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Starscream (G1)/toys

2011-02-11T09:33:06Z

58.173.181.51: /* Transformers (2010) */

{{suite}}[[Image:MP Starscream book cover art.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Next person who says '[[Dull surprise]]' gets a null-ray to the face!"]]
Many toys have been made of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] '''[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]''', enough to warrant this page!

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Starscream toy.jpg|right|400px|thumb|[[Skywarp (G1)|Then]] [[Sunstorm (G1)|about]] [[Thundercracker (G1)|eight]] [[:Image:G1BlackStarscream toy.jpg|million]] [[Seeker (body-type)|redecos]] [[E-Hobby|followed]].]]
* '''Starscream''' (Decepticon Jet, 1984/1985/1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: Starscream's first toy began life as "Jet Robo" from the ''[[Diaclone]]'' line, transforming into a grey, red and blue F-15 Eagle fighter jet. To transform Starscream, one must essentially take most of his plane parts off and transform his body, then reattach most of plane parts on again, along with the addition of two blue fists. If you don't mind being fiddly, though, transformation can certainly be achieved by only removing the fists, weapons and landing gear (which can store in Starscream's cockpit). Owing to the modular nature of his design and the fact that it is impossible to store all the parts in either mode, it can be quite difficult to find an intact original set of this toy.

:Starscream is armed with a pair of missile launchers that mount on his arms in robot mode, and under his wings in jet mode, with a pair of specialized projectiles for each. In jet mode, two short "[[cluster bomb]]" projectiles are fitted into the launchers to make them resemble the drop tanks a real F-15 carries, while in robot mode, they are replaced with the long barrels of Starscream's [[null-ray]]s. The original ''Diaclone'' version of the mold featured spring-loaded firing mechanisms in these launchers; while this feature was removed for the [[Hasbro]] release of the toy, it was left intact for the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] version, and all subsequent reissues.

:The ''Diaclone'' version of the Starscream mold featured tailfins with solid tips and solid fists, and both these features carried over to the earliest ''Transformers'' edition of the future. Soon, however, the ''Transformers'' mold was modified to add hollow tips to the fins, and tabs to the insides of the fists to allow them to hold onto his arms tighter, resulting in a visible slit on either side of each one. These altered versions became the standard for all subsequent reissues of the mold. Like all his 1984 brethren, a [[rubsign]] was added to Starscream in 1985.

: Starscream's mold was [[Redeco|redecoed]] into the concurrently-available [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. It would later be redecoed again to make [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], and [[Retool|retooled]] into [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. On top of this, given his role as a major Generation 1 character, Starscream himself would be reissued many times down the years; this article strives to list each reissue of the figure under its own header. The long lifespan of his toy actually began in 1986, when Starscream remained part of the assortment for that year despite the departure of nearly every other 1984 toy from store shelves.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Generation 1 Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|GoodbyeMegatron}}
[[Image:G1toy_goodbye_megatron.jpg|right|thumb|300px|More of a "See ya later", really]]
* '''Good Bye Megatron''' (Multi-pack, 1986)
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:The second release of Starscream's toy came with this Japanese-exclusive two-pack, which saw him packaged alongside [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], in commemoration of the Decepticon leader's passing ([[Galvatron (G1)|of sorts]]) in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Starscream himself was ''actually'' dead, but where was his "Good Bye Starscream" set, eh?

{{-}}{{anchor|Pretender}}
[[Image:PretenderStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You can tell he's evil because he's spiky.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Classic Pretender, 1989)
**''Accessories'': 2-part Pretender shell, helmet, left & right wings, left & right "lasers"/tail wings, rifle
:The first new Starscream toy since the original brought the treacherous Air Commander back as a [[Classic Pretender]]. He still transforms into a grey, red and blue F-15 fighter jet, though his vehicle mode now borders on the [[super deformed]]. He is armed with a pair of blue lasers, which become his tail fins in jet mode.

:Starscream's two-piece [[Pretender]] shell resembles a human in a teal, grey and brown space armored suit with a removable helmet. The shell is armed with a large blue rifle, and while Starscream is stored inside it, his removable grey wings store in holes on the shell's back. There is, however, nowhere to store Starscream's tail fins.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1989/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Classic Pretender Starscream at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|G1Legend}}
[[Image:G1toy_legends_starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]
* '''Starscream''' (Legends, 1989)
**''Accessories'': Left & right wings, left & right "lasers"/tail wings

:The inner robot of Pretender Starscream was also sold as a [[Kmart]] [[exclusive]] "[[Legends (G1)|Legends]]" figure, sans its shell and its accessories. It was otherwise identical to the Classic Pretender release.
{{-}}{{anchor|Heroset}}
[[Image:G1toy_japanese_legends_giftset.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Odd 'Con out]]
* '''Hero Set''' (Multi-pack, 1989)
**''Accessories'': Left & right wings, left & right "lasers"/tail wings

:Released exclusively in Japan ''instead'' of the individual Classic Pretender figures, rather than in addition to them, this giftset contained the "Legends" versions of Pretender Starscream and his fellow Classic Pretenders, [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Legend|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (G1)#Legend|Jazz]], and [[Grimlock (G1)#Legend|Grimlock]]. This version of Starscream featured a silver face, as opposed to the Hasbro version's black.

:In Italy, [[GiG]] also forewent releasing the individual Classic Pretenders, and instead released their own version of the Hero Set named "Set Commandos". These versions of the toys were identical to the Japanese "Hero Set" versions.

{{-}}{{anchor|Actiomaster}}
[[Image:ActionmasterStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He loved the gray helmet so much, he used it again.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Action Master, 1990)
**''Accessories:'' Turbo Jet, rifle, 2 missiles

: [[Action Master]] Starscream is a non-transforming action figure based loosely on his cartoon [[character model]], but using a color scheme derived from the Pretender toy. His main accessory is the [[Turbo Jet]], a small personal attack craft that Starscream can set astride like a motorcycle. The Turbo Jet rolls on three small wheels, and can transform into a gun emplacement.

: This mold was [[Redeco|redecoed]] as [[Thundercracker (G1)#ActionMaster|Action Master Thundercracker]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1990/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Action Master Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Reissue}}
[[Image:G1toy_2001_starscream_reissue.jpg|right|thumb|300px|In a box, no one can hear you 'Scream]]
*'''Starscream''' (Re-issue, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:The first of numerous reissues of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy in the 21st century, this Japanese release of the figure included functional spring-loaded launchers, and was also simultaneously available as three different exclusive redecos, listed below.

{{-}}{{anchor|GhostStarscream}}
[[Image:GhostStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Wait a minute. Since when do ghosts have painted metal chests?]]
* '''Starscream Ghost Version''' (e-Hobby Exclusive, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: Available concurrently with the 2001 reissue of the original Generation 1 Starscream figure, "Starscream Ghost Version" is an [[E-Hobby]] [[exclusive]] redeco of the 2001 Starscream reissue, cast almost entirely in translucent plastics (except for those parts made of die-cast metal) in homage to Starscream's tenure as a ghost in the third season of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]. To make the toy further match Starscream's cartoon appearance, it features a notably lighter shade of blue, and a translucent orange cockpit as opposed to the traditional smoky grey. The toy came in unique monochrome-blue window box packaging featuring [[CGI]] artwork of Starscream.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Decepticon/StarscreamClear/starscream.htm More information on Starscream Ghost Version at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BlackStarscream}}
[[Image:G1BlackStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Who am I again?]]
* '''Starscream Black Version''' (e-Hobby Exclusive, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: The second e-Hobby-exclusive redeco available concurrently with the 2001 reissue of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy, "Starscream Black Version" sports a color scheme loosely based upon ''[[Machine Wars]]'' [[#Machine_Wars|Starscream]], despite the only real point of similarity being that they're both black. The toy's [[bio]] makes a rare fictional reference to ''Machine Wars'', describing the events of the series in the past tense. The toy shared the window-box packaging of the "Ghost Version" (see above), except it's box was monochrome-black.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Decepticon/StarscreamBlack/starscream.htm More information on Starscream Black Version at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|SecretStarscream}}
[[Image:Secret Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Songs are made of mystery... and clouds are made of moonbeams... Secret Starscream.]]
* '''Starscream Secret Version''' (Lucky Draw figure, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: The third exclusive redeco of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy released alongside the 2001 reissues, "Starscream Secret Version" was available through the [[Lucky Draw figure|Lucky Draw]] contest held in conjunction with the first edition of ''[[Transformers Generations]]'' (with a ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' Skywarp figurine as second prize). The figure was limited to only ''five'' pieces, making it one of the rarest officially-released ''Transformers'' toys in the world, and to cap it off, the toy was not actually ''shown'' during the contest, hence its "Secret" moniker. Given its amazingly limited availability, it was not even 100% known ''what the toy looked like'' until a picture of it appeared in ''[[Transformers Generations 2009]]'', showing it as being primarily clear and colorless. Prior to this appearance, it was suggested that both this toy and the ''SCF'' Skywarp were ''not'' officially released, due to the bankruptcy of ''Generations'' publisher [[Keibunsha]]. Whether or not this scenario is accurate is still unknown at this time, as no one has publicly translated the text regarding the figure from ''Generations 2009''.

::*''[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-toys/toy-gallery/1219/Collectors+Edition+Japanese/Secret+Starscream.html More information on what is probably Starscream Secret Version at Transformers @ The Moon]''
{{-}}

===Generation 2===
[[Image:G2Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|With my camouflaged wings, I'll appear to be merely a fuselage flying through the sky!]]
* '''Starscream''' (Decepticon Jet, 1993)
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear, 2 missile launchers, 3 missiles, sound/light energy unit

:Starscream's ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' release is a slight [[retool]] of his original toy, armed with new, functional spring-loaded launchers and missiles, and an electronic light-and-sound "energy unit" in the shape of a tank. The electronic box lights up with the press of either button, and emits electronic "machine gun" or "jet engine" noises. In robot mode, the box attaches to Starscream's back; in jet mode, it plugs into his tail-end.

:The new accessories were also used, in different colors, for ''Generation 2'' Ramjet.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1993/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Generation 2 Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{-}}{{anchor|ATB}}
[[Image:G2toy_ATB_megs_and_screamer.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Transforms from backstabber to backpack and back!]]
*'''Megatron''' (Unreleased)
**''Accessories'': 12 missiles, 2 missiles launchers

: A planned-but-canceled redeco of ''Generation 2'' [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]], "Advancted Tactical Bomber" Megatron would have come with Starscream, a redeco of Dreadwing's partner [[Smokescreen (G2)|Smokescreen]]. The pair could combine into the "flying wing" Advanced Tactical Bomber, while Starscream coud detach to become a smaller solo jet, leaving Megatron to transform into a treaded tank mode. According the Toy Fair 1995 Transformers presentation, the toy's missiles were intended to glow in the dark.

: This toy's deco (but not the glow-in-the-dark missiles) was used to make ''[[Beast Wars II (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'''s [[BB]] and [[Starscream (BWII)|Starscream]] out of the same mold-set. This mold was also used to make ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Dreadwind (RID)|Dreadwind]] and [[Smokejumper]], while Starscream's mold was sold separately during the ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' line as [[Smokesniper]].

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===Machine Wars===
* '''Starscream''' (Ultra, 1997)[[Image:MWStarscream Toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I have no mouth and I must Starscream.]]
**''Accessories:'' 10 missiles
: Starscream's ''[[Machine Wars]]'' incarnation is a redeco of the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]], transforming into a large bomber jet based vaguely upon an SR-71 Blackbird. The main feature of the toy is its "carpet bombing" gimmick; each wing contains a drum that holds up to four missiles, which drop out as the drum is rotated. A further two missiles can also store on each wing, and one on each side of his fuselage, but while Skyquake came with enough missiles to fill all these ports, Starscream only comes with ten. The short length of the missiles necessary for this gimmick to function means that Starscream does not come with Skyquake's firing missile launcher, since the missiles are shorter than [[for safety reasons|safety reasons]] allow, although it is incorrectly shown on his packaging. Starscream also lacks Skyquake's [[Megavisor]] gimmick.

:Starscream is known to have come with both grey missiles, better fitting his new color scheme, and later, bright green missiles like Skyquake's.

: This mold was later redecoed to make [[King Atlas]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Machine Wars Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Transtech===
[[Image:Starscream-transtech.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Obscure both by design and by accident]]
* '''Starscream'''

: Starscream would have been made available in the aborted ''[[Transcendent Technomorph|Transtech]]'' series in 2001. Control art and early [[Prototype]] images have surfaced, showing that the toy would have been at the Deluxe scale and featured internal lighting mechanisms that changed color depending on its mode. The toy is clearly a homage to his ''Machine Wars'' body, which at the time of ''Transtech's'' intended release would have been the last form Starscream had inhabited in American markets.

: In 2008, this design would be [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as the [[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTech]] universe's [[Starscream (TransTech)|Starscream]].

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
===Commemorative Series===
[[Image:G1toy_commemorative_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He's back, with a big boost of confidence.]]
*'''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:The first reissue of the original Starscream toy in North America since the Generation 1 toyline reached its end, this "[[Commemorative Series]]" edition of the figure was a [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive. It featured functional missile launchers for the first time on a Hasbro version of the toy, but because the launchers now worked, both sets of missiles had to be lengthened [[for safety reasons]]. This didn't work out ''so'' badly with the null-rays, but the cluster bombs just wound up looking ''stupid''.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/CSStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Commemorative Series Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Transformers Collection===

*'''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''9'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear, two-piece gun-mode Megatron, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] fist

:As another in an increasingly large number of reissues of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy, this entry in the Japanese-exclusive ''[[Transformers Collection]]'' line of reissues decided to mix things up by giving the figure a full-scale redeco into [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]] colors. His blue plastic became much lighter, while his cockpit was made bright orange, and even featured new grey paint applications running across it. Several of his stickers were replaced with new, show-accurate paint applications, including new wing-stripes and [[tampograph]]ed Decepticon symbols on his wings and nosecone (of course, Starscream didn't have one on his nosecone in the cartoon, so it isn't perfect!).

:Starscream's fists were remolded with new circular peg-holes so he could wield his missile launchers in his hands, which also worked in conjunction with a new tab on the fists' undersides to allow him to hold his new accessory: Megatron in gun mode. This miniature Megatron splits into two pieces at the handle, with each half plugging into the new hole and tab added to each of Starscream's fists. Megatron can also plug into Starscream's underside in jet mode, replicating the time the characters linked up in this fashion in the cartoon episode, "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]". The set also came with a remolded fist for the original Optimus Prime toy, allowing him to hold the Megatron accessory, and a DVD featuring a trailer for the upcoming Playstation 2 video game ''[[The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers]]'' and Japanese toy [[commercial]]s for Optimus Prime, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Destron/AnimeStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Transformers Collection Starscream at TFU.info]''

===Smallest Transforming Transformers===
[[Image:STFStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I will rule all the redecos, Megatron!]]
* '''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''GTF-03'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers/cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tailfins

: Standing at only two inches tall, ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' Starscream is a ''very'' small-scale simplification of the original Starscream toy. It retains a surprising amount of the larger toy's functionality and accessories, except its tail fins and wings are combined into single pieces, and his null rays and landing gear are left out.

:This mold was, of course, redecoed into ''Smallest Transforming'' versions of Skywarp and Thundercracker, and retooled into Thrust.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Destron/SmallestStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Smallest Transforming Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Robot Masters===
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-12'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile pods[[Image:RobotMastersStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I have thighs?]]

: Starscream's ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' toy is a re-imagining of the original Generation 1 figure, retaining its basic transformation scheme, but designed to be closer to the animation model, with greater articulation and integrated parts that do not require detachment during transformation. The only pieces that now need to be removed are Starscream's null ray rifles, which move from his wings to his arms. He has three peg-holes on each arm, allowing the null rays to be mounted on his shoulders, on his forearms, or in his fists. These holes are also designed to accomodate the generic spring-loaded missile launcher weapon included with ''Robot Masters'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Robot Masters|G1 Convoy]], [[Optimus Primal/toys#Robot Masters|Beast Convoy]] and [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Robot Masters|Beast Megatron]].

:Starscream came with two "missile pods" based on weapons Starscream used but once, in the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Fire on the Mountain]]". These chromed accessories plug into the square holes in Starscream's chest, and feature opening covers that reveal (non-firing) missiles within.

: This mold was redecoed into ''Robot Masters'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Destron/RMStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Robot Masters Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
[[Image:Robot Masters black starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Okay now I feel used. That's much better.]]
*'''Starscream Limited Black Version''' (Deluxe, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-12'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile pods, Jamming Trident

: Available only via mail-order through ''[[Figure Ō]]'' No. 80, the "Limited Black Version" of Starscream is just that: a straight [[black repaint]] of the Starscream toy, replacing the original toy's blue, red and the grey of his wings with black. He comes with all his original accessories, as well as a gold-chromed version of the "Jamming Trident" [[Solitarium]] weapon that came with [[Wingstun]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Destron/HHStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Starscream Limited Black Version at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Masterpiece===
[[Image:MasterpieceStarscream toy.jpg|right|375px|thumb|And the fandom complained (and rejoiced).]]
* '''Starscream''' (2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-3'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile racks, Doctor Arkeville pilot figurine, gun clip, two-piece display stand

:The second new mold in [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''Masterpiece'' line, this highly-detailed version of Starscream is the "odd man out" of the series, eschewing the slavish cartoon-accuracy of the other ''Masterpiece'' figures in favor of creating as accurate an F-15 Eagle alternate mode as possible, with a somewhat more stylized robot mode. The toy features several unintrusive built-in gimmicks, including ''numerous'' opening panels on his jet-mode surface (highlighting the attention this mode received), flip-up panels in his chest that reveal missile racks based on the weapons seen in the Generation 1 episode "Fire on the Mountain", and a rotating face that allows Starscream to switch his expression from stony-faced to sneering. Owners of the toy are given quite a few customization options, as Starscream comes with an extensive sheet of sticker decals, including variously sized Decepticon symbols, and squadron numbers and markings, including one of [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]!

:In addition to his built-in features, Starscream comes with several accessories. He is armed with both his traditional null-ray rifles, but his familiar cluster bombs are replaced with a rack of (slightly inaccurate) Sidewinder missiles. He also comes with a clip that mounts under his nosecone, allowing him to hold the Megatron pistol accessory that came with [[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#20th_Anniversary.2FMasterpiece|''20th Anniversary'' Optimus Prime]] in emulation of the way the characters linked up in "S.O.S. Dinobots", and a small figurine of [[Doctor Arkeville]], his partner in crime from several first-season episodes of the Generation 1 cartoon, which can fit in his cockpit. Finally, he includes a two-piece, reconfigurable display base that allows the figure to be posed in mid-flight in either jet or robot mode, and which can store Starscream's accessories while they are not in use. [[Control drawing|Control art]] for ''Masterpiece'' Starscream shows the figure wearing his [[Transformer clothing|Crown of Leadership]] (as seen in the coronation scene of the original animated movie), which, combined with some otherwise-pointless flip-out notches in the finished toy's shoulders, strongly indicate Takara intended to either include with the figure, or release in the future, a set of clip-on coronation gear that has failed to emerge in the years since the toy's release.

: ''Masterpiece'' Starscream's creation was overseen by famed Japanese mecha designer [[Shōji Kawamori]], who was particularly intent on hiding the robot-mode details on the underside of the fighter mode. The first prototype for the figure was essentially an upgraded, more complex version of the original toy, with much more accurate robot and jet modes, but Kawamori's desire to avoid simply making a new version of an old toy saw the figure go through a major redesign into its finished form. Perhaps the most notable change was the repositioning of major structures from Starscream's legs to his hips, with the intent of creating the feel of a samurai wearing a pair of swords at his waist (presumably, if somewhat oddly, based on the then-recent ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' and ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' cartoons' portrayal of their [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] as a noble swordsman). Even so, Kawamori was still unhappy with the amount of robotic parts visible underneath the plane, but conceded that too many changes would essentially not make the toy look like Starscream in robot mode. In this pursuit of realism, the most visible concession to the Starscream's design was the abandonment of his traditional color scheme, replaced with an all-over greenish-tinged grey. Given that this color is inaccurate even to real F-15 fighters (whose Gunship Gray coloration is ''much'' closer to Starscream's traditional shade), the question of why it was changed at all is not an unreasonable one.

:This mold was later redecoed into ''Masterpiece'' versions of Skywarp and Thundercracker, and was recolored by Hasbro into a more cartoon-accurate Starscream color scheme released under their ''[[#Classics|Classics]]'' line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/MPStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Masterpiece Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:Masterpiece ghost starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Starscream Ghost Version''' (2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-3G'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile racks, Doctor Arkeville pilot figurine, gun clip, two-piece display stand

:Cast almost entirely in translucent plastic, this "Ghost Version" ''Masterpiece'' figure is yet another callback to Starscream's spectral tenure from the Generation 1 cartoon. When purchased from [[e-Hobby]], buyers will receive an [[MP-3G Destron Air Commander / Starscream Ghost Ver.|exclusive comic]] packaged with the figure.

:Like Gentei Ghost Starscream, Masterpiece Ghost Starscream is cast in light purple translucent plastic instead of just colorless clear plastic like the G1 Ghost Starscream figure.

:This figure was also released in Australia, through Toys 'r' Us, in late 2010.

:Surprisingly Ghost Starscream comes with the same sticker sheet as the original MP-3 Starscream, only with the numbering designation changed.
 

{{-}}

===Classics===
[[Image:ClassicsStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Fear my extra-long null rays!!!]]
* '''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' 2 null-ray cannons (left and right), 2 missiles

: Like the other entries in the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' series, Starscream is a faithful "modernizing" of his original Generation 1 form, updating his original toy with modern standards of toy engineering, transformation, sculpting detail and articulation (not dissimilar in principle from his ''[[#Robot Masters|Robot Masters]]'' incarnation, but with less of an adherence to his cartoon [[character model]]). Sharing many design elements with his ''[[#Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' toy, Starscream still transforms into an F-15 Eagle, but has the nose of an [[wikipedia:F-14_Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat]] fighter jet. His color scheme is, of course, based on the traditional Starscream palette, but seems to owe its new layout to [[wikipedia:Image:F-15A_first_prototype_2.jpg|the original F-15 prototype]].

:As usual, Starscream is armed with his familiar null-rays, which can mount under his wings, on his shoulders, or in his fists, and fire spring-loaded projectiles. The large size of his null-rays (necessary for safety reasons) restrict his arm movement somewhat in robot mode, as they bump into his wings. Like all ''Classics'' figures, he has a heat-activated rubsign on his left wing. Certain parts of Starscream, like his back panel and tailfin assemblies, are made of unusually rigid gray plastic that is slightly prone to cracking or breaking, and should be handled with care.

: Later versions of Starscream saw a [[retool]] in the jet intake area, which involved the slope of his shoulders being decreased, and a fifth small rectangle being added to the vertical area. This version of Starscream is the harder to find of the two, but was redecoed to create Starscream's ''[[#Henkei! Henkei!|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' counterpart, ''Classics'' [[Skywarp (G1)#Classics|Skywarp]] (on whom the retool was first observed), ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Thundercracker (G1)#Classics|Thundercracker]] and ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Acid Storm]]. The toy was also retooled to create ''Classics'' and ''Henkei!'' [[Ramjet (G1)#Classics|Ramjet]], and ''Timelines'' and ''[[Henkei!_Henkei!_(toyline)#Gentei! Gentei!|Gentei!]]'' [[Thrust (G1)#Classics|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)#Classics|Dirge]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Classics Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:Hasbro Masterpiece Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Wait, you say the ''Hasbro'' version is the slavishly 'toon-accurate one? Your credibility is on shaky ground, Wiki.]]
* '''Masterpiece Starscream''' (2007, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile racks, Doctor Arkeville pilot figurine, gun clip, display stand

: A [[Walmart]] exclusive, Hasbro's Masterpiece Starscream is an ''extensive'' redeco of the previous year's ''Masterpiece'' figure from Takara, recolored to resemble the character's animation model, down to the orange canopy and the silver nosecone, although the cartoon-accurate silver paint on the nosecone actually covers ''toy''-accurate blue plastic.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/206593-clean-mp-ss-cleanscream-blue-nosecone.html Clean MP SS - Cleanscream(blue nosecone) - tfw2005.com]</ref> In an effort to bring out detail in the sculpt, he has also been given an extensive paint wash to bring out his panel lines. His colors were not the only thing changed, however; the tips of his vertical stabilizers were shortened and rounded, and the plastics used overall have greater resilience to impact and damage than the fragile Japanese release.

:Starscream includes the same accessories as the Takara version of the toy, including a two-piece display stand, null rays, sidewinder missiles, a small figurine of Doctor Arkeville (which now has the correct skin color), and a clip to hold 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime's Megatron gun while in jet mode. Starscream was finally given the correct tech spec stats he was originally supposed to have back in 1984 for this release, which had been mistakenly given to Skywarp instead.

:Takara got in on the act the following year when they released Hasbro's version of Masterpiece Starscream, adding a Japanese sticker to the Hasbro ''Classics'' packaging. This version of the toy was not without a few changes: the original mold for the tail fins was used, an extra Decepticon symbol was added to Starscream's nosecone (which was present on his original toy, but not his animation model), and his black "scorch mark" paint applications were dialed back, and those that remained were switched to a lighter grey.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/MPStarscream/starscream.htm More information on ''Classics'' Masterpiece Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Titanium Series===

[[Image:TitaniumHeroesWWStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"How ''dare'' you make ''me'' a redeco?! Do you know who I am?!"]]
* '''Starscream''' (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Display stand

:Perversely enough, ''Titanium'' Starscream is actually a redeco of ''Titanium'' [[Thundercracker (G1)#Titanium Series|Thundercracker]], instead of the other way around. Based on the Seekers' [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] forms as seen in the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic book "[[The War Within]]", this version of Starscream transforms into Cybertronian "tetra-jet", as designed by [[Don Figueroa]]. As a ''Titanium'' figure, Starscream is made in large part from die-cast metal, and comes with the generic display stand shared by all of the 6" "Cybertron Heroes", with a unique removable nameplate.

: This mold was redecoed into ''Titanium'' versions of [[Sunstorm (G1)#Titanium|Sunstorm]] and [[Skywarp (G1)#Titanium|Skywarp]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/TitStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Titanium Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Sport Label===

[[Image:Sports_label_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Sportscream? Shoescream? So many possible nicknames...]]

*'''Starscream featuring Nike Free 7.0''' (unreleased)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

:This red and black redeco of the ''[[Sport Label]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Sports Label|Megatron]] figure (itself a retool of the ''Sport Label'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Sports Label|Optimus Prime]]) appeared on eBay in mid-2007, identified by the auctioneer as Starscream. More pictures followed from a different source a month later, but after that, this strange little redeco quietly vanished, never released, and never even officially ''acknowledged'' by [[TakaraTomy]]. Was it a [[knock-off]], or an abandoned official product? We may never know.

:As a redeco of the one communal mold used for all the ''Sports Label'' toys, Starscream, if that's who he really was, would have transformed into an undersized Nike sneaker with real fabric shoelaces, and would have been armed with a modular two-piece gun that split and stored inside each half of the large sneaker "shell" that made up a big chunk of his alternate mode.

::*''[http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=11499 Gallery of Sports Label Starscream picture on Seibertron.com]''

{{canceledtoy}}

===Encore===

[[Image:Encore_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Meet the new box, same as the old box]]
*'''Starscream''' (2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''04'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:A new series of reissues means a new release of the original Generation 1 Starscream figure, and Takara's ''[[Encore]]'' series proved no different. This edition of the figure featured no extra accessories, with its only notable change from past versions being a pale yellow window instead of dark gray, and the inclusion of [[tampograph]]ed Decepticon insignias on its wings and nosecone, rather than stickers (similar to the [[#Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]] reissue before it but not flipped like the animation and metallic purple and silver instead of glossy purple and white).
{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He feels much better in the boring ol' stripes.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-02'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles
: ''[[Henkei! Henkei! (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' Starscream is a redeco of ''[[#Classics|Classics]]'' Starscream, decorated in entirely different colored paint applications to more closely mimic the original ''Generation 1'' cartoon model. Like all ''Henkei'' toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign that the ''Classics'' counterpart featured, but has two [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] barrels on his missile launchers.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Henkei Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|HenkeiGhost}}
[[Image:Henkei ghost starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Starscream's transparency; sometimes it isn't just figurative.]]
*'''Starscream Ghost Version''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles
: Available only as a mail-away exclusive offered through ''[[Transformers Generations 2009]]'' Vol 2 that was released in November 2009, this redeco of Starscream is the second in the character's history to pay homage to his time as a ghost in the third season of the Generation 1 cartoon by casting him almost entirely in traslucent colored plastic. Parts of the figure made in softer plastic, like his thighs, remain opaque.

: Starscream Ghost Version uses the altered version of the ''Classics'' Starscream mold that originated with Classics [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and was last seen with [[Acid Storm]] (down to the 2006 copyright date stamped on it), rather than the modified version first used on ''Universe'' Starscream and the iterations that followed ([[#Universe (2008)|see below]]). He has the date K0409 (11/04/2009) etched into the inside of his leg.

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
====Classic Series====
[[Image:Universe2008-toy LegendsG1Starscream.JPG|right|300px|thumb|On casual Fridays, Starscream prefers to wear his wings down.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends Class, 2008)

: The first ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' toy of Starscream is a [[Redeco]] of ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Legends Class|Legends]] [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], transforming into an SU-37 fighter jet.

: This mold was also used to make the ''Classics'' Legends-class [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and ''Universe'' [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/LegendsUniStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Universe Classics Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

====Generation 1 Series====
[[Image:Universe2008 deluxe G1Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Yep, he's still feelin' good in the stripes.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles

:The second ''Universe'' Starscream toy is a redeco of ''Classics'' Starscream, with details and a darker color scheme inspired by Starscream's original Generation 1 toy. Several minor changes were made to the mold for this release: his launcher pegs were widened, and the peg-holes for them on his shoulders and wings were modified in order to accomodate them, while his air intakes were further modified (on top of the changes made to the mold for ''Classics'' Skywarp) so that the bottom-most rectangle goes completely across the air intake's surface rather than just the center. This modified version of the mold was used for ''Henkei'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/TFUStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Universe Generation 1 Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===Alternity===

[[Image:Alternity starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|And the fandom shall dub thee "Carscream", and complain (and rejoice).]]

*'''Starscream White Pearl''' ([[May 29|5/29]]/2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''A-04'''

:The <s>first</s> [[Action Master|second]] Starscream toy not to turn into a jet, ''[[Alternity (franchise)|Alternity]]'' Starscream transforms into a licensed 1:32 scale [[wikipedia:Mitsuoka_Orochi|Mitsuoka Orochi]]. Like the other toys in the line, he features [[die-cast]] metal parts and rubber tires, as well as an opening hood, trunk and doors. In car mode, small wings can be flipped out from under Starscream's rear wheels, giving him the appearance of a flying car.

:This mold (minus the head sculpt) was first used to make the simultaneously released ''Alternity'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and later [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] as well.
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
[[Image:TF2010-toy_Legends_Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends Class, 2010)

:[[Legends Class]] Starscream is a new mold based on his Generation 1 jet appearance. His helmet is in some cases unpainted gray plastic, possibly due to paint budget reasons but in others is painted black as the packaging art suggests. As part of the "[[Reveal the Shield]]" subline, Starscream sports a [[rubsign]]. Also when you flip up the cone on his head while in robot mode, he looks just like a cone-head. Hmmm, a possible [[redeco]] to come?

==Merchandise==

===HG Toys===

[[Image:Hgtoys_starscream_products.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]

Licensor [[HG Toys]] released quite a few piece of ''Transformers'' merchandise in 1984, including several sculpted in Starscream's likeness. All of these items shared the same basic sculpt, modified to fit the piece of merchandise in question.

*'''Stamp Bot''' (1984)

:A small, non-poseable figurine of Starscream with a rubber stamp on the base. An alternate version of Starscream was also available with fewer paint applications and ''Autobot'' symbols on its wings!

*'''Zippper Clip''' (1984)

:A smaller version of the Starscream sculpt, designed to be attached to a coat zipper.

*'''Clip On''' (1984)

:A pocket clip depicting Starscream.
{{--}}

===3-D Jigsaw Stand Up Puzzle===

[[Image:Standup_starscream_puzzle.jpg|right|300px|thumb]]

*'''Starscream''' (1984)

:This piece of Starscream merchandise was a jigsaw puzzle in disguise! The puzzle was of a battle scene of the Seekers battling Optimus Prime, [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], but once broken down, the puzzle pieces could be assembled into a three-dimensional model of Starscream in either robot or jet mode—a progenitor of the [[3D Battle-Card Game]] in many respects!
{{--}}

===Transformers Milk Caramel===
[[Image:Milk caramel starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Starscream''' (1985)
:One of [[Kabaya]]'s first Transformers [[candy toy]] lines, the ''Transformers Milk Caramel'' series featured small rubber figures, similar to the later-released [[Decoy]]s, but smaller, flatter and based more on the toys, rather than their animation models. Starscream was available in numerous different colors.
{{-}}

===Transformers Choco===

[[Image:Kabaya gashapon starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|No, no, no, I said green ''screen!'']]
*'''Starscream''' (1985)

:One of the first of many snap-together candy toy model kits released by Kabaya during the Generation 1 era, this small version of Starscream was available as in various solid colors as part of the ''[[Transformers Choco]]'' range, coming packaged with small "Chocolate Dots". Owing to its diminutive size, it could only transform between robot and jet modes by being disassembled and put back together in different configurations. The figure was apparently also available through capsule machines.
{{-}}
===Transformers Gum===
[[Image:Kabaya gum starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Starscream''' (1985)
**''Accessories:'' Left and right fists, 2 missile launchers, landing gear

:Starscream was also available as part of the larger ''Transformers Gum'' range of figures. Released in the first wave of the series and standing at about four inches tall, he was moulded from red, black and grey plastic and featured stickers for detail. Unlike his smaller ''Choco'' counterpart, as was standard for the ''Gum'' figures, he is fully transformable, essentially being a scaled down version of the actual Starscream toy.

:This Starscream figure was later re-released in 1997 by a Korean company named [[Toon Town]], in a two-pack with the "Transformers Gum" version of [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]].
{{-}}

===Decoy===
[[Image:Decoy_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Not a mis-colored Skywarp]]
*'''Destron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1985)
: This small purple rubber figurine of Starscream was released in Japan as part of a large multi-pack of similar figures, which were used as playing pieces for ''Transformers'' board games. The figure features a number etched into its back which is the sum total of Starscream's [[Tech Spec]] ratings, which served some function in the gameplay the figures were used for. A peach-colored version of the figure could be found packed in various other multi-packs the following year, and in numerous other colours as part of the blindpacked ''[[Transformers Ramune]]'' line.

*'''Starscream''' (1987)
**''Decoy number:'' '''35'''

: The Starscream figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number (35, in Starscream's case). Like all Decepticon Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] and [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and was, very early on in the promotion, available in an alternate red coloration that was only packed in with the Throttlebots. Unsurprisingly, this red figurine is much rarer.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Decoys/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Decoy Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Parody Deformed===
[[Image:Pd_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|"Don't push me, Megatron, my desire for cuteness is as great as yours!"]]
*'''Starscream''' (1990)

:A small red and white, non-transforming [[super deformed]] model kit of Starscream was available as part of [[Kabaya]]'s "[[Parody Deformed]]" line of [[candy toy]]s. The tenth figure in the series, he came with a "[[Transformers PD Type]]" comic about himself, "Good Luck! Starscream!!", and something that could charitably be described as "chocolate".
{{-}}

===Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:Hoc_starscreams.jpg|right|thumb]]

* '''Starscream''' (2000)
: A three-inch tall [[plastic|PVC]] figurine of Starscream was available as part of the first wave of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available as both a standard full color figure and a clear plastic version, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] figures.

:This figure was redecoed into ''Super Collection Figure'' Thundercracker and Skywarp, and retooled to become Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge.

* '''Ghost Starscream''' (2001)
: Starscream's figurine was recast in translucent colored plastic to represent his ghostly form from the third season of the Generation 1 cartoon, and re-released as a rare chase figure in the fifth wave of the ''Super Collection Figure'' series.

* '''Coronation Starscream''' (2002)
:Starscream was retooled for a third and final release in the eight and last wave of the ''Super Collection Figure'' line. Like the ghost figure, "Coronation Starscream" was only available as a rare chase figure, and features a new head and arms with the crown, shoulderpads and cape from his cornation scene in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
{{--}}

===Heroes of Cybertron===

When the ''Super Collection Figure'' series was imported to become Hasbro's ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' line, the figures were all cast entirely in translucent colored plastic, then painted over, save for the eyes and a small patch on the back of their heads, giving them all a [[light-piping]] gimmick. Unlike the Japanese figures, they were sold in individual blister packaging, with character profile cards.

* '''Starscream''' (2002)
[[Image:HoC 3H Seeker Set.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Leader of the pack.]]
:A first-wave ''Heroes of Cybertron'' release of the first ''Super Collection Figure'' Starscream figure.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Decepticon/HoCStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Heroes of Cybertron Starscream at TFU.info]''

* '''Starscream with Crown''' (2002)
:This ''Heroes of Cybertron'' release saw the ''SCF'' chase figure of Starscream in his coronation gear reach a much wider audience. It came packaged with the left leg of the fifth wave's [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] "build-a-figure".

* '''Starscream''' (OTFCC exclusive, 2003)
: The original Starscream figurine was re-released again in this six-pack of figures available exclusively at [[OTFCC 2003]]. He came packaged with ''Heroes of Cybertron'' versions of Thundercracker, Skywarp, and three [[Air Warrior]]s.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/OTFCCStarscream/starscream.htm More information on OTFCC Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}
===Mega Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:Mega SCF Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Just keep it away from any [[Galvatron (G1)|reformatted megalomaniacs]].]]
* '''Starscream''' (2002)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MegaSCF TF 07'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 open hands (left & right), 2 clenched fists (left & right), right fist w/ Megatron, 2 shoulderpads (left & right), cape, alternate head w/ crown

:''Mega Super Collection Figure'' Starscream is a highly articulated non-transforming PVC action figure. Standing at five inches tall, Starscream features several interchangeable fists, including one clutching Megatron in gun mode, and a full compliment of coronation gear, including two shoulderpads, a real fabric cape that attaches to them, and an alternate head wearing his Crown of Leadership.

:This mold, minus accessories, was supposed to be used to make [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], but the figure was never released.
{{--}}
===Hard Hero===
[[Image:HardHero Starscream bust.JPG|right|thumb|]]
* '''Starscream''' (2002)

:A cold-cast porcelain Starscream bust measuring six inches in height with a nine-inch wingspan. The bust was fifth in [[Hard Hero]]'s main series of ''Transformers'' busts, and was limited to 5000 pieces. An additional 100 pieces were signed by sculptor [[Jason Ray]].
{{--}}
===MyClone===
[[Image:Myclone Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Every Transformers fangirl owns this.]]
* '''Starscream''' (2003)
**''ID number:'' '''MTF003'''
**''Accessories:'' Display base

: Released in the third wave of the ''[[MyClone]]'' line of Transformers PVC figures, this adorable little Starscream comes with a hexagonal red display stand, which can link up with the identical stands included with other ''MyClone'' figures. Starscream's modular design is common to all ''MyClone'' figures, allowing his parts to be mixed and matched with those of any other figure.

: This mold was also used to make ''MyClone'' Thundercracker.
{{--}}

===Q-Robo Collection===
[[Image:Qrobo starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Starscream''' (2003)

:A super-deformed PVC of Starscream was released as part of the''[[Q-Robo Collection]]''. Like all the figures in the series, it was sold blindpacked in a plastic capsule, featured articulation in the neck and shoulders, and was also available in a translucent purple color scheme.

::*''[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/figure/q_robo1.htm More information on the Q-Robo Collection at Autobase Aichi]''
{{-}}
===Generation 1 Figure-Collection===

[[Image:Kabaya_bottlecap_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|"Hey! Hey! ...Betcha can't guess who I am!"]]

*'''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-2'''
**''Accessories:'' Display base

:At only one inch in height, this Starscream "bottlecap" figurine (so named because its display base is the size of a bottlecap) was one of fourteen blindpacked figures available in Kabaya's Transformers [[Generation 1 Figure-Collection]]. The figure was rendered in a "retro" black and white color scheme, and came with a leaflet, personalized with cartoon screen captures.

::*''[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/misc_item/kabaya_bottle.htm More information on the Bottlecap Collection at Autobase Aichi]''
{{--}}

===History Collection===

[[Image:History_collection_starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]

*'''Starscream''' (2004)
**''Accessories:'' Display base

:Kabaya produced another bottlecap Starscream the following year, as part of their [[History Collection]]. Despite its diminutive size, this two-piece full-color figure features articulated shoulders.

::*''[http://tfkenkon.com/collection/act234/ More information on the History Collection at TFKenkon.com]''
{{--}}
===Palisades===
* '''Starscream''' (Palisades, 2005)

[[Image:PalisadesStarscream.jpg|thumb|]]

:Starscream is a six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms. He can stand normally or use a stand to take on a "hovering" pose. Starscream was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]].

:This statue was later [[redeco]]ed as Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thundercracker, and the Ghost of Starscream.
{{-}}
* '''Ghost of Starscream''' (Palisades, 2005)

[[Image:PalisadesGhostStarscream.jpg|thumb|]]

:A ''Previews''-exclusive clear redeco of the Starscream statue, the Ghost of Starscream is a six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms. He can stand normally or use a stand to take on a "hovering" pose. Limited to 300 pieces, Ghost of Starscream was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]].[http://web.archive.org/web/20051017011253/http://previews.diamondcomics.com/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=23&s=132&ai=22313]
{{--}}

===Titanium Series===
[[Image:TitaniumRM Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Stop, in the name of love...]]
* '''Starscream''' (3" Robot Masters, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Pistol, "cloud" base, Display stand

: Released in the second wave of "Robot Masters", ''[[Titanium Series]]'' Starscream is a small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine, based upon his Generation 1 cartoon appearances. He is sculpted holding a pistol in his left hand (Why? He's got guns on his arms!) and holding up his palm outward with his right, while using his jets to fly up.

: This mold was also used to make ''Titanium'' Thundercracker.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/TitStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Titanium Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}
===Kiss Players===
[[Image:Atariscream_pvc.jpg|right|thumb|This may explain ''[[Slipstream (Animated)|her]]''.]]
*'''Atari-scream''' (2007)

:A redeco of the PVC figurine of [[Atari Hitotonari]] released the previous year, this black-costumed version of the figure represents Atari while she was possessed by Starscream, as seen in the ''[[15 Go! Go!]]'' manga. It was available only as an online-order exclusive from [[Dengeki Hobby]] magazine.
{{--}}
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:RH Mirage vs Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He's cute when he betrays you.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Mirage Vs Starscream, 2007)
: Starscream is a two inch high figure sculpted in a super deformed style and articulated at the shoulders. This figure was later redecoed into (guess what) Thundercracker for the Jazz vs. Thundercracker set, and Skywarp for the "Decepticon Sneak Attack" set.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/RHStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Robot Heroes Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Boss Coffee===
[[Image:Boss_coffee_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Starscream''' (2008)

:A non-transforming PVC figure of Starscream was released as part of a promotion by [[Boss Coffee]]. The small figure was randomly included with single cans of the company's "Rainbow Mountain Blend" coffee, contained in a plastic capsule affixed to the top of can which then became a display base for the figurine once removed. Starscream features articulation at the shoulders and waist, and came with a small catalog leaflet that could be folded up and attached to the lid/base to form a diorama background for added display value.

*'''Starscream''' (2008)

:A larger, metallic gold version of Starscream was also part of the promotion. Nearly twice as tall as the smaller figure, it was not merely an upsized version, but an entirely different sculpt, with a notably broader wingspan. This Starscream was randomly included with two-packs of Rainbow Mountain Blend coffee cans, which featured a double-wide plastic capsule to hold him.
{{-}}

===Attacktix===
[[Image:Attacktix g1starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Elephantiasis of the blaster]]
*'''Starscream'''

: The ''[[Attacktix]]'' Starscream game piece was to be a small figure depicting on his robot mode. A missile-type piece, he would have featured an oversized null-ray missile launcher on his right arm. Starscream would have been a Captain-class piece worth 30 points.

: Hasbro displayed Starscream at a few conventions, but he was ultimately canceled alongside the rest of the ''Attacktix'' line.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
[[Image:3DBattleCard ClassicStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Classic Starscream''' (2007)

: A 42-point "rare" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, "Classic" Starscream "transforms" into a grey and red fighter jet with a color scheme based on his ''Classics'' toy. He uses the same parts layout as [[Transformers (2007)|Movie]] [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]], and Generation 1 [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]].
{{--}}

===Revoltech===
[[Image:Revoltech Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Let's just hope [[Pat Lee]] didn't get royalties from this.]]
* '''Starscream''' (2008)
**''Yamaguchi Series number:'' '''046'''
**''Accessories:'' Megatron gun mode, 2 closed fists (left & right), open right hand, pistol grip right hand, pointing left hand, display stand

:A non-transforming but ''highly'' articulated Starscream action figure, ''[[Revoltech]]'' Starscream uses the ''Revoltech'' "revolver joints" for maximum articulation. It comes with his twin null-ray cannons, a gun-mode Megatron, a posing stand, and three extra hands (a Megatron-holding right hand, an open-palmed right hand, and a left hand for pointing or disco-dancing).

::*''[http://www.amiami.com/shop/?vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=TOY-RBT-0148&template=review.html More information on Revoltech Starscream at Amiami.com]''
{{--}}
===Transformers - Mini Bust===
[[Image:Starscream statue.jpg|right|thumb|Only half here and I still look this good.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Diamond Select, 2008)
:Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008, Starscream was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 1,000 pieces.

:This bust was retooled and redecoed into [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]].

{{-}}
[[Image:Coronation statue.jpg|right|thumb|Coronation Starscream? This is [[Main Page|bad comedy]].]]
* '''Coronation Starscream''' (Diamond Select, 2008)
:Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008, Coronation Starscream was an exclusive to on-line retailer Action Figure Xpress. He was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 600 pieces. It features Starscream decked out in the royal crown, cape, and big honkin' shoulder pads he wore (albeit briefly) in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
{{--}}

===Mighty Muggs===
[[Image:MightyMuggs_Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Bet that they got it wrong because of the faction symbols?]]
*'''Starscream''' (2009)
**''Accessories:'' Wings

: This [[super deformed]], non-transformable PVC figure uses the standard [[Mighty Muggs]] body template, with swivel joints in Starscream's neck and limbs. Although Hasbro stock photography (right) shows him with his wings pointing down, they are detachable and are meant to be put in the standard upwards position.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G2BlackDeathStarscream.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
*A hand-painted mock-up and accompanying artwork for what seems to have been a proposed ''Generation 2''-era redeco of Starscream appeared in auctions on [[eBay]], amongst similar items put up for sale from the collection of a former [[Hasbro]] employee. The mock-up features the words "Black Death" on its nosecone, which would probably lead fans to refer to the figure as "Black Death Starscream" if anyone were aware of it existing. The actuality of the figure being intended as Starscream is uncertain, but given that the artwork is Starscream's ''Generation 2'' card art, Occam's Razor suggests it was meant to be him.

{{-}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Decepticons]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:MyClone]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Starscream (G1)/toys

2011-02-11T09:25:30Z

58.173.181.51: /* Transformers (2010) */

{{suite}}[[Image:MP Starscream book cover art.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Next person who says '[[Dull surprise]]' gets a null-ray to the face!"]]
Many toys have been made of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] '''[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]''', enough to warrant this page!

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Starscream toy.jpg|right|400px|thumb|[[Skywarp (G1)|Then]] [[Sunstorm (G1)|about]] [[Thundercracker (G1)|eight]] [[:Image:G1BlackStarscream toy.jpg|million]] [[Seeker (body-type)|redecos]] [[E-Hobby|followed]].]]
* '''Starscream''' (Decepticon Jet, 1984/1985/1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: Starscream's first toy began life as "Jet Robo" from the ''[[Diaclone]]'' line, transforming into a grey, red and blue F-15 Eagle fighter jet. To transform Starscream, one must essentially take most of his plane parts off and transform his body, then reattach most of plane parts on again, along with the addition of two blue fists. If you don't mind being fiddly, though, transformation can certainly be achieved by only removing the fists, weapons and landing gear (which can store in Starscream's cockpit). Owing to the modular nature of his design and the fact that it is impossible to store all the parts in either mode, it can be quite difficult to find an intact original set of this toy.

:Starscream is armed with a pair of missile launchers that mount on his arms in robot mode, and under his wings in jet mode, with a pair of specialized projectiles for each. In jet mode, two short "[[cluster bomb]]" projectiles are fitted into the launchers to make them resemble the drop tanks a real F-15 carries, while in robot mode, they are replaced with the long barrels of Starscream's [[null-ray]]s. The original ''Diaclone'' version of the mold featured spring-loaded firing mechanisms in these launchers; while this feature was removed for the [[Hasbro]] release of the toy, it was left intact for the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] version, and all subsequent reissues.

:The ''Diaclone'' version of the Starscream mold featured tailfins with solid tips and solid fists, and both these features carried over to the earliest ''Transformers'' edition of the future. Soon, however, the ''Transformers'' mold was modified to add hollow tips to the fins, and tabs to the insides of the fists to allow them to hold onto his arms tighter, resulting in a visible slit on either side of each one. These altered versions became the standard for all subsequent reissues of the mold. Like all his 1984 brethren, a [[rubsign]] was added to Starscream in 1985.

: Starscream's mold was [[Redeco|redecoed]] into the concurrently-available [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. It would later be redecoed again to make [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], and [[Retool|retooled]] into [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. On top of this, given his role as a major Generation 1 character, Starscream himself would be reissued many times down the years; this article strives to list each reissue of the figure under its own header. The long lifespan of his toy actually began in 1986, when Starscream remained part of the assortment for that year despite the departure of nearly every other 1984 toy from store shelves.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Generation 1 Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|GoodbyeMegatron}}
[[Image:G1toy_goodbye_megatron.jpg|right|thumb|300px|More of a "See ya later", really]]
* '''Good Bye Megatron''' (Multi-pack, 1986)
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:The second release of Starscream's toy came with this Japanese-exclusive two-pack, which saw him packaged alongside [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], in commemoration of the Decepticon leader's passing ([[Galvatron (G1)|of sorts]]) in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Starscream himself was ''actually'' dead, but where was his "Good Bye Starscream" set, eh?

{{-}}{{anchor|Pretender}}
[[Image:PretenderStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You can tell he's evil because he's spiky.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Classic Pretender, 1989)
**''Accessories'': 2-part Pretender shell, helmet, left & right wings, left & right "lasers"/tail wings, rifle
:The first new Starscream toy since the original brought the treacherous Air Commander back as a [[Classic Pretender]]. He still transforms into a grey, red and blue F-15 fighter jet, though his vehicle mode now borders on the [[super deformed]]. He is armed with a pair of blue lasers, which become his tail fins in jet mode.

:Starscream's two-piece [[Pretender]] shell resembles a human in a teal, grey and brown space armored suit with a removable helmet. The shell is armed with a large blue rifle, and while Starscream is stored inside it, his removable grey wings store in holes on the shell's back. There is, however, nowhere to store Starscream's tail fins.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1989/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Classic Pretender Starscream at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|G1Legend}}
[[Image:G1toy_legends_starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]
* '''Starscream''' (Legends, 1989)
**''Accessories'': Left & right wings, left & right "lasers"/tail wings

:The inner robot of Pretender Starscream was also sold as a [[Kmart]] [[exclusive]] "[[Legends (G1)|Legends]]" figure, sans its shell and its accessories. It was otherwise identical to the Classic Pretender release.
{{-}}{{anchor|Heroset}}
[[Image:G1toy_japanese_legends_giftset.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Odd 'Con out]]
* '''Hero Set''' (Multi-pack, 1989)
**''Accessories'': Left & right wings, left & right "lasers"/tail wings

:Released exclusively in Japan ''instead'' of the individual Classic Pretender figures, rather than in addition to them, this giftset contained the "Legends" versions of Pretender Starscream and his fellow Classic Pretenders, [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Legend|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (G1)#Legend|Jazz]], and [[Grimlock (G1)#Legend|Grimlock]]. This version of Starscream featured a silver face, as opposed to the Hasbro version's black.

:In Italy, [[GiG]] also forewent releasing the individual Classic Pretenders, and instead released their own version of the Hero Set named "Set Commandos". These versions of the toys were identical to the Japanese "Hero Set" versions.

{{-}}{{anchor|Actiomaster}}
[[Image:ActionmasterStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He loved the gray helmet so much, he used it again.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Action Master, 1990)
**''Accessories:'' Turbo Jet, rifle, 2 missiles

: [[Action Master]] Starscream is a non-transforming action figure based loosely on his cartoon [[character model]], but using a color scheme derived from the Pretender toy. His main accessory is the [[Turbo Jet]], a small personal attack craft that Starscream can set astride like a motorcycle. The Turbo Jet rolls on three small wheels, and can transform into a gun emplacement.

: This mold was [[Redeco|redecoed]] as [[Thundercracker (G1)#ActionMaster|Action Master Thundercracker]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1990/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Action Master Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Reissue}}
[[Image:G1toy_2001_starscream_reissue.jpg|right|thumb|300px|In a box, no one can hear you 'Scream]]
*'''Starscream''' (Re-issue, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:The first of numerous reissues of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy in the 21st century, this Japanese release of the figure included functional spring-loaded launchers, and was also simultaneously available as three different exclusive redecos, listed below.

{{-}}{{anchor|GhostStarscream}}
[[Image:GhostStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Wait a minute. Since when do ghosts have painted metal chests?]]
* '''Starscream Ghost Version''' (e-Hobby Exclusive, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: Available concurrently with the 2001 reissue of the original Generation 1 Starscream figure, "Starscream Ghost Version" is an [[E-Hobby]] [[exclusive]] redeco of the 2001 Starscream reissue, cast almost entirely in translucent plastics (except for those parts made of die-cast metal) in homage to Starscream's tenure as a ghost in the third season of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]. To make the toy further match Starscream's cartoon appearance, it features a notably lighter shade of blue, and a translucent orange cockpit as opposed to the traditional smoky grey. The toy came in unique monochrome-blue window box packaging featuring [[CGI]] artwork of Starscream.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Decepticon/StarscreamClear/starscream.htm More information on Starscream Ghost Version at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BlackStarscream}}
[[Image:G1BlackStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Who am I again?]]
* '''Starscream Black Version''' (e-Hobby Exclusive, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: The second e-Hobby-exclusive redeco available concurrently with the 2001 reissue of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy, "Starscream Black Version" sports a color scheme loosely based upon ''[[Machine Wars]]'' [[#Machine_Wars|Starscream]], despite the only real point of similarity being that they're both black. The toy's [[bio]] makes a rare fictional reference to ''Machine Wars'', describing the events of the series in the past tense. The toy shared the window-box packaging of the "Ghost Version" (see above), except it's box was monochrome-black.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Decepticon/StarscreamBlack/starscream.htm More information on Starscream Black Version at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|SecretStarscream}}
[[Image:Secret Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Songs are made of mystery... and clouds are made of moonbeams... Secret Starscream.]]
* '''Starscream Secret Version''' (Lucky Draw figure, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

: The third exclusive redeco of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy released alongside the 2001 reissues, "Starscream Secret Version" was available through the [[Lucky Draw figure|Lucky Draw]] contest held in conjunction with the first edition of ''[[Transformers Generations]]'' (with a ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' Skywarp figurine as second prize). The figure was limited to only ''five'' pieces, making it one of the rarest officially-released ''Transformers'' toys in the world, and to cap it off, the toy was not actually ''shown'' during the contest, hence its "Secret" moniker. Given its amazingly limited availability, it was not even 100% known ''what the toy looked like'' until a picture of it appeared in ''[[Transformers Generations 2009]]'', showing it as being primarily clear and colorless. Prior to this appearance, it was suggested that both this toy and the ''SCF'' Skywarp were ''not'' officially released, due to the bankruptcy of ''Generations'' publisher [[Keibunsha]]. Whether or not this scenario is accurate is still unknown at this time, as no one has publicly translated the text regarding the figure from ''Generations 2009''.

::*''[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-toys/toy-gallery/1219/Collectors+Edition+Japanese/Secret+Starscream.html More information on what is probably Starscream Secret Version at Transformers @ The Moon]''
{{-}}

===Generation 2===
[[Image:G2Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|With my camouflaged wings, I'll appear to be merely a fuselage flying through the sky!]]
* '''Starscream''' (Decepticon Jet, 1993)
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear, 2 missile launchers, 3 missiles, sound/light energy unit

:Starscream's ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' release is a slight [[retool]] of his original toy, armed with new, functional spring-loaded launchers and missiles, and an electronic light-and-sound "energy unit" in the shape of a tank. The electronic box lights up with the press of either button, and emits electronic "machine gun" or "jet engine" noises. In robot mode, the box attaches to Starscream's back; in jet mode, it plugs into his tail-end.

:The new accessories were also used, in different colors, for ''Generation 2'' Ramjet.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1993/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Generation 2 Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{-}}{{anchor|ATB}}
[[Image:G2toy_ATB_megs_and_screamer.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Transforms from backstabber to backpack and back!]]
*'''Megatron''' (Unreleased)
**''Accessories'': 12 missiles, 2 missiles launchers

: A planned-but-canceled redeco of ''Generation 2'' [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]], "Advancted Tactical Bomber" Megatron would have come with Starscream, a redeco of Dreadwing's partner [[Smokescreen (G2)|Smokescreen]]. The pair could combine into the "flying wing" Advanced Tactical Bomber, while Starscream coud detach to become a smaller solo jet, leaving Megatron to transform into a treaded tank mode. According the Toy Fair 1995 Transformers presentation, the toy's missiles were intended to glow in the dark.

: This toy's deco (but not the glow-in-the-dark missiles) was used to make ''[[Beast Wars II (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'''s [[BB]] and [[Starscream (BWII)|Starscream]] out of the same mold-set. This mold was also used to make ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Dreadwind (RID)|Dreadwind]] and [[Smokejumper]], while Starscream's mold was sold separately during the ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' line as [[Smokesniper]].

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===Machine Wars===
* '''Starscream''' (Ultra, 1997)[[Image:MWStarscream Toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I have no mouth and I must Starscream.]]
**''Accessories:'' 10 missiles
: Starscream's ''[[Machine Wars]]'' incarnation is a redeco of the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]], transforming into a large bomber jet based vaguely upon an SR-71 Blackbird. The main feature of the toy is its "carpet bombing" gimmick; each wing contains a drum that holds up to four missiles, which drop out as the drum is rotated. A further two missiles can also store on each wing, and one on each side of his fuselage, but while Skyquake came with enough missiles to fill all these ports, Starscream only comes with ten. The short length of the missiles necessary for this gimmick to function means that Starscream does not come with Skyquake's firing missile launcher, since the missiles are shorter than [[for safety reasons|safety reasons]] allow, although it is incorrectly shown on his packaging. Starscream also lacks Skyquake's [[Megavisor]] gimmick.

:Starscream is known to have come with both grey missiles, better fitting his new color scheme, and later, bright green missiles like Skyquake's.

: This mold was later redecoed to make [[King Atlas]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Machine Wars Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Transtech===
[[Image:Starscream-transtech.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Obscure both by design and by accident]]
* '''Starscream'''

: Starscream would have been made available in the aborted ''[[Transcendent Technomorph|Transtech]]'' series in 2001. Control art and early [[Prototype]] images have surfaced, showing that the toy would have been at the Deluxe scale and featured internal lighting mechanisms that changed color depending on its mode. The toy is clearly a homage to his ''Machine Wars'' body, which at the time of ''Transtech's'' intended release would have been the last form Starscream had inhabited in American markets.

: In 2008, this design would be [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as the [[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTech]] universe's [[Starscream (TransTech)|Starscream]].

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
===Commemorative Series===
[[Image:G1toy_commemorative_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He's back, with a big boost of confidence.]]
*'''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:The first reissue of the original Starscream toy in North America since the Generation 1 toyline reached its end, this "[[Commemorative Series]]" edition of the figure was a [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive. It featured functional missile launchers for the first time on a Hasbro version of the toy, but because the launchers now worked, both sets of missiles had to be lengthened [[for safety reasons]]. This didn't work out ''so'' badly with the null-rays, but the cluster bombs just wound up looking ''stupid''.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/CSStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Commemorative Series Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Transformers Collection===

*'''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''9'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear, two-piece gun-mode Megatron, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] fist

:As another in an increasingly large number of reissues of the original Generation 1 Starscream toy, this entry in the Japanese-exclusive ''[[Transformers Collection]]'' line of reissues decided to mix things up by giving the figure a full-scale redeco into [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]] colors. His blue plastic became much lighter, while his cockpit was made bright orange, and even featured new grey paint applications running across it. Several of his stickers were replaced with new, show-accurate paint applications, including new wing-stripes and [[tampograph]]ed Decepticon symbols on his wings and nosecone (of course, Starscream didn't have one on his nosecone in the cartoon, so it isn't perfect!).

:Starscream's fists were remolded with new circular peg-holes so he could wield his missile launchers in his hands, which also worked in conjunction with a new tab on the fists' undersides to allow him to hold his new accessory: Megatron in gun mode. This miniature Megatron splits into two pieces at the handle, with each half plugging into the new hole and tab added to each of Starscream's fists. Megatron can also plug into Starscream's underside in jet mode, replicating the time the characters linked up in this fashion in the cartoon episode, "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]". The set also came with a remolded fist for the original Optimus Prime toy, allowing him to hold the Megatron accessory, and a DVD featuring a trailer for the upcoming Playstation 2 video game ''[[The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers]]'' and Japanese toy [[commercial]]s for Optimus Prime, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Destron/AnimeStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Transformers Collection Starscream at TFU.info]''

===Smallest Transforming Transformers===
[[Image:STFStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I will rule all the redecos, Megatron!]]
* '''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''GTF-03'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers/cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tailfins

: Standing at only two inches tall, ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' Starscream is a ''very'' small-scale simplification of the original Starscream toy. It retains a surprising amount of the larger toy's functionality and accessories, except its tail fins and wings are combined into single pieces, and his null rays and landing gear are left out.

:This mold was, of course, redecoed into ''Smallest Transforming'' versions of Skywarp and Thundercracker, and retooled into Thrust.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Destron/SmallestStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Smallest Transforming Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Robot Masters===
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-12'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile pods[[Image:RobotMastersStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I have thighs?]]

: Starscream's ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' toy is a re-imagining of the original Generation 1 figure, retaining its basic transformation scheme, but designed to be closer to the animation model, with greater articulation and integrated parts that do not require detachment during transformation. The only pieces that now need to be removed are Starscream's null ray rifles, which move from his wings to his arms. He has three peg-holes on each arm, allowing the null rays to be mounted on his shoulders, on his forearms, or in his fists. These holes are also designed to accomodate the generic spring-loaded missile launcher weapon included with ''Robot Masters'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Robot Masters|G1 Convoy]], [[Optimus Primal/toys#Robot Masters|Beast Convoy]] and [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Robot Masters|Beast Megatron]].

:Starscream came with two "missile pods" based on weapons Starscream used but once, in the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Fire on the Mountain]]". These chromed accessories plug into the square holes in Starscream's chest, and feature opening covers that reveal (non-firing) missiles within.

: This mold was redecoed into ''Robot Masters'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Destron/RMStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Robot Masters Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
[[Image:Robot Masters black starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Okay now I feel used. That's much better.]]
*'''Starscream Limited Black Version''' (Deluxe, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-12'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile pods, Jamming Trident

: Available only via mail-order through ''[[Figure Ō]]'' No. 80, the "Limited Black Version" of Starscream is just that: a straight [[black repaint]] of the Starscream toy, replacing the original toy's blue, red and the grey of his wings with black. He comes with all his original accessories, as well as a gold-chromed version of the "Jamming Trident" [[Solitarium]] weapon that came with [[Wingstun]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Destron/HHStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Starscream Limited Black Version at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Masterpiece===
[[Image:MasterpieceStarscream toy.jpg|right|375px|thumb|And the fandom complained (and rejoiced).]]
* '''Starscream''' (2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-3'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile racks, Doctor Arkeville pilot figurine, gun clip, two-piece display stand

:The second new mold in [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''Masterpiece'' line, this highly-detailed version of Starscream is the "odd man out" of the series, eschewing the slavish cartoon-accuracy of the other ''Masterpiece'' figures in favor of creating as accurate an F-15 Eagle alternate mode as possible, with a somewhat more stylized robot mode. The toy features several unintrusive built-in gimmicks, including ''numerous'' opening panels on his jet-mode surface (highlighting the attention this mode received), flip-up panels in his chest that reveal missile racks based on the weapons seen in the Generation 1 episode "Fire on the Mountain", and a rotating face that allows Starscream to switch his expression from stony-faced to sneering. Owners of the toy are given quite a few customization options, as Starscream comes with an extensive sheet of sticker decals, including variously sized Decepticon symbols, and squadron numbers and markings, including one of [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]!

:In addition to his built-in features, Starscream comes with several accessories. He is armed with both his traditional null-ray rifles, but his familiar cluster bombs are replaced with a rack of (slightly inaccurate) Sidewinder missiles. He also comes with a clip that mounts under his nosecone, allowing him to hold the Megatron pistol accessory that came with [[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#20th_Anniversary.2FMasterpiece|''20th Anniversary'' Optimus Prime]] in emulation of the way the characters linked up in "S.O.S. Dinobots", and a small figurine of [[Doctor Arkeville]], his partner in crime from several first-season episodes of the Generation 1 cartoon, which can fit in his cockpit. Finally, he includes a two-piece, reconfigurable display base that allows the figure to be posed in mid-flight in either jet or robot mode, and which can store Starscream's accessories while they are not in use. [[Control drawing|Control art]] for ''Masterpiece'' Starscream shows the figure wearing his [[Transformer clothing|Crown of Leadership]] (as seen in the coronation scene of the original animated movie), which, combined with some otherwise-pointless flip-out notches in the finished toy's shoulders, strongly indicate Takara intended to either include with the figure, or release in the future, a set of clip-on coronation gear that has failed to emerge in the years since the toy's release.

: ''Masterpiece'' Starscream's creation was overseen by famed Japanese mecha designer [[Shōji Kawamori]], who was particularly intent on hiding the robot-mode details on the underside of the fighter mode. The first prototype for the figure was essentially an upgraded, more complex version of the original toy, with much more accurate robot and jet modes, but Kawamori's desire to avoid simply making a new version of an old toy saw the figure go through a major redesign into its finished form. Perhaps the most notable change was the repositioning of major structures from Starscream's legs to his hips, with the intent of creating the feel of a samurai wearing a pair of swords at his waist (presumably, if somewhat oddly, based on the then-recent ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' and ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' cartoons' portrayal of their [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] as a noble swordsman). Even so, Kawamori was still unhappy with the amount of robotic parts visible underneath the plane, but conceded that too many changes would essentially not make the toy look like Starscream in robot mode. In this pursuit of realism, the most visible concession to the Starscream's design was the abandonment of his traditional color scheme, replaced with an all-over greenish-tinged grey. Given that this color is inaccurate even to real F-15 fighters (whose Gunship Gray coloration is ''much'' closer to Starscream's traditional shade), the question of why it was changed at all is not an unreasonable one.

:This mold was later redecoed into ''Masterpiece'' versions of Skywarp and Thundercracker, and was recolored by Hasbro into a more cartoon-accurate Starscream color scheme released under their ''[[#Classics|Classics]]'' line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/MPStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Masterpiece Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:Masterpiece ghost starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Starscream Ghost Version''' (2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-3G'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile racks, Doctor Arkeville pilot figurine, gun clip, two-piece display stand

:Cast almost entirely in translucent plastic, this "Ghost Version" ''Masterpiece'' figure is yet another callback to Starscream's spectral tenure from the Generation 1 cartoon. When purchased from [[e-Hobby]], buyers will receive an [[MP-3G Destron Air Commander / Starscream Ghost Ver.|exclusive comic]] packaged with the figure.

:Like Gentei Ghost Starscream, Masterpiece Ghost Starscream is cast in light purple translucent plastic instead of just colorless clear plastic like the G1 Ghost Starscream figure.

:This figure was also released in Australia, through Toys 'r' Us, in late 2010.

:Surprisingly Ghost Starscream comes with the same sticker sheet as the original MP-3 Starscream, only with the numbering designation changed.
 

{{-}}

===Classics===
[[Image:ClassicsStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Fear my extra-long null rays!!!]]
* '''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' 2 null-ray cannons (left and right), 2 missiles

: Like the other entries in the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' series, Starscream is a faithful "modernizing" of his original Generation 1 form, updating his original toy with modern standards of toy engineering, transformation, sculpting detail and articulation (not dissimilar in principle from his ''[[#Robot Masters|Robot Masters]]'' incarnation, but with less of an adherence to his cartoon [[character model]]). Sharing many design elements with his ''[[#Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' toy, Starscream still transforms into an F-15 Eagle, but has the nose of an [[wikipedia:F-14_Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat]] fighter jet. His color scheme is, of course, based on the traditional Starscream palette, but seems to owe its new layout to [[wikipedia:Image:F-15A_first_prototype_2.jpg|the original F-15 prototype]].

:As usual, Starscream is armed with his familiar null-rays, which can mount under his wings, on his shoulders, or in his fists, and fire spring-loaded projectiles. The large size of his null-rays (necessary for safety reasons) restrict his arm movement somewhat in robot mode, as they bump into his wings. Like all ''Classics'' figures, he has a heat-activated rubsign on his left wing. Certain parts of Starscream, like his back panel and tailfin assemblies, are made of unusually rigid gray plastic that is slightly prone to cracking or breaking, and should be handled with care.

: Later versions of Starscream saw a [[retool]] in the jet intake area, which involved the slope of his shoulders being decreased, and a fifth small rectangle being added to the vertical area. This version of Starscream is the harder to find of the two, but was redecoed to create Starscream's ''[[#Henkei! Henkei!|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' counterpart, ''Classics'' [[Skywarp (G1)#Classics|Skywarp]] (on whom the retool was first observed), ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Thundercracker (G1)#Classics|Thundercracker]] and ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Acid Storm]]. The toy was also retooled to create ''Classics'' and ''Henkei!'' [[Ramjet (G1)#Classics|Ramjet]], and ''Timelines'' and ''[[Henkei!_Henkei!_(toyline)#Gentei! Gentei!|Gentei!]]'' [[Thrust (G1)#Classics|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)#Classics|Dirge]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Classics Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:Hasbro Masterpiece Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Wait, you say the ''Hasbro'' version is the slavishly 'toon-accurate one? Your credibility is on shaky ground, Wiki.]]
* '''Masterpiece Starscream''' (2007, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 null rays, 2 missile racks, Doctor Arkeville pilot figurine, gun clip, display stand

: A [[Walmart]] exclusive, Hasbro's Masterpiece Starscream is an ''extensive'' redeco of the previous year's ''Masterpiece'' figure from Takara, recolored to resemble the character's animation model, down to the orange canopy and the silver nosecone, although the cartoon-accurate silver paint on the nosecone actually covers ''toy''-accurate blue plastic.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/206593-clean-mp-ss-cleanscream-blue-nosecone.html Clean MP SS - Cleanscream(blue nosecone) - tfw2005.com]</ref> In an effort to bring out detail in the sculpt, he has also been given an extensive paint wash to bring out his panel lines. His colors were not the only thing changed, however; the tips of his vertical stabilizers were shortened and rounded, and the plastics used overall have greater resilience to impact and damage than the fragile Japanese release.

:Starscream includes the same accessories as the Takara version of the toy, including a two-piece display stand, null rays, sidewinder missiles, a small figurine of Doctor Arkeville (which now has the correct skin color), and a clip to hold 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime's Megatron gun while in jet mode. Starscream was finally given the correct tech spec stats he was originally supposed to have back in 1984 for this release, which had been mistakenly given to Skywarp instead.

:Takara got in on the act the following year when they released Hasbro's version of Masterpiece Starscream, adding a Japanese sticker to the Hasbro ''Classics'' packaging. This version of the toy was not without a few changes: the original mold for the tail fins was used, an extra Decepticon symbol was added to Starscream's nosecone (which was present on his original toy, but not his animation model), and his black "scorch mark" paint applications were dialed back, and those that remained were switched to a lighter grey.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/MPStarscream/starscream.htm More information on ''Classics'' Masterpiece Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Titanium Series===

[[Image:TitaniumHeroesWWStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"How ''dare'' you make ''me'' a redeco?! Do you know who I am?!"]]
* '''Starscream''' (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Display stand

:Perversely enough, ''Titanium'' Starscream is actually a redeco of ''Titanium'' [[Thundercracker (G1)#Titanium Series|Thundercracker]], instead of the other way around. Based on the Seekers' [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] forms as seen in the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic book "[[The War Within]]", this version of Starscream transforms into Cybertronian "tetra-jet", as designed by [[Don Figueroa]]. As a ''Titanium'' figure, Starscream is made in large part from die-cast metal, and comes with the generic display stand shared by all of the 6" "Cybertron Heroes", with a unique removable nameplate.

: This mold was redecoed into ''Titanium'' versions of [[Sunstorm (G1)#Titanium|Sunstorm]] and [[Skywarp (G1)#Titanium|Skywarp]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/TitStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Titanium Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Sport Label===

[[Image:Sports_label_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Sportscream? Shoescream? So many possible nicknames...]]

*'''Starscream featuring Nike Free 7.0''' (unreleased)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

:This red and black redeco of the ''[[Sport Label]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Sports Label|Megatron]] figure (itself a retool of the ''Sport Label'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Sports Label|Optimus Prime]]) appeared on eBay in mid-2007, identified by the auctioneer as Starscream. More pictures followed from a different source a month later, but after that, this strange little redeco quietly vanished, never released, and never even officially ''acknowledged'' by [[TakaraTomy]]. Was it a [[knock-off]], or an abandoned official product? We may never know.

:As a redeco of the one communal mold used for all the ''Sports Label'' toys, Starscream, if that's who he really was, would have transformed into an undersized Nike sneaker with real fabric shoelaces, and would have been armed with a modular two-piece gun that split and stored inside each half of the large sneaker "shell" that made up a big chunk of his alternate mode.

::*''[http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=11499 Gallery of Sports Label Starscream picture on Seibertron.com]''

{{canceledtoy}}

===Encore===

[[Image:Encore_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Meet the new box, same as the old box]]
*'''Starscream''' (2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''04'''
**''Accessories:'' Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null-rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear

:A new series of reissues means a new release of the original Generation 1 Starscream figure, and Takara's ''[[Encore]]'' series proved no different. This edition of the figure featured no extra accessories, with its only notable change from past versions being a pale yellow window instead of dark gray, and the inclusion of [[tampograph]]ed Decepticon insignias on its wings and nosecone, rather than stickers (similar to the [[#Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]] reissue before it but not flipped like the animation and metallic purple and silver instead of glossy purple and white).
{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He feels much better in the boring ol' stripes.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-02'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles
: ''[[Henkei! Henkei! (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' Starscream is a redeco of ''[[#Classics|Classics]]'' Starscream, decorated in entirely different colored paint applications to more closely mimic the original ''Generation 1'' cartoon model. Like all ''Henkei'' toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign that the ''Classics'' counterpart featured, but has two [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] barrels on his missile launchers.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Henkei Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|HenkeiGhost}}
[[Image:Henkei ghost starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Starscream's transparency; sometimes it isn't just figurative.]]
*'''Starscream Ghost Version''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles
: Available only as a mail-away exclusive offered through ''[[Transformers Generations 2009]]'' Vol 2 that was released in November 2009, this redeco of Starscream is the second in the character's history to pay homage to his time as a ghost in the third season of the Generation 1 cartoon by casting him almost entirely in traslucent colored plastic. Parts of the figure made in softer plastic, like his thighs, remain opaque.

: Starscream Ghost Version uses the altered version of the ''Classics'' Starscream mold that originated with Classics [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and was last seen with [[Acid Storm]] (down to the 2006 copyright date stamped on it), rather than the modified version first used on ''Universe'' Starscream and the iterations that followed ([[#Universe (2008)|see below]]). He has the date K0409 (11/04/2009) etched into the inside of his leg.

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
====Classic Series====
[[Image:Universe2008-toy LegendsG1Starscream.JPG|right|300px|thumb|On casual Fridays, Starscream prefers to wear his wings down.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends Class, 2008)

: The first ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' toy of Starscream is a [[Redeco]] of ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Legends Class|Legends]] [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], transforming into an SU-37 fighter jet.

: This mold was also used to make the ''Classics'' Legends-class [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and ''Universe'' [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/LegendsUniStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Universe Classics Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

====Generation 1 Series====
[[Image:Universe2008 deluxe G1Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Yep, he's still feelin' good in the stripes.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles

:The second ''Universe'' Starscream toy is a redeco of ''Classics'' Starscream, with details and a darker color scheme inspired by Starscream's original Generation 1 toy. Several minor changes were made to the mold for this release: his launcher pegs were widened, and the peg-holes for them on his shoulders and wings were modified in order to accomodate them, while his air intakes were further modified (on top of the changes made to the mold for ''Classics'' Skywarp) so that the bottom-most rectangle goes completely across the air intake's surface rather than just the center. This modified version of the mold was used for ''Henkei'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/TFUStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Universe Generation 1 Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===Alternity===

[[Image:Alternity starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|And the fandom shall dub thee "Carscream", and complain (and rejoice).]]

*'''Starscream White Pearl''' ([[May 29|5/29]]/2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''A-04'''

:The <s>first</s> [[Action Master|second]] Starscream toy not to turn into a jet, ''[[Alternity (franchise)|Alternity]]'' Starscream transforms into a licensed 1:32 scale [[wikipedia:Mitsuoka_Orochi|Mitsuoka Orochi]]. Like the other toys in the line, he features [[die-cast]] metal parts and rubber tires, as well as an opening hood, trunk and doors. In car mode, small wings can be flipped out from under Starscream's rear wheels, giving him the appearance of a flying car.

:This mold (minus the head sculpt) was first used to make the simultaneously released ''Alternity'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and later [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] as well.
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
[[Image:TF2010-toy_Legends_Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends Class, 2010)

:[[Legends Class]] Starscream is a new mold based on his Generation 1 jet appearance. His helmet is in some cases unpainted gray plastic, possibly due to paint budget reasons but in others is painted black as the packaging art suggests. As part of the "[[Reveal the Shield]]" subline, Starscream sports a [[rubsign]]. Also when you flip up the cone on his head while in robot mode, he looks just like a cone-head. Hmmm, a possible redeco to come?

==Merchandise==

===HG Toys===

[[Image:Hgtoys_starscream_products.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]

Licensor [[HG Toys]] released quite a few piece of ''Transformers'' merchandise in 1984, including several sculpted in Starscream's likeness. All of these items shared the same basic sculpt, modified to fit the piece of merchandise in question.

*'''Stamp Bot''' (1984)

:A small, non-poseable figurine of Starscream with a rubber stamp on the base. An alternate version of Starscream was also available with fewer paint applications and ''Autobot'' symbols on its wings!

*'''Zippper Clip''' (1984)

:A smaller version of the Starscream sculpt, designed to be attached to a coat zipper.

*'''Clip On''' (1984)

:A pocket clip depicting Starscream.
{{--}}

===3-D Jigsaw Stand Up Puzzle===

[[Image:Standup_starscream_puzzle.jpg|right|300px|thumb]]

*'''Starscream''' (1984)

:This piece of Starscream merchandise was a jigsaw puzzle in disguise! The puzzle was of a battle scene of the Seekers battling Optimus Prime, [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], but once broken down, the puzzle pieces could be assembled into a three-dimensional model of Starscream in either robot or jet mode—a progenitor of the [[3D Battle-Card Game]] in many respects!
{{--}}

===Transformers Milk Caramel===
[[Image:Milk caramel starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Starscream''' (1985)
:One of [[Kabaya]]'s first Transformers [[candy toy]] lines, the ''Transformers Milk Caramel'' series featured small rubber figures, similar to the later-released [[Decoy]]s, but smaller, flatter and based more on the toys, rather than their animation models. Starscream was available in numerous different colors.
{{-}}

===Transformers Choco===

[[Image:Kabaya gashapon starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|No, no, no, I said green ''screen!'']]
*'''Starscream''' (1985)

:One of the first of many snap-together candy toy model kits released by Kabaya during the Generation 1 era, this small version of Starscream was available as in various solid colors as part of the ''[[Transformers Choco]]'' range, coming packaged with small "Chocolate Dots". Owing to its diminutive size, it could only transform between robot and jet modes by being disassembled and put back together in different configurations. The figure was apparently also available through capsule machines.
{{-}}
===Transformers Gum===
[[Image:Kabaya gum starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Starscream''' (1985)
**''Accessories:'' Left and right fists, 2 missile launchers, landing gear

:Starscream was also available as part of the larger ''Transformers Gum'' range of figures. Released in the first wave of the series and standing at about four inches tall, he was moulded from red, black and grey plastic and featured stickers for detail. Unlike his smaller ''Choco'' counterpart, as was standard for the ''Gum'' figures, he is fully transformable, essentially being a scaled down version of the actual Starscream toy.

:This Starscream figure was later re-released in 1997 by a Korean company named [[Toon Town]], in a two-pack with the "Transformers Gum" version of [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]].
{{-}}

===Decoy===
[[Image:Decoy_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Not a mis-colored Skywarp]]
*'''Destron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1985)
: This small purple rubber figurine of Starscream was released in Japan as part of a large multi-pack of similar figures, which were used as playing pieces for ''Transformers'' board games. The figure features a number etched into its back which is the sum total of Starscream's [[Tech Spec]] ratings, which served some function in the gameplay the figures were used for. A peach-colored version of the figure could be found packed in various other multi-packs the following year, and in numerous other colours as part of the blindpacked ''[[Transformers Ramune]]'' line.

*'''Starscream''' (1987)
**''Decoy number:'' '''35'''

: The Starscream figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number (35, in Starscream's case). Like all Decepticon Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] and [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and was, very early on in the promotion, available in an alternate red coloration that was only packed in with the Throttlebots. Unsurprisingly, this red figurine is much rarer.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Decoys/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Decoy Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Parody Deformed===
[[Image:Pd_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|"Don't push me, Megatron, my desire for cuteness is as great as yours!"]]
*'''Starscream''' (1990)

:A small red and white, non-transforming [[super deformed]] model kit of Starscream was available as part of [[Kabaya]]'s "[[Parody Deformed]]" line of [[candy toy]]s. The tenth figure in the series, he came with a "[[Transformers PD Type]]" comic about himself, "Good Luck! Starscream!!", and something that could charitably be described as "chocolate".
{{-}}

===Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:Hoc_starscreams.jpg|right|thumb]]

* '''Starscream''' (2000)
: A three-inch tall [[plastic|PVC]] figurine of Starscream was available as part of the first wave of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available as both a standard full color figure and a clear plastic version, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] figures.

:This figure was redecoed into ''Super Collection Figure'' Thundercracker and Skywarp, and retooled to become Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge.

* '''Ghost Starscream''' (2001)
: Starscream's figurine was recast in translucent colored plastic to represent his ghostly form from the third season of the Generation 1 cartoon, and re-released as a rare chase figure in the fifth wave of the ''Super Collection Figure'' series.

* '''Coronation Starscream''' (2002)
:Starscream was retooled for a third and final release in the eight and last wave of the ''Super Collection Figure'' line. Like the ghost figure, "Coronation Starscream" was only available as a rare chase figure, and features a new head and arms with the crown, shoulderpads and cape from his cornation scene in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
{{--}}

===Heroes of Cybertron===

When the ''Super Collection Figure'' series was imported to become Hasbro's ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' line, the figures were all cast entirely in translucent colored plastic, then painted over, save for the eyes and a small patch on the back of their heads, giving them all a [[light-piping]] gimmick. Unlike the Japanese figures, they were sold in individual blister packaging, with character profile cards.

* '''Starscream''' (2002)
[[Image:HoC 3H Seeker Set.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Leader of the pack.]]
:A first-wave ''Heroes of Cybertron'' release of the first ''Super Collection Figure'' Starscream figure.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Decepticon/HoCStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Heroes of Cybertron Starscream at TFU.info]''

* '''Starscream with Crown''' (2002)
:This ''Heroes of Cybertron'' release saw the ''SCF'' chase figure of Starscream in his coronation gear reach a much wider audience. It came packaged with the left leg of the fifth wave's [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] "build-a-figure".

* '''Starscream''' (OTFCC exclusive, 2003)
: The original Starscream figurine was re-released again in this six-pack of figures available exclusively at [[OTFCC 2003]]. He came packaged with ''Heroes of Cybertron'' versions of Thundercracker, Skywarp, and three [[Air Warrior]]s.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/OTFCCStarscream/starscream.htm More information on OTFCC Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}
===Mega Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:Mega SCF Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Just keep it away from any [[Galvatron (G1)|reformatted megalomaniacs]].]]
* '''Starscream''' (2002)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MegaSCF TF 07'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 open hands (left & right), 2 clenched fists (left & right), right fist w/ Megatron, 2 shoulderpads (left & right), cape, alternate head w/ crown

:''Mega Super Collection Figure'' Starscream is a highly articulated non-transforming PVC action figure. Standing at five inches tall, Starscream features several interchangeable fists, including one clutching Megatron in gun mode, and a full compliment of coronation gear, including two shoulderpads, a real fabric cape that attaches to them, and an alternate head wearing his Crown of Leadership.

:This mold, minus accessories, was supposed to be used to make [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], but the figure was never released.
{{--}}
===Hard Hero===
[[Image:HardHero Starscream bust.JPG|right|thumb|]]
* '''Starscream''' (2002)

:A cold-cast porcelain Starscream bust measuring six inches in height with a nine-inch wingspan. The bust was fifth in [[Hard Hero]]'s main series of ''Transformers'' busts, and was limited to 5000 pieces. An additional 100 pieces were signed by sculptor [[Jason Ray]].
{{--}}
===MyClone===
[[Image:Myclone Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Every Transformers fangirl owns this.]]
* '''Starscream''' (2003)
**''ID number:'' '''MTF003'''
**''Accessories:'' Display base

: Released in the third wave of the ''[[MyClone]]'' line of Transformers PVC figures, this adorable little Starscream comes with a hexagonal red display stand, which can link up with the identical stands included with other ''MyClone'' figures. Starscream's modular design is common to all ''MyClone'' figures, allowing his parts to be mixed and matched with those of any other figure.

: This mold was also used to make ''MyClone'' Thundercracker.
{{--}}

===Q-Robo Collection===
[[Image:Qrobo starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Starscream''' (2003)

:A super-deformed PVC of Starscream was released as part of the''[[Q-Robo Collection]]''. Like all the figures in the series, it was sold blindpacked in a plastic capsule, featured articulation in the neck and shoulders, and was also available in a translucent purple color scheme.

::*''[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/figure/q_robo1.htm More information on the Q-Robo Collection at Autobase Aichi]''
{{-}}
===Generation 1 Figure-Collection===

[[Image:Kabaya_bottlecap_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|"Hey! Hey! ...Betcha can't guess who I am!"]]

*'''Starscream''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-2'''
**''Accessories:'' Display base

:At only one inch in height, this Starscream "bottlecap" figurine (so named because its display base is the size of a bottlecap) was one of fourteen blindpacked figures available in Kabaya's Transformers [[Generation 1 Figure-Collection]]. The figure was rendered in a "retro" black and white color scheme, and came with a leaflet, personalized with cartoon screen captures.

::*''[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/misc_item/kabaya_bottle.htm More information on the Bottlecap Collection at Autobase Aichi]''
{{--}}

===History Collection===

[[Image:History_collection_starscream.jpg|right|thumb]]

*'''Starscream''' (2004)
**''Accessories:'' Display base

:Kabaya produced another bottlecap Starscream the following year, as part of their [[History Collection]]. Despite its diminutive size, this two-piece full-color figure features articulated shoulders.

::*''[http://tfkenkon.com/collection/act234/ More information on the History Collection at TFKenkon.com]''
{{--}}
===Palisades===
* '''Starscream''' (Palisades, 2005)

[[Image:PalisadesStarscream.jpg|thumb|]]

:Starscream is a six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms. He can stand normally or use a stand to take on a "hovering" pose. Starscream was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]].

:This statue was later [[redeco]]ed as Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thundercracker, and the Ghost of Starscream.
{{-}}
* '''Ghost of Starscream''' (Palisades, 2005)

[[Image:PalisadesGhostStarscream.jpg|thumb|]]

:A ''Previews''-exclusive clear redeco of the Starscream statue, the Ghost of Starscream is a six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms. He can stand normally or use a stand to take on a "hovering" pose. Limited to 300 pieces, Ghost of Starscream was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]].[http://web.archive.org/web/20051017011253/http://previews.diamondcomics.com/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=23&s=132&ai=22313]
{{--}}

===Titanium Series===
[[Image:TitaniumRM Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Stop, in the name of love...]]
* '''Starscream''' (3" Robot Masters, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Pistol, "cloud" base, Display stand

: Released in the second wave of "Robot Masters", ''[[Titanium Series]]'' Starscream is a small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine, based upon his Generation 1 cartoon appearances. He is sculpted holding a pistol in his left hand (Why? He's got guns on his arms!) and holding up his palm outward with his right, while using his jets to fly up.

: This mold was also used to make ''Titanium'' Thundercracker.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/TitStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Titanium Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}
===Kiss Players===
[[Image:Atariscream_pvc.jpg|right|thumb|This may explain ''[[Slipstream (Animated)|her]]''.]]
*'''Atari-scream''' (2007)

:A redeco of the PVC figurine of [[Atari Hitotonari]] released the previous year, this black-costumed version of the figure represents Atari while she was possessed by Starscream, as seen in the ''[[15 Go! Go!]]'' manga. It was available only as an online-order exclusive from [[Dengeki Hobby]] magazine.
{{--}}
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:RH Mirage vs Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He's cute when he betrays you.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Mirage Vs Starscream, 2007)
: Starscream is a two inch high figure sculpted in a super deformed style and articulated at the shoulders. This figure was later redecoed into (guess what) Thundercracker for the Jazz vs. Thundercracker set, and Skywarp for the "Decepticon Sneak Attack" set.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/RHStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Robot Heroes Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Boss Coffee===
[[Image:Boss_coffee_starscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Starscream''' (2008)

:A non-transforming PVC figure of Starscream was released as part of a promotion by [[Boss Coffee]]. The small figure was randomly included with single cans of the company's "Rainbow Mountain Blend" coffee, contained in a plastic capsule affixed to the top of can which then became a display base for the figurine once removed. Starscream features articulation at the shoulders and waist, and came with a small catalog leaflet that could be folded up and attached to the lid/base to form a diorama background for added display value.

*'''Starscream''' (2008)

:A larger, metallic gold version of Starscream was also part of the promotion. Nearly twice as tall as the smaller figure, it was not merely an upsized version, but an entirely different sculpt, with a notably broader wingspan. This Starscream was randomly included with two-packs of Rainbow Mountain Blend coffee cans, which featured a double-wide plastic capsule to hold him.
{{-}}

===Attacktix===
[[Image:Attacktix g1starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Elephantiasis of the blaster]]
*'''Starscream'''

: The ''[[Attacktix]]'' Starscream game piece was to be a small figure depicting on his robot mode. A missile-type piece, he would have featured an oversized null-ray missile launcher on his right arm. Starscream would have been a Captain-class piece worth 30 points.

: Hasbro displayed Starscream at a few conventions, but he was ultimately canceled alongside the rest of the ''Attacktix'' line.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
[[Image:3DBattleCard ClassicStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Classic Starscream''' (2007)

: A 42-point "rare" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, "Classic" Starscream "transforms" into a grey and red fighter jet with a color scheme based on his ''Classics'' toy. He uses the same parts layout as [[Transformers (2007)|Movie]] [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]], and Generation 1 [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]].
{{--}}

===Revoltech===
[[Image:Revoltech Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Let's just hope [[Pat Lee]] didn't get royalties from this.]]
* '''Starscream''' (2008)
**''Yamaguchi Series number:'' '''046'''
**''Accessories:'' Megatron gun mode, 2 closed fists (left & right), open right hand, pistol grip right hand, pointing left hand, display stand

:A non-transforming but ''highly'' articulated Starscream action figure, ''[[Revoltech]]'' Starscream uses the ''Revoltech'' "revolver joints" for maximum articulation. It comes with his twin null-ray cannons, a gun-mode Megatron, a posing stand, and three extra hands (a Megatron-holding right hand, an open-palmed right hand, and a left hand for pointing or disco-dancing).

::*''[http://www.amiami.com/shop/?vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=TOY-RBT-0148&template=review.html More information on Revoltech Starscream at Amiami.com]''
{{--}}
===Transformers - Mini Bust===
[[Image:Starscream statue.jpg|right|thumb|Only half here and I still look this good.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Diamond Select, 2008)
:Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008, Starscream was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 1,000 pieces.

:This bust was retooled and redecoed into [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]].

{{-}}
[[Image:Coronation statue.jpg|right|thumb|Coronation Starscream? This is [[Main Page|bad comedy]].]]
* '''Coronation Starscream''' (Diamond Select, 2008)
:Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008, Coronation Starscream was an exclusive to on-line retailer Action Figure Xpress. He was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 600 pieces. It features Starscream decked out in the royal crown, cape, and big honkin' shoulder pads he wore (albeit briefly) in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
{{--}}

===Mighty Muggs===
[[Image:MightyMuggs_Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|Bet that they got it wrong because of the faction symbols?]]
*'''Starscream''' (2009)
**''Accessories:'' Wings

: This [[super deformed]], non-transformable PVC figure uses the standard [[Mighty Muggs]] body template, with swivel joints in Starscream's neck and limbs. Although Hasbro stock photography (right) shows him with his wings pointing down, they are detachable and are meant to be put in the standard upwards position.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G2BlackDeathStarscream.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
*A hand-painted mock-up and accompanying artwork for what seems to have been a proposed ''Generation 2''-era redeco of Starscream appeared in auctions on [[eBay]], amongst similar items put up for sale from the collection of a former [[Hasbro]] employee. The mock-up features the words "Black Death" on its nosecone, which would probably lead fans to refer to the figure as "Black Death Starscream" if anyone were aware of it existing. The actuality of the figure being intended as Starscream is uncertain, but given that the artwork is Starscream's ''Generation 2'' card art, Occam's Razor suggests it was meant to be him.

{{-}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Decepticons]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:MyClone]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Hot Rod (G1)

2010-12-15T07:55:56Z

58.173.181.51: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Rodimus}}
{{disambig3|Hot Rod}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}

:''Hot Rod is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. He has also been known as '''Rodimus Prime''', '''Rodimus''', and '''Rodimus Major'''.''

[[Image:DVDbox3d1.jpg|right|301px|thumb|And yet he still gets carded.]]

'''Hot Rod''' is brash and headstrong, with an overwhelming self-confidence that borders on arrogance. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] has assumed the role of mentor and advisor to the impetuous young Hot Rod, offering him wisdom and advice when he needs it (though Hot Rod rarely feels that he does, much to Kup's annoyance). [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] also serves as a calming influence on Hot Rod, and tends to either worry about him when he is not around, or deride and tease him when he is. Their relationship is antagonistic, but friendly. Exactly how deep Hot Rod's feelings for Arcee might run is unknown, whether they be friendly, [[Transformer romance|romantic]], or otherwise.

In contrast, his '''Rodimus Prime''' persona—while still headstrong and stubborn—seems to suffer from a severe lack of confidence, often doubting his own decisions and expressing distress over his position as an [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]. Of course, much of this comes from having immediately succeeded [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] as commander—and let's face it, shoes-to-be-filled just don't ''get'' much bigger than that.

One thing that both sides of this Autobot's identity have in common is their impatience—neither Hot Rod nor Rodimus Prime can stand to wait around when they could be doing something instead. He is also very self-reliant, rarely sending others to do anything when he could be doing it himself. His [[Targetmaster]] partner is [[Firebolt]]. As Rodimus Prime, his vehicle sometimes splits between his robot and [[Mobile Defense Bay]].

{{bigquote|I ''knew'' you had potential, lad.|[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] on Hot Rod's transformation into Rodimus Prime|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

:''Japanese name (Hot Rod):'' '''Hot Rodimus''', except for "The Rebirth"
:''Japanese name (Rodimus Prime):'' '''Rodimus Convoy'''
:''French-Canadian name (Hot Rod):'' '''Météorite''' ("Meteorite")
:''French-Canadian name (Rodimus Prime):'' '''Rodimus Primo''' ("Rodimus First", official toy name)
:''French-Canadian name (Rodimus Prime):'' '''Rodimus Primus''' (official dub name)
:''Italian name:'' '''Folgore''', '''Captain''' 
:''Hungarian name (Hot Rod):'' '''Nagyágyú''' ("Hot Shot")
:''Hungarian name (Hot Rod, The Movie):'' '''Peca''' ("[[:Image:HotRodFishing1.jpg|Fisher]]"?) in the first dub of the film, 'cause he deals with marine life throughout the film, you see.
:''Hungarian name (Rodimus Prime):'' '''Rodimusz Fővezér''' ("Prime Commander Rodimus")
:''Chinese name (Taiwan, Hot Rod):'' '''Rod''' / '''Rhode''' (羅德 ''Lúo Dé'')
:''Chinese name (Taiwan, Rodimus Prime):'' '''Rhodie Jr-tsūn''' (羅迪至尊, "Rodimus Prime")
:''Chinese name (China, Hot Rod):'' '''Re Po''' (热破, "Hot Break")
:''Chinese name (China, Rodimus Prime):'' '''Bu Tian Shi''' (补天士, "Soldier who [[Wikipedia:Nüwa|repairs the sky]]")
:''[[Omni Productions]] Headmasters dub name (Hot Rod):'' '''Roadimus Prime''' (yes. ROAD-imus.)
:''Ukrainian TV dub name (Rodimus Prime):'' '''Rodimus Naikrashyi'''(Родімус Найкращий, Rodimus The Best)
:''Russian TV dub name (Hot Rod):'' '''Patron''' ("Cartridge")
:''Russian TV dub name (Rodimus Prime):'' '''Rodomes Prime'''
:''Portuguese name (Portugal Comic):'' (Hot Rod) '''Roda Quente''' (Rodimus Prime) '''Rodimus Supremo'''

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====Madman ''The Transformers'' comic====
[[Image:Madman comic HotRod sigh.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"You're gonna be the death of that guy, you know?"]]

In the year 2001, Hot Rod was on guard duty at the construction site of [[Autobot City]] on [[Earth]] while the main Autobot forces were evacuating from the Decepticon-conquered [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. As he was complaining about his boring assignment to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], the Decepticon [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] struck, intent on stealing the [[Matrix of Leadership|Autobot Matrix of Leadership]] which Optimus Prime had secreted in a bunker at the building site. When he reclaimed the Matrix, Hot Rod received a vision of the future where he fought [[Galvatron (G1)|a powerful Decepticon]]. After returning the Matrix to Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader considered that perhaps Hot Rod's destiny was greater than any of them realized. Kup thought differently, however. {{storylink|The Transformers (Madman)|The Transformers}}
{{-}}

====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actors:'' [[Judd Nelson]] → [[Ted Schwartz]] → [[Dick Gautier]] (English), [[Hiroya Ishimaru]] (Japanese, ''Transformers 2010''), [[Takase Akimitsu]] (Japanese, ''The Rebirth''), [[Daniel Gall]] (French, Movie)

[[Image:HotRodFishing1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"I'm tellin' you, Daniel, you HAD to kiss me to activate my fishing rod. STOP crying!"]]
In 2005, Hot Rod was one of the many Autobots based in the completed Autobot City. He was close friends with the young human [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and seemed to have a reputation for being something of a troublemaker, judging from a few of Kup's comments to him at the time. While out fishing with Daniel one day, he consoled his young human friend over the absence of his father Spike (currently stationed on one of Cybertron's moon bases), then attempted to cheer him up by proposing that they head to [[Lookout Mountain]] to watch the arrival of an Autobot shuttle. This required smashing through a security cordon that Kup and some other Autobots were in the process of setting up, but Hot Rod's breach of security was soon to fade to irrelevance. Observing the shuttle through a viewing scope, Daniel was alarmed to spot a hole in the side, and the concerned Hot Rod used his built-in telescopic visor to discern the horrifying truth of the situation: the shuttle had been hijacked by Decepticons! Hot Rod opened fire on the stolen shuttle and exposed their ruse before [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] could enter the city, though he was nearly blasted by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] for his troubles and had to be rescued by Kup. Hot Rod's action had given the rest of the Autobots time to begin transforming Autobot City and raising their defenses, but this in turn left Hot Rod trapped outside with Kup and Daniel, until the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] helpfully chewed an opening into the city that the trio were able to use to gain access, swatting the pesky critters as they did so.
[[Image:Tftm hotrod matrix.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Dibs!]]

Fighting continued through the night, culminating with the arrival of a second shuttle commanded by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime engaged Megatron in a one-on-one battle, but at a pivotal moment, Hot Rod observed that Megatron was feigning defeat in an attempt to reach a fallen weapon. Hot Rod tackled Megatron, but proved no match for the Decepticon leader; Megatron seized him and used him as a human (well, robot) shield while he delivered the fatal blasts that mortally wounded Prime. Although Prime used the last of his strength to dispatch Megatron, he was on the brink of death, and passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus]] just before he passed on, reciting a prophecy that claimed an Autobot would use the Matrix to "light our darkest hour". When the Prime's strength gave out and he dropped the talisman as he was handing it over, Hot Rod caught it before it fell to the floor, and it glowed brightly in his hands.

[[Image:TFTM-HotRodcar.jpg|right|thumb|250px|He's on the run from Barbie's garage.]]

After Prime's death, news reached Autobot City of a [[Unicron|monster planet]] that was advancing on Cybertron. Hot Rod had "this feeling" that the Matrix could stop the creature, but before any plans could be made, Autobot City came under Decepticon attack once again—by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. The Autobots were able to flee into space aboard twin shuttles, and Hot Rod passed the time sparring with an [[auto-combatant]] before the Decepticons caught up to them. In the ensuing space battle, Hot Rod's shuttle was shot down by [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and he, Kup and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] found themselves stranded on the planet [[Quintessa]]. Awakening underwater in one of Quintessa's oceans, in the clutches of some mechanical vines and beset by ferocious robotic fish, Hot Rod hacked his way to freedom with his buzzsaw-hand, then saved Kup from the grip of a huge metal squid-creature. Hot Rod took the damaged Kup to shore and pieced him back together, and the pair then set off to search for the Dinobots, only to wind up crossing paths with [[Allicon|more strange inhabitants]]. The [[universal greeting]] and [[energon goodie]]s only temporarily placated the creatures, who captured Hot Rod and Kup and brought them before their masters, the [[Quintesson]]s. They learned from another captive, [[Kranix]], that the monster planet was known as "[[Unicron]]", then attempted to stage an escape when they were brought to trial and thrown to the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. The pair gave a good account of themselves, but were hugely outmatched by the Sharkticon swarm and seemed doomed for certain, until the Dinobots and their new ally [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] arrived to turn the tide. Wheelie provided the team with a ship to leave the planet, and together, they all rendezvoused with Ultra Magnus's team on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], where Hot Rod was just in time to stop the native Junkions and their leader [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] from destroying the rest of the Autobot City refugees with a timely—and ''successful''— use of the universal greeting. Together, they all traveled to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to stop Unicron before he could eat more than just its moons.

[[Image:RodimusPrimeMovie1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"BAM! You've had unsafe sex!"]]

Hot Rod crashed the Quintesson ship through Unicron's eye, and was separated from his comrades as they fell through his giant body. Alone, deep in the bowels of the chaos-bringer, he found himself facing Galvatron in a battle to the death over the Matrix of Leadership, which Galvatron had previously stolen. Overpowered by Galvatron, Hot Rod was throttled by the Decepticon and was moments from death, until he seized the Matrix that hung around Galvatron's neck. Filled with its power, Hot Rod proved to be the "Chosen One" of legend, and was transformed into "Rodimus Prime": an older, larger, and more powerful version of himself. After overpowering Galvatron and hurling him through Unicron's hide into the void of space, he opened the Matrix and destroyed Unicron from within. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Peace reigned on Cybertron for at least long enough to put up some of the more important buildings, and Rodimus Prime began to ease into his role as the new Autobot leader. He even opened the first [[Galactic Olympics]], although the event was disrupted by mysterious assailants who kidnapped [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], Kup and Spike Witwicky. In an attempt to discover if the Decepticons were responsible, Rodimus took [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to spy on them, but the pair were discovered and attacked. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} The two Autobots were rescued by Arcee and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], but Rodimus had been injured in the attack, and his spirit entered the Matrix. The experience revealed to him that the Quintessons were behind the kidnapping. With this knowledge, the Autobots rescued their fellows from Quintessa, just as the Quintessons destroyed the planet. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}}

[[Image:Ffod4_rodimus_in_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|250px||"But I had to call dibs or [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Someone else]] would have gotten it"]]

The Autobots were flung through space, eventually crashing down on the planet [[Goo]]. After Springer's dismemberment at the hands of a giant machine, Rodimus faced the machine alone, clogging its intakes and causing it to crash. Their troubles weren't over, as the Quintesson-led Decepticon army soon showed up to renew hostilities. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} Rescued by the Junkions, the Autobots were taken to Junk, where Rodimus short-circuited himself in order to consult the Matrix once again. The knowledge of [[Transformer]] history and their creation at the hands of the Quintessons was revealed to him, leading him to realise that Cybertron was in deadly danger. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

Returning to Cybertron, Rodimus lead the defence of the planet against Galvatron's strike force. It wasn't until [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'s warning that the true nature of the threat was revealed: a [[large switch|switch]] deep under the planet's surface which controlled the life force of every Transformer in existence. Although Rodimus headed off the contingent of Sharkticons who aimed to pull the switch, Galvatron himself pulled it, disabling all of the Transformers. Fortunately, Spike was on hand to turn them all back on again. After Galvatron was sent into retreat, Rodimus gave a speech to the Autobots about how they had won...for now. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

[[Image:Zombiesmatrixmakesmetoostrong.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Crap, I hope this isn't a popularity contest!]]

Throughout 2006, Rodimus Prime's greatest achievements revolved around his predecessor, Optimus Prime. While fleeing from a Decepticon attack, Rodimus and several other Autobots took refuge in a massive [[Autobot Mausoleum]] and discovered that their former leader seemed to have returned to life. Perhaps a little too trusting of Optimus (and possibly eager to relieve himself of the burden of leadership), Rodimus quickly passed the Matrix back to Optimus and, much to his glee, reverted back into Hot Rod. His happiness was short-lived, however, as Optimus was quickly revealed to be nothing more than a puppet of the Quintessons, sent to trick the Autobots into an ambush from which none of them would escape. With no other choice, Hot Rod was forced to do battle with Optimus Prime for the fate of the Autobots. Although their duel was clearly in the favor of the more powerful Optimus, Hot Rod was able to re-awaken the true spirit of his leader. Returning the Matrix to Rodimus, Optimus then piloted his ship into the heart of the ambush and sacrificed himself to save them all. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

Soon after Perceptor left on a standard research mission to a nearby asteroid belt, Rodimus Prime and the Autobots received a distress call from the survey group. They arrived to find the asteroid infested with Quintessons, but managed to drive off the tentacled freaks and their Sharkticon shock troops. Perceptor was near deactivation due to injuries, however, and the rest of the Autobots were nowhere to be seen. The Quintessons attempted to retake the asteroid but, after failing, were soon desperate enough to tell the truth: Their technology on the rock was a [[Time Window]], and leaving it open was risking the fates of all time and space. With the help of the Quintesson scientist and a [[Alpha Trion (G1)|mysterious stranger with a devilish moustache]], Rodimus Prime retrieved his lost Autobots and shut down the time window. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

[[Image:Fightorflee Rodimus explosion.jpg|right|thumb|250px|He just needs a cigarette.]]

The Autobots learned of a lost Cybertronian colony known as [[Paradron]] after one of its citizens, [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], arrived on Cybertron begging for help. It seemed that Galvatron and the Decepticons had seized control over the planet and its vast energon reserves. Rodimus Prime and the Autobots staged a tactical infiltration, but the escalation of violence between the two forces led to total devastation. Rodimus gave the pacifistic Autobots of Paradron his impassioned "Move it or lose it!" speech before hustling them off-world so that Ultra Magnus could blow up their home. As Sandstorm sat there mourning the loss of his world, Rodimus Prime gave him some solemn advice.
{{bigquote|Well, no need to get all mushy. Cybertron's a better place anyway—not so...perfect.|}}
{{storylink|Fight or Flee}}

Rodimus and the Autobots were stumped when someone carried off [[Fort Knox]] in the middle of the night. They detected [[Dinosaur transform static]] at the scene (seriously), found a small pile of [[Energon cube|energon cubes]], and had just been informed by [[Teletraan II]] that Trypticon was still alive. It was a head-scratcher, all right. They eventually figured it out, though, and sieged the occupied nation of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]] to chase the Decepticons away, then recovered Fort Knox and the other monuments Trypticon had stolen. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}

[[Image:StarscreamsGhost Rodimus waves goodbye.JPG|left|thumb|250px|[[AKOM]] liked to color my crotch like my windshield (as was [[Hot_Rod_(G1)#Notes|originally intended]]). AKOM did a loooot of episodes.]]

When the freelance agent named [[Octane]] was being kidnapped right off of Cybertron's surface by Cyclonus and the Sweeps, Rodimus Prime and the Autobots stormed out to save their associate. Things were more complicated than they looked, however, as when Rodimus confronted Cyclonus, the Decepticon lieutenant spoke with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s voice! For some reason, learning Starscream was involved made Rodimus willing to let the Decepticons go. Crazy as it sounds, though, it worked—Starscream and Octane managed to lure Galvatron into an Autobot ambush. Rodimus Prime gave a friendly wave to Starscream for a job well done as he departed. ''Zuh''? {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}}

While preparing for the first annual Cybertron peace conference, Rodimus Prime got together with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to prepare a surprise party for Danny. They were interrupted by a [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] attack, as the Decepticons wanted to prevent the conference from occurring. The Combaticons were driven off, however, and only minor damage was done. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a diplomatic function, Rodimus Prime was forced to play statesman and deal with Ambassador [[Ynara]] and the other delegates. Curiously, when Daniel Witwicky went missing and Rodimus had an excuse to duck out of the "festivities", he chose to delegate the search mission to Ultra Magnus and Blaster. Perhaps the normally action-hungry Rodimus Prime was actually becoming more accepting of his leadership duties. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[Image:NightmarePlanet Rodimus Daniel in bed.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Rodimus really needs to learn how to delegate.]]

When Daniel Witwicky began experiencing recurring nightmares, Rodimus never dreamed he would have to face those nightmares personally. The Quintessons' latest experiment was to turn the young boy's imagination against his Autobot friends. Danny's own subconscious fought against the Quintessons' manipulations, though, and helped the Autobots save themselves. After that experience, Rodimus Prime stayed by Danny's bedside until he conquered his fears and ended the nightmares. {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}}

Cybertron was put on high alert after [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] broke into Metroplex on Earth, stealing his eyes and blowing up a bomb in his brain. Rodimus and the Autobots were eventually able to suss out that Scourge was working with the ghost of Starscream, and they in turn were acquiring those eyes for Unicron. Rodimus put together a strike team and sent Ultra Magnus, Springer, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] and [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] to Unicron to investigate, but they were repulsed by the Chaos-Bringer's defenses. Their second mission was more successful, detonating a series of explosives underneath Unicron once he came down to Cybertron, intent on connecting himself to the planet and turning it into his new body. After Unicron was successfully blasted back into orbit, Rodimus congratulated his men on a job well done. As a joke, he told Magnus and the others their next mission would be to return to the head of their Living Devil and retrieve his stolen eyes. That Roddy—he's hilarious. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Image:Quintessonjournal_diplomacy.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Rodimus Prime: diplomat.]]

Rodimus was dutifully overseeing some reconstruction work on Cybertron when [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] reported odd activity over the planet of Junk and among the Junkions themselves. He assembled a task force aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] to take a look firsthand. [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] managed to neutralize the hypnotic signals influencing the Junkions, but the Autobots were unable to learn the cause of the whole situation. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

At a galactic peace conference, Rodimus and Ultra Magnus attempted to end the centuries of war between the planets of [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]]. They might as well have asked Galvatron, "Why you so ''crazy''?" Every attempt at straight talk and reasonable discourse broke out into a brawl, fist-fighting and eventually laser fire. The two worlds only reached an accord once Blaster and Sky Lynx arrived with a Quintesson journal, detailing how the entire war between the two planets was a "case study" in escalation manipulated by the Quintessons to sell bigger and better armaments to both sides. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

[[Image:UltimateWeapon-Rodimuspoint.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"I did your mom!"]]

Rodimus Prime began to struggle with the burden of leadership again during a skirmish in Europe, where the Decepticons were working in conjunction with human terrorists. The pacifistic [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] chose to leave the Autobots after his refusal to fight cost Metroplex his transforming cog, and Rodimus chided himself for not having the words to convince the medic to stay. He was also unsettled by Galvatron's crowing about a new "[[Ultimate Weapon]]" which would bring the Autobots to their knees. Regardless of his internal strife, Rodimus continued the fight. He came up with a plan in which Spike and Daniel Witwicky posed as part of the (evil?) human repair crews working on Trypticon and liberated the Decepticon city-bot's transforming cog just as the 'Cons had taken Metroplex's. Rodimus and Ultra Magnus had to fight off Galvatron and the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]] in order to stall for time so that the Witwickys could complete their mission. Fortunately, the Stunticons had been off <strike>the shelves</strike> the field for a while by this point, and so were utterly demolished by the two Autobots. Eventually, First Aid returned to the Autobots to finish repair work on the cog, and Rodimus ultimately called Galvatron's bluff and uncovered his "Ultimate Weapon" as the sham it was. These victories renewed Rodimus's confidence in his leadership abilities...until next time. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

One day, Rodimus Prime orchestrated the insertion of a new [[power core]] on Cybertron, designed by Perceptor to give the Autobots limitless free energy. Unfortunately, Perceptor also installed an emergency level to jettison the power core into space in the statistically impossible scenario that they would ever need to do such a wild, crazy thing. Sure enough, mere hours later, the power core was floating through space with a [[Trans-Organic]] [[Dweller|monster]] of Lovecraftian proportions latched to the outside of it. Rule of thumb: Installing any form of self-destruct switch increases the likelihood of needing said switch a billion percent. Encasing it behind glass adds another billion. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[Image:OnlyHuman Rodimus Michelle breakfast.jpg|left|thumb|250px|That's right. He stayed for ''breakfast''.]]

Rodimus Prime and the Autobots joined forces with the human police to help stop a domestic terrorist named [[Victor Drath]]. They grossly underestimated their opponent and were easily captured by Drath after he lured them to his residence with an anonymous phone call. Using some <strike>Cobra</strike> mysterious technology, Drath siphoned the consciousnesses of Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, Springer and Arcee out of their bodies, inadvertently casting them into synthetic human forms. While trying to get back into Drath's headquarters, Rodimus and Springer were separated. Drath's girlfriend [[Michelle]] was intrigued enough by Rodimus's human form that she hid him from Drath's men. At least until after coffee...THEN she handed him over to Drath. Rodimus managed to overpower Drath and his men, and the villain's scheme was undone. Perceptor managed to reverse the process and restore the Autobots to their true forms. With one regretful look cast towards Michelle as she was led away by the police, Rodimus Prime rolled for home with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Only Human}}

[[Image:Grimlocksnewbrain_hotrod_vs_hungrr.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]

At the unveiling of a new power generator, Rodimus Prime got frustrated at Grimlock's gross stupidity. Things only got worse when the Autobots discovered [[Anti-electron|anti-electrons]] being beamed out of the power generator and needed to negotiate the tunnels beneath Cybertron to reach the generator core...and Grimlock broke their only map. Luckily for Rodimus's sanity, Grimlock spontaneously developed super-intelligence after biting through the cables connecting the anti-electrons to the power generator. The Autobots then went on a mission to Unicron's head to prevent the Decepticons from recovering any more anti-electrons to use against them, but once there, they came under attack by the particles again, and Rodimus was affected so badly that he actually briefly transformed him back into Hot Rod. The Autobots were nearly overwhelmed by the animalistic [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], but Grimlock constructed [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] as a counter-force against the bestial Decepticons. Rodimus and the others drove off the remaining Decepticons and restabilized the power generator for Cybertron's use. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

On Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], Rodimus Prime and the Autobots were engaged in trench warfare with the Decepticon for some vague but no doubt important reason. Rodimus demonstrated his keen tactical brilliance when the Decepticons attacked, suggesting the Autobots do the unexpected...and counter-attack. No, really—Galvatron seemed utterly amazed when they did that. However, the non-bestial Transformers on both sides were rendered lifeless when the energy-draining creature known as [[Tornedron]] attacked them while en route to Earth. When the threat was eliminated by Grimlock, Rodimus and the others came back to life without realising that anything had happened. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

[[Image:FaceNijika-Rodimustruck.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Rodimus goes camping in style.]]

Rodimus and the Autobots arrived at the scene of a Quintesson quadrant lock as Galvatron was trying to claim it for himself. The Quintessons attempted to stop further investigation of the quadrant lock by casting the Transformers through a warp. Their encounter with the native [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]]s inside the lock was less than cordial, but the Autobots eventually managed to disable the quadrant lock and return starlight to the Zamojin people. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"I sure hope Optimus Prime doesn't come back next week or something."]]

After a particularly strenuous series of Decepticon attacks on Japan, Rodimus Prime was in no mood to be chewed out by the Japanese government for "not helping enough". When [[Marissa Faireborn]] stopped by at just the wrong time with yet another problem, Rodimus blew her off and went racing on the back roads to let off some exhaust. Unfortunately, he was spotted by the Stunticons [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Wildrider]], who knocked him for a loop and (surprisingly) shook the Matrix of Leadership loose from his chest cavity. After the Stunticons made off with the Matrix, Rodimus woke up as Hot Rod. Shockingly to Springer and Ultra Magnus, Roddy was in no hurry to go after the thieves and recover the Matrix. His ''giri'' had become too burdensome, and Hot Rod was hardly interested in reclaiming the burden so soon. He returned to a dojo that had been upset by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] during the earlier attacks and observed the sensei and his pupils. After finding his center again, Hot Rod returned to the city, where the huntsman known as Scourge had been misusing the Matrix as a source of raw power to destroy everything around him. After a brief fight, Hot Rod reclaimed the Matrix from Scourge and became Rodimus Prime once more, accepting his path in life. Oh, and Kup was nodding sagely on the sidelines the entire time. Apparently, that helped somehow. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

[[Image:HotRodReturnOfOptimusPrime1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"I did his mom, too."]]

As it turned out, far from being destroyed, Optimus Prime had been retrieved by a team of human scientists who were hoping to use him (again) as a weapon against the Autobots—this time as the bearer of a malignant "[[Hate Plague]]" that would cause them to destroy one another. When he learned of this, Rodimus swiftly formed a rescue party and led them to retrieve Optimus's body so that their former leader could rest in peace. When all of the rest of the Autobots with him were exposed to the Hate Plague, only Rodimus was able to escape unharmed—and with the still-uninfected body of Optimus. Returning to Autobot City, Rodimus ordered [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky-Lynx]] to find a Quintesson to repair Optimus, then risked his life to shut down [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] before the Plague could spread to the titanic Autobot. Attacked by Ultra Magnus and Wreck-Gar in the process, he succumbed to the plague and became infected with hate. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} In order to stop the Plague, the resurrected Optimus had to defeat the crazed Rodimus and forcibly extract the Matrix from him, changing him back into Hot Rod once more. This time, as Optimus had decided to stick around, the change was a permanent one. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

[[Image:Rebirth3 hotrod spins.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Not shown: Firebolt expelling the contents of his stomach shortly afterward.]]

Even after losing his position as Autobot leader, Hot Rod was not the sort to rest on his laurels. In 2007, he was on Cybertron sharpening his skills in a race with Blurr through an obstacle course called "[[Maze|the Maze]]", and won the contest with a little help from Daniel. This provided Autobot scientist [[Brainstorm]] with more fodder to wax lyrical on his theories about Transformer-human partnership, but his lecture was cut short by the sudden arrival on the planet of the full force of the Decepticon army, who were intent on opening the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. Hot Rod and his team were able to steal the key to the chamber from the Decepticons, but not before the chamber was briefly opened, releasing a blast of energy that catapulted their shuttle across the galaxy. They crash-landed on the planet [[Nebulos]], where they were captured by a group of native rebels that mistook them for the mechanical servants of the planet's evil rulers, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]. The rebels changed their tune when a team of Decepticons attacked, having tracked the Autobots to the planet, but half the Autobots, including Hot Rod, were taken captive by the villains. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}} Hot Rod and his fellows stood up to the Decepticons' torture, and were soon rescued by their team-mates, who had [[binary bonding|bonded]] with the Nebulan rebels to become [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. The Decepticons then teamed up with the Hive to create Headmasters of their own, and took the process further by creating [[Targetmaster]]s as well. The Autobots copied the technology, and Hot Rod volunteered for the process, allowing his gun to be reconfigured into an exo-suit for the Nebulan sharpshooter Firebolt. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}} Hot Rod and Firebolt went on to aid in the defence of Cybertron as Galvatron attempted to use the Plasma Energy Chamber to destroy it. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
{{note|The events of the Generation 1 cartoon occur in Japanese animated continuity as described above, except without the events of "The Rebirth". Additionally, this continuity moves the events of 2006 forward to 2010 and inserts several additional events into the newly created intervening years.}}

=====''Kiss Players''=====
:''Voice actors:'' [[Ryōtarō Okiayu]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Kp3_toy_accurate_hotrod.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]

When Rodimus Prime hurled Galvatron into space at the conclusion of their battle within Unicron, he could not have predicted the tragic result of this action. Galvatron crash-landed on Earth, on top of [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]], devastating the city and sparking off a massive anti-Transformer movement spearheaded by the [[Earth Defense Command]]. Horrified by what his actions had wrought, Rodimus gave up the Matrix to Ultra Magnus and reverted to Hot Rod once more, seeking a way to redeem himself for his unintentional misdeeds. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|A Big Catch Tonight?!}}

[[Image:Kissplay3 hot rod tentacled.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Guys, we don't have to settle for this, there's a small girl right over there!]]

Hot Rod returned to Earth in the year 2006, by which stage the planet had been scoured clean of Transformers by the E.D.C.. He was badly damaged by the [[anti-electron]] field that the E.D.C. had set up around the planet, and wound up falling out of the sky and crashing into the E.D.C.'s headquarters, plunging through its levels into the subterranean chamber known as the [[Genital System]]. His explosive arrival interrupted a grotesque experiment involving former E.D.C. operative [[Shaoshao Li]] and the severed heads of several [[Legion]] (monstrous creatures created when Galvatron's cells, scattered by his impact, fused with Earthly creatures and machines). {{storylink|Kiss Players issue 2|Kiss Players #2}} The Legion attacked Hot Rod and began to [[ParasiTech|fuse]] with him, but a [[kiss]] from Shaoshao—one of the E.D.C.'s [[Kiss Player]]s, also given fusing powers by Galvatron's cells—saved him, reformatting him into a Ford GT body. {{storylink|Kiss Players issue 3|Kiss Players #3}}

Together with Shaoshao, Hot Rod went on the run, battling the E.D.C. and the Legion, while working to expose the evil intentions behind of Shaoshao's former employers. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #2}} Shaoshao, a longtime robot-hater, was not pleased about the partnership, disgusted by both the fact that she had to kiss Hot Rod {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #5}} and the Autobot's own smug self-confidence in his speed and sharpshooting skills. She insisted that he work hard on his martial arts training, but Rodimus preferred to simply use Shaoshao's own skills by fusing with her. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #8}} As part of his training, he learned to wield his tonfa weapons as guns, and embarked on a long-distance drive as a test of endurance. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #11}}

Drawn to the E.D.C. headquarters by a massive Legion attack on the facility, Hot Rod and Shaoshao were shocked to see Optimus Prime at the head of the Legion swarm! Given that Prime had died the previous year, Hot Rod assumed he was facing an imposter and attacked, unaware that this was actually the genuine article, who had been brought back to life by the Kiss Player powers of Shaoshao's old friend, [[Marissa Faireborn]]. The battle was broken up and the Legions turned away by the E.D.C.'s most powerful Kiss Player, [[Atari Hitotonari]], and Hot Rod and Shaoshao returned to their fugitive lifestyle. {{storylink|Kiss Players issue 3|Kiss Players #3}}

[[Image:HotRodKP.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Flames on his arms and a naked girl in his tummy.]]

Despite being on the lam, Hot Rod still had time for a little fishing now and then, (even though Shaoshao hated the fishy stench he would invariably return covered in) {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #17}} and even built himself a fishing pole that could transform into a set of blasters, dubbed the "Exhaust Rod". {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #20}} While Hot Rod was putting his new pole to use on a fishing trip to Tokyo Bay, he and Shaoshao were attacked by a mass of Legion and fused to fight back. It was during this latest fusion that Shaoshao glimpsed Hot Rod's memories and discovered that he was responsible for throwing Galvatron into space, and her fury caused the fusion to end quite violently. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|A Big Catch Tonight?!}} Despite Hot Rod's peace offering of new underwear (actually stolen from Marissa), {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #29}} Shaoshao concluded that she really didn't care about his guilt, and was just using him to win Marissa back from Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #26}}

[[Image:KP002.jpg|right|thumb|200px| [[Chris Ho| Kisses!]]]]

Investigating a large number of Legion that seemed to be converging on Tokyo, Hot Rod and Shaoshao spotted a dark-haired girl riding on the shoulder of one of the creatures. As they watched, she disappeared into the Legion, and they believed she may have been a Kiss Player, until Hot Rod realised that his scanners had not picked up any body heat from the girl. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #32}} As if this haunting experience was not bad enough, Hot Rod then began to suffer from nightmares, filled with images of Megatron, caused by the Galvatron cells that the Legion had added to his system when they had tried to fuse with him. Shaoshao exploited the increase in Rodimus's violent tendencies that these nightmares caused by whispering in the Autobot's ear as he slept, telling him that he had to kill the impostor Optimus Prime so she could have Marissa back. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #35}}

When Marissa and Prime led another army of Legions in another attack on the E.D.C. headquarters, Shaoshao and Hot Rod were again there to face them. The two Autobots were overcome by the destructive impulses of their Galvatron cells and began viciously fighting, but as they did so, Marissa and Shaoshao were able to settle their own differences and bring the battle to an end, vowing to discover the dark secret at the heart of the E.D.C.. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #37}} Together with Atari, the group ventured down into the Genital System, where they discovered a secret plot by E.D.C. commander [[Hitoshizuku Amaō]] to resurrect her dead daughter (the ghost girl Hot Rod and Shaoshao had seen) in Atari's body. Atari thwarted Amaō's fusion process, however, and instead caused all of the scattered Galvatron cells to be re-absorbed into the Decepticon leader's comatose body. Hot Rod destroyed the anti-electron field generator, and was then reverted back to normal as his Galvatron cells were drawn out of him and reconstituted within Galvatron's body, which Atari then flung into space. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|You, I, and the Spinning Earth}}

Hot Rod went on his way, but did not take back the Matrix and leadership of the Autobots until the year 2010. It is unknown whether he ever discovered that the true instigators of the Tokyo incident were Unicron's minions, the [[Sparkbot]]s, who had altered Galvatron's trajectory.

=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''=====
{{note|The events of this manga occur concurrently with the events of Generation 1 cartoon, as described above.}}

[[Image:Ep14.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He's so dreeeaaaaamyyyy.]]

Rodimus Prime faced numerous bizarre challenges in the year 2010, one of which involved Galvatron attempting to seize spaceships with his ''own'' spaceship that ate ''other'' spaceships. Rodimus infiltrated the toothy craft in order to plant a bomb to destroy it. Unfortunately, Galvatron trapped him inside and beat him senseless. Rodimus was about to give up when the spirit of Optimus Prime spoke to him through the Matrix, urging him to fight on. Rodimus snapped out of it and escaped through a hole created by Galvatron's cannon. Before leaving, though, he dropped the bomb off in Cyclonus' hands, detonating the ship.{{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 1}}

During another adventure, Rodimus and his troops were taken under siege by a horde of Megatron clones calling themselves the [[Megatron Corps]]. The Megatron Corps made short work of Rodimus, leaving him to wonder how he could defeat a whole horde of the baddie, when Optimus Prime could barely deal with ''one''. Rodimus eventually realized that Galvatron was secretly controlling the clones and singled him out. With Galvatron defeated, the Megatron Corps ceased to function. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 2}}

Not long after that, Galvatron attacked [[Autobot City]] on Earth with the power of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Though Trypticon was defeated by [[Six-Gun]], of all Autobots, Rodimus did not arrive on the scene until after the battle had ended. Young blonde [[human]] girls squeeled at his hunkiness, though. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 3}}

During another battle, he was forced to team with his arch-nemesis, Galvatron, to defeat the all-powerful [[Guiltaur]]. Guiltaur was a creation built by the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] utilizing the powers of both Optimus Prime and Megatron. Together, Rodimus and Galvatron defeated their foe (who it turned out was being controlled by the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]) and called off the truce. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4}}

After that, Rodimus lead the Autobots to the planet [[Feminia]] to protect it's [[Prime Energy Tower]] from Galvatron and the Decepticons. The Autobots proved ineffectual against the might of [[Predaking]]...at least until the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s showed up to win the day. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5}}

=====''The Great Transformer War'' comic=====
[[Image:Greattfwar_rodimus.jpg|right|thumb|265px]]
After the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s rescued the scientist [[Dalton|Doctor Dalton]] from the clutches of the Decepticons, Rodimus met with him to discuss upgrading the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1}}

Rodimus then watched on in horror as the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s made short work of the upgraded Technobots and nearly turned them into Decepticons with [[Cohesive Control Liquid]]. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] managed to save the Technobots and send the Decepticons into retreat, swearing vengeance. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 2}}

Early in 2011, after having given up the Matrix of Leadership and reverted back to Hot Rod, he accompanied the newly resurrected Optimus Prime in a space battle against Galvatron and the Decepticons. The Decepticons fled, and though Hot Rod wished to pursue them, Optimus ordered him the return to base, as the entire battle seemed fishy. Indeed, it was all a distraction so that Galvatron could begin his ultimate invasion of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 3}}
{{-}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====

:''Voice actor:'' [[Hiroya Ishimaru]] (Japanese)

[[Image:MysteryofPlanetMaster-HotRod.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"And ''you'' better stay close to ''me!''"]]

One year after the Hate Plague affair and the resurrection of Optimus Prime, Hot Rod maintained a high-level position among the Autobots as well as a new sense of duty and responsibility. Hot Rod was stationed on [[Athenia]] when the Decepticons, bolstered with the addition of new Headmaster warriors, attacked Cybertron in an attempt to take control of [[Vector Sigma]], which had become destabilized as a result of the Matrix's energy being released. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

When a group of Autobot Headmasters arrived to help, Optimus Prime broke off from the battle and ventured into Cybertron's depths, hoping to find a way to stabilize Vector Sigma. This, however, would require the sacrifice of his own life if attempted without the Matrix, which was hidden somewhere on Earth, recharging. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Hot Rod and the Autobot Headmasters searched the Matrix out and returned to Cybertron with it, where the spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] recharged its empty shell, transforming Hot Rod back into Rodimus Prime. Optimus and Rodimus defeated the Decepticons together, but Optimus still wound up sacrificing himself to stabilize Vector Sigma, leaving Rodimus Prime in command of the Autobots once again. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}}

[[Image:DoubleConvoy1.jpg|right|225px|thumb|"Race ya to the Matrix!" "Yer on!"]]

Rodimus Prime chose to oversee Autobot operations largely from Athenia, leaving Earth as Ultra Magnus and Metroplex's jurisdiction, and maintaining a relatively minor presence on Cybertron itself. One of his actions as returning leader was to oversee the resurrection of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], who gave his life during the recent search for the Matrix. He had [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] employ [[Master (planet)|Master]] technology to revive the communications expert in a new body as Twincast. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}} After Fortress and the Headmasters ran into trouble on the planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]], Rodimus Prime brought the [[Trainbot]]s and [[Monsterbot]]s with him as reinforcements to foil Galvatron's plans. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} He also oversaw the Autobots' efforts to defeat a [[Metamorpho|gravity-warping meteorite]], and encouraged Daniel to be courageous enough to help the Autobots against the metal-sensitive menace. {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}}

One day, Rodimus Prime accompanied Ultra Magnus to an energy research laboratory, where a new power source had supposedly been discovered. Upon arrival, however, they discovered the research team had been killed and no new power source existed. Reviewing the tape announcing the discovery, Rodimus realized the broadcasting scientist was actually under the control of [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], and the whole trip was to get him out of the way so that Scorponok could set a trap for the Headmasters on [[Praum]]. Taking the Trainbots, Rodimus Prime arrived on Praum in time to help the Headmasters chase off Galvatron and their evil counterparts. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} Rodimus Prime soon supervised the Autobots during a series of terrorist threats around the globe. He allowed [[Shōki]] and the Trainbots to take first crack at the robot threatening their homeland of Japan. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

[[Image:Hm10 fortress appointed commander.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Don't worry, all you have to do to be a better leader than me is to ''not get the planet blown up.''"]]

When Vector Sigma created a new kind of super-metal known as [[Cybertonuron]], Rodimus Prime realized it would be a tempting target for the Decepticons. Sure enough, Galvatron soon launched an all-out attack on Cybertron to capture Vector Sigma and the Cybertonuron. Rodimus assembled a massive counterstrike force to transport to Cybertron, but Fortress cautioned that the whole ordeal thus far might be a trap. Rodimus recognized the possibility, but stated the idea of Galvatron controlling the Cybertonuron was too dangerous to risk. Rodimus Prime traveled to Cybertron himself aboard the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]], and engaged Galvatron in hand-to-hand combat. Tragically, Rodimus was soundly defeated by his old foe, and would have been helplessly executed by Galvatron if [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] hadn't insisted on giving his leader an office memo Right. That. Minute. TPS reports wait for no 'bot. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} As the fighting continued to escalate, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] decided it was too dangerous to risk the Autobots keeping control of the Cybertonuron. He had Mindwipe and the Headmasters plant a series of bombs at Cybertron core, resulting in a massive planetary explosion, leaving Cybertron a burnt-out husk. Deciding that his time was over, and that newer, younger Transformers should take over, Rodimus passed leadership of the Autobots to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], and departed for space with Kup and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] to search for a new planet that the Transformers could make their own. Arcee asked if she could go, too, but Rodimus instructed her to stay behind to look after Daniel and Wheelie. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}
{{-}}

=====''The Headmasters'' comic=====

[[Image:RodimusHeadmasterManga08.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]
{{note|The events of the ''Headmasters'' manga take place concurrently with the ''Headmasters'' cartoon.}}
With Optimus Prime dead yet again, Hot Rod returned to being Rodimus Prime and erected a [[Optimus Prime memorial|statue]] of his fallen commander on Cybertron. During the dedication, the Decepticons were spotted approaching the planet. Rodimus dispatched the [[Headmasters of Justice]] to deal with the threat. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 1}}

Later, the Decepticons made a second attempt to seize planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]] while the Autobot [[Beastformer]] leader, [[White Leo]], was away. Rodimus Prime sent the Headmasters of Justice to Beast in order to drive back the invading Decepticons. {{storylink|Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!}}

During his journey through space in search of a replacement homeworld for the Autobots, Rodimus faced many dangers and hardships, but was supported by the wisdom of the Matrix and the energy of the Earth that now coursed within it. Learning a new admiration for the human race and the planet Earth, he returned to Earth in the wake of the defeat of Scorponok, and reunited with the Autobots. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 8|The Headmasters issue 8}}
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=====''The Battlestars''=====
It would be many years before Rodimus resurfaced. He eventually returned at the same time as Optimus Prime was resurrected as [[Optimus Prime (G1)#The Battlestars story pages and comic|Star Convoy]], and was shown to have reverted back into Hot Rod, and been converted into a [[Micromaster]]. As a Micromaster, Hot Rod took up residence in Star Convoy's chest, boosting his Supreme Commander's power.

=====''15 Go! Go!''=====
[[Image:Hotrod-micro.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Well, at least this girl has clothes on.]]
While Star Convoy was occupied battling the reborn Megatron, Hot Rod was busy on Earth dealing with the threat posed by [[Transwarp]] wormwholes that had randomly begun appearing around the planet. During his efforts, he came upon the human computer [[Teletraan 15]], who had traveled forward in time on an information-gathering mission, and saved her from a [[Novaroid]]. Having been familiar with Hot Rod in the past, 15 was a little surprised to see him in a Micromaster form, but he brushed off her comments and accused her of being responsible for the Transwarp disturbances. The appearance of a huge wormwhole overhead, however, prompted Hot Rod to set his concerns aside, transform to vehicle mode and carry 15 away to safety. {{storylink|15 Go! Go!|Hot Rod's chapter}}

Before they got very far, Star Convoy appeared and requested Hot Rod's assistance, telling him that Megatron was fusing with [[Dark Nova]]. Hot Rod said his farewells to 15, preparing to depart with his leader, {{storylink|15 Go! Go!|Star Convoy's chapter}} but before he could leave, he was suddenly struck by an immense blast from the wormhole overhead. The shadowy form of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] descended from the rip in the sky, and 15 leaped in front of Hot Rod to protect him, but was rewarded for her heroism by having her right arm torn off by the insane Decepticon. {{storylink|15 Go! Go!|Galvatron's chapter}} Rescued by [[Safety]] and [[Fly-Up]] of the [[Guard City]] team, the last thing Teletraan 15 saw before passing out was Galvatron throttling Hot Rod. {{storylink|15 Go! Go!|Galvatron's chapter 2}} The outcome of the battle and the fate of Hot Rod were left unknown, but he had obviously left his mark on 15, whose severed arm was replaced with a convertible buzz-saw blade, just like Hot Rod's own. {{storylink|15 Go! Go!|Galvatron's chapter 3}}
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===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
''Several hundred years ago, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] dispatched Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] to search for habitable worlds. During this mission, the pair ran afoul of the [[Tyroxian]]s—unpleasant [[alien]]s who captured Blurr and pursued Hot Rod through space. While fleeing, Hot Rod crossed paths with the Autobot war veteran, Kup, living a nomadic existence wandering through space at the time, and the youth's bravado in attacking [[Tyroxia]] single-handed re-ignited Kup's fighting spirit. After saving Hot Rod and helping him to rescue Blurr, Kup joined the pair in returning to Cybertron.'' {{storylink|Kup's Story!}}

[[Image:BrothersinArmor-Targetmasters.jpg|right|thumb|350px|I'm important! Just not right now.]]

Hot Rod was among the contingent of Transformers who ultimately accompanied Fortress Maximus in abandoning the war on Cybertron for a new world, [[Nebulos]]. The Autobots' arrival on the planet immediately stirred civil unrest, however, which led to the Decepticons being brought to the planet, and the war continuing on a smaller scale. Technological advancements developed during the conflict saw Nebulans being bio-engineered into [[Binary bonding|partnerships]] with the Transformers. Hot Rod became a Targetmaster, and was bonded to the Nebulan sharpshooter, Firebolt (aka Sparks), who transformed into his gun. Eventually, the Autobots determined to move their war away from Nebulos, and followed a signal sent by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], received by Hot Rod, to the planet [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

Hot Rod and the other Autobots of Nebulos were soon incorporated into the larger Autobot force on Earth, under the command of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. On one occasion, Hot Rod and several Autobots accompanied Prime on what appeared to be a simple mission to stop some Decepticon [[Micromaster]]s from attacking MacDill Air Force Base. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} In fact, the attack was part of a much larger scheme by the deposed Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], luring Prime and his forces away from the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and setting them against his rival for Decepticon leadership, the mighty [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Once Prime realized the greater threat at issue, he ordered his troops to immediately take the [[Ark shuttlecraft|shuttle]] back to the Ark, but Hot Rod recklessly chose to stay behind at Optimus's side to face the Decepticons. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} He was therefore on-hand when the newly resurrected [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] arrived, and began tearing through all Transformers present, in the name of Megatron. He managed to take a shot at Starscream's new [[Pretender]] shell, causing enough neural feedback to temporarily weaken the Decepticon, and give Scorponok time to strike and end the threat. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[Image:YesterdaysHeroes-HotRod.jpg|left|thumb|200px|I, Hot Rod, have entered the main US cast so that I may hatch hilariously hairbrained sitcom schemes!]]

The cost was still high, though, as Optimus Prime returned to the Ark and learned that his good friend, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], had sacrificed himself to help stop Megatron's schemes. This sent the Autobot leader into a depression, and Hot Rod took it upon himself to snap Optimus out of it. He had the crazy scheme of creating a mock threat with a [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian Mark V battle droid]], with predictable results. The robot proceeded to ''actually'' malfunction and endanger the Autobots, but Hot Rod's plan worked when Prime eventually snapped out of his funk and defeated the droid to save the day. Hot Rod needed to find a replacement hand after the Guardian snapped it off, but hey, all's well that ends well. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

[[Image:Hoverscooter.jpg|right|thumb|250px|whoopeee]]

Hot Rod continued to operate with Earth's Autobot forces aboard the Ark, and was present during [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s rampage through the shuttle bay. He took some damage, but remained functional enough to continue on, and was later seen speeding into the battle with Unicron himself on a [[Sky-sled|hoverscooter]], {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} He was also one of many Autobots destroyed by the Decepticons on [[Klo]], only to be revived by the [[Last Autobot]]. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

In an alternate future of 2005, Hot Rod was one of the many Autobots based in the completed Autobot City. He was close friends with the young human [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]]. Realizing that the Decepticons were invading in a stolen shuttle, Hot Rod and Daniel tried to outpace them before they reached the city. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] fell in battle against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], and Hot Rod stood with a handful of others as Optimus died and passed the [[Matrix of Leadership|Autobot Leadership Matrix]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}}

[[Image:FinalBattle-Rodimus.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Galvatron can shoot at Rodimus until he's blue in the face, but he'll never surrender his coconut.]]

After Prime's death, Autobot City got word from [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] that a "monster planet" was devouring Cybertron's moons. En route, Hot Rod and Kup (and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]) were separated from the rest of the Autobots during a Decepticon attack and crashed on the planet [[Quintessa]]. After escaping the sadistic trial of the [[Quintesson]]s and attempted execution (as well as meeting [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]), {{storylink| Judgment Day!}} Hot Rod went on to the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], where he was just in time to stop [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] from fighting another group of stranded Autobots with a timely use of the [[Universal greeting]]. Together, they all traveled to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to stop [[Unicron]] before he could eat more than just its moons.

Hot Rod plunged his ship through Unicron's eye and was separated from the rest of his team. Alone, he found himself facing Galvatron in a battle to the death over the Autobot Leadership Matrix. Claiming the Matrix, Hot Rod [[Renaming|evolved into]] "Rodimus Prime", an older, larger, and more powerful version of himself. After overpowering Galvatron and hurling him through Unicron's hide into the void of space, he opened the Matrix and destroyed Unicron from within. {{storylink|The Final Battle!}}

In 2006, Rodimus Prime's Autobots had taken control of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] reported suspicious activity on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]], so Rodimus sent the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s to investigate. [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] was defeated in battle but was able to send back an SOS before going offline. Sky Lynx was dispatched to retrieve him, and Rodimus decided to investigate himself. He took [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]].

Once there, the Autobots discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, had arrived and were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Rodimus was immediately attacked by a hypnotized [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], and the two battled to a standstill. The other Autobots were able to disrupt a hypnotic signal that was causing everyone to fight one another. The [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] then added their strength against the Decepticons, causing the latter to retreat. Rodimus didn't care where the hypnosis signal had been coming from, as long as it was off for good. He never discovered that it was the work of the [[Quintesson]]s. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" are a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].}}

[[Image:GalvatrondeadrodimusUS67.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr Prime, I expect you to die!"]]
In an another alternate future timeline, Hot Rod arose to become Rodimus Prime. However, the planet-eater known as Unicron managed to destroy Cybertron, leaving Rodimus to lead a failed Autobot/human defense of Earth when [[Galvatron II|that timeline's Galvatron]] attacked and eventually conquered it. Rodimus perished during the conflict, and his body was strung up between the ruined towers of the World Trade Center. In the year 2009, Galvatron returned to Manhattan to survey its devastated landscape, and fired upon Rodimus's corpse, demanding to know how many times he would have to kill him to erase his legacy. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

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=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[Image:Hot rod ark duty.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"Really, by assigning ''me'' to Ark duty, they're practically demanding me to go be irresponsible!"]]
''Hot Rod rose to greater prominence in the alternate future timeline of [[Earth-120185]]. In 1990, he, Kup and Blurr were captured by Megatron; although rescued by a double-agent named [[Warmonger]], Hot Rod was recaptured and bore witness first hand to Megatron's mercilessness when he executed Warmonger. Then, in 1991, he was part of a unit that escorted the captive [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], only to lose the Decepticon leader when forced to defend a human settlement against an attack by the [[Air Strike Patrol]].'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} ''On another occasion in 1995, Hot Rod was present when Optimus Prime first unveiled the female Autobot, Arcee, to [[Feminist mob|a dubious crowd of human feminists]]. Hot Rod was more than a little flustered by Arcee's presence on the battlefield.'' {{storylink|Prime's Rib!}} ''In 2003, he and Blurr were given "Ark duty," assigned to stand guard over the [[Ark (G1)|Autobots' spaceship]] while construction on [[Autobot City]] began. Kup was apparently instructed to deliver the plans of the city to the American government, and when Hot Rod saw him being jumped by the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], he disobeyed orders and sped out to the rescue. The Stunticons brutally beat on Hot Rod and took the plans, but Hot Rod learned a hard lesson when Kup informed him that it was meant to happen that way because the plans were a fake.'' {{storylink|Ark Duty}} ''When the city was completed in 2004, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] attacked it on its opening day, and Hot Rod repelled him by attacking in a wildly illogical manner, tackling him down a mountain repeatedly.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} ''Also, at some unknown point in the past, Hot Rod's Targetmaster partner Firebolt was killed in action.'' {{storylink|Headhunt}}

[[Image:FallenAngel-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Since this is a comic book, Rodimus has to hum "[[The Touch]]" to himself.]]

''In the year 2006, when the new Decepticon leader [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] travelled back in time to 1986 as part of a plan to free himself from the control of Unicron, the chaos-bringer used his mental powers to plant knowledge of Galvatron's plan into the minds of Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr and transported them to Cybertron, where they used Galvatron's equipment to follow him into the past. There, with help from the present-day incarnation of Ultra Magnus, they were able to convince Galvatron that he had, in fact, traveled back in time to a parallel universe, where his actions would have no effect on the future. Believing this, Galvatron returned to his own time, and after setting any remaining wrongs to rights, the trio of Autobots also returned to 2006.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}} ''Back in his native timeline, Hot Rod was subsequently involved in a battle with Galvatron inside Unicron's body, during which he opened the sacred Autobot talisman, the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], and was transformed into Rodimus Prime. With this new strength, he hurled Galvatron through Unicron's hide and opened the Matrix, destroying the planet-eater.'' {{storylink|The Final Battle!}}

''It's believed that [[Primus]] ''deliberately'' caused Hot Rod's Prime form to resemble him. What an ego!'' {{storylink|Salvage!|#160's Grim Grams}}

[[Image:Rodimusprimerequestdenied.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Rodimus learned the wrong lesson from Optimus's death.]]

''As the new Autobot leader, Rodimus became paranoid about Galvatron's eventual return, since no body was ever recovered from space. He led the Autobot forces high and low searching the universe for the Decepticon leader, neglecting Cybertron in the process. As a result, Shockwave arose as the new Decepticon leader, and total war broke out on Cybertron once again. Unable to take the time to find Galvatron himself anymore, Rodimus rashly placed a bounty on the Decepticon's head. What Rodimus did not realize, however, was that Galvatron had time-jumped again, traveling back to 1987.'' {{storylink|Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!}} ''In 2007, when the freelance peace-keeping agent [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] pursued Galvatron back to the '80s, Rodimus was informed of this fact by an Autobot double-agent named [[Nautilus]], and, dismayed at the danger he had unleashed on the past, promptly headed back in time himself to stop the dual threats.'' {{storylink|Burning Sky!}} ''Once again teaming up with the present-day Ultra Magnus, Rodimus and his team of Kup, Blurr and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] tracked Galvatron down to [[Mount Verona]], where he was attempting to harness the volcano's molten energy. While arguing with Death's Head, Rodimus and the bounty hunter were both attacked, but when Ultra Magnus opened fire on his [[power siphon]], Galvatron was distracted long enough for Rodimus to escape.'' {{storylink|Hunters}} ''Rodimus then arranged a plan that saw the Autobots capture Galvatron's time-jump mechanism, in order to have Wreck-Gar re-engineer it to return all the time-travelers to their point of origin. Rodimus engaged Galvatron in a protracted battle to buy Wreck-Gar time, but when the device was activated, Rodimus, Death's Head and the other Autobots were returned to 2007. Galvatron was left behind.'' {{storylink|Fire on High!}}

[[Image:Headhunt-Rodimus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Rodimus discovers a depressing third option to "fight and die" or "live with the knowledge that I ran."]]

''Some time later, a disgruntled Death's Head accepted a contract from the Decepticons on Rodimus Prime's head, and ambushed him while he was inspecting Autobot lines. Their battle subsequently went underground, where [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] intervened, downing Death's Head in hopes of being the ones to defeat Rodimus, in order to reclaim their lost standing in the Decepticons' ranks. Rodimus was able to lead Death's Head through the underground tunnels, right into the heart of the Autobot camp, where he offered him advance payment for a different contract—on Cyclonus and Scourge.'' {{storylink|Headhunt}} ''Death's Head proceeded to track the two Decepticons for the remainder of the year, until the three of them fell under the mental control of Unicron when they discovered his disembodied head on the planet of [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]] in the early days of 2008. Under his control, they assassinated Decepticon leader Shockwave and reignited the stalemated Cybertronian civil war in order to keep the Autobots busy while Unicron worked on rebuilding his body. Rodimus, however, learned of the situation thanks to [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], and led a small Autobot force to Junk, where Death's Head fought against Unicron's control long enough to project Rodimus's mind into a battle with the demi-god on the astral plane. During the battle, explosives planted by Wreck-Gar destroyed Unicron's head, and his mind was sealed within the Matrix.'' {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

[[Image:Arceehotrodspacepirates.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hasbro slips Rodimus a few [[Shanix]] under the table to "lose" the Matrix ever so often. They's got Hot Rod toys to sell.]]

''Later in 2008, the alien Quintessons targeted Cybertron for colonization, and attacked the Autobots with a two-pronged assault on both Cybertron and Earth. When [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] shirked her guard duty at Autobot City, the Quintessons were given an opening that allowed them to take over the city, and when she returned, they gunned her down as bait for a trap for Rodimus Prime. Arriving at the city, Rodimus discovered the injured Arcee and opened his chest compartment to heal her with the Matrix, only to have it yanked from his grasp by the Quintesson general, [[General Ghyrik|Ghyrik]], causing him to revert to Hot Rod. Liberating [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s cassettes for back-up, Hot Rod and Arcee proceeded to fight their way through the Quintessons to Autobot City's control room, where Hot Rod activated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to smash the alien threat. In battle with Ghyrik, Hot Rod duped the Quintessons with a bit of amateur ventriloquism and reclaimed the Matrix; transformed back into Rodimus Prime again, he routed the Quintessons.'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

[[Image:TimeWars-OptimusPrimeentersthefray.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Rodimus traveled 20 years into the past just to be upstaged by That Guy again.]]

''Unbeknownst to Rodimus, the Quintessons had sought to colonize Cybertron because their own homeworld was being destroyed by a rift in space and time caused by the Transformers' repeated time-travel. The rift continued to grow in size until it threatened both Earth and Cybertron at the beginning of both 2009 and 1989. To put an end to the threat, Rodimus and a squad of Autobots traveled back to 1989, only to wind up mass-displacing Optimus Prime (since the Matrix could not exist in two time periods at once) and a group of other Autobots to [[limbo]], leading to a brief but violent misunderstanding with the present-day Autobots. Optimus Prime was able to stabilize the situation by communicating with all involved through the power of the Matrix. Subsequently, Autobots and Decepticons from both the present and future teamed up to battle Galvatron and [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]], but one by one they fell, until Optimus Prime used the Matrix to return himself to reality for a final showdown. After absorbing Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, however, the rift was sealed by Shockwave, and Rodimus and the other future Autobots returned to 2009, vowing to destroy their time machines to prevent this from ever happening again.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

''As it transpired, however, things would not be that easy. In the wake of the massive chronal damage caused by the rift, time had attempted to heal its wounds, but reality was no longer as it had been. The future that Rodimus and the other Autobots came from no longer existed—in its place was a world where Galvatron had never traveled back in time, and had conquered Cybertron after Unicron's destruction. Rodimus quickly established a rebellion, but when Galvatron tracked down their headquarters, he killed Blurr and all others present, goading Rodimus into a ferocious battle in hopes of corrupting the Matrix within him. Rodimus realized what he was doing, however, and ended the fight before more damage could be done.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

[[Image:EdgeofImpact-EvilRodimus.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Tonight the part of Rodimus Prime will be played by the Green Goblin.]]

''Rodimus and the Autobots escaped to Earth via hyperspace, only to find that their craft's guidance systems had been damaged. During the flight, Rodimus Prime vanished'' {{storylink|The Void! (UK)|The Void!}}, ''and Kup discovered that he was the saboteur,'' {{storylink|Edge of Impact}} ''deducing that he had been corrupted by an evil force from within the Matrix.'' {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} ''Inside the Matrix, Rodimus battled with the essence of Unicron, trapped there since the events of 2008, until Kup wrenched the Matrix from his chest, freeing him from the chaos-bringer's influence. But now, Rodimus knew that the evil of Unicron would be waiting for him within it...'' {{storylink|White Fire}} ''...and in 2010, Unicron's essence succeeded in taking over Rodimus's body, transforming it into a duplicate of his own and attacking Cybertron once more, until Rodimus was able to defeat him from within and re-seal him within the Matrix.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

''Centuries later, in the year 2356, Rodimus, his body withered and weakened from the continuous harmful influence of Unicron from within the Matrix, lectured a young Autobot [[student]] on the nature of evil, unwittingly setting the youth on the path towards villainy himself.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

''In an unidentified timeline in the year 2510, a healthy Rodimus Prime was overjoyed to announce that the Cybertronian war was finally over, and planned to step down as leader to allow [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to take over. The sole remaining Decepticon, a double-agent named [[Triton]], spoke out against the decision to cause dissension, and succeeded—as Rodimus could only watch in dismay, arguments escalated into conflict, and the war was born again as [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]] fought [[Wrecker]], and the Autobot Civil War began.'' {{storylink|Peace}}

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====Generation 2====
[[Image:HotrodG2Marvelcomic.jpg|100px|thumb|left|Try purple! It's the new maroon!]]
After the defeat of the Decepticons on [[Klo]], the Autobots' forces scattered throughout the galaxy as virtually independent splinter cells. A small group under Optimus Prime's command encountered Bludgeon and his soldiers on a desolate world, both sides looking for new weapons or technology, and were in danger of being overrun. Prime sent Hot Rod into a nearby mausoleum building in the hopes that he could conjure up some form of "graven image" to distract the superstitious Decepticon leader. Hot Rod emerged empty-handed from the ruins, only to find that just [[Guardian (G2)|such a graven image]] had conjured ''itself'', chased off the trespassing Decepticons, and was now prepared to do the same to the Autobots. They managed a dignified, if rushed, scramble to safety. {{storylink|All or Nothing!|Ghosts}}

[[Image:G2kupwonderspowerandglory.jpg|right|thumb|300px|No?]]

When Grimlock sent out a message summoning Optimus Prime, Hot Rod and Kup accompanied him. Hot Rod was quick to remark the sorry state of the planet they were on, and pondered exactly why they were here. As Prime continued his lengthy internal monolog, they were ambushed by a second-generation Cybertronian patrol. Hot Rod pretended to flee, but quickly came back as he and Prime caught the squad in a crossfire, annihilating the lot of them. Grimlock made his presence known afterwards and took them to his ship, where Hot Rod casually fiddled with a panel while Grimlock exposited. [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] attacked soon after, crippling the Autobots's ship and capturing them. They later managed to escape Jhiaxus's flagship. {{storylink|War Without End!}} When Grimlock and a team of Autobots were captured once again by the Liege Centuro, Hot Rod was part of Optimus's rescue team. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}} While Optimus Prime went on a vision quest back on Cybertron, some Autobots set up camp on a deserted asteroid, where Kup set up some war games for training. Hot Rod managed to lure the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] into a false sense of confidence and into a trap consisting of Dinobots. When the exercise was over, Hot Rod expressed frustration at the fact that they were stuck playing games while Jhiaxus and his Cybertronians were still out there.{{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} Megatron's resurfacing on Earth made Optimus Prime decide to confront him alone. Fortunately, Grimlock had different ideas and mounted up a rescue, which Hot Rod participated in. He tried to engage [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in vehicle mode, but the small Decepticon used his piledrivers to send Hot Rod tumbling away. Hot Rod crashed just behind Megatron, prompting the Decepticon leader to order a full retreat. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}}

[[Image:Arageinheaven-electro.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Hot Rod is the honorary fifth [[Laser Rod]] member.]]

Hot Rod was amongst the Autobots deployed to the planet [[Ethos]] where they fought hard to counter a Cybertronian offensive, but quickly found themselves overwhelmed and had to be saved by their newfound Decepticon allies. {{storylink|Escalation!}} After Starscream sold out the location of the Autobots' [[Autobase]] on Earth, Jhiaxus organized a full-scale assault. Hot Rod was part of the counter-offensive, and as the Cybertronians were being eradicated by the Autobot-Decepticon alliance, he was quick to report Prime his new finding: Jhiaxus had a ''second wave'' waiting in the wings. {{storylink|Total War!}} When the Cybertronian threat was overshadowed by the oncoming [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], Hot Rod and [[Electro]] went scouting out for its position. Thanks to Murphy's law, he had the misfortune of reporting its arrival just as Grimlock pondered just how things could get worse. Unlike many of his fellow Autobots, Hot Rod was saved from being devoured by the Swarm thanks to Megatron's timely arrival, carrying cannisters of [[Rheanimum]]. Soon afterwards, Hot Rod and company witnessed Optimus Prime's return to life in a shiny new body, and cheered at his speech for unity and a higher purpose than war. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
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====''Classics''====
{{note|The Classics comic takes place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a [[splinter timeline]] that does not include the events of the Marvel UK-exclusive stories or Generation 2.}}

[[Image:CrossingOver5-RodimusMirage.jpg|right|thumb|250px|We got to buy... more time!]]

Once peace was restored on [[Klo]], Hot Rod followed Optimus Prime back to Cybertron, where the young Autobot fell back into the racing scene. After countless years of fighting for his life, this quickly bored Hot Rod, who went to Optimus to ask advice. Hot Rod was put in charge of the rehabilitation of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the integration of the millions of Transformers who had fled the planet during the war. To keep the returning Transformers entertained, Hot Rod devised the [[Cybertron Grand Challenge]], a cross-factional racing event of an epic scale. Following his cultural triumph, Hot Rod changed his name to Rodimus, both to reflect his growing maturity and in homage to Optimus Prime, the leader he still adored. Rodimus became one of Optimus Prime's closest officers, and when [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] reared his head again on [[Earth]], Rodimus was one of the first recruited to accompany Optimus to hunt him down. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 15|''Classics'' Rodimus profile}}

After the Autobots discovered the mysterious Autobot, [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]], they flew to [[South America]] to investigate a mysterious power source. Rodimus led them there with a tracking device, muttering that he wished [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] were around to help him use it. Clearly they arrived at the correct location, however, because the Decepticons were there looking for it as well! {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 3}} As the battle raged, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and Rodimus cornered Soundwave, but the two worried that they were being overwhelmed by numbers. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 5}} Rodimus tried contacting [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], but the Autobot scout wasn't responding, and so Rodimus grew even more frustrated when Mirage went invisible and left him. Mirage's gambit helped win the battle, and the Decepticons withdrew. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}

Rodimus was damaged severely, and so after the battle in South America, Optimus Prime carried him all the way home. Bumblebee was asked to put him in a [[CR chamber]]. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}
{{-}}

===S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers===
[[Image:PackIn RodimusPrimeRemembers Front.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Just like he remembers Woodstock.]]

Unicron just might consume the universe, and the Autobots need to determine who the Chosen One is so that he may rise from their ranks, unlock the Matrix of Power, and save all from Unicron! Unfortunately, not even the Chosen One himself knows his identity, and his discovery may come too late.
{{storylink|The Autobots Have a Special Mission for:}}

There was a legendary conflict between the Autobots and Decepticons when Optimus Prime led Rodimus Prime and a large team of Autobots in a search for the future site of [[Autobot City]]. They were ambushed by Megatron and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and this became known as the Transformers' greatest battle on Earth. Rodimus Prime dubbed it "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]." {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}} Some of the Autobots were forced to retreat due to Thundercracker's "force shield," and Optimus Prime told Rodimus and the others that their only hope was to call in for additional troops. {{storylink|Transformers Combat Data}}

Later, Rodimus Prime remembered the Transformers' greatest battle on Earth. {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}}
{{-}}

===Big Looker Storybook continuity===
[[Image:CarShowBlowup-AutobotCity.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Hot Rod clearly does not pass emissions standards.]]

Kup and Hot Rod traveled to the coliseum to check out a robot car the [[human]]s had built that could respond to voice commands. They heard about it on their car radios! But when they arrived at the coliseum, Kup spotted Decepticons flying about. As some entered the back door, Kup shooed Hot Rod away, telling him to warn the others. If Hot Rod stayed, he would just get into trouble!

[[Image:Wildboyofquintessonbattle.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This is the genocide referred to [[:Image:EdgeofImpact-EvilRodimus.jpg|above]].]]

When Hot Rod returned with the Autobots, Kup had been captured and held prisoner, so the others entered the coliseum in vehicle mode. Meanwhile, Hot Rod snuck up behind Kup and freed him. Yelling "Geronimo!" they jumped from the control room onto the coliseum floor, taking the Decepticons by surprise. Galvatron and the others escaped, but Kup and Hot Rod agreed that they'd be ready for him when he returned. {{storylink|Car Show Blow Up}}

Later, Kup led Hot Rod, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] on a special mission to take supplies from Earth to a space station on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s second moon. Despite Kup's warnings, the Dinobots loaded too many supplies onto the ship, and in the middle of their journey, the ship began to have problems. Hot Rod reassured Arcee that everything would be okay, but the ship was going down! It crashed on a planet which Kup recognized. It was the planet [[Quintessa|Quintesson]]! They were interrupted by a tribal scream and a flurry of firestones. However, the boy who made his presence known was not aiming at them, but at the Quintessons behind them. The boy's name was [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], and he had been abandoned on the planet when his ship crashed their earlier.

Wheelie led them through the jungle, battling Quintessons along the way, until they reached Wheelie's crashed ship. Hot Rod was able to fix it, and everyone left the planet Quintesson, Wheelie included! {{storylink|The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson}}
{{--}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[Image:DecepticonsatthePole-HotRodSparks.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Say I'm badly drawn to my face, pal!]]
Hot Rod was one of several troops stationed on Earth when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] was in charge and the Transformers' war was still a secret one. He got along well with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], the two spending their downtime looking at car magazines together, and was quite pleased to receive some snazzy gold wheel-trims from the boy. {{storylink|Decepticon Hideout|Decepticon Hideout}}

In the time following this campaign, Hot Rod would mature into a more sensible warrior and even a team leader. During the early stages of the war on [[Nebulos]], Hot Rod was Autobot commander against [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus']] Decepticons before the return of Optimus Prime. At one point, he prevented the Decepticons causing Nebulos' destruction via cosmic radiation. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole|Decepticons at the Pole}}

===Sticker Adventures===
Out searching for a missing shuttle, Hot Rod and Kup spied it crashed on the Junk planet. They landed to find their friends engaged in battle with the natives, but Kup cautioned Hot Rod not to rashly jump in and join them. Kup's use of the Universal Autobot Greeting resulted in the Junkions abandoning the fight and making friends with the newcomers, and causing Hot Rod to exclaim "Holy cow!" The Junkions helped repair the damaged shuttle before the Autobots left. {{storylink|Battle on the Junk Planet}}
{{-}}
===Young Corgi Adventure books===

[[Image:Wolf at the door desert of danger.jpg|thumb|right|200px|When you're weary, feelin' small...]]
Hot Rod had himself delivered by freight to the planet of Nebulos, where he and his Targetmaster partner Professor Sparks suspected the Decepticons were attempting reinforce their position in spite of a treaty in place to limit their numbers. With [[You|your]] help they traced the Decepticons to the [[Wolf at the Door]] nightclub, an [[oil]] bar for Nebulan miners run by [[Monzo]], and discovered that [[Weirdwolf]], [[Skullcruncher]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] were importing [[Attack Squad robot]]s from Cybertron and awakening them from cryogenic suspension with a catalytic stimulant disguised as [[Sirian brandy]].

After a confrontation with the Decepticons that left Skullcruncher and Mindwipe out of action, Hot Rod faced off against Weirdwolf and Monzo. Weirdwolf was defiant, but Monzo wasn't feeling lucky and surrendered to the Autobot. Though the Headmasters had to be released under the terms of the treaty, the Attack Squad robots were destroyed. {{storylink|Desert of Danger}}

{{note|"Desert of Danger" is a [[multipath adventure]] and the above only applies to the optimum path through the book. If you make the wrong decision, the Decepticons may well triumph instead.}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers PD Type'' comic===
[[Image:Pdtype_rodimus_manga.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]

Clutching a [[Blackball]], Rodimus Prime found himself being attacked by Galvatron. As the Decepticon leader attempted to throttle him, a light shone from Rodimus's chest, making Galvatron think it was the power of the Blackball. After Galvatron had fled, Rodimus revealed it was just a torch, and reflected on what an idiot his foe was. {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##11 "Take a Stand! Rodimus Prime!"|Take a Stand! Rodimus Prime!}}

As Fortress Maximus and Mega Zarak clashed violently, Rodimus reminded Optimus that he had said never to let those two fight. {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##14 "Watch Out! Mega Zarak!"|Watch Out! Mega Zarak!}}

Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime enjoyed many victories against the Decepticons, but [[Greatshot|who was that in the background?]] {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##15 "No One Knows When he's Come or Gone. Greatshot..."|No One Knows When he's Come or Gone. Greatshot...}}

Together with Ultra Magnus, Rodimus engaged in battle against [[Sixshot]], but was terrified when the Decepticon ninja unleashed the fury of his "Six Shadow Selves"! Luckily for Rodimus, Sixshot's doppelgangers were actually other Decepticons whom he'd painted black (and weren't very happy about it).{{storylink|Transformers PD Type##18|The Ninja of Space, Sixshot!!}}

In a later altercation with Sixshot, Rodimus attempted to use his Photon Eliminator gun to strike down the fleeing ninja. Though he managed to shoot ''every other'' Decepticon on the battlefield, he failed to hit his intended target. Rodimus sat pouting in the corner as the other Autobots convened to register their disappointment that Rodimus let Sixshot get away.{{storylink|Transformers PD Type##21|Photon Eliminator}}

Joining [[Ginrai|God Ginrai]] and Ultra Magnus in an assault on Mega Zarak, Rodimus was terrified when the mammoth Decepticon unleashed his titanic Anti-Gravity Rifle. Fortunately for the Autobots, the gun jammed and Mega Zarak was left fiddling with it while they opened fire. {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##24|Anti-Gravity Rifle}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[Image:WarAgainstDestructions-HotRodApeface.jpg|right|thumb|300px|GRONK yourself!]]
As Ultra Magnus left for a mission to find an Energon source, Hot Rod assured him that everything would be fine on Cybertron, and if there was any hint of trouble "Rodimus" would pop up and save the day. When Magnus later checked in, Hot Rod reported that they'd made some process on Headmaster technology. Though Magnus was more concerned about the threat of war, Hot Rod told him not to worry, unaware that [[Sixshot]] was planning to throw him a surprise. {{storylink|The Test (issue)|The Test}}

Hot Rod was pleased to have [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] back. Then [[Monitorus]] arrived with the news that [[Tau-Ursa]] had been attacked and leveled by Decepticons, and Hot Rod got to point out that the Tau-Ursans had refused the Autobots permission to build a defense base there. He shortly took part in an attempt to repel a Decepticon attack on Cybertron, finding himself fighting against Sixshot, who seemed more interested in goading him than fighting. This turned out to be a diversion, while [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] used his new [[Nullification Cannon]] on the planet's Energon supplies.

Hot Rod and Blurr next visited Tau-Ursa to check for Decepticons, and encountered [[Apeface|Ape Face]], who had found a [[Logicon]] warning beacon. The two Autobots wrestled it from him and returned to Cybertron, where the beacon was found to hold the coordinates to [[Metascan Alpha]], a major Energon storehouse. Prime placed Hot Rod in charge of one of two teams to search for the planet, though the operation was hampered slightly by the discovery of the two Decepticon [[Clone (subgroup)|Clone]]s spying on them. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

{{Note|At this point [[Blackthorne Publishing]] went bankrupt and the storyline was never completed}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Hotroddreamwave.jpg|left|thumb|]]Hot Rod joined an underground Autobot cell led by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] takeover of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Among the members of the cell was [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who Hot Rod became attached to. From the [[Wastelands]], Hot Rod, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] observed an incoming Decepticon shuttle carrying the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Cold War|Cold War}} Shortly afterward, the cell rescued [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] and [[Runabout]], and took him to their base. After awakening, Prime attacked [[Gnaw]], Blurr, and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], forcing Hot Rod (who didn't recognize him) to hold the Autobot leader at gunpoint. After being <strike>bitch slapped</strike> admonished by Kup, Hot Rod apologized. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

After Shockwave unleashed the [[Guardian robot]]s on [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]], Prime organized the resistance cell and other Autobot forces on the planet in an assault on Shockwave's citadel. Fighting alongside the Autobot leader, Hot Rod was amazed that the stories Kup had told him about Prime's courage and heroism had all been true. As an injured Prime breached the citadel, Hot Rod, Ironhide and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] provided cover fire, taking down a number of Guardians in the process. Along with the rest of Iacon, they witnessed the divine light of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Autobot Matrix of Leadership]] when Shockwave activated it. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}}

As Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] battled Shockwave within the citadel, Hot Rod and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] took down [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. Immediately afterward, they were confronted with the looming threat of a remaining Guardian robot—a threat that was soon neutralized by the arrival of the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]], the [[Autobot High Council]], and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]. The unified Autobot group soon breached the citadel. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

Some time later, Hot Rod ran a simulation combat scenario against Kup, and won using tactics that, in Kup's opinion, would have killed them both had it been real. Only after his victory did Hot Rod remember that he'd promised to take Arcee to see an [[Earth]]-bound shuttle launch—a duty Springer was happy to relieve him of. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}} Soon afterward, he was assigned to perimeter guard duty at [[Autobase]] with Gnaw and Wheelie, separating him from Arcee. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''Universe: Featuring the Wreckers''===
[[Image:Skidswreckers2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|It's funny because Rodimus sucked at everything.]]

A few months after the destruction of [[Unicron]] in 2005, Rodimus Prime spearheaded an effort to establish multiple recon posts to watch for advancing threats... even though some of his scientists said he shouldn't. When only two of the five launched ships were ever heard from again, Rodimus felt like a schmuck. Guy can't catch a break. {{storylink|Betrayal}}

After the Great Wars ended and the [[Pax Cybertronia]] was signed, he changed his name to simply "Rodimus" and decided to check out the new "[[Great Upgrade|Maximal Upgrade]]". His relationship with [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] effectively ended shortly after, as the latter went through dark gripping emo depression over the death of [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and vanished.

Rodimus joined the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] at some undetermined point afterward. After [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] took over Cybertron with his [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]], Wrecker leader [[Apelinq]] got stranded on prehistoric [[Earth]], leaving Rodimus in charge. True to form, he ditched leadership duties to [[Primal Prime]] as soon as possible.

After Primal Prime got his marching orders from the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], he met Rodimus deep inside Cybertron's caverns, where an even more gothy-emo Arcee—in a new Maximal body—lurked and stewed in her depression. Realizing he couldn't convince her to give a damn about anything, he left, rejoining the main Wrecker force in battle. Making it onto an ancient Autobot shuttle, the Wreckers blasted off... with late-arrival Arcee. {{storylink|Departure}}

[[Image:Arceedisclosure.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Except you're the size of my arm now.]]

Rodimus recognized the homing beacon emitting from [[Akalo|Archa Nine]] as one of those missing exploration parties mentioned before. When the shuttle landed, Rodimus stayed behind to help repair the damage the ship had suffered. The entire Wrecker team later gathered in an [[Akalouthan]] village, where Rodimus was reunited with [[Glyph (G1)|Glyph]], who took them to see the artifact known as the [[Divine Light]]. The Wreckers' analysis of the item was cut short, as it was stolen by the traitor [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. Rodimus saw the back-in-his-old-body [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]] off, who was sent to chase after Cyclonus, while the Wreckers made for their next destination... even though several of them were now leery of the visions Primal Prime had been getting. Because they'd really done ''so well'' by the Wreckers so far. {{storylink|Betrayal}}

Upon landing on the frozen planet, Rodimus was part of the search party immediately dispatched to look for... something. Primal Prime wasn't too specific. They came across [[Al-Badur]], an exiled [[Quintesson]], who gave them a little history lesson. They were then promptly attacked by a school of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], but the Wreckers made short work of them. They made their way back to the ship, with Al-Badur in tow, and made for their next destination... {{storylink|Disclosure}}

[[Image:Sentinelcryotekwreckersfinale.jpg|right|thumb|300px|If Optimus can die, so can I!]]

...Cybertron. As Primal Prime took some Wreckers after their true foe, [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], Rodimus tried to get their injured to a safe place. Unfortunately, the planet was under a full scale Quintesson invasion, and some anti-aircraft fire inevitably clipped the ship and sent them plummeting downwards. After they made it to safe ground, Rodimus and the crew hooked up with his fellow [[Matrix Templar]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], and followed his insight to the battle. They confronted Cryotek's underling, Cyclonus, and his purloined squad of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s. With casualties mounting on both sides, Cyclonus beat a safe retreat, collapsing the tunnel behind him to prevent pursuit. Rodimus was quick enough to dive through the falling debris, however, leaving the two old enemies alone to do battle. Centuries of bad blood carried them through the conflict, until both drew their weapons at point blank range, and fired.

Horribly damaged by this last attack, Rodimus struggled to keep up with the other Wreckers and the running conflict between [[Sentinel Maximus]] and Cryotek. The fighting came to an end at a Quintesson banishing chamber, where the treacherous Al-Badur had attempted to toss Sentinel and Cryotek into a formless void. The two warriors were trapped behind an energy dome, barely able to fight off the portal's pull using their flight systems. Once [[Fractyl]] pointed out that Cryotek was empowered by the Divine Light, a fraction of Primus's own power, Rodimus realized that as Matrix Templars he and Cheetor could drain that power away from the Predacon. They managed to extract most of it before Cryotek cut off their siphoning effect. In the end, Sentinel Maximus sacrificed himself to pull Cryotek into the void with him. Rodimus finally expired from his wounds from fighting Cyclonus, quietly passing on into the Matrix. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:GIJoeTFHotRod70s.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"That bumperchest really doesn't feel right. How do Prowl and Jazz live with it?"]]
Hot Rod was one of [[Teletran 3]]'s unfortunate victims when the computer malfunctioned and transported a random number of Transformers to random points in Earth's timeline. Along with [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], Hot Rod ended up in mid-1970's [[San Francisco]], where he was locked into the form of a Ford Mustang muscle car. The dormant Autobot was soon stolen by a car thief, but was chased down by a group of [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joes]] and [[Cobra]] members sent to retrieve the Transformers. Discovering [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in the process, the humans equipped both vehicles with [[disruption unit]] that awakened the Transformers and sent them back to present-day Cybertron seconds after Hot Rod commented about feeling "really weird." {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} Back on Cybertron, they were stuck waiting inside the force field Ultra Magnus had erected to prevent [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] from capturing Teletran 3. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}}

Some time after his time travel adventure, Hot Rod reported to Optimus Prime that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s team on Earth had been sidetracked by a Cobra attack. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}} When said team ended up disappearing in Cybertron's [[Gladiator Zone]], Hot Rod convinced Optimus to stay behind and take care of an Autobot peace ceremony instead of going out and searching for them. Hot Rod then assembled his own search party, but they failed to find the missing Autobots. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} Unfortunately, [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]]'s forces attacked the peace ceremony and captured Optimus Prime, leading to Hot Rod assembling a new team intent on rescuing him. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} They fought Serpent O.R.'s Decepticon army together with reinforcements from G.I. Joe, and during the battle, Hot Rod paused in horror as he saw the light of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] being opened inside the Decepticon base. The Decepticon army eventually defeated, and by the time Hot Rod reached inside their base, Serpent O.R. had been killed as well. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #6}}

A few months later, Hot Rod questioned Optimus Prime's choice to go to Earth again, accusing his leader of feeling guilty about [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s death at Serpent O.R.'s hands and doing everything by himself just to prevent more people from dying. Prime just looked at him sadly before leaving, causing Ultra Magnus to tell Hot Rod that he really needed to learn when to stop talking. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|Black Horizon, Part 1}}

{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:SpotlightHotRod rush.jpg|right|180px|thumb|WHEEEEEEE! AWESOME! TUBULAR! COWABUNGA! REAGANOMICS!]]
Years ago, Hot Rod was put in charge of a mission to the planet Ki-Aleta to obtain a powerful artifact named the [[Magnificence]] so as to keep it out of the hands of the Decepticons. The mission started off smoothly enough, with [[Gizmo]] using a [[holomatter]] generator to distract the defense systems while the rest of the team went after the Magnificence. Unfortunately, after that everything that could go wrong did go wrong. First, the generator malfunctioned, then [[Download]] tripped the security lasers around the Magnificence itself. Gizmo, Download, and [[Backbeat]] were destroyed by the security systems while Hot Rod and [[Doubledealer|Dealer]] fled. Hot Rod, nearing the exit tunnels they had previously drilled, got a call from Dealer—he had been ambushed by a Decepticon attack squad and needed help. Unfortunately, Hot Rod had been given his own, top secret orders: the Magnificence was to be the top priority of the mission, and placed before all else. With a heavy heart, Hot Rod abandoned Dealer to his fate as he left Ki-Aleta with the Magnificence.

Years later, Hot Rod learned that Dealer had not died that day; he was being held prisoner at the Decepticon penal colony known as [[Styx]]. Hot Rod stealthily infiltrated the prison complex, using a holomatter generator to disguise himself as a guard and then short-circuiting the power grid to cause all the cell doors to unlock. During the chaos he snuck in, extracted Dealer, and took off while the Decepticons were busy getting the prisoners under control. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hot Rod}}

[[Image:Escalation6 HotRod Koska.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Mine!]]
Recently, Hot Rod was called to [[Earth]] to aid the crew of the ''[[Ark-19]]'' in procuring a Decepticon [[facsimile construct]] from [[Brasnya]], a former Soviet state in eastern Europe. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} He and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] went down to Earth from the ''[[Ark-32]]'' against [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s wishes, and proceeded to join the battle unannounced. As Hardhead went to support the main battle, Hot Rod went after the facsimile... which led to him colliding with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] as they both tried to stop the [[Georgi Koska]] facsimile from letting himself get gunned down by Soviet soldiers. {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} Prowl and Hot Rod managed to defuse the situation and secure the facsimile in the end {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}}, but before he could return to his ship he was attacked by [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], unable to defend himself because he had to keep the facsimile alive. After returning to the ''Ark-32'', he had to be put in a [[CR chamber]] to recover. His injuries were for nothing, as the facsimile melted during the bounce. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

[[Image:Devastation6 HotRod Hardhead.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Hardhead, I'm with Arcee now. Let it go.]]
After Hot Rod was repaired and reformatted into a Dodge Viper, his "friend" Dealer tried to convince him to pull some strings to get him to Earth, but Hot Rod and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] had the more important task of rescuing [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} They ran into a bit of trouble with the [[Machination]]'s [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} They managed to escape temporarily, but were found and Wheeljack was incapacitated. Hot Rod easily held his own with the Headmasters {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}}, and noted that for [[Sunstreaker (G1)|some]] [[Hunter O'Nion|reason]] they had lost their "edge". He received a little help from Hardhead, who was mainly there to take Hot Rod and the others back to the ''Ark-32'' for evacuation to [[Garrus-9]]. Hot Rod refused to go, wanting to see the Headmaster mystery through to the end. Hardhead reluctantly let him go. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[Image:SPDHotRodM.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh, Magic 8-Ball, will I ever be Prime in this continuity?]]
Hot Rod's search was interrupted by Dealer's arrival on Earth, with orders for Hot Rod: find the Magnificence and use it to learn what they could about the Expansion. Hot Rod took Dealer to his hiding spot, which turned out to be the planet where they first found the device. As Dealer and Hot Rod closed on the Magnificence, he went over his first visit to the planet in his mind, and how things could have gone so wrong. Eventually he began to have suspicions, and upon locating the Magnificence, asked it the question that haunted him: had Dealer betrayed him? Sadly, it revealed the truth, and Hot Rod was forced to kill Dealer as the traitor attacked. Looking down on his remains, Hot Rod realized the truth had been staring him in the face, he just hadn't wanted to accept it. He then used the Magnificence to find out all he could about the Expansion, and relayed the information to the Autobots. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

[[Image:HotRodMaxDino02.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You're not fooling anyone, [[Judd Nelson| Bender]]. The next screw that falls out will be YOU.]]

Returning to Earth to continue his search, Hot Rod arrived at the gates of the Machination's complex, and Scorponok prepared himself to deal with the intruder. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots #1}} Unfortunately, Hot Rod found himself fighting well out of his weight class as he was man handled by Scorponok, who cheerfully bashed his face in, put out one of his optics and snapped his leg. The Headmasters dragged him into Scorponok's control room where, with absolutely no prompting, the big man explained his entire plan for the Dynobots, Skywatch and the Machination. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 2|Maximum Dinobots #2}}

Hot Rod seemed less than impressed with this rather mundane approach, which ticked Scorponok off enough for him to point out that it was obviously just the first stage in his master plan. He was also warned to remained awed or he'd be of no further interest. When the Dynobots and newly-arrived [[Monsterbot]]s seemed to turn Scorponok's plan on its head, Hot Rod burst out laughing, at which point, Scorponok ordered him taken out and shot. In the lift to the surface, Hot Rod suddenly erupted in flames, killing his captors, but draining his power supply. Weakened and with a crippled leg, he collapsed on the floor. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 3|Maximum Dinobots #3}}

He made it out of the building and ran into the real Sunstreaker, who blasted the 2 clones following Hot Rod. Sunstreaker ignored Hot Rod's warning about Scorponok's army and stormed into the building so Hot Rod painfully wired himself to send a distress signal. When Sunstreaker's real head was later disabled by Hunter, the Headmaster clones shut down, which Hot Rod explained to [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. The group was surprised by the arrival of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], but [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] had heard Hot Rod's distress call and was on his way to Earth. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}}

After Scorponok knocked out [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] and Grimlock tended to him, the remaining Dynobots offered Hot Rod a lift aboard the Monsterbots' ship. He refused though, and made it back into Machination HQ to take care of something "personal". He eventually found Scorponok's real head (and remarked how ugly it was). Hunter also showed up and let Hot Rod know how to disable it, but before he could do so, Scorponok grabbed him. Before Scorponok could crush Hot Rod's head, the Dynobots showed up and began to battle Scorponok. Hot Rod told [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] which wires to sever, and he did just that, reducing Scorponok to a catatonic state. Ultra Magnus arrived took everyone back aboard his ship, which later docked with the ''Ark-32''. Within 3 days, Hot Rod was fully repaired, with a new body form design. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

Some time later, while traveling through space by himself, Hot Rod found himself under attack by the ''[[Torment]]'', a Decepticon warship crewed by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and the [[Pretender Monster]]s. He was shot down, but managed to transmit a distress call to the Autobot starship ''[[Trion]]'', which came to his rescue. After the Decepticons were chased off, Hot Rod joined the crew of the ''Trion''. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

[[Image:Ironhide punches Hot Rod.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Ironhide has waited twenty-two years to pay Hot Rod back for [[The Transformers: The Movie|shooting down his shuttle]].]]
When the Decepticons' galaxy-wide assault hit, the ''Trion'' was shot down over Cybertron. Hot Rod sent out a distress signal and was ecstatic when he ran into some other Autobots. They must've come specifically to save his team and... wait, why do you all look surprised about my signal and appear beaten up and resourceless and... ''oh arsebiscuits''! {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

Hot Rod was taken back to base and relayed the story of how he and his other crew-mates from the ''Trion'' arrived on Cybertron, having been diverted there by Decepticon ships and forced to crash land. Once on the surface, Hot Rod sent out his distress signal and was ''so'' sure someone heard it. Kup arrived with the rest of the ''Trion'''s crew at that point, just in time to tell Hot Rod ''of course'' no one heard his message. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

After the Autobots narrowly avoided the [[Insecticon swarm]] and Sunstreaker sacrificed himself, Hot Rod jumped to [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s defense when he was being insulted by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} When the Autobots were later rescued by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Hot Rod was glad that he sent out the distress call. He was then ferried to Earth with the other Autobots aboard Omega. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

[[Image:Ongoing issue 1-Hot Rod has had enough.jpg|right|thumb|150px|"Don't talk to me about stuck, Hot Rod, you're the one with that horrible sneer stuck on your face!"]]
For the next two years, the Autobots would remain on Earth as Prime feared the return of the Decepticons. Unfortunately, this lead to the capture of a number of Autobots by Skywatch, including [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and Prowl. Hot Rod, already frustrated, lashed out at Optimus, accusing him of keeping the Autobots on the planet because he needed someone to protect and demanding he be allowed lead a team to rescue Prowl. An admonished Prime agreed to a covert operation, but with Ironhide along to watch over things. While Prowl was freed, it turned out the humans had used him as bait to draw the other Autobots in. However Wheeljack's new shielding protected Hot Rod's team from Skywatch's inhibitors and in a panic the soldiers switched to lethal measures. Hot Rod was targeted and Ironhide was killed protecting him. An enraged Hot Rod turned on the humans, damaging their equipment and machinery.

After returning with Ironhide's body, Hot Rod was shocked as Optimus Prime resigned his position as leader. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Disgusted with Prime's decision and unimpressed with the indecisiveness of the others, Hot Rod decided to make his own way. He announced his intention to leave planet Earth behind, and invited any of his fellow Autobots to follow him in pursuit of that goal. After leaving the Autobot caves with a half-dozen recruits, Hot Rod went looking for Omega Supreme, in the hopes of convincing the massive Autobot to use his interstellar rocket mode to get them all off-planet. Omega remained resolutely loyal to Optimus Prime, however, and refused to abandon the Earth. At that moment, a small squad of Decepticon stragglers led by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] staged an attack on Omega Supreme. After some fast and smooth-talking, Swindle convinced Hot Rod that they all wanted the same thing...to go home. The Autobots put it to a vote, and the majority decided to work with the Decepticons to get off of Earth. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

The first thing Swindle asked of Hot Rod was help in reviving their incapacitated "brothers"...several Decepticons mode-locked by the humans. Hot Rod convinced [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to work on the problem, as there "were no sides anymore", and these other Decepticons were brought back on-line to help with the construction of a new space cruiser. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}}

[[Image:SeasonsInFlight-RodimusMagnus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|No, don't shoot Swindle! He had some cheap electronics equipment in his van he wanted to sell me!]]

Hot Rod wasn't completely foolish -- when Swindle started suggesting they find and revive all the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, he remembered how deadly [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] could be, and rejected the idea. Ever the smooth-talker, though, Swindle convinced Hot Rod to let the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] go after [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]], the last missing member of their unit. He did so by lavishing a ridiculous amount of praise on Hot Rod, calling him Rodimus Prime, the herald of a new age.

The alliance was soon tested when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived on the scene, attempting to investigate the death of Ironhide for Autobot Command. When he saw Hot...saw ''Rodimus'' working with Decepticons, and Swindle of all mechs, he freaked out and tried to take the Decepticon ringleader into custody. Rodimus and the other Autobots stood up for Swindle, though, and told Magnus he had to be prepared to fight ''all'' of them if he wanted to take ''one'' of them. Stunned that they did not respect his authoritay, Magnus retreated and work continued on the star cruiser. {{storylink|Seasons in Flight}}

What everyone failed to realize, even Ultra Magnus, was that Swindle was not only trading in combiner technology, he knew how to make it work. By the time Magnus came back for Swindle with a posse of Autobots, the Decepticon was prepared to end his alliance with Rodimus. He had forged the Stunticons into [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], and turned the giant loose on the assembled Autobots. {{storylink|Enemies of the System}}

Rodimus fought alongside Ultra Magnus, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and the others against the renewed Decepticon threat. They finally managed to bring down the titan, but the alliance was finished and Rodimus's own comrades turned against him for his poor judgment. Looking to escape his own bad decisions, Rodimus hijacked Ultra Magnus's ship and fled out into space. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

[[Image:Ongoing 13 Rodimus drifting.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Why must you hurt the one you love, [[Nick Roche|Nick]]??]]
Since trying to talk and reason with people had only led to betrayal Rodimus decided that it was best to simply act on his own. He had a plan to regain the respect he had lost by taking back the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]], stolen by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] years earlier. Using the ship's advanced tracking equipment, Rodimus found the Decepticons' asteroid base and hid in one of Ultra Magnus's thickly armored weapons lockers. When the ship was shot down, he emerged from the wreckage unscathed, took out several Decepticon guards and even put [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] under his control by improvising with one of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s [[cerebro-shell]]s. Rodimus first sent Razorclaw to attack Starscream, but after that failed, he confronted the self-appointed Decepticon leader himself.

Starscream himself was nigh-impervious to damage, but Rodimus improvised again and fired at the Matrix around his neck, having no idea what would happen. He was in luck, as the blast caused energy to burst from the Matrix and knock Starscream unconscious. Triumphant, Rodimus took the artifact and went looking for an escape craft... only to run straight into [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] himself. He panicked and waved the Matrix threateningly at the massive Decepticon while warning him to "stay back!", but Megatron was unphased and shot him at point blank range, blowing a huge hole in Rodimus's torso and sending him flying into space. With the Matrix still around his neck, Rodimus's lifeless body could only drift through the void... {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===
[[Image:Henkei_manga_rodimus.jpg|right|thumb|155px]]
While the other Autobots were busy dealing with a rampaging [[Astrotrain (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Astrotrain]], Rodimus disrupted [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Megatron]] and the other Decepticons' attack on a power plant by engaging them solo. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2}} Unable to tackle Megatron in hand-to-hand combat, he was able to get [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Starscream]] to accidentally blast his leader instead, but this did little more than annoy Megatron, who flattened Rodimus with a [[fusion cannon]] blast. With Rodimus defeated, the Decepticons pulled out, but the Autobot cavalier didn't let the defeat get him down, and he sped off to join the other Autobots in battling Astrotrain. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3}} Soon after, Rodimus helped defend another power plant against a Decepticon attack, shielding the human workers from Starscream's blasts with his own body. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4}}

When the mysterious new Decepticon warrior [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Cyclonus]] provided Megatron with the means to transform himself into the monstrous [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Galvatron]], Rodimus, [[Ironhide (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Ironhide]] and [[Mirage (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Mirage]] trailed Cyclonus's Targetmaster partner [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]] to the volcano in which Megatron was carrying out his transformation. Despite resistance from Starscream and Cyclonus, Rodimus and his team were able to collapse the volcano's cone in on itself. They believed they had sealed Megatron within, and were about to focus their attack on Starscream when they were sent scattering by the explosive emergence of Galvatron from the remains of the caldera. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 9}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===

Following the defeat of [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Galvatron]] on [[Earth]], Rodimus was among the Autobots that [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Optimus Prime]] summoned to the planet. Together with [[Ironhide (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Ironhide]], [[Hound (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Hound]] and [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Skyfire]], Rodimus was to protect the planet while Optimus's team set off for Cybertron in pursuit of the fleeing Galvatron. {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Hot Rod was one of [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon forces. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth''===
[[Image:C64RodimusPrimeAndHotRod.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]

Along with their fellow Autobots, Hotrod{{sic}} and Rodimus Prime protected Earth from the menace of the Decepticons. Hotrod was ostensibly under the command of Rodimus Prime. {{storylink|The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth}}

{{note|In this game, "Hotrod" and Rodimus Prime are separate characters who can be in the same place at the same time. Don't try to think about this too hard.}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===
[[Image:Mysteryofconvoy_rodimus.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
When Optimus Prime went missing under mysterious circumstances, Ultra Magnus was given the task of battling hordes of Decepticons in order to solve the mystery of his whereabouts. The Decepticons had also stolen a collection of seven energon cubes belonging to Rodimus Prime, which Magnus strove to recover during his fight. When all seven were successfully obtained and the battle was won, a new challenge rose its head, but with his energon cubes back, Rodimus was able to take up the fight! He had a funny habit of looking like an orange Ultra Magnus if you looked at him sideways. {{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}
{{-}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[Image:Callofthefuture_rodimus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"I am from the future and know a lot about history!"]]

:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter von Gomm]]

When [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] gained the incredible power of the [[Zel Quartz]] in the year 2010 and began cutting a swath of destruction across the galaxy, Rodimus Prime, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] resolved to prevent this devastation by traveling back in time and eliminating the quartz in the past, thereby altering their future. Using a [[Transwarp]]-equipped ship supplied by the [[Quintesson]]s, they traveled to the world of [[Zel Samine]] in the year 2003, where they ran across teams of present-day Autobots and Decepticons led by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who were carrying out investigations on their own on the planet. Making matters worse, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] also followed them back in time, and the two teams allied themselves with their respective present-day factions in order to locate the Zel Quartz.

After several false leads, the quartz was eventually located, serving as the power source of the [[ELTA]] power transmission array. Rodimus and Optimus engaged Megatron and Galvatron in a two-on-two battle over ELTA, using the power of their twin Matrices to stop the computer from self-destructing. Once the dust from the fight had settled, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] snatched up the Zel Quartz, only to promptly take it off-planet, where it disintegrated without Zel Samine's atmosphere and electromagnetic properties to sustain it. With their future thus averted, Rodimus and his Autobots began fading away to rejoin the timestream. Before they disappeared, Rodimus attempted to warn Optimus of the coming dangers in the future, including his Optimus's death (for which Rodimus continued to blame himself), but Optimus silenced him, telling him that he did not need to know what the future held. Rodimus told Optimus that he would always be the greatest leader in Autobot history, but Optimus told him that he was merely a soldier who loved justice, and that that was all Rodimus needed to be too. {{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Rod (G1)/toys}}

==Notes==
[[Image:RodimusPrime-earlymodel.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"Hey, ladies. Look at your G1 Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime toys, now back to us, now back at your toys, now back to us."]]
* Like the rest of the 1986 movie's original characters, Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime had early designs by [[Floro Dery]] which the toys were based on, and then final models were drawn from the toys. Both designs had revised heads that made it into the ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' profile books and subsequent Marvel comic book appearances.
** Rodimus Prime's early model appears to carry the trailer of the truck on his back, plus additional [[kibble]] on the back of his forearms. If only there were art of the back of this design. We'd plotz.
**Both Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime's character models suggest that the windshield and roof of their respective vehicles form the pelvic area, including little side windows on their hips. The animation studio [[AKOM]] even colored his crotch like his windshield. Unsurprisingly, this has never been duplicated on any toy.
**Meanwhile, both sets of wheels are on Hot Rod's arms in his character model, as they are intended to span the entire length of the vehicle. His wristcuffs are intended to become the vehicle's taillights. This also has never been duplicated on any toy.
**Much of Hot Rod's early model seemed to form the basis of Rodimus Prime's finished model. (Though given that nearly everybody else from the movie had a totally redrawn finished model, we wouldn't be surprised if there's a more-final-er model out there.)
**According to earliest materials (also the source of the earliest Hot Rod head seen in this section's first image), Rodimus Prime's original name was '''Hot Rodimus'''.

[[Image:Hotrodrodimuscharactermodels.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Rodimus is always embarrassed by his yearbook photos.]]
*Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime look very similar in fiction, but there are ways to distinguish them by sight.
**Rodimus Prime's character model has extra lines on his face that go from the bottom of his nose and connect to another line forming a triangle shape. Hot Rod's cheeks are more clear and youthful.
**Despite their toys being the same color of red, the cartoon series rendered Hot Rod as magenta, and Rodimus a dark shade of burgundy (the movie, however, made Rodimus the same color as Hot Rod). In addition to repeatedly getting the two character models mixed up, sometimes the animation would depict one model colored as the other.
**In Marvel stories, Hot Rod was also colored almost entirely magenta, with a yellow spoiler and flame deco, but with silver thighs instead of orange. Whoever did the Marvel deco sheet seems to have been looking at the [[:Image:Pinkrod.jpg|original toy photos]] and colored the thighs like the toy's silver stickers. While Marvel Hot Rod was stark magenta, Marvel Rodimus was colored in the reds, oranges and yellows of his toy. Future comics and toys would ignore any differences in color between the character's two forms, presenting them both in the original toy colors (see the image at the head of the article for a good example).
**The Japanese ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' cartoon, in addition to featuring the coloration differences of the Generation 1 cartoon, also added some extra lines around the perimeter of Rodimus's eyes to further distinguish him from Hot Rod. These odd-looking lines appeared only intermittently, thankfully so—they made Rodimus look like he was wearing robo-mascara. The ''Headmasters'' Rodimus Prime character model also moved the wheel kibble from the back of the arms to the front, to better approximate their position on the toy.

* In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Hot Rod does not transform the same way twice.

[[Image:RodimusPrimeG1-trailermanagement.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Maybe his Mobile Defense Bay is just an extra set of legs!]]

* Rodimus Prime's toy followed the model set by Optimus Prime before him by having a trailer that disconnected and transformed into a battle station (in this case, called the "[[Mobile Defense Bay]]"). Unlike Prime's [[Combat Deck]], however, Rodimus's Defense Bay failed to make the leap to fiction, with the cartoon simply depicting his trailer as somewhat unfeasibly folding up into his legs and body <ref>[http://www.allspark.com/content/stories/tfpulp/8704TVM/k.gif Image of Rodimus Prime's animated transformation scheme from TV Magazine]</ref> (barring a few animation errors that depicted it as a separate unit). This transformation scheme was realized in toy form with Rodimus's 6" ''[[Titanium Series]]'' action figure.

*Voice actor Ted Schwartz was originally cast to succeed Judd Nelson as the voice of Rodimus Prime for the third season of the animated series, but was subsequently replaced by [[Dick Gautier]]. Before his replacement, however, Schwartz recorded Rodimus's lines for several episodes (most likely all five parts of "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]"), and although Gautier re-recorded the dialogue, technical oversight led to some of Schwartz's readings making it into the finished episodes. He can be heard delivering all of Rodimus's lines in the recap for [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1|part 1]] that plays at the beginning of [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2|part 2]], and speaking one line during the scene on [[Goo]] in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3|part 3]].

* Hot Rod might be the ''Transformers'' character with the most names in the US. From "Hot Rod" to "Rodimus Prime", to "Rodimus Major" to just plain "Rodimus". Varieties of "Rodimus" appear to be how he will be for a while, as Hasbro appears to be unable to secure the [[trademark]] on "Hot Rod".

* [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]]'s powered up form has a color scheme which resembles Hot Rod's.

* Aside from the ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' [[Rodimus (Energon)|namesake character]], Hot Rod has also been [[Homage|homaged]] twice (or possibly thrice depending on how you look at it) in the [[Unicron Trilogy]]. For ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', the "[[Powerlinx]]" upgrade of [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] was given a very Hot-Rod-inspired deco. In ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'', [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] made a redeco of Hot Shot (well, "Exillion"), who already had some Hot Rod homage elements in his toy design, with Hot Rod deco as a DVD-pack-in [[exclusive]]. [[Hasbro]] then took this deco, altered it, and released it in the US line at mass retail as the new character [[Excellion]].

* At [[BotCon 2002]], Dick Gautier "confirmed", jokingly, that Rodimus Prime is gay.

* This Rodimus Prime, along with the original [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] makes a cameo appearance as one of the four elders who began the [[space bridge]] project in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode [[Balance]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Hot_Rod Hot Rod's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Rodimus_Prime Rodimus Prime's profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Autobots]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Autobots]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Micromasters]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy Autobots]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Bumblebee (WFC)

2010-11-20T02:13:47Z

58.173.181.51: /* Generations */

{{faction|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Bumblebee}}
:''Bumblebee is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Prime]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:PrimeBee.jpg|thumb|300px|"I don't understand why I sleep all day..."]]

'''Bumblebee''' is a young and eager Autobot, one of the last generation to be created before the loss of the [[AllSpark (Prime)|AllSpark]]. He's full of energy and determination to do the right thing, and can always be counted on to volunteer for action. His small size matched with his impressive speed make him an excellent scout and messenger.

He's been on Earth longer than any other Autobot, and he's grown to like and understand humans, particularly [[Rafael Esquivel|"Raf" Esquivel]]. If you're a Decepticon and you want to threaten any humans, you better not think you can get away with it just because Bumblebee's small and can't talk: he can't talk because his voicebox was ''destroyed'' in combat and he's still kept fighting, because Bumblebee will take any risk and make whatever sacrifice ''necessary'' to win the war.

==Fiction==
===''Exodus: The History of the War for Cybertron''===
Bumblebee was part of the last generation of Cybertronians that emerged from the [[Well of All Sparks]] after it had stopped producing life in a lull at the beginning of the [[Autobot]]-[[Decepticon]] war. Like all born during the war, he joined the Autobots. He became part of [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s inner circle with [[Jazz (Prime)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] and [[Prowl (Prime)|Prowl]], and also befriended [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]], learning first aid skills from him in the few battles they fought together.

When Optimus ejected the [[AllSpark (Prime)|AllSpark]] from the Well into space, Bumblebee distracted [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] at [[Tyger Pax]], and paid the ultimate price when the tyrant destroyed his vocoder. Ratchet repaired it, but Bumblebee was only able to speak from time to time. When Megatron stole the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] underneath the [[Autobot High Council|High Council Tower]], Bumblebee followed him to the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]] below the ruins of [[Crystal City]] and witnessed him use it to corrupt Cybertron's [[core]] with [[Dark Energon]].

Bumblebee informed Optimus of what he saw, but first he had to serve as part of the extraction unit in Optimus's rescue of [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] from [[Kaon]]. Afterwards Optimus, Bumblebee and [[Jetfire (Prime)|Jetfire]] journeyed to the core through the Well. Due to the heavy build up of Dark Energon, Bumblebee found it a distressing experience and lost it when they reached the core, silently tearing out the protruding Corruption Spikes. Though fearful of what would happen, Optimus was able to remove the Chamber and begin Cybertron's healing.

Back at Iacon, Optimus announced [[Ark (Prime)|Project Generation One]] to evacuate Cybertron, for the planet could not sustain a fraction of the life it currently supported if it were to survive. Bumblebee boarded the ''[[Eight Track]]'' with the other elite Autobots and drew out and entered [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]. Avoiding Trypticon's corridor drones and [[Mini-Con|Minicons]] they blew up the Dark Energon Facility, causing him to crash. Bumblebee boarded the ''Ark'', which flew him and his friends through the last [[space bridge]] to a [[Milky Way|spiral galaxy]] with the AllSpark detected nearby. {{storylink|Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron}}

===''Prime'' comic===
Bumblebee and Optimus were on [[Earth]] when they detected [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]'s arrival and went to their rescue. After Optimus crushed [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], Bumblebee sent the Decepticon flying with a single punch, and escorted the others back to base. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (comic)}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:BumblebeePrimecarmode.jpg|thumb|"''No one'' would expect a spy and scout to be neon yellow! Bumblebee, you're a genius!"]]
{{comingsoon}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Johnny Yong Bosch]] (English), [[Renato Novara]] (Italian)

[[Image:WfC-IGN-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|300px|The time has come and so have I... I'll laugh last 'cause you came to die.]]

During the Decepticons siege of [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon City]], Bumblebee volunteered to be a message courier when communications became unreliable. Bumblebee was searching for the one called [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] when he was caught by a pair of Decepticons, only to be saved by Optimus and [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]. Informing Optimus of the death of [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Zeta Prime]], Bumblebee accompanied Optimus and Ratchet to a command center where they were contacted by [[Jetfire (Prime)|Jetfire]], who was leading the aerial counterattack and wanted Zeta to activate the [[planetary gun]]s. After informing Jetfire of Prime's death, Bumblebee helped Optimus and Ratchet make their way to the orbital defenses control room, where they activated the guns. Their next stop was the [[Decagon]], where they could reestablish communications and coordinate Iacon's defense. They hit serious Decepticon resistance, including several [[Decepticon war machine]]s, but ultimately, with help from Jetfire and [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]], the three made their way to the Decagon, where they faced the last obstacle: [[Air Commander|Sky Commander]] [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. Beating the traitorous Seeker, Bumblebee witnessed a desperate communication from Zeta Prime, who was being held in the [[Kaon]] [[Kaon Prison Complex|Prison Complex]]. Optimus resolved to rescue Zeta, and Bumblebee accompanied him.

[[Image:WFC_Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Autobots... [[Johnny Yong Bosch|It's Morphin' Time?"]]]]

Bumblebee, Optimus, and [[Sideswipe (Prime)|Sideswipe]] allowed themselves to be captured raiding supplies outside Kaon, and taken to the prison within the city. [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] ordered them taken to recycling. Bumblebee didn't think that sounded bad, until Sideswipe told him to consider ''what'' they were recycling. As they made their way through the prison, Bumblebee's horror grew, until he was in a near panic when they placed against the firing wall. Fortunately, [[Air Raid (Prime)|Air Raid]] finally arrived and killed the [[Heavy Soldier]]s about to execute them. Air Raid was forced to let himself be captured to let the others escape. Finally finding some weapons, the three made their way to a [[wall crawler]] and descended into the prison. Bumblebee asked if this was good or bad, and Optimus replied that it was purely a matter of perspective, while Sideswipe said he was enjoying himself. Soon, they reached a room where Megatron revealed that he had allowed Zeta's message to be broadcast simply to lure Optimus into a trap. After they fought off some Decepticons, Megatron simply teleported them to a prison cell without their weapons. Fortunately, Optimus managed to break the wall with his axe, freeing them. Optimus then explained he could not open the other prisoners' cells, despite Bumblebee's pleas. Heading to retrieve Air Raid, the three Autobots rescued the flier, who took them to the control which would open all the prison's hard locks. Unfortunately, Zeta was trapped under the facility, so the control wouldn't release him. While Air Raid took the freed Autobots back to Iacon, Bumblebee accompanied Optimus and Sideswipe underground to free Zeta, racing through the caverns as the Decepticons blew out the ground. Reaching Zeta Prime's cell, Optimus, Bumblebee, and Sideswipe had to fight through Soundwave's minions to rescue the Autobot leader, but Soundwave stole some of Zeta's life energy and fled, killing the Prime. Taking his body back to Iacon, Bumblebee and Sideswipe bore witness to the [[Autobot High Council]] declaring that Optimus was now Optimus [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], leader of the Autobots.

During the evacuation of Cybertron, Megatron used Trypticon Station to fire on the Autobots' escape pods. After the Aerialbots destroyed Trypticon's conversion cog and sent him plummeting to the planet's surface, Bumblebee accompanied Optimus Prime and Ironhide to look for the crash site. Once Trypticon was found to still function, Bumblebee assisted in fighting him, overloading his shoulder cannons with energon batteries and destroying his heat vents. After greatly damaging Trypticon, Oprimus Prime declared Trypticon had lost and knocked him into an energon lake with his axe. Afterward, Bumblebee was present at the unveiling of the Ark, where he reminded Optimus Prime that Megatron was "still out there". {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
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===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
:''Voice actor:'' Johnny Yong Bosch (English), [[Renato Novara]] (Italian)

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{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}
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==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He stars in Tron 3.0.]]
*'''Cybertronian Bumblebee''' (Deluxe Class, 2010)
:*''Accessories: '' handgun

: Based on his appearance in the video game ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'', Bumblebee transforms from a yellow and black robot into a "Cybertronian courier mode." His toy comes with a handgun and features two wrist-mounted flip-out blades. The handgun (described in the packaging only as "weapon") can be stored inside his rear bumper in either robot or vehicle mode. Bumblebee's head appears to have [[Light-piping]]. However his eyes are painted over in blue, thus rendering the gimmick neutered. Due to the nature of his design, his legs are generally loose at the mid-thigh transformation joint.
:Bumblebee is part of the first wave of ''[[Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxes, but he and Cybertronic [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] shipped ahead of their two other wavemates in the United States via [[Toys"R"Us]]. Some people say that he looks like a four wheeled light cycle.

:This mold will be retooled into [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. In fact, Bumblebee's instructions depict him with Cliffjumper's head, revealing the retool before it was officially announced.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Autobot/GenerationsBumblebee/bumblebee.htm More information on Cybertronian Bumblebee at TFU.info]''

[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Generations]]
[[Category: Prime characters]]