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Zombie

2011-01-09T00:48:18Z

74.192.36.186: /* Prime cartoon */

{{featured}}
[[Image:Zombies.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I can't possibly deal with all of you at once!]]
{{bigquote|'''Don't you know?!''' The dead—the dead walk the streets of [[Kalis]]! And their victims... their victims become like them—'''the living dead!'''|[[Flywheels]]|"[[City of Fear!]]"}}

Although Transformers are often rebuilt or otherwise brought back from apparent death, there are also many examples of them being partially reanimated as '''zombies''', either self-aware or under the control of another.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{quote|And some lingering remnants of his memory and personality [...] But without our circuit implants, he would be utterly mindless, an ordinary machine. [...] A robotic zombie.|The [[Quintesson|Quintessons]]|"[[Dark Awakening]]"}}

[[Image:Optimusg1zombie.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Sadly, we are cheated a "Brawn of the Dead" pun-reference.]]

While fleeing from [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and his [[Autobot|Autobots]] found refuge inside an [[Autobot Mausoleum|Autobot funeral barge]], where [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] stumbled upon the reanimated form of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Though most of the Autobots did not believe Daniel's story, Rodimus was obsessed with Optimus's memory, and tracked him down. After finding Optimus seemingly still alive, Rodimus happily handed over the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. However, things were not as they appeared, and Optimus immediately turned on them, left them to die in the funeral barge and escaped in a ship he had built.

Upon Optimus' return to Cybertron, he claimed that Rodimus and his crew had died due to a cruel Quintesson trick, and commanded every single Autobot to help him strike back. This was just what the Quintessons had orchestrated from the beginning, having reanimated the Autobots' former leader solely for the purpose of leading the entire faction into a deadly trap. Now without the Matrix, Hot Rod and his crew had managed to escape, and Hot Rod battled Optimus one-on-one in an attempt to reclaim the Matrix and get to the bottom of this deception. The real Optimus eventually resurfaced, returned the Matrix to Rodimus, once again gave him his blessing, and the Autobots retreated. Optimus's final act would be to pilot their ship into the trap, detonating it, and leaving a nova behind... {{storylink|Dark Awakening}} if he hadn't [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|come back again later anyway]].

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====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
[[Image:Zombiesmasterforce.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Paaanties...paaaantieeees...]]
After stealing dead bodies from medical universities, [[Dauros]] and [[Gilmer]] infused them with evil energy from [[Devil Z]]. These [[human]] zombies (in matching Decepticon jumpsuits) had begun to lay siege to a local city when [[Lander]], who was nearby, changed into his [[Pretender]] form and battled them. However, the zombies began to disappear in a flash of light after they had run out of energy.

The Decepticons realized that they needed to infuse life energy from living humans into the zombies to avoid this problem. After kidnapping several human boys, the Autobot Pretenders came to the rescue and befriended one of the boys, [[Cab]], who joined their team. {{storylink|Terror! The Decepticons' Manhunt}}
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===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{quote|So, bereft of its ''[[brain module]]'', a Transformer body is just so much circuitry, operable by a powerful ''computer signal!''|Ultra Magnus|"[[City of Fear!]]"}}
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Zombieskalis.jpg|left|200px|thumb|We take Pete's car, we drive over to mum's, we go in, take care of Phillip, then we grab mum, we go over to Liz's place, hole up, have a cup of tea and wait for all this to blow over. How's that for a slice of fried gold?]]
''In a desperate bid to stop [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] from exploding the walking bomb [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] radio-controlled the body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] ([[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had the head), to grab Grimlock's arm. Without a brain module to control its functions Prime's hand could not let go of Grimlock's arm. This resulted in Grimlock's hand being ripped off when he was knocked away from Prime by the Guardian robot.'' {{storylink|The Wrath of Grimlock!}}

''Several years later [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and the [[Sparkabot|Sparkler Mini-Bots]] encountered similar technology used on a much broader scale. Traveling via prototype [[space bridge]] to the new home of [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]]'s resistance movement in [[Kalis]], they arrived to find the place vacant and ransacked by beings unknown. After capturing the Decepticon [[Flywheels]] in [[Tyrest (city-state)|Tyrest]] and bringing him back into Kalis, their captive shook with fear. The dead walk in Kalis, he warned, as the fists of the unliving punched up through the ground beneath them.''

''Though Ultra Magnus refused to return Flywheels's gun to him, the Decepticon helped Magnus and the Sparklers beat back the undead hordes. Their attempts, however, seemed futile—no matter how hard their attackers were damaged, they still functioned! Finally, Flywheels and the Sparklers reverted to vehicle mode, where they could use their weapons to destroy the zombies more effectively. But alas, Magnus was stunned to realize that the beings they put down were formerly Autobots. Realizing that the zombies were being animated by remote using a radio signal, they travelled to the [[Baird Beaming Transmitter]]. The signal was indeed shut down, and Magnus discovered that the signal was coming from deep within [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]...'' {{storylink|City of Fear!}}

[[Image:Impactorzombie.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Wreckers never die, they just go to Hell and regroup!]]
''The zombies were actually activated by the mad Autobot scientist [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] and sent to stalk the area surrounding Kalis to scare off intruders, while he set into motion his doomed plan to transform Cybertron into a spacefaring battlestation. Though he captured his rival Emirate Xaaron and other inhabitants of [[Autobase]], he would have been easily thwarted—if not for his zombification of the late [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] leader, [[Impactor]]. {{storylink|Legion of the Lost!}} The current Wreckers leader, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], was shocked into inaction at the sight of his former leader, and if it weren't for Impactor's mind reasserting itself, the planet would have been lost. Impactor once again sacrificed his life to save the others, staying behind to deactivate Flame's mechanism as it annihilated him.'' {{storylink|Meltdown!}}

[[Image:ZombieScream1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Leeeadership... Leaaadershiiip...]]
''Later, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]] were sent by Megatron to reclaim [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s charred corpse on [[Earth]]. Starscream's remains were possessed by the essence of the [[Underbase]] and went on an insane rampage, nearly killing [[Dr. Susan Hoffman]] and her [[Dr. Susan Hoffman|assistants]]. After Starscream was diverted away from the [[human]]s by [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]], [[Dogfight]], and [[Override (G1)|Override]], the trio of [[Triggerbot]]s tried in vain to stop the rampaging zombie. Eventually, the Underbase realized it was acting insane and regained control, but as soon as it did, Dreadwind and Darkwing siphoned all the power out of it, and Starscream's corpse returned to being an inanimate pile of scrap, which the pair quickly collected.'' {{storylink|Race with the Devil}}

[[Image:Zombiesbackfromthedead.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Goddamn, Goldbug's creepy. Guess this explains why Ratchet prefers him as Bumblebee.]]
Meanwhile, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] had been working long hours to repair the Autobots' massive number of casualties from the [[Underbase Saga]]—so long, that he began to hallucinate, seeing his patients rise up from their repair beds and blame him for their condition. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], to whom the corpse of Starscream was being delivered, required Ratchet to repair him, so the former Decepticon leader sent the [[Micromaster]] [[Sports Car Patrol]] to trick Ratchet into returning with them to Cybertron. To do this, [[Blackjack]] and his fellow Micromasters made Ratchet's hallucination real, animating Ratchet's patients. However, this began to backfire when Ratchet decided to give himself up to his accusers. The Sports Car Patrol decided this wasn't the best course of action and tried to lure him with a different plan. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

''While looking for clues to the identity of [[Playback]]'s killer, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] suddenly found himself, [[Siren]], and [[Hosehead]] under attack by the prime suspect—[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]! Ultimately, Nightbeat was able to save their lives by having his [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]], [[Muzzle]], become the head of Playback's corpse, momentarily distracting Thunderwing with its scary zombieness. As soon as Muzzle jumped clear, the trio of Autobots fired at the corpse's fuel supply, causing a huge explosion which forced Thunderwing into retreat.'' {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}
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===IDW Generation 1 comics===
[[Image:Zombiesspotlightkup.jpg|left|200px|thumb|One of these guys was probably Skids.]]
[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] had been marooned on a distant planet for quite some time when They started coming for him. They only came at night, when the suns would stop filtering through the planet's beautiful, indigenous crystals, creating such beautiful music... Kup could not allow Them to take the music away from him, and even though his buddy [[Outback]], the only other survivor of Kup's crew, refused to help him, Kup was able to beat back every single last one of Them every single night when they'd come for him.

What Kup didn't know is that They were not zombies, but [[Autobot]]s sent in to rescue him. The [[antique anti-rad armor]] they wore to protect themselves from the extreme radiation caused by the crystals also disguised their identities to Kup, who was suffering hallucinations at the hand of the radiation. Oops. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}
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===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
[[Image:DevilGorilla-sk.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He really shouldn't have taken that Aztec gold.]]
As [[Optimus Primal]]'s corpse floated in [[Earth]]'s orbit following his sacrifice at the hands of the [[Vok|aliens]]' [[Planet Buster]], [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] realized true strength was not only in numbers (fashioning himself an army of drones), but also in retrieving Primal's remains, reassembling it, and reanimating it as a zombie. Upon initial activation, the zombie asserted its dominance over Megatron's new army of drones.

Thankfully, before Megatron and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] could make the process permanent, the [[Maximal|Maximals]] showed up and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] injected Primal's [[Spark]] (which he had retrieved from [[Transwarp]] space) into his old body. Thus ended the short career of Zombie Convoy. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}
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====''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoon====
[[Unicron]] possessed the dead body of [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]]. Much fun was had.

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
[[Image:Zombiessparkofdarkness.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Yeessss... Yeeesssss....]]
After the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and the [[Maximal]]s' takeover of the [[Grand Mal]], [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] were investigating the fields of [[spark]]less Transformer bodies when they were attacked by a zombie-like creature. A seemingly-invincible corpse battled them. Blackarachnia attempted to use her energo-web attacks, but it merely absorbed them. until finally, after Blackarachnia threw another corpse's [[power core]] at it, the zombie collapsed. A mysterious energy ball lifted from the zombie, and it disappeared through a grate in the ground.

The energy ball appeared next in the [[technorganic orchard]] that [[Rattrap]] and [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] were tending, bringing life to a deactivated [[Motorcycle Drone]]. Botanica attempted to use her energy weapon powers against it, but like Blackarachnia's energo-webs, it merely absorbed her attack. After being expelled too from this body, it fled to the surface into a deactivated [[Aero Drone]], where it attacked [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]. Nightscream tried a different approach of "draining" the creature of its power, but it drained Nightscream's own power from him. The Maximals began to see a pattern in the zombies' attacks, and regrouped inside the Grand Mal, which seemed to be its target. Finally, Rattrap had an epiphany, realized what was going on, and captured the energy ball inside a [[Diagnostic Drone]]. The energy ball was actually the polarized spark of Megatron. Surprise! {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}
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====''Cybertron'' comic====
[[Image:Zombiedarkscorponok.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Kiiiickerrr...Kiiiicker... our Plaaanetts...]]
{{quote|The afflicted is driven by an insatiable desire to feed on the life energy of others. Nearly mindless, he will stop at nothing to feed. He ignores injury, knowing only hunger and pain. And the best part is that anyone off whom he feeds becomes just the same.|[[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] tells [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]] a heartwarming story|[[Balancing Act, Part 3]]"}}

Despite [[Unicron]]'s apparent death inside the [[Unicron Singularity]], his essence's will was still strong enough to use the reality-altering black hole to bring the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Now ''Dark'' Scorponok, this undead creature stalked the evacuated planet surface, screaming in hunger and pain, crying out for [[Spark|Sparks]] upon which to feast. At first Dark Scorponok assaulted [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]], {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}} who survived due to his powerful forcefield ability, but the monster was drawn away by [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]]'s evil [[Mini-Con]] minions, towards the [[Kalis Primary Energon Reserves Control]], where [[Vector Prime]] and [[Sentinel Maximus]] were located. {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 3}} After a prolonged fight, Sentinel Maximus was able to defeat Dark Scorponok, after which he and Vector Prime realized this was just a diversion. Leaving what was left of Dark Scorponok, unable to solve his affliction, their attentions were needed elsewhere, below the planet's surface. {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 4}}

===Titan Magazines movie comic===
[[Image:ZombieConsTitan.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mission City--28 Minutes Later...]]
Immediately after [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron's]] death, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] appointed himself the commander of the Decepticons... who were all dead. Noticing the [[Allspark Mutation|mechanical devices]] that the [[AllSpark]] had animated, Starscream tore the solidified AllSpark energy from them and used it to turn the Decepticon corpses into undead soldiers. Without any mental functions whatsoever, they simply walked forward and attempted to kill, and very nearly tore apart the weakened Autobots before [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] worked out how to stop them. {{storylink|Starscream's Militia}}

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===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Image:Prowlspacebarnacles.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I'll swallow your SPARK!]]
[[Space barnacles]] are parasitic life-forms that can be considered "zombie-inducing" in their quest for energy. Some of them attached themselves to the dead body of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] and managed to reanimate it, evolving themselves into semi-awareness and later absorbing other machines. In this state, they shared with zombies the property to "infect" other robots by simple contact, turning them also into mindless drones, ready to spread the infection. ("Normal" space barnacles simply drain energy, but presumably do not take over Transformer minds.) [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] were finally cured from their contact with the creature when [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] blasted the space barnacles off with hot [[water]]. {{storylink|Nature Calls}}
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===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:DarknessRising4-beholddarkenergon!.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Night of the Living Generics.]]
After [[Cliffjumper (Prime)| Cliffjumper]] was killed in a battle against the [[Eradicon]]s, his body was saved by [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] for use in experiments. When [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] returned, he wished to test the then-theoretical property of [[Dark Energon]] to revive the dead. It worked, to an extent. Cliffjumper was reborn as a screaming beast, and promptly destroyed two Eradicons before leaping at Megatron. Megatron commented that the creature before him was no longer an Autobot and sliced the zombie Cliffjumper in half with his claw. The half with the head remained alive, and attacked [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] when she tried to rescue it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

Megatron realized the potential for brutal, undead warriors from the encounter with Cliffjumper and decided to use the Dark Energon more extensively. When [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] realized that the substance they were dealing with was Dark Energon, he and [[Ratchet (Prime)| Ratchet]] put two and two together and realized Megatron was up to something, that something being raising the dead. Eons ago, there had been a war on Earth after the smuggling of Energon to the planet. Since Cybertronian bodies do not decompose, there were some still buried in the ground. Megatron appeared to Optimus Prime and Ratchet in a large canyon and threw a chunk of Dark Energon into the ground, which promptly began to glow bright purple, as did Megatron himself. The ground opened up, and undead robots crawled out from the cracks, brandishing the same deadly weapons they'd carried in the previous war. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} Optimus and Ratchet were quick to dispose of the zombie horde, only to be informed by Megatron that this was merely the prelude to his main event. That event, they soon discovered, was raising the countless dead on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

Unfortunately for the Autobots, Megatron was already a step ahead of them in implementing his plan, since he already had a working [[space bridge]] and a ship to get to it. The Autobots used their [[ground bridge]] to reach the space bridge, but failed to stop Megatron from throwing his supply of Dark Energon through, raising the entire deceased population of Cybertron. Before the undead warriors could pass through the bridge, the Autobots managed to reverse the power flow, causing the bridge to explode, taking the zombies and Megatron with it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}
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==Honorable mentions==
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], while he was an animated unliving Transformer controlled by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and later [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]], was not strictly a zombie. He was not given life until after he was used as a mindless puppet by diabolical masters.
* [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] is not a reanimated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] as was [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers|commonly believed]] for some time.
* [[Dinobot II]], though he looked like an undead [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot I]], was more of a [[Frankenstein's monster]] than a zombie.
* [[Primeval Dawn]]'s "Zombie [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]", as referred to by some fans, did inhabit the reconfigured remains of his previous body. This seemed to be a full return to life, despite his new black-and-gray color scheme, rather than being undead.
* [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] was brought back to life after an ancient god toyed with his spark. Now he's an "incomplete" form of what he was before, in a state of both being and unbeing.
* [[Energon (franchise)|''Energon'']] [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], though brought back from the dead, was more ghostly than zombie-like. Even [[Aaron Archer]] referred to him as an "[[Energon (Energon)|Energon]] ghost."
* [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|''Animated'']] [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] was kept alive by a fragment of the All-Spark, despite his spark having been extinguished, making him a zombie of sorts.
* [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Dark Crumplezone]], though he was also brought back from the dead, likewise wasn't very zombie-like; indeed, he even came back smarter (according to his on-package [[bio]]) and with his personality intact.
* [[Dead End (ROTF)|Dead End]] was a decomposing, bestial creature that cannibalised other Transformers, but was doing that to ''stave off'' death.

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Masterforce]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Zombies| ]]

Dark Energon

2011-01-06T03:25:31Z

74.192.36.186: /* Prime cartoon */

:''Dark Energon is a form of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DarknessRising2-MegatronDarkEnergon.jpg|right|thumb|400px|I'm like a chocoholic, but for Dark Energon.]]

'''Dark Energon''' is a powerful, corrupted version of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] which can be used as a violent weapon and explosive. As energon is the emanation of [[Primus]], from which all Transformer life and power is formed, Dark Energon is similarly the emanation of [[Unicron]], released after his first battle with the [[Thirteen original Transformers]]. Even the smallest particle of Dark Energon can corrupt any amount of regular energon.

{{quote|Dark Energon? I thought that was the stuff of legend!|[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

==Effects==
The violet-glowing Dark Energon supercharges any Transformer who ingests it, making them stronger, faster, more powerful...and more aggressive. It also acts as a powerful narcotic, filling the user with thrilling, dark sensations and causing addiction. It turns pain into pleasure, rendering the blows inflicted on a user futile. Dark Energon withdrawal turns the user into a raving brute desperate to do anything for more. A user who goes too long with out any reverts to a beast-like state and eventually dies.

Users who imbibe Dark Energon have been seen to project it from their bodies for various destructive purposes. When one user is killed, the energy acts like a sentient thing (a worrying aspect for a force originating from Unicron) and flies from their corpse to empower any other user nearby.

Pieces of Cybertron infected by Dark Energon tend to turn purple and explode upward into twisted, sharp spikes and growths of metal.

A Cybertronian corpse injected with Dark Energon will reanimate itself as a mutated [[zombie]], focused on destroying all in its path. They can be commanded by a living Cybertronian who has also been corrupted by the evil energy.

==Fiction==
===''Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron''===
The gathering and storage of Dark Energon aboard the newly constructed [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]] was organized by an early assembly of the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] that included [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]]. The station was guarded by [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s who were mostly unaware of the nature of Dark Energon. During the civil war, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] claimed the station for the [[Decepticon]]s, but of fear he did not let [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] know about Trypticon's significance, and despite his allies' attempts they could not find much of the information about Trypticon on the [[DataNet]] had been censored (by [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]], who knew that knowledge of Dark Energon was dangerous).

During the last days of the war [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] found forgotten corners of the DataNet referring to "Sparks of Unicron". Megatron forgave Starscream, acknowledging his fears about Dark Energon's overly destructive use on the battlefield, and because the Air Commander had not tried to use it against him. [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] forced two of Starscream's scientists to ingest Dark Energon and the explosive result led to the Darkening of all of Megatron's soldiers. Megatron and Starscream both found the substance invigorating, but a deprivation study of the first two subjects showed they had become rabid, and Megatron vowed he would kill all his soldiers before he was deprived. The Darkened Decepticons attacked the remaining Autobot outposts on Cybertron, but to the Autobots' advantage, whenever a battle was prolonged, the Decepticons would have to flee or risk having the Dark Energon run out.

Soundwave learned of the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]], which could transport vast amounts of energon from Cybertron to Trypticon to be corrupted. Starscream activated it, but it proved futile in quenching the Decepticons' thirst. Soundwave recalled the [[Plasma energy]] Chamber within [[Teletraan-1]] and the [[Code Key]]s required to activate it. The Chamber would enable Megatron to corrupt Cybertron's [[core]] and flood the planet with Dark Energon. During the ensuing battle with [[Omega Supreme (Prime)|Omega Supreme]] for the Chamber, the more the Autobots killed the Decepticons, the more Dark Energon left their corpses to empower Megatron, who was able to knock Omega down and tear the Chamber from his chest.

After Megatron Darkened the core, [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Jazz (Prime)|Jazz]] and [[Prowl (Prime)|Prowl]] launched a rescue of Sentinel Prime in [[Kaon]]. They were met with little resistance, aside from two gibbering guards. Optimus recognized the Dark Energon had taken its toll on Decepticon competence. Afterwards, he, [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Jetfire (Prime)|Jetfire]] ventured to the core to rid it of the poisonous Chamber. The Dark Energon briefly tempted Jetfire to try some, while it distressed Bumblebee to the point he physically tore out the corruption spikes on the core, though it allowed Optimus to remove the Chamber. The core told Optimus the Autobots would have to leave Cybertron while it healed the planet, and gave him the [[Matrix of Leadership]], which would one day act in concert with the core to restore their world. While leaving, Optimus chastised Megatron for turning his soldiers into addicts just to win the war. Starscream also vowed never to use the substance again. {{storylink|Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
Dark Energon is a known material but is so rare it's practically non-existant. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

[[Image:DarknessRising4-beholddarkenergon!.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Cue Vincent Price voiceover.]]

When Megatron returned from deep space after three years away, he revealed he'd found a new way to win the war: Dark Energon, a substance rumoured to be the blood of [[Unicron]] and possessing the power to raise the dead. A test with the corpse of [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] proved it could indeed do this, turning the dead into berserker [[zombie]]s; it could also turn machinery into animalistic robots, and merely touching it could render a Transformer ill. Megatron, being Megatron, thought it'd be a jolly good idea to shove some into his own [[spark]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} He survived and began to gibber and rant about the power and how it was like he could hear Unicron's thoughts...

Optimus Prime recognised what Dark Energon was, and [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] was stunned to learn that's what they were facing. They went to the site of an old Transformer battle, knowing Megatron would plan to raise the fallen as an undead army with the Dark Energon... but got there too late to stop the tyrant! {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} Megatron showed off by sending waves of [[zombie]]s to exhaust the two, and then revealed that was not his endgame. Discovering the Decepticons had built a [[space bridge]], they realized Megatron intended to reawaken Cybertron's fallen soldiers, and send them to destroy Earth. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}} Megatron threw his store of Dark Energon crystals into the space bridge, but before the Cybertronian dead could cross the space bridge, the Autobots sabotaged it, causing it to collapse on itself, taking Megatron and the zombies with it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

==Games==
===''War for Cybertron''===
The existence of Dark Energon came over ten thousand years ago when the [[Cybertronian]] race uncovered it as well as its volatile nature. Shortly afterwards, it was sealed away in an orbital space station and placed under the watchful eye of the [[Seekers]] along with former [[Sky Commander]] Starscream who was aided by Jetfire. At some point, experimentation on Dark Energon began and a small quantity of the substance became unstable whereupon it exploded thus opening up an entire section of the space station to the vacuum of space with such level of destruction that was beyond any known weapon known to the Cybertronians. The horrors of Dark Energon were noted by many such as Jetfire and it was deemed too unstable to control with it being deemed that it must remain sealed for the rest of time. This continued to be the case for centuries and the existence of Dark Energon became a myth and eventually a legend that few believed.

After learning the existence of this substance, Megatron took a starcruiser and escorts to lay siege to the station whereupon he crashed into it in order to infiltrate it. Once inside, he had to battle the defending Cybertronians and Starscream who attempted to stop him. As Megatron drew closer to the storage chamber, Starscream attempted to destroy the last remnants of Dark Energon but he was too late and Megatron entered into the core. Where everyone else had failed in making use of it, Megatron believed himself to be worthy of such a weapon as he was the strongest of all Cybertronians. Starscream believed him to be foolish as it was believed that the Dark Energon would destroy him but he re-emerged and became more powerful than ever. Filled with power, he infused his Decepticons such as [[Brawl (Prime)|Brawl]] and [[Barricade (Prime)|Barricade]] with Dark Energon; claiming it was their birthright. Seeing Dark Energon being tamed, Starscream offered his services to Megatron and claimed he knew of an Energon Bridge that could produce more of the substance. Seeing this as an act of betrayal, Jetfire escaped the station in order to inform [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Zeta Prime]] of this treachery.

Later, Starscream along with [[Skywarp (Prime)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (Prime)|Thundercracker]] travelled into the depths of Cybertron in order to reactivate the Energon Bridge. Facing many troubles including defending [[Autobot]]s, they managed to corrupt the central machine whereupon it attempted to defend itself but was destroyed by the Seekers. This allowed the Energon Bridge to activate and beam its contents to the orbital station to be mass produced. With Dark Energon now under his command, Megatron sought to corrupt the whole of Cybertron by infesting the Core itself but he needed the [[Omega Key]] in order to get past the [[Omega Gate]] that barred entry to the centre of the Transformer homeworld. Thus, he assaulted [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] in order to claim it from the [[Stellar Galleries]]. However, Zeta Prime learnt of this and spirited the key to his [[Vaults]]. During his journey to claim the Key, Megatron made use of regular amounts of his personal Dark Energon to corrupt doorways that blocked his entry as well as ammunition for bombing runs for his forces. He eventually claimed the Omega Key but this simply activated Omega Supreme who was the actual key to the Core of Cybertron. During the battle with the giant Autobot, Megatron managed to defeat Omega Supreme by corrupting him with Dark Energon and overpowering him. Using him to open the Omega Gate, the Decepticons placed Corruptors into position and infected the Core that spread Dark Energon all across the planet.

The effects were immediate as Dark Energon crystals began sprouting all around the planet. Megatron often made announcements to the Cybertronian population stating that he brought the gift of Dark Energon to them all and urged them to accept this power in order to become Decepticons whilst those that did not being killed for being unworthy of existence. Cybertronian repair arrays attempted to contain the damage but they could not slow down its effects and even the planetoids [[Space slug|self defense organisms]] were incapable of stopping it. In fact, Dark Energon even corrupted one such beast creating the corrupted slug that spread Dark Energon and fed on the Core. Upon his appointment to the position of [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] led the Autobots to combat the Decepticons. This eventually culminated in freeing Omega Supreme from the Decepticons and curing him of his Dark Energon infection. Gaining entry past the Omega Gate, they went into the depths of Cybertron in order to reach the Core where they aided the space slugs in not only clearing patches of Dark Energon crystals but also the defending Decepticons. Eventually, they reached the Core and killed the corrupted slug but the corruption had taken its toll on the Core. In order to preserve itself, it had to enter into a hibernation mode that would last for millions of years as a result of the Dark Energon infection which led to low quantities of Energon being produced that were insufficient for the current populace of the planet thus initiating a mass evacuvation of the inhabitants in order for them to survive. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

==Notes==
*Dark Energon shares several aspects of its nature with [[Angolmois]], though no connection between the two has been established as yet.

[[Category:Power sources]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Substances]]
[[Category:Unicron]]

William Fowler

2010-12-09T04:58:13Z

74.192.36.186: /* Prime cartoon */

:''Fowler is a [[human]] from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DarknessRising2-Fowler.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Someone buy him a longer tie.]]

Special Agent '''William "Bill" Fowler''' is the type of guy that [[Theodore Galloway]] ''wishes'' he could be. He's the tough-talking, robot-dissing designated liaison between the [[United States of America|United States government]] and the [[Autobot]]s, who's got the guts to face down [[Starscream (Prime)|the Decepticons]] himself. And he doesn't need any military escort! He can pilot his own damn helicopter!

Fowler is leery about trusting the Autobots to handle the [[Decepticon]]s by themselves and doesn't believe that [[Earth]] can't handle its own mess, but for now, while he chews them out and slags them off, he's willing to let them have a chance.

{{bigquote|Pretty big bearings... for a human.|Bulkhead|"[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]"}}

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ernie Hudson]] (English)
Agent Fowler visited [[Autobot Central Command]] to chew the Autobots off over mass traffic accidents caused by [[Eradicon|several]] [[Arcee (Prime)|odd]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|vehicles]], and then demanded to know if this meant the Decepticons were back. When [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] confirmed this, Fowler stated it was time to "wake up" the [[Pentagon]]; he was notably ''un''impressed by Optimus's claim that only the Autobots could stop the Decepticons, clearly not believing it, but to avoid mass human casualties he agreed to give them a shot at sorting it out.

[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] angrily told Fowler that the Autobots knew how to use appropriate force, but when the agent was gone he noted with respect that Fowler had ''bearings''. Prime noted that Fowler's attitude was due to being afraid for his planet. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

[[Image:DarknessRising3-interrogateFowler.jpg|thumb|left|"This is some nice steel. How about telling me who gave them to you?"<br>"Yo mama."]]

Another explosion had Fowler returning to the Autobot base, but he found only Bulkhead there. When [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]'s guitar gave away the presence of her and her two classmates, he announced he was going to take them into federal custody, but Bulkhead prevented him from phoning his superiors. He stormed out and took off in his helicopter, making a report by radio. Unfortunately, the transmission was intercepted by the Decepticons, who captured him and strung him up by chains. Fowler proved difficult to interrogate, so [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] got out an energon prod to soften him up. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

{{spoiler|Darkness Rising, Part 4|December 9, 2010}}
Fowler was on the verge of breaking and telling Starscream where the Autobot base was, when weapons fire became audible outside the brig. Sensing rescue was near, he became awkward again, provoking Starscream into shocking him into unconsciousness. When he awoke, he was in a dazed, rambling state. The Autobots finally reached his location, only to become locked in a standoff with Starscream, until a random outburst from Fowler caused a distraction, and the Autobots chased Starscream off. Fowler rode back to base in Bulkhead, though his dazed state persisted and he became fixated on pie. Once they reached the base, he was given rudimentary medical attention. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

{{spoiler|Darkness Rising, Part 5|December 10, 2010}}
When the Autobots discovered that the Decepticons were using a radio telescope array in [[Texas]], Optimus suggested getting Fowler to put the installation on high alert, but Fowler was still too out of it to comply. He had recovered enough to cheer the Autobots on as they destroyed Megatron's [[space bridge]], and later thanked them for saving him from the Decepticons, and for saving the world, before he left the base. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

==Notes==

* Which agency Fowler's a Special Agent ''for'' isn't stated; since he specifically refers to the Pentagon as who he'd talk to, he's presumably with a Department of Defense agency like the [[wikipedia:Defense Intelligence Agency|Defense Intelligence Agency]] or the [[wikipedia:Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)|Military Intelligence Corps]].
* The Autobots refer to him as their liaison with "the outside world", though he appears to just represent the United States.
* Fowler must have one ''awesome'' rank if he can decide on his own whether or not the Pentagon is to go on full alert!
* Apparently, Fowler's grandmother made pretty good cookies.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, William}}
[[Category: Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category: Pilots]]
[[Category: Prime humans]]
[[Category: United States military]]

Zombie

2010-12-09T04:50:24Z

74.192.36.186: /* Prime cartoon */

{{featured}}
[[Image:Zombies.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I can't possibly deal with all of you at once!]]
{{bigquote|'''Don't you know?!''' The dead—the dead walk the streets of [[Kalis]]! And their victims... their victims become like them—'''the living dead!'''|[[Flywheels]]|"[[City of Fear!]]"}}

Although Transformers are often rebuilt or otherwise brought back from apparent death, there are also many examples of them being partially reanimated as '''zombies''', either self-aware or under the control of another.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{quote|And some lingering remnants of his memory and personality [...] But without our circuit implants, he would be utterly mindless, an ordinary machine. [...] A robotic zombie.|The [[Quintesson|Quintessons]]|"[[Dark Awakening]]"}}

[[Image:Optimusg1zombie.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Sadly, we are cheated a "Brawn of the Dead" pun-reference.]]

While fleeing from [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and his [[Autobot|Autobots]] found refuge inside an [[Autobot Mausoleum|Autobot funeral barge]], where [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] stumbled upon the reanimated form of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Though most of the Autobots did not believe Daniel's story, Rodimus was obsessed with Optimus's memory, and tracked him down. After finding Optimus seemingly still alive, Rodimus happily handed over the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. However, things were not as they appeared, and Optimus immediately turned on them, left them to die in the funeral barge and escaped in a ship he had built.

Upon Optimus' return to Cybertron, he claimed that Rodimus and his crew had died due to a cruel Quintesson trick, and commanded every single Autobot to help him strike back. This was just what the Quintessons had orchestrated from the beginning, having reanimated the Autobots' former leader solely for the purpose of leading the entire faction into a deadly trap. Now without the Matrix, Hot Rod and his crew had managed to escape, and Hot Rod battled Optimus one-on-one in an attempt to reclaim the Matrix and get to the bottom of this deception. The real Optimus eventually resurfaced, returned the Matrix to Rodimus, once again gave him his blessing, and the Autobots retreated. Optimus's final act would be to pilot their ship into the trap, detonating it, and leaving a nova behind... {{storylink|Dark Awakening}} if he hadn't [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|come back again later anyway]].

{{-}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
[[Image:Zombiesmasterforce.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Paaanties...paaaantieeees...]]
After stealing dead bodies from medical universities, [[Dauros]] and [[Gilmer]] infused them with evil energy from [[Devil Z]]. These [[human]] zombies (in matching Decepticon jumpsuits) had begun to lay siege to a local city when [[Lander]], who was nearby, changed into his [[Pretender]] form and battled them. However, the zombies began to disappear in a flash of light after they had run out of energy.

The Decepticons realized that they needed to infuse life energy from living humans into the zombies to avoid this problem. After kidnapping several human boys, the Autobot Pretenders came to the rescue and befriended one of the boys, [[Cab]], who joined their team. {{storylink|Terror! The Decepticons' Manhunt}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{quote|So, bereft of its ''[[brain module]]'', a Transformer body is just so much circuitry, operable by a powerful ''computer signal!''|Ultra Magnus|"[[City of Fear!]]"}}
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Zombieskalis.jpg|left|200px|thumb|We take Pete's car, we drive over to mum's, we go in, take care of Phillip, then we grab mum, we go over to Liz's place, hole up, have a cup of tea and wait for all this to blow over. How's that for a slice of fried gold?]]
''In a desperate bid to stop [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] from exploding the walking bomb [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] radio-controlled the body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] ([[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had the head), to grab Grimlock's arm. Without a brain module to control its functions Prime's hand could not let go of Grimlock's arm. This resulted in Grimlock's hand being ripped off when he was knocked away from Prime by the Guardian robot.'' {{storylink|The Wrath of Grimlock!}}

''Several years later [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and the [[Sparkabot|Sparkler Mini-Bots]] encountered similar technology used on a much broader scale. Traveling via prototype [[space bridge]] to the new home of [[Emirate Xaaron]]'s resistance movement in [[Kalis]], they arrived to find the place vacant and ransacked by beings unknown. After capturing the Decepticon [[Flywheels]] in [[Tyrest (city-state)|Tyrest]] and bringing him back into Kalis, their captive shook with fear. The dead walk in Kalis, he warned, as the fists of the unliving punched up through the ground beneath them.''

''Though Ultra Magnus refused to return Flywheels's gun to him, the Decepticon helped Magnus and the Sparklers beat back the undead hordes. Their attempts, however, seemed futile—no matter how hard their attackers were damaged, they still functioned! Finally, Flywheels and the Sparklers reverted to vehicle mode, where they could use their weapons to destroy the zombies more effectively. But alas, Magnus was stunned to realize that the beings they put down were formerly Autobots. Realizing that the zombies were being animated by remote using a radio signal, they travelled to the [[Baird Beaming Transmitter]]. The signal was indeed shut down, and Magnus discovered that the signal was coming from deep within [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]...'' {{storylink|City of Fear!}}

[[Image:Impactorzombie.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Wreckers never die, they just go to Hell and regroup!]]
''The zombies were actually activated by the mad Autobot scientist [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] and sent to stalk the area surrounding Kalis to scare off intruders, while he set into motion his doomed plan to transform Cybertron into a spacefaring battlestation. Though he captured his rival [[Emirate Xaaron]] and other inhabitants of [[Autobase]], he would have been easily thwarted—if not for his zombification of the late [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] leader, [[Impactor]]. {{storylink|Legion of the Lost!}} The current Wreckers leader, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], was shocked into inaction at the sight of his former leader, and if it weren't for Impactor's mind reasserting itself, the planet would have been lost. Impactor once again sacrificed his life to save the others, staying behind to deactivate Flame's mechanism as it annihilated him.'' {{storylink|Meltdown!}}

[[Image:ZombieScream1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Leeeadership... Leaaadershiiip...]]
''Later, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]] were sent by Megatron to reclaim [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s charred corpse on [[Earth]]. Starscream's remains were possessed by the essence of the [[Underbase]] and went on an insane rampage, nearly killing [[Dr. Susan Hoffman]] and her [[Dr. Susan Hoffman|assistants]]. After Starscream was diverted away from the [[human]]s by [[Backstreet]], [[Dogfight]], and [[Override (G1)|Override]], the trio of [[Triggerbot]]s tried in vain to stop the rampaging zombie. Eventually, the Underbase realized it was acting insane and regained control, but as soon as it did, Dreadwind and Darkwing siphoned all the power out of it, and Starscream's corpse returned to being an inanimate pile of scrap, which the pair quickly collected.'' {{storylink|Race with the Devil}}

[[Image:Zombiesbackfromthedead.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Goddamn, Goldbug's creepy. Guess this explains why Ratchet prefers him as Bumblebee.]]
Meanwhile, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] had been working long hours to repair the Autobots' massive number of casualties from the [[Underbase Saga]]—so long, that he began to hallucinate, seeing his patients rise up from their repair beds and blame him for their condition. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], to whom the corpse of Starscream was being delivered, required Ratchet to repair him, so the former Decepticon leader sent the [[Micromaster]] [[Sports Car Patrol]] to trick Ratchet into returning with them to Cybertron. To do this, [[Blackjack]] and his fellow Micromasters made Ratchet's hallucination real, animating Ratchet's patients. However, this began to backfire when Ratchet decided to give himself up to his accusers. The Sports Car Patrol decided this wasn't the best course of action and tried to lure him with a different plan. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

''While looking for clues to the identity of [[Playback]]'s killer, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] suddenly found himself, [[Siren]], and [[Hosehead]] under attack by the prime suspect—[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]! Ultimately, Nightbeat was able to save their lives by having his [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]], [[Muzzle]], become the head of Playback's corpse, momentarily distracting Thunderwing with its scary zombieness. As soon as Muzzle jumped clear, the trio of Autobots fired at the corpse's fuel supply, causing a huge explosion which forced Thunderwing into retreat.'' {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 comics===
[[Image:Zombiesspotlightkup.jpg|left|200px|thumb|One of these guys was probably Skids.]]
[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] had been marooned on a distant planet for quite some time when They started coming for him. They only came at night, when the suns would stop filtering through the planet's beautiful, indigenous crystals, creating such beautiful music... Kup could not allow Them to take the music away from him, and even though his buddy [[Outback]], the only other survivor of Kup's crew, refused to help him, Kup was able to beat back every single last one of Them every single night when they'd come for him.

What Kup didn't know is that They were not zombies, but [[Autobot]]s sent in to rescue him. The [[antique anti-rad armor]] they wore to protect themselves from the extreme radiation caused by the crystals also disguised their identities to Kup, who was suffering hallucinations at the hand of the radiation. Oops. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
[[Image:DevilGorilla-sk.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He really shouldn't have taken that Aztec gold.]]
As [[Optimus Primal]]'s corpse floated in [[Earth]]'s orbit following his sacrifice at the hands of the [[Vok|aliens]]' [[Planet Buster]], [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] realized true strength was not only in numbers (fashioning himself an army of drones), but also in retrieving Primal's remains, reassembling it, and reanimating it as a zombie. Upon initial activation, the zombie asserted its dominance over Megatron's new army of drones.

Thankfully, before Megatron and [[Tarantulas]] could make the process permanent, the [[Maximal|Maximals]] showed up and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] injected Primal's [[Spark]] (which he had retrieved from [[Transwarp]] space) into his old body. Thus ended the short career of Zombie Convoy. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoon====
[[Unicron]] possessed the dead body of [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]]. Much fun was had.

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
[[Image:Zombiessparkofdarkness.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Yeessss... Yeeesssss....]]
After the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and the [[Maximal]]s' takeover of the [[Grand Mal]], [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] were investigating the fields of [[spark]]less Transformer bodies when they were attacked by a zombie-like creature. A seemingly-invincible corpse battled them. Blackarachnia attempted to use her energo-web attacks, but it merely absorbed them. until finally, after Blackarachnia threw another corpse's [[power core]] at it, the zombie collapsed. A mysterious energy ball lifted from the zombie, and it disappeared through a grate in the ground.

The energy ball appeared next in the [[technorganic orchard]] that [[Rattrap]] and [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] were tending, bringing life to a deactivated [[Motorcycle Drone]]. Botanica attempted to use her energy weapon powers against it, but like Blackarachnia's energo-webs, it merely absorbed her attack. After being expelled too from this body, it fled to the surface into a deactivated [[Aero Drone]], where it attacked [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]. Nightscream tried a different approach of "draining" the creature of its power, but it drained Nightscream's own power from him. The Maximals began to see a pattern in the zombies' attacks, and regrouped inside the Grand Mal, which seemed to be its target. Finally, Rattrap had an epiphany, realized what was going on, and captured the energy ball inside a [[Diagnostic Drone]]. The energy ball was actually the polarized spark of Megatron. Surprise! {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}
{{-}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====
[[Image:Zombiedarkscorponok.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Kiiiickerrr...Kiiiicker... our Plaaanetts...]]
{{quote|The afflicted is driven by an insatiable desire to feed on the life energy of others. Nearly mindless, he will stop at nothing to feed. He ignores injury, knowing only hunger and pain. And the best part is that anyone off whom he feeds becomes just the same.|[[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] tells [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]] a heartwarming story|[[Balancing Act, Part 3]]"}}

Despite [[Unicron]]'s apparent death inside the [[Unicron Singularity]], his essence's will was still strong enough to use the reality-altering black hole to bring the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Now ''Dark'' Scorponok, this undead creature stalked the evacuated planet surface, screaming in hunger and pain, crying out for [[Spark|Sparks]] upon which to feast. At first Dark Scorponok assaulted [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]], {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}} who survived due to his powerful forcefield ability, but the monster was drawn away by [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]]'s evil [[Mini-Con]] minions, towards the [[Kalis Primary Energon Reserves Control]], where [[Vector Prime]] and [[Sentinel Maximus]] were located. {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 3}} After a prolonged fight, Sentinel Maximus was able to defeat Dark Scorponok, after which he and Vector Prime realized this was just a diversion. Leaving what was left of Dark Scorponok, unable to solve his affliction, their attentions were needed elsewhere, below the planet's surface. {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 4}}

===Titan Magazines movie comic===
[[Image:ZombieConsTitan.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mission City--28 Minutes Later...]]
Immediately after [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron's]] death, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] appointed himself the commander of the Decepticons... who were all dead. Noticing the [[Allspark Mutation|mechanical devices]] that the [[AllSpark (Movie)|All Spark]] had animated, Starscream tore the solidified All Spark energy from them and used it to turn the Decepticon corpses into undead soldiers. Without any mental functions whatsoever, they simply walked forward and attempted to kill, and very nearly tore apart the weakened Autobots before [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] worked out how to stop them. {{storylink|Starscream's Militia}}

{{-}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Image:Prowlspacebarnacles.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I'll swallow your SPARK!]]
[[Space barnacles]] are parasitic life-forms that can be considered "zombie-inducing" in their quest for energy. Some of them attached themselves to the dead body of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] and managed to reanimate it, evolving themselves into semi-awareness and later absorbing other machines. In this state, they shared with zombies the property to "infect" other robots by simple contact, turning them also into mindless drones, ready to spread the infection. ("Normal" space barnacles simply drain energy, but presumably do not take over Transformer minds.) [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] were finally cured from their contact with the creature when [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] blasted the space barnacles off with hot [[water]]. {{storylink|Nature Calls}}
{{-}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:DarknessRising4-beholddarkenergon!.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Night of the Living Generics.]]
After [[Cliffjumper (Prime)| Cliffjumper]] was killed in a battle against the [[Eradicon]]s, his body was saved by [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] for use in experiments. When [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] returned, he wished to test the then-theoretical property of [[Dark Energon]] to revive the dead. It worked, to an extent. Cliffjumper was reborn as a screaming beast, and promptly destroyed two Eradicons before leaping at Megatron. Megatron commented that the creature before him was no longer an Autobot and sliced the zombie Cliffjumper in half with his claw. The half with the head remained alive, and attacked [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] when she tried to rescue it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

{{spoiler|Darkness Rising, Part 4|December 9, 2010}}
Megatron realized the potential for brutal, undead warriors from the encounter with Cliffjumper and decided to use the Dark Energon more extensively. When [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] realized that the substance they were dealing with was Dark Energon, he and [[Ratchet (Prime)| Ratchet]] put two and two together and realized Megatron was up to something, that something being raising the dead. Eons ago, there had been a war on Earth after the smuggling of Energon to the planet. Since Cybertronian bodies do not decompose, there were some still buried in the ground. Megatron appeared to Optimus Prime and Ratchet in a large canyon, and threw a chunk of Dark Energon into the ground, which promptly began to glow bright purple along with Megatron himself. The ground opened up and the undead robots crawled out from the edges, brandishing the same deadly weapons they carried in the previous war. Optimus and Ratchet were quick to dispose of the zombie hoard, only to be informed by Megatron that this was merely the prelude to his main event. That event, they soon discovered, was raising the countless dead on [[Cybertron]] itself. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

{{spoiler|Darkness Rising, Part 5|December 10, 2010}}
Unfortunately for the Autobots, Megatron was already a step ahead of them in implementing his plan, since he already had a working [[space bridge]] and a ship to get to it. The Autobots used their [[ground bridge]] to reach the space bridge, but failed to stop Megatron from throwing his supply of Dark Energon through, raising the entire deceased population of Cybertron. Before the undead warriors could pass through the bridge, the Autobots managed to reverse the power flow, causing the bridge to explode, taking the zombies and Megatron with it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}
{{-}}

==Honorable mentions==
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], while he was an animated unliving Transformer controlled by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and later [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]], was not strictly a zombie. He was not given life until after he was used as a mindless puppet by diabolical masters.
* [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] is not a reanimated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] as was [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers|commonly believed]] for some time.
* [[Dinobot II]], though he looked like an undead [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot I]], was more of a [[Frankenstein's monster]] than a zombie.
* [[Primeval Dawn]]'s "Zombie [[Tarantulas]]," as referred to by some fans, did inhabit the reconfigured remains of his previous body. This seemed to be a full return to life, despite his new black and gray color scheme, rather than being undead.
* [[Energon (franchise)|''Energon'']] [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], though brought back from the dead, was more ghosty than zombie-y. Even [[Aaron Archer]] referred to him as an "[[Energon (Energon)|Energon]] ghost."
* [[Transformers Animated|''Animated'']] [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] was kept alive by a fragment of the All-Spark, despite his spark having been extinguished, making him a Zombie of sorts.
* [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Dark Crumplezone]], though he was also brought back from the dead, likewise wasn't very zombie-y; indeed, he even came back smarter (according to his on-package [[bio]]) and with his personality intact.
* [[Dead End (ROTF)|Dead End]] was a decomposing, bestial creature that cannibalised other Transformers, but was doing that to ''stave off'' death.

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Masterforce]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Zombies| ]]

Darkness Rising, Part 1

2010-11-27T20:10:06Z

74.192.36.186: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]''
|ep=1
|next=Darkness Rising, Part 2
|image=
|caption=
|title="Darkness Rising, Part 1"
|airdate=[[November 26]], [[2010]]
|written by=[[Duane Capizzi]]
|directed by=[[Dave Hartman|David Hartman]]
|animation studio=[[Digitalscape]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime and the Autobots investigate the return of the Decepticons while being forced to account for a group of young humans who have unwittingly become involved in their centuries-old conflict.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] is on the open road, boasting to [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] over the comm about how he's been messing with the [[human]]s, when he detects a large amount of energon nearby. As he goes to investigate, a [[Decepticon]] ship appears over the crater and [[Eradicon|Decepticon]]s drop down to attack him. Arcee alerts the rest of the [[Autobot]]s, who head back to base. Cliffjumper fights on, destroying several of the Decepticons, but their blasts detonate the energon, causing a huge explosion. They drag his defeated form back to the ship, where [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] is upset about the loss of the energon. Cliffjumper is defiant, but Starscream executes him. The Autobots arrive at the crater via [[Ground Bridge]], only to find the aftermath of the fight. Arcee picks up a horn Cliffjumper lost during the battle, and Ratchet reports that Cliffjumper's life signal has terminated.

Back on the Decepticon ship, Soundwave replays a recording of Arcee's comms talk, and Starscream decides she will be their next target.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] reminds the other Autobots that they must continue to work to survive to honor the memory of their fallen comrade. Arcee refuses to dwell on it and drives off. In a nearby city, [[Jack Darby]] is working at the [[KO Burger]] drive-thru. Arcee finds herself being chased by a couple of Decepticons, and ducks into the KO Burger parking lot, where Jack mistakes her for a real motorcycle, fantasizing about one day having a motorcycle of his own, hops on. [[Sierra]] and a friend catch him apparently talking to the motorcycle, but while Jack has an awkward moment, the Decepticons spot Arcee. She takes off with a startled Jack still on board. After a short chase, she attempts to let Jack off, sending him down a side alley with a warning not to tell anyone what he's seen. As she speeds off, she spots one of the Decepticons heading after Jack and is forced to double-back and pick him up. The chase moves onto the freeway where [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] arrives to help them out.

In a nearby drainage canal, [[Rafael Esquivel]] is playing with a remote-controlled car when Arcee and Jack literally drop in. The Decepticons drop in as well, and first Arcee, then Bumblebee is blasted to the ground. Raf draws the 'cons' attention, which unfortunately works too well, and the two kids are forced to flee into a drain. While they make their escape, Bumblebee and Arcee stand defiant against the Decepticons and, as [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] joins the fight, and the two Decepticons flee.

At Autobot headquarters, Optimus Prime informs the Autobots that since the Decepticons have seen the two boys, they may be targeted. At High School, Jack and Raf meet up again and Bumblebee and Arcee come to take them to HQ. Though Raf roars off in Bumblebee, Jack walks away. [[Miko Nakadai]], sitting outside the school, draws Arcee, but when the motorcycle disappears, she peeks around the corner and spots Arcee in robot mode arguing with Jack. She takes both kids and catches up to Bumblebee. They drive to the Autobots' HQ, concealed in a mountain, where the three kids marvel at the rest of the Autobots and Optimus Prime gives them some exposition regarding the Transformer war. Optimus fears the imminent return of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]].

Soundwave detects a transmission from deep space, and Starscream orders the [[space bridge]] activated. As it opens, Megatron emerges, announcing his return.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] (1)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (7)

|c2=
*[[Eradicon|Decepticon drones]] (3)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (15)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Sierra]] (11)
*Sierra's friend (12)
*[[Rafael Esquivel]] (13)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"Clean that up!"
:—'''Starscream''' after killing Cliff and not washing his servos

"Scrap!"
:—'''Arcee''' showing her fluency with Cybertronian expletives

"So, if you guys are robots, who made you...?"<br>
"Ugh! Puh-''leez''..."
:—'''Rafael''' and '''Ratchet'''

"We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron..."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' likes to [[Transformers (2007)|repeat the same introduction over and over again.]]

"Decepticons! I have returned."
:—'''Megatron''' likes to state the obvious.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
===Continuity errors===

===Transformers references===
* Bulkhead's wrecking ball fists are a reference to his [[Bulkhead (Animated)|predecessor]].

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
* Jack's statement "The first rule of robot fight club is that you don't talk about robot fight club" is a reference to, well, ''[[Wikipedia:Fight Club|Fight Club]]''.

===Trivia===

==Home video releases==
{{epstub}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]