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Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5

2010-05-31T17:59:32Z

71.232.82.86: Fixed reference to Impactor's gun vs Roadbuster's gun

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' #5
|prev=Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4
|next=
|image=Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover A.jpg
|caption=This is the end, my former friend.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 19]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=May 2010
|story=[[Nick Roche]] & [[James Roberts]]
|script=Nick Roche & James Roberts
|art=Nick Roche
|colors=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}

'''Where everything FINALLY hits the fan.'''

==Synopsis==

In the future, "Fisitron" will write up the story and what it means in the 332nd "[[Wreckers: Declassified]]" datalogue. But ''now'', in [[Garrus-9]], Overlord tears Guzzle in half, bashes Kup into unconsciousness, and smirks when his ''right eye is destroyed'' by Impactor. And in down in the [[Aequitas]] chamber, Verity Carlo continues to argue against detonating the deterrence chips: it won't just kill Impactor, it'll kill the Wreckers as a concept. She puts her case to Ironfist, arguing that he's made the Wreckers stand for something, turned a bunch of thugs with a death wish into a symbol of hope and heroism for the other robots, and ''his'' Wreckers would never kill one of their own.

Perceptor decides she's right, while Pyro decides to abandon his egotistical visions of a glorious death and tells the others to run, that he'll cover them: dying for people he cares about, he tells Ironfist, is the most he can do, and he tells Verity that the ''Autobots'' need the humans to look after ''them''. The Wreckers withdraw, Ironfist working out a plan to deal with Overlord, while Pyro is ingloriously torn to pieces behind them. As they withdraw, at Verity's urging, Ironfist reveals the truth he's learnt about Impactor and [[Pova]]...

''Twenty years ago, in battle, Impactor decided the best way to get a shot at [[Squadron X]] would be to fire through Springer's midsection. Despite Springer's protest that he didn't '''have''' the circuit dampeners Impactor wanted him to engage and his pleas, Impactor fired. After the battle, he reported in to Prowl to reveal all of the enemy had been caught. Prowl reported back that under the [[Neutrality Agreement]] with the Povians, the Autobots aren't allowed to be there: to prevent the Decepticons using this to turn Pova against them, the Wreckers had to release Squadron X immediately. Instead, Impactor took [[Roadbuster|Roadbuster's]] gun and locked himself in the room with the prisoners. Springer attempted to stop him but he murdered every single Decepticon as they lay in chains on their knees, while the other Wreckers simply stood in silence...''

Back outside, Overlord has won and Springer is about to be killed. He tells Overlord that his men will have freed every Autobot prisoner by now and will be leading them this way... except Overlord, the instant he learnt the Wreckers had arrived, ordered ''every single prisoner'' to be murdered in their cells. But luckily, the other Wreckers have arrived! Perceptor uses his sniper laser to blow the monster's hand off and free Springer! Ironfist chucks a ''massive'' chaingun of doom to his leader! Overlord is repeatedly shot!

And then he shrugs off the fire, ''rips off Springer's face'', blasts Perceptor offline, and only the Ironfist is left standing, trying futilely to warn Overlord to back off. And ''that'' is when said nerd reveals the gun was loaded with deterrence chips, all of them laying roots in the monster's endoskeleton, and then he uses Aequitas to detonate them!

And then Ironfist falls down inactive, his head wracked by pain, and Verity is left alone as Overlord rises as a ''fire-consumed, skeletal horror'', intent on ripping her to pieces, snarling in hate that "you and your ''dead friends''" have left him unable to best [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] when he arrives. Verity, however, notes a weak spot, and informs him [[All Hail Megatron issue 12|Megatron is long dead]]; she begins to laugh at him, pointing out he's spent all this time believing Megatron is coming after him and the tyrant died not remembering Overlord ''at all''. The monster falls to his knees, his world shattered, and then Impactor rises from the mat to finish him off. Overlord won't fight back against the beating, but Impactor refuses to kill him: he's doing this for Springer, the one who told him he didn't have the right to murder Squadron X, and that Springer would want the Decepticon to stand trial for what he did.

The villain is beaten, the Decepticons have all fled now Overlord can't hold them, help is coming, and Ironfist wakes up! All is well...

Except four of the Wreckers are still dead; Springer and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] are on emergency life support, their chances of recovery unclear; Impactor and a repaired Guzzle abruptly left once Overlord was arrested; and Ironfist died en route to Earth from an aneurysm, caused by a lab accident with his cerebro-centric bullets eighteen months ago that had one inching towards his brain all along.

On Earth, Prowl takes this report and the single data slug Ironfist was able to make of the Aequitas data. He admits to Ultra Magnus that he knew about Ironfist's approaching death and had arranged for him to be placed on the Wreckers, his dream job, in exchange for bypassing the suicide lock on Aequitas. ("''Yes'', of ''course'' I regret it.") Prowl reveals the reason behind this whole mission: they couldn't allow the Decepticons to get their hands on Aequitas' transcripts of the ''Autobot'' trials, as it would be too great a propaganda weapon. Magnus notes those transcripts are the only evidence left for most of the accused, while Prowl remembers the utter ''horror'' of the trials, of hearing all the atrocities that Autobots had undertaken. Magnus believes a public trial is the only way, as [[Chief Justice Tyrest]] intends; Prowl agrees justice must be publicly done but not ''now'', believing the Autobots will be shattered if they learn about the monsters in their midst now.

He says he'll make sure the slug gets to [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], while Magnus remarks he ''knows'' Prowl hopes the data is corrupted so everyone can move on, and that he likes to think better of the 'bot than to believe he'll destroy the evidence. On his own, contemplating the slug, Prowl starts to apply some pressure to it...

And on Earth, Verity writes under the guise of "Fisitron", musing whether this is the end of the road for the Wreckers or just a stop-off to reflect. "Because that's how we ''honor'' those we've lost: by looking ''forward'', not back."

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] (1)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (3)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (4)
*[[Impactor]] (5)
*[[Pyro]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Ironfist]] (8)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (10)
*[[Rack'n'Ruin]] (14)
*[[Roadbuster]] (15)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (20)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (21)
*[[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (22)
*[[Jackpot]] (23)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
*[[Flame (UK comic)|Flame]] (25)
*[[Chief Justice Tyrest]] (26)
*[[Emirate Xaaron]] (27)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (28)
|c2=
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (2)
*[[Tornado]] (11)
*[[Macabre]] (12)
*[[Earthquake (G1)|Earthquake]] (13)
*[[Fang]] (18)
*[[Triton]] (19)
|c3=
*[[Verity Carlo]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's a story of sacrifice and betrayal, and of good people dying in ''stupid, pointless ways''."
:—'''"Fisitron"'''

"Oh, don't look so ''surprised''. You didn't expected this stunted little ''wretch'' to ''survive'', did you?" 
"You're a '''maniac'''!"
:—'''Overlord''''s opinion on Guzzle's chance of living and '''Kup''' pretty much summing up readers' thoughts of Overlord.

"Ironfist! You should know better than ''anyone'' what the Wreckers are ''really'' about! They give the other Autobots something to ''believe in''!"
:—'''Verity''' trying to motivate Ironfist.

"I figure that dying to save people you ''care about'' is the most that anyone can do." 
"I think you have your ''motto''." 
"No... my ''last words''."
:—'''Pyro''' and '''Ironfist'''

"Sweet."
:—'''Springer''' gets thrown a giant gun to shoot Overlord with.

"Sweet."
:—'''Overlord''' holds Springer's face-skin in his palm.

"Oh, man, this is PERFECT! You can't accept that he never gave chase! You lived your life thinking about him every day, and he died forgetting all about you!" 
"But... But he owes me! He owes me."
:—'''Verity''' giving '''Overlord''' the ''wonderful'' news about Megatron.

"You see, this is one of those stories with a ''moral''. And the moral is simply this: life persists."
:—'''Verity'''

==Errors==

* In the panel where Verity is on her knees mourning Ironfist's death, the part of the shirt below her ribcage is colored like skin.

==Items of note==
* [[Autopedia]] profiles include Pyro, Guzzle, and Impactor. Huzzah!
* Part of "Fisitron's" narration on the first page is based upon Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem, ''[[Wikipedia:The Charge of the Light Brigade (poem)|The Charge of the Light Brigade]]''.
* On Pova, Prowl admonished Impactor through a communications device in his palm which projected an image that resembles a [[communicube]].
* Ironfist's little head scar had been around since #1, so we'd all been visually forewarned what his accident had been...
* The scenes of the dead prisoners is a deliberate copy of #3's scene of the imprisoned prisoners hearing the Wreckers have come to save them...
* The final scene takes place in [[Mister "O"|Mister O's Restaurant]].
* Impactor's [[Autopedia]] profile mentions that Impactor got the idea for his harpoon arm after meeting an unnamed dimension-hopping "freelance peacekeeping agent" who had been "ricocheting from universe to universe after leaping through an exploding time portal." [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], yes? Their meeting is chronicled in [[Wreckers: Declassified]], [[Datalog]] 151, which refers to the [[The Legacy of Unicron!|Marvel UK issue number]] in which Death's Head leaps through a time portal with [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and disappears from the story. The title of said datalog, "The Wreckers at the Crossroads of Time", refers to the short ''[[Doctor (G1)|Doctor Who]]'' story, "The Crossroads of Time", which saw the titular Time Lord have a run-in with Death's Head following the time portal incident.
* Autopedia tells us that Pyro suffers from [[Primus apotheosis]].
* Pyro's profile reveals he was at the [[Simanzi Massacre]], same as [[Rotorstorm]] in his profile. Both began to suffer their personality disorders following the Massacre...
* Speaking of Datalog numbers, the Datalog retelling of this series is numbered #332, which was the total number of issues of the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic had.
* It's not ''explicitly'' shown that Prowl destroyed the copy; he starts to squeeze a bit but it's left ambigious as to whether he continued. (So how dodgy do ''you'' think Prowl is?)
* Ultra Magnus is shown in this issue in the design that [[Don Figueroa]] gave him for the first arc of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]].

===Covers (3)===
{{picsneeded|Covers}}
* '''Cover A:''' A silhouette of Overlord looming over Impactor and Springer amidst flames with several Autobot grave markers in front of them, art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Cover B:''' A Transformer hand lying on the ground, art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
* '''Cover RI:''' "Virgin" title-free edition of cover B.
<gallery>
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover A.jpg|
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover B.jpg|
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover RI.jpg|
</gallery>

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[[Category: IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Perceptor (G1)

2010-05-22T01:54:41Z

71.232.82.86: Added link to Wreckers

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Perceptor}}
:''Perceptor is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1 Perceptor reissueart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Back off, man. I'm a scientist."]]
'''Perceptor''' is a scientist, one of the most astute minds the whole of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] can offer. He is perpetually seeking to increase knowledge, and his discoveries have repeatedly proven invaluable. Though his specialties lie in metallurgy, electrical engineering, and additional sciences closely concomitant to Transformer physiology, his thirst for knowledge has made him a kind of scientific jack-of-all-trades.

One of Perceptor's most infamous mannerisms is his tendency to engage in verbal communication using scientific terminology. This has the unforeseen result of exasperating and occasionally frustrating his comrades. One might hypothesize that the jovial mechanoid is unaware that not everyone with whom he seeks to communicate shares his extensive vocabulary.

Engaging in physical melee is not his preferred activity. He is content to make his contributions to the Autobot cause in the manner in which he deems sufficient, but will engage in combat if the situation requires. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] often relies on Perceptor's perspicacity, and considers him as inestimable as any of his officers.

:''French-Canadian name'': '''Percepto'''
:''Italian name'': '''Supervista''' ("Super-sight")
:''Hungarian name'': '''Észlelő'''
:''Victory [[Omni Productions]] dub name'': '''Doctor Baster'''

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====Generation 1 cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Paul Eiding]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama|Chikao Shiroyama]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Microbots shrink.JPG|thumb|right|200px|All my tubes and wires and careful notes!]]

Perceptor appeared on [[Earth]] during a period of time occurring after the initial impact of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] into the planet. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}} It is unknown exactly when he arrived, but the malfunctions he suffered during the [[Cybertonium]] depletion crisis would lead one to conclude that he had been present when the Ark crashed onto prehistoric Earth during the encounter wih the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}}

During his period of habitation on that planetary body, he experienced a myriad of adventures. Included in that scope were incidents such as reconfiguring his mass ratio to a microscopic scale using the [[transmat reduction beam]] in order to sever the connection of the [[Heart of Cybertron]] to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s body. Upon doing so, he proceeded to dispose of the object by having [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] throw the volatile energy source approximately two thousand feet into the sky and shooting it with his mobile cannon mode. {{storylink|Microbots}}

When Megatron perpetrated an egregious assault on the Autobots' reputation and had them forcibly expelled from their residency on Earth, Perceptor was indubitably among their number. A fortuitous sequence of events allowed the Autobots to return to their former planetary location and extradict the Decepticons from their dominion over the [[human]]s. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} During another adventure, a series of aberrant mechanical malfunctions began afflicting the Autobots. Perceptor was incapable of altering from his microscope configuration, and expeditiously determined that the complication was a depletion of [[Cybertonium]]. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}}

During a constitutional along a seaboard, Perceptor, [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] were assailed by an assortment of Decepticons. Remarkably, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] appeared impervious to damage, and both Perceptor and Seaspray were captured and escorted to the submerged Decepticon headquarters. With the inclusion of Beachcomber, the three Autobots were able to effect an adequate escape and rejoin their cohorts in time to confront the [[Electrum]]-coated Decepticons. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}}

In an endeavor to assist [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], who had run into difficulty on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], one of [[Saturn]]'s attendant moons, Perceptor and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] traversed space in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Although Omega's energy was depleted by the journey, Perceptor was able to locate a prodigious accumulation of [[energy crystal]]s, with which he subsequently reenergized Omega, allowing them to repel the Decepticon invaders and effect a peregrination back to Earth. {{storylink|The God Gambit}}

[[Image:G1 cartoon Perceptor Pencil sword.JPG|left|200px|thumb|The pen...cil is mightier than the sword!]]

On another occasion, Perceptor and an assemblage of Autobots and Decepticons were propelled across the interstellar void by the [[space bridge]], landing on an unexplored world in which Cybertronian lifeforms were minuscule in relation to the immense indigenous population. After a series of alarming endangerments, Perceptor determined that a toy rocket ship possessed by the boy [[Aron]], whose abode they had happened into, could be modified to return the Autobots home. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}} Calamitously, their mode of transport was intercepted by an alien named [[Bosch]], who utilised a mechanism to place the Autobots in a submissive state, intending to barter them for energon. [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] was eventually able to emancipate Perceptor and his fellows with the assistance of the bounty hunter [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]]. {{storylink|The Gambler}}

Examining a sample of extraterrestrial matter transported to Earth on [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s back, Perceptor was able to ascertain that Cosmos had inadvertently imported [[Morphobot]]s, a genus of robotic flora which consumed mechanical life. His exhortation was sufficient to save Cosmos and the Morphobots were soon dispatched to a more suitable biosphere; however, the sample he had acquired had also propagated to the point where it threatened to consume him along with his laboratory. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}}

Perceptor's spectrographic analysis of an ore sample determined that the asteroid from which it originated was, in fact, alive. In an unfortunate turn of events, Optimus Prime had just commanded Omega Supreme to obliterate said asteroid. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} Yet another enterprise took Perceptor to a world inhabited by transforming organic creatures who had been enslaved by the Decepticons. He assisted in liberating the [[Tlalakan]]s, and was subsequently bemused by Bumblebee's notion that they should make a wish on the first stellar object they sighted. {{storylink|Sea Change}}

[[Image:Cosmic Rust Perceptor kick.JPG|thumb|right|200px|I don't believe it! There she goes again! She's tidied up and I can't find anything!]]

He also synthesized a panacea to remedy all corrosion, with the appellation [[corrostop]], and was decorated by the humans for his ingenuity. Megatron also coveted his assistance, but for a dire emergency — the Decepticon had become afflicted by [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] and it transpired that corrostop was the only counteragent. Not content with merely being ameliorated, Megatron exploited Perceptor in a machination to infect the Autobots with Cosmic Rust, and all sources of [[Ingredient X]], an imperative component of corrostop, had been exhausted. Perceptor and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] labored to make the [[matter duplicator]] operational so that more corrostop could be constituted and the Autobots saved. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

Perceptor and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] discovered a disquieting fact — that an aberrant disruption emanating from Cybertron was causing a shift in Earth's orbit, resulting in the planet's imminent collision with the nearest stellar body! The Autobots and Decepticons were forced to collaborate to avoid destruction in the [[Sun]]; however, the Insecticons masticated the space bridge controls, rendering the possibility of its use dubious. With donated components, Perceptor repaired the space bridge and dispatched the amalgamated force to Cybertron to subjugate the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[Image:Rumblevsperceptor.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I can smell the chemicals!]]

Perceptor's actions continued to be of intrinsic strategic import, particularly following the distinct tactical deficiencies during the [[battle of Autobot City]] that resulted in the expiration of Wheeljack, and pointing out that "gamma waves in this sector of space create marginal navigation probabilities" as the Autobots fled Earth. As a member of Ultra Magnus's company, he was marooned on planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], where he contended with the indigenous race of mechanisms, designated [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. During the decisive battle against [[Unicron]], Perceptor was stationed aboard the Junkion vessel when Unicron crushed it in his grasp, though fortunately was not a casualty of the catastrophe and could later be distinguished celebrating the antagonist's defeasance. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Perceptor had a mission of paramount importance and tasked it to [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. After the Galactic Olympics were disrupted by unknown assailants, he examined some debris but was unable to determine the exact nature of the attackers. He proposed he accompany [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] on an undertaking to investigate the Decepticons, but Rodimus elected to procure [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s abetment instead. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Perceptor later valiantly defended Cybertron against Decepticon intrusion. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

The inexplicable resurrection of Optimus Prime led Perceptor and the rest of the Autobots on a mission of retaliation against the [[Quintesson]]s for the supposed termination of a selection of Autobots, including Rodimus Prime. When it transpired that a shuttle Optimus commanded the Autobots fire on in fact contained their still-functioning comrades, Perceptor was all too happy to arrest the ill-fated assault. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

[[Image:G1 ForeverIsALongTime Pipes Rodimus Perceptor.jpg|thumb|right|200px|]]

On a second entanglement with the Quintessons, Perceptor was incapacitated early in the conflict and unable to prevent several of his fellow Autobots from traversing a [[Time Window|chronal displacement aperture]] to Cybertron's distant past. Although [[Pipes]] was an adequate physician, Perceptor regained normal function subsequent to the resolution of the situation. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

After [[Fort Knox]] dematerialized, a preliminary examination by Perceptor of [[energon cube]]s discovered at the locale indicated they were contaminated with [[Dinosaur transform static]]. Further analysis indicated the cubes were of Decepticon manufacture, exonerating the Dinobots and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Tracing the point of origin to [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]], the Autobots located the appropriated architecture and liberated the country from the habitation of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}

Perceptor was part of an ambush set for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] when the incorporeal spirit of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] possessed [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} When Wheelie and the [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Spike's immature offspring]] developed curiosity over Ultra Magnus's construction date, they consulted Perceptor, who suggested they scrutinize the [[Hall of Records]], unaware of the endangerment the pair would soon face. {{storylink|Surprise Party}} Investigating another disappearance on the part of Daniel, this time complemented by Grimlock, Perceptor operated a Quintesson contrivance which transposed a rescue party to the domain of [[Menonia]]. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} While excavating [[isodrite]] in an asteroid belt, a team of Autobots was beleaguered by Decepticons, however as Perceptor observed, Galvatron was wreaking more havoc with his own troops than the Autobots. {{storylink|Webworld}}

[[Image:CarnageCMinor Perceptor microscope.jpg|thumb|left|200px|That's not where you look into a microscope, Hot Spot.]]
Perceptor's calculations later tracked the Decepticons down to a comet, where the blackguards were installing an apparatus to propel it into [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. During the altercation, a resonance of extreme amplitude disrupted proceedings, causing all present to expeditiously descent towards a nearby planetary body named [[Eurythma]]. As the Decepticons prepared to resume hostilities, Perceptor dismantled [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] with one discharge of his artillery mode. He proceeded to participate in a diversionary engagement while Ultra Magnus and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] contacted the indigenous sentient life who communicated entirely in melody. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}}

Detecting an aberrant semaphore on a Quintesson frequency, Perceptor allocated the mission to Sky-Lynx, Blaster and [[Outback]]. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}} He later oversaw the installation of a new power core on Cybertron. Not long after this occurrence, Galvatron unleashed a [[Dweller|grotesque monstrosity]] with the ability to metamorphose Transformers into energy vampires. Perceptor not only formulated a remedy involving the infusing of a plethora of energy, but was able to effect the catharsis of the Dweller from Cybertron. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}} He was equivalently successful in restoring Ultra Magnus, Rodimus, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to their mechanoid forms after they were transplanted into organic bodies. {{storylink|Only Human}}

[[Image:PerceptorNijika01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Memoirs of a tiny alien robot geisha with a male alien robot's transplanted brain]]
During the instatement of another power generator, Perceptor expressed a desire for an increase in the Dinobots' brainpower, to which Grimlock responded with a aggressive exclamation regarding his fist and Perceptor's cranium. Malfunctions caused by strange energy emanating from the generator resulted in Grimlock's intelligence being increased manifold, outstripping even Perceptor's own acumen. The Autobots journeyed to Unicron's skull in orbit around Cybertron, where they were incapacitated by [[anti-electron]]s. Providentially, Grimlock was able to construct a brigade of [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s to salvage the situation. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

During one of his final known excursions with Rodimus, Perceptor plummeted onto an [[Zamojin (planet)|alien world]] in a state of [[transformation paralysis]]. What's worse, his [[universal emulator]] was taken from his body and transplanted into the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] construct called [[Nijika]], which resulted in Perceptor's consciousness taking up residence within that form. All things considered, he took it quite well, and his alterations to the emulator resulted in the Quintessons inadvertently extricating the world from its incarceration. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}

{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====Fight! Super Robot Lifeform manga=====
=====Victory cartoon=====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Masaharu Satō]] (Japanese)

Perceptor, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Minerva]] were summoned, called forth, or otherwise sought out by [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] to save, preserve, and defend the life of the critically damaged and weakened [[Ginrai]]. They succeeded, converting the former [[Transtector]] into the mighty [[Victory Leo]].{{storylink|Ginrai Dies!!}} {{storylink|Fight!! Victory Leo}} {{storylink|Awaken! Victory Leo}} {{storylink|The Tide is Turned! The Ultimate Weapon, the Victory Unification}}

=====Japanese ''Generation 2'' story pages=====
[[Image:G2StoryPageWheeljackPerceptor1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Look at him, all tiny back there.]]
Perceptor, along with Wheeljack and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], discovered [[Reconfiguration Matrix|new properties]] of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] which allowed Optimus Prime to revive himself as Laser-Rod Optimus Prime subsequent to a crushing defeat by Megatron. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 4}}
{{-}}

=====Teletraan Go! Go! comics=====
[[Image:TGGPerceptor1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The doctor is in...sane.]]
Sent to gather data on Perceptor, [[Teletraan 15]] found him giggling creepily over a microchip and telling it that it was time for its check-up.

[[Image:TGGPerceptor2.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Wheeee!]]As she recoiled in horror, Perceptor's tone became clinical and, retracting his faceplate, he demanded that she identify herself. After Teletraan 15 recorded her notes on the Autobot scientist, he transformed into his seldom-seen mobile battle mode and took her for a ride... whether she wanted it or not.
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
On Cybertron, Perceptor was often considered an officer or otherwise highly ranked personage by other Cybertronic life forms in the vicinity, inspiring in the aforementioned others a tendency to view him as a "commander" of a faction of Autobots who engaged in armed conflict against localized enemy forces until such a point as the aforementioned combat unit, or the surviving portions thereof, crossed the multidimensional warp system for transport, otherwise known as the Space Bridge, to join the forces based on the planetary body known to the overwhelming majority of those of his species who had shifted their operations to its locality as Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} His most recent appearance had him suffering from defective circuits in the Arctic, preventing him fom detecting the presence of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]] of the [[Tentakil (G1)|multipod variety]]. He was later listed as deactivated for a somewhat extended period of time, by human standards if not by those of his species, by the opposing faction (as judged by an outside observer who insists on a binary classification system) as a result of the [[Underbase]] conflict, so named for the goal of the conflict, a legendary storehouse of Cybertronic knowledge. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}} {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''In a parallel junction of quantum-temporal values, Perceptor aided his fellow residents of [[Autobot City]] in the initiation of combat proceedings against unwanted [[Quintesson]] visitors possessing acutely nefarious intent. Unfortunately, said combat proceedings proved to be incapable of properly sustaining the necessary level of applied force to rebuke and rebuff the forward progress of the invading hostile xeno-biological entities, leading to a cessation of proper operating status for Perceptor and several of his Autobot co-actors. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}''

''One solar-terrestrial revolution cycle later, Perceptor again responded to the presence of hostile activities when an Autobot interstellar transport shuttle made a sudden and disastrous relocation from space to earth at velocities far exceeding safety protocols. At the shuttle's location, Perceptor fell into a paradoxical situation necessitating that the Autobots save their commander [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] from his own disparate mental status. {{storylink|White Fire}}''

====Generation 2====
Perceptor did not engage in random fisticuffs and altercations with the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]], for that would most emphatically be in a milieu of activity not of his preference. Alternatively, he participated in an expedition of a scientific nature to the lunar orbiting body of [[J'asik]] to determine what nefarious entity had structurally destabilized the populace at a molecular level. His findings unveiled astonishing and almost inarticulable obfuscations from deep in the Cybertronian past. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

===Universe: The Wreckers===
Perceptor counseled [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] against making a leadership decision that, when one considers both the opinions of observers that are generally regarded as wise, to such an extent as observers with finite capacity for knowledge can comprehend the infinite, and the final results of the decision in question, could be regarded as less than optimal.

Knowing the commander in question many of those reading this documentation may surmise the result... {{storylink|Betrayal}}

===Dreamwave Generation 1 comics continuity===
Perceptor was again held to be an officer or leader, a position he occupied with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], among a group of underground Autobots on Cybertron after the unexpected return of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who had disappeared along with Optimus Prime many years ago in an early [[space bridge]] test, commanding the [[Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]-form drones. The combat efficiency of these Air Warriors, as they were also known, led to a Decepticon conquest of Cybertron, as well as the enslavement of many Autobots. During this period, Perceptor theorized that if Megatron had survived the space bridge explosion, one could logically conclude that Optimus Prime also survived. At a base appropriately designated the [[Think Tank]], Perceptor designed and built a device intended to locate Optimus Prime. Before a proper test of the device could be conducted, Perceptor's group managed to capture an Air Warrior, with the intentions of examining its systems with the hope of finding an effective counter measure against the drones. {{storylink|War Within: The Age of Wrath}} Unfortunately, financial irregularities on the part of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Pat Lee|President]] resulted in the company filing for Chapter 11, where it currently remains in Bankruptcy court to this day, precluding any possible end to the story at this time.

Millions of years after the aforementioned events, Perceptor again allied with a group of Autobots who opposed the oppressive regime of the Decepticon [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], but these activities were covert in nature and he publicly remained a respected Autobot scientist. He presented evidence of Shockwave's unorthodox experiments on various Transformers, as well as the fact that Cybertron's spatial coordinates seemed to have changed, to the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]]. The High Council was unwilling to take any constitutional action against Shockwave, over feelings of gratitude for his assistance in restoring the peace, even after they were verbally accosted by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. Ultimately, any censure or movement against Shockwave was discontinued due to a rampage on the part of the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. After Optimus Prime escaped custody and united the various resistance movements, Perceptor participated in the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]'s offensive against [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's fortifications]] within Hub Capital Iacon. He also helped to repair [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], commander of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], despite the latter's well known bias against intellectuals. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
In the year 1985, Perceptor and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel, despite Perceptor's protests. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. They were discovered there by a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

{{note|Due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy, Blaster and Perceptor's motivations for coming to Earth - and pretty much anything else - were never revealed.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
Perceptor accompanied [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] to [[Teletran 3]], where he providing covering fire for Magnus and captured [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] with an energy rope. He then tapped into Teletran 3 and learned that it had transported a random number of Cybertronians into various points in [[Earth]]'s timeline, which would cause a temporal feedback that would destroy the planet unless they were retrieved. Thankfully, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]] were happy to save their planet, and Perceptor operated Teletran 3 to send them after the missing Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} After that, all he could do was wait inside the slowly dying force field erected around Teletran 3. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}} Unfortunately, the field went down before all the rescue teams had returned, and the Autobots were captured by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], who taunted Perceptor as he allowed his Earth-destruction scenario to play out. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #3}} It was not to be, however, as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were retrieved from Earth's distant past and ripped Shockwave's forces apart, saving Perceptor and the other prisoners. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

Some time later, Perceptor was sent to [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] on Earth to oversee the decommissioning of Cybertronian technology along with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. Before he had time to do much other than greet [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] and deliver a message from Optimus Prime, the facility came under attack by Cobra, and Perceptor had to help fight them off. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} Bumblebee went missing during the battle, and the Autobots followed his [[energy signature]] to the lowest areas of Area 52, only to find the head of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], deactivated two years earlier. Perceptor was outraged that the humans had been experimenting with something so dangerous, but [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] insisted that he had been completely unaware. As it turned out, Megatron's remains had been used to make the dangerous and hostile [[Serpentor|Serpent Organic Robot]], who forced the [[G.I. Joe battle mech|Joes' mech suits]] to fight against Perceptor and the other Autobots before warping to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

The Autobots and Joes followed him, and Perceptor called [[Capital City]] for reinforcements before discovering the movement signals of several [[cannibalizer]]s around them. They escaped from the monstrosities, only to run straight into Serpent O.R.'s newly recruited Decepticon army, who captured them before Perceptor's reinforcements had time to arrive. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} They were eventually freed thanks to [[Snake-Eyes]]'s ninja tricks. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} While fighting their way out of the Decepticon base, the Autobots learned that Serpent O.R. had also captured Optimus Prime, and they went to rescue him. When they arrived, Serpent O.R.'s body had been transformed by the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] and was now being controlled by [[Cobra Commander]]. The Cobra leader used his tentacles to smash Perceptor's shoulder to pieces, and with a cry of "Goodness!", the scientist was taken out of action. After Cobra Commander was defeated by Hawk, Perceptor listened to [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] tell funny stories about [[Barbecue]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
Perceptor served on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub]], acting as a peer to acting-commander [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]. He appeared to know [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] of old, and helped him with his investigation. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[Image:SpotlightBlaster Perceptor whitestatic.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cut the crap, Perceptor, and just get the cable back up!]]
He later transferred aboard the ''[[Ark-17]]'', along with [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and others in a mission to rescue an insane [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] from the crystal planet. Perceptor voiced the general consensus of those who had embarked upon the voyage to attempt to dissuade Springer of the less than optimal, considering resource allotment, military operation he had accepted. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

Kup was eventually rescued and taken to [[Kimia Facility]] where Perceptor and the scientists there helped repair Kup using [[Pretender]] technology. Overseeing the operation, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] also had Perceptor secretly install subroutines into Kup that would allow Prowl to have control over the old codger. Though Perceptor opposed this, he followed his orders. Perceptor also was assigned to Kup's unit to keep a supply of [[cigar|cy-gar]]s handy to keep Kup sane. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15#Everything in Its Right Place|Everything in Its Right Place}}

Perceptor later accompanied Kup on a mission to rescue some captured [[Wrecker]]s and was badly injured during the operation, but was saved by [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} After healing from his injuries, Perceptor decided to make some upgrades to his body, making him more useful as a warrior. He gave himself a near-impervious breastplate, aiming arm stabilizers and a monocle-like targeting optic. He demonstrated these to great effect, taking out [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] in one blast during a rescue of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15#Lost & Found|Lost & Found}}

[[Image:Slowmotionmoviewalkahm5.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Like every other tough-guy group walk in the movies...]]
Sporting a decidedly dour demeanor, Perceptor obtained a modicum of prominence on Kup's team. Perceptor opted to become more directly involved in deeply discomfiting the Decepticons... until their inopportune crash-landing on Cybertron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} When some [[Insecticon swarm|swarms of Insecticons]] made an appearance, he once again displayed his disturbing targeting proficiency, inflicting immediate and conclusive damage on one scout with only minimal effort. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

Later, when the Autobots fled from the Swarm, they had planted some explosive charges to several bridges in order to cut off their pursuers. When they passed one of the bridges, Kup ordered Perceptor to shoot the charges, which he did with two small handblasters. However, he was taken out by a dart fired off by a Swarm (who got blasted for its effort). {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} He was soon back on his feet, helping the other Autobots set up a defensive turret at their base. This saddened [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], who would rather have had the "old" Perceptor help him and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] repair Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} After almost getting overrun by the Swarm, Perceptor and the other Autobots were rescued by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who carried them all to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

Perceptor was still by Kup's side three years later, by which time both of them had joined the [[Wrecker]]s. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1}}

When they stumbled upon the injured former Wrecker [[Impactor]], Perceptor checked up on him and found a [[deterrence chip]] embedded in his skull. He soon had to switch mindsets from scientist to sniper again, though, as the Wreckers were sent to liberate [[Garrus-9]] from [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s clutches. During the initial attack, Perceptor shot down Decepticon jets while hanging upside-down from the Autobots' drop pod. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3}}

{{spoilers|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|May 22 2010}}

{{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1toy-Perceptor.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Because it's easier to see small things when you have a giant laser cannon aiming at them.]]
*'''Perceptor''' (Autobot, 1985)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''39'''
**''Accessories:'' "Concussion Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles

: Formerly a [[Micro Change|Microchange]] MC-20 Micro Scope, Perceptor transforms into a predominantly red, functional microscope. His magnification is limited to 14X<ref>Perceptor's [[instructions]].</ref> due to the relatively crude nature of his lens. In robot mode, Perceptor is armed with a red "Concussion Rifle" and a spring-loaded rocket launcher that can fire one of three red missile-shaped projectiles.

: A holdover from his Microchange origins, Perceptor can also transform into a 'tank' mode.

: The Japanese version does ''not'' launch missiles from the scope, despite what some sources say.

: There is an odd variant of this toy: some have a more golden-hued chrome than the normal silver. This is not a very common variant.

: The mold was later [[repaint]]ed to make [[Magnificus]].
{{-}}

===Transformers Collection===
*'''Cybertron Perceptor''' (Transformers Collection, Japan 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TFC-19'''
: Perceptor was [[Generation 1 reissues|reissued]] in Japan as part of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Transformers Collection]]'' line.
{{-}}
===Classics===
[[Image:ClassicsLOCPerceptor toy.jpg|right|175px|thumb|"I will blow up your whole city. For science."]]
*'''Perceptor''' (Legends, 2006)

: Available as part of the first assortment of ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' ''[[Legends Class|Legends of Cybertron]]'', Perceptor is a [[redeco]] of the ''Legends of Cybertron'' [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]]. He transforms into a BTR-90 armored personnel carrier with a large missile/laser cannon/microscope/telescope.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]].
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
====G1 Series====
{{picsneeded}}
*'''Perceptor''' (2009)
**''Accessories:'' "Concussion Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles
: Hasbro did their own reissue of Perceptor as part of the [[Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'' line]]. The [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]] was issued in a box with an opening front cover and advertised as a "Commemorative Edition", much like the earlier Soundwave and the Insecticons (which were released at the same time as Perceptor).

:Strangely, the spring of the missile launcher was not weakened like most G1 toys, but were straight out omitted from the gun. This makes the missiles totally useless, because they don't even clip into the gun.

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
*'''Perceptor''' (2002)
===Heroes of Cybertron===
*'''Perceptor''' (2003)

[[Image:HOC Perceptor.jpg|right|100px|thumb|What's the deal with corn nuts?]]
:Perceptor was released in the fourth wave of the ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' line as a mostly unaltered version of the Perceptor figurine from the Japanese [[Super Collection Figure]] line, though as a HOC he uses the standard "all clear-blue plastic painted over" coloring process to give him light-piped eyes. He came with the head and sword of the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] build-a-figurine.
{{-}}
===Robot Heroes===
*'''Perceptor vs. Hardshell''' (2009)

[[Image:Robotheroesperceptorhardshell.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Now competing on "Iron Chemist"]]
: Part of the fourth wave of ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', Perceptor packed versus [[Bombshell (G1)|Hardshell]] as part of the "Generation 1 Series".
{{-}}

==Trivia==
*In the animated portion of Perceptor's original toy commercial, he is presented as being quite small, the size a microscope would be in relation to Prime's robot form, and not growing at all, but remaining just as tiny in robot form.

* A Perceptor [[Action Master]] was planned at one point, but apparently went no further than a concept sketch. Unlike some other Action Masters, the art is based solely on the toy, including its faceplate. It has the distinction of carrying on Perceptor's well-armed legacy, with not just one but TWO shoulder-mounted microscope cannons, arm shields, and a large handgun <ref>[[Transformers Generations Deluxe]], p110</ref>. The figure may have been intended as a pilot or driver for an Action Master vehicle, as the handgun has handlebars jutting off either side. Or perhaps the aforementioned munition was engineered to be wielded in an akimbo manner.

*The initial inspiration for Perceptor came from the anime series [[wikipedia:Armored_Trooper_Votoms|''Armored Trooper Votoms'']]. [[Shinji Aramaki]], designing toys for Takara at the time, liked the microscope look of the heads of the mecha from that series and applied it in a more literal sense with the Microchange toy, but his involvement ended at the conceptual stage.

*In a rather surprising twist of events, part of this article has been placed on the cover of [[All Hail Megatron issue 15]]. The result is a [[micro-continuity]] in which Perceptor reads this Wiki. What is this "fourth wall" you speak of, reader?

* Like a lot of other Transformers, Perceptor was never released in the UK.{{fact}}. As a result, the Commemorative Edition was the first version sold in the country and was an Amazon exclusive.

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Perceptor/perceptor.htm Perceptor at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Perceptor Perceptor's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Classics characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]

Shrapnel (G1)

2010-01-30T23:38:55Z

71.232.82.86: Added link to Wikipedia stag beetle

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 Insecticon|the ''Cybertron'' character|Shrapnel (Cybertron)}}
:''Shrapnel is a [[Decepticon]] [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] in the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]], family. He is sometimes known as '''Sharpshot''', shot.''

[[Image:Shrapnelg1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|My kingdom for better electrical insulation... insulation.]]
The eccentric way in which '''Shrapnel''' parses his dialogue may seem endearing at first, first. Others are soon to discover that his seemingly benign tic is merely the gateway to a frighteningly twisted and perverse mind, even for a Decepticon, Decepticon. A master of electricity, his dark desires put this skill to use on his victims, victims. Nothing delights him more than to see how they squirm from his touch, touch.

:''French-Canadian name'': '''Éclats D'Obus'''
:''Portuguese name (Portugal comic):'' '''Estilhaço'''
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comic):'' '''Metralha / Estilhaço'''
:''Italian name'': '''Rantrox'''
:''Japanese name'': '''Sharpnel''' (シャープネル ''Shāpuneru'')

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Hal Rayle]] (English), [[Masashi Ebara]] (Japanese), [[Toshio Ishii]] (Japanese, ''The Transformers: The Movie'' only)

[[Image:ShrapnelG1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Flash before my eyes, now it's time to die, die!]]
The mercenary Insecticons landed on earth in their own space pod before the Ark crashed to [[Earth]]. ''(It is unclear whether this pod was launched from the [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]] or not, as the dialogue seems to suggest maybe it was, but the Insecticons and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s Decepticons do not seem to know each other.)'' Their pod crashed into the region that would become known as "[[Demon Swamp]]" and their [[idento-computer]]s adapted them to transform into insects and eat organic food to survive. Though they were largely communal, Shrapnel was a leader among then, usually alternating with [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] was out of luck). The "Insecticons" apparently lived in the swamp for millions of years until discovered by Megatron's Decepticons. They form an uneasy alliance with Megatron, never coming fully under his command but working with the Decepticons when they could be convinced there was something (usually food) in it for them. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}}

The Insecticons were able to create vast [[Insecticon clone|clone]] armies of themselves at will, a formidable ability that may have been the reason they were able to maintain their autonomy from Megatron. They would use this ability once to create the [[Insecticon Army]] which early devastated the planet Earth but they were destroyed by the [[Morphobots]]. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}} Even before this, they were shown to be very duplicitous and often betrayed Megatron or disobeyed him.

[[Image:TFTM RundownShrapnel.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Great, now there's bug guts all over his windshield, windshield.]]
During the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]' attempt at destroying Earth by sending it into the sun, the Insecticons were seen in large numbers, numbers, again and Shrapnel was responsible for taking apart the [[Space Bridge]] controls. He would later be tracked, tracked, by the combined Autobots and Decepticons after which he relinquished the controls. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

Shrapnel, along with his Insecticon colleagues, [[Battle of Autobot City|attacked]] [[Autobot City]] on Earth, where he was badly damaged and dumped into space from [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. His floating body would be reformatted by [[Unicron]] into one of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s minions. But that didn't stop him from showing up later on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] and threatening [[Daniel]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}} He also somehow appeared on [[Chaar]] after the Decepticons' defeat to nibble on some energon cubes {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}, and he tried to stop [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from returning [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[transformation cog]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} Much later, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] briefly spoke using Shrapnel's voice and speech pattern for no reason. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
Shrapnel was one of the top lieutenants of Lord [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] at [[Darkmount]] on Cybertron, acting as his Executive Officer and supervising both the technicians that translated [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|Soundwave's message from Earth]] & assisting on the Space Bridge project. He was also was responsible for capturing Autobot spy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] before he could report back on the whereabouts of [[Spanner (G1)|Spanner]]. Despite his rank, Straxus used Shrapnel's face as a stress ball when things went wrong {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} and was willing to send him on a suicidal janitorial mission once simply out of petty spite, but Shrapnel managed to talk his way out of it. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

''In addition to his high rank, he was one of the most feared and dangerous killers on Cybertron, a key target for the Autobot resistance. The rebel plan [[Operation: Volcano]] was kicked off when Shrapnel tortured the information of a (fake) rebel meeting out of an [[Autobot traitor|informant]], but was ruined by Megatron calling the Insecticons to Earth. (Yes, they were called Insecticons and had insect-like alt forms on a planet with NO INSECT LIFE.) {{storylink|Target: 2006}}'' Shrapnel arrived on Earth to play a key role in the [[Hoover Dam]] battle, and afterwards served on Earth under Megatron permanently. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

Then he served under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], possibly [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], Megatron again... all while doing absolutely nothing of note besides being uncommonly easy to spot in crowd shots. He may have been killed by the [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], or alternatively he could've just been really lazy and not gotten involved with things—he's one of Cybertron's deadliest killers, what does he have to prove?

====Earthforce====
{{earthforcefiction}}
''Shrapnel and his Insecticon buddies served under Megatron in the [[Decepticon Civil War]], but their spying mission against Shockwave was foiled by Starscream. Shrapnel got in a good electrified shot at Starscream's bum first, but then he caught them in a [[Rustbug hoop|rustbug hoop]]. The treacherous [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] then drafted them into helping him set up a clash between the two leaders. {{storylink|Bugged!}}''

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
While temporarily out of his mind (well, more than usual, anyway), the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] believed himself to actually be Shrapnel, and adopted his mannerisms and speech pattern, pattern. {{storylink|Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Bombshell kickback shrapnel soundwave ravage war within 1-2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oy with the speechifying, ing! When do we get to shoot someone, one??]]
Shrapnel was part of an assassination unit alongside Kickback, Bombshell, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] shortly after the rise of Optimus Prime. He and his partners were assigned to eliminate the new Prime, steal the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and bring it to Megatron so that he could turn Cybertron into a cosmic dreadnought and conquer the universe. Spoiler alert—it didn't work. {{storylink|The War Within}} During the Dark Ages after Megatron's disappearance, Shrapnel served with the main Decepticon faction under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s command. One time [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] sucker-punched him so hard, Shrapnel's colors went wrong. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Shrapnel was part of a unit sent to Earth by Shockwave to guide the planet's development and prepare it for invasion. He and his team changed their alternate modes to giant insects (from his original "jet with antennae" mode). They were beaten up by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] on arrival, then played dead until [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] got bored and wandered off. {{storylink|Extermination}}

{{note|Shrapnel and the Insecticons made a brief appearance in the second Keepers Trilogy novel, "[[Annihilation]]", as troops under Starscream's command on Earth. This appearance is contradicted by later Dreamwave stories. Also, in the novel the Insecticons shrink down to insect-size as they did in Marvel Comics, whereas later Dreamwave issues showed them retaining their full size, like their cartoon versions.}}

Millions of years later, they were discovered by both the [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] and Autobots after kidnapping an entire town. Over the preceding few thousand vorns, Shrapnel had apparently lost control of the Insecticons unit, with Bombshell gathering more and more power for himself without Shrapnel even recognizing it. Kickback pointed this out, but the Autobot incursion prevented the conversation from going any farther. Shrapnel was last seen getting a building dropped on him by [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. {{storylink|Extermination}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs the Transformers'' comics continuity===
In an alternate future where the Decepticons had conquered Earth, swarms of Insecticons, including Shrapnel-type ones, was a constant menace. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3}}

In the regular timeline, as part of [[Serpent O.R.]]'s forces, Shrapnel defended the newly unified Decepticon army's base against a combined Autobot/[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] strike force. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5}}

===IDW comic continuity===
Shrapnel, Bombshell and Kickback were created by [[Deluge (Decepticon)|Deluge]], under supervision by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. The Insecticons joined Megatron's forces on Earth, where they helped defeat and capture the local Autobots. The Decepticons then shipped their prisoners off to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] via [[space bridge]], intending to feed them to the failed Insecticon creations known as the [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

The Insecticons then participated in the attack on [[New York City]], during which Shrapnel took part in destroying some human jets. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} After listening to Megatron's victory speech {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}, the Insecticons traveled to [[China]] and helped wreck [[Beijing]]. There, Shrapnel and Kickback sided with Bombshell when he picked a fight with [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], but the three bugs decided to drop the subject and run away when faced with Skywarp's [[teleportation]] ability. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} After returning to New York, the Insecticons were approached by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and Shrapnel demanded to know what the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] wanted with them, although Bombshell chastised him for being rude to a superior officer. Starscream apologized to the three for their treatment at Skywarp and Thundercracker's hands, then decided it was time to tell them about his vision of the future. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

The Insecticons subsequently joined Starscream as he rebelled against Megatron, and Shrapnel blasted his former leader with lightning. Unfortunately, this did minimal damage to Megatron, who responded by shooting Shrapnel with his [[fusion cannon]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The revolt was cut short when human jets from [[Europe]] attacked and the Autobots returned from Cybertron unharmed, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} leading to the Decepticons' defeat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} As they fled the planet aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Shrapnel showed Starscream that Megatron was still functioning, which did not please the Seeker in the least. Shrapnel volunteered to stealthily kill Megatron by siphoning his energon, but Starscream felt assassination wouldn't work in his favor. When he saw that Starscream was going to throw the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]] down a garbage chute, Shrapnel was shocked and convinced him to keep the artifact as a synbol of leadership. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

===IDW ''Hearts of Steel'' continuity===
[[Image:HeartsofSteel2_Shrapnel_safes.jpg|thumb|right|200px|]]
The Decepticons, including Shrapnel, fought against the Autobots in Earth's distant past until an Ice Age forced them to shut down and wait it out. They awoke in the late 19th century when a failed human submarine crashed onto their submerged ship. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1}} As the Decepticons' [[Tobias Muldoon|human ally]] required money to help them, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] ordered the Insecticons to provide some. Shrapnel disguised himself as one end of the "[[Insectrain]]", providing the combined mode with a pair of giant scissor blades to destroy other trains on the railway. The Insecticons robbed a train carrying cash and bullion from the Denver Mint, and despite not seeing the value in human currency, they stuffed Shrapnel's chest cavity full of money and [[gold]]. They delivered the stolen property to Starscream and Tobias Muldoon the following morning. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Shrapnel toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I don't have two left hands, hands.]]
*'''Shrapnel''' (Insecticon, 1985)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''42'''

: Shrapnel transforms into a robotic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaetulus_crenatus stag beetle]. He doesn't do a whole lot more than that. Like the other Insecticons, he has a variation on his chromed parts, but this one is on his gun. Some Shrapnels have "fins" on the very back-end of the rifle and a more detailed main barrel, while others (obviously) lack those details. The extra-detail versions appear to be a later run.

: In Japan, Shrapnel and the other Insecticons were "re-released" as mail-order items from 1987 through 1988. They each cost 880 yen (their normal retail price) and two [[Robot Point]]s.

: This mold was used to make the [[Zaptrap]] drones.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Shrapnel/shrapnel.htm More information on Shrapnel at TFU.info]''

*'''Insectrons''' ("Bookbox" multi-pack, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''16''' (full set)

: Shrapnel was released as part of the Japanese [[Transformers Collection]] series in a set with [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]. This set also included three [[Energon cube|energon cube]] accessories that fit inside their chest compartments.

: The Shrapnel in this set has the lower-detail rifle, probably in order to keep it closer to the original-original release, particularly for the redeco.

*'''Insecticons''' (Toys-R-Us multi-pack, 2009)

: Shrapnel was released as part of the ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, as a [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]], in a set with his Insecticon pals. Like with his 2007 ''[[Robot Heroes]]'' incarnation (see below), Shrapnel has been renamed for [[trademark]] reasons, this time to "Sharpshot". Likewise, [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s name has been changed to "Hardshell", a name previously used for his Robot Hero.

{{charstubtoys}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Shrapnel''' (Decoy, 1987)

: Shrapnel was one of the Decepticon [[Decoy|Decoys]] packed in with smaller carded ''Transformers'' toys. While the normal purple version could be included with any Decepticon toy, the rarer red version was available ''only'' on [[Throttlebot]] cards and only for a short while before the switch to purple.

*'''Destron Hero Collection-22 Set''' (Decoy multi-pack, 1987)

: The entire run of twenty-two Decepticon Decoys were sold as a single boxed set in Japan, only in purple.

===Hard Hero===
[[Image:HardHero Shrapnel statue.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Stop in the name of love, love.]]
*'''Shrapnel''' (2003)

: The second installment of [[Hard Hero]]'s "Insecticon Series", Shrapnel is a 9-inch cold-cast porcelain statue sculpted by [[Jason Ray]]. Only 1000 pieces of the statue were produced.

{{-}}
===Robot Heroes===
*'''Rodimus Vs. Insecticon''' (2007)

[[Image:G1 RobotHeroes RodimusVsInsecticon.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The world's cutest psycho, psycho.]]
: As part of the [[Robot Heroes]] line of PVC figurines, "Insecticon" (so named because Hasbro was unable to acquire the [[Trademark|trademark]] to "Shrapnel") is a two-inch tall soft-plastic figurine in an adorable "super-deformed" style. He has swivels at the shoulders and neck.

: "Insecticon" was only available in a two-pack with fellow trademark-loss refugee, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]].

{{-}}
==Trivia==
* Shrapnel—like the other Insecticons—was originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "Waruder" evil-alien-piloted mech in different colors... which were eventually used when the trio were [[Redeco|redecoed]] for [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] release. Specifically, Shrapnel was the Kuwagattler (or Kuwagatra) mecha. This is also the genesis of those opening chest compartments.
* In the cartoon, Shrapnel was often shown as something of a leader among the Insecticons, while [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] is the official leader in other portions of Generation 1.
* Shrapnel's Executive Officer rank would never come up again after ''The Bridge to Nowhere!'', and he ended up as just some guy. Presumably, Budiansky (and later Furman) just forgot about it.
* Shrapnel's alt mode is devoid of wings yet he [[Flight#Levitation|still manages to fly]] while transformed as an insect.
* In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', this guy got shot by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (thanks to [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]), knocked into a moat by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], AND run over by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. THEN he proceeded to get THROWN INTO SPACE by his fellow Decepticons. Poor guy sure had an off-day.
* Shrapnel, along with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], had his gender switched from male to female in the French dub of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. It is unknown why this change was effected, but it's most likely because of the character's high-pitched voice. The change did not happen in the cartoon, as it had used a different dubbing team from the movie. The change is especially ironic, given that only male stag beetles have the large pincers of Shrapnel's alt-mode.
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] once went crazy (more so) and for a brief time, believed he was Shrapnel even speaking with his distinctive speech pattern, pattern. This makes sense since both have insect alt-modes, both have the slag kicked out of them several times and while Waspinator, being a male wasp, should not have a stinger, Shrapnel, once being a female stag beetle, should not have had pincers. This also means Waspinator has had experiences with both characters who switched gender in the french dub of the movie, having once been taken over by Starscream's ghost.

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

[[Category:Gender-switch characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Insecticons]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]