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The Transformers: Spotlight

2012-10-20T17:27:40Z

68.224.39.107:

[[Image:TF Spotlight v1.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Extremely logical that I was given the first ''Spotlight''!]]
'''''The Transformers: Spotlight''''' (later '''''The Transformers Spotlight'''''), published since [[2006]], is an ongoing series of one-shot comics published by [[IDW Publishing]] and set in the primary [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]. Each issue focuses on a particular ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' [[Transformer]]. The series was originally only to consist of 5 issues, but has since evolved into an annual set of 5 produced per year, at least through 2009. Due to the launch of their [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee]]'' miniseries, it was briefly put on hold. Spotlight, "[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]", was published in April [[2010]].<ref>http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/idw-publishings-andy-schmidt-answers-your-questions-about-idws-transformers-comics-168880/</ref>. In late 2012 forward, the Spotlight series continues with "[[Spotlight: Orion Pax]]" and "[[Spotlight: Thundercracker]]" announced.

{{chapters|align=left|style=3|title=''Transformers: Spotlight'' issues:|content=
<div class="list-header">v1:</div>
* [[Spotlight: Shockwave|Shockwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Nightbeat|Nightbeat]]
* [[Spotlight: Hot Rod|Hot Rod]]
* [[Spotlight: Sixshot|Sixshot]]
* [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus]]

<br/><div class="list-header">v2:</div>
* [[Spotlight: Soundwave|Soundwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Kup|Kup]]
* [[Spotlight: Galvatron|Galvatron]]
* [[Spotlight: Optimus Prime|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Spotlight: Ramjet|Ramjet]]

<br/><div class="list-header">v3:</div>
* [[Spotlight: Blaster|Blaster]]
* [[Spotlight: Arcee|Arcee]]
* [[Spotlight: Mirage|Mirage]]
* [[Spotlight: Grimlock|Grimlock]]
* [[Spotlight: Wheelie|Wheelie]]

<br/><div class="list-header">''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]'':</div>
* [[Spotlight: Cyclonus|Cyclonus]]
* [[Spotlight: Hardhead|Hardhead]]
* [[Spotlight: Doubledealer|Doubledealer]]
* [[Spotlight: Sideswipe|Sideswipe]]

<br/><div class="list-header">''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' v3:</div>
* [[Spotlight: Blurr|Blurr]]
* [[Spotlight: Jazz|Jazz]]
* [[Spotlight: Drift|Drift]]
* [[Spotlight: Cliffjumper|Cliffjumper]]
* [[Spotlight: Metroplex|Metroplex]]

<br/><div class="list-header">[[The Transformers (IDW)|''The IDW Collection'']] v6:</div>
* Collects [[Ride-Along|Prowl]] with issues [[Police Action: Part 1|25]], [[Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|27]] and [[Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|29]]
}}

==Overview==
The ''Spotlight'' series is set within the main IDW storyline. The format allows more free-ranging story settings—many issues are set on alien worlds—and serve to give a wider view of the overall IDW Transformers universe. The issues set up future story ideas and plot points for the main IDW miniseries; many have eventually tied-in directly with the main storyline, with others obviously set to do so in the future.

Most of the issues have prominent co-stars, such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobot]]s in Shockwave's spotlight, and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] in Optimus Prime's story.

There is no absolute chronological order for all of the issues. Some, such as Galvatron and Optimus Prime, are set after specific events in the main story; others like Hot Rod and Nightbeat are not so clearly delineated, having happened an unspecified time ago. Still others (Shockwave, Soundwave) are flashbacks to a specific point in the recent or distant past.

A spotlight for [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] was planned but canceled. ''Spotlight'' was supplemented in 2010 with "[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]", but has not continued since then.

===''Revelation Saga''===
{{main|Revelation (IDW)}}
The follow-up to ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'', ''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]'' was played out through four ''Spotlight''s, focusing on [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Doubledealer]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. This four-parter marked the end of the "-tion" series "for the foreseeable".<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=3599</ref>

===''All Hail Megatron'' Vol. 3===
{{main|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron}}
Though much more loosely connected than the ''Revelation'' collection, the ''Spotlight''s for [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] were collected under the banner of ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' Vol 3. This was likely done to cash in on the popular (yet highly dividing) series. These stories provide some background of a few characters that appeared in the series, as well as things yet to come (in the case of Metroplex).

==Creative teams==
* Most of the ''Spotlight''s through volume 4 were written by [[Simon Furman]]. Exceptions are "Spotlight: Kup", written by [[Nick Roche]], "Spotlight: Ramjet", written by [[Stuart Moore]] and "Spotlight: Mirage", written by [[George Strayton]]. [[Klaus Scherwinski]] co-wrote "Spotlight: Wheelie" with Furman. When [[Shane McCarthy]] was brought on for ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', Furman's run seems to be in indefinite hiatus, with "Spotlight: Blurr", "Spotlight: Drift" and "Spotlight: Cliffjumper" being written by Shane McCarthy, ''Spotlight: Jazz'' by [[Josh van Reyk]] & [[Shaun Knowler]] and "Spotlight: Metroplex" by [[Andy Schmidt]]. The writer of the ongoing series, [[Mike Costa]], wrote "Spotlight: Prowl" The list of artists throughout the series is diverse (please see each issue for credits).

==Collections==
* ''The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 1'' TPB <small>([[May 30]], [[2007]]) ISBN 1600100686 / ISBN 978-1600100680</small>
:Collects Shockwave through Ultra Magnus. The spine bears the number '''1.'''
* ''The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 2'' TPB <small>([[February 20]], [[2008]]) ISBN 1600101542 / ISBN 978-1600101540</small>
:Collects Soundwave through Ramjet. The spine bears the number '''2.'''
:Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue.
* ''The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 3'' TPB <small>([[September 29]], 2008) ISBN 160010245X / ISBN 978-1600102455</small>
:Collects Blaster through Wheelie. The spine bears the number '''3.'''
:Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue. The cover is an unused incentive cover from "Spotlight: Grimlock".
* ''The Transformers Spotlight: Revelation'' TPB <small>([[February 4]], [[2009]]) ISBN 1600104215 / ISBN 978-1600104213</small>
:Collects Cyclonus through Sideswipe. The spine bears the number '''4,''' putting it clearly in the ''Spotlight'' series rather than in the "-ation" series.
:Bonus material includes each A and B cover, and sketches of the 4-part image, Cyclonus, Nightbeat, Doubledealer (including a dragon-like alternate mode), [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] (the last 2 in robot and alt mode).
* ''All Hail Megatron, Vol. 3'' TPB <small>([[October 28]], 2009) ISBN 1600105416 / ISBN 978-1600105418</small>
:Collects Blurr through Metroplex. Instead of being Volume 5 of the Spotlights, the TPB is labeled as part of the ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' series. <ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=6344 IDW's October Solicitations]</ref>
:Bonus material includes the alternate covers of each issue, as well as art of each Throttlebot my Marcelo Matare. For some reason, the Drift and Cliffjumper issues were swapped from their original order.
* ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection|The Transformers: The Premiere Collection]]'' Volume 1
:Includes the contents of ''Spotlight'' Volume 1 <small>([[December 12]], 2007) ISBN 1600101186 / ISBN 978-1600101182</small>
* ''The Transformers: The Premiere Collection'' Volume 2 <small>([[July 1]], 2009) ISBN 1600104371 / ISBN 978-1600104374</small>
:Includes the contents of ''Spotlight'' Volumes 2,3 and ''Revelation''.
* ''The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One'' <small>(May 26, 2010) ISBN 978-1600106675</small>
:Collects Blurr, Cliffjumper, Shockwave, Nightbeat, Hot Rod, and Soundwave.
* ''The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two'' <small>(October 6, 2010) ISBN 978-1600107511</small>
:Collects Sixshot, Ramjet, Ultra Magnus, Kup, Mirage, and Optimus Prime.
* ''The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Three'' <small>(March 2, 2011) ISBN 978-1600108563</small>
:Collects Galvatron, Blaster, Arcee, Grimlock, and Wheelie.
* ''The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Four'' <small>(May 25, 2011) ISBN 978-1600109386</small>
:Collects Cyclonus, Hardhead, Doubledealer, Sideswipe, Drift, Metroplex, and Jazz.
* ''The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six'' <small>(May 1, 2012)</small>
:Collects Prowl.
* Six ''Spotlight'' issues were also library bound and available for sale through [[ABDO Publishing Group]] and its aptly named subsidiary, Spotlight.

==TPB covers (5)==
* '''Volume 1:''' A menacing Shockwave; re-use of [[Nick Roche]] and [[Rob Ruffolo]]'s art from the Retailer Summit cover for "Spotlight: Shockwave".
* '''Volume 2:''' Optimus Prime; re-use of [[Gabriel Rodriguez]]'s art from cover B of "Spotlight: Optimus Prime".
* '''Volume 3:''' T-Rex Grimlock bursts through an image of the Dynobots; unused art by [[Marcelo Matere]] from "Spotlight: Grimlock".
* '''Volume 4:''' Sideswipe and ''Revelation''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s major players; art by [[Nick Roche]]. Reuse of cover B art from "Spotlight: Sideswipe".
* '''''All Hail Megatron'' Volume 3:''' New art by [[Trevor Hutchison]] featuring the subject of each ''Spotlight'' (Blurr, Jazz, Drift, Cliffjumper and Metroplex). The blue parts were originally shown to be red in early solicitations but were changed just prior to the release.
<gallery>
Image:TF Spotlight v1.jpg|Volume 1
Image:TF Spotlight v2.jpg|Volume 2
Image:TF Spotlight v3.jpg|Volume 3
Image:TF Spotlight v4.jpg|Volume 4: ''Revelation''
Image:AHM v3.jpg|''All Hail Megatron'' Vol. 3
</gallery>

== References ==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spotlight}}
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:IDW titles]]

Kickback (FOC)

2012-09-30T04:58:53Z

68.224.39.107:

{{disambig3|Kickback}}
{{faction|decepticon}}

[[Image:Kickback foc.jpg|thumb|right|200px|When the war is over, he cleans up all the Graffitti that he caused.]]
:''Kickback is an Insecticon from the [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
'''Kickback''' is a member of the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]s. This is typically not good for the [[Autobot]]s.

== Games ==
=== ''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron'' ===
{{voiceactor|[[Troy Baker]] (English)}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

== Toys ==
=== Generations ===
[[Image:Kickback foc toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Delicious, ay?]]
*'''Insecticon Kickback''' (Deluxe Class, 2012)
{{comingsoontoy}}
Accessories: Gear shredder

==Notes==
* Kickback's beast-mode head is available in ''Fall of Cybertron'' multiplayer as a Parasite-type component for [[Destroyer (FOC)|Destroyer]]-class characters.
*Kickback is part of the Massive Fury DLC which is set to relese on the 25th of September, his amour set and indvidual parts are avalible for the Scientist class
*He also tends to repeat words at the end of sentences, just like a [[Shrapnel (G1)| certain Insecticon]] from Generation 1.
===Foreign names===
*''Russian:'' '''Prygun''' (Прыгун, "Jumper")

[[Category:Insecticons]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]

Solomus

2012-09-16T05:43:45Z

68.224.39.107:

:''Solomus is a deity from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Solomus.JPG|right|214px|thumb|One wonders if he's ever suggested that a [[protoform]] be cut in two...]]
'''Solomus''' is a wise god who lived during the earliest period on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 comics===
<div style="float:left">{{spoiler|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|October 10}}</div><div style="clear:left"></div>
In the earliest time in history, the [[Light God]] [[Primus]] formed the miracle planet of Cybertron. He later split his essence into five avatars consisting of himself, Solomus, [[Mortilus]], [[Epistemus]] and [[Adaptus]]. This pantheon of deities were the [[Guiding Hand]] and Solomus was wisdom incarnate amongst them. Together, these gods guided [[Cybertronian]] civilization and helped bring about the first [[Golden Age]]. This ended when Mortilus shattered their union in his desire to strike against the universe. The conflict sparked by him caused Cybertron to shudder and ripped asunder its first moon. Before his destruction, Mortilus managed to entrap Solomus within a crystal prison but the god managed to reshape its form to become the [[Matrix of Leadership]] that served as a connection to [[Vector Sigma]], though his most important gift was wisdom to future generations of [[Transformer]]s. {{Storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} What became of him once the Matrix was used to stop D-Void and split in two is unknown.{{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis}}

==Notes==
* Solomus is named for the biblical king [[Wikipedia:Solomon|Solomon]], who was noted for his wisdom.

[[Category:Generation 1 gods]]

The Human Factor

2012-09-14T23:44:46Z

68.224.39.107:

{{disambig2|the episode of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]''|the story originally published in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (Marvel US)]] #68|The Human Factor!}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 45
|prev=New Recruit
|next=Legacy
|image=
|caption=
|title="The Human Factor"
|airdate=[[September 14]], [[2012]]
|written by=
|directed by=
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Cylas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks.'''

==Synopsis==
{{comingsoon}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
|c3=

}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
===Continuity notes===
===Transformers references===
===Real-world references===
===Trivia===
{{epstub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Human Factor}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Scavengers (G1)

2012-08-24T07:00:17Z

68.224.39.107:

{{disambig3|Scavenger}}
Imagine if you will, the cream of the Decepticon crop. The '''Scavengers''' are not those Decepticons — according to [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]]'s analysis of [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron's]] files, they are in fact the six worst Decepticons in history.

Still, they've survived when others like the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] have all died. That's got to count for something.

The individual members of the team are:
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]], a leader who'll never find his squad
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]], who's missing a big chunk of his head
*[[Flywheels]], who's found Primus and can't tell a lie without transforming
*[[Misfire]], who got his name from an incident involving a "misunderstanding and a dozen dead Decepticons"
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]], an ''idiot savant'' with an itchy trigger finger
*[[Fulcrum]], a convicted coward who turns into a bomb

They travel the galaxy in the ''[[Weak Anthropic Principle]]''.

==Fiction==
===IDW comics continuity===
{{stub}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]

Vos (G1)

2012-08-24T00:01:21Z

68.224.39.107:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the member of the Decepticon Justice Division|the Decepticon city|Vos}}
:''Vos is a Decepticon from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
{{mainpic}}
'''Vos''' is one of the five members of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], the group of torturers and fanatics employed by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] to hunt down and deal with traitors.

A so-called "linguistic purist", he speaks only the [[Old Cybertronian|Primal Vernacular]], and has thus far failed to learn more than a few words of the modern [[Transformer]] tongue, [[Neocybex]]. As such, his contributions to the conversation are usually interpreted by his squad leader [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]]. His alternate form is a rifle that can be wielded by his fellow DJD members.

==Fiction==
===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
{{spoiler|Rules of Disengagement| August 25}}
When the Decepticon [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]] was caught for getting bribed to destroy a fleet of [[Warworld]]s, Vos enjoyed watching the other members slowly torture and kill him. Afterwards, Vos and the other members were then ordered by Tarn to move on to their next target. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}}

[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]

Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?

2012-08-23T06:15:13Z

68.224.39.107:

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=8
|prev=Rules of Disengagement
|next=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE8_cvrA.jpg
|title="Scavengers (Part 2):<br>Who's Afraid of the DJD?"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 22]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=August 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

'''The Scavengers use Grimlock to fight back against the D.J.D.'''

==Synopsis==

''Years ago, above the planet [[Clemency]], a regiment of [[K-Class]] Decepticons prepare to drop into the battle raging below. The perky [[Torque (G1)|Torque]] introduces himself to a somber [[Fulcrum]], who says nothing. And then, the order is given to disembark and enter the conflict...''

On Clemency today, within a crashed P-6 [[Worldsweeper]], the rag-tag team of [[Decepticon]] "[[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]]" desperately try to figure out what to do about the approach of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. With none of their number willing to own up to being the unfortunate soul the D.J.D. are looking for, [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] proposes that they stand and fight, and although Fulcrum laughs in his face, the other Decepticons get behind the idea and begin a plot to use the comatose [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to their advantage.

Across space, on the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]—his tune changed about his amnesia following a recent conversation with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]—requests that the mnemosurgeon use his mind-reading abilities to see if he can unlock his lost memories. Chromedome discovers that Skids's memories of the last year have not just been suppressed: they have been ''erased'', replaced with an imperative to "escape". However, all the memories from before that point that Skids has lost are indeed still locked inside his head, buried away by the trauma of the erasure of the others... but upon getting a glimpse of them, Chromedome is so horrified that he pulls out, assuring Skids that he's better off ''not'' remembering them. Skids grimly accepts this, but reveals to Chromedome that he always hears a piece of music playing inside his mind. Having heard it as well, Chromedome identifies it as "[[The Empyrean Suite]]", and hopes that Skids never understands its significance...

Back on Clemency, the Scavengers lug the capsule containing Grimlock out into the open, informing the D.J.D. that they have killed their target and placed him in it, learning in the process that the Division is looking for Fulcrum. Presently, the D.J.D. arrive and approach the capsule, at which point Krok triggers the [[circuit speeder]]s he laced it with, jolting Grimlock awake and into a berzerker rage. The Scavengers use the resultant brawl as cover to escape, but the D.J.D. have smelled a retro-rat and [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] appears to block their way. The battle that follows is a gruesome one as [[Flywheels]] is killed by [[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]]'s chest grinder, and [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] removes his own face, laden with spikes, and jams it over Krok's own. [[Misfire]] accidentally shoots Krok when he tries to help him, and is then mauled by [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]]'s pet [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]]. Tarn, meanwhile, turns his "weaponized conversation" on Grimlock, but before he can end his life, [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] comes to the rescue in the most unexpected way: he has recovered a [[cybernought]] battle-mech from the Worldsweeper, and begins raining destruction down on the D.J.D. Unfortunately, an electric shock from Kaon cripples both mech and pilot, and the giant robot is quickly taken down by Tarn. In answer to Tarn's bellowed challenge, Fulcrum then appears atop the Worldsweeper and delivers a speech decrying the D.J.D. as symbolic of everything that went wrong with the Decepticon movement. He leaps from the ship, and transforms... into a bomb! He lands with the least dramatic impact possible, barely causing a cloud of dust, at which point Kaon alerts Tarn to his detection of the [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s energy signature. Considering Fulcrum dead, the D.J.D. pull out to pursue this new target, warning the Scavengers that they are all on their list now.

Fulcrum, however, is anything but dead, much to his own surprise: it turns out that the very first thing the Scavengers did upon finding him the previous day was remove his explosive charge - apparently Spinister was capable of the difficult manual task despite his lack of intelligence. Fulcrum tries to explain his story to them—how he was convicted of desertion of duty and conscripted into a K-Squad, reconfigured to auto-transform into a bomb upon deployment, only for his systems to become paralyzed with terror—but they lose interest very quickly and check up on Grimlock instead, who soon reveals why he was left behind in the Worldsweeper: he is almost completely brain-dead. The Scavengers decide to head back to Cybertron with him, figuring they can use him as a bargaining chip regardless of whether the Autobots or Decepticons are in charge of the planet. Before they depart, Misfire delivers a eulogy for the fallen Flywheels, mocking his search for the [[Necrobot]], and the team then descend upon his body, doing what they do best: scavenging.

Eighteen months later... a shadow falls over Flywheels's skeletal remains. The all-too-real Necrobot has come to mark his passing, and adds his name to a list of the recently deceased: right after [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], Chromedome, [[Dipstick]], [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br>
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (8)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (9)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Rewind]] (12)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (13)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (14)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (15)

|c2=
*''[[Torque (G1)|Torque]]'' (1)
*[[Fulcrum]] (2)
*[[Misfire]] (3)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (4)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (5)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (6)
*[[Flywheels]] (7)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (16)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (17)
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] (18)
*[[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]] (19)
*[[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] (20)
|c4=
*[[The Pet]] (21)
*[[Necrobot]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==

"'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>Fighting the D.J.D.<nowiki>'</nowiki>''' is just ''''<nowiki>'</nowiki>certain death<nowiki>'</nowiki>''' with more letters! It's—it's '''suicide''' with '''delusions of survival!'''"
:—'''Fulcrum'''

"Anyway, I thought you '''liked''' having amnesia."<br>
"Who told you that?"<br>
"You told '''Swerve''', right? So assume everyone on board knows. In fact, assume everyone on '''Cybertron''' knows. In fact, assume that distant '''alien races''', otherwise untouched by civilization—"<br>
"Okay, okay, point taken."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Skids'''

"I was lucky. I was forged when the Decepticon Empire was at it's peak. We'd overthrown out '''oppressors,''' we'd torn down a system that served only those at the top, and we'd turned '''outwards'''—refining the galaxy by cleansing it of organic races too backward to reconfigure their inferior nature. And you know what went wrong? People like '''you.''' The thugs and the sadists and the psychos—people for whom the war was a convenient excuse to inflict pain. Yesterday, my faith in the Decepticon was '''restored.''' I met six scavengers—and they were average and normal and brilliant, and they fought on my behalf when I really, '''really''' didn't deserve it. And I know you look down on them, but each one of them is worth '''ten''' of you. So what I'm about to do, I do for '''them'''—and for everyone else the D.J.D. has murdered. This is for everyone who's ever turned and fled in protest at what the Decepticons have become!"
:—'''Fulcrum'''

'''Misfire:''' "A senseless waste. His ludicrous search for the Necrobot ends unfulfilled. A terrible, terrible tragedy. Boo hoo."<br>
'''Fulcrum:''' "'Boo hoo'? I though Flywheels was your '''friend!''' You're just going to leave him here?"<br>
'''Misfire:''' "You're '''right.''' What were we '''thinking?'''"<br>
'''Crankcase:''' "I'm having his rotor system—"<br>
'''Misfire:''' "There's probably enough for a '''sip''' of innermost [[energon]] each..."<br>
'''Spinister:''' "Leave the knees for me."

==Notes==

* The title likely refers to the children's song, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?".
* The return of Grimlock coincidences with that of the rest of [[Dinobot (G1)|his team]] in ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Dinobot Hunt|#8]] and another appearance by Big Grim himself in ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' [[Loose Ends, Part 2|#82]] for a micro-event called out on the August covers as "Dinobot Month!"
* Rewind screens a public information film named "[[Proteus's Promise]]" for his crewmates; presumably, the title character is [[Proteus|Senator Proteus]] from "[[Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory]]".
*Skids and Chromedome's conversation is footnoted to have occurred in the ''More than Meets the Eye'' 2012 annual, which was released a few weeks after publication of this issue. This tactic seems to deliberately hearken back to the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK]] days, when important story beats would appear in the [[Transformer Annual|Annual]] stories.
*Chromedome knows Skids from a "heist" pulled back on Cybertron before the war. This heist is dealt with in the upcoming "[[Shadowplay]]" storyline.
*Skids is revealed to be a master of Cybertronian martial art [[Metallikato]], and in the same breath name-drops the [[Povian]]s of [[Pova]], from ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*The D.J.D.'s [[turbofox]], glimpsed last issue and referred to in the cast list at the end of this issue as "The Pet", is also a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] (well, more of a "sparkchewer"). Here it's specifically identified as Kaon's pet, but Helex was holding its chain last issues; Kaon was in alternate mode at the time, so perhaps he was just holding it for him.
*Fulcrum refers to his imprisonment in [[Styx]], the Decepticon penal colony only previously seen in ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]''.
*We're not told what the "K" in "K-Class" stands for, but given their suicidal job description, "kamikaze" seems almost certain.
**Torque has "Ultra Magnus" written on him while in bomb mode, probably indicating that he was targeting this specific Autobot.
*The normal cast list at the end of the issue is replaced with a new list showcasing the D.J.D. members, The Pet, the Scavengers, and Fulcrum.

===Errors===
* Perhaps not strictly an error, but while the in-story text consistently abbreviates "Decepticon Justice Division" as "D.J.D.", the title renders it "DJD" without the periods.
* Reference is repeatedly made to Fulcrum's impressive, distinctive chin... but it's not any bigger or more notable than many of the other characters, and certainly not more than Misfire's and Grimlock's in their profile-angled shots on page 21, which are positively ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' in their chintasticness.
* This issue ends with a lament over Flywheels's "ludicrous search" for the Necrobot... except last issue, it was ''Misfire'' who was searching for him. As such, the obvious poetry of the final scene, in which the Necrobot comes to record the death of one who has searched for him for so long, is... kinda screwed up. Given that Flywheels is being played a born-again religious type in this story, the role of believer in the Necrobot fits him well and suggests that issue #7's depiction of Misfire as the believer was probably the one in error. James Roberts later confirmed this was an error, and should be fixed for the trade.<ref name="bigfatmistake">[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=12478 James Roberts:] It seems that a line of dialogue on the last page of issue 8 is causing some confusion. Standing over Flywheels' remains, Misfire says, "His ludicrous search for the Necrobot remains unfulfilled." Yet in issue 7, it is clearly established that Misfire himself is the Scavenger with the Necrobot obsession. This is what is known - in comic book industry jargon - as a big, fat mistake. [...] P.S. We'll fix the dialogue for the trade - unless someone comes up with a truly amazing explanation.</ref>
* For some reason, Spinister is absent during most of the battle against the D.J.D..

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Grimlock looms, art by Alex Milne and [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover B:''' Grimlock in T-Rex mode, art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Grimlock (notice a pattern?) breathing fire; art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]], the fourth quarter of a combined image formed with the RI cover to ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Interference Patterns|#7]], [[Dinobot Hunt|#8]], and ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Rules of Disengagement|#7]].

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE8_cvrA.jpg|This scene does not occur in the issue...
Image:MTMTE8_cvrB.jpg|...and he doesn't transform to T-Rex mode...
Image:MTMTE8_cvrRI.jpg|...and his T-Rex mode doesn't even look like this!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Dinobot Hunt|#8]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Loose Ends, Part 2|#82]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''
* ''[[More Than Meets the Eye Annual 2012]]''
* ''Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=4452&page=9 Preview]

==References==
<references/>

Sky-Byte (G2)

2012-08-10T02:22:07Z

68.224.39.107:

{{faction|predacon|quintesson|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Sky-Byte}}
:''Sky-Byte is either a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] or ex-[[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:SkyByteTimelines-boxart.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Put your best knee forward.]]

'''Sky-Byte''' is a storyteller, a poet. As a neutral, he has no love for either faction, although he tends to side with the Decepticons in most situations.

==Fiction==
===''Wings Universe''===

[[Image:G2Redux-SkyByte.jpg|left|thumb|300px|]]

Created as an agent of the [[Quintesson]]s, Sky-Byte is the commander of the new generation of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s. Unlike his dim-witted troops, Sky-Byte exhibits a scientific and creative nature, whether it be by making new advances in technology or writing haiku to express himself during tense and exciting moments.

In 2010, Sky-Byte was sent to Earth by the Quintessons as part of an alliance with the Decepticon outlaw [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. His army of next-generation Sharkticons successfully empowered Clench’s Decepticon Syndicate, and they were able to take control of the Large Hadron Collider in [[Switzerland]].

There, Sky-Byte worked with Clench to realize the potential of the low-grade fuel [[forestonite]]. He determined that bombarding the forestonite with high-energy particles allowed it to alter Transformers, granting them extraordinary power. Pyro teased Clench for hanging around with Quintesson flunkies, and Sky-Byte responded with pride about how his new forestonite fuel would tip the balance of power. Sky-Byte may have oversold the stuff, however, as Clench impulsively fed some to [[Cindersaur]]—''and it wasn't meant to be taken orally!''—and then insisted that Sky-Byte himself be one of the next round of test subjects.

When the Autobots burst into the facility in an attempt to rescue [[Pyro (G1)|Spark]], Sky-Byte taunted them with a haiku and, when that was poorly received, then tried to zap them all with his "[[Tsunami Blaster]]", a new and deadly ability bestowed upon him by the forestonite. The battle was ultimately decided when a nervous Breakdown shot the canisters of forestonite, thinking they would explode. Instead, the chemical spread out in gaseous form all over the remaining Transformers, equaling the balance of power for the Autobots. [[Rapido]] gained the power to outrun Sky-Byte's shark missile attack, and soon the Decepticons were thoroughly routed. At this point, Sky-Byte fled the scene with his Sharkticons and a sample of forestonite. Without his additional muscle, Clench was forced to retreat as well.

And, yes, even while running for his life, Sky-Byte had the frame of mind to write a pretty haiku. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

Two years later, Sky-Byte teamed up with [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], providing the Decepticon with large quantities of forestonite. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 2}} His duties included preparing the ship for takeoff to [[Nebulos]]. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 3}}
{{--}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:ABetterTomorrow-reputation.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Who's the most moderate shark in town?]]

More than four million years ago, Sky-Byte was a Decepticon, but atrocities committed by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] on [[Varas Centralus]] convinced him to flee the war and his homeworld. Before Sky-Byte's retreat, he had a rivalry with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]].

In the current era, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was rebooted into a primordial state and [[Vector Sigma]] sent out a signal to its planet's scattered people to return. Sky-Byte heeded this call, but had reservations about the uneasy politics between the Autobots, the Decepticons, and the nonaffiliated. The ex-Decepticon poet pursued some solitude, musing over a decapitated [[Sweep]], when he was interrupted by Ironhide. Sky-Byte expected a fight from his old rival, but Ironhide surprised him with his ease and candor. Still, Sky-Byte expressed his suspicions towards the Autobots, and so Ironhide suggested he check out the Decepticons as well to see if they were any better. Sky-Byte followed Ironhide's suggestion and met with the Decepticons, but he was followed by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s Autobots so that they could make arrests. Things quickly got out of hand and a battle erupted until Ironhide settled everyone down.

Later, Sky-Byte joined Prowl for a drink at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], which Ironhide and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] had re-opened as a place where Transformers could meet in peace regardless of affiliation. Ironhide explained to them why he had changed -- he had seen a vision of the distant future where he was alive but the war was dead... because so were Sky-Byte, Prowl, and the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}
Sky-Byte was later performing a musical/poetic duet with [[Jazz (G1)| Jazz]] at Maccadam's Old Oil House. {{storylink|Interference Patterns}}

==Toys==
===Timelines===
[[Image:Timelinestoy-SkyByteG2Redux.jpg|right|thumb|300px|This mold's not for [[Wings of Honor|Scourge]]?<br>At the time we were confused.<br>Now we understand.]]
*'''Generation 2: Redux''' (BotCon 2010 box set)
**''Accessories'': 2 missiles

:Sky-Byte is a [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' [[Sharkticon (Energon)#Energon|Sharkticon]] with a new head, transforming into a Cybertronic submarine/battleship with dimly animalistic styling. His colors and head sculpt are heavily based on ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]]. His small gun turrets are movable, plus his side panels can extend outward to reveal spring-loaded missile launchers. The area where Sharkticon's spark crystal once resided is now considered Sky-Byte's "Tsunami Blaster".

:Sky-Byte is part of the [[BotCon 2010]] boxed set, alongside [[Breakdown (G1)#Timelines|Breakdown]], [[Pyro (G1)#Timelines|Spark]], [[Streetwise (G1)#Timelines|Streetstar]] and [[Clench (G1)#Timelines|Clench]].

:The original version of this mold was also used to make Sky-Byte's fellow BotCon 2010 exclusives, the [[Sharkticon (G1)#Timelines|Sharkticons]], as well as ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' [[Axalon (BW)#United 2|Axalon]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Predacon/Sky-Byte/sky-byte.htm More information on Sky-Byte at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* The identity of Sky-Byte was the subject of the "Who is the Wildcard?" contest held by [[Fun Publications]] on their [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] forums, with ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Voyager [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]] as prizes to who guessed the character first. Other than the "wildcard" hint, the only other hint given was that the character was "never seen in Generation 2". TCC board member EmeraldBeacon guessed Sky-Byte soon thereafter, ending the contest, but whose among all the guesses that day was the correct guess was not known until the [[BotCon 2010]] brochure went online.
* Although Sky-Byte's design in the Robots in Disguise comic is not exactly the same as his namesake's, it ''is'' based on it. <ref>http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-robots-in-disguise-ongoing-skybyte-character-design/24724/</ref>
* ''Generation 2: Redux'' Sky-Byte wears the insignia of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. On the other hand, in the ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] (which is the basis for the ''[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]'' continuity), the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] were originally presented as being under the command of the Quintessons, like Sky-Byte is. So he might be both kinds of Predacon at once.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Convention-original characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Neutrals]]
[[Category:Predacons]]
[[Category:Quintessons]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Wings Universe characters]]

Tailgate (G1)

2012-07-28T18:25:08Z

68.224.39.107: /* IDW Generation 1 comics */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Tailgate}}
:''Tailgate is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Tailgate universe.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Shake harder, boy!]]
'''Tailgate''' is an Autobot scout, not so much for his skill (for he is mediocre at best) but for two unrelated reasons. First, his hood conceals a ridiculously powerful iron-cobalt magnet, which he can use to tailgate closely beside other vehicles and travel far into enemy territory without fuel. Second, his bizarre ''idées fixes'' make him extremely poor company for other [[Autobot|Autobots]].

Nobody knows where Tailgate got his screws knocked loose. Some say he was traumatized in a hazing ritual that went terribly wrong; others think it's simply the length of the war taking its toll. At any rate, he began causing problems soon after arriving on [[Earth]], proclaiming speed limits to be an affront to liberty, and attempting to liberate "enslaved" household appliances from their alleged slavemasters. Nothing the veteran Autobots could do would dissuade him from his mad quest, or convince him of non-sentient machines on Earth. Eventually, it was decided to make him a scout, with strict orders not to break cover for any reason.

Still, every time he sees a bicycle chained to a pole, his [[spark]] burns hot with righteous anger. "Some day, my brothers will wear no chains," he thinks. "Some day, we shall break free!"

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
[[Image:FSRLmanga7_Tailgate.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
With the [[Autobot]]s being framed by the [[Decepticon Trailer Brigade]] for numerous crimes, [[Kenji]] was feeling a bit dejected at how his schoolyard chums were suddenly turning on them. Tailgate appeared to give him a lift home from school and attempted to cheer him up, reminding him that as an [[Honorary Autobot]] he had nothing to worry about. Their drive was interrupted by a crowd gathering around a display put on by a pair of robed figures (secretly [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]), decrying the Autobots and preaching the heroism of the [[Decepticon]]s. The rest of the Autobots soon arrived to straighten things out. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

Tailgate later responded to a distress signal sent from [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], who was fighting to rescue a [[Murdered puppy|puppy]] that was brimming over with [[Decepticon super science]] from the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. Dying from its wounds, the dog transferred the super science into Powerglide, giving him brief access to [[Scramble Power]]. Along with the other [[Minibot]]s, Tailgate merged with Powerglide into a [[Minibot combiner]] and swiftly defeated [[Bruticus (G1)|Bructicus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

{{-}}
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ted Schwartz]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese), [[Jorge García]] (Latin American)

[[Image:FFoD5 MiniVehicles.jpg|left|210px|thumb|"That machine is alive I tell you! Aliv—-" "WE KNOW, TAILGATE!"]]
Tailgate was one of a group of [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]] stationed at the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] in 2006. When the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] built [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] out of a human city, [[Mount St. Hilary]] and the Ark were the first stop on his journey to destroy Metroplex. Tailgate and the other Autobots on duty rolled out to defend the Ark with all the firepower at their disposal. It didn't go very well. The Ark was left devastated in Trypticon's mighty wake, and Tailgate's troops were beaten and scattered by the colossal dinosaur. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

{{-}}
===Marvel UK Generation 1 comics===
Tailgate was one of the Autobots working with [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s covert cell on Cybertron, and was briefly seen when [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] came to Cybertron and rallied the troops for an assault on [[Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

He eventually finished his training at the [[Autobot Military Academy]], but upon graduation was provoked into joining [[Flattop (Autobot)|Flattop]] and [[Subsea]] in venturing [[Underworld|underground]], in order to prove his courage. When a group of [[Mutant (G1)|Cybertronian Mutants]] attacked and slaughtered his fellow cadets, Tailgate stood his ground and successfully fought off the sewer-dwellers, thus proving he was not a coward... nor very good at watching his friends' backs in a fight. {{storylink|Underworld!}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' comics===
[[Image:BlackSunshine Autobot training failures.jpg|left|180px|thumb|]]
Tailgate was among the Autobot civilians who watched [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s anti-Optimus Prime propaganda broadcasts. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} Didn't seem to do the trick, though, as he was later seen training alongside several Autobot recruits against [[auto-combatant]]s. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}
{{-}}

===''Wings Universe''===
[[Image:BattleLines6-UltraMagnus.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
Tailgate was present at the first "meeting" of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] nine million years ago. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 6}}
{{--}}

===IDW Generation 1 comics===
{{ongoing}}
{{note|Tailgate in the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]] is an ancient Cybertronian who is not, as of yet, an Autobot.''}}
[[Image:MTMTE2 Tailgate.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Just your average kick-boxing, bomb disposing, metaphysics and epistemology student. Someone had trouble choosing a major at Iacon University.]]

Tailgate was a bomb disposal 'bot in the [[Primal Vanguard]], over six million years ago. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} He was later ''meant'' to be on [[Nova Prime]]'s ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' mission, but a rash detour saw him crippled in a pit at the [[Mitteous Plateau]]. According to him, if he wasn't there for the launch, [[Spotlight: Galvatron|the mission was doomed]], and so he tried to detonate his [[energon]] rations in the hope of being detected. Despite passing out over and over, he did finally manage it... six million years later, outside the ''[[Lost Light]]'' launch, and he had a panic attack when he saw his explosion had damaged [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. The Autobots, not knowing who Tailgate was, took him on board the ''Light'' since he'd mentioned "the launch".
{{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] had him carbon dated, bewildered by the antique systems he had.

When Tailgate came to (and seeing he hadn't killed "Nut-Job", as he mistakenly thought Whirl was called), he heard from [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] just how long he'd been offline. Swerve ended up 'adopting' him as a mate, filling him in on the future and begging him to show off his alt mode. The two were caught up in an attack by strange robots chanting "nineteen eighty four", robots that Tailgate seemed quite interested in. Later, during a crew gathering, Swerve finally convinced Tailgate to attempt to transform.{{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Tailgate got stuck during the transformation, leaving him temporarily without legs.

A [[Sparkeater]] was reported to be on the loose aboard the ''Lost Light'' and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] ordered everyone to pair off and lock themselves in habitation suites. Tailgate noticed his old crewmate [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and asked for some help getting to a room. Cyclonus carried the half-transformed Tailgate there and quite rudely dumped him on the ground. As the Sparkeater situation unfolded outside, the two former crew members of the original Ark discussed the six million year gap in history they missed. Cyclonus described the [[Great War (G1)|Autobot-Decepticon conflict]] to Tailgate as he understood it. Later in the medibay, as Ratchet was unsticking his half-transformed body, Tailgate declared that he would like to be a Decepticon! {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

Word got around the ''Lost Light'' about Tailgate's aims, and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] asked Rodimus to set the "confirmed Decepticon sympathizer" straight. Rodimus hooked Tailgate up with [[Rewind]], who beamed a compressed visual history of the civil war directly into Tailgate's head. Sobered by what he saw, Tailgate realized that the Decepticons were the "bad guys". He returned to his quarters and fumed at Cyclonus for not giving him a clearer picture of the two factions. When Tailgate impotently struck Cyclonus on the arm, his icy roommate reciprocated with a vicious backhand. Leaving their room, Cyclonus kicked the downed Tailgate on his way out, leaving him cowering on the floor. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}

Tailgate later requested Ultra Magnus that he wanted to learn the [[Autobot Code| Autobot Code]]. However, he was tortured by reading its thousands of pages. He then got interested in if there was a clause nineteen-eighty-four since the giant robots that chased Skids had stated it over and over again and was informed that the clause related to the supposedly non-existent "thought warfare". {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

Afterwards, Tailgate went to Swerve's bar and asked Cyclonus if he could join his table but was told to be left alone. He joined some of the other Autobots and asked Chromedome how he met Rewind but didn't get an answer. Then, he told everyone about his boring Autobot Code lesson with Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|Interiors}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1 Tailgate toy.jpg|right|180px|thumb|White Rider]]
*'''Tailgate''' (Mini Vehicle, 1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-61'''

:Tailgate is a white-and-blue [[retool]]ing of the 1984 Autobot [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], transforming into a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sports car. His head sculpt is much more elaborate than the earlier toy's (which shared the [[Micro Change|Microchange]] sculpt), and his chest sticker bears an odd resemblance to a portable radio.

:The original version of this mold is used by [[Camaro]] and [[Rook (Universe)|Rook]] as well as the Mexican versions (yes, plural) of Tailgate—i.e. regular Windcharger redecoed only and not retooled. Tailgate's toy was used as the model for the non-toy comic character [[Wipe-Out]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Tailgate/tailgate.htm More information on Tailgate at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:Encore Tailgate.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Immediately, something like scales fell from Tailgate's eyes, and he could see again.]]
*'''Bumble & Minibots''' (Multi-pack, 2008)
**''Encore number'': '''10'''

: In 2008, Tailgate was reissued in the ''[[Transformers Encore]]'' line, bundled with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]. This version of Tailgate has extra paint details on his face.

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage01a.jpg|thumb|250px|Little. Yellow. Different.]]
* In the pre-[[Toy Fair 1986]] catalog, Tailgate is featured with a yellow car body, a black chest/torso, and a red face. Fellow 1986 [[Mini Vehicle]] [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] is featured with a white car body.
* Tailgate's [[ability]] to magnetise himself using his front bumper being similar to [[Windcharger]]'s makes sense when you realise the former's a [[retool]] of the latter.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Tailgate''' (テイルゲイト ''Teirugeito'')
*''French:'' '''Hayon''' (Canada)

{{--}}

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

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Mini Vehicles]]
[[Category:Scouts]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Swerve (G1)

2012-07-26T21:43:21Z

68.224.39.107: /* IDW Generation 1 comics */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Swerve}}
:''Swerve is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]. He is sometimes known as "Shut the Hell Up." ''

[[Image:Swerve.toy.boxart.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Someone's GOT to get this boy some defensive driving DVDs.]]

Gregarious would be a good word to describe '''Swerve.''' So would outgoing, enthusiastic, upbeat, joyfully irreverent, flippant, sarcastic, wise ass, troll, or "total pain in the aft." Depending on which side of his weapons-grade mouth you happen to fall on and how long you've been listening to him use it. Swerve has a sense of fun and even whimsy that stands out from your run of the mill Autobots fairly dramatically. The little fellow may get on their nerves... he'll ''probably'' get on their nerves... But it'll always be with a smile, a laugh, and an epic level quip.

He is also a menace to anyone driving nearby. He's easily distracted by just about anything that catches his attention. Despite this, he's quite intelligent and skilled as a metallurgist, analyzing the properties of a material with unique sensors in his hands. When he gets caught up in a scientific problem, he becomes almost laser-like in focus and intensity. Unfortunately, this generally leaves him just as distracted from any other tasks at hand and just as accident-prone a driver as ever. Swerve and "traffic accident" just go hand in hand. He's almost always in need of some repairs, major or minor, because of it.

Now if only [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Prime]] could get him to not get easily distracted when receiving his orders too...

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Minoru Inaba]] (Japanese)

[[Image:FFOD Part5 Swerve.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Now we know why he refuses to play in the sand.]]
Swerve participated in the defense of the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] in 2006, but was trod upon by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} Later, after the [[Quintesson]] scientist [[Inquirata]] attempted to change history by removing the Autobot resistance leader known as [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3]] from the past, a race Swerve was participating in repeated itself in an endless loop due to the ripples in the timestream. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}
{{-}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic ====
[[Image:4WheeldriveBrigade1.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Swerve appeared on Earth as a member of the [[4-Wheel-Drive Brigade]]. Led by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], the Brigade confronted the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] out in the desert, only to be caught in an explosive mine trap and fall into a pit. Working together, Swerve and the others combined their Scramble Power and worked their way free of the pit. A concentrated Scrumbuster attack drove off the Decepticons, and the Autobots won the day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' comics===
[[Image:BlackSunshine Autobot training failures.jpg|left|180px|thumb|]]
Swerve was on Cybertron observing the anti-Prime propaganda that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] pumped through the data-net after retrieving the ''Ark'''s crew from [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} Later, after the Autobots toppled Shockwave and the Decepticons' rule, he was among the group of new recruits seen failing to take on the [[auto-combatant]] training drones on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after Shockwave's rule was toppled. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 comics===
Before the war, Swerve and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] planned to open a bar. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} Swerve's metallurgical skills prompted [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] to contact him along with several other Transformer scientists with his discovery about Cybertron's dwindling energy reserves. Swerve, like the rest, disregarded Thunderwing's warnings. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

In modern times, Swerve was stationed at the [[Kimia Facility]]. He was a fan of the ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' datalogs, although he thought [[Fisitron]] was a bit of a hagiographer. {{storylink|Bullets}}

Swerve was present when [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep]]s invaded Kimia. {{storylink|Chaos Part One: Lamentations}} He survived the massacre and got away aboard an escape pod piloted by [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Brainstorm]]. [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] soon came to rescue them. Everyone seemed to feel the need to remind him in particular not to say something tactless that might set her off. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}}

[[Image:Swerve Chaos Part4.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]
Aboard Arcee's shuttle, Swerve listened with the others to [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and Arcee's explanation of the situation with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], the [[Darkness (G1)|Heart of Darkness]] and the [[D-Void]]. Swerve reiterated everything he had just heard to Hardhead, just to confirm he understood the complicated scenario (he got it all right, except for missing the hyphen in "D-Void"). He was quite naively optimistic at the prospect of putting a stop to Galvatron's plans and saving the universe. However, once they arrived in Cybertron's atmosphere and Arcee had ordered the shuttle to fly directly at the planet's surface, Swerve was among the first to bail out. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis}}

[[Image:LiarsAtoD1-SwerveRedAlert.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Questquestquestquestquestquestquest.]]
Swerve was one of the Autobots who chose to accompany [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] on his quest to find the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] reluctantly allowed Swerve to board the ''[[Lost Light]]'' if he'd stop talking. Swerve doesn't know. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} He was in the medibay when [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] recovered consciousness, and got to be the one who broke the news about how long Tailgate had been trapped underground. He and Tailgate went out for some fresh air and, along with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Rewind]], encountered [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and watched him fight the [[Legislator]]s. Skids wasn't keen on Swerve's suggestion they should team up. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

During the incident with the [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]], Swerve and Skids stumbled on a bar, reminding Swerve of his earlier plans to run such an establishment. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} Swerve opened the bar for a celebration of the Sparkeater's demise. As a subscriber to Fisitron's "Wreckers: Declassified", he received a strange new datalog and discussed it with [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], prompting the latter's trip to [[Delphi]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}

{{spoiler|Rules of Disengagement|August 25}}
Unfortunately [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] finally found out about the bar, stormed in, and led Swerve away in handcuffs. Swerve was soon on rivet duty with Rewind, clambering around on the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> hull and replacing rivets. The pair were pressed into service when [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] flipped and took [[Rung]] and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] hostage, as the only way to get near the hostage situation was via an exterior window. While Rewind distracted Maximus with a recording of [[Garrus-9]], Swerve fired his rivet gun. Unfortunately his protests about his poor aim turned out to be true, and instead of wounding Maximus, he blew Rung's head off. {{storylink|Interiors}} Though Rung survived, Swerve was horrified to learn that his actions had left the psychiatrist in a coma. He visited Rung with Skids, and left one of Rung's model ships at his bedside. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Swerve toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Elbows. I no has them!]]
*'''Swerve''' (Mini-Vehicle, 1986, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-58'''

:Swerve is a [[retool]] of the ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' toy originally used to make [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], and therefore has a similar pickup truck vehicle mode, a 4WD Off-Road. He is largely maroon and white, with squarer legs and a more elaborate face than Gears.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Swerve/swerve.htm More information on Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Alternators===
[[Image:Alternator Swerve Toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|A new head. We were so spoiled...]]
*'''Swerve''' (Alternator, 2004)
**''Alternator ID number:'' '''15'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/blaster

:Swerve is a retool of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and transforms into a red [[Wikipedia:Chevrolet Corvette C5|Corvette Z06]] featuring opening doors and hood and a realistic interior. Amusingly enough, his rocket launchers are stored next to the passenger and driver seats. Swerve is armed with his double-barreled engine gun formed from his engine, two pairs of double-barreled slide-out wrist blasters, and two shoulder-mounted rocket launchers, making him one of the most heavily armed ''Alternators'' toys.

:He came with a flame hood decal reminiscent of the flames on Tracks's original toy (which was originally available with Tracks's ''Binaltech'' release), thus making him resemble [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] in vehicle mode.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/AltSwerve/swerve.htm More information on Alternators Swerve at TFU.info]''

===Encore===
[[Image:Encore Swerve toy.jpg|250px|thumb|Weird—I crashed into a paint-sprayer, and for some reason, I can see better.]]
*'''Bumble & Minibots''' (Multi-pack, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''10'''

:In 2008, Swerve was reissued in the ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' line, bundled with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]. As with his pack-mates, his face paint was given more detailing to resemble his cartoon model better.

{{-}}

===Generations===
[[Image:Generations_china_import_deluxe_swerve.jpg|He's scowling because he still doesn't have his own mold.|thumb|300px]]
*'''Swerve''' (Deluxe, 2012)
**''Accessories'': Blaster

: ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Swerve is a [[Retool#Gang-molded alternate parts|pretool]] and [[redeco]] of ''Generations'' [[Kup (G1)#Generations|Sergeant Kup]] using the planned-in alternate head for the mold.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-generations-classics-30-35/transformers-generations--movie-series-asia-exclusives-174569/ Transformers Generations & Movie Series Asia Exclusives]</ref> He transforms into a pseudo-retro-styled pickup truck of indeterminate, probably-made-up model. Swerve is covered in 3mm rungs that are compatible with [[C joint]] clip-on weapons. There are two rungs on his backpack, plus two rungs each on his forearm [[kibble]], and two on his lower back. The [[5mm post|hand-held]] blaster can either plug into the underside of the truck, forming a second exhaust pipe, or clip onto the roof of the truck via a C joint. Interestingly, due to his transformation, Swerve's truck mode features a working tailgate.

: Swerve was originally only to be released as part of a big block of toys developed [[exclusive]]ly for release in China and other Hasbro Asia markets. However, [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs]] picked up Swerve as part of a ''massive'' group of Transformers exclusives for US market release, just in time for the 2012 holiday shopping season.

{{-}}

==Notes==
* Swerve and [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] are curiously absent from 1986's ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' profile book. The only other missing characters were the two [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s and the four [[Insecticon (G1)|Deluxe Insecticons]], whose absence might be explained by their toys' origins with companies in competition with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Swerve and Hubcap's omissions, however, appear to be errors; all the other toys in their wave and subgroup were included. The extended, unused TFU entry [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/extended-bios.html ended up on ''Disciples of Boltax''].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Werve''' (ウェーブ ''Wēbu''; sometimes ウエーブ ''Uēbu'')
*''French:'' '''Embardo''' (Canada)

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Bartenders]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Mini Vehicles]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Crankcase (G1)

2012-07-26T21:20:09Z

68.224.39.107: /* IDW comics continuity */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2}}
{{disambig3|Crankcase}}
:''Crankcase is a whiny [[Decepticon]] [[Triggercon]] skidplate from the dumb [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Crankcase slamevil.jpg|right|300px|thumb|SLAM EVIL PUPPIES!]]'''
Nobody likes '''Crankcase''', and he hates everybody and everything. Once a geeky collection of circuits and servos, Crankcase began life as a menial janitor in the Fuel-Spill Section of the [[Ministry of Energy and Nutrition]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The bullies of his youth put a huge chip on his shoulder, where he now carries a set of heavy guns. He'd rather use them on those too weak to retaliate, and then laugh in their faces while their [[energon]] runs out. This makes him momentarily happy; then he goes back to an endless series of griping complaints about every facet of his miserable existence. A complete jerk and slag-piece, he fits fairly well into the [[Decepticon]] military, but adds very little to it. The [[Autobot]]s certainly wouldn't want him. They already have [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
Crankcase was under the command of that vapor-brained [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] millions of years ago on Cybertron, but they couldn't even beat up a bunch of pipecleaner pacifists right, and completely lost the source of all knowledge and information, the [[Underbase]]. {{storylink|The Flames of Boltax!}} ''Things only got worse after that. Oh sure, we don't know anything that actually happened to Crankcase for over four million years, but they definitely must've gotten worse. In the present day, he had a useless job serving the equally useless Decepticon [[Triumverate]]. What a bunch of bloated losers. Not that [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron II]] coming along and blowing them away made things any better... none of the [[Decepticon leader]]s could ever accomplish anything lasting, so who Crankcase was serving didn't matter.'' {{storylink|The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.}}

''[[Straxus (G1)|Megatron II]] promised battles, but instead sent Crankcase off to find other warriors for the cause... Great, now he was a glorified recruiting agent. Soon, Megatron was replaced by another Megatron, but then the now one blew himself up too, and Crankcase had to go to that miserable mudball Earth, to retrieve one of the contestants for the Con leadership. Of course, as he suspected it'd happen, the guy didn't take it kindly to be retrieved, and instead beat Crankcase and his compatriots up, commandeered their ship, and had the bright idea to attack the Ark.'' {{storylink|Rage!}} ''You didn't have to be a pessimist to know how that one would work out... Still, battered and damaged, they retrieved [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and convinced him to retreat and fight another day. Wouldn't you know, the Decepticon Council of Elders thought this was stellar performance, and nominated him as the new Con leader. Just goes to show, you have to be a loony to be in charge.'' {{storylink|Assault on the Ark!}} Then his [[Triggercon]] "friends" abandoned him to go running off with some [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]. Slag-suckers—like joining a group with an even stupider name than the [[Wrecker]]s is going to be some sort of edge in combat. Odds were their commander would end up going mad with power and beat the circuits out of them, anyway. {{storylink|Matrix Quest}}

Later, some pathetic [[Primus|"God"]] possessed an even more pathetic [[Xaaron|Autobot]] and gathered Crankcase with a bunch of other Transformers to battle [[Unicron]]. Right—a swarm of mecha-ants attacking a guy the size of a planet. That was really going to work. Anyway, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|some Autobot]] made a really long and self-important speech, picked up [[Matrix of Leadership|some nick-knack]] he found lying around and yada yada yada, someone was probably expecting Crankcase to clean up the mess. Not a chance. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

Some new guy named [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] took over the Decepticons after that and used [[Metallikato|the scientific method]] to pick a new world to plunder. The weak little inhabitants of [[Klo]] put up no fight whatsoever, which was really pathetic. Then the Autobots showed up and got massacred, which was even more pathetic. THEN the Autobots all started coming back to life and doing annoying things like caving in Crankcase's entire skull. He knew it would come to this, he just knew it. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
In 2009, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] brought Crankcase and the Triggercons along with him to destroy an Autobot resistance movement, but he did all the work himself and then told them to stay out of his fight with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]. What was the point of bringing Crankcase along anyway, then? {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
So once Bludgeon realized he was a lousy leader, his brilliant solution was to revive a leader that was even worse: Megatron. Crankcase (having his head un-smooshed by some idiot) got dragged along to [[Hydrus Four]], where Bludgeon had the lame idea of using [[Nucleon]] to revitalize their old commander. "Great, another leader who talks with his fists," thought Crankcase. Crankcase was so sure everything would go wrong, he wasn't even impressed when the Decepticons captured the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] with the [[Holocaust Trigger]] and didn't even have to raise a weapon. Big whoop. Oh sure, Crankcase took his turn torturing their captives like all the other Decepticons, but he just knew the Dinobots would get free and ruin everything, he just knew it. So it was no surprise to Crankcase when he came across the [[Micromaster]] named [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] about to free [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. The Dinobot commander charged Crankcase and hit him with enough force to embed the Triggercon in the far wall. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}

====''Generation 2''====
{{note|[[Simon Furman|Some idiot]] decided that "Another Time & Place" will have no relation to G2, which is pointless as the [[Stubbie|Dumb Stubbie]] wrote "Another Time & Place", and it means Crankcase's skull would start out smashed.}}
[[Image:CrankcaseG2-7shooting.jpg|right|150px|thumb|My toy's head is way lamer than this.]]
Some idiot un-smooshed Crankcase's head, so he remained an active member of Bludgeon's army. That was stupid. It was only a matter of time before he would get injured again, like from Generation 2 Cybertronian acid rain, so what was the point of repairing him? No one ever listens to Crankcase, though, so he went ahead and died when the Cybertronians caved in his chassis. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

It figures that Megatron was in charge again by this time. Crankcase had no luck under Megatron before, [[Furmanism|what chance did either have now?]] {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} You didn't think they'd win a battle against [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], now did you.
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
Crankcase's complaining must've pissed off [[Jetstorm (G2)|someone important]], because he was assigned waste disposal duty on Bludgeon's team. Great — like he didn't have enough to grumble about already. What's worse, he was commanded to dispose of [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]], who Bludgeon had branded a traitor. The only thing worse than hauling garbage is hauling garbage that might suddenly wake up and eat you. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
Crankcase signed up to [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s "Neo-Decepticon" insurgency at [[Fort Scyk]]. Like that would ever end well. {{storylink|Counterpoint}}

===IDW comics continuity ===
[[Image:Stormbringer3 NebulousDecepticons2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Nebulos: it's... so... YOWZAH!]]
Crankcase was stuck on [[Nebulos]] with a bunch of other incompetent Decepticon redshirts that quickly got their skidplates handed to them by that [[Pretender]] [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. Yeah, like nobody expected that to happen. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}}
{{Spoiler|Rules of Disengagement|August 25}}
He survived Thunderwing's attack, and after the end of the war found himself on the planet [[Clemency]] with a handful of other Decepticon scavengers and a head wound. While there they were contacted by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], looking to torture and kill one of them for crimes against the Decepticons. Which is about par for the course, really. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
In the [[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTech]] city of [[Axiom Nexus]], [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]], [[Needlenose]] and Crankcase assaulted what they thought was an [[energon]] refinery, but it turned out to be a waste fuel storage depot. Eyuw. {{storylink|Around Cybertron#Around Cybertron #1|Around Cybertron #1}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Crankcase toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What a waste of plastic.]]
*'''Crankcase''' (Triggercon, 1988)

: Crankcase transforms into a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle of indeterminate model. Similar to the other Triggercons, he has flip-out weaponry, which in his case are two double-barreled laser cannons which deploy from his robot-mode backpack/shoulders using a gear mechanism. In vehicle mode, they flip out from his camper and through his windshield. The windshield HE JUST HAD WASHED, thank you very much. Some people...

: None of the Triggercons (or Triggerbots) were released in [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''Transformers'' lines. Figures that he gets forgotten as usual...

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Decepticon/Crankcase/crankcase.htm Crankcase's stupid toy at TFU.info.]''
::*''[http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=120&size=0&start=0 Seibertron.com's <s>waste of effort</s> Crankcase gallery.]''

==Notes==
* A [[Movie (franchise)|live-action movie series]] [[homage]] character, [[Crankcase (Movie)|Crankcase]], was released as a [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] as a late part of the [[Movie (toyline)|live-action movie toyline]]. The [[redeco]] was originally intended to be ''this'' Crankcase, and part of the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' toyline]]. Notably, his head can smoosh as part of his transformation.

===Foreign names===
*''French'': '''4x4'''
*''French-Canadian'': '''Grincheux''' ("Grinch")

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Crankcase Crankcase's Universe profile at NTFA.net, like anyone cares.]

[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:TransTech Decepticons]]

Fortress Maximus (G1)

2012-07-04T23:49:54Z

68.224.39.107: /* IDW comics continuity */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3|Fortress Maximus}}
:''Fortress Maximus is an [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] [[City-bot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:FortMax1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Nobuyuki Hiyama|Link]] called. He wants the [[Master Sword]] back.]]
Despite his great power, size, and rank, '''Fortress Maximus''' is a weary and reluctant warrior. Fighting is against his pacifist nature, even for the most noble of causes. Over time, the endless conflict on Cybertron has worn him down, to the point that he's willing to walk away from the war entirely to preserve himself and his ideals.

Fortress Maximus is big. ''How'' big generally depends on the universe, but often as not he's binary-bonded to a smaller robot named [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] who forms his head; Cerebros's own head is formed by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]].

{{note|Fortress Maximus is one of those fun characters whose English comic, English cartoon and Japanese cartoon incarnations were very different. See individual fiction entries below for continuity specific profiles.}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Ringofhate-evilstain.jpg|right|250px|thumb|He is mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore!]]
Fortress Maximus was an architect in his early career, designing and even constructing many works on Cybertron. When the war came, he reluctantly turned his talents to fighting. {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe profile}}

During the long absence of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], and their respective troops from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], unit commander Fortress Maximus established a headquarters in the [[Manganese Mountains]] and continued the fight against Scorponok's Decepticon contingent.

One fine day on Cybertron, Fortress Maximus's troops staged an ambush on Scorponok's Decepticons, who had just leveled an Autobot city and were marching their prisoners toward the [[Smelting pool|smelting pools]]. Maximus's troops cut a swath through the Decepticon ranks, quickly driving them into retreat.

{{bigquote|Whether I am a hero or a coward is ''not'' the issue! I am ''weary!'' My joints creak from the corrosion of ''war without end!'' I... cannot break this ring of hate that surrounds us all -- but I can remove myself from it. No matter what you decide... I am leaving.|Fortress Maximus announces his decision to quit the war|"[[Ring of Hate!]]"}}

[[Image:Pan-galactic telescope.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"...And that, prospective investors, is why GoogleSaturn will make a million dollars per month."]]
Though his troops were jubilant at their victory, the battle was the last straw for Fortress Maximus. He had become so sick of the war that he decided to leave it. He didn't care if it made him a coward or not, he simply believed that the war would go on regardless of whether or not he was in it. Maximus declared that no matter what the others decided, he was leaving for the planet of [[Nebulos]], a world he had long studied and which seemed to be at peace. His stunned troops agreed, and together constructed a starship dubbed the ''[[Steelhaven]]'' to propel them across the void.

Fortress Maximus immediately sent [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] as an messenger to the Nebulan natives; however, an accident made it appear that the giant robots from outer space came with hostile intent. Some of the more reactionary elements among the Nebulan leadership conspired to make Fortress Maximus's envoy [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] also appear to have hostile intent, and thus were able to incite their fellow Nebulans to arms.

[[Image:Fortmaxgiveshead.jpg|right|250px|thumb|GIVE ME YOUR FACE-I MEAN HEAD!]]
Fortress Maximus and his troops thus found themselves under a full attack from the Nebulans. Max ordered his troops to not fight back, despite complaints from the likes of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and covered them as they retreated into the woods.

Faced with a newly hostile enemy, Fortress Maximus resolved to wage peace, not war. Gathering ten of his followers, he marched up to the Nebulan capital of [[Koraja]], begged to be heard out, and had his group discard their weapons. When that didn't work, he did the next logical thing and pulled his head off. Four other Autobots also resorted to this grotesque stunt before [[Galen]], head of the Nebulan [[World Watchers]], was convinced they weren't a threat. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

[[Image:Brokenglass-autobotstorage.jpg|left|200px|thumb|My honey my baby, don't put my head upon no shelf.]]
The five Autobots' heads were stored in a warehouse, and Galen occasionally consulted with Fortress Maximus, keeping him up to date on outside events as anti-robot protests rocked the capital city.

Soon after, a horde of the Autobots' Decepticon foes appeared before the city gates. Max advised Galen that turning the Autobots over to Scorponok would not prevent him from attacking, and under the Autobot-Nebulan peace agreement, Galen could not simply restore the five Autobots to their bodies. But together with [[Arcana]], the pair came up with another plan. Five volunteer Nebulans were bio-engineered to combine with special armor, and transform into likenesses of the Autobots heads, connecting with and controlling them through the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster process]]. Galen himself became Fortress Maximus's new partner. Fortress Maximus led his newly-enhanced troops against Scorponok, and soundly defeated his numerically superior squad. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

[[Image:Loveandsteel-runfortmaxrun.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I'm just a-runnin' down the road, trying to loosen my load, got a world of troubles on my mind.]]
Fortress Maximus remained inert while Galen performed his various duties. He came back online to lead the Headmasters to the [[Grax Communications Facility]], where a number of Nebulan leaders were apparently being held hostage by the Decepticons. It turned out to be a trap, however, as the Decepticons had also become Headmasters, with Galen's rival [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] now bonded to Scorponok himself. Using several Nebulans as a distraction, Scorponok's troops overpowered Fortress Maximus and the others, taking them hostage. {{storylink|Love and Steel!}}

Max remained out of commission until Zarak, briefly overcoming Scorponok's influence on his mind, freed Galen and the other Autobot-allied Nebulans. Fortress Maximus and company smashed their way out of the holding facility, then ran straight into the newly-formed Decepticon Targetmasters. Max briefly led his troops against the Decepticons, but opted to retreat rather than fight it out. To spare Koraja the carnage of a full-scale fight to the finish, he covered their retreat with the time-honored technique of smashing his enemies with Koraja's metal sculpture of the planet Nebulos. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''Scorponok and Zarak challenged Fortress Maximus and Galen (here called "Kord") to a duel to settle their differences. Kord/Maximus won by cheating, but it didn't matter because the duel was a ruse to distract the Autobots while [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] stole Autobot fuel converters. The Deceptions had bugged the Autobot base and learned of Earth. They needed the converters to travel there. The Decepticons left for Earth and the Autobots followed.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Returning to the Autobot camp, Max/Galen decided to lead the troops away from Nebulos, knowing that Scorponok would follow. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

[[Image:Trialbyfire-fortmax-disassemble.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He does seem to have trouble staying in one piece, doesn't he?]]
During their voyage to Earth, Fortress Maximus underwent a radical reconstruction to alter his size considerably, increasing himself from a slightly tall dude to a ''very'' tall dude, about twice the height of the average Transformer. Of course, with his larger scale, Fortress Maximus needed a new head (Galen still being stuck at roughly human size). For this reason, another Autobot, [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]], was added to serve as a secondary stage between Galen and Maximus. As the head of Cerebros, Galen could transform Cerebros into the larger head of Fortress Maximus.

Arriving on Earth, Fortress Maximus led his fellow Headmasters to [[Mount St. Hilary]], source of the Autobot distress call that had drawn them to Earth. After recovering the damaged [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], the group encountered [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], who had come in search of his missing younger brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]. Spike asked for the Autobots' help in finding his brother, but Fortress Maximus was more interested in their primary mission of locating the Autobots of Earth, and he led his troops off to follow the fuel trail of the missing [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-trialbyfire-rollout.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The usage of "roll out" gets stranger and stranger.]]
Scorponok's crew soon followed Maximus to Earth, however, and to the same cave. When Spike replayed Goldbug's distress message, Fortress Maximus and company returned to the cave, apologizing to Spike for his failure to consider the danger he had brought to Earth's natives by leading the Decepticons there.

In the ensuing battle, Spike retreated further into the volcano's caves to seek shelter. Scorponok followed, seeking a hostage, and Fortress Maximus pursued him. As the caves narrowed down, Maximus was forced to send Cerebros onward, and eventually Galen himself had to leave Cerebros to cross a fragile rock bridge. Scorponok used the distraction to blast rocks down on Galen, killing him. As the Decepticon leader left, laughing, Galen passed on his control helmet to Spike, allowing the Earthling to assume control of Fortress Maximus and drive the Decepticons off. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}}

Spike soon underwent the full binary bonding process and became the leader of the ''Steelhaven'''s crew of Autobots. With his new partner, Fortress Maximus led the Autobot [[Targetmaster]]s in an effort to locate Buster, first visiting his father at a shady motel, then heading to a spot in the tropics where the Decepticons had set up an island base.

[[Image:Clubconpalmtreespear.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The purpose of Club Con is to flip out and spear people.]]
With Kup worried about the inexperience of Fortress Maximus's new partner, Max held back while the Targetmasters landed on the island. They were driven back by automated defenses, however, and the island revealed itself to be a rocket ship, launching into the atmosphere with Buster still aboard. Maximus resolved to take matters into his own hands, and took off after the rocket (who knew he could fly?) Unfortunately, once in space, the ship's defenses made shishkabob out of him, forcing Spike to resort to using Cerebros instead. Cerebros was likewise trashed by an attack from [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], though Spike was able to use Maximus's guns to send Shockwave falling to his apparent demise. Maximus and his partners were subsequently rescued by the Targetmasters, and for his gusto, Spike was welcomed as the group's new leader. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}}

As Fortress Maximus underwent repairs, his crew caught wind of a [[floppy disk]] in possession of one [[Ethan Zachary]], which contained the memories and personality of Optimus Prime. With the aid of a computer-generated version of Prime, Fortress Maximus gathered a lot of data from Scorponok's [[Pretender]] experiments and gave that ability to some of his own crew. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}}

With the disk in their possession, Fortress Maximus oversaw efforts to build a new body for Optimus Prime's mind. However, the ''Steelhaven'''s resources were depleted after creating the Pretenders, causing the effort to fail explosively. Thus when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] located the Ark nearby, Fortress Maximus was eager to contact its Autobots and forge an alliance.

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-totalled-worthlesshuman.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It begs the question of why Grimlock didn't just step on him.]]
Unfortunately, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] developed an immediate dislike for Fortress Maximus, partially because he was a possible threat to Grimlock's leadership, partially because he was part human, and partially because he had a fugitive (Goldbug). He challenged "Fruitloop Multipuck" to a duel for leadership on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Faced with the prospect of a divided Autobot force, Fortress Maximus agreed, though his unhealed injuries made victory an unlikely prospect. Luckily for Max, the imprisoned [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] agreed to fill in for him.

[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] led a Decepticon assault on the Autobots during the duel. While fighting off the attackers, Fortress Maximus ordered Goldbug, [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]], [[Getaway]], and [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] to take the disk to Nebulos to restore Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

With Optimus Prime restored, Maximus accepted a subordinate role in the Autobot ranks. ''He was among those Autobots present as Optimus Prime briefed the troops about the threat of the time-displaced [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. When Optimus and five other Autobots spontaneously and explosively vanished into thin air, only to be replaced by six Transformers claiming to be Autobots from the future, Fortress Maximus immediately assumed command, freaked out, and ordered his troops to destroy the "imposters". (Apparently, his memory was a little rusty, since said "imposters" included his own present-day troops Kup and Blurr.) Maximus sparred with Rodimus Prime until the words of Goldbug, as well as a Matrix-linked Optimus Prime, convinced him that Rodimus was telling the truth when he claimed to be a future Autobot leader. Maximus participated in the subsequent battle against Megatron and Galvatron; he attacked Megatron alongside Grimlock and Swoop, but was quickly put down by the battle-crazed Decepticon.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[Image:Fortmaxboat.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Contrary to what's advertised here, the toy will sink if you put it in the bathtub.]]
Fortress Maximus provided a floating search platform for Optimus and Blaster as they searched the ocean for the Decepticons' [[Club Con]] base. Spike expressed frustration that they still had not located his brother, though Optimus vowed to keep searching. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Fortress Maximus was among the many Autobots who responded to an Autobot emergency signal in the Arctic... which turned out to be sent by none other than Buster Witwicky, who was dying of hypothermia. Maximus took his human sibling into a special thermal compartment, restoring his body temperature to normal.

When the Decepticons attacked soon after, Maximus came under attack from the [[Horrorcon]]s, followed by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], who clung to him tenaciously and eventually caused Buster to spill out of the warming compartment. This turned out to be a lucky break, as Buster reminded Ratbat that the battle was nothing but a ruse engineered by Starscream. Ratbat and Maximus together called for all the combatants to lay down their arms.

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-maninthemachine1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Cast in the name of God, Ye not guilty]]
After Starscream seized the power of the [[Underbase]], Fortress Maximus and Soundwave led a team to [[Buenos Aires]] to try and stop him. As their troops fell en masse, Maximus attacked Starscream, only to receive a debilitating energy blast in return. His organic component, however, allowed him to survive the first attack. Omega Supreme intervened just then, preventing Maximus from being crushed by a monument hurled by Starscream. Starscream disposed of Omega, and was on the verge of finishing off Maximus, when he was lured away by a radio signal from Buster aboard the Ark. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-maninthemachine2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|So why couldn't he have just kept Cerebros attached to him and gone on with his life?]]
With Buster rescued and the threat of Starscream removed, Spike and Fortress Maximus's tumultuous relationship came to light. Feeling his work with the Autobots was done, Spike tried to go his own way and resume his life, going so far as to pitch his control helmet into a junkyard, but his binary bond could not be left behind so easily. Strange nightmares plagued him, visions of falling into a void. Nor would the Decepticons relent; while on a skiing expedition, he found himself hunted by Carnivac and Snarler. Turning inwards, he found his link to Fortress Maximus remained even without the control helmet and that he could summon the giant warrior from afar. Max left his storage space aboard the Ark and descended to Earth. Despite Carnivac's dirty fighting, Fortress Maximus easily disposed of the two attackers and their Pretender shells, once he and Spike physically recombined. With the battle over, Spike sent Fortress Maximus back to the Ark. {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}}

Despite Spike's reconciliation, Fortress Maximus was subsequently out of action for many months or even years. He was still stored aboard the Ark just before the great battle with Unicron, when Grimlock and his Dinobots had returned from [[Hydrus Four]]. They had come looking for the rest of the Autobots, but the Ark's scanners were only picking up one Transformer. Weirder still, this Transformer was in ''two'' parts! {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

{{note|It's kind of odd that [[Primus]] didn't warp Fortress Maximus with every other Transformer on Earth, but it's implied that it's because half of him was on the Ark. Odder still is that the Dinobots didn't notice or mention that half of this Transformer was on the Ark with them.}}

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-thelastautobot1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|]]
After Unicron was defeated, the Ark plummeted to Earth and crashed in the northern tundra of Canada. When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] emerged from the wreckage to wreak havoc, it fell to Fortress Maximus to stop him. He called to Spike, who came. He and Spike went through some mental wrangling before Max convinced Spike to reunite with him once more. Anxious and desperate after so long out of the war, Maximus immediately suppressed his hesitating partner and took full control upon regaining his head. This proved not to be such a wise idea. Fortress Maximus alone wasn't quite ready to deal with the totally insane Galvatron, who started smashing and biting(!) him to pieces. Realizing the power of their combined strength, Spike and Fortress Maximus managed to unite in thought and deed, and defeated the crazed Decepticon. Fortress Maximus stood alone at the battle's end, the last Autobot, guardian of Earth. {{storylink|The Last Autobot?}}

{{-}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Fortressmaximus-allornothing2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Let me demonstrate just how much you don't have a [[To sell toys|toy on the shelves]] anymore.]]
It was ultimately [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] who would prove to be the undoing of this giant warrior. The reborn and reconditioned Decepticon leader stole the Ark from its crash site in [[Canada]], and used it as his personal flagship. {{storylink|Realignments}} While establishing control over the ship, Megatron found and disabled Fortress Maximus's dormant form. Spike sneaked aboard the ship and rejoined with Maximus, but the damage inflicted by Megatron meant they had virtually no chance to win.

Brutally beaten in combat with an upgraded and super-charged Megatron, the pair dragged themselves to the heart of the ship and threw themselves into the anti-matter containment unit at the core of its power supply, killing them both and causing the Ark to explode. {{storylink|All or Nothing!}}

Though it kept the Ark out of Megatron's hands, and nearly derailed his plans entirely, their effort was ultimately not successful: Megatron escaped aboard a shuttle and lived to fight again, and even had time to take the convalescent Starscream with him. {{storylink|New Dawn}} {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}

{{-}}

====''Classics''====
{{classicsnote}}

[[Image:Invasion-FortMax.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]

Decades later, in [[2012]] Fortress Maximus was stationed in [[South America]]. Due to the actions of an evil [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] from [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|another dimension]], a rift of space time opened over Earth, causing catastrophes worldwide. Cerebros, merged with Spike, gathered civilians inside Fortress Maximus for safety. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}
{{-}}

===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Stephen Keener]] (English), [[Kunihiko Yasui]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Fortressmaximusg1rebirth.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

When a battle for possession of the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]] led a group of Autobots and Decepticons to be stranded on the planet [[Nebulos]], partnership between the Transformers and the native Nebulans led to the development of Headmaster and Targetmaster technology. The planet's evil ruling council, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], took the technology to its most powerful extreme when its leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] created the massive city-sized Scorponok to serve as his Headmaster partner and used his power to steal back the chamber key. The Decepticons departed for Cybertron, and the Autobots were poised to give chase when Spike Witwicky announced that he and the pacifistic Cerebros would be staying behind. While the other Autobots left in pursuit, Spike had Cerebros lead him to the ruins of the Hive's original city, which they had lived in before moving underground. Taking control of the various abandoned machines there, Spike rebuilt the city, Cerebros and even himself into a Headmaster robot that could stand up to Scorponok's power: Fortress Maximus!

[[Image:Rebirth3_fortmax_battlestation.jpg|left|250px|thumb]]

The completed Fortress Maximus quickly flew to Cybertron and made a dramatic entrance, setting down in city mode and then transforming to battle station mode to bombard Scorponok and the Decepticons with a hail of weaponsfire. When Zarak transformed Scorponok to robot mode, Spike did likewise with Fortress Maximus, and the two titans battled, with Maximus on the losing end until Zarak threatened the life of Spike's son, Daniel. With a burst of strength, Fortress Maximus took Scorponok down, causing him to collapse with such force that he transformed back to city mode. Spike and Cerebros then disconnected from Maximus and headed inside Scorponok to recover the captive Daniel and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], leaving Maximus to keep the other Decepticons at bay with his many weapons. The Decepticons were able to get through Maximus's firestorm and got Scorponok airborne, but not before Spike succeeded in his rescue.

Subsequently, with the Plasma Energy Chamber back under Autobot control, Fortress Maximus flew the Autobot Headmasters and Targetmasters back to Nebulos. There, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] announced that after they had eradicated the Hive's evil from the planet, Cerebros would live on the planet as its guardian, presumably meaning that Fortress Maximus would be staying there too. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

{{note|It is unclear if Fortress Maximus had any sentience of his own; he did speak once in his own voice, but for the most part, even Cerebros's will seemed to be pushed aside so Spike could run the whole thing himself.}}

===Japanese animated continuity===
{{note|In Japan, Fortress Maximus's mental functions are housed in a small robot who transforms into a head and connects to a larger, lifeless transtector body. This larger body in turn becomes the head of a ''giant'' transtector, forming the robot known as Fortress Maximus. The ''Headmasters'' toyline referred to the smallest robot as '''Cerebros''', who formed the head of the intermediate robot '''Fortress''', but this distinction was never actually made in fiction, and the character was always referred to as "Fortress" regardless of whether he was in small or intermediate form.}}

====''The Great Transformer War'' comic====
[[Image:Hmmanga battered headmasters.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]

In the year 2010, while significant Transformer battles were being waged throughout space and on Earth, Fortress was active on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]]. After the younger Headmaster warriors under his command were defeated in battle by [[Sixshot]] and the Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress quickly roused his fallen comrades and ordered them to board his battleship, the Maximus, so that they could pursue the villains. Their destination: Cybertron! {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 3|The Great Transformer War #3}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ikuya Sawaki]]

[[Image:Hm7 fortress small bot.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

Four million years ago, Fortress was a [[Cyberdroid|diminutive Cybertronian]] who had not yet mastered the art of transformation, and was a friend of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s. He was among the many Transformers that fled Cybertron in an attempt to escape the corrosion of war without end, and led a group of his fellow small Cybertronians in search of a new peaceful world they could call home. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Alas, engine trouble caused their ship to crash on the inhospitable world of planet Master, whose hazardous environmental conditions began threatening the lives of Fortress and his men almost as soon as they departed the wreckage of their ship and began trekking through a desert of shifting sands. The need for survival fostered many technological and mental advancements, however, and Fortress and his people endured.

[[Image:Hm1_battleship_maximus.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

Fortress was responsible for many of the technological quantum leaps, the most significant of which was the invention of "[[transtector]]s": larger, lifeless Transformer bodies to which the small Cybertronians could connect as heads. After a rigorous physical and mental training program that allowed them to finally master transformation and even instilled powerful telepathic and telekinetic powers in them, Fortress and nine other warriors bonded with these transtectors to become "Headmasters". {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} Fortress even took the process one step further, and with the aid of other Master scientists like [[Jack (Headmasters)|Jack]], created a ''huge'' transtector that could transform into the battleship, Maximus. Fortress's own transtector was engineered to also transform into a head, which could control the many functions of the Maximus from a special docking bay on the battleship's bridge, {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} and which could form the head for the battleship's own colossal robot mode, known as "Fortress Maximus". Fortress also created the powerful [[Master Sword]] for himself, and tied the Maximus's transformation into it; in order to convert the battleship to robot mode, Fortress had to draw a small version of the blade from a sheath beneath his command console, but this feat could only be accomplished when his physical and mental energies were in perfect synchronization. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}}

Unfortunately, half of the Headmasters eventually rebelled against Fortress's leadership, siding with a traitor named Scorponok against him. The traitors were defeated by Fortress and his comrades and exiled from Master, but eventually, they came to ally themselves with the Decepticons under the command of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

{{note|The events of the ''Great Transformer War'' manga occur at this point.}}

[[Image:Hm2_kup_and_fortress.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

In the year 2011, when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress Maximus brought the Autobot Headmasters back to their homeworld aboard the Maximus. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Even the mightiest of the Decepticons' [[combiner]]s could not stand against Battleship Maximus's firepower, and the evil robots were forced into retreat. This task complete, Fortress set the Maximus down at the Autobots' secondary headquarters on the planet [[Athenia]], where he introduced himself and his comrades and explained their origins, and was reunited with Kup. After being filled in by the Autobots on the current crisis—[[Vector Sigma]] had become destabilized, putting the planet at risk—Fortress deduced that the [[Matrix of Leadership]] was necessary to bring the computer back under control. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Unfortunately, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] had already ventured into the depths of Cybertron without the Matrix, willing to sacrifice his own life to stabilize Vector Sigma, so Fortress headed into the planet's catacombs after him while the other Headmasters helped [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] search for the Matrix, hidden somewhere on [[Earth]]. Though Fortress was not able to catch up to Prime before he reached Vector Sigma's chamber, he was able to use his telepathic powers to contact Prime's companion, the spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], helping to guide him safely through the maze of tunnels. It turned out that [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] had made it to the chamber ahead of Prime, however, and Fortress raced through the remainder of the tunnels to aid Prime against the two Decepticons. Hot Rod soon arrived with the Matrix, which he used to become Rodimus Prime again, but before he could use it to bring Vector Sigma back under control, Optimus Prime merged with the computer to stabilize it, giving up his life in the process. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Prime was not the only casualty of the crisis: [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] also lost his life in the search for the Matrix. Luckily, Fortress was able to use the advanced technology of Master to rebuild and resurrect him, as Twincast. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[Image:Hm5_fortmax_headmode.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

While patrolling space for Decepticon activity aboard the Maximus, the Autobot Headmasters discovered [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] stowed away on board. After explaining the function of his Head Mode to the shocked youngsters, Fortress agreed to let the pair join them on the patrol. Soon after, the Autobots came upon two stranded [[Beastformer]]s from the planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]], and learned that the Decepticons had invaded their planet; the infuriated Fortress made for the planet with all due speed, after sending a report to Rodimus Prime on Athenia. The Autobot Headmasters helped the native Beastformers liberate their planet from Decepticon control, but Fortress was concerned with a blueprint recovered from an underground factory that indicated the Decepticons were building something. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}}

[[Image:Hm6_fortmax_funnyfaces.jpg|left|thumb|225px|:D]]

When the Decepticons launched a [[Metamorphose|metal-warping meteor]] at Athenia, Fortress and his battleship were powerless to do anything, for fear of being destroyed by the meteor's gravity sensors. It fell to Daniel Witwicky to destroy the meteor, so Fortress transported him as close to it as he was able. Daniel lost his nerve at the last minute, so Fortress calmed him down by making some silly faces. Dignified! {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}} Later, a phoney distress call lured Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters into a trap on the planet [[Praum]] set by their old foe, Scorponok. Despite being trapped in a subterranean chamber with the endless desert sands pouring in on top of him, Fortress kept his head and reminded his young allies of the similar hardships they had suffered on Master and the training they had undergone to overcome them. With the skills they had learned back then, they were able to escape. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

[[Image:Hm10_fortress_appointed_commander.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

When Galvatron launched an attack on Cybertron in an attempt to steal a new alloy developed by Vector Sigma named [[cybertonuron]], Fortress advised Rodimus Prime against striking back in full force, preferring to find another way to stop the Decepticons than putting all their warriors in danger. Rodimus refused, and Fortress quietly acquiesced to his commander's wishes, ferrying him to Cybertron on Battleship Maximus. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} The battle ended catastrophically, however, when treachery on the part of Scorponok led to the detonation of a collection of bombs in Vector Sigma's chamber, devastating Cybertron and rendering it uninhabitable, and apparently killing Galvatron in the process. Realizing with deep regret that Fortress's caution had been warranted, Rodimus Prime decided that the era of his generation of Transformers was over, and vowed to search the universe for a new planet the Transformers could call home. He passed the title of [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots (though not the Matrix of Leadership) to Fortress, who was visibly uncomfortable with the appointment, but accepted it graciously, telling himself not to contest it because it was his destiny. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

[[Image:G1FortressMaximus HMstockfootage.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"...But it's the pelvic thruuuuuust / that really drives you in-sa-a-a-ane..."]]

Fortress's tenure as leader got off to a strong start with the successful completion of the [[Sol 1]] satellite, a joint venture between the Autobots and humanity to gather solar energy. Unfortunately, the satellite was stolen by the Decepticons, forcing the Autobot Headmasters to destroy it to keep it out of their hands. Before being destroyed, however, the satellite's energy was beamed by the villains to the planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]]. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Fortress attempted to study Zarak from afar in hopes of deducing what the Decepticons were up to, but the planet's gaseous shroud prevented remote observation of its surface, and the Decepticons began staging concentrated attacks on Earth to keep the Autobots' attentions divided. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} One such attack saw the Decepticons unleash a carnivorous, ambulatory plant upon [[San Francisco]], which Fortress identified as a [[buridanka]] from the planet [[Darhos]]. When the Autobot Headmasters responded, Battleship Maximus was caught in the plant-monster's vines, and Fortress's lack of focus left him unable to draw the Master Sword and transform. Galvanized by the cries of the other Headmasters, however, his energies soon came into alignment, and for what was apparently the first time (given everyone else's surprise when it happened) Fortress transformed the Maximus and combined with it to form Fortress Maximus. With the power of the Master Sword, he easily dispatched the giant plant. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

[[Image:Hm14 fortress draws mastersword.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Weakened by the great energy demands of his transformation, Fortress sent the Autobot Headmasters to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] without him when news of Decepticon movement on the planet reached the Autobots. When the Headmasters discovered that the Decepticons were planning to blow up Mars, however, Fortress went into action, only to be struck with a [[plasma energy]] bomb by the Decepticons Headmasters just as he was in the middle of transforming into Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} Although Fortress survived the blast, his energies were severely drained, and the powerless Maximus was unable to depart Mars as the countdown to the Decepticons' planet-destroying explosion continued. Even worse, into the middle of this crisis stepped Scorponok, now outfitted with a gigantic transtector of his own: the end result of the mysterious construction operations on planets Beast and Zarak. Scorponok pummelled the paralyzed Maximus, then pulled out just before the chain of explosion began. Fortress told the Headmasters to leave him and the Maximus to their fate, but luckily, at the last minute, the battleship began absorbing the energy released by the early stages of the explosion. Fortress was able to use this energy to transform into Fortress Maximus, and escaped the destruction of Mars, slashing Scorponok with the Master Sword as he came bursting from the conflagration. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

[[Image:Hm17_maximus_vs_scorponok.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

While Fortress and the Headmasters were patrolling the edges of Decepticon space to keep an eye on their enemies' activities, Scorponok attacked the Maximus, only for the fight to be broken up by a strange UFO. Back on Athenia, Fortress met with the Autobots' deep cover spy, [[Punch (G1)|Punch]], and learned that Scorponok was holding a coronation ceremony for himself on Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]]. The Autobots attacked the ceremony, during which Fortress again pitted his battleship against Scorponok, but the fighting was brought to an end when the UFO returned, and was revealed to belong to Galvatron, who had survived Cybertron's destruction. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Fortress fought Scorponok again soon after, when the Autobots tried to provide energy relief to the other-dimensional planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]]. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

[[Image:Hm23_fortmax_sword_slash.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

When the Decepticons embarked on an interplanetary energy quest, the Autobots determined to follow them aboard Fortress's battleship; Fortress had to be convinced to allow Daniel to come with them. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}} Their first port of call was the planet [[Hive (planet)|Hive]], but before the Maximus could set down, they were attacked by the planet's force. Fortress was intent on a show of non-resistance and would not fire back, while [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] went down to the planet's surface and proved the Autobots' good intentions to Hive's [[Queen Bee]]. The Autobots joined forces with the natives to fend off the Decepticons; Fortress disconnected the Maximus's "Master Shot" cannon so the Headmasters could wield it, then transformed into Fortress Maximus to send Scorponok packing with the Master Sword. {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!}} Fortress then used the Maximus to fly the Autobots to [[Twin Star]], where he dealt with Scorponok by hauling him into the air and dropping him, {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} and [[Daros]], where he used the Maximus's internal defense systems to stop [[Curl|a gang of prisoners]] from taking control of the battleship. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} The battleship needed some repairs before it could take the Autobots to [[Paradise]], which Fortress had Chromedome and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] perform. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} Fortress again transformed to Fortress Maximus on the final planet of their journey, [[Pirate Planet]], taking Scorponok out with a Master Sword-slash to the chest. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

[[Image:Hm25_fortress_cradles_magnus.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

After returning to Athenia, Fortress and the Headmasters received news of a Decepticon attack on Earth and headed there with all due haste, but they were not in time to stop [[Sixshot]] from mortally wounding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. Fortress held Magnus as he died, then carried his body aboard the Maximus for burial along an Earth coastline. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} Soon after, with Decepticon attacks intensifying, Fortress had to talk [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] out of risking his own life in the pursuit of revenge against Sixshot. When word came through from Punch that Galvatron intended to use the gathered energy to fuse himself with the Earth itself, Fortress and the Headmasters immediately departed to confront the Decepticon leader in [[Alaska]]. The Headmasters were able to use Punch's information to finally end the threat of Galvatron with their [[Head Formation]], burying him in the Arctic ice. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

[[Image:Hm26_weak_spot.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

Galvatron's demise left a power vacuum that Scorponok immediately filled, and once appointed leader again, he immediately put into motion a plan to destroy the Earth by simultaneously erupting every volcano on the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]]. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] deduced his plan, but a Decepticon attack on [[Autobot City]] left Spike fatally wounded, with a chunk of shrapnel embedded in one of his arteries. Medical science could do nothing for Spike, so Fortress used his telekinetic powers to dissolve the shrapnel, saving Spike, but draining all of Fortress's energy. Even in his weakened state, unable to transform, Fortress still attempted to stop Scorponok from initiating his plan on the Kamchatka Peninsula, but Scorponok simply hurled the Maximus into a volcano. As it turned out, this allowed Fortress to absorb the geothermal energy of the volcano's magma, restoring his power and ability to transform. Following information decoded by Chromedome, Fortress Maximus was able to puncture Scorponok's weak spot, the Decepticon symbol on his chest, forcing the villain and his followers to flee the planet. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}}

[[Image:Hm28_fortress_examines_targetmaster.jpg|left|thumb]]

With Earth finally free of the Decepticons, the Autobots set about removing every trace of their evil from the planet. Fortress co-ordinated the effort, but just as he was meeting with three new Autobot arrivals—[[Pointblank]], [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]—a report came through from Chromedome that one of the plasma energy bombs he had been tasked with gathering up had become active. Fortress quickly picked up the bombs in Battleship Maximus, intending to transport them into space so they could detonate harmlessly, but as the ship departed the atmosphere, it crossed paths with another vessel containing refugees from Master. While the Autobots held off the Decepticons pursuing the Master vessel, Fortress and Twincast welcomed the refugees on board, and learned from them that Scorponok's Decepticons had attacked Master. The refugees then helped get the plasma bombs off Battleship Maximus, but they proceeded to detonate before everyone could get clear, and the explosion fused the refugees to the arms of the Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} Fortress used his scientific know-how to remove the refugees from the Autobots' arms, but a strange link remained between the warriors. With these "[[Targetmaster]]s" added to their ranks, Fortress piloted Battleship Maximus to Master to stop Scorponok's evildoings there. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}}

[[Image:MasterSwordDanger Floppydisk.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Seeking to forge a weapon to counter Fortress's Master Sword, Scorponok arranged for the kidnap of Wheelie so that he could be ransom for information on the sword. Fortress agonized over what to do, but the decision was made for him when Chromedome and Daniel snuck away to rescue Wheelie themselves. Learning of their insubordination, Fortress played along, keeping the Decepticons' attentions on his battleship and preparing a data disk to "hand over". Unfortunately, when the Decepticons learned that Wheelie had been rescued, a fight broke out over the disk and it was snatched from Fortress's grasp. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} The Decepticons retreated underground, but Fortress was able to track them down by equipping the Master Sword with sensors that would allow the Maximus to track any surges of the energy needed to create it, which Scorponok was sure to require to forge his own weapon. Unfortunately, [[Weirdwolf]] was able to sneak aboard the Maximus, and although Fortress repelled him, he had secretly planted bombs on the battleship that covered the Decepticons' escape when they went off. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}}

[[Image:Hm31_fortmax_defeated.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

As Battleship Maximus was repaired, Fortress debated strategy with the Autobots, eventually agreeing with the Targetmasters' plan to lure the Decepticons into space to avoid collateral damage to Master. Unfortunately, the hot-headed Chromedome disagreed, and staged his own attack on the Decepticons with the aid of the young warriors of Master. Chromedome's strategy went sour, forcing Fortress Maximus to go into action, but when the Master Sword clashed with Scorponok's newly-forged "[[Zarak Shield]]", it was the Zarak Shield that emerged triumphant! Defeated, Fortress Maximus could only watch as Scorponok departed for Earth, intending to destroy it once and for all. {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}}

The Autobots gave chase in the Maximus, but during the space battle that resulted, Daniel was set adrift when the Maximus's Laser Block unit was damaged and jettisoned. Fortress was forced to divert to rescue the boy, allowing the Decepticons a substantial lead in the race back to Earth. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} Their lead was lost when they were forced to set down on the asteroid [[Pallas]] for repairs, and the Maximus set down on [[Ceres]] in order to attack. During the fight, Sixshot challenged Chromedome to a one-on-one duel, and Fortress's pleas that he not accept the challenge fell on deaf ears. Even as Scorponok took off for Earth again, Fortress concluded that he and the other Autobots would have to leave Chromedome to his duel and carry on the chase. As it happened, the duel was interrupted by an explosion courtesy of bombs Scorponok had planted on the battlefield, so Chromedome was able to rejoin Maximus not long after. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

[[Image:Hm35 master sword zappped.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

As the Maximus entered the final stretch back to Earth, reports began coming in from the Autobots down on the planet of Decepticon attacks, accompanied by the emergence of strange towers at specific points around the globe. Once back on Earth, Fortress met with Punch, who unfortunately had to report that Scorponok had disappeared into the Mediterranean Ocean. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} The Autobots soon realized that the "Death Towers" were composed of energy-amplifying [[crysmagnetal]], and were creating a field of energy that was surrounding the Earth. Following Punch's lead, Fortress led the Autobots to Egypt, where Scorponok was outfitting a Death Tower with an induction booster to magnify the amount of energy it was projecting. The Master Sword played the unfortunate role of lightning rod in the presence of the Death Tower, attracting bolts of the tower's energy and stunning Fortress, preventing him from stopping Scorponok. As Scorponok fled, he told Fortress to meet him at the North Pole, where even he would have a role to play in his scheme.

[[Image:Hm35_final_battle.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

With no other choices, Fortress followed his enemy's instructions, and the entire Autobot and Decepticon armies clashed in battle in the frozen north. There, Scorponok lured Fortress Maximus onto a crysmagnetal dais, at which point, an orbiting Decepticon satellite that had been gathering the energies projected by the Death Towers activated, beaming the collected energy down to the dais. Scorponok disconnected from his transtector, and left the paralyzed Fortress Maximus trapped in the satellite's beam, part of a deadly circuit of energy that threatened to tear the Earth apart. The four Headmasters joined in Head Formation and tried to channel their energy into Fortress Maximus in hopes of giving him the strength to break free, but their own power was not enough. At Daniel's suggestion, all the other Autobots linked up as part of the chain, and together combined in "Final Formation", they infused Maximus with enough energy to deflect the satellite's beam with the Master Sword, destroying it. With one mighty slash, Fortress Maximus bisected Scorponok's transtector, finally ending the Decepticon threat.

The Decepticons subsequently fled Earth, and the Autobots gathered to pursue them. Fortress told the tearful Daniel that it was necessary in order to continue defend peace throughout the universe, but promised the boy that they would meet again. Together, the Autobots all boarded Fortress's battleship, and took off into the setting sun. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''Kiss Players/15 Go! Go!''====
[[Image:KPBraveMax.jpg|right|thumb|115px]]
{{note|Fortress's cameo appearance in ''Kiss Players'' is set shortly after his arrival on Master.}}

Slumped miserably on the barren surface of Master in their smallest robot forms, Fortress, Chromedome and Highbrow's attention was caught when a [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|time-travelling spaceship]] materialized over their heads and crashed nearby. {{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 1}} By studying and reverse-engineering the technology found in this spaceship, Fortress and the scientists of Master invented transtectors and the Headmaster process. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48}}/{{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 3}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
{{note|The events of the Headmasters manga take place concurrently with the Headmasters cartoon.}}

[[Image:Manga fort max.jpg|left|thumb|275px]]

Soon after Optimus Prime died stabilizing Vector Sigma, the Decepticons staged an attack on Athenia, and Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters quickly took off in Battleship Maximus to intercept them as they approached the planet. Daniel opined that the Decepticons were "a lot like parasites", to which Fortress murmured an agreement. At that point, the Decepticons appeared in front of them, and the Autobots realized that they had played into the villains' hands: they intended to destroy Fortress's battleship with a bomb. Luckily, Chromedome moved quickly enough to snatch the bomb away and save the Maximus. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 1|The Headmasters #1}}

Responding to an SOS from their Beastformer comrades, Fortress escorted the Autobot Headmasters to planet Beast to investigate. No sooner had the young warriors left Battleship Maximus to search, Rodimus Prime radioed Fortress for an update. Fortress didn't have anything to tell him, but assured Rodimus that the Headmasters would get to the bottom of the mystery. {{storylink|Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!}} Later, once they were back on Earth, Fortress sent the Headmasters on their next mission, to respond to a Decepticon attack on an Alaskan energy plant. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 2|The Headmasters #2}}

When a fire tore through [[Shinjuku]], Chromedome, [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]] responded, but their rescue effort was impeded by the Decepticon Targetmaters. Luckily, Fortress soon arrived to extinguish the fire by dumping a massive amount of water on it from above using Battleship Maximus, freeing up the others to deal with the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

{{-}}
====''Super-God Masterforce Master File''====
Following the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth after the battle at the North Pole, the Transformers' war shifted into a series of space-based exchanges between Athenia and Chaar known as the [[Master Wars]]. With the space bridge destroyed, interstellar transportation was severely limited, and it fell to Fortress and the Maximus to patrol space for the Decepticons. While on one such patrol, Fortress received a transmission from Sixshot alerting him to the existence of a [[Devil Z|new shadowy puppet master]] who had taken control of the Decepticons. This news came at the same time as a report from the Trainbots which indicated that Scorponok had constructed a new transtector for himself, and so Fortress had no choice but to focus on dealing with this mystery. With access to the ever-important Earth now greatly reduced and his attentions now focused elsewhere, Fortress left guardianship of the planet in the hands of [[Metalhawk]] and his [[Pretender]]s. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}}

{{note|Following the end of the ''Headmasters'' franchise, Japanese cartoon continuity branches off in two separate directions. One version of the story is told through the [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon]], the other is told through the [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|''Masterforce'' manga]]. Fortress plays much the same role in both, but gets up to a bit more in the manga.}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
[[Image:Masterforce ep23 FuzzyFortress.JPG|right|thumb]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ikuya Sawaki]] (Japanese)

Following the commands of Devil Z, the space-based Decepticon forces orchestrated the bombardment of Earth with meteors. Although they were able to carry out this assault without the direct knowledge of Fortress's Autobots, Fortress did become suspicious when he observed that the Decepticons had broken their usual formation. Worried, Fortress sent a message to Metalhawk's Autobots on Earth, but alas, by the time the distorted missive arrived, the meteors had already struck the planet and caused massive collateral damage. {{storylink|Expose the Decepticons' Dark Trap!}}

Soon after, Fortress's younger brother, [[Grand Maximus|Grand]], travelled to Earth to aid the Autobots there against the approaching threat of [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]]. Grand was physically identical to his big bro, save for his coloration, and even piloted a smaller Maximus-style battleship of his own. {{storylink|Life? Death? The Desperate Lightfoot}}

{{-}}
====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic====
[[Image:Mfmanga fortress meets ginrai.jpg|left|thumb]]

When a new and powerful Autobot warrior named [[Ginrai]] rose to prominence on Earth, he distinguished himself to the point that Fortress decided to step down as Supreme Commander and appoint Ginrai in his place. The Trainbots brought Ginrai and his [[Headmaster Junior]] allies to Athenia, where Fortress formally handed over leadership, then departed to take care of some business on Master. In his absence, the united forces of the Earth- and space-based Decepticons attacked Athenia, but Ginrai was able to repel them. Fortress arrived back just as the Decepticons were pulling out, and announced that the Autobots must pool their resources as their enemies had, uniting their forces on Earth and space to commence the [[Godbomber|Bomber Project]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
Fortress Maximus served as transport when Ultra Magnus lead a mission to a small asteroid in search of a new source of [[Energon]]. The Autobots discovered a [[Observer|small alien]], and [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] utilized Maximus's laboratory to determine that the creature turned its food into Energon. A later fracas with the Decepticons resulted in Fortress Maximus getting involved, leading to a fight with Scorponok. {{storylink|The Test (issue)|The Test}}

===''Transformers PD Type''===
[[Image:Pdtype_fortmax_manga.jpg|right|thumb|275px]]
While casually minding his own business one day, Fortress Maximus was suddenly shocked to see a wave of Decepticons led by Galvatron bearing down on him. He immediately transformed into robot mode... but he had completely forgotten that he had been in city mode, leaving all the poor Autobots who had been inside him squished and thinking there had been an earthquake. {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##12 "Bigger than Life! Fortress Maximus!"|Bigger Than Life! Fortress Maximus!}}

Fortress Maximus later met Scorponok in battle, vowing to never surrender. All the other Transformers would probably have preferred that he ''did'' surrender, though, since the battle put them ''all'' in danger when the two towering titans toppled over, threatening to accidentally crush them all! {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##14 "Watch Out! Mega Zarak!"|Watch Out! MegaZarak!}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
A normal-sized Fortress Maximus was a co-leader of the Autobot forces on Cybertron, along with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. As Cybertron's resources ran low, they struggled to hold the Autobot army together. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing}} The war continued despite their best efforts, and after a fruitless and disastrous skirmish with the Micromaster [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] and the Decepticons, Fortress Maximus gave up on the war. He left the Autobot army in order to seek a new path. {{Storylink|Victims of the Revolution}}

A gargantuan Fortress Maximus was also seen in a [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-induced vision of future [[Nebulos]] by Optimus Prime and Megatron. {{Storylink|The War Within issue 4|The War Within #4}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:Ironclaw artofwar.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
While imbued with the wisdom of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] had a vision of Fortress Maximus and [[Sgt. Savage]] fighting against [[Iron Klaw]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===
{{spoiler|Interiors|July 27}}

[[Image:SpotlightArcee FortressMaximus.jpg|left|300px|thumb|You wanna argue with him?]]
Fortress Maximus is referred to as 'warborn', presumably meaning he came online during the war. {{storylink|Interiors}}

A somewhat less pacifistic Fortress Maximus (Seriously, he repeatedly threatened to kill his prisoners or otherwise "strip them down to their spark cores") was the warden in charge of [[Garrus-9]], an Autobot-run penitentiary where both Autobot and Decepticon prisoners were kept in containment. As the ultimate imprisonment, most inmates were reduced down to their [[spark]] and [[laser core]] alone, held inanimate in a storage center known as "The Rig" until such a time as Fortress Maximus deemed to rebuild and release them, if ever. Astoundingly, this method was deemed too "merciful" for at least one [[Impactor (G1)|prisoner]].

Fortress Maximus was one of many Autobots across the galaxy who watched a news report heralding the miraculous return of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] encountered the [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] [[Combiner|combiners]] on [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s asteroid bunker, he sent them to Garrus-9 with [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], hoping the science team could help the six recover from [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s experimentations. Fortress Maximus was dubious of the possible results, but allowed Jetfire and his team to run their tests at Garrus-9. Things changed for the worse, however, once word of the gestalt technology got out, and agents of the [[Decepticon Secret Service]] came to claim the remarkable new tech for themselves. Faced with an incredible amount of orbital bombardment and ground warfare, Fortress Maximus and his defensive crew were at serious risk of being overrun.

In order to maintain control of his base, Max reactivated the only Autobot inmate classified as Threat Level-9: [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. Knowing Arcee had strong feelings about Jhiaxus and his work from personal experience, Fortress Maximus felt confident she would do anything to prevent the Decepticons from laying claim to the "[[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]." In case he was wrong, though, Fortress Maximus made it clear to Arcee she was lowjacked with synchronized G-forces that would crush her spark if she stepped out of line. Despite Arcee's help, the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] still managed to make off with the gestalt robots. Against his better judgment, Fortress Maximus allowed Jetfire to convince him that Arcee was the best available to track and intercept the Secret Service ships and retrieve or destroy the gestalt robots. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

When Optimus Prime and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] met with Fortress Maximus and Jetfire on Garrus-9 to discuss the prisoners' breakout, also mentioned was that a surviving Decepticon had been tortured. Maximus and Jetfire exchanged guilty glances. Prime left Maximus in charge and returned with Prowl and Jetfire to the ''[[Ark-32]]''. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

With the death of [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Nova Prime|Nemesis Prime]] was forced to enter the living universe and confront Optimus Prime at Garrus-9. Fortress Maximus and the other Autobots were hunkered down in The Last Resort, the best-defended, highest-security section of the penitentiary, and he believed that not even a [[Cortynivian shadow worm]] could get in. He was wrong, as Nemesis effortlessly forced his way in, killed [[Manta Ray (G2)|Manta Ray]] and [[Drench (G2)|Drench]] and shrugged off all Autobot weapons fire. Maximus called in reinforcements until Optimus convinced him that conventional tactics would not work with the undead Prime and went to deal with Nemesis Prime himself. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

During Megatron's massive push against the Autobots, an annoyed Maximus led the defense of the prison against the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] forces. However, when the sociopathic [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] took control of the Decepticon forces, the prison was overrun and Fortress Maximus beaten down by the monster. And then, to keep the liberated prisoners on his side, Overlord tossed them their former warden to have some fun... so long as they kept him alive. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}}

[[Image:Overlord-Fort-Max-Interiors.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
The inmates apparently followed Overlord's instructions, as Fortress Maximus survived...only to be put through brutal torture by the Phase Sixer. During one particularly brutal session (in which he lost one leg and the rest of him was nailed to a table and Overlord threatened to torture and murder a guard for every moment of hesitation), Overlord interrogated him to gain access to the [[Aequitas]] chamber. Maximus said Overlord had no idea what Aequitas even was, only for the Decepticon to explain he had no interest in the 'judgement machine', and wanted what was Aequitas was built over. He then continued sawing the warden apart according to footage [[Rewind]] possessed.{{storylink|Interiors}}

[[Image:LastStandoftheWreckers3-Fort Max the cabbage.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hope you weren't going to bed after reading this page!]]
Half of the [[Wrecker]]s eventually came across Maximus's barely-alive body. Rendered comatose and with his optics and limbs removed, he had been plugged into the lock of the door to [[Aequitas]]'s chamber, and put to use entering in code after code in a Decepticon attempt to break in. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] removed Maximus's connection to the lock, then [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] pulled his body from the door to carry him. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

When the Decepticons broke into the Aequitas chamber, [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] carried Fortress Maximus to safety. Eventually, the Wreckers succeeded in defeating Overlord and saving Garrus-9, and Maximus was placed on life support alongside [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

He was later transferred to [[Delphi]], where he was diagnosed with 'an eternal coma'.When [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Pharma| Pharma]], and [[Ambulon| Ambulon]] were cornered by [[Genericon|Genericons]], [[First Aid (G1)| First Aid]] managed to revitalize Fortress Maximus to fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} Fortress Maximus then brutally murdered them. After Pharma revealed himself be in league with the Decepticons, Maximus pursued him until he disappeared into a bolthole too small for Maximus to follow. After Ratchet dealt with Phrama and the [[Red Rust]], Fortress Maximus joined the crew of the [[Lost Light]] on their their mission to find the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

{{spoiler|Interiors|July 27}}
On Ratchet's orders, Fort Max was compelled to visit [[Rung]], who asked him questions about what had happened to him on Garrus-9. Fortress Maximus denied remembering anything, despite his torture at Overlord's hands being clear in his mind. Afterwards, Maximus then headed to [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve's]] bar, where he went on a shooting spree, blasting [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], [[Boss (G1)|Boss]], [[Turbine]], [[Dogfight]] and [[Doubletap]], because they reminded him of Overlord. Fort Max then locked himself within Rung's office, tying the psychoanalyst to his chair and impaling Rung's current patient, [[Whirl (G1)| Whirl]], to the ground with a pipe. Threatening to murder them, he repeatedly pistol-whipped Whirl, who constantly insulted him. At Rung's suggestion, Maximus contacted '[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]' to demand to be taken back to Cybertron so he could get an explanation from [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] regarding why he was left on Garrus-9 for so long. Hanging up and crushing the communicator underfoot, he noticed Rung's right thumb contained a microphone and was broadcasting to the ship, and promptly ripped off said thumb. Whirl continued to taunt him, and at Maximus's prompting, told his life story. This turned out to be a delaying tactic, and once Maximus realized the ship hadn't changed course, he prepared to kill his hostages. He was distracted by images of his own torture at Overlord's hands, projected as a distraction by Rewind while Swerve lined up a shot. Swerve's shot instead accidentally hit and killed Rung, much to Maximus's anguish shortly before he himself was impaled by Whirl. He survived and was placed in the ship's brig. {{storylink|Interiors}}
{{-}}

===''United''===
When the [[Autobot]]s fell down with a [[nano-virus]], Fortress Maximus was in city mode as part of [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: The Headmasters''===
When the Decepticons struck out at four planets, including Cybertron and Earth, Fortress Maximus was joined by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and the Headmasters of Justice to save the final planet from [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Headmasters (video game)|Transformers: The Headmasters}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1FortressMaximus toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|If I hear somebody ask "how's the weather up there" one more time, Primus help them...]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (Headmaster Base, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-114'''
**''Accessories:'' Spike Headmaster unit, Cerebros large Headmaster unit, [[Cog (G1)|Gasket]], [[Cog (G1)|Grommet]], Photon Rifle, Dual Laser Cannon, Cerebros's Mini Laser Rifle, [[Cog (G1)|Cog]]'s Laser rifle, Radar Scope, Master Sword (Japanese release only), Cerebros's sword (Japanese release only)

: Fortress Maximus is, by far, the largest Transformers toy ever produced. In robot mode it stands 22" (or 56 cm) tall, nearly 8" (20 cm) taller than its in-fiction rival Scorponok. The original retail price was over $100USD. Taking into account ongoing trends in toy pricing and retail shelf space jockeying, it is highly doubtful any other Transformers even close to this size will ever be made again.

: The toy has multiple alt mode configurations, transforming into a relatively compact "city" mode, and also a secondary mode described in the US instruction as a "battle station." That mode was rebranded as a starship for the Japanese instructions, and is the "default" mode for Fortress Maximus in the ''Headmasters'' animated series. Additionally, the 1987 Hasbro toy catalog features a mis-transformed Fortress Maximus in a mode referred to as an "impenetrable fortress," essentially consisting of his city mode with the legs splayed outwards.

: In all modes, Maximus has a wide array of pop-out (non-firing) guns and gimmicks. Its left leg hides a small prison cell, plus has a swing-out cannon/helipad. Its right leg has a small storage compartment. Its torso has a gear-activated spinner for the detachable radar array accessory, a "control socket" for [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]]' "communications room" mode, and a working elevator that can lift small toys up to its central ramp to be launched in its altmodes. (The crank for this elevator ends up in a very unfortunate position in robot mode.) Each arm had a long ramp on the back with sliding launchers for small vehicles.

: Its robot-mode head is formed by Cerebros, who does not actually need Spike to attach to the upper body. It came with both Headmaster units, plus the Gasket and Grommet mini-vehicles.

:[[Megatron (BW)/toys#MegaheadMegatron|Megahead Megatron]]'s spider-head mode (with a few alterations) can fit into Fortress Maximus's head socket; though surely a coincidence, it was noted on the card [[bio]].

: The Japanese release of Fortress Maximus came with a pair of [[Master Sword]]s; one for Fortress, a ''large'' one for Maximus. It is currently unknown if the swords were originally planned for the [[Hasbro]] version but dropped for price or [[For safety reasons|safety concerns]], or if they were a [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]-initiated addition to their release of the toy.

: This mold was used to make ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (toyline)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' [[Grand Maximus]], ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Car Robots]]'' [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], and ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' "[[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Cybertron Base]]".
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Autobot/FortressMaximus/fortressmaximus.htm More information on Fortress Maximus at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Transform Jr===
[[Image:G1 FortressMaximus Jnr toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|We represent the Lollybot guild]]
* '''Fortress Maximus''' (1987)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-114'''
**''Accessories:'' Fortress Headmaster unit, Photon Rifle

: ''[[Transform Jr]]'' Fortress Maximus is a smaller rendering of the character, scaled down to regular Transformer size, and with only one head. Fortress Maximus could only transform from his starship mode to his robot mode, as his legs lack the joints to fold into city mode. Much of his detail and accessories have been simplified into stickers, such as his shin cannons. He comes with only one weapon, his large blue photon rifle.

:This toy was also available in a leaders three-pack with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Convoy]]

::*''[http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/fortmaxjr.php More information of Transform Jr Fortress Maximus at Cliffbee.com]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Gum===
[[Image:Tfgum_fortmax.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (1987)
**''Accessories:'' Head, Photon Rifle, Dual Laser Blaster
:Released in the seventh wave of [[Kabaya]]'s ''[[Transformers Gum]]'' line of snap-together "[[candy toy]]" model kits, this version of Fortress stands at about four inches tall and is cast in grey, white and blue plastic. Unlike the Headmaster figures from the previous ''Transformers Gum'' wave, this version of Fortress Maximus does away with his Headmaster gimmick, and by sheer necessity of size, also lacks the guns in his forearms and fists and the prison cell in his left leg. He does include both of his hand-held weapons and swing-out waist cannons, however, and he can still transform into both starship and city modes. As a ''Transformers Gum'' kit, he featured no paint applications, but came with stickers for detail, and a piece of terrible gum.

::*''[http://bowbowdaijin.blog96.fc2.com/blog-entry-27.html More information on Transformer Gum Fortress Maximus at a Japanese fansite]''
{{--}}

===Parody Deformed===
[[Image:Pdtype_fortmax.jpg|right|thumb|]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (1990)
**''Accessories:'' Master Sword

:A small, blue and white non-transforming [[super deformed]] model kit of Fortress Maximus was available as part of Kabaya's "[[Parody Deformed]]" line of candy toys. The twelfth figure in the series, he came with a "Transformers PD Type" comic about himself, "Bigger Than Life! Fortress Maximus!", and more of that alleged "gum".
{{--}}
===Super Collection Figure/Heroes of Cybertron===
[[Image:Fortmax_scf_hoc.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (2001)

:Fortress Maximus was the collectible "Build-A-Figure" from the third ''Headmasters''-centric wave of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s line of ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' PVC figurines. He was divided into six parts, each one packaged with one of the other six figurines in the line: His head and sword came with [[Raiden]], his torso with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], his left arm with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], his right arm with [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]], his left leg with [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]] and his right leg with [[Sixshot]].

:As the first collectible figure from the line, Fortress Maximus was much rarer than those that would come later, with his parts only coming in two out of every ten cases. Like all the other figures in the wave, his parts were available in two color schemes; of the two cases he was available in, one contained a full-color figure, while the other contained a colorless translucent version.

*'''Fortress''' (2002)

:A standard 3" PVC figurine of Fortress was available in the eighth and final ''SCF'' wave line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available as both a standard full color figure and a metallic silver "pewter" version, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] figures. Additionally, in eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of Fortress came packaged with head and torso of the wave's collectible [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] figure.

*'''Fortress Maximus''' (2003)

: The Fortress Maximus PVC was later revisited by [[Hasbro]] for their domestic release of the ''Super Collection Figure'' series, ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]''. Like all the ''Heroes of Cybertron'' figures, this version of Fortress Maximus was cast entirely in clear-blue plastic and then painted over, save a small spot on his head to give him a "light-pipe" glowing-eyes effect. He remained available only as a collectible pack-in, one part in each of the six releases in the line's fourth wave. His head and sword came with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], his torso with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], his left arm with [[Powermaster]] [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Gigatron]], his right arm with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], his left leg with [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Autobot Jazz]] and his right leg with the Autobot Espionage Team ([[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]).

==Notes==
* "Fortress Maximus" was an early name for the characters that eventually became [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. The [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|comic adaptation]] of the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] even refers to [[Autobot City]] as "Fortress Maximus" in a caption.

* Fortress Maximus was the first toy to be released with a bona-fide Earthling figure. All of the other Headmasters' companions were from Nebulos. (Although Maximus's on-package [[bio]] refers to "the Nebulan leader, Spike", the general consensus is that it was supposed to be the popular figure from TV and other media, who is almost certainly an Earthling.)

* Both Scorponok and Fortress Maximus suffer from the writers struggling to reconcile the characters' high rank with their size. In their comic appearances, they are portrayed as commanders in some capacity but are shrunk down to interact with other Transformers, and their city modes pretty much don't exist. Conversely, the cartoons have opted to portray them as giant city Transformers, though they seem to be merely extensions of the smaller beings that bond with them, with no real life or will of their own.

[[Image:FortMaxReds.jpg|thumb|250px]]

*Fortress Maximus appeared in an unusual red-accented color scheme on the cover of Marvel's [[Ring of Hate!|''Headmasters'' #1]]. This color scheme was repeated in the corner box for [[Love and Steel!|''Headmasters'' #3]] and on the cover of [[The Man in the Machine!|''The Transformers'' #51]]. Its origin is unknown.

* The Battleship ''Maximus'' bears a slight resemblance to the [[Wikipedia:White Base|White Base]], a battleship from the [[Wikipedia:Gundam|''Gundam'' franchise]].

* When Spike transforms to join Fortress Maximus for the last time in the ''Generation 2'' book, Cerebros is not shown, and Spike transforms directly into Fortress Maximus's head. Maximus is shown to be no larger than Megatron. In real-life terms, it's an obvious series of art errors; in the context of the story, one might wonder if Maximus was reduced back to his original, smaller, size. It seems improbable, considering that Spike had been retired for years by that point.

* Fortress Maximus has the distinction of having one of the most well known Transformers [[Knockoff|bootleg]] versions in existence. While Cerebros has been omitted, the Spike figure is the same, and the body has been scaled down to match, effectively making the body compatible with any other Headmaster head. It also fetches absurd prices for a bootleg.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cerebros''' (セレブロス ''Sereburosu''), '''Fortress''' (フォートレス ''Fōtoresu''), '''Fortress Maximus''' (フォートレスマキシマス ''Fōtoresu Makishimasu'')
*''English:'' '''Spaceship Bruce''' (spaceship mode, [[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Cerebros''' (Fortress, [[Shout! Factory]] sub)
*''French:'' '''Forteresse Maximus''' (Canada)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Ford''' (Taiwan, 福特 ''Fú Tè''), '''Furmon''' (Taiwan [[Omni Productions]] dub, 福蒙 ''Fú Méng''), '''Fortry''' (Taiwan [[Omni Productions]] dub, 福崔 ''Fú Tsūei'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Fortecya Maxima''' (Фортеця Максима, "Fortress Maxima")
*''Russian:'' '''Krepysh Maximus''' (Крепыш Максимус, "Sturdy Fellow Maximus")

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

[[Category:Autobot bases]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Autobot starships]]
[[Category:City Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 locations]]
[[Category:Generation 1 starships]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]

Transformation (issue)

2012-07-04T22:35:11Z

68.224.39.107: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Autocracy]]'' #9
|prev=Overthrown
|next=Rise
|caption=
|image=Autocracy 9.jpg
|title="Transformation"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 9]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=
|story by=[[Chris Metzen]] &<br/>[[Flint Dille]]
|art by=[[Livio Ramondelli]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]] &<br/>[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Before the war]]
}}
'''Orion Pax is no more... Arise, Optimus Prime!'''

==Synopsis==
At the [[Trion Square]] in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] announces to the populace that [[Zeta Prime]]'s oppression has come to an end, and the [[Decepticon]]s will now rule [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He invites any [[Autobot]]s who wish to rebuild their society to join him, but of course they don't trust him after his previous betrayal and instead choose to go into hiding. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] are discussing strategies in the city of [[Ultrix]] when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] joins them to pitch in that factions don't matter anymore: the violence will never end anyway.

In the [[Undergrid]] far beneath Iacon, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] lies barely alive where Megatron has disposed of him. In spite of his injuries, he is drawn to move towards a nearby energy source, and ends up in an ancient vault containing the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. In his head, he hears a voice much like his own, but older and wiser, urging him to reach out for the artifact. When he does, he is overcome by pain, fear and loneliness--the current emotions of Cybertronians everywhere. As Orion's consciousness expands across Cybertron and beyond, he takes in the few but bright [[spark]]s that still burn with courage and hope, and realizes that the Matrix does not only represent leadership or creation, but the sparks of all Cybertronians.

As the Autobots consider rallying the people in a resistance movement against Megatron, their safe-house is compromised by the Decepticons and they're all arrested. While the Autobots are led away, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] takes special interest in Hot Rod and invites him to join the Decepticons.

Meanwhile, the Matrix courses throughout Orion Pax, repairing his body and imbuing his mind with clarity and wisdom. He realizes that despite what the Decepticons think, the Cybertronians are ''not'' a divided race and that unity is a matter of perception rather than some event that has to be brought about. The Autobots are not supposed to fight to uphold the laws of a broken system, but to protect the freedom of all sentient beings. It's time for a change... a change that begins with Orion Pax's transformation into Optimus Prime!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (7)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax/Optimus Prime]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Roadblock (G2)|Roadblock]] (2)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (3)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (4)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (9)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (10)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (11)

|c4=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (8)
}}

==Notes==
*Optimus Prime experiencing pain when first united with the Matrix was previously mentioned in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]", although Ratchet wasn't present despite saying he recalled the event.
*Orion Pax describes the Matrix as "a vast [[Underbase]] of collective thought and experience".
*Orion Pax's repairs and transformation into Optimus Prime is presented in a similar fashion to that of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s transformation into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] during ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
[[Category:Autocracy issues]]

Fortress Maximus (G1)

2012-07-01T03:11:18Z

68.224.39.107: /* IDW comics continuity */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Fortress Maximus}}
:''Fortress Maximus is an [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] [[City-bot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:FortMax1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Nobuyuki Hiyama|Link]] called. He wants the [[Master Sword]] back.]]
Despite his great power, size, and rank, '''Fortress Maximus''' is a weary and reluctant warrior. Fighting is against his pacifist nature, even for the most noble of causes. Over time, the endless conflict on Cybertron has worn him down, to the point that he's willing to walk away from the war entirely to preserve himself and his ideals.

Fortress Maximus is big. ''How'' big generally depends on the universe, but often as not he's binary-bonded to a smaller robot named [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] who forms his head; Cerebros's own head is formed by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]].

{{note|Fortress Maximus is one of those fun characters whose English comic, English cartoon and Japanese cartoon incarnations were very different. See individual fiction entries below for continuity specific profiles.}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Ringofhate-evilstain.jpg|right|250px|thumb|He is mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore!]]
Fortress Maximus was an architect in his early career, designing and even constructing many works on Cybertron. When the war came, he reluctantly turned his talents to fighting. {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe profile}}

During the long absence of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], and their respective troops from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], unit commander Fortress Maximus established a headquarters in the [[Manganese Mountains]] and continued the fight against Scorponok's Decepticon contingent.

One fine day on Cybertron, Fortress Maximus's troops staged an ambush on Scorponok's Decepticons, who had just leveled an Autobot city and were marching their prisoners toward the [[Smelting pool|smelting pools]]. Maximus's troops cut a swath through the Decepticon ranks, quickly driving them into retreat.

{{bigquote|Whether I am a hero or a coward is ''not'' the issue! I am ''weary!'' My joints creak from the corrosion of ''war without end!'' I... cannot break this ring of hate that surrounds us all -- but I can remove myself from it. No matter what you decide... I am leaving.|Fortress Maximus announces his decision to quit the war|"[[Ring of Hate!]]"}}

[[Image:Pan-galactic telescope.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"...And that, prospective investors, is why GoogleSaturn will make a million dollars per month."]]
Though his troops were jubilant at their victory, the battle was the last straw for Fortress Maximus. He had become so sick of the war that he decided to leave it. He didn't care if it made him a coward or not, he simply believed that the war would go on regardless of whether or not he was in it. Maximus declared that no matter what the others decided, he was leaving for the planet of [[Nebulos]], a world he had long studied and which seemed to be at peace. His stunned troops agreed, and together constructed a starship dubbed the ''[[Steelhaven]]'' to propel them across the void.

Fortress Maximus immediately sent [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] as an messenger to the Nebulan natives; however, an accident made it appear that the giant robots from outer space came with hostile intent. Some of the more reactionary elements among the Nebulan leadership conspired to make Fortress Maximus's envoy [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] also appear to have hostile intent, and thus were able to incite their fellow Nebulans to arms.

[[Image:Fortmaxgiveshead.jpg|right|250px|thumb|GIVE ME YOUR FACE-I MEAN HEAD!]]
Fortress Maximus and his troops thus found themselves under a full attack from the Nebulans. Max ordered his troops to not fight back, despite complaints from the likes of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and covered them as they retreated into the woods.

Faced with a newly hostile enemy, Fortress Maximus resolved to wage peace, not war. Gathering ten of his followers, he marched up to the Nebulan capital of [[Koraja]], begged to be heard out, and had his group discard their weapons. When that didn't work, he did the next logical thing and pulled his head off. Four other Autobots also resorted to this grotesque stunt before [[Galen]], head of the Nebulan [[World Watchers]], was convinced they weren't a threat. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

[[Image:Brokenglass-autobotstorage.jpg|left|200px|thumb|My honey my baby, don't put my head upon no shelf.]]
The five Autobots' heads were stored in a warehouse, and Galen occasionally consulted with Fortress Maximus, keeping him up to date on outside events as anti-robot protests rocked the capital city.

Soon after, a horde of the Autobots' Decepticon foes appeared before the city gates. Max advised Galen that turning the Autobots over to Scorponok would not prevent him from attacking, and under the Autobot-Nebulan peace agreement, Galen could not simply restore the five Autobots to their bodies. But together with [[Arcana]], the pair came up with another plan. Five volunteer Nebulans were bio-engineered to combine with special armor, and transform into likenesses of the Autobots heads, connecting with and controlling them through the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster process]]. Galen himself became Fortress Maximus's new partner. Fortress Maximus led his newly-enhanced troops against Scorponok, and soundly defeated his numerically superior squad. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

[[Image:Loveandsteel-runfortmaxrun.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I'm just a-runnin' down the road, trying to loosen my load, got a world of troubles on my mind.]]
Fortress Maximus remained inert while Galen performed his various duties. He came back online to lead the Headmasters to the [[Grax Communications Facility]], where a number of Nebulan leaders were apparently being held hostage by the Decepticons. It turned out to be a trap, however, as the Decepticons had also become Headmasters, with Galen's rival [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] now bonded to Scorponok himself. Using several Nebulans as a distraction, Scorponok's troops overpowered Fortress Maximus and the others, taking them hostage. {{storylink|Love and Steel!}}

Max remained out of commission until Zarak, briefly overcoming Scorponok's influence on his mind, freed Galen and the other Autobot-allied Nebulans. Fortress Maximus and company smashed their way out of the holding facility, then ran straight into the newly-formed Decepticon Targetmasters. Max briefly led his troops against the Decepticons, but opted to retreat rather than fight it out. To spare Koraja the carnage of a full-scale fight to the finish, he covered their retreat with the time-honored technique of smashing his enemies with Koraja's metal sculpture of the planet Nebulos. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''Scorponok and Zarak challenged Fortress Maximus and Galen (here called "Kord") to a duel to settle their differences. Kord/Maximus won by cheating, but it didn't matter because the duel was a ruse to distract the Autobots while [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] stole Autobot fuel converters. The Deceptions had bugged the Autobot base and learned of Earth. They needed the converters to travel there. The Decepticons left for Earth and the Autobots followed.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Returning to the Autobot camp, Max/Galen decided to lead the troops away from Nebulos, knowing that Scorponok would follow. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

[[Image:Trialbyfire-fortmax-disassemble.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He does seem to have trouble staying in one piece, doesn't he?]]
During their voyage to Earth, Fortress Maximus underwent a radical reconstruction to alter his size considerably, increasing himself from a slightly tall dude to a ''very'' tall dude, about twice the height of the average Transformer. Of course, with his larger scale, Fortress Maximus needed a new head (Galen still being stuck at roughly human size). For this reason, another Autobot, [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]], was added to serve as a secondary stage between Galen and Maximus. As the head of Cerebros, Galen could transform Cerebros into the larger head of Fortress Maximus.

Arriving on Earth, Fortress Maximus led his fellow Headmasters to [[Mount St. Hilary]], source of the Autobot distress call that had drawn them to Earth. After recovering the damaged [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], the group encountered [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], who had come in search of his missing younger brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]. Spike asked for the Autobots' help in finding his brother, but Fortress Maximus was more interested in their primary mission of locating the Autobots of Earth, and he led his troops off to follow the fuel trail of the missing [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-trialbyfire-rollout.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The usage of "roll out" gets stranger and stranger.]]
Scorponok's crew soon followed Maximus to Earth, however, and to the same cave. When Spike replayed Goldbug's distress message, Fortress Maximus and company returned to the cave, apologizing to Spike for his failure to consider the danger he had brought to Earth's natives by leading the Decepticons there.

In the ensuing battle, Spike retreated further into the volcano's caves to seek shelter. Scorponok followed, seeking a hostage, and Fortress Maximus pursued him. As the caves narrowed down, Maximus was forced to send Cerebros onward, and eventually Galen himself had to leave Cerebros to cross a fragile rock bridge. Scorponok used the distraction to blast rocks down on Galen, killing him. As the Decepticon leader left, laughing, Galen passed on his control helmet to Spike, allowing the Earthling to assume control of Fortress Maximus and drive the Decepticons off. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}}

Spike soon underwent the full binary bonding process and became the leader of the ''Steelhaven'''s crew of Autobots. With his new partner, Fortress Maximus led the Autobot [[Targetmaster]]s in an effort to locate Buster, first visiting his father at a shady motel, then heading to a spot in the tropics where the Decepticons had set up an island base.

[[Image:Clubconpalmtreespear.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The purpose of Club Con is to flip out and spear people.]]
With Kup worried about the inexperience of Fortress Maximus's new partner, Max held back while the Targetmasters landed on the island. They were driven back by automated defenses, however, and the island revealed itself to be a rocket ship, launching into the atmosphere with Buster still aboard. Maximus resolved to take matters into his own hands, and took off after the rocket (who knew he could fly?) Unfortunately, once in space, the ship's defenses made shishkabob out of him, forcing Spike to resort to using Cerebros instead. Cerebros was likewise trashed by an attack from [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], though Spike was able to use Maximus's guns to send Shockwave falling to his apparent demise. Maximus and his partners were subsequently rescued by the Targetmasters, and for his gusto, Spike was welcomed as the group's new leader. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}}

As Fortress Maximus underwent repairs, his crew caught wind of a [[floppy disk]] in possession of one [[Ethan Zachary]], which contained the memories and personality of Optimus Prime. With the aid of a computer-generated version of Prime, Fortress Maximus gathered a lot of data from Scorponok's [[Pretender]] experiments and gave that ability to some of his own crew. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}}

With the disk in their possession, Fortress Maximus oversaw efforts to build a new body for Optimus Prime's mind. However, the ''Steelhaven'''s resources were depleted after creating the Pretenders, causing the effort to fail explosively. Thus when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] located the Ark nearby, Fortress Maximus was eager to contact its Autobots and forge an alliance.

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-totalled-worthlesshuman.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It begs the question of why Grimlock didn't just step on him.]]
Unfortunately, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] developed an immediate dislike for Fortress Maximus, partially because he was a possible threat to Grimlock's leadership, partially because he was part human, and partially because he had a fugitive (Goldbug). He challenged "Fruitloop Multipuck" to a duel for leadership on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Faced with the prospect of a divided Autobot force, Fortress Maximus agreed, though his unhealed injuries made victory an unlikely prospect. Luckily for Max, the imprisoned [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] agreed to fill in for him.

[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] led a Decepticon assault on the Autobots during the duel. While fighting off the attackers, Fortress Maximus ordered Goldbug, [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]], [[Getaway]], and [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] to take the disk to Nebulos to restore Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

With Optimus Prime restored, Maximus accepted a subordinate role in the Autobot ranks. ''He was among those Autobots present as Optimus Prime briefed the troops about the threat of the time-displaced [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. When Optimus and five other Autobots spontaneously and explosively vanished into thin air, only to be replaced by six Transformers claiming to be Autobots from the future, Fortress Maximus immediately assumed command, freaked out, and ordered his troops to destroy the "imposters". (Apparently, his memory was a little rusty, since said "imposters" included his own present-day troops Kup and Blurr.) Maximus sparred with Rodimus Prime until the words of Goldbug, as well as a Matrix-linked Optimus Prime, convinced him that Rodimus was telling the truth when he claimed to be a future Autobot leader. Maximus participated in the subsequent battle against Megatron and Galvatron; he attacked Megatron alongside Grimlock and Swoop, but was quickly put down by the battle-crazed Decepticon.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[Image:Fortmaxboat.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Contrary to what's advertised here, the toy will sink if you put it in the bathtub.]]
Fortress Maximus provided a floating search platform for Optimus and Blaster as they searched the ocean for the Decepticons' [[Club Con]] base. Spike expressed frustration that they still had not located his brother, though Optimus vowed to keep searching. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Fortress Maximus was among the many Autobots who responded to an Autobot emergency signal in the Arctic... which turned out to be sent by none other than Buster Witwicky, who was dying of hypothermia. Maximus took his human sibling into a special thermal compartment, restoring his body temperature to normal.

When the Decepticons attacked soon after, Maximus came under attack from the [[Horrorcon]]s, followed by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], who clung to him tenaciously and eventually caused Buster to spill out of the warming compartment. This turned out to be a lucky break, as Buster reminded Ratbat that the battle was nothing but a ruse engineered by Starscream. Ratbat and Maximus together called for all the combatants to lay down their arms.

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-maninthemachine1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Cast in the name of God, Ye not guilty]]
After Starscream seized the power of the [[Underbase]], Fortress Maximus and Soundwave led a team to [[Buenos Aires]] to try and stop him. As their troops fell en masse, Maximus attacked Starscream, only to receive a debilitating energy blast in return. His organic component, however, allowed him to survive the first attack. Omega Supreme intervened just then, preventing Maximus from being crushed by a monument hurled by Starscream. Starscream disposed of Omega, and was on the verge of finishing off Maximus, when he was lured away by a radio signal from Buster aboard the Ark. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-maninthemachine2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|So why couldn't he have just kept Cerebros attached to him and gone on with his life?]]
With Buster rescued and the threat of Starscream removed, Spike and Fortress Maximus's tumultuous relationship came to light. Feeling his work with the Autobots was done, Spike tried to go his own way and resume his life, going so far as to pitch his control helmet into a junkyard, but his binary bond could not be left behind so easily. Strange nightmares plagued him, visions of falling into a void. Nor would the Decepticons relent; while on a skiing expedition, he found himself hunted by Carnivac and Snarler. Turning inwards, he found his link to Fortress Maximus remained even without the control helmet and that he could summon the giant warrior from afar. Max left his storage space aboard the Ark and descended to Earth. Despite Carnivac's dirty fighting, Fortress Maximus easily disposed of the two attackers and their Pretender shells, once he and Spike physically recombined. With the battle over, Spike sent Fortress Maximus back to the Ark. {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}}

Despite Spike's reconciliation, Fortress Maximus was subsequently out of action for many months or even years. He was still stored aboard the Ark just before the great battle with Unicron, when Grimlock and his Dinobots had returned from [[Hydrus Four]]. They had come looking for the rest of the Autobots, but the Ark's scanners were only picking up one Transformer. Weirder still, this Transformer was in ''two'' parts! {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

{{note|It's kind of odd that [[Primus]] didn't warp Fortress Maximus with every other Transformer on Earth, but it's implied that it's because half of him was on the Ark. Odder still is that the Dinobots didn't notice or mention that half of this Transformer was on the Ark with them.}}

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-thelastautobot1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|]]
After Unicron was defeated, the Ark plummeted to Earth and crashed in the northern tundra of Canada. When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] emerged from the wreckage to wreak havoc, it fell to Fortress Maximus to stop him. He called to Spike, who came. He and Spike went through some mental wrangling before Max convinced Spike to reunite with him once more. Anxious and desperate after so long out of the war, Maximus immediately suppressed his hesitating partner and took full control upon regaining his head. This proved not to be such a wise idea. Fortress Maximus alone wasn't quite ready to deal with the totally insane Galvatron, who started smashing and biting(!) him to pieces. Realizing the power of their combined strength, Spike and Fortress Maximus managed to unite in thought and deed, and defeated the crazed Decepticon. Fortress Maximus stood alone at the battle's end, the last Autobot, guardian of Earth. {{storylink|The Last Autobot?}}

{{-}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Fortressmaximus-allornothing2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Let me demonstrate just how much you don't have a [[To sell toys|toy on the shelves]] anymore.]]
It was ultimately [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] who would prove to be the undoing of this giant warrior. The reborn and reconditioned Decepticon leader stole the Ark from its crash site in [[Canada]], and used it as his personal flagship. {{storylink|Realignments}} While establishing control over the ship, Megatron found and disabled Fortress Maximus's dormant form. Spike sneaked aboard the ship and rejoined with Maximus, but the damage inflicted by Megatron meant they had virtually no chance to win.

Brutally beaten in combat with an upgraded and super-charged Megatron, the pair dragged themselves to the heart of the ship and threw themselves into the anti-matter containment unit at the core of its power supply, killing them both and causing the Ark to explode. {{storylink|All or Nothing!}}

Though it kept the Ark out of Megatron's hands, and nearly derailed his plans entirely, their effort was ultimately not successful: Megatron escaped aboard a shuttle and lived to fight again, and even had time to take the convalescent Starscream with him. {{storylink|New Dawn}} {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}

{{-}}

====''Classics''====
{{classicsnote}}

[[Image:Invasion-FortMax.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]

Decades later, in [[2012]] Fortress Maximus was stationed in [[South America]]. Due to the actions of an evil [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] from [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|another dimension]], a rift of space time opened over Earth, causing catastrophes worldwide. Cerebros, merged with Spike, gathered civilians inside Fortress Maximus for safety. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}
{{-}}

===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Stephen Keener]] (English), [[Kunihiko Yasui]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Fortressmaximusg1rebirth.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

When a battle for possession of the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]] led a group of Autobots and Decepticons to be stranded on the planet [[Nebulos]], partnership between the Transformers and the native Nebulans led to the development of Headmaster and Targetmaster technology. The planet's evil ruling council, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], took the technology to its most powerful extreme when its leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] created the massive city-sized Scorponok to serve as his Headmaster partner and used his power to steal back the chamber key. The Decepticons departed for Cybertron, and the Autobots were poised to give chase when Spike Witwicky announced that he and the pacifistic Cerebros would be staying behind. While the other Autobots left in pursuit, Spike had Cerebros lead him to the ruins of the Hive's original city, which they had lived in before moving underground. Taking control of the various abandoned machines there, Spike rebuilt the city, Cerebros and even himself into a Headmaster robot that could stand up to Scorponok's power: Fortress Maximus!

[[Image:Rebirth3_fortmax_battlestation.jpg|left|250px|thumb]]

The completed Fortress Maximus quickly flew to Cybertron and made a dramatic entrance, setting down in city mode and then transforming to battle station mode to bombard Scorponok and the Decepticons with a hail of weaponsfire. When Zarak transformed Scorponok to robot mode, Spike did likewise with Fortress Maximus, and the two titans battled, with Maximus on the losing end until Zarak threatened the life of Spike's son, Daniel. With a burst of strength, Fortress Maximus took Scorponok down, causing him to collapse with such force that he transformed back to city mode. Spike and Cerebros then disconnected from Maximus and headed inside Scorponok to recover the captive Daniel and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], leaving Maximus to keep the other Decepticons at bay with his many weapons. The Decepticons were able to get through Maximus's firestorm and got Scorponok airborne, but not before Spike succeeded in his rescue.

Subsequently, with the Plasma Energy Chamber back under Autobot control, Fortress Maximus flew the Autobot Headmasters and Targetmasters back to Nebulos. There, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] announced that after they had eradicated the Hive's evil from the planet, Cerebros would live on the planet as its guardian, presumably meaning that Fortress Maximus would be staying there too. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

{{note|It is unclear if Fortress Maximus had any sentience of his own; he did speak once in his own voice, but for the most part, even Cerebros's will seemed to be pushed aside so Spike could run the whole thing himself.}}

===Japanese animated continuity===
{{note|In Japan, Fortress Maximus's mental functions are housed in a small robot who transforms into a head and connects to a larger, lifeless transtector body. This larger body in turn becomes the head of a ''giant'' transtector, forming the robot known as Fortress Maximus. The ''Headmasters'' toyline referred to the smallest robot as '''Cerebros''', who formed the head of the intermediate robot '''Fortress''', but this distinction was never actually made in fiction, and the character was always referred to as "Fortress" regardless of whether he was in small or intermediate form.}}

====''The Great Transformer War'' comic====
[[Image:Hmmanga battered headmasters.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]

In the year 2010, while significant Transformer battles were being waged throughout space and on Earth, Fortress was active on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]]. After the younger Headmaster warriors under his command were defeated in battle by [[Sixshot]] and the Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress quickly roused his fallen comrades and ordered them to board his battleship, the Maximus, so that they could pursue the villains. Their destination: Cybertron! {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 3|The Great Transformer War #3}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ikuya Sawaki]]

[[Image:Hm7 fortress small bot.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

Four million years ago, Fortress was a [[Cyberdroid|diminutive Cybertronian]] who had not yet mastered the art of transformation, and was a friend of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s. He was among the many Transformers that fled Cybertron in an attempt to escape the corrosion of war without end, and led a group of his fellow small Cybertronians in search of a new peaceful world they could call home. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Alas, engine trouble caused their ship to crash on the inhospitable world of planet Master, whose hazardous environmental conditions began threatening the lives of Fortress and his men almost as soon as they departed the wreckage of their ship and began trekking through a desert of shifting sands. The need for survival fostered many technological and mental advancements, however, and Fortress and his people endured.

[[Image:Hm1_battleship_maximus.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

Fortress was responsible for many of the technological quantum leaps, the most significant of which was the invention of "[[transtector]]s": larger, lifeless Transformer bodies to which the small Cybertronians could connect as heads. After a rigorous physical and mental training program that allowed them to finally master transformation and even instilled powerful telepathic and telekinetic powers in them, Fortress and nine other warriors bonded with these transtectors to become "Headmasters". {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} Fortress even took the process one step further, and with the aid of other Master scientists like [[Jack (Headmasters)|Jack]], created a ''huge'' transtector that could transform into the battleship, Maximus. Fortress's own transtector was engineered to also transform into a head, which could control the many functions of the Maximus from a special docking bay on the battleship's bridge, {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} and which could form the head for the battleship's own colossal robot mode, known as "Fortress Maximus". Fortress also created the powerful [[Master Sword]] for himself, and tied the Maximus's transformation into it; in order to convert the battleship to robot mode, Fortress had to draw a small version of the blade from a sheath beneath his command console, but this feat could only be accomplished when his physical and mental energies were in perfect synchronization. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}}

Unfortunately, half of the Headmasters eventually rebelled against Fortress's leadership, siding with a traitor named Scorponok against him. The traitors were defeated by Fortress and his comrades and exiled from Master, but eventually, they came to ally themselves with the Decepticons under the command of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

{{note|The events of the ''Great Transformer War'' manga occur at this point.}}

[[Image:Hm2_kup_and_fortress.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

In the year 2011, when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress Maximus brought the Autobot Headmasters back to their homeworld aboard the Maximus. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Even the mightiest of the Decepticons' [[combiner]]s could not stand against Battleship Maximus's firepower, and the evil robots were forced into retreat. This task complete, Fortress set the Maximus down at the Autobots' secondary headquarters on the planet [[Athenia]], where he introduced himself and his comrades and explained their origins, and was reunited with Kup. After being filled in by the Autobots on the current crisis—[[Vector Sigma]] had become destabilized, putting the planet at risk—Fortress deduced that the [[Matrix of Leadership]] was necessary to bring the computer back under control. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Unfortunately, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] had already ventured into the depths of Cybertron without the Matrix, willing to sacrifice his own life to stabilize Vector Sigma, so Fortress headed into the planet's catacombs after him while the other Headmasters helped [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] search for the Matrix, hidden somewhere on [[Earth]]. Though Fortress was not able to catch up to Prime before he reached Vector Sigma's chamber, he was able to use his telepathic powers to contact Prime's companion, the spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], helping to guide him safely through the maze of tunnels. It turned out that [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] had made it to the chamber ahead of Prime, however, and Fortress raced through the remainder of the tunnels to aid Prime against the two Decepticons. Hot Rod soon arrived with the Matrix, which he used to become Rodimus Prime again, but before he could use it to bring Vector Sigma back under control, Optimus Prime merged with the computer to stabilize it, giving up his life in the process. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Prime was not the only casualty of the crisis: [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] also lost his life in the search for the Matrix. Luckily, Fortress was able to use the advanced technology of Master to rebuild and resurrect him, as Twincast. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[Image:Hm5_fortmax_headmode.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

While patrolling space for Decepticon activity aboard the Maximus, the Autobot Headmasters discovered [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] stowed away on board. After explaining the function of his Head Mode to the shocked youngsters, Fortress agreed to let the pair join them on the patrol. Soon after, the Autobots came upon two stranded [[Beastformer]]s from the planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]], and learned that the Decepticons had invaded their planet; the infuriated Fortress made for the planet with all due speed, after sending a report to Rodimus Prime on Athenia. The Autobot Headmasters helped the native Beastformers liberate their planet from Decepticon control, but Fortress was concerned with a blueprint recovered from an underground factory that indicated the Decepticons were building something. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}}

[[Image:Hm6_fortmax_funnyfaces.jpg|left|thumb|225px|:D]]

When the Decepticons launched a [[Metamorphose|metal-warping meteor]] at Athenia, Fortress and his battleship were powerless to do anything, for fear of being destroyed by the meteor's gravity sensors. It fell to Daniel Witwicky to destroy the meteor, so Fortress transported him as close to it as he was able. Daniel lost his nerve at the last minute, so Fortress calmed him down by making some silly faces. Dignified! {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}} Later, a phoney distress call lured Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters into a trap on the planet [[Praum]] set by their old foe, Scorponok. Despite being trapped in a subterranean chamber with the endless desert sands pouring in on top of him, Fortress kept his head and reminded his young allies of the similar hardships they had suffered on Master and the training they had undergone to overcome them. With the skills they had learned back then, they were able to escape. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

[[Image:Hm10_fortress_appointed_commander.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

When Galvatron launched an attack on Cybertron in an attempt to steal a new alloy developed by Vector Sigma named [[cybertonuron]], Fortress advised Rodimus Prime against striking back in full force, preferring to find another way to stop the Decepticons than putting all their warriors in danger. Rodimus refused, and Fortress quietly acquiesced to his commander's wishes, ferrying him to Cybertron on Battleship Maximus. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} The battle ended catastrophically, however, when treachery on the part of Scorponok led to the detonation of a collection of bombs in Vector Sigma's chamber, devastating Cybertron and rendering it uninhabitable, and apparently killing Galvatron in the process. Realizing with deep regret that Fortress's caution had been warranted, Rodimus Prime decided that the era of his generation of Transformers was over, and vowed to search the universe for a new planet the Transformers could call home. He passed the title of [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots (though not the Matrix of Leadership) to Fortress, who was visibly uncomfortable with the appointment, but accepted it graciously, telling himself not to contest it because it was his destiny. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

[[Image:G1FortressMaximus HMstockfootage.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"...But it's the pelvic thruuuuuust / that really drives you in-sa-a-a-ane..."]]

Fortress's tenure as leader got off to a strong start with the successful completion of the [[Sol 1]] satellite, a joint venture between the Autobots and humanity to gather solar energy. Unfortunately, the satellite was stolen by the Decepticons, forcing the Autobot Headmasters to destroy it to keep it out of their hands. Before being destroyed, however, the satellite's energy was beamed by the villains to the planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]]. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Fortress attempted to study Zarak from afar in hopes of deducing what the Decepticons were up to, but the planet's gaseous shroud prevented remote observation of its surface, and the Decepticons began staging concentrated attacks on Earth to keep the Autobots' attentions divided. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} One such attack saw the Decepticons unleash a carnivorous, ambulatory plant upon [[San Francisco]], which Fortress identified as a [[buridanka]] from the planet [[Darhos]]. When the Autobot Headmasters responded, Battleship Maximus was caught in the plant-monster's vines, and Fortress's lack of focus left him unable to draw the Master Sword and transform. Galvanized by the cries of the other Headmasters, however, his energies soon came into alignment, and for what was apparently the first time (given everyone else's surprise when it happened) Fortress transformed the Maximus and combined with it to form Fortress Maximus. With the power of the Master Sword, he easily dispatched the giant plant. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

[[Image:Hm14 fortress draws mastersword.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Weakened by the great energy demands of his transformation, Fortress sent the Autobot Headmasters to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] without him when news of Decepticon movement on the planet reached the Autobots. When the Headmasters discovered that the Decepticons were planning to blow up Mars, however, Fortress went into action, only to be struck with a [[plasma energy]] bomb by the Decepticons Headmasters just as he was in the middle of transforming into Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} Although Fortress survived the blast, his energies were severely drained, and the powerless Maximus was unable to depart Mars as the countdown to the Decepticons' planet-destroying explosion continued. Even worse, into the middle of this crisis stepped Scorponok, now outfitted with a gigantic transtector of his own: the end result of the mysterious construction operations on planets Beast and Zarak. Scorponok pummelled the paralyzed Maximus, then pulled out just before the chain of explosion began. Fortress told the Headmasters to leave him and the Maximus to their fate, but luckily, at the last minute, the battleship began absorbing the energy released by the early stages of the explosion. Fortress was able to use this energy to transform into Fortress Maximus, and escaped the destruction of Mars, slashing Scorponok with the Master Sword as he came bursting from the conflagration. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

[[Image:Hm17_maximus_vs_scorponok.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

While Fortress and the Headmasters were patrolling the edges of Decepticon space to keep an eye on their enemies' activities, Scorponok attacked the Maximus, only for the fight to be broken up by a strange UFO. Back on Athenia, Fortress met with the Autobots' deep cover spy, [[Punch (G1)|Punch]], and learned that Scorponok was holding a coronation ceremony for himself on Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]]. The Autobots attacked the ceremony, during which Fortress again pitted his battleship against Scorponok, but the fighting was brought to an end when the UFO returned, and was revealed to belong to Galvatron, who had survived Cybertron's destruction. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Fortress fought Scorponok again soon after, when the Autobots tried to provide energy relief to the other-dimensional planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]]. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

[[Image:Hm23_fortmax_sword_slash.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

When the Decepticons embarked on an interplanetary energy quest, the Autobots determined to follow them aboard Fortress's battleship; Fortress had to be convinced to allow Daniel to come with them. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}} Their first port of call was the planet [[Hive (planet)|Hive]], but before the Maximus could set down, they were attacked by the planet's force. Fortress was intent on a show of non-resistance and would not fire back, while [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] went down to the planet's surface and proved the Autobots' good intentions to Hive's [[Queen Bee]]. The Autobots joined forces with the natives to fend off the Decepticons; Fortress disconnected the Maximus's "Master Shot" cannon so the Headmasters could wield it, then transformed into Fortress Maximus to send Scorponok packing with the Master Sword. {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!}} Fortress then used the Maximus to fly the Autobots to [[Twin Star]], where he dealt with Scorponok by hauling him into the air and dropping him, {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} and [[Daros]], where he used the Maximus's internal defense systems to stop [[Curl|a gang of prisoners]] from taking control of the battleship. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} The battleship needed some repairs before it could take the Autobots to [[Paradise]], which Fortress had Chromedome and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] perform. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} Fortress again transformed to Fortress Maximus on the final planet of their journey, [[Pirate Planet]], taking Scorponok out with a Master Sword-slash to the chest. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

[[Image:Hm25_fortress_cradles_magnus.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

After returning to Athenia, Fortress and the Headmasters received news of a Decepticon attack on Earth and headed there with all due haste, but they were not in time to stop [[Sixshot]] from mortally wounding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. Fortress held Magnus as he died, then carried his body aboard the Maximus for burial along an Earth coastline. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} Soon after, with Decepticon attacks intensifying, Fortress had to talk [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] out of risking his own life in the pursuit of revenge against Sixshot. When word came through from Punch that Galvatron intended to use the gathered energy to fuse himself with the Earth itself, Fortress and the Headmasters immediately departed to confront the Decepticon leader in [[Alaska]]. The Headmasters were able to use Punch's information to finally end the threat of Galvatron with their [[Head Formation]], burying him in the Arctic ice. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

[[Image:Hm26_weak_spot.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

Galvatron's demise left a power vacuum that Scorponok immediately filled, and once appointed leader again, he immediately put into motion a plan to destroy the Earth by simultaneously erupting every volcano on the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]]. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] deduced his plan, but a Decepticon attack on [[Autobot City]] left Spike fatally wounded, with a chunk of shrapnel embedded in one of his arteries. Medical science could do nothing for Spike, so Fortress used his telekinetic powers to dissolve the shrapnel, saving Spike, but draining all of Fortress's energy. Even in his weakened state, unable to transform, Fortress still attempted to stop Scorponok from initiating his plan on the Kamchatka Peninsula, but Scorponok simply hurled the Maximus into a volcano. As it turned out, this allowed Fortress to absorb the geothermal energy of the volcano's magma, restoring his power and ability to transform. Following information decoded by Chromedome, Fortress Maximus was able to puncture Scorponok's weak spot, the Decepticon symbol on his chest, forcing the villain and his followers to flee the planet. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}}

[[Image:Hm28_fortress_examines_targetmaster.jpg|left|thumb]]

With Earth finally free of the Decepticons, the Autobots set about removing every trace of their evil from the planet. Fortress co-ordinated the effort, but just as he was meeting with three new Autobot arrivals—[[Pointblank]], [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]—a report came through from Chromedome that one of the plasma energy bombs he had been tasked with gathering up had become active. Fortress quickly picked up the bombs in Battleship Maximus, intending to transport them into space so they could detonate harmlessly, but as the ship departed the atmosphere, it crossed paths with another vessel containing refugees from Master. While the Autobots held off the Decepticons pursuing the Master vessel, Fortress and Twincast welcomed the refugees on board, and learned from them that Scorponok's Decepticons had attacked Master. The refugees then helped get the plasma bombs off Battleship Maximus, but they proceeded to detonate before everyone could get clear, and the explosion fused the refugees to the arms of the Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} Fortress used his scientific know-how to remove the refugees from the Autobots' arms, but a strange link remained between the warriors. With these "[[Targetmaster]]s" added to their ranks, Fortress piloted Battleship Maximus to Master to stop Scorponok's evildoings there. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}}

[[Image:MasterSwordDanger Floppydisk.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Seeking to forge a weapon to counter Fortress's Master Sword, Scorponok arranged for the kidnap of Wheelie so that he could be ransom for information on the sword. Fortress agonized over what to do, but the decision was made for him when Chromedome and Daniel snuck away to rescue Wheelie themselves. Learning of their insubordination, Fortress played along, keeping the Decepticons' attentions on his battleship and preparing a data disk to "hand over". Unfortunately, when the Decepticons learned that Wheelie had been rescued, a fight broke out over the disk and it was snatched from Fortress's grasp. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} The Decepticons retreated underground, but Fortress was able to track them down by equipping the Master Sword with sensors that would allow the Maximus to track any surges of the energy needed to create it, which Scorponok was sure to require to forge his own weapon. Unfortunately, [[Weirdwolf]] was able to sneak aboard the Maximus, and although Fortress repelled him, he had secretly planted bombs on the battleship that covered the Decepticons' escape when they went off. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}}

[[Image:Hm31_fortmax_defeated.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

As Battleship Maximus was repaired, Fortress debated strategy with the Autobots, eventually agreeing with the Targetmasters' plan to lure the Decepticons into space to avoid collateral damage to Master. Unfortunately, the hot-headed Chromedome disagreed, and staged his own attack on the Decepticons with the aid of the young warriors of Master. Chromedome's strategy went sour, forcing Fortress Maximus to go into action, but when the Master Sword clashed with Scorponok's newly-forged "[[Zarak Shield]]", it was the Zarak Shield that emerged triumphant! Defeated, Fortress Maximus could only watch as Scorponok departed for Earth, intending to destroy it once and for all. {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}}

The Autobots gave chase in the Maximus, but during the space battle that resulted, Daniel was set adrift when the Maximus's Laser Block unit was damaged and jettisoned. Fortress was forced to divert to rescue the boy, allowing the Decepticons a substantial lead in the race back to Earth. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} Their lead was lost when they were forced to set down on the asteroid [[Pallas]] for repairs, and the Maximus set down on [[Ceres]] in order to attack. During the fight, Sixshot challenged Chromedome to a one-on-one duel, and Fortress's pleas that he not accept the challenge fell on deaf ears. Even as Scorponok took off for Earth again, Fortress concluded that he and the other Autobots would have to leave Chromedome to his duel and carry on the chase. As it happened, the duel was interrupted by an explosion courtesy of bombs Scorponok had planted on the battlefield, so Chromedome was able to rejoin Maximus not long after. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

[[Image:Hm35 master sword zappped.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

As the Maximus entered the final stretch back to Earth, reports began coming in from the Autobots down on the planet of Decepticon attacks, accompanied by the emergence of strange towers at specific points around the globe. Once back on Earth, Fortress met with Punch, who unfortunately had to report that Scorponok had disappeared into the Mediterranean Ocean. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} The Autobots soon realized that the "Death Towers" were composed of energy-amplifying [[crysmagnetal]], and were creating a field of energy that was surrounding the Earth. Following Punch's lead, Fortress led the Autobots to Egypt, where Scorponok was outfitting a Death Tower with an induction booster to magnify the amount of energy it was projecting. The Master Sword played the unfortunate role of lightning rod in the presence of the Death Tower, attracting bolts of the tower's energy and stunning Fortress, preventing him from stopping Scorponok. As Scorponok fled, he told Fortress to meet him at the North Pole, where even he would have a role to play in his scheme.

[[Image:Hm35_final_battle.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

With no other choices, Fortress followed his enemy's instructions, and the entire Autobot and Decepticon armies clashed in battle in the frozen north. There, Scorponok lured Fortress Maximus onto a crysmagnetal dais, at which point, an orbiting Decepticon satellite that had been gathering the energies projected by the Death Towers activated, beaming the collected energy down to the dais. Scorponok disconnected from his transtector, and left the paralyzed Fortress Maximus trapped in the satellite's beam, part of a deadly circuit of energy that threatened to tear the Earth apart. The four Headmasters joined in Head Formation and tried to channel their energy into Fortress Maximus in hopes of giving him the strength to break free, but their own power was not enough. At Daniel's suggestion, all the other Autobots linked up as part of the chain, and together combined in "Final Formation", they infused Maximus with enough energy to deflect the satellite's beam with the Master Sword, destroying it. With one mighty slash, Fortress Maximus bisected Scorponok's transtector, finally ending the Decepticon threat.

The Decepticons subsequently fled Earth, and the Autobots gathered to pursue them. Fortress told the tearful Daniel that it was necessary in order to continue defend peace throughout the universe, but promised the boy that they would meet again. Together, the Autobots all boarded Fortress's battleship, and took off into the setting sun. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''Kiss Players/15 Go! Go!''====
[[Image:KPBraveMax.jpg|right|thumb|115px]]
{{note|Fortress's cameo appearance in ''Kiss Players'' is set shortly after his arrival on Master.}}

Slumped miserably on the barren surface of Master in their smallest robot forms, Fortress, Chromedome and Highbrow's attention was caught when a [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|time-travelling spaceship]] materialized over their heads and crashed nearby. {{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 1}} By studying and reverse-engineering the technology found in this spaceship, Fortress and the scientists of Master invented transtectors and the Headmaster process. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48}}/{{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 3}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
{{note|The events of the Headmasters manga take place concurrently with the Headmasters cartoon.}}

[[Image:Manga fort max.jpg|left|thumb|275px]]

Soon after Optimus Prime died stabilizing Vector Sigma, the Decepticons staged an attack on Athenia, and Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters quickly took off in Battleship Maximus to intercept them as they approached the planet. Daniel opined that the Decepticons were "a lot like parasites", to which Fortress murmured an agreement. At that point, the Decepticons appeared in front of them, and the Autobots realized that they had played into the villains' hands: they intended to destroy Fortress's battleship with a bomb. Luckily, Chromedome moved quickly enough to snatch the bomb away and save the Maximus. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 1|The Headmasters #1}}

Responding to an SOS from their Beastformer comrades, Fortress escorted the Autobot Headmasters to planet Beast to investigate. No sooner had the young warriors left Battleship Maximus to search, Rodimus Prime radioed Fortress for an update. Fortress didn't have anything to tell him, but assured Rodimus that the Headmasters would get to the bottom of the mystery. {{storylink|Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!}} Later, once they were back on Earth, Fortress sent the Headmasters on their next mission, to respond to a Decepticon attack on an Alaskan energy plant. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 2|The Headmasters #2}}

When a fire tore through [[Shinjuku]], Chromedome, [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]] responded, but their rescue effort was impeded by the Decepticon Targetmaters. Luckily, Fortress soon arrived to extinguish the fire by dumping a massive amount of water on it from above using Battleship Maximus, freeing up the others to deal with the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

{{-}}
====''Super-God Masterforce Master File''====
Following the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth after the battle at the North Pole, the Transformers' war shifted into a series of space-based exchanges between Athenia and Chaar known as the [[Master Wars]]. With the space bridge destroyed, interstellar transportation was severely limited, and it fell to Fortress and the Maximus to patrol space for the Decepticons. While on one such patrol, Fortress received a transmission from Sixshot alerting him to the existence of a [[Devil Z|new shadowy puppet master]] who had taken control of the Decepticons. This news came at the same time as a report from the Trainbots which indicated that Scorponok had constructed a new transtector for himself, and so Fortress had no choice but to focus on dealing with this mystery. With access to the ever-important Earth now greatly reduced and his attentions now focused elsewhere, Fortress left guardianship of the planet in the hands of [[Metalhawk]] and his [[Pretender]]s. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}}

{{note|Following the end of the ''Headmasters'' franchise, Japanese cartoon continuity branches off in two separate directions. One version of the story is told through the [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon]], the other is told through the [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|''Masterforce'' manga]]. Fortress plays much the same role in both, but gets up to a bit more in the manga.}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
[[Image:Masterforce ep23 FuzzyFortress.JPG|right|thumb]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ikuya Sawaki]] (Japanese)

Following the commands of Devil Z, the space-based Decepticon forces orchestrated the bombardment of Earth with meteors. Although they were able to carry out this assault without the direct knowledge of Fortress's Autobots, Fortress did become suspicious when he observed that the Decepticons had broken their usual formation. Worried, Fortress sent a message to Metalhawk's Autobots on Earth, but alas, by the time the distorted missive arrived, the meteors had already struck the planet and caused massive collateral damage. {{storylink|Expose the Decepticons' Dark Trap!}}

Soon after, Fortress's younger brother, [[Grand Maximus|Grand]], travelled to Earth to aid the Autobots there against the approaching threat of [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]]. Grand was physically identical to his big bro, save for his coloration, and even piloted a smaller Maximus-style battleship of his own. {{storylink|Life? Death? The Desperate Lightfoot}}

{{-}}
====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic====
[[Image:Mfmanga fortress meets ginrai.jpg|left|thumb]]

When a new and powerful Autobot warrior named [[Ginrai]] rose to prominence on Earth, he distinguished himself to the point that Fortress decided to step down as Supreme Commander and appoint Ginrai in his place. The Trainbots brought Ginrai and his [[Headmaster Junior]] allies to Athenia, where Fortress formally handed over leadership, then departed to take care of some business on Master. In his absence, the united forces of the Earth- and space-based Decepticons attacked Athenia, but Ginrai was able to repel them. Fortress arrived back just as the Decepticons were pulling out, and announced that the Autobots must pool their resources as their enemies had, uniting their forces on Earth and space to commence the [[Godbomber|Bomber Project]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
Fortress Maximus served as transport when Ultra Magnus lead a mission to a small asteroid in search of a new source of [[Energon]]. The Autobots discovered a [[Observer|small alien]], and [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] utilized Maximus's laboratory to determine that the creature turned its food into Energon. A later fracas with the Decepticons resulted in Fortress Maximus getting involved, leading to a fight with Scorponok. {{storylink|The Test (issue)|The Test}}

===''Transformers PD Type''===
[[Image:Pdtype_fortmax_manga.jpg|right|thumb|275px]]
While casually minding his own business one day, Fortress Maximus was suddenly shocked to see a wave of Decepticons led by Galvatron bearing down on him. He immediately transformed into robot mode... but he had completely forgotten that he had been in city mode, leaving all the poor Autobots who had been inside him squished and thinking there had been an earthquake. {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##12 "Bigger than Life! Fortress Maximus!"|Bigger Than Life! Fortress Maximus!}}

Fortress Maximus later met Scorponok in battle, vowing to never surrender. All the other Transformers would probably have preferred that he ''did'' surrender, though, since the battle put them ''all'' in danger when the two towering titans toppled over, threatening to accidentally crush them all! {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##14 "Watch Out! Mega Zarak!"|Watch Out! MegaZarak!}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
A normal-sized Fortress Maximus was a co-leader of the Autobot forces on Cybertron, along with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. As Cybertron's resources ran low, they struggled to hold the Autobot army together. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing}} The war continued despite their best efforts, and after a fruitless and disastrous skirmish with the Micromaster [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] and the Decepticons, Fortress Maximus gave up on the war. He left the Autobot army in order to seek a new path. {{Storylink|Victims of the Revolution}}

A gargantuan Fortress Maximus was also seen in a [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-induced vision of future [[Nebulos]] by Optimus Prime and Megatron. {{Storylink|The War Within issue 4|The War Within #4}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:Ironclaw artofwar.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
While imbued with the wisdom of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] had a vision of Fortress Maximus and [[Sgt. Savage]] fighting against [[Iron Klaw]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:SpotlightArcee FortressMaximus.jpg|left|300px|thumb|You wanna argue with him?]]
{{spoiler|Interiors|July 27}}

Fortress Maximus is referred to as 'warborn', presumably meaning he came online during the war.{{storylink|Interiors}}

A somewhat less pacifistic Fortress Maximus (Seriously, he repeatedly threatened to kill his prisoners or otherwise "strip them down to their spark cores") was the warden in charge of [[Garrus-9]], an Autobot-run penitentiary where both Autobot and Decepticon prisoners were kept in containment. As the ultimate imprisonment, most inmates were reduced down to their [[spark]] and [[laser core]] alone, held inanimate in a storage center known as "The Rig" until such a time as Fortress Maximus deemed to rebuild and release them, if ever. Astoundingly, this method was deemed too "merciful" for at least one [[Impactor (G1)|prisoner]].

Fortress Maximus was one of many Autobots across the galaxy who watched a news report heralding the miraculous return of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] encountered the [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] [[Combiner|combiners]] on [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s asteroid bunker, he sent them to Garrus-9 with [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], hoping the science team could help the six recover from [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s experimentations. Fortress Maximus was dubious of the possible results, but allowed Jetfire and his team to run their tests at Garrus-9. Things changed for the worse, however, once word of the gestalt technology got out, and agents of the [[Decepticon Secret Service]] came to claim the remarkable new tech for themselves. Faced with an incredible amount of orbital bombardment and ground warfare, Fortress Maximus and his defensive crew were at serious risk of being overrun.

In order to maintain control of his base, Max reactivated the only Autobot inmate classified as Threat Level-9: [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. Knowing Arcee had strong feelings about Jhiaxus and his work from personal experience, Fortress Maximus felt confident she would do anything to prevent the Decepticons from laying claim to the "[[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]." In case he was wrong, though, Fortress Maximus made it clear to Arcee she was lowjacked with synchronized G-forces that would crush her spark if she stepped out of line. Despite Arcee's help, the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] still managed to make off with the gestalt robots. Against his better judgment, Fortress Maximus allowed Jetfire to convince him that Arcee was the best available to track and intercept the Secret Service ships and retrieve or destroy the gestalt robots. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

When Optimus Prime and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] met with Fortress Maximus and Jetfire on Garrus-9 to discuss the prisoners' breakout, also mentioned was that a surviving Decepticon had been tortured. Maximus and Jetfire exchanged guilty glances. Prime left Maximus in charge and returned with Prowl and Jetfire to the ''[[Ark-32]]''. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

With the death of [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Nova Prime|Nemesis Prime]] was forced to enter the living universe and confront Optimus Prime at Garrus-9. Fortress Maximus and the other Autobots were hunkered down in The Last Resort, the best-defended, highest-security section of the penitentiary, and he believed that not even a [[Cortynivian shadow worm]] could get in. He was wrong, as Nemesis effortlessly forced his way in, killed [[Manta Ray (G2)|Manta Ray]] and [[Drench (G2)|Drench]] and shrugged off all Autobot weapons fire. Maximus called in reinforcements until Optimus convinced him that conventional tactics would not work with the undead Prime and went to deal with Nemesis Prime himself. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

During Megatron's massive push against the Autobots, an annoyed Maximus led the defense of the prison against the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] forces. However, when the sociopathic [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] took control of the Decepticon forces, the prison was overrun and Fortress Maximus beaten down by the monster. And then, to keep the liberated prisoners on his side, Overlord tossed them their former warden to have some fun... so long as they kept him alive. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}}

The inmates apparently followed Overlord's instructions, as Fortress Maximus survived...only to be put through brutal torture by the Phase Sixer. During one particularly brutal session (in which he lost one leg and the rest of him was nailed to a table and Overlord threatened to torture and murder a guard for every moment of hesitation), Overlord interrogated him to gain access to the [[Aequitas]] chamber. Maximus said Overlord had no idea what Aequitas even was, only for the Decepticon to explain he had no interest in the 'judgement machine', and wanted what was Aequitas was built over. He then continued sawing the warden apart according to footage [[Rewind| Rewind]] possessed.{{storylink|Interiors}} [[Image:Overlord-Fort-Max-Interiors.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

[[Image:LastStandoftheWreckers3-Fort Max the cabbage.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hope you weren't going to bed after reading this page!]]
Half of the [[Wrecker]]s eventually came across Maximus's barely-alive body. Rendered comatose and with his optics and limbs pulled off, he had been plugged into the lock of the door to [[Aequitas]]'s chamber, and put to use entering in code after code in a Decepticon attempt to break in. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] removed Maximus's connection to the lock, then [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] pulled his body from the door to carry him. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

When the Decepticons broke into the Aequitas chamber, [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] carried Fortress Maximus to safety. Eventually, the Wreckers succeeded in defeating Overlord and saving Garrus-9, and Maximus was placed on life support alongside [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

When [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Pharma| Pharma]], and [[Ambulon| Ambulon]] were cornered by [[Genericon|Genericons]], [[First Aid (G1)| First Aid]] managed to revitalize Fortress Maximus to fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}Fortress Maximus then brutally murdered them. Afterwards, Pharma revealed himself to have caused the Red Rust virus and Fortress Maximus gave pursuit to him while the others went to treat the dying patients but lost Pharma when he went in a space to narrow for him, causing Ratchet to have to continue the pursuit. After Pharma was defeated, Fortress Maximus joined the crew of the [[Lost Light]] and their mission of finding the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

Ratchet was unnerved by how eagerly he murdered the Decepticons, so Fort Max was ordered to visit [[Rung|Rung]] for therapy sessions. The psychoanalyst asked him questions about what had happened to him on Garrus-9, only for Fortress Maximus to claim he remembered nothing (all the while remembering being tortured by Overlord). Rung assured him that Overlord was no longer any threat to him and that Autobot High Command cared about him. He then headed to [[Swerve (G1)| Swerve's)]] bar, where a drunk [[Trailbreaker| Trailbreaker ]] complimented him. He didn't respond and instead shot [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes ]] for apparently no reason. He then went on a 'spree', shooting [[Boss]], [[Turbine]], [[Dogfight]] and [[Doubletap]] while leaving any bystanders unscathed. Fort Max then locked himself within Rung's office, tying the psychoanalyst to his chair and impaling Rung's current patient, [[Whirl (G1) | Whirl ]], to the ground with a pipe. Threatening to murder them, he repeatedly pistol-whipped Whirl, who constantly insulted him. Rung attempted to calm Fortress Maximus down, and recommended he contact Rodimus. Doing just that, he demanded 'Hot Rod' turn the ship around so he could get an explanation from [[Prowl (G1)| Prowl ]] why it took 'three years, two months,and ten days' for him to send the Wreckers to G-9. Hanging up and crushing the communicator underfoot, he noticed Rung's right thumb contained a microphone and was broadcasting to the ship, and promptly ripped off said thumb. Meanwhile, Ratchet and First Aid tended to his five victims, and realized he shot them because they all shared a basic color scheme with Overlord. Whirl continued to taunt him, prompting Fortress Maximus to ask why Whirl was so 'damaged' while holding Rung at gunpoint. After Whirl told the two his life story, Maximus looked outside and realized they hadn't changed course. He then prepared to shoot Whirl and Rung, until he was halted by Rewind ,who was outside Rung's window with Swerve, replaying footage of his torture at Overlord's hands to distract Maximus. He collapsed in horror, Rung at his side attempting to soothe him. Outside, Swerve fired his rivet gun, aiming for Fortress Maximus, and accidentally killed Rung. Fortress Maximus was horrified, but before he could react Whirl ran him through with the pipe he'd used earlier to impale Whirl. He survived and was placed in the ship's brig. {{storylink|Interiors}}
{{-}}

===''United''===
When the [[Autobot]]s fell down with a [[nano-virus]], Fortress Maximus was in city mode as part of [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: The Headmasters''===
When the Decepticons struck out at four planets, including Cybertron and Earth, Fortress Maximus was joined by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and the Headmasters of Justice to save the final planet from [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Headmasters (video game)|Transformers: The Headmasters}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1FortressMaximus toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|If I hear somebody ask "how's the weather up there" one more time, Primus help them...]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (Headmaster Base, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-114'''
**''Accessories:'' Spike Headmaster unit, Cerebros large Headmaster unit, [[Cog (G1)|Gasket]], [[Cog (G1)|Grommet]], Photon Rifle, Dual Laser Cannon, Cerebros's Mini Laser Rifle, [[Cog (G1)|Cog]]'s Laser rifle, Radar Scope, Master Sword (Japanese release only), Cerebros's sword (Japanese release only)

: Fortress Maximus is, by far, the largest Transformers toy ever produced. In robot mode it stands 22" (or 56 cm) tall, nearly 8" (20 cm) taller than its in-fiction rival Scorponok. The original retail price was over $100USD. Taking into account ongoing trends in toy pricing and retail shelf space jockeying, it is highly doubtful any other Transformers even close to this size will ever be made again.

: The toy has multiple alt mode configurations, transforming into a relatively compact "city" mode, and also a secondary mode described in the US instruction as a "battle station." That mode was rebranded as a starship for the Japanese instructions, and is the "default" mode for Fortress Maximus in the ''Headmasters'' animated series. Additionally, the 1987 Hasbro toy catalog features a mis-transformed Fortress Maximus in a mode referred to as an "impenetrable fortress," essentially consisting of his city mode with the legs splayed outwards.

: In all modes, Maximus has a wide array of pop-out (non-firing) guns and gimmicks. Its left leg hides a small prison cell, plus has a swing-out cannon/helipad. Its right leg has a small storage compartment. Its torso has a gear-activated spinner for the detachable radar array accessory, a "control socket" for [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]]' "communications room" mode, and a working elevator that can lift small toys up to its central ramp to be launched in its altmodes. (The crank for this elevator ends up in a very unfortunate position in robot mode.) Each arm had a long ramp on the back with sliding launchers for small vehicles.

: Its robot-mode head is formed by Cerebros, who does not actually need Spike to attach to the upper body. It came with both Headmaster units, plus the Gasket and Grommet mini-vehicles.

:[[Megatron (BW)/toys#MegaheadMegatron|Megahead Megatron]]'s spider-head mode (with a few alterations) can fit into Fortress Maximus's head socket; though surely a coincidence, it was noted on the card [[bio]].

: The Japanese release of Fortress Maximus came with a pair of [[Master Sword]]s; one for Fortress, a ''large'' one for Maximus. It is currently unknown if the swords were originally planned for the [[Hasbro]] version but dropped for price or [[For safety reasons|safety concerns]], or if they were a [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]-initiated addition to their release of the toy.

: This mold was used to make ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (toyline)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' [[Grand Maximus]], ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Car Robots]]'' [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], and ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' "[[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Cybertron Base]]".
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Autobot/FortressMaximus/fortressmaximus.htm More information on Fortress Maximus at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Transform Jr===
[[Image:G1 FortressMaximus Jnr toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|We represent the Lollybot guild]]
* '''Fortress Maximus''' (1987)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-114'''
**''Accessories:'' Fortress Headmaster unit, Photon Rifle

: ''[[Transform Jr]]'' Fortress Maximus is a smaller rendering of the character, scaled down to regular Transformer size, and with only one head. Fortress Maximus could only transform from his starship mode to his robot mode, as his legs lack the joints to fold into city mode. Much of his detail and accessories have been simplified into stickers, such as his shin cannons. He comes with only one weapon, his large blue photon rifle.

:This toy was also available in a leaders three-pack with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Convoy]]

::*''[http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/fortmaxjr.php More information of Transform Jr Fortress Maximus at Cliffbee.com]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Gum===
[[Image:Tfgum_fortmax.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (1987)
**''Accessories:'' Head, Photon Rifle, Dual Laser Blaster
:Released in the seventh wave of [[Kabaya]]'s ''[[Transformers Gum]]'' line of snap-together "[[candy toy]]" model kits, this version of Fortress stands at about four inches tall and is cast in grey, white and blue plastic. Unlike the Headmaster figures from the previous ''Transformers Gum'' wave, this version of Fortress Maximus does away with his Headmaster gimmick, and by sheer necessity of size, also lacks the guns in his forearms and fists and the prison cell in his left leg. He does include both of his hand-held weapons and swing-out waist cannons, however, and he can still transform into both starship and city modes. As a ''Transformers Gum'' kit, he featured no paint applications, but came with stickers for detail, and a piece of terrible gum.

::*''[http://bowbowdaijin.blog96.fc2.com/blog-entry-27.html More information on Transformer Gum Fortress Maximus at a Japanese fansite]''
{{--}}

===Parody Deformed===
[[Image:Pdtype_fortmax.jpg|right|thumb|]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (1990)
**''Accessories:'' Master Sword

:A small, blue and white non-transforming [[super deformed]] model kit of Fortress Maximus was available as part of Kabaya's "[[Parody Deformed]]" line of candy toys. The twelfth figure in the series, he came with a "Transformers PD Type" comic about himself, "Bigger Than Life! Fortress Maximus!", and more of that alleged "gum".
{{--}}
===Super Collection Figure/Heroes of Cybertron===
[[Image:Fortmax_scf_hoc.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (2001)

:Fortress Maximus was the collectible "Build-A-Figure" from the third ''Headmasters''-centric wave of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s line of ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' PVC figurines. He was divided into six parts, each one packaged with one of the other six figurines in the line: His head and sword came with [[Raiden]], his torso with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], his left arm with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], his right arm with [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]], his left leg with [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]] and his right leg with [[Sixshot]].

:As the first collectible figure from the line, Fortress Maximus was much rarer than those that would come later, with his parts only coming in two out of every ten cases. Like all the other figures in the wave, his parts were available in two color schemes; of the two cases he was available in, one contained a full-color figure, while the other contained a colorless translucent version.

*'''Fortress''' (2002)

:A standard 3" PVC figurine of Fortress was available in the eighth and final ''SCF'' wave line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available as both a standard full color figure and a metallic silver "pewter" version, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] figures. Additionally, in eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of Fortress came packaged with head and torso of the wave's collectible [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] figure.

*'''Fortress Maximus''' (2003)

: The Fortress Maximus PVC was later revisited by [[Hasbro]] for their domestic release of the ''Super Collection Figure'' series, ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]''. Like all the ''Heroes of Cybertron'' figures, this version of Fortress Maximus was cast entirely in clear-blue plastic and then painted over, save a small spot on his head to give him a "light-pipe" glowing-eyes effect. He remained available only as a collectible pack-in, one part in each of the six releases in the line's fourth wave. His head and sword came with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], his torso with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], his left arm with [[Powermaster]] [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Gigatron]], his right arm with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], his left leg with [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Autobot Jazz]] and his right leg with the Autobot Espionage Team ([[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]).

==Notes==
* "Fortress Maximus" was an early name for the characters that eventually became [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. The [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|comic adaptation]] of the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] even refers to [[Autobot City]] as "Fortress Maximus" in a caption.

* Fortress Maximus was the first toy to be released with a bona-fide Earthling figure. All of the other Headmasters' companions were from Nebulos. (Although Maximus's on-package [[bio]] refers to "the Nebulan leader, Spike", the general consensus is that it was supposed to be the popular figure from TV and other media, who is almost certainly an Earthling.)

* Both Scorponok and Fortress Maximus suffer from the writers struggling to reconcile the characters' high rank with their size. In their comic appearances, they are portrayed as commanders in some capacity but are shrunk down to interact with other Transformers, and their city modes pretty much don't exist. Conversely, the cartoons have opted to portray them as giant city Transformers, though they seem to be merely extensions of the smaller beings that bond with them, with no real life or will of their own.

[[Image:FortMaxReds.jpg|thumb|250px]]

*Fortress Maximus appeared in an unusual red-accented color scheme on the cover of Marvel's [[Ring of Hate!|''Headmasters'' #1]]. This color scheme was repeated in the corner box for [[Love and Steel!|''Headmasters'' #3]] and on the cover of [[The Man in the Machine!|''The Transformers'' #51]]. Its origin is unknown.

* The Battleship ''Maximus'' bears a slight resemblance to the [[Wikipedia:White Base|White Base]], a battleship from the [[Wikipedia:Gundam|''Gundam'' franchise]].

* When Spike transforms to join Fortress Maximus for the last time in the ''Generation 2'' book, Cerebros is not shown, and Spike transforms directly into Fortress Maximus's head. Maximus is shown to be no larger than Megatron. In real-life terms, it's an obvious series of art errors; in the context of the story, one might wonder if Maximus was reduced back to his original, smaller, size. It seems improbable, considering that Spike had been retired for years by that point.

* Fortress Maximus has the distinction of having one of the most well known Transformers [[Knockoff|bootleg]] versions in existence. While Cerebros has been omitted, the Spike figure is the same, and the body has been scaled down to match, effectively making the body compatible with any other Headmaster head. It also fetches absurd prices for a bootleg.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cerebros''' (セレブロス ''Sereburosu''), '''Fortress''' (フォートレス ''Fōtoresu''), '''Fortress Maximus''' (フォートレスマキシマス ''Fōtoresu Makishimasu'')
*''English:'' '''Spaceship Bruce''' (spaceship mode, [[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Cerebros''' (Fortress, [[Shout! Factory]] sub)
*''French:'' '''Forteresse Maximus''' (Canada)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Ford''' (Taiwan, 福特 ''Fú Tè''), '''Furmon''' (Taiwan [[Omni Productions]] dub, 福蒙 ''Fú Méng''), '''Fortry''' (Taiwan [[Omni Productions]] dub, 福崔 ''Fú Tsūei'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Fortecya Maxima''' (Фортеця Максима, "Fortress Maxima")
*''Russian:'' '''Krepysh Maximus''' (Крепыш Максимус, "Sturdy Fellow Maximus")

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

[[Category:Autobot bases]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Autobot starships]]
[[Category:City Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 locations]]
[[Category:Generation 1 starships]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]

Fortress Maximus (G1)

2012-07-01T03:07:55Z

68.224.39.107: /* IDW comics continuity */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Fortress Maximus}}
:''Fortress Maximus is an [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] [[City-bot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:FortMax1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Nobuyuki Hiyama|Link]] called. He wants the [[Master Sword]] back.]]
Despite his great power, size, and rank, '''Fortress Maximus''' is a weary and reluctant warrior. Fighting is against his pacifist nature, even for the most noble of causes. Over time, the endless conflict on Cybertron has worn him down, to the point that he's willing to walk away from the war entirely to preserve himself and his ideals.

Fortress Maximus is big. ''How'' big generally depends on the universe, but often as not he's binary-bonded to a smaller robot named [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] who forms his head; Cerebros's own head is formed by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]].

{{note|Fortress Maximus is one of those fun characters whose English comic, English cartoon and Japanese cartoon incarnations were very different. See individual fiction entries below for continuity specific profiles.}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Ringofhate-evilstain.jpg|right|250px|thumb|He is mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore!]]
Fortress Maximus was an architect in his early career, designing and even constructing many works on Cybertron. When the war came, he reluctantly turned his talents to fighting. {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe profile}}

During the long absence of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], and their respective troops from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], unit commander Fortress Maximus established a headquarters in the [[Manganese Mountains]] and continued the fight against Scorponok's Decepticon contingent.

One fine day on Cybertron, Fortress Maximus's troops staged an ambush on Scorponok's Decepticons, who had just leveled an Autobot city and were marching their prisoners toward the [[Smelting pool|smelting pools]]. Maximus's troops cut a swath through the Decepticon ranks, quickly driving them into retreat.

{{bigquote|Whether I am a hero or a coward is ''not'' the issue! I am ''weary!'' My joints creak from the corrosion of ''war without end!'' I... cannot break this ring of hate that surrounds us all -- but I can remove myself from it. No matter what you decide... I am leaving.|Fortress Maximus announces his decision to quit the war|"[[Ring of Hate!]]"}}

[[Image:Pan-galactic telescope.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"...And that, prospective investors, is why GoogleSaturn will make a million dollars per month."]]
Though his troops were jubilant at their victory, the battle was the last straw for Fortress Maximus. He had become so sick of the war that he decided to leave it. He didn't care if it made him a coward or not, he simply believed that the war would go on regardless of whether or not he was in it. Maximus declared that no matter what the others decided, he was leaving for the planet of [[Nebulos]], a world he had long studied and which seemed to be at peace. His stunned troops agreed, and together constructed a starship dubbed the ''[[Steelhaven]]'' to propel them across the void.

Fortress Maximus immediately sent [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] as an messenger to the Nebulan natives; however, an accident made it appear that the giant robots from outer space came with hostile intent. Some of the more reactionary elements among the Nebulan leadership conspired to make Fortress Maximus's envoy [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] also appear to have hostile intent, and thus were able to incite their fellow Nebulans to arms.

[[Image:Fortmaxgiveshead.jpg|right|250px|thumb|GIVE ME YOUR FACE-I MEAN HEAD!]]
Fortress Maximus and his troops thus found themselves under a full attack from the Nebulans. Max ordered his troops to not fight back, despite complaints from the likes of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and covered them as they retreated into the woods.

Faced with a newly hostile enemy, Fortress Maximus resolved to wage peace, not war. Gathering ten of his followers, he marched up to the Nebulan capital of [[Koraja]], begged to be heard out, and had his group discard their weapons. When that didn't work, he did the next logical thing and pulled his head off. Four other Autobots also resorted to this grotesque stunt before [[Galen]], head of the Nebulan [[World Watchers]], was convinced they weren't a threat. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

[[Image:Brokenglass-autobotstorage.jpg|left|200px|thumb|My honey my baby, don't put my head upon no shelf.]]
The five Autobots' heads were stored in a warehouse, and Galen occasionally consulted with Fortress Maximus, keeping him up to date on outside events as anti-robot protests rocked the capital city.

Soon after, a horde of the Autobots' Decepticon foes appeared before the city gates. Max advised Galen that turning the Autobots over to Scorponok would not prevent him from attacking, and under the Autobot-Nebulan peace agreement, Galen could not simply restore the five Autobots to their bodies. But together with [[Arcana]], the pair came up with another plan. Five volunteer Nebulans were bio-engineered to combine with special armor, and transform into likenesses of the Autobots heads, connecting with and controlling them through the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster process]]. Galen himself became Fortress Maximus's new partner. Fortress Maximus led his newly-enhanced troops against Scorponok, and soundly defeated his numerically superior squad. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

[[Image:Loveandsteel-runfortmaxrun.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I'm just a-runnin' down the road, trying to loosen my load, got a world of troubles on my mind.]]
Fortress Maximus remained inert while Galen performed his various duties. He came back online to lead the Headmasters to the [[Grax Communications Facility]], where a number of Nebulan leaders were apparently being held hostage by the Decepticons. It turned out to be a trap, however, as the Decepticons had also become Headmasters, with Galen's rival [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] now bonded to Scorponok himself. Using several Nebulans as a distraction, Scorponok's troops overpowered Fortress Maximus and the others, taking them hostage. {{storylink|Love and Steel!}}

Max remained out of commission until Zarak, briefly overcoming Scorponok's influence on his mind, freed Galen and the other Autobot-allied Nebulans. Fortress Maximus and company smashed their way out of the holding facility, then ran straight into the newly-formed Decepticon Targetmasters. Max briefly led his troops against the Decepticons, but opted to retreat rather than fight it out. To spare Koraja the carnage of a full-scale fight to the finish, he covered their retreat with the time-honored technique of smashing his enemies with Koraja's metal sculpture of the planet Nebulos. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''Scorponok and Zarak challenged Fortress Maximus and Galen (here called "Kord") to a duel to settle their differences. Kord/Maximus won by cheating, but it didn't matter because the duel was a ruse to distract the Autobots while [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] stole Autobot fuel converters. The Deceptions had bugged the Autobot base and learned of Earth. They needed the converters to travel there. The Decepticons left for Earth and the Autobots followed.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Returning to the Autobot camp, Max/Galen decided to lead the troops away from Nebulos, knowing that Scorponok would follow. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

[[Image:Trialbyfire-fortmax-disassemble.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He does seem to have trouble staying in one piece, doesn't he?]]
During their voyage to Earth, Fortress Maximus underwent a radical reconstruction to alter his size considerably, increasing himself from a slightly tall dude to a ''very'' tall dude, about twice the height of the average Transformer. Of course, with his larger scale, Fortress Maximus needed a new head (Galen still being stuck at roughly human size). For this reason, another Autobot, [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]], was added to serve as a secondary stage between Galen and Maximus. As the head of Cerebros, Galen could transform Cerebros into the larger head of Fortress Maximus.

Arriving on Earth, Fortress Maximus led his fellow Headmasters to [[Mount St. Hilary]], source of the Autobot distress call that had drawn them to Earth. After recovering the damaged [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], the group encountered [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], who had come in search of his missing younger brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]. Spike asked for the Autobots' help in finding his brother, but Fortress Maximus was more interested in their primary mission of locating the Autobots of Earth, and he led his troops off to follow the fuel trail of the missing [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-trialbyfire-rollout.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The usage of "roll out" gets stranger and stranger.]]
Scorponok's crew soon followed Maximus to Earth, however, and to the same cave. When Spike replayed Goldbug's distress message, Fortress Maximus and company returned to the cave, apologizing to Spike for his failure to consider the danger he had brought to Earth's natives by leading the Decepticons there.

In the ensuing battle, Spike retreated further into the volcano's caves to seek shelter. Scorponok followed, seeking a hostage, and Fortress Maximus pursued him. As the caves narrowed down, Maximus was forced to send Cerebros onward, and eventually Galen himself had to leave Cerebros to cross a fragile rock bridge. Scorponok used the distraction to blast rocks down on Galen, killing him. As the Decepticon leader left, laughing, Galen passed on his control helmet to Spike, allowing the Earthling to assume control of Fortress Maximus and drive the Decepticons off. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}}

Spike soon underwent the full binary bonding process and became the leader of the ''Steelhaven'''s crew of Autobots. With his new partner, Fortress Maximus led the Autobot [[Targetmaster]]s in an effort to locate Buster, first visiting his father at a shady motel, then heading to a spot in the tropics where the Decepticons had set up an island base.

[[Image:Clubconpalmtreespear.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The purpose of Club Con is to flip out and spear people.]]
With Kup worried about the inexperience of Fortress Maximus's new partner, Max held back while the Targetmasters landed on the island. They were driven back by automated defenses, however, and the island revealed itself to be a rocket ship, launching into the atmosphere with Buster still aboard. Maximus resolved to take matters into his own hands, and took off after the rocket (who knew he could fly?) Unfortunately, once in space, the ship's defenses made shishkabob out of him, forcing Spike to resort to using Cerebros instead. Cerebros was likewise trashed by an attack from [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], though Spike was able to use Maximus's guns to send Shockwave falling to his apparent demise. Maximus and his partners were subsequently rescued by the Targetmasters, and for his gusto, Spike was welcomed as the group's new leader. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}}

As Fortress Maximus underwent repairs, his crew caught wind of a [[floppy disk]] in possession of one [[Ethan Zachary]], which contained the memories and personality of Optimus Prime. With the aid of a computer-generated version of Prime, Fortress Maximus gathered a lot of data from Scorponok's [[Pretender]] experiments and gave that ability to some of his own crew. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}}

With the disk in their possession, Fortress Maximus oversaw efforts to build a new body for Optimus Prime's mind. However, the ''Steelhaven'''s resources were depleted after creating the Pretenders, causing the effort to fail explosively. Thus when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] located the Ark nearby, Fortress Maximus was eager to contact its Autobots and forge an alliance.

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-totalled-worthlesshuman.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It begs the question of why Grimlock didn't just step on him.]]
Unfortunately, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] developed an immediate dislike for Fortress Maximus, partially because he was a possible threat to Grimlock's leadership, partially because he was part human, and partially because he had a fugitive (Goldbug). He challenged "Fruitloop Multipuck" to a duel for leadership on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Faced with the prospect of a divided Autobot force, Fortress Maximus agreed, though his unhealed injuries made victory an unlikely prospect. Luckily for Max, the imprisoned [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] agreed to fill in for him.

[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] led a Decepticon assault on the Autobots during the duel. While fighting off the attackers, Fortress Maximus ordered Goldbug, [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]], [[Getaway]], and [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] to take the disk to Nebulos to restore Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

With Optimus Prime restored, Maximus accepted a subordinate role in the Autobot ranks. ''He was among those Autobots present as Optimus Prime briefed the troops about the threat of the time-displaced [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. When Optimus and five other Autobots spontaneously and explosively vanished into thin air, only to be replaced by six Transformers claiming to be Autobots from the future, Fortress Maximus immediately assumed command, freaked out, and ordered his troops to destroy the "imposters". (Apparently, his memory was a little rusty, since said "imposters" included his own present-day troops Kup and Blurr.) Maximus sparred with Rodimus Prime until the words of Goldbug, as well as a Matrix-linked Optimus Prime, convinced him that Rodimus was telling the truth when he claimed to be a future Autobot leader. Maximus participated in the subsequent battle against Megatron and Galvatron; he attacked Megatron alongside Grimlock and Swoop, but was quickly put down by the battle-crazed Decepticon.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[Image:Fortmaxboat.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Contrary to what's advertised here, the toy will sink if you put it in the bathtub.]]
Fortress Maximus provided a floating search platform for Optimus and Blaster as they searched the ocean for the Decepticons' [[Club Con]] base. Spike expressed frustration that they still had not located his brother, though Optimus vowed to keep searching. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Fortress Maximus was among the many Autobots who responded to an Autobot emergency signal in the Arctic... which turned out to be sent by none other than Buster Witwicky, who was dying of hypothermia. Maximus took his human sibling into a special thermal compartment, restoring his body temperature to normal.

When the Decepticons attacked soon after, Maximus came under attack from the [[Horrorcon]]s, followed by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], who clung to him tenaciously and eventually caused Buster to spill out of the warming compartment. This turned out to be a lucky break, as Buster reminded Ratbat that the battle was nothing but a ruse engineered by Starscream. Ratbat and Maximus together called for all the combatants to lay down their arms.

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-maninthemachine1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Cast in the name of God, Ye not guilty]]
After Starscream seized the power of the [[Underbase]], Fortress Maximus and Soundwave led a team to [[Buenos Aires]] to try and stop him. As their troops fell en masse, Maximus attacked Starscream, only to receive a debilitating energy blast in return. His organic component, however, allowed him to survive the first attack. Omega Supreme intervened just then, preventing Maximus from being crushed by a monument hurled by Starscream. Starscream disposed of Omega, and was on the verge of finishing off Maximus, when he was lured away by a radio signal from Buster aboard the Ark. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-maninthemachine2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|So why couldn't he have just kept Cerebros attached to him and gone on with his life?]]
With Buster rescued and the threat of Starscream removed, Spike and Fortress Maximus's tumultuous relationship came to light. Feeling his work with the Autobots was done, Spike tried to go his own way and resume his life, going so far as to pitch his control helmet into a junkyard, but his binary bond could not be left behind so easily. Strange nightmares plagued him, visions of falling into a void. Nor would the Decepticons relent; while on a skiing expedition, he found himself hunted by Carnivac and Snarler. Turning inwards, he found his link to Fortress Maximus remained even without the control helmet and that he could summon the giant warrior from afar. Max left his storage space aboard the Ark and descended to Earth. Despite Carnivac's dirty fighting, Fortress Maximus easily disposed of the two attackers and their Pretender shells, once he and Spike physically recombined. With the battle over, Spike sent Fortress Maximus back to the Ark. {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}}

Despite Spike's reconciliation, Fortress Maximus was subsequently out of action for many months or even years. He was still stored aboard the Ark just before the great battle with Unicron, when Grimlock and his Dinobots had returned from [[Hydrus Four]]. They had come looking for the rest of the Autobots, but the Ark's scanners were only picking up one Transformer. Weirder still, this Transformer was in ''two'' parts! {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

{{note|It's kind of odd that [[Primus]] didn't warp Fortress Maximus with every other Transformer on Earth, but it's implied that it's because half of him was on the Ark. Odder still is that the Dinobots didn't notice or mention that half of this Transformer was on the Ark with them.}}

[[Image:Fortressmaximus-thelastautobot1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|]]
After Unicron was defeated, the Ark plummeted to Earth and crashed in the northern tundra of Canada. When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] emerged from the wreckage to wreak havoc, it fell to Fortress Maximus to stop him. He called to Spike, who came. He and Spike went through some mental wrangling before Max convinced Spike to reunite with him once more. Anxious and desperate after so long out of the war, Maximus immediately suppressed his hesitating partner and took full control upon regaining his head. This proved not to be such a wise idea. Fortress Maximus alone wasn't quite ready to deal with the totally insane Galvatron, who started smashing and biting(!) him to pieces. Realizing the power of their combined strength, Spike and Fortress Maximus managed to unite in thought and deed, and defeated the crazed Decepticon. Fortress Maximus stood alone at the battle's end, the last Autobot, guardian of Earth. {{storylink|The Last Autobot?}}

{{-}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Fortressmaximus-allornothing2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Let me demonstrate just how much you don't have a [[To sell toys|toy on the shelves]] anymore.]]
It was ultimately [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] who would prove to be the undoing of this giant warrior. The reborn and reconditioned Decepticon leader stole the Ark from its crash site in [[Canada]], and used it as his personal flagship. {{storylink|Realignments}} While establishing control over the ship, Megatron found and disabled Fortress Maximus's dormant form. Spike sneaked aboard the ship and rejoined with Maximus, but the damage inflicted by Megatron meant they had virtually no chance to win.

Brutally beaten in combat with an upgraded and super-charged Megatron, the pair dragged themselves to the heart of the ship and threw themselves into the anti-matter containment unit at the core of its power supply, killing them both and causing the Ark to explode. {{storylink|All or Nothing!}}

Though it kept the Ark out of Megatron's hands, and nearly derailed his plans entirely, their effort was ultimately not successful: Megatron escaped aboard a shuttle and lived to fight again, and even had time to take the convalescent Starscream with him. {{storylink|New Dawn}} {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}

{{-}}

====''Classics''====
{{classicsnote}}

[[Image:Invasion-FortMax.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]

Decades later, in [[2012]] Fortress Maximus was stationed in [[South America]]. Due to the actions of an evil [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] from [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|another dimension]], a rift of space time opened over Earth, causing catastrophes worldwide. Cerebros, merged with Spike, gathered civilians inside Fortress Maximus for safety. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}
{{-}}

===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Stephen Keener]] (English), [[Kunihiko Yasui]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Fortressmaximusg1rebirth.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

When a battle for possession of the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]] led a group of Autobots and Decepticons to be stranded on the planet [[Nebulos]], partnership between the Transformers and the native Nebulans led to the development of Headmaster and Targetmaster technology. The planet's evil ruling council, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], took the technology to its most powerful extreme when its leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] created the massive city-sized Scorponok to serve as his Headmaster partner and used his power to steal back the chamber key. The Decepticons departed for Cybertron, and the Autobots were poised to give chase when Spike Witwicky announced that he and the pacifistic Cerebros would be staying behind. While the other Autobots left in pursuit, Spike had Cerebros lead him to the ruins of the Hive's original city, which they had lived in before moving underground. Taking control of the various abandoned machines there, Spike rebuilt the city, Cerebros and even himself into a Headmaster robot that could stand up to Scorponok's power: Fortress Maximus!

[[Image:Rebirth3_fortmax_battlestation.jpg|left|250px|thumb]]

The completed Fortress Maximus quickly flew to Cybertron and made a dramatic entrance, setting down in city mode and then transforming to battle station mode to bombard Scorponok and the Decepticons with a hail of weaponsfire. When Zarak transformed Scorponok to robot mode, Spike did likewise with Fortress Maximus, and the two titans battled, with Maximus on the losing end until Zarak threatened the life of Spike's son, Daniel. With a burst of strength, Fortress Maximus took Scorponok down, causing him to collapse with such force that he transformed back to city mode. Spike and Cerebros then disconnected from Maximus and headed inside Scorponok to recover the captive Daniel and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], leaving Maximus to keep the other Decepticons at bay with his many weapons. The Decepticons were able to get through Maximus's firestorm and got Scorponok airborne, but not before Spike succeeded in his rescue.

Subsequently, with the Plasma Energy Chamber back under Autobot control, Fortress Maximus flew the Autobot Headmasters and Targetmasters back to Nebulos. There, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] announced that after they had eradicated the Hive's evil from the planet, Cerebros would live on the planet as its guardian, presumably meaning that Fortress Maximus would be staying there too. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

{{note|It is unclear if Fortress Maximus had any sentience of his own; he did speak once in his own voice, but for the most part, even Cerebros's will seemed to be pushed aside so Spike could run the whole thing himself.}}

===Japanese animated continuity===
{{note|In Japan, Fortress Maximus's mental functions are housed in a small robot who transforms into a head and connects to a larger, lifeless transtector body. This larger body in turn becomes the head of a ''giant'' transtector, forming the robot known as Fortress Maximus. The ''Headmasters'' toyline referred to the smallest robot as '''Cerebros''', who formed the head of the intermediate robot '''Fortress''', but this distinction was never actually made in fiction, and the character was always referred to as "Fortress" regardless of whether he was in small or intermediate form.}}

====''The Great Transformer War'' comic====
[[Image:Hmmanga battered headmasters.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]

In the year 2010, while significant Transformer battles were being waged throughout space and on Earth, Fortress was active on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]]. After the younger Headmaster warriors under his command were defeated in battle by [[Sixshot]] and the Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress quickly roused his fallen comrades and ordered them to board his battleship, the Maximus, so that they could pursue the villains. Their destination: Cybertron! {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 3|The Great Transformer War #3}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ikuya Sawaki]]

[[Image:Hm7 fortress small bot.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

Four million years ago, Fortress was a [[Cyberdroid|diminutive Cybertronian]] who had not yet mastered the art of transformation, and was a friend of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s. He was among the many Transformers that fled Cybertron in an attempt to escape the corrosion of war without end, and led a group of his fellow small Cybertronians in search of a new peaceful world they could call home. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Alas, engine trouble caused their ship to crash on the inhospitable world of planet Master, whose hazardous environmental conditions began threatening the lives of Fortress and his men almost as soon as they departed the wreckage of their ship and began trekking through a desert of shifting sands. The need for survival fostered many technological and mental advancements, however, and Fortress and his people endured.

[[Image:Hm1_battleship_maximus.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

Fortress was responsible for many of the technological quantum leaps, the most significant of which was the invention of "[[transtector]]s": larger, lifeless Transformer bodies to which the small Cybertronians could connect as heads. After a rigorous physical and mental training program that allowed them to finally master transformation and even instilled powerful telepathic and telekinetic powers in them, Fortress and nine other warriors bonded with these transtectors to become "Headmasters". {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} Fortress even took the process one step further, and with the aid of other Master scientists like [[Jack (Headmasters)|Jack]], created a ''huge'' transtector that could transform into the battleship, Maximus. Fortress's own transtector was engineered to also transform into a head, which could control the many functions of the Maximus from a special docking bay on the battleship's bridge, {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} and which could form the head for the battleship's own colossal robot mode, known as "Fortress Maximus". Fortress also created the powerful [[Master Sword]] for himself, and tied the Maximus's transformation into it; in order to convert the battleship to robot mode, Fortress had to draw a small version of the blade from a sheath beneath his command console, but this feat could only be accomplished when his physical and mental energies were in perfect synchronization. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}}

Unfortunately, half of the Headmasters eventually rebelled against Fortress's leadership, siding with a traitor named Scorponok against him. The traitors were defeated by Fortress and his comrades and exiled from Master, but eventually, they came to ally themselves with the Decepticons under the command of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

{{note|The events of the ''Great Transformer War'' manga occur at this point.}}

[[Image:Hm2_kup_and_fortress.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

In the year 2011, when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress Maximus brought the Autobot Headmasters back to their homeworld aboard the Maximus. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Even the mightiest of the Decepticons' [[combiner]]s could not stand against Battleship Maximus's firepower, and the evil robots were forced into retreat. This task complete, Fortress set the Maximus down at the Autobots' secondary headquarters on the planet [[Athenia]], where he introduced himself and his comrades and explained their origins, and was reunited with Kup. After being filled in by the Autobots on the current crisis—[[Vector Sigma]] had become destabilized, putting the planet at risk—Fortress deduced that the [[Matrix of Leadership]] was necessary to bring the computer back under control. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Unfortunately, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] had already ventured into the depths of Cybertron without the Matrix, willing to sacrifice his own life to stabilize Vector Sigma, so Fortress headed into the planet's catacombs after him while the other Headmasters helped [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] search for the Matrix, hidden somewhere on [[Earth]]. Though Fortress was not able to catch up to Prime before he reached Vector Sigma's chamber, he was able to use his telepathic powers to contact Prime's companion, the spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], helping to guide him safely through the maze of tunnels. It turned out that [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] had made it to the chamber ahead of Prime, however, and Fortress raced through the remainder of the tunnels to aid Prime against the two Decepticons. Hot Rod soon arrived with the Matrix, which he used to become Rodimus Prime again, but before he could use it to bring Vector Sigma back under control, Optimus Prime merged with the computer to stabilize it, giving up his life in the process. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Prime was not the only casualty of the crisis: [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] also lost his life in the search for the Matrix. Luckily, Fortress was able to use the advanced technology of Master to rebuild and resurrect him, as Twincast. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[Image:Hm5_fortmax_headmode.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

While patrolling space for Decepticon activity aboard the Maximus, the Autobot Headmasters discovered [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] stowed away on board. After explaining the function of his Head Mode to the shocked youngsters, Fortress agreed to let the pair join them on the patrol. Soon after, the Autobots came upon two stranded [[Beastformer]]s from the planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]], and learned that the Decepticons had invaded their planet; the infuriated Fortress made for the planet with all due speed, after sending a report to Rodimus Prime on Athenia. The Autobot Headmasters helped the native Beastformers liberate their planet from Decepticon control, but Fortress was concerned with a blueprint recovered from an underground factory that indicated the Decepticons were building something. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}}

[[Image:Hm6_fortmax_funnyfaces.jpg|left|thumb|225px|:D]]

When the Decepticons launched a [[Metamorphose|metal-warping meteor]] at Athenia, Fortress and his battleship were powerless to do anything, for fear of being destroyed by the meteor's gravity sensors. It fell to Daniel Witwicky to destroy the meteor, so Fortress transported him as close to it as he was able. Daniel lost his nerve at the last minute, so Fortress calmed him down by making some silly faces. Dignified! {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}} Later, a phoney distress call lured Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters into a trap on the planet [[Praum]] set by their old foe, Scorponok. Despite being trapped in a subterranean chamber with the endless desert sands pouring in on top of him, Fortress kept his head and reminded his young allies of the similar hardships they had suffered on Master and the training they had undergone to overcome them. With the skills they had learned back then, they were able to escape. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

[[Image:Hm10_fortress_appointed_commander.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

When Galvatron launched an attack on Cybertron in an attempt to steal a new alloy developed by Vector Sigma named [[cybertonuron]], Fortress advised Rodimus Prime against striking back in full force, preferring to find another way to stop the Decepticons than putting all their warriors in danger. Rodimus refused, and Fortress quietly acquiesced to his commander's wishes, ferrying him to Cybertron on Battleship Maximus. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} The battle ended catastrophically, however, when treachery on the part of Scorponok led to the detonation of a collection of bombs in Vector Sigma's chamber, devastating Cybertron and rendering it uninhabitable, and apparently killing Galvatron in the process. Realizing with deep regret that Fortress's caution had been warranted, Rodimus Prime decided that the era of his generation of Transformers was over, and vowed to search the universe for a new planet the Transformers could call home. He passed the title of [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots (though not the Matrix of Leadership) to Fortress, who was visibly uncomfortable with the appointment, but accepted it graciously, telling himself not to contest it because it was his destiny. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

[[Image:G1FortressMaximus HMstockfootage.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"...But it's the pelvic thruuuuuust / that really drives you in-sa-a-a-ane..."]]

Fortress's tenure as leader got off to a strong start with the successful completion of the [[Sol 1]] satellite, a joint venture between the Autobots and humanity to gather solar energy. Unfortunately, the satellite was stolen by the Decepticons, forcing the Autobot Headmasters to destroy it to keep it out of their hands. Before being destroyed, however, the satellite's energy was beamed by the villains to the planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]]. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Fortress attempted to study Zarak from afar in hopes of deducing what the Decepticons were up to, but the planet's gaseous shroud prevented remote observation of its surface, and the Decepticons began staging concentrated attacks on Earth to keep the Autobots' attentions divided. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} One such attack saw the Decepticons unleash a carnivorous, ambulatory plant upon [[San Francisco]], which Fortress identified as a [[buridanka]] from the planet [[Darhos]]. When the Autobot Headmasters responded, Battleship Maximus was caught in the plant-monster's vines, and Fortress's lack of focus left him unable to draw the Master Sword and transform. Galvanized by the cries of the other Headmasters, however, his energies soon came into alignment, and for what was apparently the first time (given everyone else's surprise when it happened) Fortress transformed the Maximus and combined with it to form Fortress Maximus. With the power of the Master Sword, he easily dispatched the giant plant. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

[[Image:Hm14 fortress draws mastersword.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Weakened by the great energy demands of his transformation, Fortress sent the Autobot Headmasters to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] without him when news of Decepticon movement on the planet reached the Autobots. When the Headmasters discovered that the Decepticons were planning to blow up Mars, however, Fortress went into action, only to be struck with a [[plasma energy]] bomb by the Decepticons Headmasters just as he was in the middle of transforming into Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} Although Fortress survived the blast, his energies were severely drained, and the powerless Maximus was unable to depart Mars as the countdown to the Decepticons' planet-destroying explosion continued. Even worse, into the middle of this crisis stepped Scorponok, now outfitted with a gigantic transtector of his own: the end result of the mysterious construction operations on planets Beast and Zarak. Scorponok pummelled the paralyzed Maximus, then pulled out just before the chain of explosion began. Fortress told the Headmasters to leave him and the Maximus to their fate, but luckily, at the last minute, the battleship began absorbing the energy released by the early stages of the explosion. Fortress was able to use this energy to transform into Fortress Maximus, and escaped the destruction of Mars, slashing Scorponok with the Master Sword as he came bursting from the conflagration. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

[[Image:Hm17_maximus_vs_scorponok.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

While Fortress and the Headmasters were patrolling the edges of Decepticon space to keep an eye on their enemies' activities, Scorponok attacked the Maximus, only for the fight to be broken up by a strange UFO. Back on Athenia, Fortress met with the Autobots' deep cover spy, [[Punch (G1)|Punch]], and learned that Scorponok was holding a coronation ceremony for himself on Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]]. The Autobots attacked the ceremony, during which Fortress again pitted his battleship against Scorponok, but the fighting was brought to an end when the UFO returned, and was revealed to belong to Galvatron, who had survived Cybertron's destruction. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Fortress fought Scorponok again soon after, when the Autobots tried to provide energy relief to the other-dimensional planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]]. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

[[Image:Hm23_fortmax_sword_slash.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

When the Decepticons embarked on an interplanetary energy quest, the Autobots determined to follow them aboard Fortress's battleship; Fortress had to be convinced to allow Daniel to come with them. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}} Their first port of call was the planet [[Hive (planet)|Hive]], but before the Maximus could set down, they were attacked by the planet's force. Fortress was intent on a show of non-resistance and would not fire back, while [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] went down to the planet's surface and proved the Autobots' good intentions to Hive's [[Queen Bee]]. The Autobots joined forces with the natives to fend off the Decepticons; Fortress disconnected the Maximus's "Master Shot" cannon so the Headmasters could wield it, then transformed into Fortress Maximus to send Scorponok packing with the Master Sword. {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!}} Fortress then used the Maximus to fly the Autobots to [[Twin Star]], where he dealt with Scorponok by hauling him into the air and dropping him, {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} and [[Daros]], where he used the Maximus's internal defense systems to stop [[Curl|a gang of prisoners]] from taking control of the battleship. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} The battleship needed some repairs before it could take the Autobots to [[Paradise]], which Fortress had Chromedome and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] perform. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} Fortress again transformed to Fortress Maximus on the final planet of their journey, [[Pirate Planet]], taking Scorponok out with a Master Sword-slash to the chest. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

[[Image:Hm25_fortress_cradles_magnus.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

After returning to Athenia, Fortress and the Headmasters received news of a Decepticon attack on Earth and headed there with all due haste, but they were not in time to stop [[Sixshot]] from mortally wounding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. Fortress held Magnus as he died, then carried his body aboard the Maximus for burial along an Earth coastline. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} Soon after, with Decepticon attacks intensifying, Fortress had to talk [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] out of risking his own life in the pursuit of revenge against Sixshot. When word came through from Punch that Galvatron intended to use the gathered energy to fuse himself with the Earth itself, Fortress and the Headmasters immediately departed to confront the Decepticon leader in [[Alaska]]. The Headmasters were able to use Punch's information to finally end the threat of Galvatron with their [[Head Formation]], burying him in the Arctic ice. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

[[Image:Hm26_weak_spot.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

Galvatron's demise left a power vacuum that Scorponok immediately filled, and once appointed leader again, he immediately put into motion a plan to destroy the Earth by simultaneously erupting every volcano on the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]]. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] deduced his plan, but a Decepticon attack on [[Autobot City]] left Spike fatally wounded, with a chunk of shrapnel embedded in one of his arteries. Medical science could do nothing for Spike, so Fortress used his telekinetic powers to dissolve the shrapnel, saving Spike, but draining all of Fortress's energy. Even in his weakened state, unable to transform, Fortress still attempted to stop Scorponok from initiating his plan on the Kamchatka Peninsula, but Scorponok simply hurled the Maximus into a volcano. As it turned out, this allowed Fortress to absorb the geothermal energy of the volcano's magma, restoring his power and ability to transform. Following information decoded by Chromedome, Fortress Maximus was able to puncture Scorponok's weak spot, the Decepticon symbol on his chest, forcing the villain and his followers to flee the planet. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}}

[[Image:Hm28_fortress_examines_targetmaster.jpg|left|thumb]]

With Earth finally free of the Decepticons, the Autobots set about removing every trace of their evil from the planet. Fortress co-ordinated the effort, but just as he was meeting with three new Autobot arrivals—[[Pointblank]], [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]—a report came through from Chromedome that one of the plasma energy bombs he had been tasked with gathering up had become active. Fortress quickly picked up the bombs in Battleship Maximus, intending to transport them into space so they could detonate harmlessly, but as the ship departed the atmosphere, it crossed paths with another vessel containing refugees from Master. While the Autobots held off the Decepticons pursuing the Master vessel, Fortress and Twincast welcomed the refugees on board, and learned from them that Scorponok's Decepticons had attacked Master. The refugees then helped get the plasma bombs off Battleship Maximus, but they proceeded to detonate before everyone could get clear, and the explosion fused the refugees to the arms of the Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} Fortress used his scientific know-how to remove the refugees from the Autobots' arms, but a strange link remained between the warriors. With these "[[Targetmaster]]s" added to their ranks, Fortress piloted Battleship Maximus to Master to stop Scorponok's evildoings there. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}}

[[Image:MasterSwordDanger Floppydisk.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Seeking to forge a weapon to counter Fortress's Master Sword, Scorponok arranged for the kidnap of Wheelie so that he could be ransom for information on the sword. Fortress agonized over what to do, but the decision was made for him when Chromedome and Daniel snuck away to rescue Wheelie themselves. Learning of their insubordination, Fortress played along, keeping the Decepticons' attentions on his battleship and preparing a data disk to "hand over". Unfortunately, when the Decepticons learned that Wheelie had been rescued, a fight broke out over the disk and it was snatched from Fortress's grasp. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} The Decepticons retreated underground, but Fortress was able to track them down by equipping the Master Sword with sensors that would allow the Maximus to track any surges of the energy needed to create it, which Scorponok was sure to require to forge his own weapon. Unfortunately, [[Weirdwolf]] was able to sneak aboard the Maximus, and although Fortress repelled him, he had secretly planted bombs on the battleship that covered the Decepticons' escape when they went off. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}}

[[Image:Hm31_fortmax_defeated.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

As Battleship Maximus was repaired, Fortress debated strategy with the Autobots, eventually agreeing with the Targetmasters' plan to lure the Decepticons into space to avoid collateral damage to Master. Unfortunately, the hot-headed Chromedome disagreed, and staged his own attack on the Decepticons with the aid of the young warriors of Master. Chromedome's strategy went sour, forcing Fortress Maximus to go into action, but when the Master Sword clashed with Scorponok's newly-forged "[[Zarak Shield]]", it was the Zarak Shield that emerged triumphant! Defeated, Fortress Maximus could only watch as Scorponok departed for Earth, intending to destroy it once and for all. {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}}

The Autobots gave chase in the Maximus, but during the space battle that resulted, Daniel was set adrift when the Maximus's Laser Block unit was damaged and jettisoned. Fortress was forced to divert to rescue the boy, allowing the Decepticons a substantial lead in the race back to Earth. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} Their lead was lost when they were forced to set down on the asteroid [[Pallas]] for repairs, and the Maximus set down on [[Ceres]] in order to attack. During the fight, Sixshot challenged Chromedome to a one-on-one duel, and Fortress's pleas that he not accept the challenge fell on deaf ears. Even as Scorponok took off for Earth again, Fortress concluded that he and the other Autobots would have to leave Chromedome to his duel and carry on the chase. As it happened, the duel was interrupted by an explosion courtesy of bombs Scorponok had planted on the battlefield, so Chromedome was able to rejoin Maximus not long after. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

[[Image:Hm35 master sword zappped.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

As the Maximus entered the final stretch back to Earth, reports began coming in from the Autobots down on the planet of Decepticon attacks, accompanied by the emergence of strange towers at specific points around the globe. Once back on Earth, Fortress met with Punch, who unfortunately had to report that Scorponok had disappeared into the Mediterranean Ocean. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} The Autobots soon realized that the "Death Towers" were composed of energy-amplifying [[crysmagnetal]], and were creating a field of energy that was surrounding the Earth. Following Punch's lead, Fortress led the Autobots to Egypt, where Scorponok was outfitting a Death Tower with an induction booster to magnify the amount of energy it was projecting. The Master Sword played the unfortunate role of lightning rod in the presence of the Death Tower, attracting bolts of the tower's energy and stunning Fortress, preventing him from stopping Scorponok. As Scorponok fled, he told Fortress to meet him at the North Pole, where even he would have a role to play in his scheme.

[[Image:Hm35_final_battle.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

With no other choices, Fortress followed his enemy's instructions, and the entire Autobot and Decepticon armies clashed in battle in the frozen north. There, Scorponok lured Fortress Maximus onto a crysmagnetal dais, at which point, an orbiting Decepticon satellite that had been gathering the energies projected by the Death Towers activated, beaming the collected energy down to the dais. Scorponok disconnected from his transtector, and left the paralyzed Fortress Maximus trapped in the satellite's beam, part of a deadly circuit of energy that threatened to tear the Earth apart. The four Headmasters joined in Head Formation and tried to channel their energy into Fortress Maximus in hopes of giving him the strength to break free, but their own power was not enough. At Daniel's suggestion, all the other Autobots linked up as part of the chain, and together combined in "Final Formation", they infused Maximus with enough energy to deflect the satellite's beam with the Master Sword, destroying it. With one mighty slash, Fortress Maximus bisected Scorponok's transtector, finally ending the Decepticon threat.

The Decepticons subsequently fled Earth, and the Autobots gathered to pursue them. Fortress told the tearful Daniel that it was necessary in order to continue defend peace throughout the universe, but promised the boy that they would meet again. Together, the Autobots all boarded Fortress's battleship, and took off into the setting sun. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''Kiss Players/15 Go! Go!''====
[[Image:KPBraveMax.jpg|right|thumb|115px]]
{{note|Fortress's cameo appearance in ''Kiss Players'' is set shortly after his arrival on Master.}}

Slumped miserably on the barren surface of Master in their smallest robot forms, Fortress, Chromedome and Highbrow's attention was caught when a [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|time-travelling spaceship]] materialized over their heads and crashed nearby. {{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 1}} By studying and reverse-engineering the technology found in this spaceship, Fortress and the scientists of Master invented transtectors and the Headmaster process. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48}}/{{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 3}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
{{note|The events of the Headmasters manga take place concurrently with the Headmasters cartoon.}}

[[Image:Manga fort max.jpg|left|thumb|275px]]

Soon after Optimus Prime died stabilizing Vector Sigma, the Decepticons staged an attack on Athenia, and Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters quickly took off in Battleship Maximus to intercept them as they approached the planet. Daniel opined that the Decepticons were "a lot like parasites", to which Fortress murmured an agreement. At that point, the Decepticons appeared in front of them, and the Autobots realized that they had played into the villains' hands: they intended to destroy Fortress's battleship with a bomb. Luckily, Chromedome moved quickly enough to snatch the bomb away and save the Maximus. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 1|The Headmasters #1}}

Responding to an SOS from their Beastformer comrades, Fortress escorted the Autobot Headmasters to planet Beast to investigate. No sooner had the young warriors left Battleship Maximus to search, Rodimus Prime radioed Fortress for an update. Fortress didn't have anything to tell him, but assured Rodimus that the Headmasters would get to the bottom of the mystery. {{storylink|Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!}} Later, once they were back on Earth, Fortress sent the Headmasters on their next mission, to respond to a Decepticon attack on an Alaskan energy plant. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 2|The Headmasters #2}}

When a fire tore through [[Shinjuku]], Chromedome, [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]] responded, but their rescue effort was impeded by the Decepticon Targetmaters. Luckily, Fortress soon arrived to extinguish the fire by dumping a massive amount of water on it from above using Battleship Maximus, freeing up the others to deal with the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

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====''Super-God Masterforce Master File''====
Following the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth after the battle at the North Pole, the Transformers' war shifted into a series of space-based exchanges between Athenia and Chaar known as the [[Master Wars]]. With the space bridge destroyed, interstellar transportation was severely limited, and it fell to Fortress and the Maximus to patrol space for the Decepticons. While on one such patrol, Fortress received a transmission from Sixshot alerting him to the existence of a [[Devil Z|new shadowy puppet master]] who had taken control of the Decepticons. This news came at the same time as a report from the Trainbots which indicated that Scorponok had constructed a new transtector for himself, and so Fortress had no choice but to focus on dealing with this mystery. With access to the ever-important Earth now greatly reduced and his attentions now focused elsewhere, Fortress left guardianship of the planet in the hands of [[Metalhawk]] and his [[Pretender]]s. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}}

{{note|Following the end of the ''Headmasters'' franchise, Japanese cartoon continuity branches off in two separate directions. One version of the story is told through the [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon]], the other is told through the [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|''Masterforce'' manga]]. Fortress plays much the same role in both, but gets up to a bit more in the manga.}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
[[Image:Masterforce ep23 FuzzyFortress.JPG|right|thumb]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ikuya Sawaki]] (Japanese)

Following the commands of Devil Z, the space-based Decepticon forces orchestrated the bombardment of Earth with meteors. Although they were able to carry out this assault without the direct knowledge of Fortress's Autobots, Fortress did become suspicious when he observed that the Decepticons had broken their usual formation. Worried, Fortress sent a message to Metalhawk's Autobots on Earth, but alas, by the time the distorted missive arrived, the meteors had already struck the planet and caused massive collateral damage. {{storylink|Expose the Decepticons' Dark Trap!}}

Soon after, Fortress's younger brother, [[Grand Maximus|Grand]], travelled to Earth to aid the Autobots there against the approaching threat of [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]]. Grand was physically identical to his big bro, save for his coloration, and even piloted a smaller Maximus-style battleship of his own. {{storylink|Life? Death? The Desperate Lightfoot}}

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====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic====
[[Image:Mfmanga fortress meets ginrai.jpg|left|thumb]]

When a new and powerful Autobot warrior named [[Ginrai]] rose to prominence on Earth, he distinguished himself to the point that Fortress decided to step down as Supreme Commander and appoint Ginrai in his place. The Trainbots brought Ginrai and his [[Headmaster Junior]] allies to Athenia, where Fortress formally handed over leadership, then departed to take care of some business on Master. In his absence, the united forces of the Earth- and space-based Decepticons attacked Athenia, but Ginrai was able to repel them. Fortress arrived back just as the Decepticons were pulling out, and announced that the Autobots must pool their resources as their enemies had, uniting their forces on Earth and space to commence the [[Godbomber|Bomber Project]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}
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===''Transformers in 3-D''===
Fortress Maximus served as transport when Ultra Magnus lead a mission to a small asteroid in search of a new source of [[Energon]]. The Autobots discovered a [[Observer|small alien]], and [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] utilized Maximus's laboratory to determine that the creature turned its food into Energon. A later fracas with the Decepticons resulted in Fortress Maximus getting involved, leading to a fight with Scorponok. {{storylink|The Test (issue)|The Test}}

===''Transformers PD Type''===
[[Image:Pdtype_fortmax_manga.jpg|right|thumb|275px]]
While casually minding his own business one day, Fortress Maximus was suddenly shocked to see a wave of Decepticons led by Galvatron bearing down on him. He immediately transformed into robot mode... but he had completely forgotten that he had been in city mode, leaving all the poor Autobots who had been inside him squished and thinking there had been an earthquake. {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##12 "Bigger than Life! Fortress Maximus!"|Bigger Than Life! Fortress Maximus!}}

Fortress Maximus later met Scorponok in battle, vowing to never surrender. All the other Transformers would probably have preferred that he ''did'' surrender, though, since the battle put them ''all'' in danger when the two towering titans toppled over, threatening to accidentally crush them all! {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##14 "Watch Out! Mega Zarak!"|Watch Out! MegaZarak!}}

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===Dreamwave comics continuity===
A normal-sized Fortress Maximus was a co-leader of the Autobot forces on Cybertron, along with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. As Cybertron's resources ran low, they struggled to hold the Autobot army together. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing}} The war continued despite their best efforts, and after a fruitless and disastrous skirmish with the Micromaster [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] and the Decepticons, Fortress Maximus gave up on the war. He left the Autobot army in order to seek a new path. {{Storylink|Victims of the Revolution}}

A gargantuan Fortress Maximus was also seen in a [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-induced vision of future [[Nebulos]] by Optimus Prime and Megatron. {{Storylink|The War Within issue 4|The War Within #4}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:Ironclaw artofwar.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
While imbued with the wisdom of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] had a vision of Fortress Maximus and [[Sgt. Savage]] fighting against [[Iron Klaw]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:SpotlightArcee FortressMaximus.jpg|left|300px|thumb|You wanna argue with him?]]
{{spoiler|Interiors|July 27}}

Fortress Maximus is referred to as 'warborn', presumably meaning he came online during the war.{{storylink|Interiors}}

A somewhat less pacifistic Fortress Maximus (Seriously, he repeatedly threatened to kill his prisoners or otherwise "strip them down to their spark cores") was the warden in charge of [[Garrus-9]], an Autobot-run penitentiary where both Autobot and Decepticon prisoners were kept in containment. As the ultimate imprisonment, most inmates were reduced down to their [[spark]] and [[laser core]] alone, held inanimate in a storage center known as "The Rig" until such a time as Fortress Maximus deemed to rebuild and release them, if ever. Astoundingly, this method was deemed too "merciful" for at least one [[Impactor (G1)|prisoner]].

Fortress Maximus was one of many Autobots across the galaxy who watched a news report heralding the miraculous return of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] encountered the [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] [[Combiner|combiners]] on [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s asteroid bunker, he sent them to Garrus-9 with [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], hoping the science team could help the six recover from [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s experimentations. Fortress Maximus was dubious of the possible results, but allowed Jetfire and his team to run their tests at Garrus-9. Things changed for the worse, however, once word of the gestalt technology got out, and agents of the [[Decepticon Secret Service]] came to claim the remarkable new tech for themselves. Faced with an incredible amount of orbital bombardment and ground warfare, Fortress Maximus and his defensive crew were at serious risk of being overrun.

In order to maintain control of his base, Max reactivated the only Autobot inmate classified as Threat Level-9: [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. Knowing Arcee had strong feelings about Jhiaxus and his work from personal experience, Fortress Maximus felt confident she would do anything to prevent the Decepticons from laying claim to the "[[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]." In case he was wrong, though, Fortress Maximus made it clear to Arcee she was lowjacked with synchronized G-forces that would crush her spark if she stepped out of line. Despite Arcee's help, the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] still managed to make off with the gestalt robots. Against his better judgment, Fortress Maximus allowed Jetfire to convince him that Arcee was the best available to track and intercept the Secret Service ships and retrieve or destroy the gestalt robots. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

When Optimus Prime and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] met with Fortress Maximus and Jetfire on Garrus-9 to discuss the prisoners' breakout, also mentioned was that a surviving Decepticon had been tortured. Maximus and Jetfire exchanged guilty glances. Prime left Maximus in charge and returned with Prowl and Jetfire to the ''[[Ark-32]]''. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

With the death of [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Nova Prime|Nemesis Prime]] was forced to enter the living universe and confront Optimus Prime at Garrus-9. Fortress Maximus and the other Autobots were hunkered down in The Last Resort, the best-defended, highest-security section of the penitentiary, and he believed that not even a [[Cortynivian shadow worm]] could get in. He was wrong, as Nemesis effortlessly forced his way in, killed [[Manta Ray (G2)|Manta Ray]] and [[Drench (G2)|Drench]] and shrugged off all Autobot weapons fire. Maximus called in reinforcements until Optimus convinced him that conventional tactics would not work with the undead Prime and went to deal with Nemesis Prime himself. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

During Megatron's massive push against the Autobots, an annoyed Maximus led the defense of the prison against the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] forces. However, when the sociopathic [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] took control of the Decepticon forces, the prison was overrun and Fortress Maximus beaten down by the monster. And then, to keep the liberated prisoners on his side, Overlord tossed them their former warden to have some fun... so long as they kept him alive. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}}

The inmates apparently followed Overlord's instructions, as Fortress Maximus survived...only to be put through brutal torture by the Phase Sixer. During one particularly brutal session (in which he lost one leg and the rest of him was nailed to a table and Overlord threatened to torture and murder a guard for every moment of hesitation), Overlord interrogated him to gain access to the [[Aequitas[[ chamber. Maximus said Overlord had no idea what Aequitas even was, only for the Decepticon to explain he had no interest in the 'judgement machine', and wanted what was Aequitas was built over. He then continued sawing the warden apart according to footage [[Rewind (G1)| Rewind]] possessed.{{storylink|Interiors}}

[[Image:LastStandoftheWreckers3-Fort Max the cabbage.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hope you weren't going to bed after reading this page!]]
Half of the [[Wrecker]]s eventually came across Maximus's barely-alive body. Rendered comatose and with his optics and limbs pulled off, he had been plugged into the lock of the door to [[Aequitas]]'s chamber, and put to use entering in code after code in a Decepticon attempt to break in. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] removed Maximus's connection to the lock, then [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] pulled his body from the door to carry him. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

When the Decepticons broke into the Aequitas chamber, [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] carried Fortress Maximus to safety. Eventually, the Wreckers succeeded in defeating Overlord and saving Garrus-9, and Maximus was placed on life support alongside [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

When [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Pharma| Pharma]], and [[Ambulon| Ambulon]] were cornered by [[Genericon|Genericons]], [[First Aid (G1)| First Aid]] managed to revitalize Fortress Maximus to fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}Fortress Maximus then brutally murdered them. Afterwards, Pharma revealed himself to have caused the Red Rust virus and Fortress Maximus gave pursuit to him while the others went to treat the dying patients but lost Pharma when he went in a space to narrow for him, causing Ratchet to have to continue the pursuit. After Pharma was defeated, Fortress Maximus joined the crew of the [[Lost Light]] and their mission of finding the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

Ratchet was unnerved by how eagerly he murdered the Decepticons, so Fort Max was ordered to visit [[Rung|Rung]] for therapy sessions. The psychoanalyst asked him questions about what had happened to him on Garrus-9, only for Fortress Maximus to claim he remembered nothing (all the while remembering being tortured by Overlord). Rung assured him that Overlord was no longer any threat to him and that Autobot High Command cared about him. He then headed to [[Swerve (G1)| Swerve's)]] bar, where a drunk [[Trailbreaker| Trailbreaker ]] complimented him. He didn't respond and instead shot [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes ]] for apparently no reason. He then went on a 'spree', shooting [[Boss]], [[Turbine]], [[Dogfight]] and [[Doubletap]] while leaving any bystanders unscathed. Fort Max then locked himself within Rung's office, tying the psychoanalyst to his chair and impaling Rung's current patient, [[Whirl (G1) | Whirl ]], to the ground with a pipe. Threatening to murder them, he repeatedly pistol-whipped Whirl, who constantly insulted him. Rung attempted to calm Fortress Maximus down, and recommended he contact Rodimus. Doing just that, he demanded 'Hot Rod' turn the ship around so he could get an explanation from [[Prowl (G1)| Prowl ]] why it took 'three years, two months,and ten days' for him to send the Wreckers to G-9. Hanging up and crushing the communicator underfoot, he noticed Rung's right thumb contained a microphone and was broadcasting to the ship, and promptly ripped off said thumb. Meanwhile, Ratchet and First Aid tended to his five victims, and realized he shot them because they all shared a basic color scheme with Overlord. Whirl continued to taunt him, prompting Fortress Maximus to ask why Whirl was so 'damaged' while holding Rung at gunpoint. After Whirl told the two his life story, Maximus looked outside and realized they hadn't changed course. He then prepared to shoot Whirl and Rung, until he was halted by Rewind ,who was outside Rung's window with Swerve, replaying footage of his torture at Overlord's hands to distract Maximus. He collapsed in horror, Rung at his side attempting to soothe him. Outside, Swerve fired his rivet gun, aiming for Fortress Maximus, and accidentally killed Rung. Fortress Maximus was horrified, but before he could react Whirl ran him through with the pipe he'd used earlier to impale Whirl. He survived and was placed in the ship's brig. {{storylink|Interiors}}
{{-}}

===''United''===
When the [[Autobot]]s fell down with a [[nano-virus]], Fortress Maximus was in city mode as part of [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: The Headmasters''===
When the Decepticons struck out at four planets, including Cybertron and Earth, Fortress Maximus was joined by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and the Headmasters of Justice to save the final planet from [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Headmasters (video game)|Transformers: The Headmasters}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1FortressMaximus toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|If I hear somebody ask "how's the weather up there" one more time, Primus help them...]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (Headmaster Base, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-114'''
**''Accessories:'' Spike Headmaster unit, Cerebros large Headmaster unit, [[Cog (G1)|Gasket]], [[Cog (G1)|Grommet]], Photon Rifle, Dual Laser Cannon, Cerebros's Mini Laser Rifle, [[Cog (G1)|Cog]]'s Laser rifle, Radar Scope, Master Sword (Japanese release only), Cerebros's sword (Japanese release only)

: Fortress Maximus is, by far, the largest Transformers toy ever produced. In robot mode it stands 22" (or 56 cm) tall, nearly 8" (20 cm) taller than its in-fiction rival Scorponok. The original retail price was over $100USD. Taking into account ongoing trends in toy pricing and retail shelf space jockeying, it is highly doubtful any other Transformers even close to this size will ever be made again.

: The toy has multiple alt mode configurations, transforming into a relatively compact "city" mode, and also a secondary mode described in the US instruction as a "battle station." That mode was rebranded as a starship for the Japanese instructions, and is the "default" mode for Fortress Maximus in the ''Headmasters'' animated series. Additionally, the 1987 Hasbro toy catalog features a mis-transformed Fortress Maximus in a mode referred to as an "impenetrable fortress," essentially consisting of his city mode with the legs splayed outwards.

: In all modes, Maximus has a wide array of pop-out (non-firing) guns and gimmicks. Its left leg hides a small prison cell, plus has a swing-out cannon/helipad. Its right leg has a small storage compartment. Its torso has a gear-activated spinner for the detachable radar array accessory, a "control socket" for [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]]' "communications room" mode, and a working elevator that can lift small toys up to its central ramp to be launched in its altmodes. (The crank for this elevator ends up in a very unfortunate position in robot mode.) Each arm had a long ramp on the back with sliding launchers for small vehicles.

: Its robot-mode head is formed by Cerebros, who does not actually need Spike to attach to the upper body. It came with both Headmaster units, plus the Gasket and Grommet mini-vehicles.

:[[Megatron (BW)/toys#MegaheadMegatron|Megahead Megatron]]'s spider-head mode (with a few alterations) can fit into Fortress Maximus's head socket; though surely a coincidence, it was noted on the card [[bio]].

: The Japanese release of Fortress Maximus came with a pair of [[Master Sword]]s; one for Fortress, a ''large'' one for Maximus. It is currently unknown if the swords were originally planned for the [[Hasbro]] version but dropped for price or [[For safety reasons|safety concerns]], or if they were a [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]-initiated addition to their release of the toy.

: This mold was used to make ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (toyline)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' [[Grand Maximus]], ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Car Robots]]'' [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], and ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' "[[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Cybertron Base]]".
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Autobot/FortressMaximus/fortressmaximus.htm More information on Fortress Maximus at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Transform Jr===
[[Image:G1 FortressMaximus Jnr toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|We represent the Lollybot guild]]
* '''Fortress Maximus''' (1987)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-114'''
**''Accessories:'' Fortress Headmaster unit, Photon Rifle

: ''[[Transform Jr]]'' Fortress Maximus is a smaller rendering of the character, scaled down to regular Transformer size, and with only one head. Fortress Maximus could only transform from his starship mode to his robot mode, as his legs lack the joints to fold into city mode. Much of his detail and accessories have been simplified into stickers, such as his shin cannons. He comes with only one weapon, his large blue photon rifle.

:This toy was also available in a leaders three-pack with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Convoy]]

::*''[http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/fortmaxjr.php More information of Transform Jr Fortress Maximus at Cliffbee.com]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Gum===
[[Image:Tfgum_fortmax.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (1987)
**''Accessories:'' Head, Photon Rifle, Dual Laser Blaster
:Released in the seventh wave of [[Kabaya]]'s ''[[Transformers Gum]]'' line of snap-together "[[candy toy]]" model kits, this version of Fortress stands at about four inches tall and is cast in grey, white and blue plastic. Unlike the Headmaster figures from the previous ''Transformers Gum'' wave, this version of Fortress Maximus does away with his Headmaster gimmick, and by sheer necessity of size, also lacks the guns in his forearms and fists and the prison cell in his left leg. He does include both of his hand-held weapons and swing-out waist cannons, however, and he can still transform into both starship and city modes. As a ''Transformers Gum'' kit, he featured no paint applications, but came with stickers for detail, and a piece of terrible gum.

::*''[http://bowbowdaijin.blog96.fc2.com/blog-entry-27.html More information on Transformer Gum Fortress Maximus at a Japanese fansite]''
{{--}}

===Parody Deformed===
[[Image:Pdtype_fortmax.jpg|right|thumb|]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (1990)
**''Accessories:'' Master Sword

:A small, blue and white non-transforming [[super deformed]] model kit of Fortress Maximus was available as part of Kabaya's "[[Parody Deformed]]" line of candy toys. The twelfth figure in the series, he came with a "Transformers PD Type" comic about himself, "Bigger Than Life! Fortress Maximus!", and more of that alleged "gum".
{{--}}
===Super Collection Figure/Heroes of Cybertron===
[[Image:Fortmax_scf_hoc.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Fortress Maximus''' (2001)

:Fortress Maximus was the collectible "Build-A-Figure" from the third ''Headmasters''-centric wave of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s line of ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' PVC figurines. He was divided into six parts, each one packaged with one of the other six figurines in the line: His head and sword came with [[Raiden]], his torso with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], his left arm with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], his right arm with [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]], his left leg with [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]] and his right leg with [[Sixshot]].

:As the first collectible figure from the line, Fortress Maximus was much rarer than those that would come later, with his parts only coming in two out of every ten cases. Like all the other figures in the wave, his parts were available in two color schemes; of the two cases he was available in, one contained a full-color figure, while the other contained a colorless translucent version.

*'''Fortress''' (2002)

:A standard 3" PVC figurine of Fortress was available in the eighth and final ''SCF'' wave line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available as both a standard full color figure and a metallic silver "pewter" version, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] figures. Additionally, in eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of Fortress came packaged with head and torso of the wave's collectible [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] figure.

*'''Fortress Maximus''' (2003)

: The Fortress Maximus PVC was later revisited by [[Hasbro]] for their domestic release of the ''Super Collection Figure'' series, ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]''. Like all the ''Heroes of Cybertron'' figures, this version of Fortress Maximus was cast entirely in clear-blue plastic and then painted over, save a small spot on his head to give him a "light-pipe" glowing-eyes effect. He remained available only as a collectible pack-in, one part in each of the six releases in the line's fourth wave. His head and sword came with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], his torso with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], his left arm with [[Powermaster]] [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Gigatron]], his right arm with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], his left leg with [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Autobot Jazz]] and his right leg with the Autobot Espionage Team ([[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]).

==Notes==
* "Fortress Maximus" was an early name for the characters that eventually became [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. The [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|comic adaptation]] of the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] even refers to [[Autobot City]] as "Fortress Maximus" in a caption.

* Fortress Maximus was the first toy to be released with a bona-fide Earthling figure. All of the other Headmasters' companions were from Nebulos. (Although Maximus's on-package [[bio]] refers to "the Nebulan leader, Spike", the general consensus is that it was supposed to be the popular figure from TV and other media, who is almost certainly an Earthling.)

* Both Scorponok and Fortress Maximus suffer from the writers struggling to reconcile the characters' high rank with their size. In their comic appearances, they are portrayed as commanders in some capacity but are shrunk down to interact with other Transformers, and their city modes pretty much don't exist. Conversely, the cartoons have opted to portray them as giant city Transformers, though they seem to be merely extensions of the smaller beings that bond with them, with no real life or will of their own.

[[Image:FortMaxReds.jpg|thumb|250px]]

*Fortress Maximus appeared in an unusual red-accented color scheme on the cover of Marvel's [[Ring of Hate!|''Headmasters'' #1]]. This color scheme was repeated in the corner box for [[Love and Steel!|''Headmasters'' #3]] and on the cover of [[The Man in the Machine!|''The Transformers'' #51]]. Its origin is unknown.

* The Battleship ''Maximus'' bears a slight resemblance to the [[Wikipedia:White Base|White Base]], a battleship from the [[Wikipedia:Gundam|''Gundam'' franchise]].

* When Spike transforms to join Fortress Maximus for the last time in the ''Generation 2'' book, Cerebros is not shown, and Spike transforms directly into Fortress Maximus's head. Maximus is shown to be no larger than Megatron. In real-life terms, it's an obvious series of art errors; in the context of the story, one might wonder if Maximus was reduced back to his original, smaller, size. It seems improbable, considering that Spike had been retired for years by that point.

* Fortress Maximus has the distinction of having one of the most well known Transformers [[Knockoff|bootleg]] versions in existence. While Cerebros has been omitted, the Spike figure is the same, and the body has been scaled down to match, effectively making the body compatible with any other Headmaster head. It also fetches absurd prices for a bootleg.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cerebros''' (セレブロス ''Sereburosu''), '''Fortress''' (フォートレス ''Fōtoresu''), '''Fortress Maximus''' (フォートレスマキシマス ''Fōtoresu Makishimasu'')
*''English:'' '''Spaceship Bruce''' (spaceship mode, [[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Cerebros''' (Fortress, [[Shout! Factory]] sub)
*''French:'' '''Forteresse Maximus''' (Canada)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Ford''' (Taiwan, 福特 ''Fú Tè''), '''Furmon''' (Taiwan [[Omni Productions]] dub, 福蒙 ''Fú Méng''), '''Fortry''' (Taiwan [[Omni Productions]] dub, 福崔 ''Fú Tsūei'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Fortecya Maxima''' (Фортеця Максима, "Fortress Maxima")
*''Russian:'' '''Krepysh Maximus''' (Крепыш Максимус, "Sturdy Fellow Maximus")

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

[[Category:Autobot bases]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Autobot starships]]
[[Category:City Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 locations]]
[[Category:Generation 1 starships]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]

Interiors

2012-06-28T21:16:06Z

68.224.39.107: /* Covers (3) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #6
|prev=How Ratchet Got His Hands Back
|next=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE6_cvrA.jpg
|title="Interiors"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 27]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=June 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

'''A hostage situation grips the ''Lost Light'' as Fortress Maximus snaps, and not everyone survives the experience...'''

==Synopsis==

After his vicious display on [[Delphi]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] is instructed to undergo mandatory psychological evaluation with [[Rung]]. The sessions go very poorly, as Maximus actively lies about what he remembers of his experiences at the hands of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] on [[Garrus-9]]—about how the deranged Decepticon never wanted [[Aequitas]], but what it served to hide—but Rung insists they continue.

Meanwhile, at [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s bar, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] is displaying his talent for identifying an Autobot based purely on the sound of their [[transformation]] and ducking [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]'s questions about how he and [[Rewind]] met, while Tailgate himself bemoans his current education in the [[Autobot Code]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] gripes about Fortress Maximus's overblown reputation. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] soon arrives and arrests Swerve for running a speakeasy, assigning him the demeaning punishment of replacing every rivet on the exterior of the ship, after which Maximus himself enters the bar... and promptly shoots [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]!

Maximus proceeds to go on a rampage through the ''[[Lost Light]]'', shooting [[Boss (G1)|Boss]], [[Dogfight]], [[Turbine]] and [[Doubletap]] apparently at random, before holing himself up in Rung's officer and impaling the psychiatrist's current patient, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], with a pipe. As [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and Ultra Magnus watch through a security camera hacked by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], and listen through an audio feed surreptitiously being broadcast by Rung through his thumb-microphone, Maximus beats the mocking Whirl into silence so he can issue his demands: take the ''Lost Light'' back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] so [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] can answer for taking three years to send help to Garrus-9, or the former warden starts killing hostages. Discovering that the conversation is being broadcast, Maximus rips off Rung's thumb, and Whirl resumes his taunting, deliberately trying to bait Maximus into killing him. He refuses to tell Maximus ''why'' he has a death wish, so Maximus threatens Rung instead, and Whirl is convinced to tell him his life story: how before the war, he defied Cybertronian convention by giving up his function to become a watchmaker, only to fall on hard times and wind up being press-ganged into the service of the [[Senate]]. He even reveals why he was kicked off the [[Wrecker]]s: he attempted to euthanize the comatose [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] using [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]]'s [[Sparkeater (weapon)|Sparkeater weapon]].

As Whirl tells his story, Rodimus notices that Rung is tapping one of his model spaceships, indicating the windows. Catching his meaning, Rodimus contacts [[Rewind]], also on rivet duty with Swerve as punishment for bringing "snuff movie" data discs on board, and orders the pair to the window of Rung's office, from which a rivet gun can be used to take Maximus out. Before they can get there, however, Maximus flies into a fury upon realizing the ship has not yet changed course and prepares to kill Whirl. Rung tries to stop him, having come to the same conclusion that [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] have simultaneously reached by studying the uniform coloration of his Autobot victims: this is not about Prowl, it's about Overlord and the revenge Max will never get to have. At Rodimus's suggestion, Rewind projects footage of Maximus's torture and dismemberment at Overlord's hands through the porthole in order to shock and distract him, giving Swerve the chance to take the shot. Swerve protests, both because of his lack of skill and the fact that Rung, ever the dedicated carer, has knelt by the traumatised Maximus to calm him, but Rodimus insists that he try... and the fatal blast strikes not Maximus, but Rung, blowing his head open. Whirl uses the distraction to rip out the pipe pinning him, and takes Maximus down by impaling him with it.

A little later, after a speech has been delivered to mark Rung's passing and Maximus has been locked in the ship's brig, Rodimus talks with Drift about recent events. Drift comments warily on the absence of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], who, unbeknownst to either, has taken the deceased [[Ore]]'s drill-arm to widen the crack in the bottom of the ship through which he believes he can hear a voice. And through the crack, where by all rights there should only be empty space, he finds in a hidden chamber, in which, immobilized, his weapons systems removed, begging to be killed...

...hangs Overlord.

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br>
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (1)
*[[Rung]] (2)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (4)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (5)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (6)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (7)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (12)
*[[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (13)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (14)
*[[Brainstorm]] (15)
*[[Dogfight]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (18)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (19)
*[[Aquafend]] (20)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (21)
*[[Deftwing]] (22)
*[[Powerflash]] (23)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (24)
*[[Siren]] (25, voice only)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (26)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (27)
*[[Doubletap]] (28)
*[[Turbine]] (29)
*[[Rewind]] (33)
*''[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'' (34)
*[[Ore]] (35)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (3)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (10)
*''[[Heavies]]'' (30-31)
*''[[Empurata]]'' (32)
}}

==Quotes==

"You were in charge when G9 was attacked."<br>
"Yes."<br>
"What happened next?"<br>
"You '''know''' what happened next. '''Everyone''' knows. Even '''Tailgate''' knows, and someone had to draw him a picture of '''Optimus Prime''' the other day..."
:—'''Rung''' and '''Fortress Maximus'''

"We just spent six hours discussing the relevance of a '''semicolon.''' I say 'discussing'—it was more like a thrilling Magnus monologue. I say 'thrilling'—it was actually '''very, very boring'''."<br>
"And the semicolon?"<br>
"Ah! Turns out the semicolon isn't relevant '''at all'''."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Chromedome'''

"I mean, 'Fortress Maximus'—come '''on'''. What kind of a name is that? But everyone's like, 'Oh, Fortress Maximus, you're my '''hero!''' You've got '''guns in your legs''' and you killed tons of 'Cons at Simanzi...' And I'm like 'That was a '''thousand years ago!'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> He's a '''relic!''' He's a '''has-been!''' He's—"<br>
"Just walked in."<br>
"Great to '''see''' you, Max! Come on over! We were just talking about '''Simanzi!''' With the '''thing''' and the—the '''stuff!''' So... oh '''wow!''' You've got guns in your '''legs!''' How's that working out for you? That's '''awesome,''' man. '''You're''' awesome."
:—'''Trailbreaker''' and '''Chromedome'''

"'''Seriously''', all of this is a bit—it's a bit '''pathetic''' though, isn't it? Even for an epic, epic '''failure''' like you. I mean, not only do you practically '''beg''' the Decepticons to take G9 off your hands, but you curl up into a ball the moment Overlor—"<br>
''(Fortress Maximus pistol-whips Whirl.)''<br>
"Wow. If I'd known '''that''' was the best you've got, I'd have said something '''genuinely''' offensive."
:—'''Whirl'''

==Notes==

*The cast page at the end of the comic is updated this issue, removing Rung and adding First Aid, Trailbreaker and Pipes. Several of the brief write-ups have been modified to reflect what we've learned about the cast of late.
*Fortress Maximus's suffering at the hands of Overlord, of course, all occurred within the span of ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', off-panel between issues [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]] and [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|#3]].
*Skids is again missing his gun this issue, but the updated cast page makes a point of highlighting this, suggesting that instances in past issues where wasn't holding it may not have all been the errors they appeared to be at the time.
*Fortress Maximus is revealed to have been part of the [[Simanzi Massacre]], an event in Cybertronian history mentioned in several places throughout James Roberts's previous IDW works.
*Blaster is now sporting a yellow face, a colouration formerly unique to the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 Marvel comic]].
*Whirl's brief involvement in "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]" is alluded to, along with the circumstances that brought him to that point. In particular, it is noted that he used to be a flight instructor, and that he once changed his name: facts which combine to make it all but explicit that he was the "Jetstream" mentioned in [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'s backstory in "[[Bullets]]".
*Rewind was seen obtaining the incriminating data discs from [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]], who hinted at the perverse nature of their content. Red Alert implied he had found them [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|last issue]].
*Roadbuster's current assignment to watch over the recuperating Springer was the subject of "[[Zero Point]]".
*Roadbuster was noted to have been involved in some kind of "Sparkeater business" in "[[Bullets]]"; this issue implies that said business was his invention of the device seen here (or perhaps the repercussions of its creation). Logically, he must have named the weapon after the mythological Cybertronian [[Sparkeater (creature)|creature]], which we learned more about in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]].

===Crew Manifest===
* Rung is accidentally killed by Swerve with a head shot.
* The fate of Delphi's Faders and other patients is not addressed.
* 6 deaths, 5 new arrivals (confirmed) since the launch.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Rung in the sights of Fortress Maximus's gun, by Alex Milne and [[Josh Perez]].
* '''Cover B:''' Fortress Maximus is hurled to a mob of Overlords, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Black and white lineart versions of Cover A.

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE6_cvrA.jpg|
Image:MTMTE6_cvrB.jpg|
Image:MTMTE6_cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' #7
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series #5: Splinter''
*IDW's ''Mars Attacks'' comic
*IDW's ''Judge Dredd'' comic

[[Category:More than Meets the Eye issues]]

Infiltration issue 4

2012-05-01T00:50:28Z

68.224.39.107: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Infiltration]]'' #4
|prev=Infiltration issue 3
|next=Infiltration issue 5
|image=Infiltration_4c.jpg
|caption="Bumblebee Holding Giant-Ass Gun" #392
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 12]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=March 2006
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[E. J. Su]]
|colors by=[[John Rauch]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Infiltration]]
}}

'''Ratchet and Bumblebee protect their human friends while a new player arrives on Earth.'''

== Synopsis ==
''A young [[Verity Carlo]] meets with a guidance counselor after running away from yet another foster home. The counselor dismisses Verity's tough facade, stating that all she sees is a young girl "in a world of hurt".''

Verity, [[Hunter O'Nion]], and [[Jimmy Pink]] explore the abandoned [[Decepticon Command Bunker]] in [[Nebraska]] on behalf of [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. The two [[Autobot]]s are reluctant to risk the humans, but Bumblebee ultimately justifies the three as expendable at this point.

In [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], [[Drake]] meets with the leadership of the [[Machination]] at the [[Epsilon Holdings]] building. Drake is assigned a team and told to investigate the recent [[Decepticon]] activities and hunt down the robots. They desire to "appropriate" Cybertronian technology, and have discovered the location of ''[[Ark-19]]'' under the lake via the [[SM-40]]'s homing signal

At the Decepticon Command Bunker, Verity wanders around, discovering a [[Facsimile construct|stasis tube]]. Inside, she discovers a months-old human corpse in military uniform and almost has a nervous breakdown, but composes herself and moves on. Topside, the waiting Bumblebee and Ratchet are suddenly confronted by [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who pay no heed to the Autobots and bomb the base. The Autobots order the humans to evacuate the base, but Verity ignores their concern and explores deeper into the base. Forced into battle, Bumblebee is able to shoot down Skywarp, his processor speed outmatching the Decepticon's, but Ratchet is taken out by Blitzwing in his tank mode.

Underground, Verity discovers that they are not alone in the Bunker as she comes face to face with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] himself.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
|c2=
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (11)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (12)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (13)
|c3=
* [[Verity Carlo]] (1)
* [[Hunter O'Nion]] (2)
* [[Jimmy Pink]] (3)
* [[Drake]] (6)
* [[Abraham Dante]] (7)
* [[Svenson]] (8)
* [[Jolly]] (9)
*[[Stoker]] (10)
}}

==Notes==
* Megatron is talking to [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]. The full conversation appears in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer]]'' #3.
* The Machination's plot and the purpose of the SM-40 is revealed in [[Devastation issue 1|''Devastation'' #1]]—a preview with the relevant pages is printed in "[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]".
* The human corpse is that of a human abducted and replaced by a Decepticon [[facsimile construct]]; the pod it was in is a life support vessel, keeping it alive in case a new facsimile needs to be grown, but which was abandoned and allowed to fail. This is explained in [[Escalation issue 2|''Escalation'' #2]].
* This is the first issue to make it explicit that Verity is more emotionally vulnerable than she lets on.
* The "Decepticomments" section featured mail answered by Chris Ryall and short ads for next month's issues: [[Infiltration issue 5|''Infiltration'' #5]], [[The Gathering issue 4|''The Gathering'' #4]], [[The Transformers: Generations|''Generations'' #3]].
*Drake's team is assembled. None of them particularly resemble any of the members of the team as seen in ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''.
*Some of the binary on Bumblebee's windshield on page 17 reads 'idw', 't' and 'f'.
===Errors===
* This issue has the same publish date as [[Infiltration issue 3|issue #3]].

===Covers (8)===
* '''Cover A:''' Starscream by [[E. J. Su]], would later become part of the wraparound cover RI-A for issue 5
* '''Cover B:''' Bumblebee on Blitzwing's turret by [[Guido Guidi]]
* '''Cover C:''' Bumblebee with giant-ass gun by [[Andrew Wildman]]
* '''Cover D:''' Humans by [[James Raiz]]
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Foil stamp of cover C, without the background
* '''Cover RI-B:''' (Mostly) toy-accurate Megatron by Guido Guidi
* '''Cover RI-C:''' Saluting Bumblebee by Guido Guidi (includes 3 mini-prints)
* '''Cover RE-A:''' Megatron and Optimus Prime by [[Andrew Wildman]] (drawtheworldtogether.com exclusive)

<gallery>
Image:Infiltration 4a.jpg|Starscream shoots his shot... ewwww!
Image:Infiltration 4b.jpg|Skywarp likes it when bad things happen to Bumblebee. So do we!
Image:Infiltration 4c.jpg|Transformers equivalent of the Big Johnson shirt.
Image:Infiltration 4d.jpg|Hunter looks a little less goofy here.
Image:Infiltration 4ria.jpg|Very Freudian
Image:Infiltration 4rib.jpg|Trigger crotch, yeessssss!
Image:Infiltration 4ric.jpg|Top o'the mornin' to ya!
Image:Infiltration 4rea.jpg|What are Prime and Megs doing? I don't think I want to know!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Optimus Prime ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' toy
* [[Infiltration issue 5|''Infiltration'' #5]], 2-page B&W sketch preview
* [[The Gathering issue 4|''The Gathering'' #4]]
* 3-page preview of [[The Gathering issue 3|''The Gathering'' #3]]
* Free comic book day
* ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2006]] — ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration]]''
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Backstreet (G1)

2012-04-19T23:04:10Z

68.224.39.107: /* IDW Generation 1 comics */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig2|the Autobot Triggerbot from Generation 1|the Autobot from Transformers Animated|Backstreet (Animated)}}
:''Backstreet is an [[Autobot]] [[Triggerbot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Backstreetg1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Everybody. (yeah yeah) Rock your body. (yeah yeah)]]
'''Backstreet''' hates warfare. He is not motivated like [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] by philosophical reasons; quite frankly, he isn't mentally equipped for deep thought, but he at least suspects that a failure to fight would mean [[Decepticon]] victory, and that he does not want. No, his temperament is the trouble. He's jumpy and nervous, easily agitated, and prone to jumping to incorrect conclusions from accurate observations. He knows he is like this, and tries to avoid battles when possible. Does this make him a coward? Perhaps, but when he cannot honorably avoid fighting he does his best to crush his fears, lest he be found out. His comrades, unaware of his secret, know him as an adequate soldier.

As a lookout, Backstreet almost excels. His senses are keen, and his nervousness keeps him constantly alert, if edgy. Best of all, he can avoid the worst of the battlefield chaos. Unfortunately, jumping to conclusions is an even worse trait in a sentry than a front-line soldier.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel Generation 1 comics====
{{noteukonly}}

[[Image:Optimusprimeg1preearthmarvel2.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Am I original? Yeah. Am I the only one? Yeah. Am I sexual? ...No.]]

Around five million years ago, Backstreet was in the [[Autobot Fourth Computerized Division]]. Under the command of junior officer [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], he, [[Override (G1)|Override]], and [[Dogfight]] were seeking to end the war with the knowledge of [[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]] and the [[Underbase]]. On the way to Boltax, the Autobots encountered a series of traps which were placed to keep out unwanted intruders. Backstreet helped with the third trap, a road of collapsing panels. Noting that bigger wasn't necessarily better, the small car zipped past the trap faster than it could ensnare him, and Backstreet deactivated the trap on far side of it. Finally, the four Autobots reached Boltax, where the [[Disciples of Boltax]] warned them that pain and suffering would be inflicted on them if they continued. Backstreet didn't like being threatened, but Optimus Prime agreed with the disciples. He ordered Backstreet, Dogfight, and Override to stay behind while he continued. {{storylink|The Flames of Boltax!}}

[[Image:Backstreet jammered.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Jam on 'cause Backstreet's got it!]]

He must've hit hard times over the next few millennia, though, as he was languishing in a Decepticon prison on Cybertron in 1988. Funny how your life can fall apart that quickly. Anyway, he was let loose on Earth by the Decepticons in a new rendition on ''The Most Dangerous Game of All'' — Backstreet and his [[Sparkabot]] companions were to be hunted down by human bounty hunters called [[Roadjammers]], who [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] had equipped with mode-lock weapons. The Autobots were captured, but managed to escape after the bounty hunters bit the big metal hand that fed them. {{storylink|Ca$h and Car-nage!}}

Backstreet's fellow Triggerbots were eventually released from prison under undisclosed circumstances. The three were reunited during the [[Matrix Quest]], and traveled to the desert planet [[Cheyne]] in search of the legendary artifact. They were taken in by a group of peaceful settlers, but oddly began to lose focus in their quest. No, not robotic ADD... it was [[Vrobian|Vrobian Psychic Vampires from the Dark Nebula]]! Dogfight managed to break their psychic spell on the others, and Backstreet and Override were forced to kill the Vrobians in self-defense. After some off-hand musing about the nature of evil and death, the Triggerbots quickly moved on with their quest. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}}

[[Image:Backstreet-Trigger-happy.jpg|left|thumb|300px|All my defenses are never going to hold,
I'm always going to lose control.]]
''In one mission on Earth, Backstreet was made pointman in an Autobot plan to capture [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] and [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]], two Decepticons carrying valuable information. The Autobots knew the [[Triggercon|Triggercons]] should be passing a certain point on their travels, and it was Backstreet's job to send the alert signal to the rest of the army when they reached that checkpoint. Because of their close proximity to a human town, Backstreet was under strict orders from Optimus Prime not to engage the enemy. When he spotted the Double [[Targetmaster|Targetmasters]] flying as escort for the couriers, though, Backstreet became wracked by indecision and ultimately opened fire against orders. The battle began and caused serious damage and casualties among the humans, while Crankcase and Ruckus got away. Backstreet's backup, [[Override (G1)|Override]], was furious at him and overstated the reprimand from Optimus Prime he was to deliver, claiming Backstreet faced court-martial and possible termination. Caught up in another panic, Backstreet went AWOL, believing himself hunted by Autobots, Decepticons and humans alike. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] would be proud of how paranoid the [[Triggerbot]] became, as he attacked and destroyed an entire human military patrol before realizing they weren't the Combaticons.''

''[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] received word of all this, and came up with the scheme to approach Backstreet and win him over to the Decepticon cause. He extended the "hand of friendship" to Backstreet, but was interrupted by Optimus Prime. Backstreet eventually found his courage and fired on Megatron in order to save Optimus. He returned to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to face trial for his actions, but in the end Prime only decreed that no Autobot would ever stand on lookout duty alone again, to prevent any repeats of this incident.''

''Good to know Optimus Prime would rather "idiot-proof" his battle protocols rather than simply get rid of the idiots. [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] probably let out a sigh of relief at that one.'' {{storylink|Trigger-Happy!}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
{{TransformersComicMagazin}}
Backstreet was present when the Decepticons unleashed a robotic hell-beast known as 'King Con' on New York; however Optimus Prime rented a helicopter to fly a banner announcing huge raw oil deposit finds in the Rocky Mountains. After a short hesitation, the Decepticons retreated to pursue these findings. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 7|Transformers — Transforming Robots in Action: New York — A City Sinking in Terror}}

===IDW Generation 1 comics===
[[Image:Stormbringer2-Backstreet.jpg|thumb|100px|Oh my God, we're back again.]]
When Optimus Prime needed a quick taxi service to Cybertron to investigate the disappearance of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s survey team, he called up Backstreet and the crew of the ''[[Ark-27]]'' to transport him there. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2}}

Later, Backstreet and the ''Ark-27'' were again called upon to assist Optimus Prime when [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] attacked and crippled [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Backstreet was seen assisting in Omega's recovery. {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} He was present on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub]] when [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] announced his return to the airwaves. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}} Years later after the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], Backstreet was serving under [[Dogfight]] when they ran into the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] while returning from the [[Serp Mines]]. When rushing for medical assistance on [[Delphi]], he had his Autobot symbol scrutinized by [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]. {{storylink|Bullets}} Backstreet was apparently still in medical assistance in Delphi when the crew of the Lost Light arrived, and [[Ambulon]] was seen trying to reconstitute him.{{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Backstreet toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"You're tearin' us apart, oh...quit playin' games with my spark..."]]
*'''Backstreet''' (Triggerbot, 1988)

: Backstreet transforms into a [[popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Le Mans racer|Porsche 962-based Le Mans racing car]]. As a [[Triggerbot]], in either robot or car modes, pressing a push-button on his back end flips out a pair of chromed spring-loaded (non-firing) rifles. Due to this gimmick, his back tires are just stickers while a single wheel hidden under the rear of the car allows Backstreet to roll.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Autobot/Backstreet/backstreet.htm More information on Backstreet at TFU.info.]''

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Confusion''' (Canada)

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

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]

Life After the Big Bang

2012-04-19T03:56:43Z

68.224.39.107:

{{comingsoon}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #4
|prev=Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things
|next=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE4_cvrA.jpg
|title="Life After the Big Bang"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 18]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=April 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

''' '''

==Synopsis==

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (1)
*[[Ambulon]] (2)
*[[Pharma]] (4)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (5)
*[[Rewind]] (6)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (7)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (8)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (10)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (11)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (12)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (13)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (14)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (15)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (17)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (18)
*[[Dent]] (19)
*[[Backstreet (G1)| Backstreet]] (21)
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (23)
|c2=
*[[Genericon]]s (3)
|c4=
*[[Bob (IDW)|Bob]] (9)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (20)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
==Notes==
*Many key points of Cybertronian history are mentioned during [[Rewind]]'s speech. Those include the fall of the [[Grand Imperium]], [[Zeta Prime]], [[Declaration Day]], the [[Fall of the First Five Cities]], [[Vos]], [[Tarn]], [[Helex]], [[Kaon]], [[Tesarus]], [[Battle for Hell's Point|Hell's Point]], the resurgence of [[Militant Monoform Movement|Triple M]], the [[Simanzi Massacre]], the [[Endless Retaliation]], the rise of the [[Constellate]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s attack on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s [[anti-neutral pogrom]]s, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s army, and the [[Five Dark Epochs]]: the [[Uprising (G1)|Uprising]], the [[Exodus (G1)|Exodus]], the [[Remote Age]], the [[Cataclysm (G1)|Cataclysm]], and the [[Surge (event)|Surge]].

===Errors===

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:'''
* '''Cover B:'''
* '''Cover RI:'''

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE4_cvrA.jpg|
Image:MTMTE4_cvrB.jpg|
Image:MTMTE4_cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

[[Category:More than Meets the Eye issues]]

Pharma (G1)

2012-04-19T02:12:41Z

68.224.39.107:

{{factions|autobot}}
:''Pharma is an [[Autobot]] from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Pharmawikipage.jpg‎|frame|right|]]

'''Pharma''' is the chief medical officer at [[Delphi]], an Autobot infirmary located on the planet [[Messatine]]. According to [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], he is a control freak who thinks he is an expert on everything, and can be a total "gearstick" at times. However, he is an excellent doctor who once performed a 4-way fuel pump transplant despite the fact that he was one of the donors himself. He hates Decepticons with passion.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
Pharma caught [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] reading ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' instead of working. He ordered him to check on [[Roulette (G1)|Roulette]]. {{storylink|Bullets}}
{{spoiler|Life After the Big Bang|May 18, 2012}}

When two monoformer Decepticons showed up at Delphi begging for shelter, Pharma was reluctant to show them mercy but was obliged to do so under Article 7 of the Autobot code. He had them patched up but still insisted on locking them away afterward. Not long after that, the [[Red Rust]] plague broke out as a result of a biological weapon being set off by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. However, he was working in the quarantine room at the time of the explosion. The room automatically sealed itself in response to the technopathogen with him still inside, never to open again until the pathogens were gone. The ward manager, [[Ambulon]], didn't realize he had the authority to execute a manual override until [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] told him so. Pharma quickly went to ensure that the Decepticons they'd taken in earlier were secured, claiming he'd figured out what had happened. However, he was too late, as they'd already been released via some remote override and had obtained weapons somehow. They threw him onto his aft in front of Ratchet, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], and Ambulon. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Medics]]

Fixit (G1)

2012-03-29T04:54:48Z

68.224.39.107:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Fixit}}
:''Fixit is an [[Autobot]] [[Micromaster]](usually) from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Fixit cardart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Dammit, I'm a doctor, now give me your purse!]]

'''Fixit''' approaches life with a never-say-die, never-quit attitude. His unwillingness to give up on even the most hopeless of causes earned him the leadership of the [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]], a position that came as something of a surprise to him. When then-leader [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]]'s overly-aggressive, rule-breaking methods had gotten the Patrol into trouble with Autobot command one too many times, Fixit took it upon himself to counsel his commander. Stakeout eventually ceded command to Fixit, realizing it was for the betterment of not just the Patrol, but for the Autobot army in general. It certainly helped his decision that Fixit is not only one of the best medical minds [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has ever produced, but he's also quite handy with a laser rifle when the chips are down.<ref>''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' #2</ref>

==Fiction==
===Marvel comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Fixitpriceoflife.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Fixit: big fan of euthanasia.]]
''Fixit and the Rescue Patrol were one of the first Micromaster teams, and were part of a three-team mission to destroy the [[Battle Patrol]] so the Decepticons couldn't gain Micromaster technology. They disobeyed orders and rescued their comrades instead.'' {{storylink|A Small War!}}

''When his comrade [[Seawatch]] was traumatised to the point of going offline after a grisly murder, Fixit was tasked to bring him back online to find out what happened. He did this reluctantly, worried about possible long-term effects.'' {{storylink|Demons!}}

He and his team-mates were sent to [[Earth]] alongside the [[Classic Pretender]]s as reinforcements, but their journey via Trans-time portal was disrupted by the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] and they instead ended up at the center of Cybertron. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}} Here, they saw the face of [[Primus]], witnessed a retelling of Cybertron's creation, and fought the Mayhems before arriving on Earth - but Primus had awakened and Unicron was coming... {{storylink|Primal Scream}}

''He was part of a mission to capture Decepticon assassin [[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]], but [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] called it off to prevent damage to the environment.'' {{storylink|The Greatest Gift of All!}}

Fixit later served as medical officer on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] in the absence of [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], and was tasked with repairing those injured by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. He was instrumental in [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]'s self-proclaimed "Leg Quest". {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}}

It was Fixit who carried out a diagnosis on the fused Ratchet-[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] being, and despite his warning that to save Ratchet, he would also have to save Megatron, Fixit carried out the operation at Optimus Prime's insistence. {{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!}}

He was last seen on Cybertron, listening as Primus revealed the origin of the Transformers. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}} How he fares in the subsequent battle with [[Unicron]] isn't shown, but he is not seen again.
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Fixit was one of several Micromasters who joined up with the Autobot cause after the Micros chose sides in the war. He was present in the Autobot barracks when [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]] and [[Sidetrack]] had their scuffle, and saw the [[Hot Rod Patrol]] walk out on the army. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing}} Later, in [[Little Iacon]], Fixit had a ring-side seat to a brawl brewing between [[Trip-Up]] and [[Roller Force]]. On the sidelines, Fixit showed himself to be a little more naive than his fellow Micros: when he pointed out it was against the rules for Roller Force to have a weapon in the bar, the others just stared at him incredulously. {{storylink|The Gray Race}}

The point was driven home again a few hours later when [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] and his Decepticons attacked the Micromasters. Fixit was all, like, "Oh no! None of us are armed!", and the other Micros just laughed at him and drew out scrap-loads of weaponry from hidden places on their bodies. It didn't prove to be enough, however, and the Decepticons corraled the Micromasters together, demanding they choose sides then and there against the Autobots. When the Decepticon Micromaster known as [[Blaze Master]] tossed in his purple badge at these heavy-handed tactics, [[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]] blasted the turncoat, and Fixit tended to his injuries. {{storylink|Recipe for Hate}} The Autobot Micromasters were taken back to Decepticon headquarters and imprisoned, but [[Groundshaker]] and the Hot Rod Patrol managed to break Fixit and his buddies out of the holding cells. After reaching the site of the latest battle between the [[guzzler]] factions, Fixit started triage work on the injured Autobots. Tragically, there were still casualties, including Sidetrack of the [[Battle Patrol]]. {{storylink|Victims of the Revolution}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] came to Fixit complaining about feeling "hollow", and was examined for any signs of [[Corrodia Gravis]]. When he failed to find anything, Fixit suggested it was more likely an emotional issue, one which Guzzle later recognized as mourning. {{storylink|Bullets}} Apparently not a Micromaster, he assisted the [[Protectobot (G1)| Protectobots]] on Cybertron after a massive explosion mysteriously went off. {{storylink| Stick Together}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1-Zone-toy Fixit-Pipo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Could someone redirect me to Busytown?]]
*'''Rescue Patrol''' (Micromaster Patrol, 1989)

: Fixit transforms into an ambulance of undetermined model. He was only available as part of a Micromaster Patrol set with [[Seawatch]], [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] and [[Red Hot]].

: This toy was released in Japan with no changes as [[Pīpō]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1989/Autobot/Fixit/fixit.htm More information on Fixit at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Fixit is gang molded with his teammate Red Hot, sharing the same plastic colors.

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Médic''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Delta'''

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Micromasters]]
[[Category:Medics]]

Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On

2012-02-24T02:36:54Z

68.224.39.107: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #2
|prev=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|next=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg
|title="Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 15]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=February 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

'''The recovering crew of the ''Lost Light'' are joined by Skids, a bot on the run... but on the run from what?'''

==Synopsis==

On the barren planet where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' has put down, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and others go about gathering up the [[Autobot]]s who have been scattered across the world's surface. [[Brainstorm]] radios in that he has discovered the source of their explosive mishap: the [[Duobot]] [[Ore]] was standing too close to the [[quantum generator]] when it activated, and wound up being "totally mashed" into it. Perturbed by Brainstorm's general tone of levity, Rodimus orders him to start helping with the search, then takes a call from [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], who is with [[Rewind]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], hauling [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] out of a lake.

Meanwhile, in the skies above the planet, a small ship materializes. It's sole occupant is [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], who awakens with an [[inhibitor claw]] on his back and the knowledge that he is running from ''something''... but cannot remember what, finding that all of his recent memories are missing. Spotting a [[mode lock]] on the shuttle's console and realizing that it is trying to transform into something, he sets the ship on collision course with the planet and bails out. He watches the ship crash, but from the flames, its remnants transform into a pair of gigantic sword-wielding robots that speak only one phrase: "nineteen eighty-four". Apparently lacking in any weapons, Skids improvises with the nearby corpses of [[Polaris]] and [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]]: he magnetizes the former to one of the giant robots, then uses the latter's gun to blow Polaris up, taking the monstrous mechanoid with it.

Aboard the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] tends to the wounds [[Rung]] received before take-off, startling the timid psychiatrist by smashing his own hand with a hammer to loosen his joints. They discusss [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who is being carbon-dated by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and Ratchet grumbles about [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s newfound sense of unbearable positivity before half-heartedly turning his attention to the unconscious [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. Suddenly, Whirl awakens, seizes Rung, and begins throttling him, heedless of Ratchet and Swerve's attempts to calm him. The maddened Autobot only stops when Rung chokes out the warning that if he kills him, he'll go back to prison. Whirl snaps out of it and stalks off, the ruckus having awakened Tailgate, who is relieved to find out he did not kill the unhinged Autobot. Realizing that Tailgate is a 'bot out of time, Swerve begs Ratchet to allow him to be the one to tell him, and the "gentle" manner in which Swerve relates the information elicits a horrified bellow from Tailgate that is heard outside the ''Lost Light''.

Elsewhere on the ship, Rodimus meets with Cyclonus, who explains that he attached himself to the hull of the ''Lost Light'' to join in its mission. Though unapologetic for his past actions, he pleads his case for being allowed to stay and manages to sway Rodimus to his side, though Ultra Magnus is less than convinced. Having found Whirl skulking around, Magnus brings him into the room, and orders him to settle his argument with Cyclonus. Whirl does so without admitting any guilt, and is surprised when Cyclonus hugs him... only for him to whisper during the embrace that Whirl should watch his back, because he's going to kill him.

Swerve and Tailgate go for a walk outside, with Tailgate rebuffing Swerve's request to see his [[alternate mode]] on the basis that Ratchet told him to take it easy. They meet up with Chromedome and Rewind for some proper introductions, when Skids suddenly falls out of the sky with the last of the giant 'bots on his tail. Recognizing the Autobot—and noting that he has long been thought dead—Chromedome removes Skids's inhibitor claw for him, allowing him to deploy his weapons and finish his pursuer off with impressive ease. As things calm down, though, Chromedome points out that Skids has been holding a handgun all along, which he somehow never noticed...

Skids returns to the ''Lost Light'' with the other Autobots, quickly discovering he's earned himself a fan in Swerve, who artfully balances proposing that he and Skids team up and badgering Tailgate into transforming. Rodimus addressed the assembled Autobots on recent issues, but Whirl pipes up with a "pressing issues"—unimpressed with just about everyone else on the ship, he thinks the group should at least have a cool name. Swerve proposes "The Crusadercons", but Rodimus and Skids take issue with the -con suffix. Before any further discussion can be gone into, Rodimus gets a call from [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], who has been investigating reports of noises on the lower decks with [[Shock]]... who is now lying dead by Red's side, his [[spark]] ripped out. Panicked, Red Alert relates his fear to Rodimus... that there's a [[Sparkeater]] on board!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm]] (1)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (5)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (6)
*? (7)
*? (8)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (9)
*[[Ore]] (10)
*[[Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (12)
*[[Hoist (G1) |Hoist]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (17)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Rung]] (19)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (20)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
*[[Polaris]] (23)
*[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] (24)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (25)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (26)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (27)
*[[Grapple]] (28)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (30)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (31)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (32)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (33)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (34)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (35)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (36)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (37)
*[[Pointblank]] (38)
*Generic that looks like [[Groundbreaker]] (39)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (40)
*[[Shock]] (41)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (14)
*"Massive 'bots with swords" (16)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)

}}

==Quotes==

"Why are you—''aak!''—doing this?"<br>
"It's your '''eyebrows'''! He's jealous of your capacity for self-expression!"
:—When '''Rung''' is throttled by Whirl, '''Swerve''' proves to be little help.

'''Rewind:''' "'''Wow.''' It's time like this I'm glad I have a camera bolted to my head..."<br>
'''Swerve:''' "Nice '''moves'''! Who '''are''' you? An '''ex-Wrecker'''? One of the '''Warriors Elite'''? An old '''pit fighter'''?"<br>
'''Skids:''' "I'm a '''theoretician.'''"
:—That last line kinda feels like it's missing a "...motherf@#!er!" at the end.

'''Rodimus:''' "'''Look''' at them all. What do I tell them?"<br>
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "The '''truth'''. We've lost contact with Cybertron, we can't find ourselves on the map, Ore is dead, Hyperion and Polaris are dead, but Cyclonus is happy, so that's okay".<br>
'''Rodimus:''' "See, this is why you're not a public speaker."<br>
'''Drift:''' "I think you should accentuate the positive. We've got the quantum generators working again—big tick. We're ready to resume our quest—big tick. And we've managed to save '''virtually''' all of the Autobots who got pulled outside—that's more of a '''little''' tick, '''but it's still a tick!'''"<br>
'''Rodimus:''' "Hmm. I think I'll go for a mixture of depressingly gloomy and offensively upbeat. Thanks, guys."

"So, you gonna show me your alt mode or what?"<br>
"Ooh, '''alright''' then. But I'm taking it '''slow''', okay?"<br>
"Tell you what: I'll speak to Skids and pop back in about '''six million years' time''', okay?"
:—'''Swerve''' only teases '''Tailgate''' because he loves him.

"'The Crusadercons.' The more you say it, the cooler it sounds."<br>
"Someone hears that, they're gonna think we're Decepticons."<br>
"What, so it has to end in 'bot'?"<br>
"Well... '''yeah'''. Omnibots, Monsterbots, Duobots... it's kind of an '''unwritten rule''', isn't it."<br>
"Forget the '''rules'''! The war's over—it's time to '''reclaim the suffix'''!"
:—'''Swerve''' is just a really quotable 'bot, okay? '''Skids''' doesn't share our enthusiasm for him.

==Notes==

* If you don't get the double-meaning that British writer James Roberts has hidden in the Duobots' names, try saying "Shock and Ore" out loud with a British accent.
* The last page includes a summary of the crew members already introduced, with short introductions beneath. These include factoids such as Swerve's weapon of choice is his mouth, Whirl was twice voted "Autobot most likely to defect", and Ultra Magnus once smiled, and has regretted it ever since.
* The big-bots-with-swords keep saying [[1984|"nineteen eighty-four"]].
* At one point, Skids remembers his "Batch number, [[Tech Specs|Technical Specifications]], [[Function]]" and even his motto, which he finds lame.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Rodimus amongst injured Autobots; art by Alex Milne, colors by [[Josh Perez]].
* '''Cover B:''' Skids gets blown out of the ship; art by [[Nick Roche]], colors by Josh Burcham.
* '''Cover RI:''' Sketch (uncolored) version of cover A by Alex Milne.

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE2_cvrA.jpg|"Quit lying down on the job, ya bums!"
Image:MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg|Skids gets a helluva intro.
Image:MTMTE2_cvrRI.jpg|Cover RI
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The World & Everything in It|#2]]
* ''[[Infestation 2|Infestation 2: Transformers]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' Annual 2012
* ''Road Rage''
* ''Jack Avarice is The Courier''

[[Category:More than Meets the Eye issues]]

Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On

2012-02-24T02:35:41Z

68.224.39.107: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #2
|prev=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|next=
|caption=
|image=MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg
|title="Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 15]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=February 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

'''The recovering crew of the ''Lost Light'' are joined by Skids, a bot on the run... but on the run from what?'''

==Synopsis==

On the barren planet where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' has put down, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and others go about gathering up the [[Autobot]]s who have been scattered across the world's surface. [[Brainstorm]] radios in that he has discovered the source of their explosive mishap: the [[Duobot]] [[Ore]] was standing too close to the [[quantum generator]] when it activated, and wound up being "totally mashed" into it. Perturbed by Brainstorm's general tone of levity, Rodimus orders him to start helping with the search, then takes a call from [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], who is with [[Rewind]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], hauling [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] out of a lake.

Meanwhile, in the skies above the planet, a small ship materializes. It's sole occupant is [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], who awakens with an [[inhibitor claw]] on his back and the knowledge that he is running from ''something''... but cannot remember what, finding that all of his recent memories are missing. Spotting a [[mode lock]] on the shuttle's console and realizing that it is trying to transform into something, he sets the ship on collision course with the planet and bails out. He watches the ship crash, but from the flames, its remnants transform into a pair of gigantic sword-wielding robots that speak only one phrase: "nineteen eighty-four". Apparently lacking in any weapons, Skids improvises with the nearby corpses of [[Polaris]] and [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]]: he magnetizes the former to one of the giant robots, then uses the latter's gun to blow Polaris up, taking the monstrous mechanoid with it.

Aboard the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] tends to the wounds [[Rung]] received before take-off, startling the timid psychiatrist by smashing his own hand with a hammer to loosen his joints. They discusss [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who is being carbon-dated by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and Ratchet grumbles about [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s newfound sense of unbearable positivity before half-heartedly turning his attention to the unconscious [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. Suddenly, Whirl awakens, seizes Rung, and begins throttling him, heedless of Ratchet and Swerve's attempts to calm him. The maddened Autobot only stops when Rung chokes out the warning that if he kills him, he'll go back to prison. Whirl snaps out of it and stalks off, the ruckus having awakened Tailgate, who is relieved to find out he did not kill the unhinged Autobot. Realizing that Tailgate is a 'bot out of time, Swerve begs Ratchet to allow him to be the one to tell him, and the "gentle" manner in which Swerve relates the information elicits a horrified bellow from Tailgate that is heard outside the ''Lost Light''.

Elsewhere on the ship, Rodimus meets with Cyclonus, who explains that he attached himself to the hull of the ''Lost Light'' to join in its mission. Though unapologetic for his past actions, he pleads his case for being allowed to stay and manages to sway Rodimus to his side, though Ultra Magnus is less than convinced. Having found Whirl skulking around, Magnus brings him into the room, and orders him to settle his argument with Cyclonus. Whirl does so without admitting any guilt, and is surprised when Cyclonus hugs him... only for him to whisper during the embrace that Whirl should watch his back, because he's going to kill him.

Swerve and Tailgate go for a walk outside, with Tailgate rebuffing Swerve's request to see his [[alternate mode]] on the basis that Ratchet told him to take it easy. They meet up with Chromedome and Rewind for some proper introductions, when Skids suddenly falls out of the sky with the last of the giant 'bots on his tail. Recognizing the Autobot—and noting that he has long been thought dead—Chromedome removes Skids's inhibitor claw for him, allowing him to deploy his weapons and finish his pursuer off with impressive ease. As things calm down, though, Chromedome points out that Skids has been holding a handgun all along, which he somehow never noticed...

Skids returns to the ''Lost Light'' with the other Autobots, quickly discovering he's earned himself a fan in Swerve, who artfully balances proposing that he and Skids team up and badgering Tailgate into transforming. Rodimus addressed the assembled Autobots on recent issues, but Whirl pipes up with a "pressing issues"—unimpressed with just about everyone else on the ship, he thinks the group should at least have a cool name. Swerve proposes "The Crusadercons", but Rodimus and Skids take issue with the -con suffix. Before any further discussion can be gone into, Rodimus gets a call from [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], who has been investigating reports of noises on the lower decks with [[Shock]]... who is now lying dead by Red's side, his [[spark]] ripped out. Panicked, Red Alert relates his fear to Rodimus... that there's a [[Sparkeater]] on board!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm]] (1)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (5)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (6)
*? (7)
*? (8)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (9)
*[[Ore]] (10)
*[[Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (12)
*[[Hoist (G1) |Hoist]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (17)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Rung]] (19)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (20)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
*[[Polaris]] (23)
*[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] (24)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (25)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (26)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (27)
*[[Grapple]] (28)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (30)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (31)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (32)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (33)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (34)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (35)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (36)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (37)
*[[Pointblank]] (38)
*Generic that looks like [[Groundbreaker]] (39)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (40)
*[[Shock]] (41)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (14)
*"Massive 'bots with swords" (16)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)

}}

==Quotes==

"Why are you—''aak!''—doing this?"<br>
"It's your '''eyebrows'''! He's jealous of your capacity for self-expression!"
:—When '''Rung''' is throttled by Whirl, '''Swerve''' proves to be little help.

'''Rewind:''' "'''Wow.''' It's time like this I'm glad I have a camera bolted to my head..."<br>
'''Swerve:''' "Nice '''moves'''! Who '''are''' you? An '''ex-Wrecker'''? One of the '''Warriors Elite'''? An old '''pit fighter'''?"<br>
'''Skids:''' "I'm a '''theoretician.'''"
:—That last line kinda feels like it's missing a "...motherf@#!er!" at the end.

'''Rodimus:''' "'''Look''' at them all. What do I tell them?"<br>
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "The '''truth'''. We've lost contact with Cybertron, we can't find ourselves on the map, Ore is dead, Hyperion and Polaris are dead, but Cyclonus is happy, so that's okay".<br>
'''Rodimus:''' "See, this is why you're not a public speaker."<br>
'''Drift:''' "I think you should accentuate the positive. We've got the quantum generators working again—big tick. We're ready to resume our quest—big tick. And we've managed to save '''virtually''' all of the Autobots who got pulled outside—that's more of a '''little''' tick, '''but it's still a tick!'''"<br>
'''Rodimus:''' "Hmm. I think I'll go for a mixture of depressingly gloomy and offensively upbeat. Thanks, guys."

"So, you gonna show me your alt mode or what?"<br>
"Ooh, '''alright''' then. But I'm taking it '''slow''', okay?"<br>
"Tell you what: I'll speak to Skids and pop back in about '''six million years' time''', okay?"
:—'''Swerve''' only teases '''Tailgate''' because he loves him.

"'The Crusadercons.' The more you say it, the cooler it sounds."<br>
"Someone hears that, they're gonna think we're Decepticons."<br>
"What, so it has to end in 'bot'?"<br>
"Well... '''yeah'''. Omnibots, Monsterbots, Duobots... it's kind of an '''unwritten rule''', isn't it."<br>
"Forget the '''rules'''! The war's over—it's time to '''reclaim the suffix'''!"
:—'''Swerve''' is just a really quotable 'bot, okay? '''Skids''' doesn't share our enthusiasm for him.

==Notes==

* If you don't get the double-meaning that British writer James Roberts has hidden in the Duobots' names, try saying "Shock and Ore" out loud with a British accent.
* The last page includes a summary of the crew members already introduced, with short introductions beneath. These include factoids such as Swerve's weapon of choice is his mouth, Whirl waaas twice voted "Autobot most likely to defect", and Ultra Magnus once smiled, and has regretted it ever since.
* The big-bots-with-swords keep saying [[1984|"nineteen eighty-four"]].
* At one point, Skids remembers his "Batch number, [[Tech Specs|Technical Specifications]], [[Function]]" and even his motto, which he finds lame.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Rodimus amongst injured Autobots; art by Alex Milne, colors by [[Josh Perez]].
* '''Cover B:''' Skids gets blown out of the ship; art by [[Nick Roche]], colors by Josh Burcham.
* '''Cover RI:''' Sketch (uncolored) version of cover A by Alex Milne.

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE2_cvrA.jpg|"Quit lying down on the job, ya bums!"
Image:MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg|Skids gets a helluva intro.
Image:MTMTE2_cvrRI.jpg|Cover RI
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The World & Everything in It|#2]]
* ''[[Infestation 2|Infestation 2: Transformers]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' Annual 2012
* ''Road Rage''
* ''Jack Avarice is The Courier''

[[Category:More than Meets the Eye issues]]