers he needed from [[Vector Sigma]], he decided to go to [[Nebulos]] and left Ultra Magnus in charge of Cybertron. {{Storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Ultra Magnus' tenure didn't go very well, as the selfsame massive Decepticon assault force was attacking the planet. Nonetheless, he and the [[Protectobot]]s struck at Galvatron, and may well have done him in if [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s reinforcements hadn't arrived. Magnus then ignominiously had his [[power pack]] torn out and slowly began to die from lack of energon. Still, he was able to relay Galvatron's crazed scheme to Optimus Prime and the Autobot [[Headmaster]]s before blacking out.

When Ultra Magnus next awoke, the Golden Age of Cybertron had come anew, and the Decepticons were seemingly defeated once and for all. {{Storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

====''Headmasters'' (Japan-only)====
Voice actor: [[Hōchū Ōtsuka|Yoshitada Ōtsuka]] (Japan)

Ultra Magnus continued his work as Commander of Autobot City on Earth and was instrumental in several victories over the Decepticons. Because of this, [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] singled him out for assasination. Ultra Magnus and Sixshot engaged in a one-on-one duel outside Autobot City, and Ultra Magnus was completely wrecked by Sixshot's six transformations. He was finally done in by Sixshot's mysterious 7th transformation, "Wingwolf". After his death, Ultra Magnus was placed in a coffin and buried on Earth, the planet he loved so dearly.

====Generation 2 manga (Japan-only)====
=====E-Hobby=====

After his death at the hands of Sixshot, Ultra Magnus was aloud entry into the Matrix of Leadership, as he was it’s bearer for a brief time. But Ultra Magnus’ spark still was still restless, he knew he didn’t belong. Using the Cosmic Awareness that accompanies joining the Matrix to spy on the mortal relm, Ultra Magnus learned, by chance of Galvatron II and his massive [[Warworld|Mobile Battle Fortress]] putting the Galaxy at Risk. Determend to set things right, Magnus contacted Optimus Prime via their shared link to the Matrix, and resurrected himself in a similar body using Prime’s [[Reconfiguration Matrix]]. Ultra Magnus immediately set out to counter Galvatron II’s invasion and started raising forces of his own. On at least one occasion Ultra Magnus was so thoroughly trounced by Galvatron and his endless puns that he required saving by Optimus Prime in his new [[Black Body]].

In this new form Ultra Magnus is able to switch between various body types (including his original) at will, similar to Optimus Prime, thanks to his contact with the Reconfigeration Matrix. In addition, he is able to tap into his [[Laser Core]] to power his blaster and sword.

===Ladybird books continuity===
Ultra Magnus came from Cybertron to take over leadership of the Autobots after Optimus Prime disappeared. He is opposed by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] as Decpticon leader and this is presented as a prolonged status quo rather than the rather brief version of this scenario presented in the animated continuity. Furthermore [[Spike Witwicky]] appears to still be a teenager at this point, making a setting date of 2005 unlikely.
Ultra Magnus functioning as Prime's successor for some time rather than being immediately replaced by [[Hot Rod|Rodimus Prime]] is presented in this and other [[Micro-continuity|micro-continuities]] based on the action figure line rather than the film.

===Marvel Comics UK continuity===
:''('''Note''': Ultra Magnus appeared only in the Marvel UK books.)''

The remaining Autobot elders spent years designing Ultra Magnus, a leader to lift the resistance out of a deep darkness. He was finally given life in or shortly before 1986<ref>Ultra Magnus profile in Marvel UK #83</ref> for Operation Volcano. His role was to act as the crucial back-up needed for the [[Wreckers]] to successfully destroy their Decepticon targets and then escape in one piece. A serious complication arose when the Matrix Flame, the sacred and eternal blaze linked directly to the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] itself, suddenly extinguished. Fearing that something catastrophic had occurred on Earth to the Matrix and its bearer, Optimus Prime, Emirate Xaaron made the decision to send Ultra Magnus to that planet to investigate, even though Operation Volcano was unstoppably set to begin in ten cycles. Magnus travelled to Earth by way of [[Space Bridge]], and found the Ark's crew engaged in a deadly conflict with three new, yet unspeakably powerful, Decepticon warriors just as their leaders Optimus Prime, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] vanished before their optic sensors. Initially concerned only with his investigation of Prime's sudden disappearance, Ultra Magnus ignored the plight of his fellow Autobots until he learned the two situations were linked; [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and his lieutenants were time-travelers from 2006, having employed a mass-substitution mechanism that sent the three Autobots into limbo in order to accommodate their presence at this point in the timeline. This connection was revealed to him by three Autobots from 2006, who had traveled back in time themselves in order to stop Galvatron. They had a plan; they had the means; all they needed was for Ultra Magnus to keep him busy for, oh...an hour or two.

Easier said than done.

Magnus's battle with Galvatron carried them out of the isolated wilderness and onto a human freeway system. It ended when Ultra Magnus threw a tanker truck full of fuel into the path of Galvatron's particle cannon. Galvatron walked away from the blast -- Magnus didn't. Still, the future Autobots succeeded in tricking Galvatron into returning to the future with his plan incomplete, and the timeline more-or-less preserved. Unfortunately, Magnus was out of time: Operation Volcano proceeded without him, with disastrous results. Only one Decepticon was taken out, and the Wreckers' leader Impactor was killed protecting Xaaron. {{Storylink|Target 2006}}

Ultra Magnus would not meet his counterpart, Optimus Prime, until Prime was inadvertently transported back to Cybertron in battle with Megatron. Hooking up with [[Straxus|Lord Straxus]] at [[Polyhex]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] quickly disseminated false information about a new Decepticon madeover to look exactly like Optimus Prime, planning to infiltrate the Autobot forces. Having temporarily assumed control of the Wreckers until their new leader, [[Springer]], was ready for command, Ultra Magnus led them in hunting down the "imposter". This Prime's behavior led Magnus to be suspicious of his information and, after summoning Emirate Xaaron, confirmed his suspicions and welcomed the true Optimus Prime back to Cybertron. Prime wasted no time leading Magnus and the others on a series of successful raids and strike missions against Decepticon-controlled territory. When Optimus decided to return home to Earth, however, Ultra Magnus was caught up in the space bridge's energy discharge as well, arriving on Earth but some considerable distance away from where Prime materialized. Having been frustrated ever since Impactor's death, Magnus welcomed the "vacation" this trip to Earth would provide him, as he took his time trying to track down the Ark's location.

For months, Ultra Magnus enjoyed a peaceful life in the American forests and wilderness, alone with his thoughts. A sudden seismic disturbance brought him back to reality, though, and into contact with three human females whose vehicle had been overturned by the tremor. One in particular, Cindy, took quite a liking to Magnus. As they travelled together to explore a nearby volcano and its connection to the tremors, Magnus was forced back into combat thanks to the arrival of his old sparring partner, the future Decepticon known as Galvatron. Galvatron had constructed a magma siphon atop the volcano's peak, and planned to convert the raw power of a volcanic eruption into enough energy to transform him into a god. Ultra Magnus teamed up with several Autobots from the future, who were trying to bring Galvatron back with them to face justice. Once again, Magnus was used as a "distraction" (read: living punching bag) while the future Autobots set up their plan to override Galvatron's time-jump mechanism and send them all back where they came from. Despite Ultra Magnus successfully getting the slag beat out of him, the override proved unsuccessful, sending only the Autobots back to 2007 and leaving Magnus virtually alone to deal with the fighting-mad Galvatron. Barely managing to rally his courage, Ultra Magnus threw himself into combat with Galvatron one more time, keeping him busy until the volcano exploded, destroying the power siphon and encasing both warriors in molten lava.

Several months later, Ultra Magnus was dug out of the volcano by the [[Sparkabot|Sparkler Mini-Bots]]. They had been sent to Earth by Springer to monitor the volcano in case Galvatron ever got free. When Galvatron DID free himself several days earlier, though, they found themselves hopelessly outmatched, and hoped Magnus would have better luck. Sadly, the severe beatings Galvatron had routinely handed out to Ultra Magnus, combined with the final excrutiating submergence in molten lava, had nearly unhinged the Autobot's mind, leaving him with a pathological fear of his tormentor. Confronted with Galvatron, Magnus would probably have gone fetal if that pose had any meaning for his people. As the Sparklers heroically tried to stand up to Galvatron anyway, Ultra Magnus saw his rescuers in grave danger and finally managed to push his fear aside and reclaim enough confidence to batter the Decepticon into a temporary retreat. {{Storylink|Salvage!}}

Having renewed his fighting spirit, Ultra Magnus arranged to return to Cybertron with his companions in order to report on Galvatron's activities and hopefully gather the Wreckers for a counter-offensive. Instead, they found the Autobot base in Kalis full of battle signs, and the entire surrounding city-state a virtual "ghost-town". After confronting a legion of robot zombies, the Autobots eventually learned that a crazed scientist named [[Flame (UK comic)|Flame]] was trying to re-engineer the entire planet as a giant spacecraft, setting off an unstable fusion reactor beneath the planet's surface as a power source. With the help of the Wreckers and the Decepticons [[Flywheels]] and [[Trypticon]], Ultra Magnus and his team managed to put an end to Flame's maniacal scheme.

Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers then began preparations to return to Earth and confront the threat of Galvatron, finally, once and for all, and then...*poof*. The Wreckers went to Earth alone, and Ultra Magnus was never seen nor heard from again.

===Blackthorne Transformers In 3-D continuity===

===PD Type mini-comics===

At one point, the [[Blackball]] was left in the safekeeping of Ultra Magnus. Galvatron, catching Magnus by surprise, managed to blow him up with a powerful energy blast from his fusion cannon. Recovering the Blackball, Galvatron began to gloat about his victory. That's when Magnus' body hurled his head at Galvatron like a bowling ball, causing the [[Emperor of Destruction]] to fall over like a set of pins and drop the Blackball. That's ''using your head'', Magnus! *sigh*

===Dreamwave comics continuity===

[[Image:Magnuslongshot.jpg|left|thumb|250px|And then Takara saw this and were all like, "Oh, crap, that's right, we can do redecos, can't we?"]]

After Prime's and Megatron disappeared during the first space bridge incident {{storylink|The Dark Ages, Part 1}}, Ultra Magnus retreated from prominence in the Autobot army. However he was eventually able to overcome his own fear and take a role of leadership. Together with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], he was on the verge of ending the war when Megatron arrived and enslaved the plane with the [[Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. Magnus was put to work in a slave mines. {{storylink|The War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

Years later, Ultra Magnus and Shockwave worked together to replenish their armies in the [[Little Iacon]] incident. Many of the [[Micromasters]] created resented Ultra Magnus for bringing him into their war. {{storylink|Micromasters (comic)}}

After [[Great Shutdown]], [[Ultra Magnus]] was reactivated and took the role of security officer under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] rule, even if he was dissatisfied working under a leader who clearly held his own agenda. After many, many delays, Ultra Magnus confronted Shockwave about the mastermind's plans - but Magnus was silenced by gun fire. He survived by discarding his armor. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

After Shockwave had been removed from power, Ultra Magnus was content to oversee operations on Cybertron while Prime spent ten issues getting repaired.

{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{spoiler}}
Ultra Magnus' concept has been tweaked somewhat to fit within Simon Furman's Cold War-influenced G1 reboot continuity; although still a soldier, Magnus' role is similar to that of an Interpol officer. Specifically, he is an agent of the Tyrest Accord. Although never detailed, this Accord seems to be part of a greater Code of Interplanetary Conflict, some form of treaty between Autobots, Decepticons and other alien races. As an enforcer of the Accord, Magnus hunts down any Transformers, Autobots or Decepticons alike, who illegally sell or distribute Cybertronian technology, handing them over to their superiors for prosecution.

One such violation saw Magnus pursue [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] to the planet Zull. After arresting the Combaticon, Magnus reluctantly released Swindle in exchange for the current whereabouts of an even greater offender: [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Magnus has a personal grudge against Scorponok, who is the Autobot's polar opposite; while Magnus sets great stock in rules, Scorponok flouts them. Magnus follows Swindle's lead to the planet [[Nebulos]], but although he disrupts Scorponok's operations, the Decepticon is able to escape.

Later on, Magnus arrests Swindle for yet anohter violation, and once again, Swindle offers a deal, leaving Magnus to wonder whether he'll start breaking the rules just to finally catch Scorponok...

==Notes==

*It has been speculated by some fans that, in animated continuity, Ultra Magnus may have been created from Orion Pax's friend [[Dion]], the same way and at the same time Prime and [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] were rebuilt by [[Alpha Trion]].
:''For further elaboration, see [[Dion#Who_is_Dion.3F|Who is Dion?]].''

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
* '''Ultra Magnus''' (1986, 2000, 2002)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-69'''
[[Image:Ultramagnusg1toy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Honkimus Prime.]]

: Ultra Magnus is a [[redeco]] of the [[Diaclone]] Powered Convoy toy, which itself was a redecoed Battle Convoy (pre-TF [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]) with a new trailer that combined with the cab robot to form a super robot. Whereas the original Japanese use was an upgrade to Convoy, Hasbro released him as a separate character and both the comic and the cartoon ignored the cab robot in favor of the super robot.

:Ultra Magnus transforms into a white Freightliner COE with a blue and red car-carrier trailer. He comes with a rifle that has two pegs that will fit into either the fist of the cab robot or fist of the super robot, and he also comes with two missile launchers that can plug into either the front of the trailer or the shoulders of the super robot. Additional accessories include the cab robot's fists, the super robot's fists, the super robot head, the super robot chestplate, and two crotchplates/trailer hitches.

:The original American toy was released in at least two versions -- one with rubber tires and paint on both heads, and a second with plastic tires and no paint on either head.

:Ultra Magnus was first reissued in Japan in 2000 with little to no changes. Two years later, Ultra Magnus was reissued as a Toys "R" Us exlusive in the United States in the first wave of the [[Commemorative Series]]; the American reissue's missiles were elongated to pass modern safety laws. Both reissues had rubber tires and the facial paint.

*'''Ultra Magnus Movie Preview version''' (2001)
: In the early stages of the development of the 1986 animated movie, several promotional clips for the movie were produced, including one depicting Ultra Magnus in the original Diaclone Powered Convoy color scheme. The Movie Preview toy was released in 2001 based on that brief (and premature) appearance, featuring a blue colored cab.

*'''Ultra Magnus Matrix Glow version''' (2001)
: With a yellow cab and a clear yellow trailer, Matrix Glow Ultra Magnus or Shining Magnus is intended to recall the moment in the animated movie, just before Optimus Prime dies, when the Matrix is passed to Ultra Magnus and he is bathed in its Matrixey yellow light. It was also released in 2001.

: This version is sometimes referred to by fans as "Urine Magnus", or slightly less-polite variations of the same.

===Generation 2===
* '''Laser Ultra Magnus''' (2006)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' ''' TRF-13-S'''

[[Image:G2_LaserUltraMagnus_toy.jpg|right|thumb|Probably the only Magnus repaint of Prime we'll ever get who isn't just white.]]

: An [[e-Hobby]] exclusive, ''Generation 2'' Laser Ultra Magnus is a redeco of Laser Optimus Prime, transforming into a mid-1990s Western Star 4964EX extended-hood truck pulling a blue and white tanker trailer. He was packaged in the reissue Laser Optimus Prime's box, along with Prime's instructions, bio card and sticker sheet. Yes, the stickers that have "Optimus Prime" written on them.

:In robot mode the bottom of the truck became his familiar windowed chest based upon the original Optimus Prime toy (and the original Ultra Magnus's cab). His main gimmick was light up LED headlights, and a [[lightpipe]] in the bottom of his right fist, illuminated by an LED in his right forearm, that would illuminate his clear sword or his double-barreled rifle if they were used in that hand. All three LEDs were activated simultaneously by pressing the sunroof-like depression on the roof of the truck.

:The trailer unfolds to form a battle station bristling with many firing weapons. Primarily, it can fire an air-powered missile launcher, a ripple rocket launcher with 5 missiles that can be launched individually (this turret can also be mounted in Laser Magnus' hand) and a 'disc launcher', that fired several white plastic discs. This disc launcher is the only weapon that can be used in vehicle mode.

:This release uses the toolings that were modified for the ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] toy, and thus has smooth discs and a less pointy sword.

===Masterpiece===
* '''Ultra Magnus''' (2004)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-2'''

[[Image:Masterpiece_UltraMagnus_toy.jpg|left|thumb|He looks like this in ONE comic. ONE.]]

: ''Masterpiece'' Ultra Magnus is a white redeco of ''Masterpiece'' Convoy (Optimus Prime) with all the same accessories, though some have been redecoed. Additionally, his box can be refolded into his classic trailer configuration, but doesn't hold up since it's, well, cardboard. He retains the Matrix, which he can indeed open. Damnit, open.

: As a Takara product, ''Masterpiece'' Ultra Magnus was never released in the US, but was eventually released by Hasbro Australia in 2005 for their market as a Target-exclusive, retaining his Japanese packaging, with simple stickers stating a recommended age of 8+, as well as presenting Hasbro Australia's details and explaining what the product was.

{{-}}

===Classics===
*'''Ultra Magnus vs Skywarp: Battle For Autobot City''' (Multi-pack, 2007)
[[Image:ClassicsUltraMagnus_toy.jpg|right|thumb|Arctic Camo Prime!]]

: A [[redeco]] of the Voyager class Optimus Prime, this release is part of the Target [[exclusive]] ''Battle for Autobot City'' set with [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. The final production toy has several major paint paint application differences compared to the toy depicted on the packaging, including the loss of all light blue paint (including his faceplate and crest, both replaced with silver, darker blue on his thighs. Also his red eyes are replaced with the light piping color (blue). Additionally, it seems the smokestacks/double-barreled gun was originally going to be cast or painted white instead of the final's black.

: Like Optimus Prime, the toy's gimmicks are in his weapons - his smokestacks fold together to become a double-barreled gun, and his aero fairing splits and unfolds to become a large shotgun-like blaster. The two weapons also combine into a double-barreled shoulder cannon.

===Titanium Series===
*'''Ultra Magnus''' (6-inch Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
[[Image:TitaniumHero_UltraMagnus.jpg|left|thumb|Oh, that's right, this Ultra Magnus guy had a trailer or something, didn't he?]]

: ''Titanium Cybertron Heroes'' Ultra Magnus is an all-new sculpt constructed mostly of die-cast metal. For the first time, Ultra Magnus's cab and trailer are one piece, rather than a [[partsformer]] like the ''Generation 1'' toy version. He transforms very similarly to the original toy, but the aformentioned truck cab now folds down into his back rather than detaching and reconnecting, with his head fliping out of the back of the cab.

: Ultra Magnus is armed with a white laser rifle and two shoulder-mounted non-firing rocket launchers. Unfortunately due to the robot mode-oriented design of this figure, as well as size limitations, the rear ramp is now part of his legs as detail and cannot fold down, nor is there access for vehicles to be transported, in any case.

{{-}}

*'''Ultra Magnus''' (6-inch Cybertron Heroes, 2007)

: A [[redeco]] of the 6-inch War Within Optimus Prime. In white!

{{-}}

===Revoltech===

* '''Ultra Magnus''' (2007)
Ultra Magnus is, unsurprisingly, a redeco of a simultaneously-released Optimus Prime/Convoy figure. A non-transforming but ''highly'' articulate action figure, [[Revoltech]] Ultra Magnus uses the Revoltech "revolver joints" for maximum poseability. His sculpting is explicitly in the style of [[Pat Lee|Pat "serfdom" Lee]]'s interpretation of Prime.

Magnus comes with a Matrix and photon rifle accessories, as well as a few alternate hands. A unique extra "hand" is a single moulded piece of Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime's hands clasped together diagonally, so that when attached to both the Prime and Magnus' respective wrists one can create a scene of the two Autobot leaders shakin' like homeys. Additionally, although Magnus comes preassembled with the standard black revolver joints that Prime has, his packaging includes a sheet of replacement white joints one can use to customise Magnus with less obrtusive matching white joints (although not enough joints of the right style are included to swap out all black joints to optimal effect).

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
*'''Ultra Magnus''' (Super Collection Figure, 2002)

*'''Ultra Magnus''' (Heroes of Cybertron, 2003)

*'''Ultra Magnus''' (Super Collection figure, 2003)

: "Movie preview" redeco of the Ultra Magnus PVC, based on the original toy's Diaclone colour scheme as seen in early trailers for the 1986 movie.

*'''Ultra Magnus''' (Hard Hero bust, 2004)

[[Image:Ultramagnushardhero.jpg|right|thumb|100px|UHN!]]

: The cold-cast porcelain bust of Ultra Magnus was the 13th in [[Hard Hero]]'s series of Transformers busts. It was designed from line art by [[Dan Khanna]].

*'''Ultra Magnus and Megatron''' (Robot Heroes PVC, 2007)

: This is a small, non-transforming SD figurine with limited articulation from the "Robot Heroes" line, in a two pack with G1 Megatron. He may be the sassiest bitch on Cybertron.

{{-}}

==Trivia==

[[Image:DiacloneMagnusAnime1.jpg|left|150px|thumb| "Do you guys think my hair would look better in blue?"]]

*In early trailers for Transformers the Movie, Ultra Magnus can be seen in alternate animated sequences in his toy's original Diaclone color scheme.

{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/UltraMagnus/ultramagnus.htm Ultra Magnus at TFU.info]

*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Ultra_Magnus Ultra Magnus' Universe profile at NTFA.net]

{{stub}}

[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Autobot leaders]]
[[Category: Classics characters]]
[[Category: Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category: Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category: Headmasters characters]]
[[Category: Robot Heroes]]
[[Category: Titanium Series]]
[[Category: Deputy Commanders]]
[[Category: Rulers of Cybertron]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Logic Circuit

2007-08-11T21:31:41Z

24.207.235.109: /* Fiction */

A '''Logic Circuit''' was a component of [[Transformer]] anatomy that was charged with intelligence and judging a situation that did not make sense to them.

==Fiction==
===Beast Wars===
With the acquisition of [[beast mode]]s, there came instance of the beast mode's instincts influencing the logic circuits. When [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] came online, his beast mode convinced him that he was a real fire-ant, and that his [[stasis pod]] was his colony {{storylink|Spider's Game}}. Later, the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s stole the shielding system of the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', forcing the [[Maximal]]s to remain in beast mode to avoid [[Energon]] buildup, all the while under bombardment and suffering from sleep deprivation. Eventually, their beast modes came to override their logic circuits. Only with [[Tigatron]]'s help did they overcome their baser instincts. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}}
{{stub}}

[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Spark

2007-08-11T21:15:33Z

24.207.235.109: /* Properties of sparks */

{{disambig3|Spark}}

{{featured}}

[[Image:sparks.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] is a [http://mst3k.wikia.com/wiki/Space_Mutiny Bellarian].]]

A '''spark''' is a Transformer's lifeforce, or soul. Each spark is part of the essence of [[Primus]] himself.

The spark is a physical entity which is safeguarded inside a Transformer body. If something harms the spark beyond repair, it is "extinguished," and returns to the [[Allspark (dimension)|Allspark]]. The Transformer is then considered dead. A Transformer is able to survive an enormous amount of physical damage -- as long as their spark is intact, it is possible to repair or rebuild their body and restore the spark to it.

==Establishment in fiction==
[[Image:Spark.gif|thumb|Animation of a typical spark.]]

The concept of the spark as currently understood was introduced to the Transformers mythos in the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode, "[[The Spark]]". In this episode, little is explained except that each spark is unique, and that every "Cybertron" (here meaning, essentially, "Cybertronian") has one.

The later episode, "[[Possession]]", dealt with the idea of sparks, but the spark in question -- that of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] -- is established as being aberrant, and thus the properties it displays are not neccessarily characteristic of sparks in general. However, "Possession" was the first time it was claimed that characters from the G1 series also had sparks, rather than sparks existing in Beasties only. Sparks remained prominent throughout ''Beast Wars'', and events in seasons two and three further established the [[retcon]] that G1 Transformers all possessed sparks.

In ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' sparks became central to the story, as [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had abducted the sparks from every Transformer on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Megatron's own spark displayed unusual behaviors in this series, and again, these behaviors can probably not be assumed to apply to all sparks. Still, ''Beast Machines'' contributed more information about sparks to the [[canon]] than any other series.

The [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|''Generation 1'' cartoon]] occasionally referenced a device called a [[laser core]] which seemingly has a similar function to a spark. The tech spec bio for the [[Beast Rider]], [[Mechatron]], says that he is "outfitted with an upgraded spark-capture claw that can tear out the entire laser core of any Transformer defender." This implies, as some fans had speculated, that the laser core may be some sort of housing for the spark.

Since the introduction of the spark in ''Beast Wars'', sparks have become an integral part of many Transformers fictions. Sparks have been featured in new [[Generation 1]]-based series, and in later alternate-dimension tales such as the [[Unicron Trilogy]]'s ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' and ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''.

Although the term spark does appear off-handedly in some [[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|''Generation 1'' comic]] stories (a "spark of life" and a "life spark"), these were clearly simply metaphorical statements. They can be retroactively seen to, perhaps, refer to the contemporary concept of a Transformers' spark, but did not on their own establish anything of the sort.

==Properties of sparks==
[[Image:spark colors.jpg|thumb|left|The sparks of the reformatted Maximals took on unusual colors. Before their final battle with Megatron, the sparks became visible within their bodies. They also lift and separate.]]

As seen in the image at the top of this article, sparks normally appear as blue balls of energy with a pulsating center composed of smaller, blue spheres. The center spheres are engulfed in a reddish glow. An ever-changing pattern of "electricity"-like lines travel around the surface and through the interior. However, in ''Beast Machines'', the sparks of the Maximal heroes who had been [[reformatting|reformatted]] took on different colors (for example, [[Blackarachnia]]'s was green). This was first visible in "[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]". At the end of that series, after being infused with extra power from the Matrix (cf. Allspark), their sparks became visible, as if part of their torsos were translucent.

[[Beast Era]] Transformers seem to have permanent "spark chambers" within their chassis where the spark can be seen simply by opening the chamber. Older Transformers within the same G1/Beast continuity, such as those who lived before the [[Great Upgrade]], did not seem to have this feature. The G1 ''[[More Than Meets The Eye]]'' guidebook from [[Dreamwave]] states that a spark is normally "suffused" throughout a Transformer's body rather than residing in any particular place. It may be that this is also true after the Great Upgrade, and that the spark chamber is merely a protected location for the spark to coalesce when needed.

In the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, there were two cases of Beast Era Transformers temporarily housing the sparks of G1 Era Transformers in their own bodies while still housing their own sparks. In both cases, this resulted in the Beastie undergoing a mutation of sorts into a more powerful body: [[Optimus Primal]], upon taking the spark of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], grew into his Optimal Optimus body; and Megatron, upon taking the spark of the [[Megatron (G1)|original Megatron]] obtained his dragon form. However, based on the information from the series, there is no basis for determining whether this phenomenon is a result of a single body housing two sparks, a Beast Era body housing a G1 Era spark, a body being implanted with an especially "powerful" spark (like those of Optimus Prime and Megatron could conceivably be), or some combination of these. When the disembodied spark of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] had earlier possessed [[Waspinator]], the only change was in the body's allegance holograms from Predacon to Decepticon.

Although Transformer memories and personalities are generally treated as if they are stored within the Transformers' computer brains, repeated canonical instances have established that a spark will (or can) hold all of an individual's memories, along with their "essence" or personality. Further, there is some evidence that sparks may even retain records of the Transformer's previous bodies (such as when Optimal Optimus, whose body originated with a blank [[protoform]], regressed into a copy of the gorilla body Primal wore at the beginning of the Beast Wars). A Transformer's behavior can be modified through programming of their mechanical body (referred to as a [[shell program]]), but this is always a struggle between the programming and the "true" nature of the spark within. It may be that over long periods of time, a spark may begin to internalize some aspects of a programmed personality.

Many Transformers, such as [[Sky Lynx]], [[Omega Supreme (G1)|G1 Omega Supreme]], and the [[Duocon]]s, simultaneously inhabit multiple mechanical bodies or components. The character bio for [[Magmatron]] mentions this ability of his, and categorizes his spark as a "mitotic spark" which is able to split, sharing itself between his three beast modes. It is unknown whether other multiply-bodied Transformers also posses mitotic sparks, or if they are examples of something more mundane such as simple remote control.

Some Transformers are able to sense and communicate with the sparks of other Transformers through a process that appears analogous to telepathy. According to dialog from "[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]", this ability is related to the sparks' mutual connection to the Allspark. Disembodied sparks are sometimes able to communicate through this same method. (See [[#Disembodied sparks|below]].)

The radiation emitted by [[energon]] crystals is harmful to sparks, even when protected within a Transformer's body. Certain body types are better able to shield the spark from energon radiation. For example, the flesh-like beast modes adopted by the crews of the [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']] and ''[[Darkside]]'' provided essentially 100% protection, allowing operations -- while in beast mode -- in environments that were practically forests of energon crystal. Direct contact between crystalline energon and a spark is highly dangerous.

In the ''Beast Machines'' episode "[[Spark of Darkness]]", [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] describes Megatron's disembodied spark as a ball of electrons. He goes on to say that normal sparks contain a large number of positrons. Based on his dialogue, it is possible, but not certain, that sparks are composed ''entirely'' of positrons. Rattrap also indicates, in "Revelations Part I", that when a spark is extinguished, carbon scoring is typically left on or within the Transformer's chassis.

[[Image:Pushing on a spark.jpg|right|thumb|Nightscream's hands don't seem to touch the spark itself while pushing on it.]]

Regardless of their composition, sparks are not insubstantial energy, but have some sort of physical aspect. This is clearly demonstrated in, again, "Revelations Part III", when [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] is seen attempting to push Blackarachnia's spark back into her body. His hands press against some sort of surface (or perhaps merely a force field, in which case the spark could be entirely energy) which is above the visible surface of her spark. Later in the series, in "Spark of Darkness", Megatron's spark is also shown to have physicality. Further back, in ''Beast Wars'', the spark of Rampage/Protoform X would respond to being "crushed" by Megatron by flattening slightly inside its energon-lined carrying case. And even the spark of G1 Megatron was "grabbed" physically by a tentacle-like appendage of BW Megatron's. While some of these examples may be special cases as they deal with sparks that have unusual properties, those properties are unique to each spark. The weight of evidence, then, is in favor of sparks being at least partially substantial.

In the [[Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]], sparks were shown to have the ability to be somehow augmented by Primus to become a [[Combination Spark]]. This allowed two Autobots to [[powerlinx]] together into a new form, allowing one Autobot to take command of the fused body while the "pants" remained dormant. Without the Combination Spark, a powerlinx between two normal Transformers cannot be completed. It is not stated whether the combiner teams [[Constructicon Maximus]] and [[Bruticus Maximus]] also possessed Combination Sparks or if their ability to combine has some other origin.

==Disembodied sparks==
Sparks are able to exist outside of a Transformer body, but the parameters of this phenomenon are largely unclear. In is unknown for how long a spark can survive under such conditions, although they are vulnerable to damage in this state. It is also unknown whether a disembodied spark is "conscious" and aware of its surroundings, and whether it is capable of moving under its own power. (There are unusual cases, as described under [[#Aberrant sparks|Aberrant sparks]].)

It is hard to imagine how a spark could be aware of its surroundings when stripped of all sensory mechanisms. Indeed, in "Revelations Part III: Apocalypse", while Blackarachnia's spark was outside of her body, her consciousness did not remain in the "real world". Instead, she experienced a conversation with [[Optimus Primal]] -- not a hallucination -- which took place in an abstract "higher plane of existence", perhaps within the Allspark itself.

Most of the disembodied sparks in ''Beast Machines'' drift slowly and largely directionlessly. In many other cases, sparks seem to move with some sort of intent. However, aside from attempts of sparks to re-enter their "home" body, these are conceivably all "special cases" and may not be generalizable. In one example, the sparks of [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] are seen following [[Tigerhawk]] to Earth in "[[Other Victories]]". While their sparks appear normal when this occurs, they later merge into a single white spark and then inhabit the (then-empty) Tigerhawk body. This is not normal spark behavior, and may be related to the time they spent seemingly in stasis with the [[Vok]]. Also, in "Revalations Part III", when Blackarachnia becomes panicked during her telepathic conversation with Primal, her spark begins moving erratically and has to be chased down by Nightscream. However, it is unclear whether the spark was moving ''with intent'' -- especially since Blackarachnia's consciousness was portrayed as still being on a higher plane -- or simply zigging and zagging randomly. And, again, a reformatted spark may be different than a normal spark anyway.

==Aberrant sparks==
Some sparks have exhibited properties or behaviors that do not seem to be generalizable to other sparks.

===Starscream===
As established in the ''Beast Wars'' episodes "[[Possession]]" and "[[Bad Spark]]", Starscream possesses a "mutant" immortal spark. Even when his body is destroyed, his spark is not extinguished. This explanation retcons the appearance of Starscream's ghost in some season three episodes from the G1 cartoon -- the "ghost" was in fact Starscream's disembodied spark.

Starscream's spark was able to move under its own power, and seemingly travelled not just across space from Cybertron to [[Earth]], but backwards through time from 2006 to human prehistory. It may be that the time travel was accomplished by "falling" through the [[transwarp]] hole left by the ''Axalon'' and ''Darkside'' when they arrived on prehistoric Earth -- [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]'s ship arrived there by that method later in the series -- but this is uncertain.

Additionally, Starscream's spark was able to take possession of other Transformers simply by entering their bodies. While in another body, Starscream's will completely dominates that of his host. When Starscream possessed [[Waspinator]], Waspinator's voice even changed to sound like Starscream's, and the [[Faction symbols|Predacon insignias]] on his body changed to Decepticon insignias. Starscream either did not have, or did not seem to know that he had, this poessession ability until he died during the events of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Rampage / Protoform X===
The creation of Protoform X was an experiment conducted by the [[Maximal Elder|Maximal Elders]] to attempt to replicate Starscream's indestructible spark. Although they succeeded in creating such a spark, dubbed [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]] (and later taking on the name [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]), it was, unfortunately, psychotic.

Like Starscream's spark, Rampage's could not be extinguished through simple destruction of his body. In fact, Rampage's body -- at least, the body he wore during the Beast Wars -- had uncannily rapid self-repair functions. In one instance, Depth Charge pierced Rampage's body from front to back with a spear, and the damage disappeared in a matter of seconds once the spear was removed.

Megatron devised a way to split Rampage's spark by carving it with a blade of [[energon crystal]]. Amazingly, this did not destroy the spark, nor did it seem to weaken Rampage appreciably. Megatron kept part of the spark in a case lined with energon crystals. By squeezing the case, the crystals would pinch the spark fragment, and Megatron used this to torture Rampage into obediance.

Megatron later placed this piece of Rampage's spark inside his [[Transmetal|Transmetal II]] clone of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], who is usually referred to as [[Dinobot II (BW)|Dinobot II]]. Dinobot II appeared to have a personality wholly independant of Rampage's, although he was similarly brutal. Dinobot II's personality, however, may have been imposed upon him through programming. Dinobot II could torture Rampage by compressing the spark fragment that he held, much as Megatron had previously done. This did not seem to affect Dinobot himself.

Rampage's spark turned out to not be completely indestructible -- seemingly as an extension of Megatron's splitting of the spark with an energon blade, Depth Charge eventually destroyed Rampage by piercing his spark with "pure" crystalline energon. Normally sparks "extinguish" somewhat peacefully, but when Rampage's was pierced, a powerful explosion destroyed the bodies of Rampage and Depth Charge. It may be that Starscream's spark would be similarly vulnerable to being cut / destroyed by energon, but this is mere extrapolation.

When Rampage's spark was destroyed, the fragment within Dinobot II did not explode. It may have simply disappeared, or it may have remained there. However, through a process which is not clearly established, Dinobot II at that instant "reverted" to the personality of the original Dinobot, and even had a vision of Dinobot's last moments. It may be that this reversion was related to events scripted for an episode which was never produced, titled "[[Dark Glass]]".

Rampage's spark never displayed the ability to move under its own power.

===Megatron===
In season two of ''Beast Machines'', Megatron's spark does a number of unusual things.

As part of the battle between he and [[Optimus Primal]] at the end of season one, during which the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] and the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] were pitted against each other and Megatron plunged into a pool of material from [[Cybertron's organic core]], Megatron somehow was able to "split" his Beast body into two separate bodies -- one entirely robotic, and the other entirely "biological". (Whether the Beast bodies of the ''Beast Wars'' characters had any true biological components, or whether they were faux-flesh composed of nanites is not consistently established in either series.) Contrary to his intentions, Megatron's spark ended up trapped within the biological body, which came to be known as [[Noble/Savage]].

It is unclear how a biological body was able to sustain a Transformers' spark. Indeed, even the Maximals were surprised when they realized what had happened. It could be argued, based on statements made by [[Vector Sigma|the Oracle]] in the first episode ("[[The Reformatting]]") that all lifeforms in the universe have sparks, not just Transformers. However, this is never alluded to by any other canonical source, so most fans have seemingly dismissed it.

As shown in "[[Prometheus Unbound]]", using the biological Noble/Savage body, Megatron was unable to mentally control devices in his citadel or interface with his [[control harness]]. Upon using a [[spark extractor]] on himself, however, his spark was freed and immediately flew to the harness, which it activated before "flowing" up to the ceiling through the harness' cables. His spark then took over, as its new body, an enormous floating replica of his own head, where it stayed for most of season two. The Noble/Savage body appeared to be dead, but recovered. After Megatron's spark had left it, it seemed to be a perfectly "normal" animal which had the ability to change between a wolf-like form and a dragon form, possessing little if any sentience.

As soon as his spark had been removed from Noble, it took on an unusual appearance, having turned entirely red or orange in color. (Perhaps a change similar to that of the reformatted Maximals.) Megatron's disembodied spark also seemed to be able to speak even though it had no physical body. It may be that this speech was telepathic, but, the spark itself pulsated in perfect rhythm with the words.

While inhabiting the [[Grand Mal]], Megatron's spark was sometimes seen floating freely, and under its own power, through the interior of the Grand Mal, particularly in a large space that appeared to serve as his control room. (It was here that he addressed his [[Vehicon general]]s, usually manifesting as a holographic projection of one kind or another.)

[[Image:Spark consumption.jpg|thumb|Megatron's spark ensnares and consumes other sparks from his collection.]]
[[Image:Giant megatron spark.jpg|thumb|Now enormous, Megatron's spark looms over Cybertron in the vicinity of his [[Big Floating Head]].]]

Eventually, in the three-part "[[Sparkwar]]" story, Megatron's spark began consuming / fusing with the captured sparks of Cybertron's inhabitants. He claimed to have learned how to accomplish this after communicating with the Oracle.

To consume other sparks, Megatron's spark extended tendrils which ensnared victim sparks. These tendrils also had the ability extract sparks from occupied shells much like a [[spark extractor]]. As each spark was absorbed, Megatron's spark grew larger in size.

Megatron was temporarily beaten when [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] attacked him with a sonic scream. The scream, according to Primal, depolarized Megatron's spark. This caused him to temporarily lose control and allowed the Maximals to escape. In the following episode, "[[Spark of Darkness]]", Megatron's spark exhibited additional strange behaviors which may or may not have been dependant on its depolarized state:

*It travelled very quickly and with great agility.
*It was able to physically "crash" into things to push them around. In particular, it repeatedly knocked the Maximals out of its way.
*It seemed to be able to cause large explosions simply by flying through other objects.
*It could inhabit and leave any sparkless body at will. This ability evidently differs from Starscream's, in that Starscream never animated a vacant body, and Megatron never dominated an occupied one. These re-animated bodies were able to remain functional even after suffering extreme physical damage.
*His spark was not detectable by his Vehicon generals' sensors, and Primal was unable to "sense" his spark through the Oracle.
*The spark did not speak at all while depolarized, neither when in a body nor when floating freely.

Rattrap was able to capture Megatron using a hand-held [[spark extractor]], and using a control panel on the extractor, repolarized and thus stabilized his spark. Afterwards, Megatron's spark remained red and just as fast and agile as before, but became detectable by his generals' scanners again, and became "trapped" in the next body it inhabited (that of a [[diagnostic drone]]). Upon entering this body, Megatron declared, "I live!" This was the first time he had spoken since being hit by the sonic scream. This implies that something about his prior "destabilized" state may have prevented him from fully utilizing the bodies he had visited. The only other clue we have is that when Optimus tried to contact Megatron's spark inside the Grand Mal, he discovered that it "was not a sentiant mind". Whether this is a result of trying to find a spark that was not in the expected location or because of its depolarized state is ambiguous.

==See also==
*[[Allspark (dimension)|Allspark]]
*[[Laser core]]
*[[Personality component]]
*[[Shell program]]

[[Category:Beast Wars]]

[[Category:Beast Machines]]

[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Primus]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Wing Saber (Energon)

2007-08-10T21:33:57Z

24.207.235.109: /* Cybertron */

:''Wing Saber is an [[Autobot]] in [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:WingSaber-comic.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Wing Saber joins ''[[Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] in the proud tradition of being a Magic Mushroom for an Optimus.]]

'''Wing Saber''' is an Autobot who used to be called '''Wing Dagger'''. Then [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] happened to him. Afterwards, Wing Saber has led a noble life of becoming parts for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. Wing Saber even has his own personal team of [[Mini-Con]]s, the [[Caliber Mini-Cons]].

''Japanese name:'' '''Sonic Bomber''' (''Cybertron'')<br>
''Hasbro Energon pre-relase name:'' '''Superion Maximus'''<br>
''Hasbro Cybertron pre-release name:'' '''Knockdown'''

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
====''Energon''====
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Colin Murdoch]] (US), ? (Japan)

Wing Dagger was a mere security guard on Cybertron, but when [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] killed his peer, [[Padlock]], he got the chance to become something more. Pursuing Shockblast through the sky amongst the Energon towers, the Decepticon struck one with a beam, causing it to crash down upon Wing Dagger and Tidal Wave. Wing Dagger was destroyed, but his spark was taken to [[Primus]]. Primus, with the aid of Rad, restored the warrior. Reformatted into Wing Saber, he joined Optimus' team not only to find Energon, but to avenge the death of his friend.

Wing Saber, being reformatted and repowered by Primus himself, understood his task of being Optimus Prime's personal servant. Optimus Prime has reminded Wing Saber that he is not his property, and Wing Saber seems to have had issues finding out who he is. Wing Saber joined [[Optimus Supreme]] and the other Autobots in spark form to confront the massive [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]-[[Unicron]] being at the end of the ''Energon'' series.

====''Cybertron''====
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Sam Vincent]] (US), (Japan) <br>
:''Special Attacks:'' Flap Sword, Galaxy Caliber

Wing Saber returned during the search for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, but with a new rebellious, irreverent edge. Having undergone a falling out in the brief period between ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron'' involving the life of a stranded astronaut, Wing Saber took off into space and returned after encountering the [[Omega Frequency]] wave after the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]] Key was inserted into the [[Omega Lock]] on [[Earth]]. Wing Saber returned and showed signs of a new defiant attitude towards his former allies, but would quickly find himself part of the team again, which would lead to reviving his ability to combine with Optimus Prime to create their Sonic Wing Mode. Wing Saber would continue to aid the Autobots until the end of the series where he'd depart, and eventually encounter the mighty [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], who somehow survived his duel with Galavtron on [[Gigantion|the Giant Planet]].

''('''Note''': Sonic Bomber is not the same character as Energon Wing Saber in Galaxy Force.)''

==Toys==
===Energon===
*'''Wing Saber''' (Mega, 2004)
:''Japanese ID Number:'' '''SC-17'''

: ''Energon'' Wing Saber transforms into a Cybertronic "flying wing" jet. He disassembles into four portions, which attach to the limbs on the Super-class ''Energon'' Optimus Prime toy. When Wing Saber's upper-body parts and wings are attached to Prime's arms, they are in "Flight Mode", while the lower-body-as-arms configuration bring Wing Saber's non-firing cannons to the forefront, forming "Fight Mode".

: The [[Takara]] version predated the [[Hasbro]] release by several months. The two versions are largely identical, but Takara's has a greater number of more intricate [[paint application]]s.

===Cybertron===
[[Image:Cyb_wingsaber_toy.jpg|left|thumb|170px|I can barely fly with all this junk in the trunk.]]
*'''Wing Saber''' (Ultra, 2005)
:''Japanese ID Number:'' '''GC-22'''

: ''Cybertron'' Wing Saber transforms into a heavily-armed military plane based on an A-10 Thunderbolt. Plugging a [[Cyber Planet Key]] into the jack behind his cockpit exposes a pair of non-firing cannon barrels. His wing-flaps detach to form swords; for Wing Saber to use them, they need to be inserted into sword-handles that plug into 5mm holes in Wing Saber's forearms, as his hands are incompatible with the standard weapon-pegs. His removable spring-loaded missile launchers, mounted under his wings, can also be attached to those ports. He can also form a backpack for Optimus Prime's super mode, forming their "Sonic Wing Mode".

:The vast majority of the [[Takara]] GC-22 Sonic Bomber figures have a misaligned "nose guard" that can obscure the eyes in some cases. This problem was fixed for the [[Hasbro]] Wing Saber figure. The Sonic Bomber figure preceded [[Hasbro]]'s Wing Saber by several months and has a slightly different deco. Differences include silver chromed saber blades and gold chromed chest shield. Minor changes were also made to graphics on the plane, such as an entirely red nosecone as opposed to Sonic Bomber's white, and smaller [[Autobot]] insignias on the wings.

*'''Sonic Convoy w/ Coby Rumble Giftset'''
:''Japanese ID Number:'' '''EX-02'''

:[[Takara]] issued a slight Sonic Bomber [[redeco]] as a (rushed) Toys 'R' Us [[exclusive]] set with transparent [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Galaxy Convoy]] and a [[retool]] of [[Scrapmetal drones|Rumble]] as [[Cobybot|Coby's Rumble]]. Sonic Bomber received only very minor changes; The saber blades were changed from silver chrome to gold chrome, all red paint was changed to metallic red, the chest shield halves are now red chrome rather than gold. Benefitting from a [[Hasbro]] tweak, this version also has a properly aligned "nose guard".

*'''Optimus Prime and Wing Saber''' (2-pack, 2006)

:This set, consisting of totally unmodified versions of Cybertron Optimus Prime and Wing Saber, was released as a CostCo exclusive. The set also includes a DVD with the Cybertron episode ''[[United]]''. This set comes in a particularly huge box, and retailed for $35.99, five dollars less than the MSRP for Optimus Prime by himself.

==Trivia==
* ''Energon'' Wing Saber was a toy-concept initated by [[Takara]] and left largely to their own design team to develop, though they had to follow various [[Hasbro]] price-point mandates. The toy was detail-designed by noted Japanese fan [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] and incorporates elements of both fan-favorites [[Predaking]] and [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]].

* Ichikawa originally envisioned Wing Saber's personal weapon to be the [[Energon Saber]]. This was nixed by the animation production staff, however, along with many other toy-team concepts.

* ''Energon'' Wing Saber was originally named [[Superion Maximus]] for his western incarnation, but the name was shelved in favor of simply reusing the established Japanese name. "Superion Maximus" was reused for the combined form of the ''Energon'' [[Air Team]] shortly thereafter.

* Wing Saber's bio on Transformers.com, first appearing under the "Superion Maximus" title, was largely different from anything else, wherein "Wing Saber" was a venerable defender of high ranking Autobots and was the personal carrier of the Autobot high council.

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/WingSaber/wingsaber.htm Wing Saber at TFU.info]
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/b064ea50d2b114d0/43847f79db724831?lnk=st&q=&rnum=3&hl=en#43847f79db724831 An interview with Hirofumi Ichikawa on his Energon work]

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[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Combiners]]
[[Category: Costco exclusives]]
[[Category: Cybertron characters]]
[[Category: Energon characters]]
[[Category: Security officers]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Carlos Lopez

2007-08-09T19:28:49Z

24.207.235.109: /* ''Cybertron'' */

:''Carlos is a [[human]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:Carlos.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Holy [[frijole]]s!]]

'''Carlos Lopez''' is a typical kid. He goes to school, he likes to [[Grindor_(Armada)|skateboard]], he hangs around giant transforming alien robots, and he fantasizes about holographic dead girls.

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
====''Armada''====
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Matt Hill]] (US), [[Yukie Maeda]] (Japan)

One day, Carlos and his best friend [[Rad White|Rad]] went exploring into the caverns deep beneath the local [[Cosmoscope_Research_Center|observatory]]. Inside, they found the curious remains of a clearly artificial construction, seemingly far in advance of human technology. Rad discovered a [[Mini-Con_storage_panel|glowing green pentagonal artifact]] half buried in the rubble, and against Carlos' advice, his friend was drawn towards the strange object. Touching it, the entire structure began to shake, suddenly springing to life as thousands of computers lit up the walls.

At home, [[Alexis]] felt the tremors and used her computer to pinpoint the epicenter of the apparent earthquake as the mountain caverns that Rad and Carlos were exploring. Similarly, the scientists and researchers at the observatory were baffled by the sudden movement of the Earth. As Rad and Carlos made their escape with the artifact, a bright light engulfed the chamber they were in, simultaneously shutting down all electronic equipment in Licoln, as well as emitting three distinctly coloured distress signals beams into the sky.

One beam, green, reached an [[Exodus|ancient starship wreck]] on the dark side of the moon, causing it to fire hundreds of smaller beams of green light at the [[Earth]]. The two remaining signal beams, coloured red and purple, continued deep into space until it reached [[Cybertron_(planet)|a cold, distant metal world]].

Emerging from the cave with Rad, Carlos turned to see a huge glowing purple sphere of pulsating energy floating in mid-air, which soon solidified into a huge robot. This being was [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], supreme leader of the evil [[Decepticons]]. As he tried to take the object Rad had found, which had now revealed itself to be [[Highwire (Armada)|Highwire]], a sought-after [[Mini-Con]], suddenly another massive robot ordered Megatron to stand down. He was [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], leader of the heroic [[Autobots]]. As the pair grappled, Rad mused that somehow this was all his fault. {{Storylink|First Encounter}}

Carlos just happens to sound just like [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Beachhead]] in [[G.I._Joe|G.I. Joe:]] Spy Troops. He is also easily the most annoyingly petulant of the human children that befriend the Autobots.

====''Energon''====
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Matt Hill]] (US), [[Yukie Maeda]] (Japan)
In 2020, Carlos was posted on the Earth Federation's space station orbiting [[Mars]]. During a surprise attack by [[Alpha_Q|Alpha Quintesson's]] [[Terrorcon_(Energon)|Terrorcons]], he uttered the immortal phrase '''"[[Frijole|Holy frijoles]]"''', thus proving he isn't a horrible ethnic stereotype.

Later, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] enquired about the attack, but Carlos was unable to provide any additional information. {{Storylink|Cybertron City}}

====''Cybertron''====

He's not dead yet.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====''Armada''====
====''Energon''====

==Trivia==
* According to the now-defunct TV Tokyo ''Micron Legend'' website, Carlos was 12 years old at the start of Armada. The page also stated that he is good at sports, loves rap and skateboarding, and has been friends with Rad since kindergarten.

* According to the '''[[Reader's Digest Transformers Armada Official Guidebook]]''', Carlos was ten years old at the start of Armada. It also specified that he enjoyed hip-hop, and that while he was not a great student, he was an excellent mechanic. Although this particular bit of his character didn't make it into the animated series, it ''was'' an important part of his role in the Dreamwave comics.

{{stub}}

[[Category: Humans|Lopez, Carlos]]
[[Category: Armada characters|Lopez, Carlos]]
[[Category: Cybertron characters|Lopez, Carlos]]
[[Category: Energon characters|Lopez, Carlos]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>