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Sky-Byte (RID)

2012-02-12T05:58:40Z

72.39.45.127: /* Merchandise */

{{factions|predaconrid}}
{{disambig3|Sky-Byte}}
:''Sky-Byte is a [[Predacon (RID)|Predacon]] from the [[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:SkyByteAnime.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Who's the greatest shark around?]]
Deep within '''Sky-Byte''' beats the [[spark]] of a poet, a scholar, a brilliant and cultured military general who can command armies capable of conquering worlds. But without aptitude and patience, that means jack squat, and Sky-Byte lacks both. Still, he soldiers on, for he is driven...by a desperate need for approval. He ''needs'' the blessings of his commander, [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]], quite possibly more than he needs [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. And Megatron, being Megatron, doesn't dole out praise much, so Sky-Byte tries harder and harder, getting more and more desperate.

This drive is the root of all his problems. He's actually quite intelligent and physically powerful, but he pushes himself to extremes to impress his leader. When he's in control of a situation, he's a deadly, effective foe. But as soon as the situation begins to slip even the smallest bit, he starts to panic and usually ends up doing something to mess things up and lose the upper hand, which makes him panic ''more'', so he overreacts, and gets in ''more'' trouble, etc., etc., etc. It doesn't help that while he's ruthless towards [[Autobot|Autobots]], [[human]]s seem quite safe from his ire. Maybe he sees a little something of himself in these underdogs. After all, they developed his new favorite form of expression, the haiku. And they ''do'' seem rather impressed by him...

Sky-Byte is in charge of the Predacon lackeys [[Dark Scream]], [[Gas Skunk]] and [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]], not that they give him any modicum of respect. In fact, they're more likely to try and shuffle the blame for their failures onto the shark, a gambit that's actually moderately successful, since Sky-Byte is so very ''good'' at making things worse for himself. He has a hate-hate relationship with the new [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], especially [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]], whom he sees (rightly) as being a huge threat to his position as Megatron's second-in-command.

:''Poor frustrated shark.''
:''Megatron is a dumbass.''
:''Why do you bother?''

{{quote|Who's the baddest shark around? Who's the smartest shark in town? Sky-Byte, that's me! Who'll drive Scourge into the ground? And never let old Megatron down Sky-Byte, that's me!|Sky-Byte, that's him!}}

==Fiction==
===''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Spellos]] (English), [[Konta]] (Japanese), [[Alejandro Villeli]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Vittorio Guerrieri]] (Italian)

{{bigquote|Come back, please, little dot! Please don't go away now.... That little red dot meant so, so much to my promising career. I'm just chum. Optimus! Optimus Prime! I'll find you! I'll find you! I swear! You're mine! I'll get you! You're mine! I'm...much better now.|Sky-Byte|"[[Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!]]"}}

[[Image:Explosive Situation Skybyte book.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Finding the O-Parts was no challenge compared to finding Waldo.]]
As Megatron was dressing down the Predacon trio for their latest failure, Sky-Byte suddenly appeared—demonstrating a skill for either invisibility or teleportation that he would never display again. Scoffing at the other Predacons' energy-gathering abilities, Sky-Byte revealed his own plan — to recover a bomb hidden in a red sports car somewhere in [[Metro City]]. He quickly tracked down the sports car in question, startling [[Kelly (RID)|its driver]] as he retrieved the bomb from its trunk. Before he could return to the ''[[Megastar]]'' though, the bomb was taken from him by [[X-Brawn]]. He tried his best to get the bomb back, but just as he was about to get hold of it, [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] blasted it and him into space with a Blizzard Storm. He survived the subsequent explosion, and returned to the ''Megastar'' to recuperate and research human culture. {{storylink|An Explosive Situation}}

[[Image:Spychangers Rescue Skybytegenerator.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
After the other Predacons destroyed some goods trains, Sky-Byte came up with a loftier plan to destroy the [[Linear RFG]] bullet train. Though his mission succeeded in blowing up a bridge ahead of the train, [[Team Bullet Train]] saved the Linear RFG, and Sky-Byte was left trying to justify himself to Megatron. {{storylink|Bullet Train to the Rescue}} When the [[Spy Changer|Spychangers]] intercepted the Predacon trio in the process of stealing the [[Plutonium Energy Generator]], Sky-Byte came to their aid. When the situation seemed unsalvageable, Sky-Byte unleashed a [[Tsunami Blaster]] attack on the generator to destroy it, but hit the Spychangers instead. The Predacons took the generator back to the ''Megastar''... only to find it had been switched for a fake. {{storylink|Spychangers to the Rescue}}

{{quote|The cobalt ocean roils 
zephyrs blow cold, 
and another hapless foe is crushed beneath my heel.|Sky-Byte|"[[The Hunt for Black Pyramid]]"}}

[[Image:SecretoftheRuins Sky-Byte with casket.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
While the Megastar was parked on the [[Black Pyramid]] in an attempt to extract power, Sky-Byte and Dark Scream were sent out to protect it against a civilian ship. The Autobots soon came to help the ship, and while fighting underwater, Sky-Byte was able to hold his own against Optimus Prime. Once the ship was righted, Sky-Byte found Prime a much more formidable opponent, and what's worse, the Autobot leader critiqued his poetry. The Predacons beat a hasty retreat. {{storylink|The Hunt for Black Pyramid}} Megatron and the Predacon trio distracted the Autobots while Sky-Byte went to the [[Payuma ruins]] to find information hidden by [[Kenneth Onishi|Doctor Onishi]]. Unfortunately he was spotted by [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] and [[Koji Onishi]], who alerted Optimus to the shark's presence. Prime was unable to prevent Sky-Byte making off with a casket containing [[Doctor Onishi's microchip|a microchip]], however once out of the ruins, the Predacon was confronted by [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and X-Brawn, who blasted him. {{storylink|The Secret of the Ruins}}

[[Image:SecretWeaponD5 Sky-Byte sticks his face in.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Sky-Byte concocted another plan, to capture Side Burn and use him as bait to draw Prime into a trap. Though it was successful in ensnaring Prime, the rest of the Autobots turned up to rescue their comrades. Sky-Byte later successfully deflected the blame onto Gas Skunk and Dark Scream. {{storylink|Sideburn's Obsession}} The Predacons extracted information from a stolen disk belonging to Dr. Onishi, leading them to believe that the steam engine "[[Grandpa]]" was a weapon of extraordinary power. Megatron sent Sky-Byte and the other Predacons to capture it. Sky-Byte made an unsuccessful attempt to infiltrate the engine via the smoke stack, and the other Predacons didn't have any better luck, though they temporarily gained possession of the steam engine after it had offloaded its passengers. The mission was ultimately a failure. {{storylink|Secret Weapon: D-5}}

[[Image:Skid Z's Choice Skybytecar.jpg|thumb|left|240px|No one could possibly see through my ingenious disguise!]]
After Dark Scream planted a bug in [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]], the Predacons overheard him breaking up with [[Ironhide (RID)|Ironhide]]. Mirage's words moved Sky-Byte to tears. He later suggested that they try and persuade Mirage to defect to their side. Although it seemed for a time that they'd succeeded, even to the point where Sky-Byte showed off the new [[Mega-Laser Cannon]], it was a ruse. Mirage and the Spychangers destroyed the cannon. {{storylink|Mirage's Betrayal}} Sky-Byte tried a similar trick on the rogue Autobot [[Skid-Z (RID)|Skid-Z]] with no success. When the Predacons discovered that the Autobots had entered the [[International Grand Prix]], Sky-Byte cunningly disguised himself as a red racing car and entered as well. After being chatted up by a suspicious Side Burn, Sky-Byte was inadvertently fragged by Megatron in the early moments of the race. Then when he was able to catch up with the Autobots, he was mistakenly blasted by Megatron ''again''. {{storylink|Skid Z's Choice}}

[[Image:Sky-byte_eye.gif|thumb|I spy, with my telescopically enhanced robot eye... a [[The Ultimate Robot Warrior|giant Buddha]]?]]
Still believing he could convert an Autobot into a Predacon, Sky-Byte captured new recruit [[Tow-Line (RID)|Tow-Line]]. After suffering through the other Predacon's attempts to hypnotise the Autobot, he used a special CD to brainwash Tow-Line. Unfortunately it was only partially successful—Tow-Line started towing away the other Autobots, but he took them to the wrong place. By the time Sky-Byte worked out what was happening, the rest of the Autobots were alerted, and promptly battled him into retreat. {{storylink|Tow-Line Goes Haywire}} Investigations into reports of a transforming statue took Sky-Byte to the [[Cave of the Dragon]] in China. Luckily the Autobots were able to save the cave via an elaborate deception involving Prime and Team Bullet Train disguising themselves as a statue and dragon. {{storylink|The Ultimate Robot Warrior}} Despite these indignities, he was still viewed as "sneaky, clever and dangerous" by the Autobots. {{storylink|Hope for the Future}}

[[Image:Commandos Sky-Byte as Optimus.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Freedom is the right of... LINE!]]
Sky-Byte led a mission to dig up some Autobot [[protoform]]s, and took them to [[McKinley Army Base]] with the other Predacons while Megatron kept the Autobots busy. There, they reformatted the protoforms into the [[Commando]]s. Sky-Byte created [[Movor]] when he fell, aiming the [[stasis pod]]'s scanner at a space shuttle in orbit. {{storylink|The Decepticons}} [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] and the [[Decepticon]]s proved much more competent than the Predacons, and Sky-Byte was driven to desperate measures to try and regain his lost status in Megatron's eyes. He and the Predacon trio disguised themselves as Optimus Prime in an attempt to ruin the Decepticons' mission to destroy [[Sherman Dam]]. Though Sky-Byte attempted to gain Megatron's favor by blowing up the dam himself, he was unsuccessful. {{storylink|Commandos}}

Disappointed at the failure, Megatron assigned Sky-Byte and Scourge to guard a location on [[Montrose Island]] while the Predacon trio dug in search of an [[O-Part]]. After Prime showed up with the Spychangers, Sky-Byte took advantage of the chaos in battle to try to slag Scourge. {{storylink|Volcano}} While the Decepticons put another plan into action, they distracted Sky-Byte by getting him and the Predacon trio to mark out a rendezvous location. When the four Predacons finally tried to get in on the action, Sky-Byte barely had time to transform before Movor blasted him from orbit. {{storylink|Attack from Outer Space}}

[[Image:The Fish Test Skybytepose.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Another happy Charles Atlas customer]]
Sky-Byte trashed an oil rig on Megatron's orders, only for Scourge to show up and attack him. After reporting to Megatron, the shark eavesdropped on [[Mega-Octane]] meeting with Prime as a prelude to defection. He continued to spy as the Decepticons attempted to prove themselves sincere to the Autobots, and eventually could stand it no more. Although his attack on the traitors was futile, he inadvertently caused Scourge to expose the entire ruse. {{storylink|The Test (episode)|The Test}} Sky-Byte's self-esteem was soon nonexistent (especially after an on-line Fish Personality Test told him he was a jellyfish), and he became desperate to gain Megatron's approval. He and the Predacon trio disguised themselves as Autobots and interfered in a Decepticon mission to raid a storage plant. Unfortunately this went disastrously wrong, resulting in him being chewed out by Megatron. His next attempt to set the real Autobots on the Decepticons went awry when he sent them to the wrong power plant. As he moped on a seaside cliff, the other Predacons talked him into attacking a power plant in an attempt to outdo the Decepticons. When this went badly as well, Sky-Byte took his frustrations out on the computer, only to get electrocuted for his troubles. {{storylink|The Fish Test}}

[[Image:Wedge's Short Fuse Skybyteplan.jpg|left|270px|thumb|He's going Jellyfishing!]]
Determined to discredit the Decepticons, Sky-Byte came up with a new plan, having his henchmen attack a diamond mine in the Antarctic to lure the [[Autobot Brothers]] into a trap. When the [[Build Team]] turned up instead, Sky-Byte took [[Wedge]] hostage, and [[Heavy Load (RID)|Heavy Load]] bargained for the young 'bot's return with a disk containing a map of the Autobot [[Global Space Bridge]]. Despite interference from the Decepticons, Sky-Byte and his cohorts used the map to enter the tunnel indicated on the map, only to discover that the disk only contained a map of the sewers. They were subsequently drenched by Optimus Prime's Blizzard Storm. {{storylink|Wedge's Short Fuse}}

[[Image:Skybyte Saves the Day last support breaks.jpg|right|260px|thumb]]
Eventually, to get attention, Sky-Byte led the Predacons in the attempted destruction of the new [[CGA Tower]]. This plan would've worked, except the Autobots, thinking the humans in the tower were the Predacon's hostages, asked what demands he wanted met for their safety. Wanting to seem like he knew what he was doing, Sky-Byte made up a random demand on the spot that by sheer chance was interpreted as a demand for O-Parts. He'd achieved accidental success, only to take out the tower's last support by mistake and be forced to ''stop'' it collapsing so he'd still have his hostages. This single-minded desire to keep the tower up was interpreted by the hostages and TV news crews as the Predacon trying to save them for altruistic reasons, and when the hostages started to cheer him on, Sky-Byte gave his all to keep them safe out of an increasingly genuine desire to save them. ("My hostages need me!") It was only hours after the tower was saved and the Predacons were nursing their damaged backs that they remembered about getting the O-Parts... {{storylink|Sky-Byte Saves the Day}}

Some time later, while spying on the Decepticons, this accidental heroism came back to haunt him, as he was pestered by a group of kids led by Koji Onishi, who wanted his autograph. A proud Predacon, Sky-Byte was bewildered by this attention, although he briefly thought of using it as a way to get his haikus published.

[[Image:Forced Fusion Skybytedelusion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]], the pilot.]]
Despite all his failures, Sky-Byte was still regarded as extremely loyal. As a result, Megatron sent him to get the remaining O-Parts...with Sky-Byte unaware he'd been fed false info and was being used by the Decepticons to draw the Autobots into an ambush. Poor Sky-Byte spent ages digging, finding only the detritus of Humanity and [[Rubber Ducky|war surplus]] {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (episode)|Ultra Magnus}}, and was still digging long after Megatron thought he'd have stopped. In a stroke of luck, though, this allowed him to notice Optimus Prime was wounded and track him to where he was being repaired. He could now kill Optimus when he was weak and Megatron would reward him! Unfortunately, the Decepticons, Megatron ''and'' [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] had all tracked him, and poor Sky-Byte was left [[Furmanism|surplus to requirements]] once again. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!}}

Sky-Byte made an attempt to persuade Ultra Magnus to join the Predacon cause. When the Autobot Brothers interceeded, they were promptly captured by the Decepticons, and Ultra Magnus continued to feign interest in Sky-Byte's offer. After extracting the location at which the Autobot Brothers were being held, Ultra Magnus turned on him along with Team Bullet Train. {{storylink|The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus}} He and Megatron joined the Decepticons during another battle with the Autobots, though after Magnus and Prime formed [[Omega Prime]], he quickly ran and hid. {{storylink|Power to Burn!}}

[[Image:FortressMaximus a delicious cake.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Robots in Disguise'' referenced Portal not just before it was cool, but also before it even ''existed!'']]
More information extracted from Doctor Onishi led the Decepticons to venture into the subway system under Metro City. Sky-Byte followed them, but soon lost track of his quarry, and instead came upon a giant cake. Though it turned out to be stale (and actually a subway car), he caught up with the Decepticons and continued spying, only to be washed away by a torrent of water. {{storylink|Fortress Maximus (episode)|Fortress Maximus}}

[[Image:Koji Gets His Wish Skybyteonishi.jpg|230px|thumb|left|Sky-Byte does his best impression of a football team logo.]]
Sky-Byte took Dr. Onishi out of the Predacon base to help search for [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]], in an attempt to find it before Scourge. In the process, he ran into Koji, who appealed to him to help rescue his father or at least to pass on a birthday present. The Predacon actually felt bad for Koji and was reduced to a blubbering wreck by the boy's appeal, but was mortified to find Koji didn't believe he was a threatening villain any more. Sky-Byte later became so preoccupied with battle that he tossed Dr. Onishi to Koji, leading the youth to believe Sky-Byte had deliberately rescued his father out of the goodness of his heart. The Autobots believed this too and apologized to Sky-Byte for fighting him (after they'd already blown the tar out of him). {{storylink|Koji Gets His Wish}}

[[Image:PerilfromthePast Sky-Byte run over.jpg|260px|thumb|right|Sky-byte's little known "Roadkill" mode.]]
When the Autobots and Decepticons set about finding the rest of the O-Parts, Sky-Byte came up with a series of cunning plans, including fake O-Parts, to ensure that he and Slapper would get to them first. Unfortunately the plans all backfired, and a last-ditch attempt to swap the fake O-Parts for the real ones left them all in Autobot hands. {{storylink|A Friendly Contest}} Despite this failure, Megatron allowed Sky-Byte to take part in a mission to the [[Sahara|Sahara Desert]] to find the artifact that the Autobots were after — the [[Orb of Sigma]]. His attempts to prevent Side Burn escaping with the Orb only resulted in him being run over by both the Autobot Brothers and the Decepticons. {{storylink|Peril from the Past}} With Megatron gone, Sky-Byte and the Predacons found that Scourge was even more unpleasant to work for than their former leader. They attempted to get into Scourge's good graces by snatching [[Cerebros (RID)|Cerebros]] from the Autobots and greasing up to the Decepticon. In the following battle for Fortress Maximus, Sky-Byte was delighted by the arrival of his former leader, resurrected as Galvatron. {{storylink|Maximus Emerges}}

[[Image:Mistaken Identity Skybytesack.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]
During another attempt on Scourge's part to control Fortress Maximus, Sky-Byte watched nervously, as he knew every one of the Decepticon's victories would mean Galvatron ignoring him even more. During the fight after the arrival of the Autobots, Sky-Byte accidentally saved Koji's life and was horrified at the idea Galvatron would find out. {{storylink|The Human Element}} Later on, while talking to himself, he would admit to having a friendship with Koji, though it was nothing to getting into Galvatron's good books, and he still attempted to kidnap the boy to help control Fortress Maximus (being Sky-Byte, he grabbed the wrong person). He accompanied Megatron and Scourge as they attempted to get the boy [[Karl]] to control Maximus. When Scourge finally showed his true colors, turning on Galvatron, Sky-Byte unexpectedly found himself back in Galvatron's good books. His leader tasked him with carrying Scourge's stasis-locked body back with them. {{storylink|Mistaken Identity}}

[[Image:Skybyte discovers.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Streetsharks!]]
Galvatron remarked the Predacons had always been trustworthy and gave Sky-Byte command of the Decepticons. Proud to finally be where he belonged again, Sky-Byte even managed to locate the Autobot base by following Koji and led an assault on it. He and the Predacons pursued Optimus Prime into an Autobot trap. The array of Autobot firepower caused him to cower behind rocks, crying for his "blankie". {{storylink|Surprise Attack!}}

[[Image:Skybyte happy at last.jpg|left|200px|thumb|No, not the final scene from Free Willy.]]
During the final battle, Sky-Byte was almost killed when he led the Predacons into the [[Global Space Bridge]] after the Decepticons—not realising Galvatron intended to kill them. Sky-Byte was left on his own {{storylink|Galvatron's Revenge}} and escaped certain death just in time to be ordered to hold off the entire Autobot army. This did not go well for him, oh no.

Following Autobot victory, every Decepticon and Predacon was rounded up to be incarcerated, but the Autobots hadn't captured Sky-Byte. (Whether they'd forgotten about him or he was hiding well is unknown.) He was left to spend the rest of his life on Earth, a fate the other Predacons seemed to view as worse than death, though his own attitude as he swam off into the sunset singing suggests he felt quite differently... {{storylink|The Final Battle (RID)|The Final Battle}}
{{-}}

===Ultra Magnus...to the Rescue?===
[[Image:UltraMagnustotheRescue_SkyByte_haiku.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Where the heck is the ''rest of him?'']]
Sky-Byte and Scourge were sent on a joint mission, although they did nothing but bicker until Optimus and Ultra Magnus showed up. While Scourge battled them, Sky-Byte took advantage and made off with the goods, leaving Scourge with a haiku to keep him thinking. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus...to the Rescue?}}

{{-}}

===''TransTech'' comic===
Sky-Byte somehow ended up at [[Axiom Nexus]] and was "processed". {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 1}}

==Toys==
===Robots in Disguise===
[[Image:RID Sky-Byte Toy.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Love child of Peter Benchley and H.R. Giger.]]
*'''Sky-Byte''' (Mega, 2000/2001)
**''Japanese ID Number'': '''D-005'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 2 missiles

:An extensive [[redeco]] of the [[Transmetal|Transmetal 2]] [[Maximal]] [[Cybershark]], Sky-Byte transforms into a large, monstrous, bio-mechanical great white shark. His tail has a gear system that spins the fins like a propeller when a wheel in his side is turned. This system becomes his left arm, forming a spinning claw weapon. He also has a double spring-loaded missile launcher concealed in his shark mouth that also serves as a hand weapon.

:First available as part of the ''Car Robots'' line in Japan, there are no noteworthy differences between the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] and [[Hasbro]] versions.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Predacon/SkyByte/skybyte.htm More information on Sky-Byte at TFU.info]''

==Merchandise==
* '''[[Ai-chan]]''' (KT Figure Collection, 2004)

[[Image:AI PVC.jpg|right|200px|thumb|If you bought this... we have some bad news.]]
: This figurine was produced by [[KT Figure Collection]], and included in a set of four others. It is notable in that not only is this the only non-[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] PVC in the entire set, but Ai-chan is portrayed bathing in a hot spring, and is thus completely nude, aside from her hat. A [[super deformed]] [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Super Fire Convoy]] is seen peeking over the side, and a miniature [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Gelshark]] bath toy is in Ai-chan's hands.

: Yes, it's creepy. And you may find her face is familiar, BECAUSE the figure is designed by [[Yūki Ōshima]], who did the [[Kiss Players (franchise)|creepiest thing]] in the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] ever.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*During the Hasbro designers' panel at [[BotCon 2009]], it was stated that if Sky-Byte were to get a toy in the ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, its bio would be written as a haiku in homage to his love of poetry.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Gelshark''' (ゲルシャーク ''Gerushāku'')

[[Category:Entertainers]]
[[Category:Poets]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise Predacons]]
[[Category:TransTech characters]]

Bumblebee to the Rescue!

2012-02-12T05:31:59Z

72.39.45.127: /* Notes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Marvel Books|''The Transformers Coloring Book'']]
|prev=Search for Treasure Under the Sea
|next=Decepticon Patrol
|title="Bumblebee to the Rescue!"
|image=Bumblebeetdr-cover.jpg
|caption=Hello, DAD. I'm in JAIL!
|publisher=[[Marvel Books]]
|coverdate=1984
|written by=[[Dwight Jon Zimmerman]]
|art by=[[Steve Ditko]] and [[John Tartaglione]]
|pagecount=48pp
|ISBN=ISBN 0-87135-010-6 ISBN 9780517556412
}}

'''Optimus Prime and the Autobots go to Autobot prison!'''

==Synopsis==
Meet the [[Autobot]]s! They're nice. Meet the [[Decepticon]]s! They're not nice! [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] is super-smart and can split into three pieces! But [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] would love to wreck the [[Earth]] and smash the Autobots.

At Decepticon headquarters, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] has a brilliant plan—trap the Autobots and put them in a [[special Autobot prison]]! Then the Decepticons can rule the Earth forever!

[[Image:Bumblebeetdr-photofinish.jpg|left|100px|thumb|That's a big-ass Polaroid.]]
Meanwhile, [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] are racing to see who is the fastest, with [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] serving as judge. The result is a photo finish, which incites the two Autobots to argue... until they're interrupted by the Decepticons! [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] attack with knock-out [[Sleep Net]]s, knocking the Autobots and Sparkplug out. "ZZZZZZZ!", snores Sparkplug.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] are walking in a canyon when [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] attacks with an earthquake. Gears attempts to warn Prime of the danger, but his words are horribly scrambled. Prime uses his [[Combat Deck]] to blast the falling boulders and sends [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] for help, but it is no use. [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] ambushes Roller and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] knocks out Gears by ''yanking a bunch of wires out of his neck''. Prime has no choice but to surrender to Megatron, lest the Autobots be executed.

[[Image:Bumblebeetdr-fakeautobot.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Say hi to MOM, from JAIL!!]]
At the Decepticons' prison, it is revealed that [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] has been captured as well, leaving [[Bumblebee (G1) |Bumblebee]] the only Autobot still free. The Decepticons dismiss him as harmless, but Bumblebee has a plan. Sparkplug and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] build a giant cardboard cutout of an Autobot warrior and prop it up outside Decepticon headquarters. In the ensuing confusion, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] flips out and runs away, and Megatron leads a horde of [[generic]] Decepticons to face their new foe, leaving the prison unguarded. Sparkplug and Spike flee, their ruse a success. "A fake Autobot!" Megatron realizes soon after.

Bumblebee unlocks the Autobots' prison door, freeing them. Optimuss Prime leads the troops to teach the Decepticons a lesson! Trailbreaker traps Soundwave and company with a force field, Bluestreak and Sideswipe shoot down the jets, and Prime wraps an iron bar around Megatron. Bumblebee is feted as the hero that he truly is. Hip Hip HOORAY, indeed.

==Quotes==
"We must trap the Autobots and throw them into my special Autobot prison! With the Autobots behind bars, we can rule earth forever!" {{sic}}
:—'''Megatron''' reveals his greatest scheme yet

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (3)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Blue Streak]] (4)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (5)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (6)
* "[[Giant fake Autobot]]" (16)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (10)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (12)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (13)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
* Various generic Decepticons

|c3=
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (8)
}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Bumblebeetotherescue-sparkplug.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I LIKE it here! I'm gonna STAY here!]]
[[Image:Bumblebeetdr-trailbreaker.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yeah! Throw away the key!]]
* Various activities are interspersed through the story, including The Transformers' Name and Face Match!, connect-the-dots, mazes, and unscramble-the-messages.
* That is seriously the scariest Sparkplug ''ever''.
* Gears is apparently powered by a pair of heavy-duty, three-pronged power cords. Like, the kind you can buy at Home Depot.
* The art isn't nearly as nutty as that of "[[Decepticon Patrol]]". Nearly everyone is based on their animation models except Bumblebee, Gears and Rumble, who are entirely based on their toys, Megatron, who uses the early "black helmet" model, and Trailbreaker, who is a HIDEOUS HOMUNCULUS with huge goggles making up most of his head. He is based on the toy's [[package art]], with the artist misconstruing his headpiece as part of his face.
* Bluestreak is largely drawn as Prowl throughout the story, at one point having his police lightbars. His name is mis-parsed as "Blue Streak" in one of the activity games.
* Seriously, Trailbreaker's model in this story is ''horrifying''.

==External links==
*[http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~sstoneb/tf/books/coloring/bumblebee.html "Bumblebee to the Rescue" at Steve-o's Transformers Site.]

[[Category:Generation 1 coloring books]]

Transformation

2012-02-12T05:10:00Z

72.39.45.127: /* "Transform" as a verb */

{{disambigr|Transform|the Japanese image song|Transform!}}
[[Image:OpTransformsSu.jpg|right|400px|thumb|You put your right leg out...]]
'''Transformation''' (or '''Transform''' if you failed English class) is the process by which a [[Transformer]] alters his or her form between modes. It should not be confused with [[reformatting]], a type of full-body upgrade.

The technical details of transformation, as well as the manner in which the art was introduced to the Transformers themselves, vary between [[continuities]]. When the issue is addressed at all, transformation is usually treated as an innovation from some point early in Cybertronian history rather than something that was literally always with them. The Transformers were, at the time of their genesis, simply Cybertronians — mechanical life-forms — and became "Transformers" only later. However, just as often in ''Transformers'' fiction the "origin" of transforming is simply not discussed.

In most continuities, transformation is not a trait limited to Cybertronians. Both sentient alien races (such as [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] and some portrayals of the [[Lithone (species)|Lithones]]) and animals (such as the [[lipole]] on Jupiter's moon [[Io]] or the parasitic [[Scraplet|scraplets]]) exhibit the same ability. The [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] also incorporated transformation into some of their later creations including the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], [[Allicon|Allicons]], and [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge drones]]. Some examples of transforming robotic aliens, however, can be traced to colonization in the distant past by Cybertronians. The G1 planet [[Paradron]], as well as the main planets in the [[Cybertron (franchise)|''Cybertron'' franchise]] are examples of this.

== Special transformation types ==
===High-speed transformation===
Some Transformers, specifically the Autobot [[Jumpstarter|Jumpstarters]] and the Decepticon [[Battlecharger|Battlechargers]], are specifically designed to transform much faster than ordinary Transformers, usually taking less than half of an Earth second to switch from robot to alt-mode or vice versa. How much this ability depends on physical versus mental capabilities is unknown. In the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] G1 continuity, [[Triple Changer|Triple Changers]] were also stated to have unusually fast transformations (roughly twice the normal speed, whatever that is).

===Multiple alternate modes===
[[Image:Quickswitch's various transformations from Dreamwave's More than Meets the Eye .jpg|left|250px|thumb|"How can you (transform) all six?" It's IMPOSSIBLE!!]]
Robots with multiple transformations (Triple Changers, et al.) are a special case. Though there seems to be some aspect of natural aptitude at play in one's ability to master multiple forms (for example [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comics referred to a "genetic potential" within the [[Spark|sparks]] of such robots), and of course the special physical construction granting those forms, the balance of the matter seems to be one of training. Most Six Changers, like [[Sixshot]] and [[Quickswitch]], are said to have mastered their plethora of transformations through rigorous study. The largest number of modes exhibited by any single individual to date is [[Megatron (RID)|RID Galvatron]], who had ten.

===Adaptable bodies===
Some groups of transforming lifeforms such as the [[Go-Bot (species)|Go-Bots]] use a process similar to reformatting to more radically alter their forms while transforming. This ability to start with one robot and alternate form and transform easily to entirely different variations without extensive mechanical work comes from [[Go-Brillium|unique metals]] in the Go-Bots' bodies, and does not apply to most Transformers.

In the [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] continuity family, Bumblebee seems to demonstrate this ability in the prequel novel ''[[Ghosts of Yesterday]]''. He descends to the desert planet in his cometary [[Transition form]] and transforms to robot mode. Upon realizing he needs to travel quickly, Bumblebee transforms into a very basic four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. The narration explains that he created this altmode from an internal memory database of vehicle forms. The entire process seems to take practically no time at all, as if he were just transforming into his alt-mode as all Transformers do. The narration does not imply that this ability is only possessed by Bumblebee, and indeed the movie suggests that all Transformers in this continuity can switch altmodes almost at will.

===Transformation cogs===
[[Image:Transformation cog.jpg|left|200px|thumb|MacGuffin du jour.]]
In the G1 animated series, the city Transformers [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] are both specifically stated to possess devices known as [[Transformation cog|transformation cogs]] that somehow control their transformation processes, and are essential to allow them to transform at all. Such cogs are rarely mentioned elsewhere in the fiction — even in other continuities — so it is not clear if all Transformers require them, or Metroplex and Trypticon are special cases, perhaps because of their size. Other examples are that [[Nitrostreak]] ("Unit One" of the [[Maximal Command Security Force]]) had his cog damaged in a firefight with [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s henchmen {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past|Dawn of Future's Past}}, and in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] universe, [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] assaulted [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] with one of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] experimental weapons, which overrode his "primary transformation cog", thus trapping Soundwave in his [[alternate mode]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave|Spotlight: Soundwave}}
{{-}}

==Fiction==
[[Image:OP transforms.gif|right|247px|thumb|Optimus Prime: Lord of the Dance.]]
===Generation 1===
====Action Master toy packaging blurb====
Transformation is achieved by a Transformer's Figure Alteration [[Systems]]. [[Nucleon]] use converts these systems into Energy Storage Reactors, eliminating the ability to transform.

====Marvel comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Unicron]] was the first Transformer, fashioning his metal prison into a robotic semblance of his original form. [[Primus]], watching from a distance, was all like, "Oh ''snap'', robots that turn into things? Why didn't I think of that?" and quickly trained his own children to do the same thing.

Some accounts credit the development of transformation to Megatron and the Decepticons, with the Autobots later copying the technique. This, perhaps, implies that the potential for transformation instilled by Primus was dormant until Megatron realised it, or that it was forgotten and rediscovered at some point.

''It would appear that neglecting to transform between altmode and robot mode at least on occasion had physical feedback consequences: whilst battling [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]], [[Emirate Xaaron]] was well aware that, having failed to transform for hundreds of years, the shock to his system upon transforming to combat mode had a good chance of killing him. Which just goes to show that Continuing Physical Exercise Is Important For Everyday Health.''

''Just as importantly, neglecting to have all one's body parts connected at the time of attempting transformation was also a very painful, if not impossible, process.''

[[Image:City of Fear! Fizzle and Sizzle transform.jpg|thumb|left|400px|Sometimes transformers were shown phasing through a patchy cloud. We think this is due to artistic license.]]

[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] eventually lost his ability to transform after using [[Nucleon]] for fuel. {{storylink|Still Life!}}
{{-}}

====Animated series====
[[Image:Bumblebee transforming.gif|right|213px|thumb|Just lying down is a transformation]]
Transformation was an [[Autobot]] innovation, developed during their first war with the [[Decepticon]]s when it became apparent that they could not match their firepower and strength. The art of transformation allowed the Autobots to disguise their forms, thereby allowing for stealthy attacks on their enemies. This strategy met with great success, and the Decepticons were defeated, allowing the era of peacetime known as the [[Golden Age|Golden Age of Cybertron]] to settle in. The Decepticons subsequently adopted transformation technology themselves, coupled with robot-mode [[flight|flight powers]], and re-ignited the [[Great War (G1)|civil war]]. {{storylink|War Dawn}}

Transformers generally seem able to shift modes at will, although in cases where they have suffered severe physical injuries, transformation is sometimes a strain. In one case, [[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court|and one case only]], a Transformer indicated that staying in his altmode was too energy consumptive, and had to revert to his robot mode: [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], when trapped in medieval [[United Kingdom|England]] and low on fuel. This problem seems to almost never come up, even in cases where Transformers are very low on energy, so its significance is unknown. Perhaps walking is simply more energy efficient than moving his tank treads.

====Japanese animated series====
[[Image:Headmasters tf stuck.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Ow.]]
With the introduction of the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], transformation was established to be quite a rigorous task that, at least initially, required intense physical and mental concentration to accomplish, honed over a period of in-depth training. These small robots left Cybertron during the wars millions of years ago, but were so young that they had not actually learned how to transform yet. To survive the harsh climate of the [[Master (planet)|planet]] they crash-landed on, they developed [[Transtector]]s—normal-sized Transformer bodies that they would be able to connect to—and underwent a period of prolonged, intensive training so that they could learn to transform and link up with them. Even the most promising candidates struggled when they first connected with their Transtectors, spasming and becoming stuck between modes as they attempted to trigger the conversion. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines''===
''Beast Wars''-era Transformers have their transformation sequences controlled by the same onboard computers which manage a variety of other body functions, such as [[stasis lock]]. Transformation is triggered by a command to this computer, usually done by voice, but sometimes with a thought. These computers may have been a part of the [[Great Upgrade]], and once activated they choreograph the shifting body parts, allowing the Transformer to continue to concentrate on other matters. This is in-line with the Japanese portrayal of transformation, in that it suggests transformation is a mentally rigorous task (at least in the sense that it requires a few seconds of concentration), which is now conveniently removed from the equation.

Post-reformatting, the new [[technorganic]] forms granted to Cybertron's inhabitants lacked on-board computers, requiring them to re-learn the mental disciplines involved. It may be that a technorganic transformation is more difficult even than a traditional transformation, as the reformatted Maximals often reverted to their beast modes upon losing their concentration or emotional "center". This notion that the transformed state requires constant effort may be related to Warpath's statement about his tank mode consuming more energy (mentioned above).

Due to their technorganic nature, the Maximals of Beast Machines do not transform via any recognized mechanical process. Rather, in many cases their limbs actually change shape via an unknown means, presumably part and parcel of their new condition. One of the most prominent examples of this is [[Noble]], who transforms between two extremely dissimilar and wholly organic forms.

===Movie continuity===
[[Image:Movie OptimusPrime highwaytransform1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Cool to see, but it's a nightmare with regards to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys 2|toy accuracy]].]]
Transformation requires an alternate mode which is [[Frenzy (Movie)|generally]] of similar mass to the Transformer's robot mode. Once taking the form, however, the Transformer appears to be able to reorder his physical structure, causing some of the outward appearances of the vehicle mode to disappear. For example, Optimus Prime displays an incredibly complex Transformation where some of his alternate mode's appearances seem to be absorbed into his body or outright disappear. This may be due to the [[self-regenerating molecular armor]]'s possibly fluid [[Trans-scan|trans-scanning]] abilities.
{{-}}

===Animated continuity===
Transforming is something that can be done for exercise. In [[Autoboot Camp]], [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)| Sentinel Minor]] had recruits perform ''transform-ups'', rapidly switching from their robot to their vehicle form while in a [[Wikipedia:prone_position|prone position]].

==The noise==
===Technical description===
Transformation is often accompanied by a [[media:Tf_sound.ogg|distinct noise]] — an 8hz pulse, repeated five times, with each pulse lasting a roughly equal amount of time, whose pitch can be represented by the absolute value of a declining (for alt-mode to robot mode) or increasing (for robot mode to alt-mode) sine wave. In the G1 series, the sine wave generally increased when a Transformer changed to his robot mode, and declined when he converted to vehicle form (or whichever mode was smaller/shorter.) In general, the larger the robot, the deeper the pitch of the sound, and the longer the duration of the pulses. There is no general consensus as to what onomatopoeia should be used to represent this sound.

===Continuity locations===
[[Image:Transformation_Noise_Arrival_4.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
Within the early years of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 Cartoon]], almost all transformations were accompanied by the Noise in some manner, generally lasting the duration of the transformation sequence and being the only noise made by transformations. ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' began with most Transformers still retaining the Noise, but around a third of the way into the series, its use became more intermittent, particularly for the Autobot Headmasters themselves. ''[[Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' still used the sound for the [[Pretender|Pretenders]]' transformations in robot mode, but the Autobot [[Headmaster Junior|Headmaster Juniors]] and Autobot [[Godmaster|Godmasters]] had new sounds, with most of the Decepticons retaining the original. The Noise was dropped completely for ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' and ''[[Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!|Zone]]''. By the era of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'']], however, most characters made more complicated mechanical-sounding noises when transforming. In spite of this, the rebuilt [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] still made only the Noise when transforming.

The Noise was in fact first heard in the initial Transformers commercial for [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]] of the Marvel Comic, but only as part of the Transformers music track, the actual transformations being depicted with a series of generic mechanical sounds. The Noise was subsequently shown to occur the same as the animated series during television commercials throughout the rest of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] and all the way through ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''. It appeared in the first commercials for the [[Beast Wars (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toyline]], featuring a CG clip of [[Optimus Primal|Optimus Primal (bat) vs Megatron (alligator) two-pack]], but was dropped once the commercials started using footage from the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]].

The Noise did not appear again until ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', where the Noise was heard uniformly among all Transformers at the very beginning of transformation sequences, rather than lasting the duration of the transformation like in the past.

Two new versions of the Noise were heard in ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'', and then the second version of the ''Armada'' Noise was used in ''[[Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' (though not in ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]''). As with RiD, the timing of the Noise did not seem to correspond to the transformation sequence, instead playing at a random point during the sequence. The original version of the Noise was heard briefly in ''Armada'' as part of one of the background music tracks, and in ''Energon'' on occasion whenever part of the Japanese sound effects track was not completely dubbed over (the Noise being more prominent in ''Super Link'').

In the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 movie]], the original Noise could be heard accompanying a portion of both [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]'s first transformation, and the conversion of the [[Nokia-bot]], though in both instances, a foreground object blocked the view of the robot at that instant, leaving it unclear if the Noise corresponded with any specific moving parts. The Noise could be heard during Bumblebee's off-screen transformation as he saves the kids while escaping Sector Seven, and a new, mixed and appropriately slowed version of the Noise also accompanied [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]'s later slow-motion transformation. In [[Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]], the noise plays rather clearly at the end of the film as Bumblebee transforms from Alt Mode to Robot Mode.

The Noise accompanies most or all transformation sequences in ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'', even minor ones including battle masks, [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stinger" pop-out weapons, Blitzwing's changing of faces, Ratchet's magnets, and [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] shape-shifting Key. In the case of smaller, specific parts, the Noise is sometimes played sped up or higher pitched. It was in [[Human Error, Part I|one particular episode]] of ''Animated'' that, for the first time in a series, we see any Transformer actually acknowledged the existence of the Noise in-universe (any more than they would acknowledge the musical score); in this situation manually generating it like any fan would was used as a motivational tool in a virtual environment. This unusual scenario therefore still sheds no light on the actual purpose of the Noise - it just confirmed that they hear it too. In "[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]", the noise is consistently spelled "whrr-tschzz-tschzz-tschzz-chk."

[[Manga]] released in Japan uses the onomatopoeia "gi-go-ga-go-go" to represent the Noise.

In 2012 , IDW's More Than Meets the Eye issue 1 writes it as 'Tsche-chu-chu-chu-tsche'. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

===Function===
At this time, neither the cause of the Noise nor its relationship to a Transformer's ability to transform is known. It may just be a side effect to the transformation process; possibly, it represents the parts moving during transformation.

=="Transform" as a verb==
For reasons relating to intellectual property law, and the need to preserve "Transformers" as a [[trademark]], [[Hasbro]] and [[Takara]] do not use "transform" as a verb to describe this ability of Transformers in printed materials describing products. Instead synonyms such as "convert" and "morph" are used. This does not extend to in-fiction dialogue, of course, as evidenced by the catchphrase of the various Optimus Primes, "[[Roll out|Transform and Roll Out]]!"

==See Also==
*[[Transformation (toys)]]
*[[Role of transformation]]

[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]
[[Category:Biology]]

Jumpstarter

2012-02-12T04:45:49Z

72.39.45.127:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{picsneeded}}

{{disambig2|the Autobot subgroup from ''Generation 1''|the Mini-Con from ''Armada''|Jumpstart}}
:''The Jumpstarters are an [[Autobot]] subgroup from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:LastStandoftheWreckers1-Jumpstarters 'explain'.jpg|right|400px|thumb|]]
The '''Jumpstarters''' are [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Twin Twist]], impulsive warriors with the ability to transform from vehicle to robot in less than half a second.<ref>Twin Twist's toy bio and both of their ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Universe]]'' bios.</ref>

==Fiction==
{{stub}}
===Marvel Comics continuity===
They were members of the Wreckers.

They died. {{storylink|Time Wars}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
They were members of the Wreckers.

===IDW comics continuity===
They were members of the Wreckers. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}}

They died. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
* '''Jumpstarters''' (1985)
** [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]
** [[Twin Twist]]
:The Jumpstarters were sold boxed at the $6 price point; Topspin transforms into a futuristic Cybertronian hovercraft-type thing, while Twin Twist's alternate mode is a double-drilling tank. Both Jumpstarters are notable for their [[autotransform]]ing feature. Their [[alternate mode]]s are spring-loaded, and held into place by a catch. Equipped with [[pull-back motor]]s, they race forward when released, tripping the catch, which allows internal springs to snap the robots' bulky legs into place, which are balanced so as to leave the robot standing upright on its rather broad feet.

:On the back of both figures' heads is a device resembling a switch. The switch is asymmetric and each position presents a different gap between the back of the head and the surface the toy is running on. When the spring-loaded transformation is triggered, the inertia of the legs unfolding in one direction torques the body backward in the opposite direction, causing the whole unit to rear up on the rubber driving wheels. When the switch on the back of the head comes in contact with the running surface, it becomes the new fulcrum point for levering the toy up off the surface, both increasing the lever length between the spring hips and the running surface, and lifting the driving wheels off the surface, removing any forward acceleration from the jumble of intersecting forces. That anonymous bit of plastic on the back of the head thus controls the timing for the wheels to be removed from contact with the running surface, the moment when the lever length and thus the force required to rotate the body backward increase significantly, and the angle at which the whole assembly is positioned when the giant feet impact the prongs/screws of the upper body, creating the sudden 'snap' that tosses the whole assembly up onto its feet. Changing the little tabs' position can be the deciding factor between landing dramatically upright, smacking forward onto your face, or flopping limply onto your back.

:Jumpstarters were made in sufficient numbers to fill the toy boxes of the entire known universe.
{{stub}}

==Other "Jumpstarters"==
[[Image:Tww4 yellow jumpstarter.jpg|thumb|250px|This yellow guy is not one of Salt-Man-X's many color schemes, presumably he's someone new.]]
Since "Jumpstarter," like [[Battlecharger]], appears to be a classification; Topspin and Twin Twist are the only known members.

Nevertheless, Transformers [[fandom|fans]] frequently refer to other toys/characters which share Topspin and Twin Twist's body type as Jumpstarters. These include:
* [[Salt-Man X]]
* [[Salt-Man Z]]
* [[Robot-Man X]]
* [[Robot-Man Z]]
* A mysterious fiction-only [[Yellow Jumpstarter|yellow-and-black "Jumpstarter"]] from a 2003 Dreamwave comic.

Notably "Salt-Man" literally means "Jump Man." It's possible that all of these Transformers may be Jumpstarters.

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Démarreurs-Bondisseurs''' (Canada)

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]

High Score 100

2012-02-12T04:04:32Z

72.39.45.127: /* Transformers */

{{factions|autobotfilm}}
:''High Score 100 is an [[Autobot]] [[Real Gear Robot]] from the [[Movie (franchise)|2007 movie franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:HighScore100 robot.jpg|right|250px|thumb|You have been selected by Star Command to defend the frontier.]]
There are some who say [[Power Up VT6|video games]] are evil. But for '''High Score 100''', they're more than just supposed brain-rotting fun, They're an untapped teacher. Learning second-hand from the greatest fighters and soldiers, High Score 100 watches patiently, learning the skills his masters will teach him. Rigorous repeat quarter-circles and other motions have allowed him to use martial arts skill and combat techniques that other Transformers can only dream about, such as lightning-fast kicks, precision sniping, and mastery of countless weapons (both melee and ranged). [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] had better watch out, because this Autobot isn't just tough. He's down-right fierce.

{{quote|Plug in. Turn on. Power up.|High Score 100's packaging tagline}}

==Toys==
===Transformers===
*'''High Score 100''' (Real Gear Robots, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MA-12'''

[[Image:HighScore100 alt.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Seriously, this is almost how big he is.]]
: High Score 100 transforms into a (non-functional) wireless video game console controller of made-up model. Several companies have produced actual working controllers at a scale only slightly larger (though considerably thicker), but High Score 100's lack of a pair of analog triggers beneath his shoulder buttons means he is incompatible with the [[Xbox 360 robot|Xbox 360]]. High Score is one of the few Real Gear Robots to contain an Automorph gimmick; when you press up the switch on the controller's front, the robot's head raises, and shoulder pads flip into place (and sometimes fall off). His robot mode looks awfully like a gorilla, with large, chunky forelimbs and small back legs. Part of this is due to his transformation scheme, where the arms become the "points" of the controller mode. Like all [[Real Gear Robots]] toys, his alternate mode is supposedly at 1:1 scale.

: Supposedly.

: This mould was also used to make [[Twitcher F451]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/HighScore100/highscore100.htm More information on High Score 100 at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Marco-Points 100''' (Canada)
*''Spanish:'' '''Marca-Puntos 100'''

[[Category:Martial artists]]
[[Category:Movie Autobots]]
[[Category:Real Gear Robots]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

Heavy Metal War

2012-02-12T03:14:36Z

72.39.45.127: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=16
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=10
|prev2=Countdown to Extinction (episode)
|next2=Autobot Spike
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=5
|prev3=S.O.S. Dinobots
|next3=The Autobot Run
|image=HeavyMetalWar Primedefeated.jpg
|caption=The agony of defeat.
|title="Heavy Metal War"
|production code=#700-13
|airdate=[[January 1]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron challenges Optimus Prime to a one on one battle to end the war.'''

:''Japanese title:'' セイバートロン星の掟 (''Cybertron-sei no Okite'', "The Laws of Planet Cybertron")
:''German ''Generation 2'' title:'' "'''Der Zweikampf'''" ("The Duel")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Guerra dos Metaleiros''' ("War of Metalheads")
:''Serbian title:'' '''Сукоб металних ратника''' (''Sukob metalnih ratnika'', "Battle of the metal warriors")
:''Italian title:'' '''Il duello''' ("The duel")
:''Russian title'': '''Война тяжёлого металла''' (''Voyna tyazhelogo metalla'', "Heavy Metal War")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Megatron invitation.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Silly Megs, tricks are for kids!]]
A busy construction site is attacked by driver-less construction equipment, and several components are stolen. The construction vehicles return to Decepticon headquarters and are revealed to be the newly built [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. The components they stole are parts to a machine that will allow [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to absorb the [[power chip rectifier]]s from his [[Decepticon]] warriors.

While the final preparations are completed on the machine, Megatron flies to [[Autobot]] headquarters and makes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] an offer he cannot refuse. Megatron offers the Autobot leader a one on one battle with the winner staying on [[Earth]] to do as he pleases, and the loser taking his army and exiling themselves to deep space. Confident in his own abilities, Prime accepts the challenge and sets the match.

[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Megatron powerup.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Fear me, for I have the power of... poo gas!!]]

Knowing that Prime would be unable to resist a chance to honorably end their conflict, Megatron returns to the Decepticon base and uses the newly completed machine to gain all of the special powers of his warriors. [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'s teleportation, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]'s sonic boom, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s seismic attack, etc. Knowing that Megatron would now be unbeatable, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] voices concerns that the Autobot computer [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] would be able to detect what Megatron had done. Anticipating this problem, Megatron dispatches the Constructicons to take care of the computer.

The two armies arrive at the battle site, and the contest begins. Megatron unleashes a barrage of powers (while Starscream gives a running commentary), and Prime is outclassed at every step. Not knowing that he has been deceived, Prime concedes the fight and comments that he underestimated Megatron. The shocked Autobots begin the trek back to base, and the Decepticons follow to make sure they leave.

[[Image:Heavy Metal War Devastator.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Not Brawl.]]

Meanwhile, the Constructicons have nearly tunneled their way into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and Teletraan I. Sensing the imminent danger, Teletraan I activates the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. The Dinobots respond and start pounding on the Constructicons, opening up a lava channel in the process. The battle not going in their favor, the Constructicons pull out one last trick and combine into the super warrior, [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The returning Autobots see the battle, but are unable to help. Inside the Ark, Teletraan I is able to show that Megatron cheated, and the Autobots rush outside to help the Dinobots.

[[Image:Heavy Metal War Decepticons beat.JPG|right|200px|thumb|You'd think Starscream would be used to this, but no...]]

Despite the arrival of the rest of the Autobots to the fight, Devastator is still too powerful to be defeated, so [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] distracts the monstrous Decepticon with a [[hologram]] of [[Halonix Maximus|a colossal Autobot]]. Stunned at the sudden appearance of a robot even bigger than he is, Devastator is shot by Optimus Prime and falls apart. The Constructicons try to drive away, but the Dinobots blast them into the lava. The other Decepticons are routed by the Autobots and also pushed or knocked back by gunfire into the lava. There is much rejoicing.

...Until Megatron rises from the lava, vowing that the Decepticons will rise again.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (16)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (20)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (24)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (25)
*[[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (26)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (27)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (28)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (29)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (30)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (31)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (32)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (33)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (36)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (37)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (38)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (39)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (40)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (41)
*[[Halonix Maximus]] hologram (43)
|c2=
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (2)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (3)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (4)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (5)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (6)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (7)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (11)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (12)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (22)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (23)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (34)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (35)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (42)

|c3=
*Construction Workers (1)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (17)
*[[Chip Chase]] (18)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"Forgive me, but I believe your boast sounds vaguely familiar."
:—'''Starscream''', after hearing another of Megatron's promises to destroy the Autobots.

"Let's see how he likes my new [[Shock blast cannon|shockblast cannon]]! ''[The cannon explodes in his hands]'' Uhh... hnh... that's a shock, all right."
:—'''Wheeljack'''

"But I need my power chip rectifier. Besides, the Cybertron Code of Combat requires each warrior to fight as he is, without additional reinforcement. You wouldn't want to cheat, would you, Megatron?" 
"I will win by any means! At any cost! Even if it means terminating ''you'', Starscream!" 
"I was only raising a legal point..."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"Doesn't this remind you of the gladiatorial combats in ancient Rome?" 
"Maybe it would if I knew what you were talkin' about." 
"It's Earth history, Ironhide! Skip it!"
:—'''Chip''' and '''Ironhide''' on the duel between Optimus and Megatron.

"No destroy Teletraan I. Dinobots destroy you!"
:—'''Grimlock''' after hearing the Constructicons' plans to destroy Teletraan I.

'''Sludge''': Sludge not see these Decepticons before. 
'''Snarl''': Not see again either. Because we dino-mite them to pieces! 
'''Slag''': Dinobots, no fool around! 
'''Grimlock''': Right! Dinobots transform!
:—'''Sludge, Snarl, Slag, and Grimlock''' carrying on a conversation while fighting the Constructicons.

"It's bad news, Scrapper. They've brought out the heavy artillery." 
"Then it's time we did the same! Only heavier!"
:—'''Hook''' and '''Scrapper''' as the Constructicons prepare to merge into Devastator for the first time

"Prepare to meet your doom. Nothing can withstand the might of... Devastator!"
:—'''Devastator''' speaking to the Dinobots.

"Nothing defeats the Devastator! Nothing!" 
"Nothing, little one? Ha ha ha! What would you say about ''me''? HAHAHAHAHA!"
:—'''Devastator''' and a '''"Giant Autobot"'''

"It is ended." 
"Is it really over, Optimus? I mean, have we seen the end of this war? Forever?" 
"Who can say, Spike? In this vast universe, is anything truly forever?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Spike''', with a question that is quickly answered, at least for the audience

"Uhhh... we shall rise... AGAIN."
:—'''Megatron''' floating in lava

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
====Minor coloring errors====
* As Long Haul deploys his missiles, his Decepticon symbol is red, and missing its "cheeks".
* The top of Hook's head is green as Scrapper bows to Megatron... and again in the very next shot.
* Scavenger's face is colored all-green as he welds. If it was a stylistic decision to show the light from his welding, then it should flicker along with the welding lights.
* As Scrapper directs the others working on the infuser, his head is green instead of black, and Mixmaster's drum and torso are purple instead of green.
* The top of Wheeljack's chest is colored glass-blue instead of white after the shock cannon blows up.
* During the pan across the Decepticons before the strength transfer, Soundwave is missing the line in the middle of his mask, and his yellow stripes are mostly colored blue.
* Megatron's waist is red instead of silver after the transfer.
* When Megatron talks to Starscream after that, Starscream's air vent "boobs" are colored white instead of black.
* The front of Scrapper's head is red instead of black as Megatron orders him to move out.
* As Scrapper transforms, his whole helmet is green.
* As Optimus explains the code to Spike, Ironhide's forehead isn't fully drawn in.
* "Defeat, Megatron?" Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of black during this line.
* At the end of the across the Decepticons seating themselves, Soundwave's optic visor is blue instead of red.
* Laserbeak's head is light gray as he ejects from Soundwave.
* Megatron's faction emblem is missing before he teleports.
* And it's missing again as he says the Autobots must exile themselves.
* Starscream's right arm is colored dark gray for a moment, while he talks to Skywarp about the rectifiers.
* Wheeljack's missing one of the lines on his "ears" as he and the others listen to Optimus say he was not prepared.
* Prime's tires are light gray as he transforms to truck mode, and his headlights aren't colored in.
[[Image:Heavymetalwar constructicons target teletraan.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Oh, and Scavenger's chest shouldn't be purple, either.]]
* Scrapper's helmet is green in two shots as he and the others run into Autobot Headquarters.
* Scavenger's back is purple as he and the others back away from the Dinobots.
* Snarl's helmet is the same medium gray as his body as he joins Sludge.
* As Devastator walks toward the Dinobots, Swoop's head is white, while Sludge and Slag are block-colored gray.
* Devastator's hand is green instead of purple as he throws Grimlock.
* The top of Starscream's chest is red instead of gray as Megatron rants about the hologram.

====Art and character model errors====
* When Megatron comes to <s> lure Optimus into a trap </s> talk and Wheeljack and Ironhide fire their missiles, they exchange lines.
* It seems the artists might have had only script directions to go by when drawing the Constructicons' vehicular attack modes, and not actual character models. Both Long Haul and Mixmaster deploy weapons that are of similar description to their toys' attack forms (cab-mounted cannon, twin missile launchers), but look nothing like them.
* "Besides, the Cybertron code of combat requires..." Starscream's hand phases behind the transfer machine's light during his monologue.
* There's a discontinuity between shots as Megatron is infused; in one shot he's moving and reacting in visible pain to the power transfer; in the next, he's just standing there like a statue.
* After Megatron talks of the Constructicons destroying Teletraan I, he's suddenly no longer attached to the machine.
* When Megatron laughs maniacally after being infused with the power of the other Decepticons, his head is disproportionately small, and his Decepticon insignia moves independently of his body.
* When Starscream lands behind Megatron before the latter's duel with Optimus Prime, the animators forgot to animate the dust Starscream's feet stir up, so we can see that his legs are not fully drawn, and instead of feet, they end in paint blotches.
* Chip is drawn speaking Spike's line "It's Earth history, Ironhide!"
* During the duel, what are the Autobots supposed to be sitting on? Air?
* After the boulder Prime threw at Meagtron splits in two, it completely disappears before the shot ends.
* Huffer is drawn with six wheels instead of four as he takes Prime's trailer.
* How long's it take for the animators to forget that Prime isn't towing his own trailer? All of one shot! Huffer is nowhere to be seen as the 'bots leave the battlefield.
* Mixmaster's cab-weapon changes color and form between scenes (it's a gray sphere when the Constructicons start tunneling; it's a green gun when they reach Autobot Headquarters.)
* Mixmaster's acid-laser changes from pink to orange between shots. The weapon that fires it has gone back to gray in the second shot.
* The animation doesn't really show a hole ''melting'' in the floor; a section of the floor just vanishes and is replaced with a melted hole.
* Grimlock has his original head design in this episode, rather than the later, toy-based one he normally is drawn with.
* The Dinobots' voices are ''heavily'' processed in his episode, far beyond the norm, giving them a crunchy, gravely sound.
* The inside of Sludge's robot-mode mouth is glowing orange ''again''. Clearly this is part of his character model, but why and how did such a bizarre choice come about in the first place?
* As Scrapper clutches his wounded shoulder, he has two small eyes instead of a visor. (It makes him look a lot like [[Rewind]].)
* Much like [[A Plague of Insecticons|Kickback's insect head]], the cartoon could never quite make up its mind whether Devastator was supposed to have two small eyes or one big visor. This episode shows him with eyes as he monologues, then the visor shows up just a shot or two later.
* When the Autobots cheer inside their headquarters, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]]'s insignia is missing, Wheeljack's ears aren't flashing, and Jazz's mouth is blinking on and off.
* As the hologram fades out, Hound isn't shown in the nearby cave from which he's supposed to be projecting it.
* When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] finds out the "Giant [[Autobot]]" is a hologram, his cannon [[kibble]] is gone for a brief second.
* In the final closeup of Megatron's face, several of the lava streams are flowing ''behind'' his eyes and back out. OUCH!

===Rhino DVD release===
More than most episodes, the [[Kid Rhino]] DVD version of this episode is full of animation errors that do not appear in the original broadcast version or prior home video releases (as a result of incomplete film masters being used for the DVD), as well as crude attempts made by Rhino to fix some of these errors.

Some are merely aesthetic complaints:
* In one shot, the camera pans sideways to follow the Constructicons, however they aren't moving, so they actually lag behind the screen. Then, as they round a corner, they are animated above the animation cel of the building they drive around, and you can see they are not fully drawn. Their vehicle modes end in unfinished lines and paint blotches until they come fully into view.
* As the Constructions make their big introductory transformations, the camera doesn't pan up with Bonecrusher, Long Haul, and Mixmaster, leaving them cut out of the shot from the thighs upward. Bonecrusher is also visibly floating above the ground.
* After Long Haul transforms, the equipment he's supposedly carrying simply pops into view. As the outlines tell us, it has been retroactively shopped into the image.
* The Rhino DVD portrays the power-chip smelter as a featureless rectangular smear, lacking all the light effects and animation that should be present.
* When Megatron says "Scrapper, you have your orders...", the Constructicons' eyes / eye visors no longer glow red in response.
* As he drives up to start digging, [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] is constantly jumping a bit back and forth while driving, as if the animation frames are not ordered properly.
* When the Autobots transform to leave base for the battlefield, Optimus Prime's left headlight blinks in and out a couple of times.
* Then, as they all drive out of the Ark, the screen freezes for a moment. The Autobots seem to have teleported after the animation finally continues.
* The sky behind Ironhide, when he is informing us of his ignorance of Earth's history, jumps noticeably at the beginning of the shot, and the shadowy outlines around him vibrate wildly.
* The audience isn't actually sitting on the edge of the pit, rather they are all somehow seated on the slopes.
* At two points during the duel with Optimus Prime (one of them recycled as him landing at Autobot Headquarters), Megatron is colored dark gray.
* When the miscolored Megatron blasts Prime away, the background isn't moving to simulate the camera pan, whereas Prime's animation is.
* The humans in one shot are drawn horribly off-model, with terrible looking teeth, may we add. Spike shows his pre-final print uppers again in a later shot.
* When Skywarp boasts that Megatron acquired the power of teleportation from him, he is colored like Starscream, who is seen sitting right next to him.
* During the Dinobots' fight scene with the Constructicons, some of the laser-firing animation is missing, leaving the characters with huge "holes" and gaps on their bodies where said laser shots should have been animated. This also renders the shot of Sludge firing his eye-beams completely pointless.
* And as Swoop fires his missiles, the background art isn't moving, making it look like he is floating.
* Also in one shot, the rock covering the Constructicons is missing from the foreground, and again, we see incomplete drawings instead of fully-drawn robots.
** However a later shot has a cave mouth drawn over the screen's outer rim, which shouldn't be there, as the scene takes place outside.

However, some of the screwups actually confuse the plot:
* When Rhino DVD Optimus Prime hurls a boulder at Megatron, Megatron still lights up to use Skywarp's teleportation ability to get out of the way... but after the teleporation glow effect fades, Megatron is ''still standing there''. The boulder ''flies straight through him'' with nobody seeming to care, including Megatron himself.
* When Megatron is talking to Starscream while the Constructicons are building the infuser machine, Starscream is colored like Skywarp.
** Speaking about the Constructicons being hard at work, this sequence is completely missing. We are instead treated to a shot of Megatron and Starscream standing silently for seconds.
* When [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] runs up and uses his [[glass gas]], he is coloured like [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]].
[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Mixmaster spray.JPG|thumb|right|200px|That sure isn't a cave you're in there, Mixmaster.]]
* The animation sequence of Megatron landing at the Autobot base ''is missing entirely'', and is replaced by looped animation from later in the episode of Megatron landing after a jump, along with a recycled snippet of Cliffjumper looking elated after encasing Megatron in ice from just a few seconds earlier.
* When Megatron lands, there are two Optimus Primes and Ironhides there to greet him.
* As the Autobots help Prime make his decision, the camera pans are missing, and the scene is instead shown as multiple, separate shots. Secondly, Wheeljack's light effects are mis-aligned. Finally, the added lens-effects in Prime's optics makes him look like he's about to cry.
* When the Constructicons move out to dig the passage to the Autobot headquarters, they're all shown outdoors instead of inside the base.
* A transformation sequence for Trailbreaker, recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", still retains its exterior background even though it's supposed to happen inside Autobot Headquarters.
* When the Autobots arrive at the pit in vehicle mode, Ironhide is seen transforming from robot mode to vehicle mode. Then, he is back in his robot form.
* Instead of using the finished shot, we see recycled animation of a standing Prime being hit when Megatron delivers his final blow. He should be lying on the ground.
* The animation of the lava is absent in a couple of shots.

But, uhhh, hey, that silver DVD case sure is shiny and pretty!

===Shout! Factory DVD release===
* Like "[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction]]" before it, the sound effects of this episode are cranked down to near-inaudibility, compared to the music and vocal tracks.
* This episode is also one of several affected by Shout!'s inability to obtain complete master reels to restore the incomplete animation used in the Kid Rhino releases, resulting in 1-inch tape versions being used instead. Picture quality is thus all over the map. The scenes of Megatron approaching Autobot Headquarters are noticeably under-lit. Several scenes are in visibly softer focus compared to shots before and after, such as the pan of Autobots as Cliffjumper says "I don't trust 'im!"

===Continuity errors===
* This episode gives the first of [[Constructicon (G1)|three contradictory origins]] for the Constructicons.

* The building site that the Constructicons raid is a power plant. One of the construction workers states that it will be able to provide the whole planet with limitless energy, begging the question of why the Decepticons didn't raid such a powerful energy source for energon.

* So this head worker guy sees driverless, talking construction vehicles, that turn into giant malevolent thieving robots with the Decepticon symbol on 'em... but somehow he only figures out that they're Decepticons when Scrapper says they work for Megatron. Is Megatron's name more famous than all the defining aspects of his faction?

* Ironhide is apparently able to detect the Decepticons by himself, without relying on Teletraan I. However, in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]", the Autobots were unable to detect the approaching Decepticons with Teletraan I sabotaged.

* Optimus Prime takes out Devastator with a single shot from his laser rifle, something rather at odds with the later portrayal of combiners as nigh-invulnerable. Maybe they were upgraded?

* It's a bit strange that Starscream of all mechs should be concerned with legalities and suggest that Megatron try to fight honorably... but there ''is'' a touch of sarcasm when he says "You wouldn't want to ''cheat'', would you, Megatron?"

* The Autobots return to headquarters as the Dinobots have begun their battle with Devastator. They have time enough to repair Optimus Prime and detect the Decepticon deception, and meanwhile, the Dinobots are ''still'' fighting Devastator.
** On that note the Autobots don't even try to tell the Dinobots that they were leaving and the fight was over. Were the Autobots going to leave the Dinobots behind and strand them on Earth!?

* Speaking of which, didn't anybody notice the big flaming hole in the floor of Autobot Headquarters?

* So the Decepticons couldn't '''FLY''' out of the lava when they fell in? Doesn't anybody notice Megatron down there floating in the lava?

===Continuity notes===
* This episode introduces the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]].
[[Image:Heavymeatlwar megatron powers.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This fist of mine glows with an awesome power chip rectifier!]]
[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Scavenger.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This shovel of mine glows with an awesome sensor reading!]]
[[Image:Heavymetalwar constructicons target teletraan.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This computer of mine glows with an awesome lollipop!]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** The Constructicons show off a variety of armaments and abilities, such as Mixmaster melting a whole cement mixer into goop and later firing a stream of rock-melting liquid, Long Haul having dump truck-mode missile launchers (perhaps a nod to his toy's "attack mode"), and Scavenger's shovel-based sensors.
** Long Haul has the rather ''amazing'' ability to fill up his cargo bed with a payload, transform to robot mode, then convert back to dump truck mode... and still have the cargo be there!
** Ironhide detects Megatron's approach using a sensor that displays on his chest, not unlike abilities he displayed in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" and "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]".
** Cliffjumper's [[glass gas]], if that's what it's supposed to be, acts a lot more like Ironhide's liquid nitrogen. He shoots a huge stream of it from his retracted wrists, and it encases Megatron in ice.
** Speaking of which, being encased in ice does not affect Megatron's ability to fly.
** Ironhide doesn't even bother retracting his fists; he just shoots lasers right out of them. It's an unusual conceit for ''Transformers'', though [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|not]] [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|unheard of]].
** As explained in this episode, [[power chip rectifier]]s are what give Transformers their unique special abilities.
** The episode gives us a showcase of the Decepticons' most notable abilities, as Megatron uses Starscream's cluster bombs and null rays, Reflector's light-generating abilities, Rumble's earthquakes, Skywarp's teleportation, and Thundercracker's sonic abilities.
*** Incidentally, this is the first time said sonic abilities have been used explicitly. And it's not even by the guy they belong to.
** Optimus shows the strange ability to fire lasers out of his palm. He's blocking Megatron's shot with the other arm at the same time, almost like he's [[Optimus_Primal#Beast_Machines_cartoon|absorbing the energy and shooting it back]].
** Teletraan-1 can make up its own mind to wake up the Dinobots when a threat is detected.
** Snarl's sword can fire energy blasts from its tip.
*** This is also the first appearance of ''any'' of the Dinobots' swords in the cartoon, something that doesn't happen often. Instead of being red, as per the toy and comics, it uses the gray coloring it has in Snarl's package art.
** Hound projects one of his holograms out of both fists.
** Hey, turns out the Constructicons can turn themselves all into one big robot! Wonder if the toys can do that??
* When the Constructicons are tunneling, Scrapper refers to [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] as "[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]". In their [[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|''More Than Meets The Eye'']] bio, Dreamwave would paint this as a deliberate derogatory term other Decepticons sometimes refer to him as.
* Soundwave totally pets Ravage on the head like a kittycat. Adorable!
* This episode is also the "source" of the aborted "Lava Bath Safety" deco for the original Megatron toy.

* The ''Law of Cybertron'' will be invoked again many years later, to resolve the Generation 2 War. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|The Autobots Triumph in the Battle of Good Vs. Evil!}}

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''Millennium Falcon'' engine burst/whine as the Constructions take off from the construction site.
** Same effect as Megatron leaves Autobot Headquarters.
** Lightsaber ignition sound when Megatron activates Reflector's light powers.
* Chip provides the episode's requisite dose of "Oh, it's ''educational''" by likening the leaders' combat to the gladiatorial matches of ancient Rome.
* Mixmaster gets in on the act by naming a couple of acids by formula: H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and HCl (hydrochloric acid).
* Oh, and the construction site will make energy from the earth's magnetic field. "Magnetic field" sounds like science, right??

===Trivia===
[[Image:SnarlG1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|And we don't just mean the "horrible rape-related imagery" aspect, either.]]
* The art style of this episode has a distinctively Japanese flavor to it, similar to that of "[[Roll for It]]". [[wikipedia:Masami Obari|Masami Obari]]'s believed to be involved with this episode.<ref>http://mimizun.com/log/2ch/ranime/1118994758/</ref>
* The animation pretty much gets Devastator's transformation spot-on. Enjoy it while you can; it [[The Core|won't]] [[The Autobot Run|last]].
* Storyboards for this episode indicate that at one point in the scripting process, power chip rectifiers were also tied into the ability to transform. Upon giving up their rectifiers, the Decepticons lose their ability to transform, and during the fight, Megatron transforms into a jet! <ref>[http://cartoonpaperwork.com/network/dt/003.shtml "Heavy Metal War" storyboards at CartoonPaperwork.com]</ref>
* Scenes and dialogue deleted from this episode include Wheeljack showing off the latest improvements he has made to the Dinobots outside Autobot Headquarters (during which Megatron arrives), Scavenger referring to Scrapper with the misnomer of "[[Gravedigger]]", and Megatron using Soundwave's mind-reading powers on Optimus Prime during their fight.
** An extended portion of dialogue is also cut from Megatron's address to Optimus Prime, resulting in the rather clumsy line in the finished episode, "Our war has gone on for millions of years — Decepticons fighting Autobots — in which opposing leaders — you and I, Optimus Prime — may do battle." In the episode's dialogue script, following "Decepticons fighting Autobots," Megatron finishes his first sentence by lamenting the endless nature of the war. Prime shares in his regret, but deems it necessary as long as Megatron continues his pursuit of conquest. Megatron then speaks again, raising the topic of the "age-old law of combat," then picking up the finished line from "in which opposing leaders..."
[[Image:RumbleisRed.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The "red robot" is clearly blue.]]
* During Teletraan I's montage of the sources of Megatron's acquired powers, the descriptions for the individual Decepticons are verbatim quotes from the [http://transformers.winterchill.com/bible/biblepage34.html Transformers Series Bible's "Decepticon Rollcall" page], albeit including several lost-in-translation typographical errors ("Decepticon Lider", "Decepticon Commicator", "Sky Warp"). The most notable of those is [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (misspelled as "Runble") being identified as a [[FIRRIB|"red robot"]]. Furthermore, the seemingly random numbers listed on those screens are actually Hasbro's product codes for the respective toys. Interestingly enough, [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] is given a product number, even though he was never released at mass retail. However, the renditions of the Decepticons are ''not'' the official [[character model]] poses for those characters, but rather all-new drawings.
* The head construction worker's cry as Scavenger drops him is recycled from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]" (from when Laserbeak kidnaps two security guards.)
* The episode's ending sure seems intended as a potential conclusion to the series, just in case it wasn't renewed for a second season. Turns out that ''Transformers'' was a bit of a hit, so that whole falling-into-lava thing was ignored.
* The hologram image Hound projected went anonymous for 26 years until it received an identity at [[BotCon 2010]] as the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard member]] [[Halonix Maximus]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 10: "Heavy Metal War" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — A Ghost in the Machine / Heavy Metal Wars (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 6: Evolution Revolution ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/heavy_metal_war.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Energon repair ray

2012-02-08T05:54:03Z

72.39.45.127:

[[Image:RatchetWFCScreenshotAttack.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Ze healing leaves little time for ze hurting...]]
[[Scientist (WFC)|Scientist]]s use the '''Energon Repair Ray''' to heal teammates, but not, irritatingly, to themselves. The Ray homes in on the nearest wounded ally. It also causes some damage to enemies.

==Games==
===''War for Cybertron''===
The Energon Repair Ray was used in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] by Scientist-class [[Transformer]]s.
{{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

==Notes==
*This weapon has the following in-game stats:
**Damage: 4
**Range: 1
**Accuracy: 10
**Rate of Fire: 9

[[Category:Energon|Repair ray]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron weapons]]

Transformation cog (biology)

2012-02-07T20:12:10Z

72.39.45.127: /* Notes */

{{disambig3|Cog}}
[[Image:Transformation cog.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hut hut hike!]]
A '''transformation cog''', also referred to as a '''transforming cog''', '''transition cog''', or '''conversion cog''' is a component important to a [[Transformer]]'s [[transformation]].

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
Metroplex's cog was damaged in 2005 during the [[Decepticon]] [[Battle of Autobot City|siege]] of [[Autobot City]], which explains why he did not transform to robot mode during the battle. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] built a replacement cog and entrusted its delivery from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to Autobot City on [[Earth]] to [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. This proves you can be brilliant but still stupid. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

After numerous setbacks, the cog was delivered just in time. As the city was under siege once again, [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] quickly installed it, allowing Metroplex to fight off Trypticon. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

The cog also makes a nice substitute for a football. Apparently, it can also change its shape to look like flat, toothed wheel every time a [[AKOM|lazy animator]] wishes it.

[[Unicron]] required Trypticon's cog as part of his scheme to use [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as his new body. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] stole Metroplex's cog, causing the Autobots to retaliate by stealing Trypticon's. Both factions hit upon the idea of using the captured cogs on their respective city warriors, an idea that was only partially successful. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

===Dawn of Future's Past===
While speeding to defend the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] from [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] thieves, [[Nitrostreak]] was shot in the hood by [[Dinobot (BW)|one of criminals]], damaging his transformation cog. As he was also flipped on his roof by the blast, he was well and truly incapacitated for the moment. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

===IDW Generation 1 comics===
{{spoiler|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|February 11, 2012}}
[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] broke his legs, internal clock and transformation cog from falling through the [[Mitteous Plateau]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] found his colleague [[Springarm]] dead, his transformation cog was "still warm", allowing Orion to transform the dead body into its alternate mode. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s transformation cog was shattered during the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], leaving him stuck in gun mode for a whole two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} When his unit was ambushed by Decepticons, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] was injured and couldn't transform due to a damaged transition cog. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] created an experimental weapon to override a Transformer's primary transformation cog and lock them in their alternate mode. [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used it on [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] during a battle, forcing him to remain in his cassette deck mode for 25 years. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} In protest of the Autobot "occupation" of a peaceful Cybertron, a [[NAIL]] transformed repeatedly for weeks until his transformation cog wore out and he died. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

===War for Cybertron===
In order to prevent Iacon's destruction at the hands of [[Trypticon (Prime)|the battle station Trypticon]], [[Air Raid (Prime)|Air Raid]] proposed that his team blast Trypticon's conversion cog, forcing him back into robot mode and hopefully ending the chaos. The cog was blasted to bits and Trypticon was unable to maintain his station mode. Unfortunately, this had the slightly troublesome effect of dumping a heavily-armed, very angry giant Decepticon onto Cybertron instead. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
In addition, when a players health is completeley depleted in a co-operative or online mode of gameplay, the Transformer being controlled will fall to the ground and begin a countdown to going offline. While the countdown is in process, it can be seen that a notice on the side of the screen reads "TRANS-COG: OFFLINE" and the game does not allow the player to transform during the countdown. This implies that heavy damage to a Transformer can disable their conversion cog.

==Notes==

* In the G1-related fiction, damage to a transformation cog traps the Transformer in whatever mode he or she happens to be in (most often this is their alternate mode). In ''War For Cybertron'', the destruction of his conversion cog instead inexplicably forces Trypticon into robot mode.
* In the IDW-verse at least, a transformation cog is still functional even when a Transformer is deceased, as demonstrated when Optimus used the corpse of a fellow Autobot as a vehicle.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Transform cog''' (トランスフォーム・コグ ''toransufōmu kogu'')

[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]

Carly (G1)

2012-02-07T20:00:51Z

72.39.45.127: /* Notes */

{{factions|{{factions/icons|custom=Symbol autobot reg.png|cLink=Honorary Autobot}}}}
{{disambig3|Carly}}

:''Carly is a [[human]] [[honorary Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Carly.jpg|right|200px|thumb|MIT graduates make either great ambassadors or fantastic housewives!]]
'''Carly''' is a human ally of the Autobots. She attended [[MIT]] and has a gift for chemistry and electronics. She married [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and eventually gave birth to [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]].

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor'': [[Arlene Banas]] (English), [[Gara Takashima]] (Japanese, teenager), [[Kazue Komiya]] (Japanese, adult)

[[Image:Arcade Hahaha.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Spike now knows how Dudley Do-Right feels.]]

Carly first met [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] at the [[Robots Video Arcade]], though she was more interested in the Autobot than Spike, much to his disgust. Sometime later, she encountered [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], who was standing guard during the test of [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer|Immobilizer]]. She blamed herself for the device's capture by the [[Decepticon]]s, and after Ironhide took her on a tour of Autobot Headquarters, she went on a solo mission to retrieve it and was promptly captured. After Ironhide, Bumblebee and Spike rescued her, she was able to put her MIT studies to use and reverse the Immobilizer's operation, ensuring an Autobot victory. Back at base, she accepted Spike's offer of a date, despite the obvious age difference.<ref>From the show's [[production bible]], [http://transformers.winterchill.com/bible/biblepage8.html page eight]</ref> {{storylink|The Immobilizer}}

After a stop at a [[Fun A Rama Park|fun park]], Carly, Spike and Bumblebee picked up [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] at an airport, only to discover the Decepticons were using the location as a [[Hangar|secret base]]. The Dinobots were called in, but became critically injured during the battle. The three humans returned to headquarters, where the Dinobots decided to desert the Autobot cause. When the Autobots themselves later became crippled by the levels of [[Cybertonium]] deteriorating in their systems, Carly realised that the Dinobots would still be functioning, and the trio of humans were able to persuade the Dinobots to help by intercepting a Decepticon shipment of the mineral. Unfortunately [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] instead led his troops to Cybertron, and Carly and Spike were forced to follow them there. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}}

[[Image:DesertionDinobots2 Spike carrying Carly.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
Carly's technical know-how once again proved useful as she, Spike and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] outwitted [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. She also undid some Decepticon cross-circuiting of the Dinobots, and helped the Dinobots and Spike steal some Cybertonium. She was very impressed with Cybertron's design and layout, and even watched a cybertronic history disc from a neglected machine. Unfortunately, the trip had several drawbacks; among them, Shockwave disintegrated her car (Decepticreep!), and she twisted her ankle. However, after the Cybertonium mission was completed, some good came of it all — [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] gave both Carly and Spike the title of honorary Autobots. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:BlasterBlues Carly Spike in spacesuits.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]
The pair took [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] along with them to a rock concert, however Blaster's transmission of the concert to the other Autobots caused them to miss a distress signal, resulting in the theft of the [[Voltronic Galaxer]]. Carly and Spike started searching the globe in [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], however [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] used the missing device to jam Earth's radio signals. Carly used her technical knowhow to track the signal to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and she and Spike accompanied Powerglide and Optimus there in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], though the two humans couldn't do much more than be a cheering squad. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}}

Out driving in [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], Spike and Carly stumbled on a film shoot. After Hoist rescued some stuntmen, he was invited to be part of the movie, while Spike and Carly got free passes to the studio. The duo went to watch the filming, and were dismayed as the other Autobots also attempted to get in on the act, but their time was soon occupied in preventing the Decepticons from getting their hands on a film reel. They were chased through the backlot by Megatron, until a cunning ruse by Hoist involving dropping the pair into a vat of "lava" fooled the Decepticons into thinking the film reel had been destroyed. {{storylink|Hoist Goes Hollywood}}

Spike, Carly and Sparkplug got all dressed up to watch [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] get presented with a prestegious award for his invention of [[corrostop]]. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

[[Image:FFOD1 Witwickys under attack.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
By the year 2006, she and Spike, who had become Earth's ambassador to Cybertron, had married and had a son, [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]]. The family attended the first [[Galactic Olympics]] together, from which Spike was abducted by the [[Quintesson]]s, along with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

[[Image:G1 Carly Witwicky adult.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Daniel? Daniel? Oh, good, I lost him.]]
The Witwickys attended a diplomatic event on Cybertron, during which Daniel wandered off with Grimlock. It was a while before Carly noticed her son was missing, and insisted on joining in the search. The Autobots followed the trail to a [[Planetary Corridor CB311B4|secret Quintesson room]] with portals leading to prison dimensions. Carly and the Autobots traveled to [[Menonia]] in search of Daniel and Grimlock. Carly was able to find a piece of Daniel's tuxedo and, with the aid of [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]], tracked down the boy himself. After defeating the Quintesson who'd been exiled to Menonia, the Autobots and the two humans returned to Cybertron. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

When Daniel started having bad dreams, Spike and Carly asked Rodimus to help the boy overcome them. {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
{{note|The events of the American animated series occur in Japanese continuity as noted above, except that the events of season three were moved back to 2010. Japanese animated continuity inserts several additional storylines into the timeline.}}
=====Scramble City=====
[[Image:ScrambleCarlyChip01.jpg|left|thumb]]

In the late 1980s, the Autobots began work on a mobile battle fortress dubbed "[[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]]", and began construction of the massive structure in a subterranean cavern. Carly helped the Autobots work on the project, and was seen twiddling knobs and consulting some paperwork. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}
{{-}}
=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Kazue Komiya]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hm6 unexplained injuries.jpg|thumb|right|270px]]
Apparently, doing anything constructive with her degree from MIT wasn't a priority for Carly, as she became strictly a doting housewife by 2011. She, Spike and Daniel lived in the Autobot base on [[Athenia]].
{{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} After Spike was injured, she took care of him. Thus when the Decepticons sent a [[Metamorphose|metal-warping meteor]] towards the planet, neither she nor Spike was able to go and deal with it, so Daniel went instead. {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}}

[[Image:HM13 Carly.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Daniel cut short a meal with his mother so he could go and check on some seeds he brought back from [[Earth]]. When it turned out to be a deadly [[buridanka]], she sat uselessly in on the discussion about it. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} When Daniel and Spike ran into Decepticon trouble on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], she pointedly wondered aloud why [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] wasn't bothering to do anything yet. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} Carly attended a meeting about a distress call from the planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]]. She was in favor of providing help, and assisted [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] in contacting [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] on Earth to see if there was energy to spare. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

[[Image:HM18 Carly and Daniel.jpg|thumb|right|240px]]
She and Daniel traveled to Earth with Spike when her husband decided to try and negotiate with the Decepticons. The pair were held hostage during the negotiations. When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] insisted on Daniel remaining on Earth while Spike worked on Athenia, Carly volunteered to stay on Earth to look after the boy. As it turned out she didn't have to, as Galvatron turned out to be [[Sixshot]] in disguise, and she and Daniel were swiftly rescued by the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. Apparently she didn't mind Daniel running off to go into space to hunt Decepticons with the Autobots. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}}

[[Image:HM28 Carly pours tea.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
She attended Ultra Magnus's funeral. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} She worried over Spike when he was injured during a Decepticon attack. Luckily Fortress was able to use his telekinesis to help Spike, and the family was tearfully reunited. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} While Daniel asked if he could go to planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], Carly poured tea and suggested he stay on Athenia so she wouldn't have to worry about him. Then Spike totally said Daniel could go anyway. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} While on the alien planet of [[Daira]], a [[space ration]] reminded Daniel of when his mother made it for him. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}}

When the Decepticons began attacking locations around the world, Spike and Carly headed for [[Santiago]] on a plane, only for it to crash in the [[Andes Mountains]]. Carly ended up down a crevasse and promptly fainted, necessitating her rescue by Daniel, who carried her out on his back. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} Restricted to a stretcher, Carly returned to America on the ''[[Queen World]]'', where Spike said he'd look after her so that Daniel could go take part in the fight against the Decepticons. Following the Decepticons' defeat, Carly, Spike and Daniel turned out to farewell the Autobots, who were following the Decepticons into space. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

=====''The Headmasters'' comic=====
Carly was strolling the beach with her family and Autobot friends shortly after the defeat of [[Scorponok (G1)|Mega Zarak]]. After [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] attacked, Carly was taken hostage by [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] and [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]] until she was rescued by Daniel. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 8|The Headmasters #8}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' comics===
[[Image:DW_Extermination_Witwickyfamily.jpg|thumb|300px|It turned out blondes actually did have more fun.]]

In 2002, Carly was a brunette. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} She was back to her natural blonde locks when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] arrived at the Witwicky household to talk to Spike. When Daniel asked who the yellow car was, Carly, not wishing to reveal to her son the family's history with the Transformers, merely replied that it was his father's best friend. {{Storylink|Extermination}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Carly never appeared in any of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comics]], though she arguably exists within its [[continuity]]. Daniel at least does, and ''someone'' has to be his mother, right?
* Carly and [[Chip Chase]] never appeared in the same episode during the entire US run. Coincidence!? '''''Shocking dual identity!?''''' (Or maybe the two of them just can't stand to be in the same room for whatever reason...) The only time they're both seen on screen is near the beginning of "[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]". Blink twice and you'll miss 'em.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Carly''' (カーリー ''Kārī'')
*''English:'' '''Carey''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:The Headmasters humans]]
[[Category: Witwicky family]]

Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)

2012-02-07T19:58:49Z

72.39.45.127: /* Story */

{{Nav-returnofconvoy}}

'''''Return of Convoy''''' was the fifth Japanese-exclusive ''Transformers'' [[franchise]], released in 1991. Following on from ''[[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Transformers: Zone]]'' in 1990.

The franchise featured the following three components:

*A [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Return of Convoy (toyline)|toyline]]
*[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|''The Battlestars'' manga special]].
*[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|A series of story pages]].

It is notable that this franchise was the first Japanese series not to have any corresponding animation. Neither would the next franchise, ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination]]''.

==Story==
''Return of Convoy'' continued the storyline of the animated continuity, picking up where ''[[Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!|Zone]]'' left off, but was never actually ''animated''. Instead, the story was told through a single issue of manga and [[Story page|story pages]].

The ''Return of Convoy'' storyline revolved around the return of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] as Star Convoy and his battle against [[Dark Nova]] and the resurrected [[Super Megatron]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Convoy (franchise)}}
[[Category:Generation 1 franchises]]
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy| ]]

Dark Nova

2012-02-07T08:38:34Z

72.39.45.127:

:''Dark Nova is a weird alien thingy from the [[Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]] who later becomes '''Star Giant'''.''

{{faction|decepticon}}

[[Image:DarkNova3.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Bossa Nova!!]]
'''Dark Nova''' (ダークノヴァ ''Dāku Nova'') is a mysterious supernatural entity from outer space who sides with the [[Decepticon]]s against the [[Autobot]]s. Known as the "Ultimate Emperor", he revived [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], upgrading him into [[Super Megatron]], and later merged with him to become the '''Star Giant''' (星の巨人 ''Hoshi no Kyojin''). He commands armies of [[Novaroid]] drones and [[Galaman]] troopers, which make up the bulk of his forces.

==Fiction==
===''The Battlestars'' story pages===
Almost immediately following the defeat of [[Violen Jiger]], Dark Nova rose to take his place as [[Decepticon]] [[Emperor of Destruction|Emperor]] and began unleashing his hordes of [[Galaman]] warriors upon the universe. [[Autobot]] [[Supreme Commander]] [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] realized that the only one capable of defeating Dark Nova was [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and ordered the [[Battlestars]] to use the [[Zodiac]] to revive the legendary commander. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 10}} {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 1}}

To thwart the Battlestars, Dark Nova abducted the body of Optimus Prime and cloned it as the sinister [[False Convoy]]. With the help of [[Grandus (ROC)|Grandus]], the Battlestars defeated False Convoy. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 3}} The Battlestars then invaded the Decepticon planet [[Lucifer]], rescued Prime's body and used the Zodiac to resurrect him as Star Convoy. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 4}}

[[Image:StarGiantRobot1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|''Bossa Nova''?]]

To counter the threat of Star Convoy, Dark Nova did one better: He beamed a blast of weird energy down to the frozen corpse of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] in the North Pole, resurrecting and upgrading him into [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Super Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 6}} From the [[Dark Nebula]], Dark Nova snickered with glee as Super Megatron led the Galaman forces in raiding the Earth of all its energy. Super Megatron was subsequently driven from the planet by Star Convoy. {{storylink|The Battlestars (manga)|The Battlestars special}}

Eventually, Star Convoy defeated Super Megatron, resulting in Dark Nova providing another upgrade, this time into Ultra Megatron. Dark Nova then revealed himself to aid Ultra Megatron in battle. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 8}} Ultra Megatron was ultimately defeated as well. Irritated, Dark Nova merged with Ultra Megatron, resulting in the '''Star Giant'''. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 9}} He proved nearly indestructible from the outside, so Star Convoy, [[Grandus (ROC)|Grandus]] and [[Sky Garry (ROC)|Sky Garry]] allowed themselves to be eaten. Inside the Star Giant's tummy, they began tearing him apart. After doing a fatal amount of damage, the trio escaped just as Star Giant detonated. The only piece of Star Giant which survived the explosion was a portion of his head, which happened to be housing the remains of Ultra Megatron, allowing the Emperor of Destruction to survive. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 10}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:DarkNovaCron1.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Er... Chevy Nova?]]
[[Image:DarkNovaRobot1.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Excellent!]]

*The first ''Return of Convoy'' toy catalogue [[story page]] depicted Dark Nova as an ominous, spectral figure looking '''very''' much like [[Unicron]]. However, none of the text boxes in the story so much as ''mentioned'' the name "Unicron", and the actual ''The Battlestars'' magazine story pages and manga made no connection to Unicron whatsoever. This leads many to wonder whether Dark Nova is ''actually'' connected to Unicron or if it was just an early concept dropped from the actual fiction. The [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)/src|Japanese timeline]] included with the ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' manga made note of this by saying "The Great Emperor Dark Nova, who looks very similar to Unicron, appears", though offered no further connection. Interestingly, the Star Giant suffers a fate almost identical to Unicron's. Coincidence or creative bankruptcy?

*In the second catalogue [[story page]], Dark Nova's robot mode made its one and only appearance (and in an itty-bitty picture, at that). This mode was never used in the story pages published in ''[[TV Magazine]]''. Additionally, this story page shows Dark Nova being defeated in an altogether different way, being ripped in two by Star Convoy as the latter drives over him in truck mode.

*"Hoshi no Kyojin" (星の巨人), the Japanese characters from which the "Star Giant" name derive, appear to be an intentional reversal of "Kyojin no Sai" (巨人の星), which is...the title of a classic Japanese baseball manga and anime, otherwise known as ''[[wikipedia:Star of the Giants|Star of the Giants]]''. Why this was done is anyone's guess, and Dark Nova's like or dislike of baseball never really came up in the extant ''The Battlestars'' fiction.

[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy Decepticons]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]