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Only Human

2012-05-06T16:31:10Z

68.46.143.252: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=88
|series2=2010
|ep2=22
|prev2=The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)
|next2=Money is Everything
|image=TitleOnlyHuman.JPG
|caption=-of flesh and blood, I'm made!
|title="Only Human"
|production code=700-108
|airdate=[[November 13]], 1986
|written by=[[Susan K. Williams]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''When several Autobots interfere with his "business", a powerful crime lord has their minds placed into synthoid bodies, with the help of the strangely familiar "Old Snake".'''

:''Japanese title:'' 人間トランスフォーマー (''Ningen Transformer'', "Human Transformers")
:''German title:'' '''Nur ein Mensch''' (''Only Human'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:CC-OldSnake01.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Doing a crossover... in style!]]

As buildings explode, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] attempts to save as many people as he can. At the docks, crime lord [[Victor Drath]]'s men, led by [[Dutch (G1)|Dutch]], attempt to steal a canister of [[newtronium]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] stop them; however, Dutch shoots the canister which explodes in Rodimus's hands, allowing the criminals to escape in their flying car.

Tired of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] interfering with his operations, Drath contacts the mysterious [[Old Snake]] who apparently ran some kind of terrorist organization in the past. Drath purchases Old Snake's assistance and technology, setting up a laboratory at his home. Lured to the laboratory, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] are trapped and their minds transferred into newly created [[synthoid]] human bodies. While the human [[Autobot]]s are taken away to be disposed at the junk yard, Snake suggests that Drath can make use of the Autobots' former robot bodies.

[[Image:ArceeSpringerHuman.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"Hey Arcee, biologically we can...you know." "What? Huh?" "Nevermind."]]

The four Autobots manage to escape from the crusher in the junk yard before they're pulverised. They find clothing in a nearby building and swiftly realise what has happened. They split up—Magnus and Arcee decide to attempt to contact [[Autobot City]] while Rodimus and Springer go after Drath. Once the pair reaches Drath's house, Rodimus attempts to draw the guards away, but is wounded. He is given refuge by Drath's girlfriend [[Michelle]]. Springer spots Drath's men taking the Autobots' robot bodies for a test drive, taking the opportunity to rob a jewellery store. He is offers to help operate his old body, claiming that he has experience with heavy machinery, and gains the thugs' confidence.

Meanwhile Arcee and Ultra Magnus are having no luck contacting the police chief they'd worked with after the earlier bombings. They notice a nearby warehouse is owned by Drath and break in, discovering it's full of weapons. Unfortunately Arcee trips a silent alarm, and they're interrupted by thugs driving their old bodies. Magnus threatens them with a grenade, giving Arcee time to escape on a stolen motorcycle, but he is captured by Dutch a short time later.

[[Image:OnlyHuman Rodimus Michelle breakfast.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

Rodimus shares breakfast with Michelle, who confides that she knows who he is, but will help him get into Drath's house. Arcee makes it to [[Autobot City]], but the human security guards don't believe her story and instead place her in detention. Rodimus and Michelle enter Drath's home... only for Drath's men to spring the trap which Michelle has lured him into. Drath tells Rodimus that Snake has come up with a new plan — load the Autobots' robot bodies with explosives and use them to blow up Autobot City. Springer discovers the plan as well, when he drives his robot body to pick up the explosives. He and Ultra Magnus liberate both his old body, though it is damaged in the escape. The three remaining Autobot forms are dispatched for Autobot City.

[[Image:OnlyHuman Thugs in Rodimus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Rodimus manages to get free of the goons and take down Drath himself. Drath gloats that Autobot City is still doomed. Indeed, Drath's thugs are nearing the city in the three purloined Autobot forms. Springer and Ultra Magnus fly Springer's robot form to catch up with the other three Autobots en route to Metroplex. Knowing that the Autobots in the city won't realize three Trojan horses are coming until it's too late, Ultra Magnus tells Springer to attack the city himself. Their firing on [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] alerts the inhabitants, and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] has time to activate the city’s defenses and waylay the oncoming Autobots.

Later, after the Autobots have put together the pieces, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] rigs the equipment at Drath's former hideout and transfers Rodimus Prime and the other's minds back to their rightful place. When asked about their adventure, Rodimus gives extra consideration to Michelle as she's led away along with Drath's other men. Meanwhile, safely away, Old Snake muses to himself how they just don't make terrorists like they used to. He also tries to yell out the rallying cry of his former organization but breaks down into coughing, so it's absolutely impossible to tell what group he used to run.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (2)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (11)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (12)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (13)

|c3=
*[[Dutch (G1)|Dutch]] (1)
*[[Chief Turan]] (6)
*[[Victor Drath]] (7)
*[[Michelle]] (8)
*[[Old Snake]] (9)
*Rodimus Prime (5)
*Ultra Magnus (4)
*Springer (2)
*Arcee (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Yer 'trash' got up an' took a hike before I could squash 'em!"
:—'''Junkyard goon'''

'''Victor Drath:''' "Does that technology still exist, Snake? Is it for sale?" 
'''"Old Snake":''' "This is the world, Mr. Drath. ''Everything'' is for sale." 
:—Often from toy companies!

"The Path to True Humanity! Only $4.95, tax deductible!" 
''[Springer shoves him aside]'' 
"Sorry, pal, I'm a ''robot'' at heart. ...Terrific. I already need a shave."
:—'''Street proselytizer''' and humanized '''Springer'''

'''Springer''': "Need a hand? I, uh...operate heavy equipment. 
'''Goon #1''': Uh...yeah. 
'''Goon #2''': But dere's only room for ''two'' in here! 
''[#1 boots #2 out the hatch]'' 
'''Goon #1''': Yeah! Yer right!
:—Springer gets a lift from his own body.

"Don't think for a moment that I haven't the nerve to use this—I ''have!''"
:—Even humanized, '''Ultra Magnus''' is a badass.

"What's this?" 
"It's called breakfast, dummy." 
"Mph. Smells better than it tastes."
:—Humanized '''Rodimus''' discovers coffee, courtesy of '''Michelle'''

"Snake pointed out to me a problem with eliminating only the four of you...namely, an entire city of Autobots who might be tempted to vengeance. I believe in solutions, not problems. You can watch the destruction of Metroplex before you die."
:—'''Victor Drath''' rubs Rodimus's nose in it.

"Well, did you enjoy your sojourn, Rodimus?" 
"Maybe a little ''too'' much, Perceptor."
:—'''Perceptor''' innocently asks a very loaded question of '''Rodimus''', as the camera pointedly zooms in on Michelle.

"Poor Mr. Drath. Not quite smart enough, were you? They simply don't make terrorists like they ''used'' to! COOOOOBRA-ha-*hackcoughcoughcough*"
:—"'''Old Snake'''" gets away scot-free.

==Notes==
In general, this episode is ''really'' rushed, storywise. Scenes are raced through at a pretty breakneck pace, and on the whole, there's a tremendous sense of the episode having to hold back from actually ''doing'' anything with the potential-laden concept of the Autobots becoming human. Many of the ideas in the episode only seem half-developed, and what few subtleties do manage to break through the constant hurtle towards the final scene are often blunted by the complete lack of even just a reflective second or two to let them sink in. The episode really cries out to be a two-parter, which is a real shame, since the annotations for the episode included amongst the original documentation featured on [[Metrodome]]'s DVDs suggest that the production staff were ''really'' excited and enthusiastic about it.

[[Image:OnlyHumanlineup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Ultra Magnus didn't want to admit he wanted the pink overalls.]]

* While not an error, since the reason for it is clear enough, it is a fun coincidence that once human, our four heroes find overalls to wear that perfectly match their former bodies' color schemes. It was also convenient for the new synthoid bodies to form complete with tee shirts and pants. This is a children’s show, you know.

[[Image:Only Human Rodimus (synthoid) breaks door.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Rodimus the Terminator.]]
* The humanized Autobots' synthoid bodies are much stronger than humans are. For example, during their escape from the junkyard, synthoid Rodimus is able to break through padlocked metal doors, an impossible feat for a human. In another example, humanized Ultra Magnus and Arcee push a container which is taller and heavier than they are and jump on it to penetrate into Drath's warehouse.

[[Image:Michelle.JPG|right|150px|thumb|I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.]]

* Michelle’s motivation is a little murky. She seems genuinely upset when the Autobots are supposedly killed by Drath, and later she saves Rodimus from his pursuers—yet later, she happily turns him over to Drath. Was she actually attracted to Rodimus and changed her mind, or was she just luring him into a trap all along? If she was working for Drath from the get-go, why didn’t she just let his men capture him when they asked for him earlier? It couldn’t have been because she wanted to snuggle with Rodimus that night, could it? This is a children’s show, you know.

* Also, the Autobots adapt to being human REALLY easily. Other than Springer needing a shave, there’s very little attention paid to the new problems with suddenly being biological. Shouldn’t the Autobots have problems understanding such concepts as going to the bathroom or breathing? Then again, that stuff veers into uncomfortable territory. This is a children’s show after all.

* In hindsight, just what was Victor Drath’s plan with the Autobots? He obviously has no trouble capturing the Autobots on his own, but purchased the synthoid equipment and went through all the trouble to set it up anyway to transfer the Autobots' minds into human bodies which he would simply dispose of. He also is going to take their former robot bodies and also simply dispose of them. It’s Ol’ Snake that gives him the idea actually to use the robot bodies. Why couldn’t he just capture the Autobots and simply dispose of them intact? Then again, maybe that’s overthinking it. This is a...well, you know.

===Animation or technical glitches===
* Outdated animation models end up being used frequently in this episode. Most notable is Arcee's, especially since her shoulder-thingies change orientation and her head changes shape several times. (The sub-par animation makes her look even worse.)

* During the rescue at the start, Springer, in helicopter mode, somehow catches a falling human on his nose, despite the fact the human would have to pass through his spinning rotors. A few shots later, his arms separate from his helicopter body without the transformation sound effect.

* As he runs up to the waterfront, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow when it should be orange in the middle. This error occurs throughout the episode.

* When he warns Rodimus about the Newtronium, the inside of Magnus' mouth is blue.

* There are several instances when the backgrounds switch from day to night to day again.

* Old Snake wasn't "pacing," as his subordinate said. When Drath finds him, he appears to be sitting on a curb.

* The commercial bumpers have a couple extra seconds' worth of music.

* As the humanized Autobots plan their first move, Magnus's voice comes out of Rodimus's mouth.

* Despite being human, there are occasions when the Autobots' voices are still synthesized to sound robotic.

* "And risk our both getting caught?" - Rodimus' mouth isn't moving.

* When Old Snake first has the Autobots transform, Rodimus is missing his trailer (so he looks like Hot Rod).

* When human Springer offers to pilot his robot form, the guy saying there's only room for two is on the right, then the shot changes and he's on the left.

* When human Springer climbs into his robot form, his crotch clips over a control rod.

* As the vehicle modes of Springer and Rodimus pull up to Drath's warehouse, Rodimus is missing his trailer (so he looks like Hot Rod). It reappears and disappears again during the scene.

* When Springer grabs the map of Autobot City, his glove is brown, but the next shot shows it (correctly) in white.

* As Springer and Magnus escape, Springer's body converts from car to helicopter without the transforming sound, or even any visible transformation sequence.

* After Rodimus hits Drath, the display shows Magnus' cab with blue on top instead of all-white.

* When Blaster sees the first three Autobots approaching Autobot City, Springer is shown instead of Arcee.

* Blaster's voice is way over synthesized.

* Arcee mouths part of Blaster's dialogue in her cell.

* Blaster has one big switch instead of three individual ones in a few shots.

* Perceptor is shown cheering for the returning Autobots. His chest is red instead of white, and his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white (throughout the episode).

* As Blaster observes Springer opening fire on Autobot City, the laser beams are coming right out of the screen.

* Springer crashes on a concrete road, then is shown on a dirt path leading to Autobot City.

* Perceptor vanishes from the scene as the Autobots leave Drath's house, replaced by Magnus and Springer.

* As the Autobots leave Drath's house, a doorway (with outer space behind it) is seen ''behind'' them. They were in an enclosed room.

* One scene has Ultra Magus and Rodimus Prime next to each other transforming into robot mode. They both leave their trailers sitting behind them. With Rodimus, this is unusual for the cartoon but toy accurate. However, this was a missed opportunity for an appearance by Ultra Magnus's inner robot since he transformed wearing his trailer armor anyway.

===Continuity errors===
* Where is the Matrix during all this body-switching anyway?
* How do Rodimus' robot eyes look similar enough to his human eyes that Michelle was able to recognize him?
* What are all these humans suddenly doing in Autobot City? There were never any humans around before.
* Not an error per se, but it seems perhaps too convenient that the Autobot bodies have controls to allow a human pilot to control them fully, even being able to trigger the transformation and control the robot form.
* The humans also climb into and out of Rodimus' hood, not his cockpit.

===Transformers references===
* This episode, along with "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[Madman's Paradise]]", is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons. In fact, this episode marks the only time in the G1 cartoon where all of the antagonists are human (or [[Cobra Commander|humanoid]]). Of course, they still get the Decepticon logo during the scene transitions.
* This episode might answer a question [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] asked at the end of the Season 2 episode "[[Autobot Spike]]" about what would happen if an Autobot's mind were placed in a human's body.

===Japanese version===

*'''Cut:''' The scene where the informant tells Victor Drath that Old Snake is down the street pacing back and forth, then gets punched in the face as payment, was cut for time.

===Trivia===
* Rodimus totally gets some in this episode. Wow.

* As Springer walks through the city, immediately after he runs into the proselytizer, he walks past four static male figures on the street. The pair in the foreground seem to be, um, getting to know each other.

* This episode uses a number of common cartoon sound effects for helicopter rotors and laser beams that had not been heard on ''Transformers'' before... but which were very common on its contemporary competitor, ''[[GoBots (franchise)#Cartoon|Challenge of the GoBots]]''.

[[Image:OnlyHumanJap1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Oh so accurate.]]

*In Japan, this episode was very heavily promoted in the pages of ''[[TV Magazine]]'', featuring two pieces of unique promotional art by [[Ban Magami]] across two separate issues (a rarity for episode promos). Oddly, neither promo seemed to describe the contents of the episode accurately. The May 1987 issue boasted a "special news" emblem, indicating its importance over other episodes promoted that issue. The blurb described the episode, then tantalized children with the reveal that Cobra Commander, "the archenemy of [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]", would be leading his [[Cobra]] army in a fight against the Autobots. The June 1987 issue continued this misinformation campaign, even going so far as to feature a full-page promo of the episode with artwork depicting "Ole Snake" ominously leading a number of Cobra [[Rattler]]s and F.A.N.G.s. Whoever wrote the promotional summaries and told Magami what to draw either hadn't actually ''watched'' the episode or was just flat-out ''lying'' about its contents in order to snooker a larger audience with false claims of massive Autobot vs. Cobra action. Of course, it's also possible that the promos were penned with only an outdated story summary to work with, a la their promo artwork for "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" mistakenly featuring [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] instead of [[Octane]].

* This episode was lampooned at [[BotCon 2005]]'s [[MSTF]] presentation, as part of a "theme show" where all of the ''Transformers'' episodes featured had (sometimes really tenuous) ties to ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]''. Because this was the first year of [[Fun Publications]]' take on BotCon, and they run the Joe convention, you see.

*The "NYPD" markings on the police car suggest that the newtronium theft takes place in a futuristic [[New York City|New York]].

*For some reason, human Arcee doesn't look like Princess Leia. Even her hair is different.

*Human Arcee rides a motorcycle in this episode. She turns ''into'' one in [[Arcee (Energon)|several]] [[Arcee (Movie)|other]] [[Arcee (SG)|continuity]] [[Arcee (Prime)|families]].

*If you look at "Ole Snake's" fingers, visible through his torn-up gloves, you'll notice that they're covered in yellow scales. This would appear to be a reference to ''G.I. Joe: The Movie'', in which Cobra Commander was mutated into a yellow-scaled snake-man and then an actual cobra. He was eventually restored to his yellow-scaled, snake-man form in the ''G.I. Joe'' miniseries "Operation: Dragonfire", though that story was conceived and produced many, many years after this episode.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Only Human ([[Tempo Video|Tempo Kids Club]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

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

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Madman's Paradise

2012-04-07T15:49:13Z

68.46.143.252: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=78
|ep2=12
|prev2=Chaos (episode)
|next2=Surprise Party
|image=G1 Menonia.JPG
|caption="A black, black castle on a black, black rock, in a black, black world…"
|title="Madman's Paradise"
|production code=700-98
|airdate=[[October 13]], 1986
|written by=[[Craig Rand]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''A quick stroll through Cybertron leads Daniel Witwicky and Grimlock to someplace different.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 不思議の国のダニエル (''Fushigi no Kuni no Daniel'', "Daniel in Wonderland")
:''German title:'' "'''Der rote Zauberer'''" ("The Red Magician")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Madman Paradise Grimlock drinks.JPG|left|200px|thumb|If guest not give good tip, me Grimlock eat them.]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Autobot|Autobots]] are hosting a diplomatic event for a number of species, with [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], and [[Carly]] introducing the guests. One ambassador compliments Spike and Carly's "post-embryonic form", but [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] takes it the wrong way. Spike tells Daniel that he can go off and play, but to stay out of trouble (and keep the tuxedo clean and intact). Daniel thinks that there is nobody to play with and complains that there is nobody to get into trouble with anyway. [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], hearing that, decides to give some help on that matter and follows Daniel. (It sure beats serving drinks.)

However, Grimlock does not like the [[Planetary Corridor CB311B4|place]] where they are walking around. Daniel idly kicks a stray gear on the ground, and it hits a panel in the wall, revealing a secret passage in the floor. Grimlock leans forward to get a better view, but falls in, knocking Daniel in as well. Sliding down, Grimlock and Daniel are barely able to grab the ledge of a rail on the other side of a crevice. Jumping into the room, they find it covered in ancient symbols. Daniel notices a neat-looking monster, but Grimlock thinks that it's handsome, like him. However, his wagging tail hits the symbol, causing a red circle in the floor to glow, and he and Daniel sink through it. They soon find themselves somewhere other than Cybertron, and someone wearing a red cloak is aware of their arrival.

Back at the party, Carly is having trouble finding Daniel. She asks [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] or [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] if they have seen him, at which point the alien ambassador tells them she saw Daniel walking away with a [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]. The prospect of Grimlock and Daniel together and unsupervised naturally causes everyone to freak out, but Rodimus calls for calm. (The planet is still intact, after all.) The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] sends Blaster and Ultra Magnus to search for them, with Carly tagging along.

[[Image:Madman's Paradise Grimlock treecentaurs.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Even Grimlock gets cold feet now and then.]]

Elsewhere, Grimlock and Daniel come across some strange tree-centaurs. They demand to know whom the two fight for, and Grimlock says nobody. The tree-centaurs decide to attack. Bad idea, as Grimlock proceeds to toss them around. However, one tree-centaur causes Grimlock's leg to freeze, making him fall down. The tree-centaurs then begin tying Grimlock to the ground. (Think [[Wikipedia:Gulliver's Travels|''Gulliver's Travels'']], but with robots.) The man in red is impressed with Grimlock's power and sends a bolt of energy to attack the tree-centaurs with a wave of his ''tentacle''. He heads out, changing his tentacle into a hand, and welcomes Daniel and Grimlock to [[Menonia]], the realm they have entered. He offers an invitation from the Red Wizard, who is clearly the old man himself. Taking them to the castle, the Red Wizard claims that the world was once ruled by the [[Golden One]], a powerful sorcerer-king, but that the Golden One disappeared and the Red Wizard took his place. However, evil rebels fought against the Red Wizard. He asks for Grimlock's help, while Daniel, who is asleep, is taken to somewhere more comfortable—the dungeon.

On Cybertron, [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] has tracked down Grimlock and Daniel's scent and discovered the room they were in. [[Rewind]] discovers that the writings on the wall are [[Quintesson]] inscriptions. The room was a banishment point for the Quintessons, where they would exile their own to various dimensions for various crimes. Rewind concludes that the wayward duo are in Menonia, where [[Mara-Al-Utha]] was banished for practicing sorcery. Perceptor activates the portal and stays behind to reopen it when they need help.

[[Image:Madman's Paradise Daniel knife.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Hand over the wallet, old man."]]
Meanwhile, Daniel wakes up and sees the old man chained to the dungeon wall. Using a handy-dandy <s>[[lightsaber]]</s> energy blade, Daniel frees the old man, who explains that the Red Wizard was the one who imprisoned the Golden One in a cave. The Golden One loyalists begin an attack on the castle, which frees the two. Grimlock, still duped, begins fighting off the invaders. Daniel and the old man head for the cave in which the Golden One was imprisoned, while the Autobots and Carly, having arrived in Menonia, head to assist Grimlock. However, a piece of Daniel's tuxedo gets cut off, which Carly finds, and Steeljaw sniffs him out. Reaching the young man, Daniel explains to Carly and the cassettes that the Red Wizard is evil, but the Golden One's loyalists are already in retreat. Since they cannot move the stone and free the Golden One, the old man despairs of all hope.

[[Image:Madman's Paradise Golden One Blaster.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Blaster's attempts to establish a regular karaoke hour never caught on.]]
At this point, [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] charges the rock, causing it to shatter. The Golden One, exposed to sunlight, is free and reenergized. The old man explains the situation, and the Golden One attacks the Red Wizard's castle. The Golden One's arrival causes the Red Wizard to reveal his true form—as the Quintesson Mara-Al-Utha! The Red Wizard attacks, and the Golden One is too weak to defend. He knows of counter-spells that will stop Mara-Al-Utha, but he needs them to be heard. Blaster [[Transformation|transforms]] into cassette player mode and gives the Golden One a microphone. The Golden One speaks his counter-spells, and Mara-Al-Utha is banished somewhere else.

When the battle is over, the Golden One sends the Autobots and the humans back to Cybertron. However, when they get back, Spike wants to have a talk with Daniel. The boy insists it was an accident, and Grimlock backs him up, saying that Daniel didn't mean to ruin his tux. Everyone but Grimlock begins laughing.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (7)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (10)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (11)
* [[Eject]] (12)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (13)
* [[Rewind]] (14)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Carly]] (5)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (6)

|c4=
* [[Ynara]] (2)
* [[Groyle]] (8)
* The Red Wizard ([[Mara-Al-Utha]]) (9)
* The [[Golden One's pupil]] (16)
* The [[Golden One]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ohhh, Grimlock ... what did you do now?" 
"Uh ... make mistake?"
:—When '''Grimlock''' accidentally starts sending the two of them to another dimension, after tapping a picture in admiration.

"Where are we?" 
"Not Cybertron. California maybe?"
:—'''Daniel''' and '''Grimlock''' trying to determine their whereabouts.

"Don't panic yet. Stay calm until we know what's going on. Then we'll panic."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' on Daniel's and Grimlock's disappearance.

"I dunno, my mom says never to go off with strangers." 
"Everybody here stranger! Us not go with stranger, us not go!"
:—'''Daniel''' is hesitant but quickly swayed by '''Grimlock''''s advanced use of logic.

"Repidot. Respondot. Rezendot. Zanitar. Zanarre. Zavasar. Allak...arrak... arram!"
:—'''The Golden One''' recites his spell.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
*After Daniel embarrasses the ambassador, the side of Rodimus' head is white, but two shots later, it's purple.
*Also, in the opening shots Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow, but when we switch to the opposite angle, it's orange in the middle.
*Grimlock's mouth isn't moving as he and Daniel fall into the portal and he asks, "Make Mistake?"
*As Grimlock and Daniel watch the "ugly bird" fly off, Grimlock's back is missing all its colorful details.
*When Mara-Al-Utha uses a magic mirror to see Grimlock and Daniel have arrived, the mirror's frame disappears.
*When the tree-centaurs first question Grimlock, the back of his neck is grey instead of gold.
*One of the tree-centaurs disappears for a couple of frames during the fight with Grimlock.
*When Blaster ejects Rewind, there's no cavity behind his tape drawer.
*Perceptor's face is the same dark grey as his helmet instead of light grey (and his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white).
*When Magnus' team enters the portal, Blaster's head is all-white.
*Daniel's energy blade changes colour from blue to red between shots.
*Grimlock's mouth isn't moving as he asks for the Red Wizard during the attack.
*After the Red Wizard attacks the rebels, Grimlock transforms, but there are frames missing during the transition, so he sort of "pops" into robot mode.
*As Grimlock swings his sword around, his chest is missing most of its detailing (and its Autobot logo, which reappears later when he notices the other Autobots).
*Daniel doesn't really "hug" his mom, he just holds her arms.
*The Golden One is freed and stands in front of the cave opening, but when he flies up there are only trees behind him.
*The Golden One flies towards a perfectly still castle, but the next shot shows plumes of smoke rising up from it.
*Ultra Magnus' gun sounds like Prime's rifle.
*As the Autobots rush to check on the fallen Golden One, Blaster's chest is yellow with no details (or Autobot logo) on it.
*When Magnus grabs the microphone from Blaster, Blaster has one long switch (instead of three smaller ones) on his front.
*In the last shot of the episode, the back of Grimlock's neck is grey instead of gold.

===Continuity Notes===
*Daniel carries an energy blade around with him. Apparently, he had this on him for the whole episode, including the diplomatic meeting at the beginning! Spike really ''does'' need to have a talk with him.
*Gadgets and powers
** Grimlock actually uses his sword in this episode! He uses it to swat some of the boulders launched at him. Just as with Snarl's, it's silver like the package art.

===Transformers references===
* [[Al-Badur]], one of the Quintesson exiles mentioned, would be featured in [[3H Productions|3H]]'s [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comics]], where he was used to try to retcon the Quintesson creation story with the more popular [[Primus]] creation story — but then 3H lost the license before it was concluded. Bummer. Back to the fanwanking, people!
* Like "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[Only Human]]", this is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons.

===Trivia===
* Grimlock's tray-carrying moments were the inspiration for [[Masterpiece]] [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]'s posture and accessories. Apparently a key moment for him!
* During the battle at the castle, Ultra Magnus seemingly obliterates a group of humanoids with his shoulder-mounted rocket! No wonder the Matrix rejected him...
* This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 9: Grimlock the Hero ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/madman%27s_paradise.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3

2012-02-18T18:57:34Z

68.46.143.252: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=68
|series2=2010
|ep2=3
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
|image=FFOD3 Decepticons Quintesson ship.JPG
|caption=Intimidating, but they can't hit a single 'Bot.
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3"
|production code=#700-88
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 3]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Desperate to destroy the Autobots, the Quintessons make a deal with the Decepticons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 惑星ゴーの罠 (''Wakusei Goo no Wana'', "The Trap on Planet Goo")
:''German title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 3'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 3")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FFOD3 Autobots vacuum.JPG|left|200px|thumb|"I'm Batman, and I can breathe in space."]]
Detonated by the Quintessons, the planet [[Quintessa]] explodes as the Autobots flee. They escape the planet's destruction, but their ship is smashed by a chunk of debris, sending the group hurtling through space. Eventually, Ultra Magnus calculates that they will soon impact an object, but isn't sure if it's a planet or a ship. Rodimus tells him to relax and enjoy the ride.

[[Image:FFOD3 Autobot shuttle boom.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Remember, Wheelie is on this ship.]]

Meanwhile, Cyclonus briefs Galvatron on the recent developments, including the creation of [[Outpost One|a space platform]] to guard [[Earth]]. Intrigued, Galvatron alters course, deciding to punish the [[human]]s for assuming that they could build something to defend themselves against him. Some of the [[Sweep]]s are unnerved by Galvatron's behavior, but Scourge tells them to shut up.

Blurr and Wheelie, carrying Metroplex's [[transformation cog]], arrive in Earth's [[solar system]], and spot Galvatron. They warn [[Outpost One]], but Galvatron destroys the station with ease, then turns his sights on the [[Autobot]]s. Fleeing to the planet [[Jupiter]], the Autobots are forced to abandon ship with Metroplex's cog and end up falling into the upper atmosphere. Galvatron uses his cannon to electrically charge a nearby storm cell, causing a violent and explosive reaction which disrupts the transformation cogs of both Blurr and Wheelie, and ejects them from the planet. The [[Decepticon]]s then depart for [[Chaar]]. Blaster sends warning to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where [[Marissa Faireborn]] of [[Earth Defense Command]] heads out on a rescue mission.

[[Image:FFOD3 junk collector.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Not Springer's finest hour.]]

Meanwhile, the Quintessons are contemplating how best to celebrate the death of the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]], when they learn that Rodimus has survived. They conclude that they have no choice but to make an alliance with the one group who can help them: the Decepticons.

The Autobots crash land on a bizarre planetoid named [[Goo]]. They soon discover that they can walk in the planet's gum-like surface, but cannot get out. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] points out that even though they're stranded, it could be worse. Predictably, a giant machine arrives and begins sucking up various garbage. Springer is caught and sliced up, and Rodimus is next. Despite Arcee and Kup's pleas, Rodimus stands his ground, letting the machine pull him up; he manages to clog the blades with some of the goo, causing it to crash. [[Deliberata]] is surprised, claiming that the Autobots weren't programmed for self-sacrifice.

On Chaar, the Quintessons approach the Decepticons with an offer of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. The battered Decepticons are at first hesitant, but once [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] samples some energon and lives, the others dogpile on it. The Quintessons make their proposal: in return for unlimited energon, the Decepticons will destroy the Autobots for them. The Decepticons are nervous, saying that they can't take [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in their present condition, but the Quintessons tell them that Rodimus Prime is on Goo with only a small number of Autobots to guard him. Although it's an offer the Decepticons are eager to accept, Blitzwing is suspicious of the Quintessons, finding them familiar. Motormaster decides to have a vote. The yays have it, but Blitzwing decides to remain on Chaar. The Quintessons are pleased, saying that the Decepticons will soon be theirs... again?

[[Image:FFOD3 Quintessons attack.JPG|right|200px|thumb|No wonder it can't shoot straight. There isn't a single straight line on it!]]

From her ship, Faireborn detects metal fragments which were blown all the way to Jupiter's moon of [[Io]]. On the surface of the Jovian moon, Wheelie and Blurr wake up, not realizing that [[Lipole|they aren't alone]]...

Arriving at Chaar, Galvatron is incensed when Blitzwing informs him that the Decepticons left following others, though he doesn't much care who. Galvatron vows to reclaim his rightful place as Decepticon leader.

On Goo, the Autobots are searching for a way to shut off whatever equipment is keeping the goo warm and soft, allowing them to smash their way out. Suddenly, the Quintesson ship arrives, and a fleet of Decepticons emerges, firing at the trapped Autobots.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|To be continued...]]

{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (2)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (8)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (13)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (15)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (17)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (18)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (19)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (9)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (10)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (11)
* [[Sweep]]s (12)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (21)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (22)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (23)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (24)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (25)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (26)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (28)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (29)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (30)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (31)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (32)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (33)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (34)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (35)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (36)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (37)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (38)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (39)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (40)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (42)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (43)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (6)
* [[Marissa Faireborn|Marissa Faireborn ]]

|c4=
* [[Deliberata]] (7)
* [[Quintesson]]s (16)
* [[Lipole]] (41)
}}

==Quotes==
"My guidance system is hit! Galvatron, save meeeEEE!" 
"Please meet your end with dignity! I despise whiners!"
:—A '''Sweep''' is left to die by '''Galvatron'''

'''Sweep 1''': This is blowing out my audio sensors. 
'''Sweep 2''': It's torture! 
'''Galvatron''': Hahah, no, no! It's music. The symphony of destruction, and the anthem of agony!
:—Galvatron really needs to see a head doctor.

'''Cyclonus''': Bravo, Galvatron. The Autobots' destruction is assured. 
'''Galvatron''': Assured is not enough. I told you I want their heads, Cyclonus! 
''[moments later]'' 
'''Cyclonus''': Mighty Galvatron... where are the Autobots' heads?! 
'''Galvatron''': ''[whacks him]'' What does it matter? Their destruction is assured!
:—Consistency is not Galvatron's strong suit.

"How pleasant the feeling, to know the Autobots and their Matrix of Leadership have been destroyed." 
"I could watch it over and over again." 
"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it." 
"Perhaps... a quiet chuckle." 
"Very well then. Let us... chuckle."
:—The '''Quintessons''' loved it. It was much better than ''Cats''.

'''Quintesson''': We have not come to kill you. We have come to offer you a proposition. 
'''Dead End''': Uh—Swindle! I think this is your department. 
'''Swindle''': First, see if we can trust 'em. Taste one of the energon cubes.
:—Send the guy named "Swindle" to negotiate. Always a good idea.

"Forget everything I told you about heroism, RUN!"
:—'''Kup''' decides to change his tune when Rodimus Prime nearly faces death by alien garbage truck.

"Well?! Where are they?" 
"You, uh... pose an interesting question, my lord."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Cyclonus''' wonder where the Decepticon army went.

"Mark this moment well. For when the Decepticons eliminate the Autobots, they take the first step to their own destruction as well."
:—A '''Quintesson'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The inside of Magnus's mouth is red as he announces the Autobots' trajectory.
* As Galvatron exits the warp gate, the gate's energy is shown streaming out of it. The previous scene showed the energy precisely confined within the gate's boundaries; later portrayals of warp gates would remain consistent with this. It looks like the animators might have conflated a view of Galvatron's passage within the warp gate with a view of space outside it.
* As Blurr decides to try and lose Galvatron around Jupiter, his lip flap is far slower than his rate of speech. In the same scene, Wheelie's voice starts getting higher. Just wait, it'll get worse.
* The first shot of this sequence has Blurr and Wheelie standing around and staring at a blank wall for no apparent reason; there were probably supposed to be controls and view screens there.
* The establishing shot of [[Autobot City]] shows some waterfalls that aren't moving at all. (That makes up for the frozen waterfall that [[The Core|spontaneously unfroze]] last season.)
* The EDC base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] totally changes shape and size between its two establishing shots. Maybe it transformed...?
* When Galvatron transforms to destroy the Autobot shuttle, his arm-mounted cannon flies off of his arm and off-screen... and a new one emerges from his body to replace it in his cannon mode.
* Wheelie takes the transformation cog with him when he ejects from the shuttle, but as he and Blurr fall through the tornado, it's not in either of his hands.
* When Wheelie shoots Galvatron, his Autobot symbol is missing (there's only a red square in its place).
* Improbable viewpoints:
** The Quintessons get a tracking pan view of Rodimus and company floating through space. (Four of the five Aerialbots are missing; only Air Raid is shown.)
* The mouth of the Quintesson reporting the Autobots' trajectory turns gray instead of black for several frames.
* All five of the Aerialbots are supposed to be with Rodimus & company, but only Silverbolt and Air Raid are actually shown.
* It's an AKOM episode, so watch for Grimlock's outdated head design.
* When the Autobots land on Goo, only the skull face of Deliberata is shown arriving. A second later, Kup picks up the same skull face before dropping it back into the goo. Did that one face just fall off?
* Rodimus has his early-casting voice when he says "I don't think it's the welcome wagon". In the same scene, the inside of Magnus's mouth is blue.
* Silverbolt doesn't move his mouth when he says "I'll fly over and see."
* The idea is that the erupting storm blasts Wheelie and Blurr out of Jupiter's atmosphere, but the animation makes it look like they just randomly start flying that way.
* Wheelie says he can't control his transformations, but he doesn't actually transform.
* After having a gray gun last episode, Rodimus is back to the red gun he had in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1|Part 1]].
* Rodimus's lower legs are orange instead of red in the second shot of him and the others firing at the garbage scow.
* Springer's mouth isn't moving when he says, "Maybe I can lift us out of here."
* Springer says "No go!" about his failure to escape from the goo before he's even activated his rotor blades.
* Springer returns to robot mode with no transformation noise.
* As Springer is pulled into the garbage scow, Arcee's helmet is pink on the sides when it should be all white.
* Rodimus's spoiler ridge is yellow instead of orange:
** As he leads the others to try and help Springer.
** During the whole sequence of him bringing down the garbage scow.
* When Rodimus reacts to Springer's destruction, his eyes are black instead of blue.
* Not nearly enough Springer parts come out of the machine to make up the complete Springer.
* "They wanna make a deal with us" is spoken in Swindle's voice, but Blitzwing is shown speaking.
* Astrotrain is missing some details on his back as he dives on the energon cube pile.
* Magnus has a red mouth interior again as he reacts to Rodimus stopping the garbage scow; the underside rim of his helmet is also ''huge''. And gray instead of blue.
* During the same shots, Arcee's backpack is shown in front of her arms (and again, the sides of her helmet are pink).
* The Quintesson Deliberata finally pops up again when he's needed to speak a line, after being absent for the entire preceding sequence. His skull face is properly attached, so, we may never know what was up with the skull face that Kup dropped into the goo.
* As Rodimus asks, "How are we gonna get out of this mess?," Magnus's eyes are only half drawn in.
* The establishing shot of Chaar is pretty clearly Goo, which we just left in the previous scene.
* As Swindle denounces the Quintessons' offer, the top of his torso is purple instead of yellow, and Drag Strip's head is yellow instead of brown.
[[Image:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Decepticons are resorting to animation errors to boost their troop numbers.]]
[[Image:Aerilabotindecepticons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ah hah, so THAT'S why he isn't on Goo.]]
* The entire next sequence is an infamous continuity and animation FUBAR, as the Decepticons seem to teleport all over the place between shots:
** When the Decepticons react to "Destroy the Autobots", Motormaster is shown with Swindle and Drag Strip. The previous shot ("That means it probably is.") had Wildrider in that spot.
** Onslaught very clearly ''walks'' up to protest the Quintessons' proposal of attacking Cybertron. The next shot is a reaction shot of the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], with Onslaught down on his knees, and reacting in protest to his own statement! Swindle is also on his knees behind him, even though he was shown with some Stunticons just a shot before. AKOM cheats some "expressive" motion from the Combaticons by just sliding static drawings of them around on the background. Best of all, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]—the combined form of the five Combaticons—is standing right behind them! His legs are switched around, and he's the same size as his components.
** In the next shot of the Decepticons, Onslaught is now sitting next to Soundwave and Astrotrain, and Swindle is now behind Dead End.
** [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is the size of [[Octane]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]].
** The first shot of Blitzwing ("They lie!") shows him behind Rumble and Octane, but when we switch to a view from behind him, he's alone.
** In the wide shot as Dead End agrees with the plan, the Autobot [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] is shown sitting with the Decepticons. Same shot: Drag Strip's head is yellow again. Amazingly, this shot actually consistently keeps Blitzwing behind Octane and Rumble. Dead End, Soundwave and Onslaught are also still together, but Astrotrain has vanished from between them, and Rumble is in the space behind Dead End where Swindle should be.
** Yeah. It's bad, even for [[AKOM]].
* When the Quintessons say they must act quickly, one Quintesson is missing the lower half of his face and another is missing altogether, with just a telltale beam of energy where he should be.
* Only three Sweeps arrive on Chaar. The number following Galvatron up to now has been five to six. The Sweep in the rear has gray legs and gray back details, even though his siblings on either side are colored correctly. Subsequent shots show several additional Sweeps.
* Shots of Galvatron and his men flying over Chaar have Sweeps colored quite creatively:
** "We have fallen upon hard times": a Dirge-colored Sweep
** Panning shot: Swindle, Soundwave, and Dirge-colored Sweeps
** "Soon I shall raise the Deceptions": Bombshell, Grimlock, and maybe others.
* The ordering of the reused backgrounds during Galvatron's "soon I shall raise the Decepticons" line makes it appear that they are flying backwards.
* The top of Blitzwing's head is purple instead of yellow as he struggles to remember the Quintessons' name.
* Cyclonus's jet windows aren't colored in as Galvatron says "Who cares?"
* Wheelie and Blurr have switched positions from where they crashed; Wheelie was on Blurr's left, but now he's on Blurr's right.
* As he and Blurr awake on Io, Wheelie doesn't have his usual voice. The strained, high-pitched, whiny substitute used instead makes his usual voice sound like sweet music.
* The animation of the [[lipole]]s seems to portray them as giant walking beasts (and ''definitely'' portrays them as glowing and dripping acid from their fangs), with deep-throated snarls and growls. Nothing wrong so far, but next episode they'll be a swarm of tiny, non-glowing, non-acid-dripping, flying, high-pitched-squeaking creatures. Whether the animators misinterpreted the writer's directions in this episode, or the writer himself changed his mind between installments, remains unclear.
* Wheelie's final lines lack the usual processing (which was already not up to snuff in this episode.)
* Right in the middle of the discussion about how to shut off the inescapable goo... Rodimus just walks right out of it!
* Only Air Raid is shown during the final sequence on Goo; the other four Aerialbots are missing (again!)
* Rodimus says "What was that?" in reaction to laser fire that hasn't happened yet.
[[Image:Shockwave5Faces.jpg|thumb|right|200px|My coloring scheme is illogical.]]
* Another infamous cluster follows as the Decepticons pour out of the Quintesson ship and fire on the Autobots:
** The first shot features a light gray [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] with a Blurr-like head bobber (maybe someone at AKOM was reading "[[Decepticon Patrol]]"?) and Shockwave colored like Long Haul.
** The second shot features a clearer shot of Shock Haul, as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who was reformatted into a Sweep during the Movie. Behind them, Dirge is missing his wings.
** If that doesn't seem so bad, wait until the same sequence continues next time!
* Although both the [[Kid Rhino]] and [[Shout! Factory]] versions of this episode contain the correct unique opening titles for the story (one of only two parts of "Five Faces of Darkness" on DVD that do), the Shout! version incorrectly uses the soundtrack to the standard season three opening as now found on the broadcast masters to all five parts.

===Continuity errors===
* The Autobot ship which looks exactly like Broadside is destroyed in the explosion of Quintessa. Broadside himself shows up alive and well later in the series, so... apparently that wasn't Broadside.
* The Aerialbots are clearly capable of at least limited space flight, as seen both in the previous episode, and the later episode "[[Fight or Flee]]". It therefore seems a bit silly for them to be tumbling helplessly through space.
* Spike is in his civilian clothes when he boards the Autobot ship. When it's destroyed a few seconds later, he's got on a space suit. Even if that ''was'' the first thing he did the instant he set foot on the ship, it sure doesn't look like he'd have ''time'' to change into it.
* The animation shows Marissa pushing a button and saying "On my way!" The next shot shows her ship rocketing off of its launching rail. The net effect is that she seems to have just been sitting there in this angled ship, waiting around for a mission.
* Rodimus is shown standing outside the garbage scow after he brings it down. Considering it came down right on top of him, he should really be ''inside'' it. (Or under it.)
* Kup says to Rodimus, "I've seen a lotta brave Autobots do a lotta brave things in my time, but nothing like that." With all Kup's experience, it's a little hard to swallow that that's the ''bravest'' thing he has ever witnessed.

===ERRORS. OF. ''SCIENCE!''===
* Cyclonus's first line is muffled as if he were communicating by radio to Galvatron. ''Technically'', that's actually correct, since they're in the soundless vacuum of space and should be communicating by radio. But it's inconsistent with every other portrayal of Transformers communicating in space, including the rest of this very scene. Anyway, wouldn't super-advanced space robots have hi-fi communicators that wouldn't sound like walkie-talkies?
* [[Trooper Sullivan]] is shown radioing [[Earth Defense Command]] with a hand-held radio as he's floating through space. The "mouth plate" of his helmet even moves as he does so. Unlike the super-advanced space robots, he does not get a "really talking by radio" pass for this.
* Jupiter's ring appears to be composed of scrap metal (instead of ice.) The planet itself is shown as a dusky orange instead of the banded red, white, brown and tan of the actual planet.
* The Autobot shuttle loops around a gray, homogeneous moon of Jupiter. It's not clear that this ''has'' to be [[Io]], but if it is, it's all wrong. The real moon is orange and red, with black and white splotches, and looks like a pizza. Later, when Wheelie and Blurr are ejected from Jupiter's atmosphere, a distant Io (for sure this time!) is shown looking a lot like post-Movie Cybertron, silvery with spikey buildings poking out into space.
* During the establishing zoom-in toward [[Earth]], two planet-like objects are in the foreground, in close proximity to the other. The smaller one is the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], but there's no real-world body that could be the other one. The reddish color may mean it's supposed to be [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] (which comes into play in the following scene), but it's waaaaay too close to the Moon for that.
* Wow. Who knew that storms on Jupiter were so... ''flammable''?
* There probably isn't life on Io.

===Continuity Notes===
* Rodimus refers to Springer with the nickname "Springo". It recurs only once, in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|the next episode]].
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] mentions that the gooey substance on Goo reminds him of stuff he put under his chair in school. Although this is disgusting, it does raise a valid question: when did Spike ever have time to go to school during the first two seasons?
* Blitzwing singles himself out as the only Decepticon who recognizes the Quintessons. This tantalizing plot thread was never developed further in the cartoon. Decades later, however, [[e-HOBBY]] would use this statement, together with the army of tank-mode Blitzwings seen in the Season 3 opening credits, as the inspiration for [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]].
===Trivia===
* The sequence on Goo is the inspiration for the last portion of the ''Five Faces of Darkness'' custom title sequence, though in a clever spoiler-avoiding twist, Springer actually ''does'' get free from the goo in the title animation.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_3.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Sparkplug Witwicky

2011-12-07T20:54:34Z

68.46.143.252: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|{{factions/icons|custom=Skywatch Logo.png|cSize=30px|cLink=Skywatch|cPretty=Skywatch}}}}{{disambig3|Sparkplug}}
:''Sparkplug [[Witwicky]] is a [[human]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:SparkplugG1.jpg|right|320px|thumb|"I fought in wars, kid."]]
'''Sparkplug Witwicky''' is many things, but first and foremost a father. He's gruff and no-nonsense in a working-class manner, but he loves his son(s) dearly—a sentiment very much reciprocated. His experiences with the [[Transformer|Transformers]] aren't always smooth, but his down-to-earth approach serves him well. He is very mechanically inclined, which is an obvious asset when dealing with robots.

His several incarnations throughout the [[Continuity|multiverse]] have a varying number of sons with names like "[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]", "[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]]", and "[[Butch Witwicky (G1)|Butch]]".

{{bigquote|I'm a mechanic! I know what I'm doing!|A mind-controlled Sparkplug states his credentials|"[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{quote|Y'know, son, if my hands aren't coated with an inch of motor grease, they may as well not be on my wrists!|{{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}}}

[[Image:LastStand-Sparkplugflashback.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Car monkey have boring weekend, boring manager Rob.]]

In his younger days, '''"Sparkplug" Witwicky''' was a Sergeant in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. A P.O.W. during the [[Wikipedia:Korean War|Korean War]], Sparkplug was forced to repair the [[North Korea]]ns' equipment. However, he secretly sabotaged that same equipment, leading to personnel and material losses for the North Koreans. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

Later in life, he was a mechanic who owned [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service]], his own auto service shop in [[Portland]], [[Oregon]]. He had a teenage son, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]], who didn't share his interest in auto repair. Buster was more interested in reading, learning, and his work in the literary scholarship program, which he hoped would help pay for his college. This caused Sparkplug to worry, because this wouldn't "lead to a job one day"? What?

[[Image:TheTransformers-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Like any good father, Sparkplug believes education is a tragic waste of time.]]

Sparkplug was rudely awoken one night by noise in his garage, and when he rushed down there to investigate, he was incredibly pleased to see Buster inspecting a damaged Volkswagen Beetle. Finally his son had begun carrying on his father's work! Buster explained that Sparkplug was mistaken, and that this car was ''alive''. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

Buster told his dad that while he, [[Jessie]], and [["O"]] were at the drive-in movie that night, they were attacked by [[Seeker (body-type)|three jet fighters]] and during the confusion that followed, Buster ended up driving the Volkswagen home. Sparkplug, though he disbelieved Buster's story, nonetheless began working on repairing the car. Hours later, what repairs Sparkplug could manage were finished, and the car transformed into the alien robot, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee!]] He explained to the two humans that he was an Autobot who had crash landed on Earth along with several others, and that they were in the middle of a civil war. When Buster asked to return with Bumblebee to the [[Ark (G1)|Autobots' spaceship]], at first Sparkplug refused, but then Buster reminded him that Sparkplug had always wanted Buster to stop reading and start living. Sparkplug let his son leave.

But the two quickly returned when Bumblebee realized his damage was more widespread than he realized. Using some materials from Sparkplugs garage, they constructed a communicator. Soon the rest of the Autobots arrived, and their leader, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], introduced himself to them and addressed their group's dire fuel needs. Their introductions were interrupted by an attack by the [[Decepticon]]s, the Autobots' enemies. As the battlefield consumed the neighborhood, Sparkplug hid with his son in the cab of a wreck in the lot's junkyard. However, the Decepticon leader, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] located Sparkplug and grabbed him, intent on getting the human to make fuel for the Decepticons. Megatron dropped him ("Geronimo!") momentarily to fight Optimus Prime, only for Sparkplug to be scooped up again by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. The Decepticons immediately fled with their prize. {{storylink|Power Play!}}

After being kidnapped by the Decepticons, he was instructed by Megatron to develop a process that would convert Earthen gasoline into fuel they could consume. Sparkplug drew on his memories of his time as a mechanic in the Korean War, recalling an instance where he had sabotaged the enemy vehicles' fuel and brake lines, and did the same to the Decepticons, poisoning their fuel and hopefully allowing the Autobots to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Finally, Sparkplug was rescued from the [[Fortress Sinister|Decepticons' fortress]] by the Autobot [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and the mysterious [[Spider-Man]].

[[Image:LastStand-heartattack.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Suffer a heart attack, Sparkplug, courtesy of my [[photon rifle]]!]]

However, before Sparkplug's heroic act could come to light, many of the Autobots believed that Sparkplug had betrayed them by making fuel for the Decepticons, and an over-reactive [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] let loose with his flamethrower. Although Sparkplug wasn't injured by the weapon itself, he did suffer a mild heart attack. Startled, the Autobots allowed [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] to drive Sparkplug and his son to [[Greater Portland Medical Center|the nearest hospital]]. Much later, Sparkplug's condition was stablized, and he woke up in the hospital surrounded by Buster, Jessie, and "O". He smiled, knowing that ultimately, his plan to poison the Decepticons' fuel would spell their doom. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

''The alien history student [[Dicet Alpha-zero]] traveled through time to witness key moments in the Autobot/Decepticon civil war, and thus he observed Sparkplug poison the Decepticons' fuel and suffer his heart attack. {{storylink|The Quest!}}''

From his hospital bed, he asked Buster to promise to cut his ties with the Autobots, as an alien civil war was no place for a high school teenager. {{storylink|The New Order}} As Sparkplug was kept in the hospital, his customers grew irate with his disappearance and threatened to take their business to [[Scarpatoni's Garage]]. {{storylink|DIS-Integrated Circuits!}} Finally, Sparkplug was sent home, muttering about how the doctors demanded to keep him there a week for "only a little" heart attack. He couldn't wait to get back to fixing cars, but amazingly, when he opened the garage, there were none inside. Buster explained that he had somehow fixed them all. Ecstatic, Sparkplug noted that it wasn't too late to change the sign to say "Witwicky and Son." {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

[[Image:Brainstorm-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Uh, dad, when [[Jessie]] says she's going to apologize, that's code for "[[kiss|make out]]." You're not gonna...?"]]

Convinced his son enjoyed auto repairs as much as he did, Sparkplug asked Buster to accompany him in the tow-truck when he learned about a breakdown on the interstate. They returned to their service shop to find Buster's girlfriend Jessie. Sparkplug told Buster to forget about the car repairs and have fun with Jessie on their bicycles, so long as they returned in time for dinner. But the repairs were interrupted when Bumblebee arrived and told Sparkplug that his son was in grave danger, for Buster had broken his promise to avoid the Transformers and had somehow come into possession of the [[Creation Matrix]]. The Decepticons would stop at nothing to take it for themselves. Despite Bumblebee's warning, Sparkplug shooed the Autobot away, insisting that he didn't need help taking care of his son. Once Bumblebee left, Sparkplug left the shop in his tow truck, hoping to find Buster before the Autobots did. Though Sparkplug was able to notice Bumblebee tailing him and subsequently lose him, he didn't notice Bumblebee's colleague [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. And thankfully so, because once Buster and Jessie were spotted, the group was under attack first by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and then the mindless Decepticon creation, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. Both Bumblebee and Bluestreak were damaged in the battle, so it fell to Buster Witwicky and his command of the Creation Matrix to save them. After Sparkplug watched Buster take apart Jetfire with his mind, he realized that Buster was becoming an adult and didn't need him to tell him what to do anymore - his son could decide what was best for himself. {{storylink|Brainstorm!}}

[[Image:Specialteamssense.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I'm just a caveman. Your "Defensor" and "Superion" frighten and confuse me.]]

''Buster eventually returned the Creation Matrix to Optimus Prime, but residual energy persisted within his mind. Late one night, Sparkplug rushed into Buster's room when he heard his son screaming from nightmares. During his sleep, Buster had somehow carved an image of [[Superion (G1)|a strange Transformer]] into his bedroom door. Righfully so, the next day Sparkplug insisted Buster join Jessie to a local demolition derby to help clear his head. After they left, Sparkplug detached the door and brought it to the Autobots in the hope that they could diagnose Buster's problem. Worried that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] would come after Buster, Sparkplug and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] followed Buster and Jessie to the derby. After the Decepticons attacked as suspected and Buster was knocked into a coma, Sparkplug's misgivings about interacting with the Transformers were strengthened. {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} Against his father's wishes, Buster and Optimus Prime traveled into Buster's dreams in order to decipher the meaning of them. After learning about the Second Generation of Transformers known as the "[[Special Team]]s," Buster and Optimus came to, and Buster's nightmares were excised. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

Years later, Sparkplug had opened up a [[Wash and Roll]] car wash franchise adjacent to his service shop. Nothing pleased Sparkplug more than filling up cars, except maybe all the extra money that was coming in. It was later revealed that the car wash had put Sparkplug and countless other humans under hypnotic suggestion to surrender their fuel to [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons and become their slaves. While under Decepticon control, Sparkplug and an angry mob attacked Buster while the teenager was attempting to defeat Ratbat. Once the source of the hypnotic control was destroyed by Buster, Sparkplug and the other slaves were mentally released, and Ratbat and Laserbeak were attacked by their former slaves. Sparkplug promised his son that he'd have more free time from then on, as the Wash and Roll franchise had until then swallowed their lives whole. Sure, he was out half his business, but it beat being a "rich zombie." {{storylink|Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom}}

[[Image:TrialByFire-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px|"Something more like a stream of flames or something, maybe, but not a collapsing building."]]

Some months later, Sparkplug received a letter from his other son, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], who had been away at college "back east" and was going to come visit his family for break. Sparkplug went to tell Buster the great news, but Buster was too busy thinking about the Autobots he recently saw executed on the news; one of them looked like Bumblebee. Sparkplug reminded Buster that there wasn't anything ordinary folks like them could do. The next morning, the Witwickies received a surprise visit from [[Walter Barnett (G1)|Walter Barnett]], who carried a briefcase containing the brains of the executed Autobots attached to remote control cars. When Barnett said Buster must come with him on a matter of national security, Sparkplug happily handed over the keys to the pickup. But unfortunately for Sparkplug, once Barnett and Buster had departed, he was confronted by Ratbat and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. When Sparkplug refused to give up their location, the Decepticons tore the Witwicky service garage apart, collapsing it on top of the mechanic. {{storylink|Toy Soldiers!}}

Needless to say, a day or two later when Spike arrived from college and saw the collapsed building, he feared for his father's life. Sparkplug appeared behind him, laughing, saying that it "takes more than a garage collapsing on top of him to keep old Sparkplug Witwicky down!" It had taken over a day for the authorities to dig him out, but he was no worse for wear. Once Sparkplug told Spike that his younger brother Buster was last seen heading off to the Ark, Spike worried for Buster as well, and left Sparkplug to go find him. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}}

[[Image:DesertIslandofSpace-Spikereveals.jpg|left|thumb|400px|"Oh, thank god, I thought you were coming out."]]

With his home demolished, Sparkplug took up residence in the [[Cascade Vista Motel]]. Several days later, Spike returned, telling his father that he was going to go find Buster. Their conversation was interrupted by a phone call from Walter Barnett, who said that he had located Buster and was keeping an eye on him, but couldn't tell them where he was. When Spike ran his fingers over the phone cord to track the call, Sparkplug's eldest son was forced to admit the cause of his recent departure: he had become an Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], [[binary bond]]ed to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. Sparkplug was understandably shocked, and when Spike combined with [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] and then combined with Fortress Maximus, the mechanic wondered audibly what the Autobots had done to his son. After being introduced to the Autobot [[Targetmaster]]s, Fortress Maximus bid farewell to his father, and the Autobots left him. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}}

[[Image:PretendertotheThrone-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Sparkplug's tired of Prime's prank calls.]]

Ethan Zachary, trying to help his digital copy of the dead Optimus Prime get through some personality issues, called every Witwicky in Portland, hoping to get in contact with one of Prime's former human friends. By then, Sparkplug was living in a boarding house in a run-down section of the city. When Zachary told Sparkplug that he was calling on behalf of Optimus Prime, Sparkplug fumed.

{{quote|My family's destroyed, my home is gone, I'm forced to live in this rat-hole -- all because of those robots -- '''and now you ask me to help them again?!'''}}

Sparkplug slammed the phone. "Some game players are sorer losers than others," Prime observed. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}}

Since his auto repair business had been destroyed, Sparkplug didn't get much practice fixing cars, so he was grateful when Jessie stopped by to have her car's transmission looked at. He bemoaned the loss of his business and both of his sons to the Autobots. Suddenly, an egg landed, shot from orbit, and opened to reveal the Autobot [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. Blaster offered to help them get Buster back... if one of them snuck him onto the Decepticons' island resort, [[Club Con]], in his stereo mode. Jessie noted that Sparkplug was too old and might be too conspicuous and volunteered herself. Sparkplug forbade it, not wishing harm to befall Jessie as well, but Jessie insisted, mentioning that with Buster back, she wouldn't be around to annoy him so much anymore. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

Though Blaster failed, Buster was rescued from the Decepticons via other means, and Sparkplug was happy to have both of his sons back home with him. Spike was off to pick up his friend [[Cliff Dietz]] in [[San Francisco]] to go skiing, and Sparkplug told his eldest son to be careful, as he would be returning to college soon.
{{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}}

{{note|In "[[The Last Stand]]", Sparkplug had a dream sequence where he identified his first name as William. Later, in "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]", while hypnotized, he identified his first name as Irving. Additionally, the name of his service shop is "S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service", which was revealed at [[Bob Budiansky]]'s [[BotCon 2010]] slideshow to stand for "Stanislas Piotr" Witwicky.<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref>}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Chris Latta]] (English), [[Toshio Ishii]] (Japanese), [[Edgar Fruitier]] (Canadian French), [[Gerd Wiedenhofen]] (German)

At some unspecified point in the past, Sparkplug Witwicky worked as a [[Ruby crystal mines of Burma|ruby crystal miner in Burma]], of all things. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|left|230px|thumb|"Another crumpet, Mr. Car?"]]
In 1984, he and his son Spike were working on an offshore oil rig. The day was like any other day, with Sparkplug asking his son to help him flush out a drill bit. Before they could carry out their task, [[Decepticon|giant robots]] descended from the sky and landed on the oil rig, and with no provocation, were almost immediately attacked by Sparkplug's coworkers. Regardless, their intentions became clear when Sparkplug himself was pinned against a wall by [[Rumble (G1)|a small purple robot]], who then threw Spike overboard when he tried to help his father. Freeing himself from the robot's clutches, Sparkplug dived into the water after his son. While the rig workers hid in the ocean, [[Autobot|another group of giant robots]] arrived and fought with the group of robots who were stealing oil from the rig. The leader of the evil robots destroyed the rig and set fire to the oil tanks as a diversion while he escaped. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

The good robots, calling themselves the Autobots, saved the oil rig workers from a fate exactly the same as death. Grateful, Sparkplug and Spike happily latched on to the friendly alien robots, offering up their expertise and knowledge about planet Earth in exchange for joining the team. After the Autobots failed to stop the evil Decepticons at [[Sherman Dam]], Sparkplug, Spike and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had a tea party in the woods, ostensibly so they could eavesdrop on the nearby Decepticon base. After finding out that the evil robots intended to attack the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma, Sparkplug opined that he preferred being a spy to his old job at the oil rig, which was just as well, given the fact he was now unemployed. Later, Sparkplug's prior experience in the Burma mines came in handy when the Autobots needed to plant an explosive device inside the mine. As he left with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], Sparkplug declared that their mission was for both the fortunes of Cybertron and Earth. Moments later, they were caught in the explosion and buried alive. Oops. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:G1 Transport RatchetSparkplug fixingIronhide.jpg|right|240px|thumb|"Now where is that tumor?"]]
Fortunately, they were saved. Later, both father and son volunteered for the Autobot attack on the Decepticon space cruiser. After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] failed to stop the cruiser, Sparkplug tried to reassure the Autobot leader that he'd done all that anybody could do. Subsequently, the Decepticons were apparently defeated when their ship crashed into the sea, so Sparkplug and Spike were to join the Autobots as they went home to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], with fuel from the grateful nations of Earth. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

For some reason, this did not pan out, and neither the Autobots nor Sparkplug and his son went anywhere. As their livelihoods had been destroyed, the Witwickys seemed to move into the ''Ark'' and were almost constantly hanging out with the Autobots. After the Autobots failed to stop the Decepticons at the local solar power station, Sparkplug helped [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] repair the stubborn old [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. Later, Sparkplug stopped the trigger-happy Ironhide from blowing up a shuttle full of Decepticon [[Energon cube|energon cubes]], as he was the only one who bothered to remember the fact that Spike had been captured to pilot the shuttle through the [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}}

After Optimus Prime was mortally wounded in battle, Sparkplug watched Ratchet and Wheeljack attempt repairs, but couldn't lend much more than moral support. Though a team was sent to Cybertron to pick up a replacement [[Cosmitron]] provided some hope, Sparkplug cautioned Spike that sometimes things just don't turn out like you'd hope. Spike continued to hope and, despite his father's wishes, went to help the Autobot defend headquarters against a Decepticon attack. Sparkplug's earlier caution was proved unnecessary when [[Chip Chase]] and the Autobots returned with a new Cosmitron. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

[[Image:WaroftheDinobots Sparkplug with plans.jpg|left|220px|thumb|"Wait, the anklebone's connected to the hipbone? That can't be right."]]
Spike and Sparkplug accompanied the Autobots to the [[Arctic]], to investigate Decepticon activity there. They couldn't do much more than run for cover when the giant Decepticon [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] fired on them. After Sparkplug rescued his son from the water, the pair became stranded on a chuck of ice, and captured by Skyfire. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s treatment of the two humans, imprisoning them in an ice case, clued Skyfire in that the Decepticons weren't what they seemed. Spike and Sparkplug were soon rescued by the Autobots, and cheered on Skyfire as he dealt with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}}

Sparkplug helped out with the construction of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, and was present for their unveiling and subsequent rampage. Fortunately neither him nor his son were injured, but he was concerned when Spike and Bumblebee went after [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}} When Chip came up with two more Dinobots to build, Sparkplug professed his ignorance of the prehistoric beasts, but helped build them anyway. The Autobots lost contact with Optimus, who had gone to check on [[Meteorini Chipperoni|a potentially explosive meteorite]], and Wheeljack informed the humans that the meteorite had been moved. The two new Dinobots were sent to investigate, and by the time Sparkplug and the others arrived, Grimlock and Optimus were making up after an earlier falling out. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}}

[[Image:UltimateDoom1 SparkplugslapsSpike.jpg|right|240px|thumb|"Disrespecting little brat! OBEY YOUR DADDY!"]]
Sparkplug was kidnapped by the Decepticons as a test subject for [[Doctor Arkeville]] and turned to their side by the doctor's [[hypno-chip]]s. The Decepticons allowed the Autobots to free Sparkplug so he could sabotage [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], which gave them an easy means to attack the Autobot headquarters. Spike confronted his father over the apparent betrayal, and Sparkplug appealed to his son to join the Decepticons. When Spike refused, Sparkplug declared that the next time they met, it would be as enemies. Sparkplug and a number of other controlled humans were used as a shield by the Decepticons, while they set up a huge space bridge. During the battle, Spike was able to momentarily reach his father, before Arkeville increased the power of the hypno-chip, once again overriding Sparkplug's will. Sparkplug later activated one of the massive pylons, bringing Cybertron into Earth's orbit and imperiling both worlds. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}}

[[Image:UltimateDoom3 Sparkplug and Spike hug.jpg|left|220px|thumb|Happiness is a warm son.]]
In the aftermath, a celebratory Sparkplug left aboard [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. When the Decepticons started using the slaves as human shields for their energon shipments, Sparkplug ended up on Cybertron. Spike mounted a rescue mission, eventually stumbling on the hypno-chip control center. There he encountered Sparkplug, who immediately trigged an alarm. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} On [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s orders, Sparkplug prevented Spike from escaping, but with the arrival of more Autobots, Spike got away. Once Wheeljack had rigged up disruption device to disable the hypno-chips, they returned to Decepticon HQ and used it to free Sparkplug. The reunited family returned to Earth in Skyfire to help defeat Megatron and remove Cybertron from orbit. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}}

[[Image:PlagueofInsecticons distress call.jpg|right|260px|thumb|"Let's see if I remember my morse. Y. O. M. A. M. M. A. ... Hey!"]]
Sparkplug listened in on a distress call from [[Bali]] about [[Insecticon (G1)|giant monster insects]]. While Spike and several of the Autobots went to investigate, Sparkplug contacted Optimus Prime and alerted him to the problem. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} After Megatron challenged Optimus to a one-on-one duel, Sparkplug, Spike, Chip and the Autobots all turned out to watch and cheer Optimus on. To their horror, Megatron bested Prime, meaning the Autobots would have to leave Earth. Fortunately, when they got back to Headquarters, they discovered that Megatron had cheated, rendering the result void. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

In an effort to show his friend Wheeljack that the Autobot wasn't the only inventor in the Ark, Sparkplug once managed to take spare Autobot parts and put them together to make a functioning robot called [[Autobot X]]. Once activated, the mindless robot immediately bashed in everything and everyone in sight. After Spike was injured in a battle with the Decepticons, they formulated a plan to transfer Spike's mind into Autobot X while his human body was worked upon by surgeons. Sparkplug regretted this decision, as it drove Spike insane. Spike was on the verge of joining the Decepticons when his own actions sent his father plummeting from a clifftop. The threat to Sparkplug caused Spike to regain his senses, and he was later restored to his own body. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}}

[[Image:AttackOfTheAutobots Attitude Exchanger.jpg|left|240px|Sparkplug Witwicky, Quidditch enthusiast.|thumb]]
Sparkplug was at Autobot HQ when new reports indicated Decepticon activity in [[New York City]]. As he left, Optimus told Sparkplug to tell the other Autobots to head there. {{storylink|City of Steel}} After "enjoying" a test of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s new speaker system, Spike and Sparkplug returned to HQ with the Autobot, to find [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] acting strangely. Once Sparkplug had patched up Teletraan I, they discovered that Megatron had modified the [[recharging chamber]]s to turn the Autobots evil. Sparkplug created an [[attitude exchanger]] and, after testing it on Bluestreak, built enough to cure the rest of the Autobots as well. He and Jazz daringly rescued [[Harding|Doctor Harding]] from Ratchet and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], then headed to an air field to hunt down everyone else. Later there was a brief argument over who should claim the credit, before Spike reminded them that there were a bunch of planes busted by the Autobots that needed fixing. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}}

Sparkplug alerted Ironhide after [[Sky Spy]] witnessed [[Carly]] being captured by the Decepticons. Though Ironhide figured Spike would handle it, Sparkplug talked him into lending a hand. Sparkplug was pleased as punch when his son went out with [[Carly]], because she was clearly out of Spike's league. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} When the Autobots were called to [[Quantum Laboratories]] to fight out-of-control machinery, Sparkplug found a [[Remote Control Circuit Linker]] card on one of the devices. He accompanied the Autobots on a hydrofoil to the oil platform which the Decepticons were using to steal energy from [[oil tanker]]s. He was useful in alerting the Autobots when he spotted the Decepticons making a swift retreat, and everyone evacuated before it exploded. {{storylink|Day of the Machines}}

During a demonstration of the training Wheeljack had given the Dinobots, Sparkplug was impressed with their progress, but it turned out he'd spoken too soon, as the Dinobots began another rampage. He and Ratchet made the mistake of starting to try to fix thing ''before'' the Dinobots had been reigned in. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Repairs were completed in record time, however the repaired Teletraan alerted them to strange energy readings in town, which Sparkplug realised were near where Spike had gone. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}} He helped out with one of the stranger plans by loading a box containing [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and Bumblebee onto [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]]. {{storylink|Microbots}}

[[Image:MMP2 Sparkplug Chip enjoy Decepticon Day.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Couldn't your OWN father take you to the Hannah Montana concert?"]]
Sparkplug, Spike and Chip were part of the cheering crowds that greeted the Autobots on [[Autobot Day]]. Unfortunately the crowd turned nasty after incriminating video was played of the Autobots raiding oil refineries, but the trio stuck by their Autobot friends, returning to Headquarters with them. To Sparkplug's bewilderment, the Autobots were rapidly found guilty and commanded to leave the planet. As they did so, Sparkplug wondered where Spike had gone. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} The humans put on [[Decepticon Day]], a celebration that Sparkplug found sickening. Spike turned up with evidence exonerating the Autobots, but as he, Sparkplug and Chip tried to present it, the other shoe dropped — the Decepticons revealed their true intent and took over the city. The trio was put to work with other humans in a power plant. Just when all hope seemed lost, the Autobots returned and freed everyone. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

[[Image:DesertionDinos1 SparkpluginaSuit.jpg|left|230px|thumb|"A suit? Who are you, and what have you done with my father?"]]
Later, Sparkplug left on a ''mysterious'' trip that required him to wear a suit. Upon his arrival at the airport, he was greeted by Spike, Carly and Bumblebee. The three humans were remarkably unharmed after Megatron blew up a nearby plane, though the Dinobots were badly damaged, and Sparkplug helped repair them, only for the ingrates to leave the Autobots. When the Autobots suffered from [[Cybertonium]] depletion, Sparkplug managed to persuade the Dinobots to steal some from the Decepticon space bridge. Instead they went to Cybertron. Spike and Carly opted to follow them, so Sparkplug supplied Spike with a two-way radio. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} He monitored the pair as they explored Cybertron, providing guidance until they went too deep into the planet to communicate with. He somehow set up a space bridge platform right outside Headquarters, and was waiting by it when Spike, Carly and the Dinobots returned with a supply of Cybertonium. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

Blaster's broadcast of a human concert managed to annoy Sparkplug as well as the Autobots when it came through the comms system at Headquarters. When Megatron subsequently stole the [[Voltronic Galaxer]] and blocked radio transmissions worldwide, Sparkplug wondered what they could do and quickly [[Roll out|got an answer]]. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} As the Autobots expanded their operations, they installed a small urban base in [[New York City|New York]] City, concealed behind an auto-repair garage operated by Sparkplug. In the aftermath of the failed Decepticon plan to use stolen cars as robot drones, Sparkplug bemoaned the fact it would take weeks for himself, [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], Ratchet and Wheeljack to return the cars to normal functionality. {{storylink|Make Tracks}}

[[Image:CosmicRust Spike Carly Sparkplug at awards.jpg|thumb|right|240px|"How is it that ''Sparkplug Witwicky'' of all people owns more than one suit?" muses guy-in-front-who-is-totally-G.B.-Blackrock.]]
When Megatron unleashed [[Kremzeek]] onto the Autobots, Sparkplug was the first to realize the electrically based creature scrambled Autobot circuits and would thus be repelled by an insulating compound sprayed on the remaining Autobots. While those few left for [[Japan]] to chase after the creature, the hapless Sparkplug was left with the unenviable task of reactivating the other Autobots left behind. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}} Spike and Sparkplug were running a workshop when Powerglide was assigned to protect [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz]]. Sparkplug observed with amusement that Powerglide appeared to have fallen in love with Astoria, provoking laughter from Ratchet and Ironhide, and a threat of violence from Powerglide. {{storylink|The Girl Who Loved Powerglide}} After [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] was critically damaged, Sparkplug worked hard to help repair him. His toiling and support of Ratchet helped to show the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s that the Autobot cause was worthier than the Decepticon one. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}} Sparkplug got all gussied up again for a [[National Scientific Achievement]] ceremony during which Perceptor was presented with an award. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
Sparkplug worked alongside Spike, [[Chip Chase]] and [[Carly]] to help to construct [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

===''Find Your Fate Junior'' novels===
Sparkplug discovered a critical weakness in the Decepticons' circuits that would allow the Autobots to destroy them once and for all. However, the Decepticons discovered this and came after Sparkplug, who fled to the hills to hide. This eventually led to an Alamo-like standoff with a small group of Autobots holding off the Decepticon army from the shelter of a cave for two days while they waited for relief to arrive, with Sparkplug performing the makeshift repair work to keep them running.

The paper on which Sparkplug had the specifics of the weakness was ruined in the battle. He could re-create the research, but the Decepticons would be able to change the design of their circuits while he did so. Still, at least it would keep them out of trouble for a while! {{storylink|Battle Drive}}

While tinkering in his lab, Sparkplug invented the [[Sun-Pak]], a powerful solar battery that threatened to change the balance of power between the Autobots and the Decepticons. [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] spies forced them to flee the testing range through a series of caves, and Sparkplug later rescued [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] from [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], using a gun that caused Kickback to short out and return to tiny size.

Sparkplug suffered memory damage and was unable to re-create the Sun-Pak after the prototype was destroyed.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

{{storylink|Project Brain Drain}}

{{charstubfiction}}

===Marvel Books===
[[Image:Battle-for-earth sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
When Sparkplug and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] were inspecting the damage wrought by a volcano's eruption, they spotted an ancient buried spacecraft from which came [[Decepticon|giant robots]]. The pair hid, and after the Decepticons left, they approached the ship and encountered [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. After helping the Autobots get back on their feet, Sparkplug suggested they tap into the volcano's thermal energy as a power supply. On their way back to their home city of [[Kimball]] in [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], Spike and Sparkplug spotted the Decepticons attacking the nuclear power plant and alerted the Autobots. During the ensuing battle, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was hit, and it was only Sparkplug's quick work that got him functioning again, ensuring an Autobot victory. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}} The Autobots entered a car rally to win free gas and Sparkplug and Spike turned out as spectators to cheer them on. Despite Decepticon interference, [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] got to the finishing line first, to cheers from the two humans. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}}

Shortly after the Autobots arrived on Earth, they met Sparkplug and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], who befriended them. One morning Buster pointed out to his father the new [[Freedom Sports Arena]] being built in [[Beacon (city)|Beacon]], and Sparkplug said the company building it was well known for its great buildings. He wasn't to know that the reason for that was because [[Global Building Corporation]] was a front for the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, and the buildings it had created were all cunning traps! {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

===Marvel coloring books===
[[Image:Bumblebeetotherescue-sparkplug.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"You got a real purty mouth, boy!"]]
Sparkplug and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] spied on the Autobots from behind rocks, but were grabbed by the Decepticons. Fortunately the Autobots noticed their predicament and came to their aid. In return, Sparkplug repaired all the damaged Autobots and declared his intent to help the Autobots defend Earth. When the Decepticons attacked [[Hoover Dam]], Sparkplug went along and, with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'s help, carried out battlefield repairs on [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}} Sparkplug was serving as referee for a race between [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] when Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] trapped them with [[Sleep Net]]s. When all of the Autobots except Bumblebee were captured by the foe, a plan was devised and implemented — Sparkplug and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] constructed a giant cut-out Autobot which was placed outside Decepticon headquarters as a diversion while Bumblebee slipped in and freed everyone. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Sparkplug and Spike accompanied the Autobots on a ship [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] built, when the Decepticons were searching for undersea treasure. The humans were safe inside [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] when the missiles started flying. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}} Sparkplug and [[Butch Witwicky (G1)|Butch]] went fishing in the forest with the Autobots, or at least Butch fished while Sparkplug polished Bumblebee. During a battle with the Decepticons, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] made a grab for Sparkplug and Butch... but came up empty-handed because he'd been fooled by one of [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s holograms. Afterwards, the Autobots fixed the forest, and Sparkplug and Butch thanked them. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}}

While Optimus and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] prepared a one-bot ship for launch to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Sparkplug put together a device to track the ship's journey, though he didn't see why they needed to leave a lovely planet like Earth. Optimus patiently explained that they needed to see what had been happening there in their absence. The Decepticons picked that point to attack. After Optimus recovered, he related the dream of returning to Cybertron he'd had, and Sparkplug said he was glad Optimus was still with them, for now. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron}} Optimus and Sparkplug went on a road trip together to find parts for the Autobot spaceship. When they returned, they found that the Decepticons had stolen the Autobots' fuel supply and were attacking. Luckily the pair had picked up lots of fuel on their way back, and the Autobots used it to recharge and chase the Decepticons off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books===
{{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}
{{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}
{{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}
{{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}
{{storylink|Decepticon Hideout}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Dreamwave comics===
[[Image:DWPrimeDirective1 Sparkplug newspaper.jpg|right|180px|thumb|No, not taken the day before Daniel was born.]]
Sparkplug, along with his sons Spike and Buster, befriended the Autobots shortly after the Transformers reawoke in 1984. After [[Operation: Liberation]] and the defeat of the Decepticons, Sparkplug was one of the humans chosen to accompany the Autobots back to Cybertron. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the [[Magnificent Seven]] was killed in 1999 when the ''[[Ark II]]'' exploded.

His death caused Spike and Buster to turn into jerks towards the Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 comics===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Danielwitwickyidw.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Sparkplug sucks the blood off his toothpick as Chad gasps wordlessly, organs spilling out of his lacerated belly. It tastes of tapioca and shame.]]
'''Colonel Daniel "Sparkplug" Witwicky''' was grinning and bearing a cocktail party with his wife's environmentally-conscious associates, fantasizing about killing them with his toothpick, when an army helicopter suddenly landed on the lawn. At the [[President of the United States|president]]'s request, Sparkplug was whisked to [[New York City]] to lead troops against a Decepticon onslaught. On the way, he repeatedly mouthed off at CIA [[Grant (G1)|Agent Grant]] and later had him assaulted by another soldier because the member of ''the CIA'' was big on secrecy. Once in New York, he gathered all the senior officers for a briefing, but when the Decepticons began targeting the city's bridges and tunnels, he just stood there open-mouthed and said, "Good God." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}}

As the Decepticons overtook New York City, the now-General Witwicky had his troops pulled back into the residential areas, given that the last batch was annihilated by [[Frenzy (G1)|one robot]], to better protect them from raids. He sat in his command tent powerless as he got updates on the death toll, the flooding of the tunnels, and how the Decepticons had begun invasions of [[San Francisco]], [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Diego]]. He was then informed of how the Decepticons had completely wasted the US Navy, and that Air Force One had been destroyed. The president dead, Witwicky was left as speechless as the "snooty elite" he'd harped on earlier. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}}

Witwicky would later send his son, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] on a special mission to take out Megatron, but was disheartened when Spike's team was attacked by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and thought dead. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[Image:Dropshot down AHM.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Anyway, tomorrow I'm gonna go back to trying to kill you guys."]]

Later, when the Autobots returned to Earth and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] battled [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], Witwicky was astounded but continued to lead an evacuation. Unfortunately one of his vehicles happened to be [[Dropshot (Universe)|Dropshot]], who transformed and started mowing down his men. The colonel was not amused. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Sparkplug fired a bazooka at Dropshot, but only slightly injured him. Luckily [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] showed up. Afterwards, Sparkplug and Kup had a chat about outer space and Kup's "[[cy-gar|cigar]]" while sitting on the fallen body of Dropshot. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

In the aftermath of the invasion, the covert alien investigation organization [[Skywatch]] was reworked into a Transformer-hunting military force working under the [[United Nations]]. General Witwicky was put in charge of the organization, replacing the very ineffective [[Joshua Red|Agent Red]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 16|The Man of Steel}}

{{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}
{{storylink|A Rude Awakening}}
{{storylink|Earthworks}}
{{storylink|All His Engines}}
{{storylink|Scrapper (issue)|Scrapper}}
{{-}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Notes==
[[Image:FFoD01CastSparkplug.jpg|right|100px|thumb|He was sick that day, so the Skuxxoid filled in.]]
*Although the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow cartoon]] [[production bible]] states that Sparkplug is a widower,<ref>[http://transformers.winterchill.com/bible/biblepage7.html Sparkplug's bio] in the G1 cartoon bible.</ref> the cartoon itself never mentions him having a wife - or ''anything'' whatsoever about Spike's mom.

*Speaking of love interests, in addition to revealing Sparkplug's real name to be Stanislas Piotr Witwicky, [[Marvel Comics]]' original treatment mentions Sparkplug's "ladyfriend", "Toots". She's kept out of the loop on the Transformers' arrival from Cybertron and wonders why Sparkplug's suddenly so busy all the time.<ref name="BC10"/>

*Sparkplug is mentioned in the [[Sunbow]] cast list for "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]"—and the relevant [[dialogue script]] for the episode reveals that he was indeed supposed to make an appearance! He would have been with [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] aboard the [[E.D.C.]] shuttle sent to investigate reports of Decepticon activity in [[Carbombya]]. His one line—"How're we gonna find the Decepticons? It's like a needle in a haystack."—was reassigned to Blaster in the final cut of the episode.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sparkplug Witwicky''' (スパークプラグ・ウィトウィッキー ''Supākupuragu Witowikkī'')
*''French:'' '''Malabar''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''William "Gyertya" Witwicky'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Vela-de-Ignição Witwicky''' (Portugal comics), '''Bob Centelha''' (Brazil comics)

==References==
<references/>

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[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Skywatch]]
[[Category:United States military officers]]
[[Category:United States military personnel]]
[[Category:Witwicky family|Sparkplug Witwicky]]