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Wheeljack (Movie)

2011-10-12T05:08:56Z

74.99.182.224: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobotfilm|NEST}}
{{disambig3|Wheeljack}}
:''Wheeljack is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] continuity family. He is sometimes referred to as '''Que'''.''
[[Image:HeatScramble_wheeljack.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity... and I'm not sure about the former.]] An accomplished [[Autobot]] scientist and inventor, '''Wheeljack''' will hook you up with some new weapon or gizmo that he just invented. There's no problem too big or too small that Wheeljack isn't willing to tackle, be it celestial mechanics or inventing potent new anti-Decepticon combat weapons. Because of this, he's a welcome addition to the [[NEST]] team, as staying on the cutting edge of technology is a priority for NEST. That said, he's not much a fighter, and prefers to leave the violence to his combat partner [[Mirage (Movie)|Mirage]]. With his wild hairstyle, glasses, and dapper [[Facial hair|moustache]], he resembles a certain famous [[Albert Einstein|scientist]] as well! To complete the German homage, he transforms into a [[wikipedia:Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes-Benz]] E550.

{{bigquote|They're great inventions for kicking ass!|Que on his latest killamajig|''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''}}

{{TOCclear}}
==Fiction==
===IDW ''Dark of the Moon'' prequel comics===
[[Image: Foundation1_wheeljack.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Yeah, but what you have done for us ''lately''?]]
Thousands of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Wheeljack was one of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]'s followers. He was a crucial figure in the culmination of Sentinel Prime's plan to save the dying planet: While Sentinel's other pupils held off an attack by the heretic [[Thetacon (tribe)|Thetacons]], Wheeljack's technical skills went to work creating a device that, once linked to the AllSpark, warped time and space, teleporting a sun into Cybertronian space. The sun's energy revitalized the [[AllSpark]], bringing life and energy back to Cybertron, and Wheeljack calmly remarked that, wouldn't you know it, it seemed they'd only gone and saved the world. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1|Foundation #1}} Soon after, Wheeljack stood by Sentinel Prime's side when he addressed the collective populace of the planet on [[Unification Day]], announcing the new direction for the revitalized Cybertron. The world was to be governed by a [[Science Division]] led by [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], and a [[Defense Force]] under [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s command; naturally, Wheeljack elected to join the former.{{storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}}

Years later, Wheeljack was with Sentinel Prime and [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] at one of the division's archaeological digs when they came under attack from Megatron's forces, which he had rechristened "[[Decepticon]]s" with the intent of seizing control of the planet. Optimus—now Optimus ''Prime''—rallied those who opposed Megatron under him as the [[Autobot]]s, Wheeljack included. {{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}}

As the war worsened, Sentinel Prime presented the Autobots with a mysterious "torch" he had invented that would somehow end the war. An Autobot strike team under Optimus assault [[Simfur]] in order to activate the torch by bringing it into contact with the AllSpark, while Wheeljack stayed by Sentinel's side, awaiting its return and preparing to depart aboard the two great [[Ark (disambiguation)|Arks]] the Autobots had built. Elita-One soon arrived with the active torch, at which point Sentinel ordered a reluctant Wheeljack to take the first [[Ark (Movie)|Ark]] and collected the other Autobots from their base in [[Tyger Pax]], while Sentinel himself took the torch and went to pick up Optimus's team aboard his own [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]. Consequently, Sentinel's Ark and all aboard were apparently destroyed by the Decepticons upon arrival. Furious at the death of his mentor, Optimus Prime enacted a new plan: while he kept Megatron busy, Wheeljack took the rest of the Autobots and attacked Simfur again, overwhelming the weakened Decepticons there and capturing the AllSpark. The cube was removed from the machine Wheeljack had invented, which caused Cybertron's sun to disappear. {{storylink|Foundation issue 4|Foundation #4}}

[[Image:RisingStorm4WheeljackeandMiragebodiesdestroyed.jpg|right|thumb|250px|They will get better]]

Thousands of years later, Wheeljack joined Optimus Prime on Earth at some point after 2009, alongside [[Mirage (Movie)|Mirage]]. The pair joined [[NEST]], and were assigned to a unit stationed in [[Washington, D.C.]]. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3}} This put them closest to the action when a huge Decepticon battalion attacked [[Sam Witwicky]]'s school in [[Philadelphia]], and they arrived just in time to help [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] fight off the villains. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 2}} Wheeljack generated a powerful [[force field]] to shield Sam and other human bystanders as they ran from the battle, {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3}} and the pair helped hold the line until Optimus Prime arrived with reinforcements. Observing that the Decepticons were attempting to flee, Prime ordered Wheeljack to extend his force field in order to keep them from escaping, but before the scientist could comply, the merciless [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] descended onto the battlefield and grievously damaged Wheeljack with a powerful blast. Luckily, Wheeljack remained just functional enough to complete his recalibration, trapping Shockwave inside his force field with a very unhappy Optimus Prime. After Prime defeated Shockwave, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] examined Wheeljack's broken body and reported that he could be repaired, though he probably wouldn't be "quite the same". {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4}}

{{note|Upon being rebuilt, Wheeljack presumably took on the name 'Que' to complement his radically different appearance, but other continuities have had him retaining his pre-rebuilding name.}}

{{-}}

===''Dark of the Moon'' film===

:''Voice actor:'' [[George Coe]] (English), [[Shinpachi Tsuji]] (Japanese), [[Guillermo Coria]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Giorgio Lopez]] (Italian)

[[Image:DOTMQuegadget.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I do hope you'll bring these gadgets back in one piece, 007.]]

As a member of a NEST strike team, Que, in his vehicle form, posed as the [[Iran]]ian defense minister’s vehicle to cross a checkpoint. Once and the others reached an an illegal nuclear facility, he, [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] and [[Mirage (Movie)|Dino]] investigated and destroyed it. Later at NEST’s new base of operations in Washington, D.C., Que provided weapons-specialist Ironhide with a weapons upgrade, supplying him with two powerful rifles. When National Intelligence Director [[Charlotte Mearing]] arrived, he politely introduced himself and informed them about Optimus Prime’s upset mood. He stood in the background with his fellow Autobots and observed Optimus berate the government officials for keeping the wreckage of the ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'' a secret from the Autobots.

When the Autobots were ordered to be exiled from Earth by the government on [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime's]] demands, Que helped to prepare the Autobot ship, the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]'' for launch alongside his fellow Autobots. However, after launch, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] attacked the ''Xantium'' and destroyed the ship, presumably killing Que and the other Autobots on board.

[[Image:DOTMQuegetsit.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Good news, everyone! I've been shot- wait a minute, that's not good news at all!]]

Secretly, the Autobots had suspected treachery, and hid inside one of their shuttle's booster rockets which had detached shortly before Starscream's attack. Que went alongside his comrades into the midst of the Decepticon-occupied [[Chicago]]. Before the Autobots went off to battle, Que provided [[Sam Witwicky|Sam Witwicky]], [[Robert Epps|Robert Epps]] and a team of soldiers with several new anti-Decepticon weapons that he had constructed which would, as he put it, “kick ass.” Later on, when several Autobots were overwhelmed and captured, he was taken hostage alongside Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Dino and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]. At [[Dylan Gould]]'s prodding, [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] decided to make trophies of the prisoners, starting with Que. Despite Que’s pleas for mercy, he was shot by a Decepticon protoform before being swiftly finished off by [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]]. His death left Bumblebee distraught, mourning his lost friend, while Barricade added insult to injury laughing at the fallen Autobot. But Bumblebee soon avenged his fallen friend by killing Soundwave. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Autobots'' video game===
Wheeljack upgraded [[Create-A-Bot (Autobot)|Create-A-Bot]] so that he could store the data of and, thus, adopt multiple vehicle forms. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Autobots}}

===''Transformers: The Game'' (PSP)===
[[Image:Wheeljack movie psp.jpg|180px|thumb|right|Before the 'stache.]]

:''Voice actor:'' [[Erik Passoja]]

Wheeljack arrived on [[Earth]] some time after [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and his team, apparently at the same time as [[Hoist (Movie)|Hoist]] and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]. At that time, the Autobots were coming under attack from an army of Decepticon drones, and Wheeljack was able to concoct a virus that would send the drones back into sleep mode. [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] and [[Trailbreaker (Movie)|Trailbreaker]] were charged with transmitting the virus to an orbiting satellite, broadcasting it to all the drones simultaneously. Although they succeeded, Wheeljack was left with the unfortunate task of relaying to Optimus Prime that Hound had died in the process.

A little later, Wheeljack accompanied the Autobots on their mission to the [[Hoover Dam]], and was seen escaping the complex when the Decepticons attacked. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}

===''Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jamie Alcroft]]

====Xbox 360/PS3====

Wheeljack aided his Autobot comrades from behind the scenes, arming them with newer, more potent weaponry almost as soon as he was done building them. He had NEST forces deliver one of these new weapons to Ironhide as the latter was battling the Decepticons in Detroit. The gun Wheeljack sent him enabled Ironhide to destroy Mixmaster's shields, leaving the Decepticon vulnerable.

Soundwave later infiltrated an old Sector Seven base that was evidently used as a workshop by Wheeljack to develop new MechTech weapons. Unfortunately, Soundwave managed to destroy the base and the MechTech with it, while what few weapons were already en route to Optimus Prime were intercepted by Starscream.

==Toys==
===Dark of the Moon===
====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:Dotm-Deluxe-Wheeljack-Toy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Any man who can drive safely while kissing a [[Arcee (Movie)| pretty girl]] is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.]]
*'''Wheeljack''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''DA31'''
**''Accessories:'' MechTech Blaster/Hand Saw, 2 pistols, spear
: Wheeljack transforms into a blue Mercedes Benz E550. He comes with a MechTech Blaster, which turns into a Circular Saw. He also features dual clip-on pistols that attach to his upper waist, as well as a large spear that clips to his back.

: His instructions depict him with a more G1-styled headsculpt. Hmmm, wonder what color the redeco will be...

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Wheeljack's onscreen name "Que" is most likely a nod to the famous ''[[Wikipedia:James Bond|James Bond]]'' character [[wikipedia:Q (James Bond)| Q]], who similarly provided his allies with equipment and gadgets. Furthermore, Que's scene in the Chicago battle, where he provides the NEST soldiers with a variety of weapons while stating their various features and functions, is lifted almost wholesale from many ''Bond'' movies. Rather interestingly though, he is listed in the credits as Que/Wheeljack, implying "Que" may just be a nickname.

* An early working name for him was '''Steeljaw''', and his head was considered to be based on [[Wikipedia:Christopher Lloyd|Christopher Lloyd's]] [[Wikipedia:Emmett Brown|Doc Brown]] from the [[Wikipedia:Back to the Future trilogy|''Back to the Future'' movies]] rather than Einstein. He was also going to have a 'labcoat', formed from his vehicle-mode canvas roof. <ref name="wburt">[http://conceptartworld.com/?p=8388 Wesley Burt DOTM concepts.]</ref>
*Numerous adaptations of Dark of the Moon (such as the [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon Movie Adaptation|comic adaptation]] and [[Dark of the Moon: The Junior Novel|junior novelization]]) illustrated that during the Autobot capture in Chicago, it was Dino/Mirage who was executed by Soundwave. However this was changed in the movie to Que/Wheeljack being killed instead while Dino/Mirage survived the battle.

* The Mercedes-Benz E550 prop car used for ''Dark of the Moon'' sported a German/European Union [[license plate]], "'''M IC3802'''", registered in the city of Munich, on the Chicago set.<ref name="chicago">[http://www.seibertron.com/live-action-films/gallery.php?id=133&size=0&start=50 Dark of the Moon Chicago set] at Seibertron.com.</ref> (The design of the plate is slightly inaccurate, as there should be a space between "IC" and "3802" if it were a real German plate. Also, a German car would have a license plate on the front as well.)

* Good luck trying to figure out his accent, by the way, as he oscillates between an impenetrably garbled half-Scottish, half-Irish muddle and English "Received Pronunciation" all the way through the film, at times in the same sentence. What we can tell you he's ''not'' speaking with, though, is a German accent, which a disturbing number of American fans seems to have concluded based simply on the fact he looks like Einstein.
Scientists are like that.

* For a scientist, Wheeljack has a crapton of weapons; with a vicious-looking MechTech weapon, a large spear, and twin pistols, (all of his own design, of course) he seems to be better armed than [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]!

==Footnotes==
<references/>
[[Category:Movie Autobots]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Autobots]]
[[Category:NEST]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (novel)

2011-10-12T04:19:31Z

74.99.182.224: /* Differences with the movie */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Dark of the Moon (books)|''Dark of the Moon'' book series]]
|prev=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)
|image=DOTMnovelization.jpg
|caption=
|title=''Transformers: Dark of the Moon''
|publisher=[[Del Rey Books]]
|date=[[May 24]], [[2011]]
|screenplay=[[Ehren Kruger]]
|writer=[[Peter David]]
|continuity=[[Live-action film series]]
|pagecount=400
|price=$7.99
|ISBN=ISBN 0345529162 ISBN 9780345529169
}}
'''Only a handful know the truth behind Apollo 11... a secret the Decepticons seek to expose.'''

==Synopsis==
As the war waged on Cybertron, Optimus Prime witnessed a ship called the Ark, carrying supplies that could turn the tides in favour of the Autobots shot and left to drift in space by Starscream. It soon crashed on the Earth’s moon in the 1960s. On July 20th 1969, the Apollo 11 discovered the crashed alien ship on the moon.

In the present day, three years after the events of Revenge of the Fallen, the Autobots have now become fully sanctioned members of the U.S. military and battling various human threats across the globe. Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Mirage and Wheeljack investigate a nuclear facility in the Middle East encountering humans with stolen Cybertronian tech. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime and Ratchet oversee the destruction of the decommissioned NEST facility in Diego Garcia. With their mission complete in the Middle East, Optimus commands the Autobots to head to Washington D.C, while he, Ratchet and Captain Lennox leave for Prypiat, Ukraine, following a lead on a recently uncovered object that seems Cybertronian in origin.

In Washington D.C. a restless Sam, is now is living with his new girlfriend Carly Spencer, a secretary working for Dylan Gould, a CEO of a major investment company and a car enthusiast. Sam is prying for a new job but having saved the world twice, Sam doesn’t want a job that he knows won’t make a difference in life and complains how the government never bothered to give him a proper job. The pair also lives with decommissioned Autobots; Wheelie and Brains, whose services were turned down by the Autobots. Sam leaves for his job interview with his new boss, Bruce.

Arriving in the uninhabitable city of Prypiat, Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Lennox investigate a dig site where construction workers (who wear special suits) have uncovered a mysterious object resembling a giant pillar. Suddenly, they are attacked by a huge Decepticon named Driller and piloted by Shockwave. The Decepticons attempt to retrieve the pillar. Some of the construction workers are killed as Optimus orders Ratchet and the humans to retreat, while he battles the Decepticons. The Decepticons escape, leaving behind the pillar. An incredulous Optimus Prime recovers the pillar and realizes that it is a part of the Ark, the long-thought lost Autobot ship.

In Africa, a weakened Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave learn of the discovery of the pillar by the Autobots. Soundwave deploys Laserbeak to silence their human allies. At their base in Washington D.C, U.S Intelligence Director Charlotte Mearing reveals to the Autobots that the space race in 1969 was in response to the Ark crashing on the moon. An angered Optimus demands a mission to the moon with the Autobots on it. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Ratchet wind up on the moon and discover and retrieve Sentinel Prime; Optimus Prime’s mentor and predecessor. They also recover five other pillars, and return to the Earth, unaware of three Decepticon stowaways named the Dreads (Crankcase, Hatchet and Crowbar).

Later, at his new job, Sam encounters a co-worker who recognizes him from the television broadcasts. The co-worker tries to reveal to Sam a Decepticon plot, revealing that he has been forced to work with the Decepticons to cover up something before being killed by Laserbeak, who attacks Sam. After being injured by Sam, Laserbeak retreats and reports back to Soundwave. Sam then heads to NEST operations in Washington D.C. where he is introduced to Director Mearing. Optimus revives Sentinel Prime using the Matrix of Leadership. Having retrieved five other pillars, Sentinel reveals that the pillars allow the user to open space bridges and teleport them anywhere. However, he reveals that a hundred of them have gone missing. Director Mearing then forces Sam away.

Elsewhere, the three stowaway Decepticons adopt Earth vehicle forms and inform Megatron that they are ready to strike.

Later, Sam, puzzled why Decepticons have been enlisting the help of humans, meets with Seymour Simmons, who has now become a millionaire after writing books about his experiences with Sector Seven. He also has a butler and assistant named Dutch. Soon Carly arrives who gets into an argument with Sam. After breaking up with Sam, Carly angrily leaves for a party hosted by Dylan.

Following a lead, Sam and co arrive at Atlantic City, where they meet up with a former Russian cosmonaut living in the states. After a brief scuffle which Brains defuses, the cosmonaut reveals that the Soviet Union were the first to send cameras onto the moon. Footage revealed over a hundred pillars lying over the surface of the moon, however only five was recovered. Sam deduces that the Decepticons must have recovered the other pillars. However, he is puzzled as to why the Decepticons left Sentinel Prime unharmed. He believes that Sentinel Prime maybe the only one who knows how to use the pillars. He realizes that the Decepticons left Sentinel Prime, so that the Autobots could recover him as Optimus is the only one who could revive him.
Realizing that it was a set-up, Sam warns Director Mearing about Sentinel Prime. The Autobots (Mirage, Bumblebee, Sideswipe), Sam and co escort Sentinel Prime back to NEST operations. Along the way, the group is attacked by the Dreads. In the ensuing battle, Simmons is severely injured by a Dread, while Sentinel Prime escapes back to base.

When Captain Lennox and Ironhide return to base Sentinel Prime betrays the Autobots, murdering Ironhide and the Twins. He reveals that he always was the key before battling and gravely injuring Optimus, and joining forces with Megatron. Sentinel Prime never believed that the Autobots would have won the war so he forced himself into an alliance with Megatron to end it. Starscream’s attack on the Ark was a ruse, and Sentinel was actually on his way to meet Megatron.

Now with their plan set in motion, Megatron opens a space bridge and transports a multitude of Decepticons hidden on the moon to Earth, before going into hiding for the time being. Sentinel Prime speaks to the humans, revealing that he is the true leader of the Autobots, and his plans to mine Earth’s resources to rebuild Cybertron. He also demands the exile of the former rebel Autobots (Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Mirage and Wheeljack) in order to avoid any conflict. If this agreement is not met, Sentinel Prime reveals he will destroy all human life with a battalion of Transformers.

In Gould Estate, Sam arrives and makes up with Carly. Suddenly they are attacked by Laserbeak and Soundwave, disguised as Carly’s car. Dylan reveals that he is in league with the Decepticons. He reveals that he and his family have been working with the Decepticons all along, noting that his father helped the U.S. government cover up the moon crash landing. In exchange for Carly’s life, Dylan forces Sam to spy on the Autobots and inform the Decepticons about the Autobots plans for retribution. He also forcibly gives Sam a small Decepticon to monitor and record the Autobots plans.

Later, Sam meets up with Director Mearing and Robert Epps, who reveal that the UN has exiled the Autobots. He asks Optimus if they are planning anything, subtly tipping him off. Optimus reveals that the Autobots intend to leave on a ship called The Xantium, built by a hidden sub-team of Autobots called The Wreckers. The Wreckers had been hidden from the public eye due to their abrasive personalities. Bumblebee remains on Earth, disguised as an old Datsun and helps Sam get rid of the Decepticon given to him by Dylan. The Autobots leave on The Xantium, but just as they do, their ship is shot down by Starscream and the Autobots are believed to be dead. Sam convinces Epps to help him find Dylan and rescue Carly. They realize that they are in Chicago, so Sam, Bumblebee, Epps and a few mercenaries in league with Epps head to Chicago.

Planning to open the space bridge in the centre of Chicago, Megatron orders the Decepticons to lay waste to the city. Most of the population is evacuated though. Having secured the city of Chicago and following a meeting between Sentinel Prime and Megatron who are starting to have a friction, Dylan reveals to Carly Sentinel Prime’s plans to use Earth’s human population as slave labor but because humans will be unable to survive going through the space bridge, Sentinel intends to bring Earth and Cybertron together using the space bridge. Though this will destroy the Earth, the surviving human population will be used to rebuild Cybertron by mining the Earth’s resources. Whilst leaving Chicago with Carly, Dylan encounters Sam who attempts to free Carly only to be attacked by Laserbeak. Laserbeak is destroyed by a Decepticon tank piloted by Bumblebee, while Dylan escapes.

Sam rescues Carly and just when Epps and company seem to think all hope is lost, the Autobots (Mirage, Wheeljack, Sideswipe, Ratchet and the Wreckers) return to the city, having never boarded the ship in the first place. Dylan informs Megatron about this; however Sentinel Prime reveals that he anticipated this move on Optimus’ part. While the Autobots travel the city, a chasm in the ground opens up, sending Wheeljack into the Chicago River, where he faces a horde of Decepticons and goes down fighting. As the Autobots prepare for battle, Shockwave arrives with the Driller. Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Ratchet, Mirage battle him only to quickly realize that they are powerless against Shockwave. Carly reveals to Sam that if they can destroy the control pillar opening the space bridge, the whole space bridge will collapse, having learnt this of off Dylan. However, Epps reveals that they only have one shot left with the launcher and radios for backup.
Eventually, the Autobots are overpowered by the Decepticon forces and captured. Starscream kills Mirage, with Soundwave using his severed head as a puppet to mock the Autobots, just as he prepares to kill Bumblebee he is knocked aside by a Wheelie piloted Decepticon flagship who massacre a horde of Decepticons. The Autobots manage to escape, and Bumblebee kills Soundwave. Starscream is also killed by Sam to avenge Mirage. The group attempts to blow the control pillar from afar but that plan fails, and the building that they are in is tipped over by the Driller. Sentinel Prime also betrays Megatron and knocks him off the building, having no intention to work for him.

Optimus arrives and massacres a horde of Decepticons, including the Driller, before battling and killing Shockwave. He then uses Shockwave’s laser blaster to destroy the control pillar. The main piece of the pillar falls in front of Sam who attempts to retrieve it only to be confronted by Dylan. A fight ensues, in which Dylan is killed by the piece of the control pillar as it disintegrates him. The military also arrive.

An angered Megatron is persuaded by Carly to destroy Sentinel Prime. Megatron and Optimus join forces and battle Sentinel Prime. While Megatron distracts Sentinel, Optimus gets hold of Sentinel’s rust cannon, and destroys Sentinel with his own weapon. Following the battle, Megatron and Optimus Prime make peace to end the war. Megatron and the remaining Decepticon forces return to Cybertron. Sam and Carly have rekindled, and Bumblebee produces a gasket ring and forces Sam into unwittingly proposing as the two shares a kiss.

Optimus Prime and the surviving Autobots remain on Earth; their new home.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]
*[[Brains]]
*[[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]]
*[[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Mirage (Movie)|Mirage]]
*[[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]
*[[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]]
*[[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]
*[[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]]
*[[Topspin (DOTM)|Topspin]]
*[[Roadbuster (DOTM)|Roadbuster]]
|c2=
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Driller]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]
*[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]
*[[Hatchling|Hatchlings]]
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]
*[[Crankcase (DOTM)|Crankcase]]
*[[Crowbar]]
*[[Hatchet]]
|c3=
*[[Aaron Brooks]] (3)
*[[Ralph Simmons]] (4)
*[[Kelly (DOTM)|Kelly]] (5)
*[[Newman]] (6)
*[[Carla Spencer]] (7)
*[[Sam Witwicky]]
*[[Carly Spencer]]
*[[William Lennox]]
*[[Robert Epps|Robert Epps]]
*[[Dylan Gould]]
*[[Ron Witwicky|Ron Witwicky]]
*[[Judy Witwicky|Judy Witwicky]]
*[[Seymour Simmons|Seymour Simmons]]
*[[Dutch (DOTM)|Dutch]]
}}

==Quotes==

==Errors==

==Notes==

===Transformers references===

===Differences with the movie===

* Skids and Mudflap appear.

* Ironhide goes in a mission in Chechnya to stop some rebels.

* Laserbeak transforms to a small robot dog instead of a human-sized pink Bumblebee replica.

* Wheeljack falls in the river after Driller's attack and then get torn apart by Decepticons underwater.

* Starscream kills Mirage while helping out the humans getting out of the skyscraper.

* Not only does Soundwave make a "puppet show" out of Mirage's wreckage, but he also blows off Leadfoot's left leg.

* Cybertron was not destroyed. In the movie it wasn't either.

* Megatron isn't killed by Optimus Prime. Instead, he asks for a truce and Optimus accepts it.

* Brains and Wheelie survived the crash of the Decepticon mother ship.

===Trivia===

* As opposed to other characters who were referred to by their car model (Ex. Bumblebee the Camaro, Ironhide the GMC Topkick, etc.), Mirage was referred to as "Red Sports car" instead of a Ferrari.
* Sentinel Prime held Charlotte Mearing hostage and threatened her to kill everyone if she won't give him back the pillars.
* At one point, Roadbuster was referred to as the blue Wreker instead of green.

==International printings==

==External links==
*[http://www.randomhouse.com/book/212408/transformers--dark-of-the-moon-by-peter-david#excerpt Random House page]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark of the Moon (novel)}}
[[Category:Adaptations]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon]]
[[Category:Novels]]

M1 Abrams Decepticon

2011-10-06T04:57:02Z

74.99.182.224: /* Notes */

{{faction|decepticonfilm}}
{{noname-nickname}}
:''The M1 Abrams Decepticon is a Decepticon from the [[Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] continuity.''
[[Image:M1 Abrams Decepticon.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Deep Desert... somebody.]]
The '''M1 Abrams Decepticon''' shares the same [[body-type]] as [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]].

==Fiction==
===''Dark of the Moon''===
The M1 Abrams [[Decepticon]] took part in the fight against the [[Autobot]]s in the battle in [[Chicago]]. Despite his attempts to kill the Autobots, he was one of the first to be killed when [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] attacked the active Decepticons in an epic frontal attack. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

==Notes==
*The M1 Abrams Decepticon reuses the CGI model of Brawl from the [[Transformers (2007)|first live-action movie]], but given that Brawl died in that film, it's unlikely this guy was intended to be him. This isn't the first time the "[[Buffalo MPV Decepticon|reused CGI model for incidental character]]" phenomenon has cropped up within the movie universe, but at least this time, some differentiation of color is employed: where Brawl was green, this guy is brown, a bit like Brawl's [[Brawl (Movie)#deepdesert|"Deep Desert" toy]].
*Since Brawl was not actually an M1 Abrams tank, but a redressed tank prop originally made for the film ''[[Wikipedia:xXx: State of the Union|xXx: State of the Union]]'', and Hasbro's toys of Brawl were not [[licensed vehicle alternate modes|licensed]] Abrams tanks either, our makeshift name for this guy is somewhat inaccurate.
How' bout' 'Sandlash'?

[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Live-action-only characters]]

Lensmeter Decepticon

2011-10-06T04:49:29Z

74.99.182.224: /* Notes */

{{faction|decepticonfilm}}
{{noname-nickname}}

:''The Lensmeter Decepticon is a Decepticon from the [[Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] continuity.''

The '''Lensmeter Decepticon'''s are a group of miniscule Decepticons much like the better-known [[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]]. They primarily serve as medics attempting to repair Megatron after his battle with [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]].

==Fiction==
===''Dark of the Moon''===

To repair the damage he suffered from Optimus Prime in Egypt, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] allowed the Lensmeter Decepticons to constantly attend to his head-wound, putting the pieces back together from the inside. Despite the tiny robots' services, Megatron crushed one between his fingers, seemingly out of boredom. Another Lensmeter Decepticon was seen repairing Megatron in [[Chicago]] while Megatron and [[Carly Spencer]] were talking. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

==Notes==
*Although Scalpel was destroyed in the novel and comic adaptations of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', his fate was left ambiguous in the film itself, so one of the Lensmeter Decepticons may have been intended to be Scalpel himself.

Don't believe the Hipe, man! Scalpel is definetly alive!

[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Live-action-only characters]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Medics]]

Straxus (G1)

2011-10-06T04:32:21Z

74.99.182.224: /* Generation 1 */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Straxus}}

:''Straxus is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Marvel Comics]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. He is sometimes known as '''Darkmount'''.''

[[Image:Straxus.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Mercy is not dispensed here, fools, only Pez.]]
A ruthless, fearmongering dictator, Lord High Governor '''Straxus''' is a threat to all under his rule—including his own inner circle. From his throne in [[Darkmount]], there are none in [[Polyhex]] who do not feel his crushing influence. Straxus's word is law, unbound by reason or facts, and can and will change from thought to thought. Do not try to appeal to his sense of pity; he has none.

A brutal powerhouse, he is more than able to enforce his policies, usually with a deadly blow from his battle axe. So terrible is Straxus that even [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] gives the dictator his space, allowing the small-minded tyrant to terrorize his corner of the globe. Megatron may have designs on the galaxy, but in Polyhex, Straxus rules.

{{quote|'''Mercy''' is not dispensed here, fools... only '''death!'''|Straxus|"[[The Smelting Pool!]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Straxusholdscourt.jpg|left|300px|thumb|He's got a metal palm tree and he's not afraid to use it!]]
''Following the assassination of the Decepticon warlord [[Trannis]] by the [[Autobot]] commando unit, the [[Wrecker]]s, Straxus assumed his position as Decepticon leader on Cybertron.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006|Cybertron: The Middle Years!}}

Straxus would oversee a horrifically brutal reign, having his men hunt down neutrals, Autobots, and [[empties|the destitute]] so they could be melted down in [[Smelting pool|smelting pools]] and their metal reused by the Decepticons. Even other Decepticons weren't safe from his brutality, with him battering his own Executive Officer [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] when he was in a mood.

When a Decepticon transmission beamed from the planet [[Earth]] circa the Earth year 1985 reached Cybertron, Straxus immediately arranged for the capture of the scientist [[Spanner (G1)|Spanner]] so that a [[space bridge]] between the worlds could be constructed. Attempting to locate Spanner, the Autobot spy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] learned of this plot, but was captured by [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] and brought before Straxus, who maliciously destroyed his unique recording-device arm before consigning him to death in the [[Smelting pool|smelting pools]]. In turn, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] came searching for Scrounge (against orders), was captured and brought before Straxus, and sentenced to the pools. There he discovered the dying Scrounge, was given the information he had acquired, and escaped with the aid of his Autobot friends who had come looking for him (against orders). {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}}

[[Image:Straxusaltmode.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Yeah, but where does the axe go?]]The space bridge was subsequently completed, but its earliest tests reduced Straxus to rage when a malfunction caused the death of [[Crosscut (Decepticon)|Crosscut]], and he sent [[Crosscut's successor|another unfortunate]] to instant death in an attempt to figure out what had gone wrong. In an act of petty brutality, he threatened Shrapnel that he better sort the problem out soon because ''he'' was going to be sent to clear the rubbish off the Bridge! As the tests went on, an Autobot raiding party planted explosives within Darkmount, destroying it, and sending an enraged Straxus after their heads. With the bridge unattended, Blaster intended to destroy it, but was confronted by Straxus in a one-on-one duel. Crippling Blaster with his axe, Straxus was duped into accidentally severing the bridge's fuel line, destabilizing its teleporting arch, through which Blaster then kicked Straxus, destroying him. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

[[Image:Straxushead.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Its just Vilgax al over again...]]

''However, while Straxus's body was reduced to ash, his head was salvaged and placed in a life-support pod that allowed him to continue on in his position as leader. '' {{storylink|The Harder They Die!}}'' Soon after, when [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] arrived on Cybertron, Straxus immediately set in motion a scheme to restore himself to life, calmly following Megatron's directions to hunt down [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], who had arrived on the planet with him. '' {{storylink|Under Fire!}}'' After Prime carried out [[Decepticon fuel store|several successful raids]] alongside the Wreckers, Megatron began to grow more and more unstable, and Straxus more and more impatient with his deranged houseguest. Despite the warnings of his technicians as to the "unpredictability" of the machinery involved, Straxus made the final step, activating a device that would exchange his and Megatron's minds, giving him a body once more. Megatron resisted the transfer, however, leaving the two minds within Megatron's body, fighting for dominance, each one in control at a different moment. The other Decepticons, in particular [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], soon noticed their leader's problems and began to scheme about how to handle it. When in battle with Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], Megatron prepared to unleash his destructive [[antimatter]] powers; in order to save the [[Polyhex Decepticon stronghold]], Ratbat activated the space bridge, teleporting the three Transformers back to [[Earth]].'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[Image:Maulers_mauled.jpg|right|thumb|250px|This story is full of awesome Megatron moments and Straxus retroactively stole them all. He ''is'' evil!]]

''Before this could occur, having failed to oust Megatron's mind, Straxus activated his contingency plan, "[[Project Re-Birth]]," and his consciousness fled into a body he had specially prepared—a duplicate of Megatron created from a "[[hapless trooper]]", complete with a copy of his brain patterns, beneath which Straxus's personality lay dormant. '' {{storylink|Two Megatrons!}}'' Upon hearing of the true Megatron's seeming death aboard the space bridge a short time later, the project technicians activated the clone, sending it to the sewers beneath [[London]] where it came into conflict with a small group of Autobots, [[Action Force (team)|Action Force]] and [[Centurion (Marvel)|Centurion]]. Straxus's mind had yet to take over the clone at this point, and it genuinely believed itself to be the true Megatron, but it was soon dealt with when an oil tank explosion sent it and Centurion tumbling into the Thames river.'' {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}

''Some time later, seeking a weapon to use against the deranged future Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] recovered the Megatron clone, also believing it to be the genuine article, only to find that "Megatron"'s mind had retreated into itself. Shockwave subjected the clone to the [[psycho-probe]], intending to force "Megatron" to face his fears—but instead, Straxus emerged, intending to fight Megatron's fears for him and finally take control of the body. Megatron fought back, however, ripping the mental image of Straxus to pieces and finally taking over their shared mind.'' {{storylink|Salvage!}}

''This Megatron killed [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] in a test run'' {{storylink|Dry Run!}} ''and then proceeded to battle Galvatron, but ceased his attack after hearing from the future Decepticon that: a) Stasrcream would throw him out a ship in 2006, and b) Galvatron would kill him. Amused and seeing the two had a lot in common, Megatron agreed to join him.'' {{storylink|Altered Image!}} ''He helped Galvatron battle Autobots of the present and future in the "[[Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars]]", massacring [[Wreckers]] and the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], but was soon put off by the growing madness and pointless destruction that his ally was causing. The Megatron clone opted instead to [[Mayhem Attack Squad's ship|return]] to Cybertron.'' {{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}

''On Cybertron, he effortlessly dethroned the decadent ruling [[Triumverate]] and took control of the Decepticons on the planet once more... ruling confident in the knowledge he'd become Galvatron, and ''this'' time he'd do things ''right''!'' {{storylink|The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire}}

[[Image:TFUK TwoMegatrons Suicide.JPG|left|150px|thumb|No, no! Aim away from the face!]]

''Soon, however, he began to suffer from nightmarish visions of the lives lived by both the trooper whose body became his, and of Straxus, just as the true Megatron—having recovered his memories after a period of wandering amensia in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]]—attacked his base.'' {{storylink|Mind Games}}'' The two Megatrons battled, with the true one revealed the clone's nature to him, and all at once, everything made sense to the clone. Along with this revelation, another immediately arose—Straxus's mental defeat was a sham, and he had been dwelling within the clone's mind all along, steadily growing in power as the clone weakened. Straxus made one final attempt to seize control of their mind, and the clone committed suicide, blowing his own head off with his [[fusion cannon]], rather than allow Straxus to win.'' {{storylink|Two Megatrons!}}

''It is possible that in the original un-altered pre-Time Wars timeline, the Straxus-Megatron clone may have been the Megatron transformed into Galvatron, but the shifting nature of the timelines makes this open to debate at best.''

''All very simple, isn't it?''

{{note|The true nature of the Megatron clone was not revealed until the story which depicted his death. This was because, for all of the clone's other stories, he was regarded by characters, readers and writer [[Simon Furman]] as actually being the ''real'' Megatron, having survived his supposed death in the US comics. The US comics, however, continued to treat Megatron as pushing up daisies, so when Simon Furman took over writing that title and penned Megatron's return, he needed an explanation that would reconcile Megatron's continual appearances in the UK title with his lack of activity in the US. Relegating the Megatron of the UK comics to a clone was that explanation, revealed in UK-exclusive strips which ran concurrently with the reprints of Megatron's US return.}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
The Megatron clone would terrify a young Hot Rod in 1990 by willingly risking the lives of loyal Decepticons to flush out a [[Warmonger|double-agent]], and then muse it would've been easier to just murder everyone. Later, he would wage a [[Decepticon Civil War]] against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} , where he no longer threw fits at his troops because he knew he could look forward to a future as the unbeatable Galvatron. {{storylink|Trigger-Happy!}}

He then become Galvatron by 2006 and, by not fleeing to Earth's past, conquered Cybertron! Well, it seems to be him, it's very confusing. If it was him, he then got stepped on by [[Unicron]] in 2010. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

====''Generation 2''====
[[Image:WarWithoutEnd-Straxus.jpg|right|thumb|150px|His weapon gets less threatening with each appearance.]]
[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] referred to Straxus as one of the petty, small-minded dictators he left in charge of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] when he left to start the [[Cybertronian Empire]]. {{storylink|War Without End!}}

====''Universe Classic Series'' toy bios====
During Straxus's rule over Polyhex, he put a lowly, unknown warrior through an excruciating rebuilding process, tortuously reforging him into the very image of Optimus Prime. Through forcible data uploads and brainwashing, the Decepticon was imbued with memories and skills culled from many sources, giving him much of Optimus Prime's knowledge and combat algorithms. However, Straxus perished before he could complete this "[[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]", and his creation was left without a framework with which to process the mental injections. Straxus's legacy was this mad wraith haunting the back alleys of Cybertron, hunting down Autobots and Decepticons alike.<ref>[http://tformers.net/g/albums/9893/DSCF2738.JPG Nemesis Prime's ''Universe Classic Series'' on-package bio]</ref>

{{note|Nemesis Prime's backstory was certainly inspired by the Megatron-clone plot, but their relation to each other in-fiction is unclear. A straight reading would suggest that Straxus merely had more than one clone project in the works. However, if one assumes that the ''Classic Series'' bios are meant to follow the ''[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Classics'' comic]], then Nemesis Prime would be Straxus's ONLY known clone project in his universe, since the UK comics are not part of that continuity. However, it wouldn't be the [[Mutant (G1)|first time]] a [[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!|UK-only plot thread]] managed to make it into a ''Classics''-related product...}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Straxus (not a "Lord")<ref>[http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/wheels-on-fire/#comment-3627 "WHEELS ON FIRE"—simon furman: the blog]</ref> was part of the crew of the first ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', which left Cybertron long before [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s uprising. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

[[Image:Straxusidw.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I may or may not be here in subsequent panels, depending on how the artist feels today.]]
Later, at the beginning of the war, as the Decepticon movement was just beginning to reveal its true menace, Straxus returned to Cybertron for some reason to work security at the [[Kaon Security Headquarters]]. When the Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] was brought to trial before an emergency session of the [[Kaon Council]], the accused started a prisoner revolt. {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}

Millions of years later, Straxus had apparently returned to the [[Dead Universe]]. When [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] was abducted on [[Gorlam Prime]], Straxus implanted a device in his brain that would make him a sleeper agent for the Dead Universe crew.<ref>According to the [http://idwpublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=82441#82441 script] for [[Spotlight: Hardhead]].</ref> {{storylink|Spotlight: Nightbeat}}

[[Image:SpotlightDoubledealer Straxus Transforms.jpg|left|thumb|250px|And yet, surprisingly few kitbashes from Cybertron [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]]...]]
After [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] secured the [[Nega-Core]] and activated its guardian, Straxus initiated the [[Expansion]] with [[Nova Prime|Nemesis Prime]] and the rest of the Dead Universe crew. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

Later, Straxus attacked Earth with [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]]. His job was to bombard the surface in his jet mode and then operate an [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] drill while Grindcore set up a [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

Straxus and Grindcore soon had to defend this site when an Autobot team led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] stormed it, trying to prevent the Expansion. [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] ended up holding off both of them at the same time while the other Autobots slipped by. The [[Benzuli Expanse]] anomaly was soon sealed off, and unable to survive without their connection to the Dead Universe, both Straxus and Grindcore simply... ceased functioning. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

{{note|It's likely that [[Eric Holmes]] didn't consult with [[Simon Furman]] when he had Straxus as a cameo in ''[[Megatron Origin]]''. (Straxus must have been mentioned in the script, since he shows up in [http://mmatere.deviantart.com/art/Megatron-Origins-4-pag-02-80058403 Marcelo Matere's version of the page.]) Since he was never mentioned by name in ''Origin'', and he has a different design in the later Spotlights, it can be easily retconned that the character in ''Megatron Origin'' was [[Bluster|"Straxus's brother"]], since Straxus was supposedly in the Dead Universe at this time.}}

===''Wings of Honor''===
Straxus was one of a number of [[Decepticon Warlord]]s who fought for territory in the early days of the Great War. With the threat of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]], the Warlords formed a war council. During one meeting, they reviewed footage of the Elite Guard wiping out some of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]s men, and discussed ways of ridding themselves of the Elite Guard. At the next meeting of the council, [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] sent along his lieutenant, [[Falcon (G1)|Falcon]], with a box containing an important message. The message turned out to be a bomb, which killed the council members present. {{storylink|A Team Effort}}

===''United''===
[[Image:FierceFightingOnPlanetNebulos-StraxusDecepticons.jpg|left|thumb|200px|...I was an unstoppable tyrannical warlord who answered to no one, once...]]
A [[nano-virus]] that afflicted most Autobots save the [[Targetmaster]]s and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] required [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] to lead a team to [[Nebulos]] for an anti-virus. However, the nano-virus was merely a ploy by the Decepticons to draw out the Targetmasters and Headmasters to abduct their [[Nebulan]] partners, so when the Autobots arrived on Nebulos, Straxus was waiting for them with a considerable army! His army quickly fell into disarray, unfortunately, when Straxus was singled out and defeated. He returned to his [[Thunderwing (G1)|master]] to beg forgiveness. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generationstoy-Darkmount.jpg|right|thumb|300px|You're welcome.]]
*'''Darkmount''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Accessories'': Pick-axe/cannon, missile launcher, machine gun, smoke grenade launchers

:Part of wave 2 of [[Generations (toyline)|''Generations'']], Darkmount ("Straxus" was [[trademark|unavailable]]) transforms into a half-tracked [[Wikipedia:Self-propelled artillery|self-propelled artillery]] inspired by the [[Wikipedia:G6 howitzer|South African G6]], as well as a tripod-mounted [[Wikipedia:Howitzer|howitzer]] platform called a "battle station".

:In vehicle mode, the turret can rotate and the barrel can raise. Initially it was planned to have him interact with Scout Class figures who could man his "fortress mode". The remainders of that idea are the otherwise pointless handlebars that end up on his knees in robot mode.<ref name="generations11">TakaraTomy staff interview in ''[[Transformers Generations 2011]]'' vol. 1, [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/428825-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-united.html translation at TFW2005].</ref> In robot mode, the cannon barrel becomes his trademark pick-axe weapon, while his smaller weapons (featuring [[C joint]]s) can clip onto various compatible rungs, bars and tubes sculpted onto the vehicle or robot. Despite his portly robot form, and his alternate half-track mode, his tech specs list his speed rank as 10.

:"M17" is written on his vehicle mode, referencing "[[The Smelting Pool!|Marvel #17]]", the comic issue in which Straxus first appeared. His head is designed with a light-piping feature but it is not utilized.

:The mold was [[retool]]ed into ''Generations'' [[Skullgrin]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/Darkmount/darkmount.htm More information on Darkmount at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===United===
[[Image:United_Straxus_Toy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|TakaraTomy will collect the fee...''personally!'']]
*'''Straxus''' (Deluxe, [[December 25|12-25]]-2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''UN-10'''
**''Accessories'': "Battle axe"/cannon, missile launcher, machine gun, smoke grenade launchers

:Darkmount was redecoed for inclusion in the first wave of [[TakaraTomy]]'s ''[[United (toyline)|United]]'' toyline, and even released under his original name. He now sports a new color scheme that replaces much of his grey plastic and ''all'' of his red plastic with more dark blue and new light-blue pieces, apparently shooting to emulate Straxus as he was colored in his [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|second Marvel appearance]], drawing particular inspiration from the [[:Image:MarvelUS-18.jpg|cover]] of the issue. And he's got his dead, black eyes!

:Besides the black eyes, Straxus features additional paint on his face as well as his crotch plate and knee flaps.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:StraxusChangesColors.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Consistency is not dispensed here, fools, only GAFFES!]]
* For some reason, Straxus's colors changed drastically between the two issues he was in for the US comic. Also, sometimes between panels.

* With that in mind, Darkmount's color scheme (with its red biceps and gold chest) is based on an amalgam of his appearances. Specifically, a unique color arrangement that appeared on the cover of the fan-publication "The Obscure Omnibus" that super-fan [[User:Monzo|Monzo]] gave the Transformers team for reference.

* Not only was Straxus's color scheme unstable, but so was his weapon design. In his first issue, it looked like a pick-axe, but when Straxus battled Blaster in his second issue, it had evolved into a scythe.

*According to Hasbro copy writer [[Forest Lee]], Straxus was mentioned in Comic-Con 2008 [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]'s bio entirely to make [[David Willis]] happy. Incidentally, Willis colored the cover to the fan publication mentioned in the second note, so he's probably on Cloud Nine right now.

*Darkmount's instructions show [[Skullgrin]]'s robot head. It's [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|becoming]] [[Black Shadow|a]] [[Axor|trend]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Straxus''' (ストラクサス ''Sutorakusasu'')

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://s90690880.onlinehome.us/jhiaxus/uscomics/straxus.htm Straxus at the Obscure Transformers Website.]

[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Clones]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]

Scorponok (Movie)

2011-10-04T03:21:18Z

74.99.182.224: /* Cyberverse */

{{factions|decepticonfilm}}
{{disambig3|Scorponok}}
:''Scorponok is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Movie Scorponok Procterrender1.jpg|right|350px|thumb|He was great as Scorpitron in the ''Power Rangers'' movie!]]

'''Scorponok''' is a small [[Transformer]] with a symbiotic connection to [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]. Just as Blackout would often be found looming powerful and silent by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], Scorponok is always near Blackout, except in those times he has been sent to kill.

His main drives are to hunt, destroy, and hunt some more, causing many to view him as barely sentient. Others are concerned that he actually be a cunning opponent getting friend and foe alike to underestimate him... and the latter are right.<ref>Character Profile: Scorponok in [[Transformers #9]] (Titan)</ref> In secret, Scorponok has proven to be astonishingly erudite and focused on patient, long-game operations.<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=841165f8-19b9-f369-1057-0b57c1e069b6 Scorponok's Battle Bio]</ref>

Since he can tunnel underground with frightening speed, he's incredibly good at ambushing. His favorite pastime is playing Hide and Seek with unsuspecting players, be they robotic or organic. He prefers to be hider ''and'' seeker. On Cybertron, he was deliberately left behind on battlefields so he could use his chameleon mesh armour plating to blend in perfectly with the background, then ambush any Autobot patrols that would arrive. Thanks to this, Megatron gave him more autonomy than other Decepticons would get, as he admired Scorponok's genocidal zeal.

He may retreat, but he'll come back. He kills Autobots. He never gives up.<ref>Character Profile: Scorponok in [[Transformers #9]] (Titan)</ref>

== Fiction ==
===IDW ''Transformers'' movie prequel comics===
Before the war, Scorponok and Blackout were members of the Cybertronian [[Defense Force]] under the authority of [[Lord High Protector|High Protector]] [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. When [[Eshems alien|unknown hostiles]] attacked Cybertron, Scorponok and [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] were placed on recon. {{storylink|Defiance issue 1|Defiance #1}}

During the war, Scorponok and Blackout, who ordinarily never leave Megatron's side, were dispatched to join [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s forces elsewhere on Cybertron while Megatron closed in on the [[AllSpark]]. After the group realized that both the AllSpark and Megatron had left Cybertron, Blackout ended an argument with Starscream over what to do next by deploying the fearsome Scorponok. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}}

Soon after the Decepticons launched a battlecruiser to pursue [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s starship, they were unwittingly led into a trap and crippled by mines. Also damaged was Starscream's forward scout [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]], who was rescued by Scorponok. The Decepticons limped back to Cybertron in humiliation. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

[[Image:HoorayScorponok.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Adorably bloodthirsty.]]
After repairs were made to their ship, they followed the energy signature of the AllSpark to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], then to [[Earth]], where Scorponok adorably helped out in the massacre of a [[United States military]] installation in [[Afghanistan]]. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}}

{{note|IDW's comics thus far have the only two fictional depictions of Scorponok's robot mode (which was designed for the toy) and show that he has always had a scorpion beast mode, meaning it was not a form he assumed once on Earth. His beast mode is just alien enough to work, but you can explain his name yourself.}}
{{-}}

===''Ghosts of Yesterday'' prequel novel===
During the long years of searching for [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], Scorponok was a member of the ''[[Nemesis (Movie)|Nemesis]]'' crew. After [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] left the ship temporarily with strict orders that everyone was to stay put, [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] decided to attack the ''[[Ark (Movie)|Ark]]'', and Scorponok went along. The small Decepticon managed to grab onto Optimus during the fight, but proved more of a nuisance than anything. Optimus was able to inflict some damage in return, and leave Scorponok struggling to return to the ''Nemesis''.

When the Decepticons later made another attack on the Autobots, Scorponok snuck aboard the ''Ark''. It wasn't until Optimus spotted him moving through the ship that the Autobots were alerted to his actions. [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] was sent to forcibly eject Scorponok, who was ill-equipped to move through space. While Ratchet pressed to the attack, the helpless Decepticon was only saved by an injured Blackout, who was still recovering from a massive beating by Starscream. What a pal. {{storylink|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

===''Transformers'' (2007) film===
[[Image:Movie Blackout Scorponok eject1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh, slag, I forgot the Bungee cord!]]

During Blackout's attack on the [[United States military|US]] [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base]] in [[Qatar]], the Decepticon helicopter dispatched Scorponok to seek out and destroy an escaped unit under the command of [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]].

[[Image:Movie Scorponok leapsout.jpg|250px|thumb|HUUUGZ!!!]]

The next morning, as the surviving soldiers discussed the attack, Scorponok observed their conversation from a distance while hidden in the sand. Targeting Lennox for elimination, Scorponok followed the unit as they made their way to [[Mahfouz|the human boy's]] village. Choosing his moment to strike just as the men stopped on the outskirts of the settlement, his attack was foiled when [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] saw the metal scorpion tail pointed at Lennox's back and shouted a warning. (Well, it wasn't so much a warning as it was a very, very panicked "''WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!''" followed by gunfire, but hey, it counts.) The other soldiers joined in the firefight as Scorponok dove under the sand to confuse them before fatally impaling [[Patrick Donnelly|Sgt. Donnelly]] and dragging him into the sand below.

[[Image:Scorponok hurt.JPG|left|250px|thumb|*Sniffle* Where'z my hugz?]]

Driving the soldiers into the village, Scorponok fired a barrage of missiles, which destroyed the ruins that the village had grown around and critically injured [[Jorge Figueroa|Figueroa]]. Unfortunately for Scorponok, Lennox's distress call to the [[Pentagon]] had gotten through, and an [[United States Air Force#MQ-1 Predator|MQ-1 Predator]] drone relayed images of the Decepticon to astonished US military commanders. They immediately sent two [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|A-10 Thunderbolt IIs]] to attack Scorponok, to little effect, then followed up with an [[United_States_Air_Force#AC-130_Spectre|AC-130 Spectre gunship]], which damaged Scorponok enough for him to dive back into the sand and escape, leaving his broken tail behind.

Scorponok's tail was transported back to the States aboard a [[United_States_Air_Force#C-17_Globemaster_III|C-17 transport]]. Lennox, Epps, and several other soldiers examined it en route, which led to the discovery that the only damage the armor didn't either shrug off or quickly heal was the "6000-degree magnesium burn" of a sabot round. Armed with this knowledge, the humans knew they now had a weapon that could hurt the invaders. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' comics===
[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and a team of US Special Forces went looking for Scorponok. (Captain Lennox was originally meant to oversee this mission but was reassigned.) Hunting his hunters, Scorponok attacked Ironhide and took control of his motor functions, having him rampage through the humans. Luckily, one of them was able to sever the connection with a shot, and Ironhide smashed the Decepticon to pieces. {{storylink|Scorpion Sting}}

{{notetitantlg}}
[[Image:SkyblastVersusScorponok.jpg|left|260px|thumb|"DIE, empty space next to Autobot! DIE!"]]

Scorponok spied on a team of Moon-based Autobot reinforcements {{storylink|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1}} and later helped [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] battle them. {{storylink|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3}}

[[Image:StockadeThrowsScorponok.jpg|right|260px|thumb|...HUUUGZ?]]

''Much'' later, during the [[Decepticon Civil War]], he was Blackout's trump card against [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]]. He not only failed, he was thrown as a ''projectile weapon'' against Blackout. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|Revolution Part Three}}
{{-}}

===Toy bios===
{{notemoviebio}}
Scorponok actually ''led'' the hunt for the AllSpark during the absence of Megatron, and this gave him a taste of command. He happily started using Megatron's own style of super-brutality to keep the troops in line, and looked forward to bumping off his leader and taking full command of the Decepticons. {{storylink|#Deluxe Class toys|Desert Attack}}

The disastrous failure on Earth evidently cocked ''that'' up, as poor Scorpy was left behind by the other Decepticons in the [[Middle East]]. His attempt at remaining out of sight have failed, and he is constantly being pursued by Bumblebee. {{storylink|#Legends Class toys|Legends Scorponok}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

[[Image:Titan5_"scorponok!".jpg|thumb|left|250px|I said ''HUGZZZZ'', '''DAMN IT.''']]

Scorponok was part of a scheme to frame [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]: while [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] got himself captured, Scorponok headed for [[Diego Garcia]] and made an attack to free the comrade. He shouldn't have been able to do this without being detected (dun dun dunnnnn) and made sure to attack right when the twins were distracting Optimus Prime. Showing some ball bearings, Scorponok personally shot at Prime before smashing apart Sideways' cuffs.

And then he got clean away! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie===

[[Image:ROTF Scorponok death.jpg|thumb|right|250px|I CAN HAZ DETH?]]
During the battle in [[Egypt]] between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Scorponok, having answered [[The Fallen]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron's]] call, lurked beneath the surface of the sand. He struck when the decrepit turncoat [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] was finishing off [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]], catching the ancient [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]] off-guard and severely wounding him. Scorponok did not live long enough to savour his success, however, as a collapsing Jetfire managed to crush his head with his fist. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
Under [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s command, Scorponok fought the Autobots using his Pulse Klaw, Blast Klaw and [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] stinger. He also made use of his seldom-seen robot mode, in which he had access to an [[Anti-gravity gun|anti-gravity cannon]] and pulse blasters. Scorponok may also have participated in the seemingly inter-dimensional "Energon Wars" conflict, during which the Decepticons were led by [[Megatron (BW)|Predacon Megatron]] against [[Optimus Primal]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game}}

==="Flight of the Bumblebee" online game===
Scorponok was one of a group of Decepticons who trapped Bumblebee in a canyon. He stood around on a rocky butte, walking back and forth and waiting for Bumblebee to drive up to him. When the Autobot dropped in, Scorponok immediately opened fire, blasting Bumblebee continuously. Unfortunately, Bumblebee had the idea to shoot back, blasting him right out of the picture with just one shot. {{storylink|Flight of the Bumblebee}}

===Transformers The Game===
[[Image:Scorponok 2007game babygotback.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Coolest. Backpack. Ever.]]
After Blackout scrapped the military base in Qatar, Scorponok was sent to destroy five mobile communications vehicles, succeeding in his task. Scorponok went and did his own thing while Blackout searched the databanks for information on Megatron and the AllSpark, but reunited with Blackout in time for their escape.

After arriving in [[Mission City]], Scorponok fought through a horde of [[Energon drone|Energon drones]] to secure the AllSpark. Sam Witwicky nearly handed Scorponok the AllSpark, but Ironhide punted Scorponok. That made Blackout very mad... {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

===Allspark Highway===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Allspark Highway}}

===Transformers: Battle for the Matrix===
{{Note|Battle for the Matrix is a simplified retelling of the events of [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]. It can be played from the perspective of either Bumblebee or Optimus Prime. Scorponok is a recurring enemy.}}
[[Image:Scorponok battleforthematrix.jpg|200px|thumb|left|GET OVER HERE!]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle for the Matrix}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Voyager Class Blackout companions====
[[Image:MiniScorponok.jpg|right|144px|thumb|I'm just an accessory.]]
*'''Blackout''' (Voyager Class, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MD-01'''

: Blackout comes packed with a small silver figurine of Scorponok, who himself features a spring-loaded tail. He is usually stored in a cage on the rear of Blackout's helicopter mode. (Note: The spring in the figurine's tail is oriented not to spring the tail forward, but to help propel the figure out of the cage so that it lands right-side up.)

{{-}}

* '''Blackout Ver. 4500X''' (Lawson exclusive Voyager Class, Japan 2007)

:This Voyager Class Blackout repaint, exclusive to the Japanese convenience store chain Lawson with the purchase of the movie DVD, came with a redeco of the small Scorponok figurine that came with the regular Voyager Class Blackout, in metallic colors that better match the Deluxe Class Scorponok toy (and the movie CG design, of course).

{{-}}

[[Image:Mov2007-toy PremiumScorponok.JPG|right|162px|thumb|I'm just a Premium accessory. But face it, I got better colours.]]
* '''Blackout''' ("Premium Series" Voyager Class, USA 2008)

:This redeco of the Voyager Class Blackout toy appears to be based on the same plastic color layout and paint mask as the Japanese Lawson exclusive "Version 4500X" redeco of Voyager Blackout, down to the improved paint on the Scorponok mini-figure. However, Hasbro's version has brighter, more contrasting gold and silver paint compared to the Japanese Lawson release's more subdued colours.

:Unlike some of the early "Premium Series" toys, Blackout was available as a mass release.

{{-}}

====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:Movie Legends Bumblebee Scorponok toys.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ironically, more robot-like than the deluxe-sized one.]]
*'''Bumblebee vs. Scorponok''' (Legends Allspark Battles two-pack, 2008)

: Legends Scorponok is the smallest transforming figure of ''Movie'' Scorponok yet. He features a better-proportioned robot mode and better articulation for the legs than the Deluxe Class version. In fact, he's one of the best articulated Legends-sized toys to date. Even his claw hands are able to rotate. He does bear a resemblance to a [[Scorponok (BW)|previous version]], though. The only version of the mold released thus far comes packed with a slightly redecoed Legends Class [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. Face it, ''he'' should've come with Voyager Blackout.

:Multiple reports suggest that the soft plastic used for the tail has a tendency to harden after a while, and then become prone to breaking, in a way similar to [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]] (but occurring in a much shorter span of time).

{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:Move DeluxeScorponok toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Ever notice [[Scorponok (disambiguation) |every Scorponok]] has the same transformation? Claws into claws, legs from the main body, tail sits behind, hoping to be ignored...]]
*'''Scorponok''' (Deluxe Class, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MD-04'''

: Scorponok is a robotic scorpion. His body is covered in military warning and command designation markings, suggesting he forms part of a larger military vehicle ([[Blackout (Movie)|hint, hint]]). Two wheels on the bottom of his beast mode, when pushed along a flat, smooth surface, rotate gears that cause the turbines in his body and the pincers on his arms to spin. His tail features a spring-loaded, yet non-launching stinger that extends when a latch is released.

: In beast mode, Scorponok can combine with the underside of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout's]] helicopter mode to exploit the larger Decepticon's own gear gimmick system. A geared shaft linked to Blackout's rotor mechanism connects to a geared peg on Scorponok's back. Thus, pressing the button on Blackout's tail not only rotates his blades, but also rotates Scorponok's pincers and the turbines in his body. (This can also be done with Blackout's ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[redeco]] [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]], his retool [[Evac (Movie)|Evac]] and Evac's ''Revenge'' redeco [[Whirl (ROTF)|Whirl]].) This gimmick can also be activated (more easily) by rotating the geared wheels on Scorponok's undercarriage instead.

: Deluxe Scorponok can transform into what might be ''charitably'' called a robot mode, but was most likely added as an afterthought to the design for added play value (and possibly so Hasbro could actually justify selling the toy as a "Transformer" by itself). The later Legends Class toy features a considerably better-executed bipedal robot mode. In any case, this robot mode never appears in the movie, but does appear briefly in the second Target-sponsored [[Planetfall (Movie)|Movie Prequel comic]] and in [[The Reign of Starscream issue 1]].

{{-}}

[[Image:Movie DecepticonDesertAttack 2pack.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Ignoring the vast difference in scale between Scorponok's two figures while linked to Blackout takes some imagination.]]
*'''Decepticon Desert Attack''' (Toys'R'Us exclusive two-pack, 2007)

: This package, based on their first appearance in the film, features an unchanged Voyager Blackout packaged with an unchanged Deluxe Scorponok, which was exclusively available at Toys "R" Us stores. Since Voyager Blackout was gang-molded with the miniature Scorponok figure the single release came with, this means that the set contains ''two'' Scorponok toys in different sizes.

{{-}}

*'''Ultimate Bumblebee Bonus Value pack''' (Wal*Mart exclusive multi-pack, 2007)

:A Wal*Mart-exclusive special pack of [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Ultimate Bumblebee]] with Deluxe Class [[Brawl (Movie)|Decepticon Brawl]] and Scorponok as bonus figures. None of the three toys are changed from their respective original releases.

{{-}}
{{anchor|Desert Attack}}
[[Image:Movie ScreenBattles DesertAttack.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Scorponok now comes with little people to kill.]]
*'''Desert Attack''' (Screen Battles, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''SB-03'''

:This pack features a minor [[redeco]] of Deluxe Class Scorponok sporting "sand" paint applications on his body. The pack also comes with non-posable figurines of [[Epps|Sergeant Epps]], [[Jorge Figueroa]] and [[Patrick Donnelly|Sergeant Donnelly]]. They are packaged in a special window box featuring a diorama depicting the battle at [[Mahfouz]]'s village.

:According to details listed in an official checklist on Hasbro's website,<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/default.cfm?page=Collectors/Checklist Hasbro Transformers Collectors Checklist]</ref> this pack was originally supposed to include "4 soldiers". Apparently budget ultimately only allowed for three. The fourth one was most probably supposed to be [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]], who was included with the Screen Battles "Capture of [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]" set instead, colored as a [[Sector Seven]] soldier.

{{-}}

===Attacktix===
[[Image:Attacktix-MovMegsScorp.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I am going to KILL Yukon Cornelius.]]
*'''Battle Masters Megatron and Scorponok''' (Battle Master set)

: Scorponok was one of the many ''[[Attacktix]]'' toys that never saw release as the line was canceled. He would have been packaged with [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and featured a firing missile.

{{canceledattacktix}}
{{-}}

===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Voyager Class Grindor companions====
[[Image:ROTF-toy_Scorponok_companion.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Still just an accessory here.]]
*'''Grindor''' (Voyager, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-18'''

:For ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', Voyager class Blackout was redecoed into [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]], so the Scorponok PVC included with Blackout got redecoed too... in a color scheme like that of his ''Fallen'' Deluxe toy (see below). Seems like he found a new partner in Grindor.

{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:ROTF-toy_StalkerScorponok.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Soon followed by Restraining Order Scorponok.]]
*'''Stalker Scorponok''' (Deluxe, 2009)

:A redeco of the original Deluxe Scorponok toy in black, grey, and red. The deco scheme bears a strong resemblance to ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Scorponok (BW)| Scorponok]]; additionally, Scorponok's legs have symbols on them that when mirrored form a [[Predacon (BW)|certain faction's symbol]], and "916-96" markings are [[tampograph]]ed on his claws. This is the date ''Beast Wars'' [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|first aired in syndication.]]

:Of note is that during part of 2010, [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/transformers-toy-giveaway.cfm Hasbro did a promotion] wherein US fans could receive three free Deluxes in exchange for receipts showing the purchase of $25 or more of select Transformers product. As noted in [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=69645&st=0 this thread over at Allspark.com], and later confirmed by [http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HT83971G3 this listing here], this version of Scorponok was one of a pool consisting of eight figures (all from the same wave) from which the free deluxes were drawn, with several people having noted receiving him.
{{-}}

===''Transformers'' (2010)===
====Legends class toys====
[[Image:EZ-Stalker-Scorponok.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
*'''Stalker Scorponok''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

:A redeco of Legends class Scorponok in black, a color scheme based on ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Stalker Scorponok. This toy was only available in Japan.

{{-}}

===''Dark of the Moon''===
====Cyberverse====
[[Image:Blackout DOTM Cyberverse.jpg|thumb|300px|Can anyone else say: 'Parasite'?!]]
*'''Blackout''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2011)
**''Series:'' '''1'''
**''Number:'' '''005'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''CV15'''

:[[Cyberverse]] Scorponok is available only with his partner Blackout. At such a small scale, he has minimal articulation (two points in the tail) and is made largely of a rubbery plastic. He does, however, transform into a blaster weapon that can be held by Blackout or any other Cyberverse figure with standard hands.
:Though unmentioned in the instructions, Scorponok can also peg into the (otherwise pointless) peg on the back of Blackout's robot mode, just under his rotor blades, mimicking the way he was stored and ejected off of Blackout in the movie. This is prooooobably intentional.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
[[Image:3DBattleCard_Scorponok.jpg|thumb|right|200px|]]

:Part of the [[3D Battle-Card Game]], Scorponok consists of two cards with punch-out pieces that can be assembled into either a scorpion mode or a robot mode (or rather, a scorpion mode standing on its hind legs). He uses the same card layout as ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].

{{-}}
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Rhscorpprime.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ripped straight from that scene they didn't appear together in.]]
*'''Optimus Prime vs Scorponok''' (2007)

:Scorponok is naturally sculpted in his beast mode for his ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' release. Cast in gray plastic, he has gold and black paint apps for color. His head is quirked to the side, and his pedipalps are bent into a ''possible'' standard-issue smile. He is articulated only at the pincers' shoulder joints, but his tail and legs are made of soft enough plastic to wiggle about. (The tail is much too short to sting anything other than his own back.)

{{-}}

==Notes==
===Sentience and relationship to Blackout and Grindor===
* In the 2007 movie, Scorponok is a silent hunter-killer sent by Blackout. This has caused some conflicting depictions in the fiction and toy bios of Scorponok's level of intelligence. Some present him as being barely alive and merely an animalistic drone, and this is a commonly accepted view. After all, [[Ratbat (G1)#Notes|non-humanoid Transformers aren't important or noteworthy]]. Another bio, by contrast, describes him as having ''leadership'' ambitions, and his Titan Magazines profile implies strongly that he fakes being a bestial drone to give him a psychological edge. Finally, his Battle Bio on Hasbro's website would come down on him having sentience by having Scorponok record his own personal data track!

* In the feature "From Script to Sand: The Skorponok {{sic}} Desert Attack" on the movie's bonus DVD, production designer [[Jeff Mann]] suggested that Scorponok was "birthed" from Blackout, thus suggesting that he might be more of an autonomous extension of Blackout himself, similar to [[Roller (G1)|Roller]]. Screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]] later confirmed that [[authorial intent|as far as he was concerned]], Scorponok was something between a symbiont and a "drone", rather than a fully fledged character.<ref>[http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1159482&postcount=9822 Orci confirming his view of Scorponok]</ref> The [[Ghosts of Yesterday]] novel would go on to unambiguously identify him as a symbiont.

*In a [http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-04-01-transformers-first-look_N.htm USA Today interview] for ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', Roberto Orci stated that the Decepticons with "animal" forms didn't speak in the movies because it would be "strange" for audiences to hear Scorponok's English accent.

* According to writer Roberto Orci on the official Transformers Movie board, [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] was originally going to appear in the movie (back when Blackout was still supposed to be [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]),<ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage was replaced by Scorponok at the official movie boards]</ref> but was later changed to Scorponok when the setting of the opening scene was changed from jungle to desert.<ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage would have appeared in a different terrain at the official movie boards]</ref> This would imply that Scorponok's scorpion is indeed the ''robot mode'' (in the same fashion Ravage's panther mode was the robot mode), whereas his "alternate mode" is actually a part of Blackout's engine. The toys' robot modes are therefore an afterthought on behalf of Hasbro to avoid the paradox of [[Action Master|non-transforming "Transformers" toys]].

[[Image:Geturboshaftengine.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Turboshaft engine that film Scorponok transforms from. You can almost see the bits of Donnelly.]]
* Exactly ''which'' parts of Blackout turn into Scorponok is a little unclear. The center of his body appears to be made of a [[wikipedia:General_Electric_T64|General Electric T64]] turboshaft engine; his transformation/separation sequence in the movie shows that his forearms are made up of part of the side exhausts, and therefore ''also'' consist of parts of T64 engines. How this is possible, considering an MH-53 Pave Low only features ''two'' T64 engines, is up to anyone's guess.

* Meanwhile, the various markings found on the CGI model's design, the life-sized props and Hasbro's Deluxe toy are taken from all kinds of places on Blackout's helicopter mode, most prominently the cockpit and the tail.<ref>[http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/mh53jreferencefr_1.htm Detail close-up photos of a real MH-53 Pave Low]</ref> Some of those markings can also be found on props used for the scene which features the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] dumping the Decepticons' remains into the ocean.<ref>[http://transformerslive.blogspot.com/2006/10/pics-from-uss-shoup-of-transformer.html Behind the scenes photos taken aboard the [[Wikipedia:USS Shoup (DDG-86)|''U.S.S. Shoup'']], depicting props from the movie used for the scene which features the US Navy dumping the Decepticons' remains into the ocean]</ref> Considering Blackout didn't appear to be missing any integral parts of his alternate mode in the movie's final act, it seems that either Scorponok reattached himself to Blackout after he escaped the US Air Force's counterattack in Qatar (and was therefore part of Blackout during the final battle), or Blackout somehow magically regrew the parts that were previously made up by Scorponok.

* Scorponok's sudden appearance during the battle at the end of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' leaves the audience to assume he was simply chilling in the desert for two years! In all fairness, considering all the [[generic]]s in the film, it could have been [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor's]] Scorponok, because Blackout's Scorponok lost a tail and this Scorponok has one. Grindor and Blackout have the same robot mode, so they might have the same kind of pet.

*During the build up to the release of ''[[Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', Hasbro put up a bio of [[Laserbeak (DOTM)]] that revealed he and all the other animal alt-form robots from the films except Scorponok were examples of reengineered [[:Category:Cybertronic wildlife|Cybertronian wildlife]]. Whether Scorponok's exclusion was due to space issues, oversight, or if he was purposely singled out as being different from the others is unknown...

===Other===
* Real scorpions have ''eight'' legs in addition to their claws. Scorponok only has six.

* A leaked early draft of the script<ref>Details from an early script draft [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2213120&postcount=297 summed up here], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2214148&postcount=303 confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here].</ref> spells his name "Skorponok". That spelling is also used by [[Alan Dean Foster]]'s [[Transformers (novel)|novelization]] of the movie and in the menus for the movie's bonus DVD (most notably the featurette named "From Script to Sand: The Skorponok Desert Attack"). Hasbro themselves used the [[Scorponok (G1)|traditional]] [[Scorponok (BW)|spelling]] "[[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]" for their toys, even though a wallpaper on Hasbro's website spells the name "Scorponock".<ref name="hasbrodemolishor">[http://www.hasbro.com/objects/content/wallpaper.cfm?img=wp_transformers651_1280.jpg&brand_id=496&lang_id=1 Wallpaper at Hasbro's website calling Brawl/Devastator "Demolisher".]</ref> Meanwhile, in interviews, Michael Bay constantly refers to him as "Scorponox", and a preorder listing for the movie score even uses the spelling "Skorpinok".<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Steve-Jablonsky/dp/B000VFGQHK Amazon.com preorder for the movie score]</ref> Come on, people! It's not like his name's Mxyzptlk. (Even though misspelling Scorponok's name is not quite [[Scorpinok|unprecedented]].)

[[Image:Movie Scorponok headprop.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Now I'm the Headmaster!]]
* Real physical props of Scorponok's head and tail were made by [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM's]] crew for certain scenes, most notably Lennox and Epps's examination of the tail leftovers on the plane. The head prop was used in the close-up of Scorponok stalking the SOCCENT survivors.<ref>[http://www.benprocter.com/SITEv2/HTML/PROJPAGE_Trans_08.html Ben Procter's portfolio, depicting CGI models and life-sized props for Scorponok]</ref>

* Speaking of real: The famous shot of Scorponok leaping from the sand in pursuit a trio of soldiers, the shot used in a lot of the promos? Scorponok is the ''only'' element of CGI in that shot. The sand-explosion behind the soldiers is real, caused by carefully timed explosives placed under the dunes, which certainly must have encouraged the actors to run like hell—the looks of fear on their faces are 100% genuine. The overwhelming majority of explosions, flying cars, and broken buildings in the movie are similarly real effects, not CGI.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Scorponok''' (スコルポノック ''Sukoruponokku'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wēn-yì''' (Taiwan, 瘟疫, "Plague")

==Footnotes==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/Scorponok/scorponok.htm Scorponok at TFU.info]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Movie Decepticons]]
[[Category:Cyberverse]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Decepticons]]

Primus

2011-10-03T04:18:55Z

74.99.182.224: /* IDW Dark of the Moon comics */

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[[Image:PrimusG1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''[[Hasbro|They]] call him Gee-Oh-Dee And he the [[Big Daddy (G1)|big daddy]] He look like [[Hot Rod (G1)|me]] But he more [[Facial hair|beardie]]'']]
'''Primus''' is the creator-god of the [[Transformer]]s. An ancient and ethereal being whose origins date back to the beginnings of the universe itself, Primus is a multiversal force for good, his life force existing across multiple realities and infinite alternate universes. In each one, he is the final defense against his fallen sibling, [[Unicron]] the Chaos-Bringer.

Primus eventually transformed himself into the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]; from its surface, his creations have risen to defend and patrol the galaxy. Within the depths of Cybertron, the mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]] serves as his internal mainframe, and a gateway for select Transformers to access his power. A portion of his lifeforce resides within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], which often determines the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Prophecies of a war to come were written down in his [[Covenant of Primus|holy covenant]] as well. The [[spark]] of each Transformer is a small piece of Primus's essence, and together they form his lifeforce, the [[Allspark]].

Though wise and powerful beyond measure, Primus is neither infallible nor without weakness. At times he has [[Out of Time!|been deceived by mere mortals]], and has made [[The Sun|miscalculations]] which [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|jeopardized all of existence]], and has been betrayed by one of his [[The Fallen|earliest creations]]. Indeed, even the intended agents of his grand plan, the Transformers, have all too frequently become mired in endless civil war. Still, in [[Withered Hope|most realities]] he has [[Wreckers: Finale Part II|managed to hold the line]] against Unicron and other threats, either directly or through his innumerable children, the Transformers.

{{quote|Until all are one!|Primus to his children|"[[Trap]]"}}

==In the beginning==
[[Image:Primus original.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Hold the sword and say, "I am the Protector of the Universe!"]]
Before the dawn of time, Order and Chaos existed within an extradimensional entity known as [[The One]]. To explore the fledgling universe, he created the astral being known as [[Unicron]], and then subdivided him, creating his twin, Primus. Both brothers were [[Multiversal singularity|multiversal singularities]], unique in all realities, but whereas Unicron could only exist in one dimension at a time, moving between them at will, Primus existed simultaneously in all realities at once. It is suggested, in fact, that the two brothers embody the basic concepts of reality—good and evil, order and chaos—and that their continued existence is necessary for the stability of the multiverse.

[[Image:Primusoriginal.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is [[FIRRIB| ''blue''!"]]]]
As Unicron and Primus went about their appointed task, venturing through the cosmos, it became apparent to Primus that Unicron was a corrupt being, and he took it upon himself to stop the threat posed to all of existence by his sibling. In combat, Primus was no match for Unicron. In cunning, however, he proved himself to his brother's superior when he shifted their battle to the astral plane, and then back to the physical world once more, only to have both their essences manifest within metallic planetoids, leaving them both trapped. It was with this act of sacrifice that Primus hoped to contain Unicron's evil forever. Unfortunately for him, over time, Unicron learned to psionically shape his prison into a giant metallic planet, and Primus followed suit, becoming the mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When Unicron then learned to transform his planetary form even further, into a gigantic robot form, Primus adapted the idea to suit his own ends—rather than transforming his own body, he would create small beings that would be able to change their shape, like Unicron. After performing a "test run" on the moon of [[Protos]], where he successfully created [[Covenant|twelve transforming robotic beings]], {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Covenant}} he birthed from his own body a group of thirteen robots that possessed the ability to change shape, like Unicron. These were the [[thirteen original Transformers]], each one infused with a fragment of Primus's life essence known as a [[spark]].

The Thirteen were Primus's soldiers in his war with Unicron, which came to its seeming end during a climactic battle in which one of the Thirteen, Megatronus Prime, who would forever afterwards be known as the [[The Fallen|Fallen]], betrayed Primus and became an acolyte of Unicron. The battle ended when the Fallen and Unicron were sucked into a black hole and disappeared from reality. With Unicron gone for now, Primus entered an eons-long slumber, his self-imposed sleep preventing Unicron from detecting him through the mental link the brothers shared. The Transformer race grew, and Primus fell into the realm of legend, with a portion of his power, the [[Matrix of Leadership]], handed down through the generations, serving as the Transformers' ever-present link to their creator.

===Evolution of the Primus/Unicron myth===
''The Primus/Unicron backstory has evolved and been rewritten a good number of times since it first originated in the [[Marvel Comics]] series. The version recounted above is the current iteration, which has slowly solidified across a wide swath of media (beginning around the time of [[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]). Before the Primus/Unicron mythos reached its present form it went through several distinct versions in the Marvel G1 comics and elsewhere.''

====Unicron's story====
''The first time we ever heard the Primus/Unicron backstory was in the UK comic continuity, from Unicron himself, in the story "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", when he recounted it to [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]. Per Unicron's telling of events, he was a primal force of evil at the dawn of the universe who led an army of [[Dark God]]s against his mortal foe, Primus, Lord of the [[Light God]]s (note the plural). Events proceeded to play out basically as described above, though the role of the Light and Dark Gods would diminish with each subsequent retelling of the story, until the current version, in which Primus and Unicron are alone and have a unique origin. (Only one of the other gods was ever named—the [[Chronarchitect]]. How exactly he factors into the current iteration of the myth is unknown.)''

====The Keeper's story====
''The second time the story was told was in the US book by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]], an ancient mechanoid who guarded Primus's head at the center of Cybertron. This telling is effectively the same as the previous UK story, but mentions that their battle was towards the end of the era of gods, that Primus and Unicron were the last of their respective pantheons, and Primus had to defeat Unicron before he could take his place with the other gods in the "[[Omniversal Matrix]]".''

====Primus's story====
''The third time the story was told was also in the US Marvel series, this time by Primus, when he gathered all his children together to prepare for Unicron's coming. It was with this telling that we learned that Unicron predated the [[universe (universe)|current universe]], and had destroyed the [[old realms|previous universe]] which existed before the current one. He had slept peacefully, alone in the [[void]] of uncreation that remained, until fragments of the old universe that he had overlooked reacted, causing the Big Bang and birthing the current universe. The "sentient core" of this new universe recognized the threat that Unicron posed, and so created Primus to counter his evil and be guardian of the new creation.''

====Fleer and DK====
[[Image:WarWithinPrimus.jpg|left|150px|thumb|I feel prickly...]]
''The first modern retelling of the origins of Primus and Unicron did not come from G1-oriented media, but from a set of ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer. It was the backstory printed on Unicron's card which introduced the concept of the two being brothers created to explore the new universe by an extradimensional entity, here named the "[[Allspark]]."''

''This was subsequently expanded on and combined with aspects of the various Marvel Comics stories in [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]], published by Dorling Kindersley and written by [[Simon Furman]], who had written all three prior tellings in the first place. Here, the entity Fleer had called the "Allspark" was redubbed "[[The One]]," and the modern iteration of the myth detailed above was firmly established, and went on to form the backbone of subsequent fiction such as ''[[Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]]' ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics.''

''It was also at this point that it was established that Primus could transform from Cybertron into a robot mode like Unicron, but preferred not to, choosing to remain connected to the universe on a planetary level.''
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==Generation 1==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Primalscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|KHHHHHAAAAANNNNN!]]
Eventually, millions of years later, in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|one universe]] located in the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Primax cluster]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] found themselves transported to the center of Cybertron, where they discovered the sleeping form of Primus {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}} and were told the tale of his and the Transformers' origins by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]]. Subsequently, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s [[Pretender]]s attacked, and during the battle, a laser blast ricocheted off Grimlock and struck the essence of the sleeping Primus, causing a universe-shaking "Primal Scream" that alerted Unicron (who was located "outside the fringes of known space") to Primus's location. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} Primus himself immediately slipped back into his sleep, but it was too late. Unicron was coming. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}}

{{note|Later, in "[[Vector Prime: In the Beginning]]", this event would be presented in a greater context, with the Primal Scream being heard multiversally, and awakening Unicron from his own slumber as well.}}

[[Image:OutofTime-wakePrimus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Have you tried crashing cymbals together?]]

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] sent teams of Autobots to retrieve the lost [[Creation Matrix]], the container of Primus' essence that could destroy Unicron, he communed with the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s [[:Image:Arkaltar.jpg|Altar to Primus]]. Reaching out his mind to the Creation Matrix, the altar gave him a vision of a Matrix that had been tainted by evil. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}}

Unicron dispatched a group of [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|heralds]] to attack Cybertron and pave the way for his coming, including a [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] plucked from an [[Rhythms of Darkness!|alternate future]]. Galvatron, however, was not content to serve under Unicron, and instead captured Autobot leader [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], forcing him to fully awaken Primus, who possessed Xaaron's body and summoned Transformers from all across the universe back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Here, Primus spoke through Xaaron, telling the Transformers of his history with Unicron. Additionally, Primus chose Optimus Prime to lead both factions, united, against the Chaos Bringer. Primus knew this would draw out the [[Unicron cultist]]s among them, and Autobot and Decepticon were able to put aside their differences to defeat them. When Optimus Prime learned of Primus' ruse, his suspicions regarding his Creator's motives began to grow. Optimus wondered if the Transformers meant anything to Primus beyond being a means to an end. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:OntheEdgeofExtinction-Primus.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Now you're like me.]]

Though their battle against the Unicron cultists did temporarily unite both factions, this facade shattered once the Planet-Eater arrived. Sheer terror prevented them from carrying out his desire, and the Transformers fled despite Primus' pleas. Primus instead made a stand himself, attempting to dupe Unicron into believing he still retained his full power, but Unicron saw through the deception, and destroyed Xaaron's body. Optimus Prime came to a realization, following Primus' destruction and his retrieval of the lost and contaminated Creation Matrix, that Primus did not mean only for the Transformers to fight his battles for him, but to carry on after he was gone. Flying into space with the Matrix, Prime unleashed the full measure of Primus's power, destroying Unicron. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

Though the Transformers were technically victorious, this victory came with a price. With Primus dead, and with the grievous wounds inflicted on Cybertron itself, the planet threatened to come apart. The Transformers made plans to flee it. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Ultimately, this was averted by the [[Last Autobot]], who put into motion the planet's recovery, allowing the Autobots, who had finally won the civil war, to return to their home. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

{{note|As originally written, it is quite clear that the story intends for Primus to have died after his battle with Unicron. As the current retcon makes it clear that this cannot possibly be, one must assume that Prime was wrong in his analysis that Primus had died. Notably, even in the original comics themselves, the Matrix—the life-force of Primus—is shown to still exist and is functioning fine in the G2 Marvel Comics series that follows his supposed death.}}
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====''Classics''====
The Last Autobot created a race of tiny beings, [[Mini-Con]]s, to rebuild and restore Cybertron so that it would be ready for the Autobots' return. Part of the Mini-Cons' job was to excise certain evolutionary throwbacks, remnants of Primus' earlier experiments, such as the [[Mutant (G1)|Mutant]]s, and this alarmed one Mini-Con. He suspected that one day that Primus would consider the Mini-Cons surplus to requirements as well, and he instigated an insurgency against their Creator and his followers. {{storylink|The New World}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
{{note|Primus did not exist in the American [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] as it was originally written, since it was produced long before the [[retcon]] which established him to be a multiversal singularity. Precisely how Primus should then fit into the framework of the cartoon has not been explicitly established, although the [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comic'']]'' offered one attempt for its continuity (see "Beast Era", below). Primus was, however, explicitly and thoroughly retconned into being part of the expanded universe of the ''Japanese'' cartoon continuity by the [[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]] fiction of 2007, as part of a complicated process that folded various animated concepts—[[Oracle (G1)|Primacron's assistant]], [[Vector Sigma]] and the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]]—into the Primus myth.}}
[[Image:TGGPrimus.jpg|left|220px|thumb|Now you need to get this toy.]]

Formerly the assistant to the Primacron, the ancient genius who created the giant mechanoid Unicron, the robotic being known as the Oracle was badly damaged when Unicron rebelled against his creator. His essence fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which he used his powers to transform into a verdant, green planet. However, the Oracle could sense that in the future, Primacron would go on to create another universal danger in the form of Tornedron, and so summoned a group of [[Primitive]] Transformers back through time from the year 2010 to his planet, where he instructed them in how to destroy the threat. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}/{{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}

[[Image:TGGPrimus2.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Primus = Oracle = Vector Sigma = Primacron's Assistant = aaaargh.]]

Later in his life, the Oracle also reached through time when he discovered that the evil [[Sparkbot]]s were attempted to recreate Unicron following the planet-eater's destruction in the year 2005. By this stage calling himself "Primus", the Oracle attempted to stop the villains and their unwitting pawns, the human [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]], appearing as a giant golden hand to snatch away the fragments of Unicron's lifeforce each time the Kiss Players recovered them. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #45-46}} Unfortunately, this merely led the Kiss Players to pursue him through the timestream and resulted in them crashing into the "[[Wall of Time]]" and becoming scattered throughout the multiverse. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #47}} Knowing that the Kiss Players were innocent in this whole affair, having been duped by the Sparkbots, the benevolent Primus rescued them from the different regions of time and space they had wound up in, and properly introduced himself, explaining the Sparkbots' treachery. He then took them back in time to prehistoric Earth, arriving just in time to witness the Sparkbots' successful restoration of Unicron to life. Primus transformed once more and unleashed the power of his mobile cannon platform, destroying Unicron's energy and sealing it and the Sparkbots deep within the planet. To ensure that Unicron would never be freed again, he created a mighty guardian, [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], who would watch over it and the Earth. With the battle over, Shaoshao asked about the Kiss Players' future, but Primus did not reply. After sending the Kiss Players back to their home time, Primus transformed into the golden sphere of Vector Sigma and returned to his world to sleep. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48-51}}

Unfortunately for Primus, as he slumbered, his world was eventually discovered by the alien Quintessons, who shackled his powers and used them to both transform the planet into the metallic Cybertron, and to create the races of robots that would eventually become the Transformers. Additionally, the aliens acquired the shell that had held his essence, which became, through unknown means, the talisman that would be known to the Transformers as the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}
{{note|For further information, see [[Vector Sigma]] and [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]].}}

===Beast Era===
====''Tales From the Beast Wars''====
[[Image:Terminus-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Great, now he's going to become the Smoke Monster.]]

Before Primus became Cybertron, he plotted to create robotic life that would ultimately defeat Unicron, but first he needed to do a test run. He created twelve beings, the [[Covenant]], on a small moon named [[Protos]]. These twelve would watch the Transformers from afar and only intervene when necessary.

Their intervention would become necessary when [[Shokaract]] used Unicron's essence, the [[Decepticon Matrix of Conquest]], to conquer the future, threatening the end of all things at an important historical crossroads dubbed Point Omega. Though the Covenant's ranks were halved in the battle against Shokaract on prehistoric Earth during the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], they were ultimately able to discover a way to defeat Shokaract and his Unicron-fueled power. The remaining Covenant members returned to their original Primus-spawned energy forms and entered Shokaract's Matrix of Conquest. Reconstituting as an astral form of Primus, they severed Unicron's link with Shokaract, leaving him vulnerable to attack. {{storylink|Terminus}}
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====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
In addition to its occasional invocation in prayer or in righteous anger by the Beast Warriors {{storylink|Bad Spark}}, Primus's name was also lent to a set of prophetical datatrax, known as the [[Covenant of Primus]]. From this document, the [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] of this era took his name (as did, presumably, the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]), and the scriptures foretold the events which completed the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

====''Universe''====
{{Note|The [[3H Productions]] ''Wreckers'' comic was the first attempt by official fiction to detail how the Quintesson-born origin of the Generation 1 cartoon could be reconciled with the Primus creation myth from the comic books. Set concurrently with the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon, it only ''strictly'' applies to the continuity of the Beast Era, which is not explicitly the same universe as the Generation 1 cartoon itself.}}

Dispatched to an ice world in the far reaches of the galaxy by the orders of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], [[Primal Prime]]'s [[Wrecker]]s encountered the exiled [[Quintesson]] known as [[Al-Badur]], who revealed to them the full extent of his race's connection to Cybertron and Primus. Al-Badur explained that, millions of years ago, the Quintessons sought to exploit the power of Primus for profit, and to that end, invaded Cybertron and set up numerous barriers to separate Primus from the Transformers. Their first attempt, the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], met with failure; next, the Quintessons targeted Vector Sigma itself, surrounding it with a shell program that acted as a barrier between the Transformers and the power and guidance of Primus. {{storylink|Disclosure}} Realizing that the Oracle itself was the Quintessons' shell program, Primal Prime began to fear that all that had come about as a result of its guidance—including [[Optimus Primal]]'s mission to restore a techno-organic balance to Cybertron—was all part of a Quintesson plot, but [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] assured him that Primus worked in mysterious ways.

The Wreckers soon returned to Cybertron, discovering that in their absence, Optimus Primal had achieved his goal of recreating the planet as a technorganic world. In the wake of this overwhelming transformation, the Quintessons had invaded the planet, but they were not the only threat to Cybertron's safety: The Wreckers were also faced with [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], who had used the legendary [[Divine Light]] to tap into the power of Primus and transform himself into a living god. During the course of the battle that ensued, Primal Prime and [[Apelinq]] were struck by a blast of Primus's power by Cryotek, which wound up merging them into [[Sentinel Maximus]]. At Al-Badur's direction, Sentinel Maximus steered the battle to an interdimensional portal chamber far below the planet's surface, where [[Matrix Templar]]s [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] began draining Primus's power out of Cryotek. To stop them, Cryotek shattered the Divine Light and absorbed Primus's energies directly into himself, where they could not drain it, but as he grappled with Sentinel Maximus, the fused Autobot forced them both through the portal, into a [[transwarp|shapeless interdimensional void]]. Although unable to drain Primus's power any further, Cryotek was sustained in the void by the power he had absorbed, and he was ready to carry on the battle until Primus himself—now unshackled thanks to the destruction of the Oracle in the final stages of Optimus Primal's quest—took an active hand, spiriting Sentinel Maximus away to partake in [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|another battle]] elsewhere in the multiverse.

While all of this was happening on Cybertron, elsewhere in the universe, on [[New Quintessa]], Primus briefly possessed the body of [[Icebird]] so that he could address the Quintesson leader [[Judge Heirodyus]]. Primus shocked the Quintesson by revealing that he had allowed all that had transpired to occur, and he "thanked" Heirodyus for his race's role in the scheme, promising to call upon them again if he ever needed an "evolutionary crisis" to drive his children forward. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:TFUPrimus.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Alpha, Rita's escaped! Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude!]]
In the wake of the repulsion of the Quintesson invasion, [[Unicron]] began gathering Transformers from across the multiverse, forcing them to fight and harvesting the [[spark]]s of the losers to restore his power. With each spark devoured, Primus was weakened, and so, communing with Alpha Trion, he chose to summon Optimus Primal back from the Allspark, restoring the Maximal commander to life. {{storylink|Abduction}} Primal was charged with re-securing the battling captives from the Pit of Unicron and leading a team of multiversal warriors to put a stop to this soul-stealing scheme before it could cause the Allspark to collapse. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Primus allowed Optimus Primal to choose any Transformer who ever existed—living or dead—for his army. This required considerable amounts of Primus's power, so Primal was told to choose sparingly. Primal chose his departed former troops [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}} Ultimately, however, Unicron's defeat came not as a result of their efforts, but as a consequence of another battle, happening in another corner of the Transformers multiverse. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}
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===''Universe'' CD-ROM comic===
[[Image:UniverseCDROM-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|In the future, Primals will travel on beams of light!]]

In a strange variant universe where [[Optimus Primal]] leads the [[Autobot]]s and [[Reptilion]] leads the [[Decepticon]]s, a ship arrives once a year, when the Transformers' civil war reaches a fever pitch. The ship abducts every Decepticon it can find and promptly leaves.

These Decepticons are brought to Unicron, who is preparing them for an eventual, ultimate battle for the universe. But unknown to even Unicron, Primus, the sentient core of Cybertron, is amassing an army of Autobots that rivals Unicron's army of Decepticons. Can Primus meet Unicron's challenge, or is the universe doomed? {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}
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===IDW Generation 1 continuity===

Before the war, in a discussion with the religious [[Springarm]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] said he wasn't convinced Primus, [[Mortilus]], and [[Adaptus]] actually existed. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
{{cleanup|April 2009|Needs storylinks and general expansion.}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
A "unique digital entity" came to exist eons ago. To search for other life in the universe, it sent out the Transformers as explorers. One of the first places the Transformers settled was on a planet that would eventually become known as Cybertron. {{storylink|First Encounter}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ron Halder]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Johan Hedenberg]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Primus eng.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Primus mistakes Kicker for a Japanese schoolgirl.]]
Primus was the living energy core of Cybertron, as well as the originator of the precious and ancient fuel, [[Energon (Energon)|energon]]. Transformers of this universe believed the stories of Unicron, Primus, and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] to be only myth and legend until the existence of Unicron was revealed in "[[the Unicron Battles]]" of 2010. With Cybertron left in a disastrous state after the chaos-bringer's attack, large amounts of energon were required to repair the planet, and to search for and acquire the mineral, the united Autobot-Decepticon forces entered into an alliance with the [[Earth Federation]] government.

Primus entered into the equation when the project's head scientist, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], brought his son, [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]], to Cybertron. Terrified of the giant robots surrounding him, Kicker fled, only to find himself tumbling through tunnels into a hidden chamber deep beneath Cybertron's surface. Primus awoke and saved Kicker from what would have been a fatal fall, and for his own reasons, imbued the child with a special gift—the ability to detect energon throughout the [[universe (universe)|universe]]. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] subsequently discovered Kicker in Primus's chamber, and the god chose to work with the Transformers quite directly, imbuing them with the [[Spark of Combination]], which would allow the Autobots to [[Powerlinx]] and increase their powers. Primus went on to advise Optimus Prime on his actions in order to prepare for the future, including the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] invasion, the return of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], and the next battle with Unicron; although vague at times, he would offer just enough information to allow his children to survive the threats they faced. Primus was often very weak due to the damage done to the planet's surface, and spent most of his time in a mode of stasis to preserve his energy and keep Cybertron's energy grid online.

When Megatron succeeded in reanimating Unicron, most of the Autobot army was critically wounded in the ensuing battle. This prompted the sleeping Primus to awaken and infuse their armor with his power, upgrading them into new forms, and allowing Optimus Prime and Omega Supreme to combine into a gigantic form and defeat Unicron. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}} Unicron's spark survived, however, and Primus sought to contain it by trapping it at the heart of a new sun that he created from a reservoir of "super energon" hidden within Cybertron. {{storylink|The Sun}}

===''Cybertron'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Donovan]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Cyb ep31 cybertron breakup.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], "[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]." [[wikipedia:Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo|Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron.]]]]

{{bigquote|He who charted the universe when it was new! He who battled Unicron at the dawn of time! He whose spark formed the basis of all life on Cybertron, and Velocitron, and all the other Transformer colonized homeworlds! It can be no other! This... is... Primus!|[[Vector Prime]], religiously intoning Primus' achievements throughout the Multiverse|[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]}}

[[Image:Cyb ep32 balance.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This looks [[Emirate Xaaron|familiar]].]]

Primus's plan to contain Unicron's essence in the center of the sun failed when the star collapsed into a massive [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] which threatened not only Cybertron and the universe, but the entire multiverse itself. His energy drained to the point that he had once again been rendered dormant, Primus could now only be awakened and restored to full power by the four ancient [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, lost to the far reaches of the galaxy in a failed [[space bridge]] experiment eons ago. The magnitude of the threat posed to the multiverse was enough to summon [[Vector Prime]]—one of the original thirteen Transformers, who had been following Unicron through the multiverse and repairing the damage he had done—back to Cybertron to aid the Autobots in the quest for the keys.

After a while, the Autobots were able to find the focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], and the keys from [[Velocitron]] and [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Bringing all three together caused the group to be drawn into the consciousness of Primus, who spoke through the three Mini-Cons and told his children to "maintain the balance". {{storylink|Trap}}

[[Image:Cyb ep48 starships.jpg|right|thumb|200px|I can see my house from here!]]

Eventually, despite continued attempts by both Megatron and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] to steal the power of the Cyber Planet Keys, the Autobots were able to gather the keys from [[Velocitron]], the [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] and [[Earth]], and brought them and their focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], back to Cybertron. Coupling these three keys with the power of the Matrix, Optimus Prime was able to initiate Primus's transformation from planet mode to robot mode. Communicating with the Autobots through the [[Mini-Con]], [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]], Primus explained that the destruction of Unicron, the embodiment of the force of evil, had unbalanced the universe, and that only he could seal the black hole and restore order—but to do that, the fourth Cyber Planet Key, from [[Gigantion]], the Giant Planet, was required to reconnect Primus's spark with his body and restore his full power. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

[[Image:Cybertron Ark Homecoming.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Eat this, in remembrance of Me.]]

Attempting to retrieve the Omega Lock, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] made a rather pointless attack on Primus, only to be smacked down hard. {{storylink|Balance}} Shortly thereafter, when Primus was in the process of channelling some of his power into holding back the ever-growing black hole, Starscream tried again, plunging into the energy beam and absorbing some of Primus's power into himself. Starscream expanded in size until he was as large as Primus himself, but Primus did not take this slight lightly, as he converted Cybertron's moons into a pair of mace weapons and relentlessly pounded Starscream into submission. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb ep49 primus smiles.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He's pretty happy so long as you don't wake him up while he's napping.]]

Eventually, the Autobots were able to acquire the final key, as well as to reactivate the four ancient ships which had carried the keys to the respective worlds ages ago—the [[Atlantis]], the [[Lemuria (Cybertron)|Lemuria]], the [[Hyperborea]] and the [[Ogygia]]. Primus fused the four ships together to form the [[Ark (Cybertron)|Ark]], and with his powers subsequently restored by all four keys, he channelled all of his power through the Ark as a beam, straight into the heart of the black hole. With a massive blast, the black hole was finally sealed, and Primus transformed back into Cybertron—not Cybertron as it had been, but a new Cybertron, infused with the differing aspects of Velocitron, Jungle Planet, Earth and Gigantion, a true paradise for Transformers and humans alike. {{storylink|End}}
{{-}}

===''Cybertron'' comic===
[[Image:Revelations6-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|pudding]]
While the Autobots were occupied with the quest for the Cyber Planet Keys, Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and [[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] arrived on Cybertron, {{storylink|Balancing Act}} intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]]—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. {{Storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}} Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the Universe conflict by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}}

The Dead Matrix, however, was cast into the heart of the black hole by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], freeing Unicron's spark and allowing it to adopt a new, diminutive physical form. {{storylink|Revelations Part 4}} Unicron participated in the escalating Mini-Con civil war on Cybertron's moons, {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} but when the planet transformed into Primus's robot mode, Unicron fled. His whereabouts are unknown. {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}

{{note|The events in the second paragraph happen concurrently with Primus' transformation in the ''Cybertron'' cartoon, detailed in the section prior.}}

==Shattered Glass==
The idea of Primus, the benevolent Creator, was unknown to the heroic Decepticons until [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], a visitor from the Positive Polarity universes, told them about Him. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} Before long, Cliffjumper's "beliefs" were a subject of derision, especially among the evil Autobots. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

Cliffjumper was eventually vindicated, however, when the [[Nexus Prime]] gestalt members attempted to resurrect a recently-assassinated [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]]. As they applied their powers to the body, they were transported to Primus' presence. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} There they chose for Primus to rebirth them as their original self, with Nexus returning to the battlefield and declaring himself to his enemies as being the "mighty fist of the lord of light". {{storylink|Reunification: Part 6}}

Megatron, meanwhile, received a vision from the other side of the Allspark of a healed Cybertron, before being reborn himself as Galvatron, with Nexus investing him with some of Primus's power by proxy. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 30|Galvatron's TFCC bio}}

==Robot Heroes==
[[Image:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|right|thumb|Screw continuity, I don't see YOU with a Matrix!]]

Primus, considered to be the very first Transformer, created the Matrix of Leadership and personally gave it to Optimus! Wait WHAT?{{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

==Live-action film series==
The location on Cybertron that is named after Primus is surrounded by the [[Rad Zone]] and [[Uraya]]. {{storylink|Risk}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Legend has it that the original seven Transformers are creations of Primus, though they themselves don't think this. It is not said who started the legend. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|The Fallen Profile}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

The [[Dynasty of Primes|Primes]] ''do'' think they're "children of Primus". But in the long run, everyone is. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 4}}

===IDW ''Dark of the Moon'' comics===
According to legend, when the [[AllSpark]] cube crashed into Cybertron, it gave life to Primus and his descendents, the Primes. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}} Primus was known as the first Cybertronian and, after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] was ended due to [[The Fallen]]'s treachery, left behind his only legacy in [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and, revealed much later, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]. Wether this is true; no one can say.. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1}}
{{-}}

==Animated==

In [[universal stream|some parts of the multiverse]], Primus created organic worlds around himself, with the inhabitants eventually becoming robotic lifeforms: these worlds are [[Gobotron]] and [[Robotix|Skalorr]], with a known [[Vector Sigma]] node in the latter. The inhabitants seem unaware of the existence of Primus.

Unicron created [[Unicron#G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers|a body for himself]] in at least one of the Gobotron timelines. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==Aligned continuity==
===''Exodus'' and ''Exiles'' novels===
Primus is generally accepted to exist though his 13 children are considered a myth by [[Jazz (Prime)|some]]. Throughout Cybertron devices carry out his will: the [[AllSpark]] creates the [[protoform]]s in the [[Well of All Sparks]]. The [[Sonic Canyons]] are believed to be his ears, feeding him knowledge of the universe via Vector Sigma, though that is actually beneath [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. And the [[Core]] produces his own physical emanation, [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]].

During the civil war, the AllSpark was ejected into space to keep it out of Decepticon hands, eventually floating into the [[Milky Way]], while the Core was corrupted by the [[Dark Energon]]-imbued [[Plasma energy]] Chamber. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] removed the Chamber, but the damage was done, and the Core had to shut down and reboot to survive. But before leaving, Optimus was bestowed Primus' essence in the form of the Matrix. When the Autobots left Cybertron, the last original Prime [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] remained, stating Vector Sigma would keep him alive. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===War for Cybertron===
Optimus thanked Primus when he managed to defeat [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}}

===Transformers: Prime===

{{spoiler|One Shall Rise, Part 1|October 8, 2011}}

According to legend, at the beginning of time, Unicron and Primus battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Until, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen original Transformers|Thirteen]]: the original Primes. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space. Primus then became one with the core of Cybertron, and brought life to new Cybertronians through the [[Well of All Sparks]]. Optimus Prime would later speak of Unicron as being a physical being that had likely transcended physical form, with Primus presumably being the same. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

{{note|Cybertron is shown to exist before Primus "became one" with it, implying the planet predates him in Prime continuity.}}

==Games==
===Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed===

Faced with the growing threat of the black hole, Primus attempted to obliterate the dark matter before it spread further into the universe. {{storylink|Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed}}

== Retconning the retcon? ==

It's no secret that, after the Unicron Trilogy, ''Universe'' and the Unicron-heavy [[Dreamwave Productions]] comic books, the [[fandom]] at large was generally quite sick of stories revolving around Unicron and Primus. It is likely no coincidence, then, that the major new universes created in western media between then and [[2010]]—those of the [[IDW Publishing]] comic books, the [[live-action film series|live-action movie]] and the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon—all eschewed use of the Primus creation myth. But what does this mean for the status of the retcon that states Primus exists in all universes?

The world of the live-action initially presented the Transformers as creations of the enigmatic [[AllSpark]], with no explicit connection drawn between it and Primus. However, connections soon began to emerge. First, Takara's [[World of the Transformers]] website listed the AllSpark as a [[sacred implement]] alongside other Primus-related talismans such as the Matrix and Vector Sigma. Then, the UK's ''[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers]]'' magazine introduced Unicron in [[Transformers Comic issue 18|its eighteenth issue]], and then in [[Transformers Comic issue 20|#20]], had the Transformers discover huge versions of their own interior workings deep inside Cybertron, in a clear reference to Cybertron being the transforming body of Primus. Primus was first referred to by name in a profile for The Fallen printed by Titan, which noted that legend claimed he was the creator of the first Transformers, and then again in IDW's ''[[Tales of the Fallen]]'' mini-series. At this point, it is clear that Primus does exist in the movie universe, and that the AllSpark is merely the object through which he acts. In 2010, the new ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' continuity family lent further credence to this reading of events by incorporating it into its own storyline.

Much like the movieverse, the world of ''Transformers Animated'' also depicts the source of Transformer life as a mysterious talisman known as the [[AllSpark]], for which no origin has been given. As far as [[authorial intent]] goes, series art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] stated more than once his opinion that Primus does not exist in the ''Animated'' universe [http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1759990650]. The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|''AllSpark Almanac II'']] treads lightly on the matter in seeming honor of Wyatt's wishes, never revealing Cybertron's origins. It does, however, mention a "battle between primordial titans" as one possible origin for the planet, in an obvious allusion to the Unicron/Primus creation story, and repeatedly brings up Primus and many of the concepts associated with him by name when discussing ''other'' universes.

The IDW universe was less clear on the matter. Writer [[Simon Furman]] outright said that the IDW universe would have "no Primus. No Unicron". In accordance with this, the Furman-penned ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]]'', rather than have Transformers swear by Primus, instead had them swear by [[Primacron]], but a monkeywrench was thrown into the works when Primus's name was heard being taken in vain in [[Eric Holmes]]'s [[Megatron Origin issue 4|''Megatron Origin'' #4]]. Furman attempted to justify this on his blog by claiming that this was not ''the'' Primus, but simply "something or someone" called Primus that had existed some point. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/all-this-and-devastation-4/]

With Furman's removal as the primary architect of the IDW universe, things got changed: "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" by [[James Roberts]] refers to a Primus. However, he is not only refered to as a being that Optimus doesn't believe in, he's mentioned in conjunction with two ''other'' gods, [[Mortilus]] and [[Adaptus]], that Optimus also didn't believe in.

Ultimately, there is ''very'' little to say that Primus does not exist in the IDW or ''Animated'' universe, besides the fact that creators involved with those universes do not want to include the character in their stories. After all, just because Primus doesn't ''appear'', or characters are unaware of him, it doesn't mean he doesn't ''exist''. It wouldn't be the only time this has happened: the occupants of the parallel ''[[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' universe were largely ignorant of Primus until a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper from another universe]] mentioned him. It seems quite safe to conclude that, as of this moment, the retcon has not yet itself been retconned... and we kinda hope it isn't, because then some poor sod is going to have rewrite this article from the ground up.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:GodPrimus2.jpg|250px|thumb|The rod god.]]
*'''God Primus''' (2004)
**''Accessories:'' Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields
[[Image:GodPrimus1.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Popemobile, meet Godebago.]]
:Unbeknownst to many Western fans, the first Primus figure was a "[[Lucky Draw figure]]" in Japan, a [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] gold chrome recolored [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Rodimus Prime]] that was given away as a contest prize from the collector book, ''[[Transformers Generations|Transformers Generations Deluxe]]''. Supposedly, only 100 pieces of these lucky draw figures were manufactured.

:As a [[redeco]] of a Rodimus (no doubt inspired by the resemblance of his astral form to Rodimus in the UK comics), Primus transforms into a futuristic truck resembling nothing so much as a Winnebago. Following the trend started by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|the original Optimus Prime toy]], his trailer splits down the middle to transform into a battle station with an extending double-barrelled cannon. The figure comes with a large, hand-held blaster, and two blast-shield accessories that plug into the sides of his battle station cannon.

{{-}}{{anchor|CybG1}}
*'''Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''00'''
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:Cybertron Primus toy.jpg|350px|thumb|Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven imag— You know what, just forget it. It's not like we have rules for a reason.]]
:Primus was developed by Hasbro and Takara as a toy for their joint [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron/Galaxy Force'' toylines]], but was released in Japan in the ''Generation 1'' line a few months after ''Galaxy Force'' had ended its run. This release can be considered a pre-release of the ''Cybertron'' toy because it features Hasbro's [[Cyber Key Codes]] that the ''Galaxy Force'' line lacked.

:Primus is the first toy representation of the Transformers' creator as their home planet of Cybertron. In planet mode, he is considerably more detailed than [[Unicron]] from the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' line]], with visible cities, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], based upon its appearance in the [[DK Publishing]] book, ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', and [[Kaon]], specifically [[Kolkular]], as seen in ''[[The War Within]]''. On the 'bottom' of the planet mode there are four hard rubber legs, molded to be shaped like towers, allowing Primus to be displayed in planet mode, yet not require a flat base as Unicron did.

:Primus's transformation is unusual, in many ways similar to a [[Powermaster]], in that he requires the owner to insert his accompanying Omega Lock accessory into several special ports around the planet, then manipulate it to unlock his parts and transform him. When the Omega Lock is inserted into his back and pushed, a transforming sound is heard. When it is inserted into his chest and pushed up to reveal his head, his eyes glow red and a laser-type sound effect is heard. The Lock itself lights up red when it is inserted into any of the ports.

:In robot mode, Primus resembles both the ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' Unicron prototype as well as [[Don Figueroa]]'s Primus concept, created for ''The War Within'' and used in ''The Ultimate Guide''. He is bristling with weaponry, including two shoulder-mounted cannons that can fire missiles, two forearm blasters that raise and extend when a Cyber Power Key is inserted, and several banks of Gatling guns, lasers and missile launchers in his shins and legs revealed by the Omega Lock.

:Primus also has what might charitably be called a third mode—an intergalactic world-ship, which is basically formed by transforming the figure halfway and leaving the head down and the legs backward. It features no dedicated parts or transformation steps, making it very obvious that it was created after the fact. It looks kinda like The Starship Enterprise...backwards.

:Primus comes with two accessories, the aforementioned battery-operated Omega Lock that lights up red when inserted into any of the four Omega Lock ports, and a special silver Cybertron-Planet Cyber Power Key with the key code '''sp8u''' [[tampograph]]ed onto the back. Any four Cyber Planet Keys can be inserted into the four key slots at the base of the Omega Lock, though doing this does not activate any feature. There are also nine inactive Mini-Con [[powerlinx]] ports on the Primus figure, including two on the claws on his legs.
{{-}}

===Cybertron===
*'''Cybertron Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:CybertronPrimusPackagingComparison.jpg|right|280px|thumb|This was an expensive time for completists.]]
:Cybertron Primus is the North American version of Primus, released a few months after the Japanese version. The toys are identical.

:In North America, limited early-run versions of Cybertron Primus came packaged with a very creepy "battle damaged" Unicron head based upon his Armada appearance.

:A later version, [[exclusive]] to [[Walmart]] as a [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] 2006 special, included four Mini-Cons; [[Strongarm (Cybertron)|Strongarm]], [[Knockdown (Cybertron)|Knockdown]], [[Nightscream (Cybertron)|Nightscream]], and [[Offshoot (Cybertron)|Offshoot]].
{{-}}

===Transformers 2010===
[[Image:Primus_2010.jpg|250px|thumb|Oh. Your. God.]]
*'''Creator Primus''' (2010)
**''Accessories:''
:To celebrate the year [[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]], Takara [[redeco]]ed the previous Primus toy. It is primarily silver and gold in planet mode, with blue robot parts. A blue [[Omega Lock]] is also included.
:Primus includes the retooled Cybertron style Cyber Key which was originally available with both [[:Image:Cybertron OptimusPrime deluxe toy.jpg|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Optimus Prime]] and [[:Image:Cybertron-toy Demolishor.JPG|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Demolisher]]. The Cyber Key features a "blank" central area (so any faction symbol could be tampographed on) and a Mini-Con-style Powerlinx socket on the back. The Cyber Key included with this figure is entirely unpainted, aside from the tampographed Autobot symbol.
{{-}}

==Notes==
* The original form of Primus in Marvel Comic continuity is similar to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]]. Rather creepily, this is suggested to be down to deliberate action on Primus' part in [[Salvage!|#160's Grim Grams]].
* The myth of Primus and Unicron is similar to the duality concepts present in numerous real-world religions, such as [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]].
*The idea of Primus transforming bears some resemblance to an [[The Secret of Cybertron|early script]] for [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original movie]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] merges with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and transforms into a super robot to defeat Unicron.
*The "unique digital entity" mentioned in "[[First Encounter]]" is confirmed to be Primus in an edition of [[Ask Vector Prime]] in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]''.
*According to the same source, [[Gobotron]], home planet of the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], is also an aspect of Primus, just from a very distant part of the [[Multiverse]].
*''Energon'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20041207164548/www.tfpulp.com/archive/energonprod/energonprod.html pre-production notes] detail early ideas the cartoon had for Primus's origin. Presumably non-canon, given that they are not particularly in-line with the "multiversal singularity" origin of the character, they present Primus as an entity consisting purely of energon. Energon, the notes state, is the product of the "genetic material" of the sun interacting with planetary bodies—this, then, appears to be a very literal interpretation of Primus's role as "[[Transformers: The Facts|the lord of light]]", presenting him as an actual product of the light of the sun.
*His ''Cybertron'' toy was designed by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], which is ironic, considering his dislike for the religious aspects of the ''Transformers'' mythos.
*The word "Primus" is Latin for "First."

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Primus''' (プライマス ''Puraimasu'')

==See also==
*[[Allspark]]
*[[Vector Sigma]]

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2006/Primus/Primus/primus.htm Primus at TFU.info]

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Primus

2011-10-03T04:15:29Z

74.99.182.224: /* IDW Dark of the Moon comics */

{{factions|autobot}}
[[Image:PrimusG1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''[[Hasbro|They]] call him Gee-Oh-Dee And he the [[Big Daddy (G1)|big daddy]] He look like [[Hot Rod (G1)|me]] But he more [[Facial hair|beardie]]'']]
'''Primus''' is the creator-god of the [[Transformer]]s. An ancient and ethereal being whose origins date back to the beginnings of the universe itself, Primus is a multiversal force for good, his life force existing across multiple realities and infinite alternate universes. In each one, he is the final defense against his fallen sibling, [[Unicron]] the Chaos-Bringer.

Primus eventually transformed himself into the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]; from its surface, his creations have risen to defend and patrol the galaxy. Within the depths of Cybertron, the mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]] serves as his internal mainframe, and a gateway for select Transformers to access his power. A portion of his lifeforce resides within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], which often determines the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Prophecies of a war to come were written down in his [[Covenant of Primus|holy covenant]] as well. The [[spark]] of each Transformer is a small piece of Primus's essence, and together they form his lifeforce, the [[Allspark]].

Though wise and powerful beyond measure, Primus is neither infallible nor without weakness. At times he has [[Out of Time!|been deceived by mere mortals]], and has made [[The Sun|miscalculations]] which [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|jeopardized all of existence]], and has been betrayed by one of his [[The Fallen|earliest creations]]. Indeed, even the intended agents of his grand plan, the Transformers, have all too frequently become mired in endless civil war. Still, in [[Withered Hope|most realities]] he has [[Wreckers: Finale Part II|managed to hold the line]] against Unicron and other threats, either directly or through his innumerable children, the Transformers.

{{quote|Until all are one!|Primus to his children|"[[Trap]]"}}

==In the beginning==
[[Image:Primus original.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Hold the sword and say, "I am the Protector of the Universe!"]]
Before the dawn of time, Order and Chaos existed within an extradimensional entity known as [[The One]]. To explore the fledgling universe, he created the astral being known as [[Unicron]], and then subdivided him, creating his twin, Primus. Both brothers were [[Multiversal singularity|multiversal singularities]], unique in all realities, but whereas Unicron could only exist in one dimension at a time, moving between them at will, Primus existed simultaneously in all realities at once. It is suggested, in fact, that the two brothers embody the basic concepts of reality—good and evil, order and chaos—and that their continued existence is necessary for the stability of the multiverse.

[[Image:Primusoriginal.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is [[FIRRIB| ''blue''!"]]]]
As Unicron and Primus went about their appointed task, venturing through the cosmos, it became apparent to Primus that Unicron was a corrupt being, and he took it upon himself to stop the threat posed to all of existence by his sibling. In combat, Primus was no match for Unicron. In cunning, however, he proved himself to his brother's superior when he shifted their battle to the astral plane, and then back to the physical world once more, only to have both their essences manifest within metallic planetoids, leaving them both trapped. It was with this act of sacrifice that Primus hoped to contain Unicron's evil forever. Unfortunately for him, over time, Unicron learned to psionically shape his prison into a giant metallic planet, and Primus followed suit, becoming the mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When Unicron then learned to transform his planetary form even further, into a gigantic robot form, Primus adapted the idea to suit his own ends—rather than transforming his own body, he would create small beings that would be able to change their shape, like Unicron. After performing a "test run" on the moon of [[Protos]], where he successfully created [[Covenant|twelve transforming robotic beings]], {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Covenant}} he birthed from his own body a group of thirteen robots that possessed the ability to change shape, like Unicron. These were the [[thirteen original Transformers]], each one infused with a fragment of Primus's life essence known as a [[spark]].

The Thirteen were Primus's soldiers in his war with Unicron, which came to its seeming end during a climactic battle in which one of the Thirteen, Megatronus Prime, who would forever afterwards be known as the [[The Fallen|Fallen]], betrayed Primus and became an acolyte of Unicron. The battle ended when the Fallen and Unicron were sucked into a black hole and disappeared from reality. With Unicron gone for now, Primus entered an eons-long slumber, his self-imposed sleep preventing Unicron from detecting him through the mental link the brothers shared. The Transformer race grew, and Primus fell into the realm of legend, with a portion of his power, the [[Matrix of Leadership]], handed down through the generations, serving as the Transformers' ever-present link to their creator.

===Evolution of the Primus/Unicron myth===
''The Primus/Unicron backstory has evolved and been rewritten a good number of times since it first originated in the [[Marvel Comics]] series. The version recounted above is the current iteration, which has slowly solidified across a wide swath of media (beginning around the time of [[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]). Before the Primus/Unicron mythos reached its present form it went through several distinct versions in the Marvel G1 comics and elsewhere.''

====Unicron's story====
''The first time we ever heard the Primus/Unicron backstory was in the UK comic continuity, from Unicron himself, in the story "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", when he recounted it to [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]. Per Unicron's telling of events, he was a primal force of evil at the dawn of the universe who led an army of [[Dark God]]s against his mortal foe, Primus, Lord of the [[Light God]]s (note the plural). Events proceeded to play out basically as described above, though the role of the Light and Dark Gods would diminish with each subsequent retelling of the story, until the current version, in which Primus and Unicron are alone and have a unique origin. (Only one of the other gods was ever named—the [[Chronarchitect]]. How exactly he factors into the current iteration of the myth is unknown.)''

====The Keeper's story====
''The second time the story was told was in the US book by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]], an ancient mechanoid who guarded Primus's head at the center of Cybertron. This telling is effectively the same as the previous UK story, but mentions that their battle was towards the end of the era of gods, that Primus and Unicron were the last of their respective pantheons, and Primus had to defeat Unicron before he could take his place with the other gods in the "[[Omniversal Matrix]]".''

====Primus's story====
''The third time the story was told was also in the US Marvel series, this time by Primus, when he gathered all his children together to prepare for Unicron's coming. It was with this telling that we learned that Unicron predated the [[universe (universe)|current universe]], and had destroyed the [[old realms|previous universe]] which existed before the current one. He had slept peacefully, alone in the [[void]] of uncreation that remained, until fragments of the old universe that he had overlooked reacted, causing the Big Bang and birthing the current universe. The "sentient core" of this new universe recognized the threat that Unicron posed, and so created Primus to counter his evil and be guardian of the new creation.''

====Fleer and DK====
[[Image:WarWithinPrimus.jpg|left|150px|thumb|I feel prickly...]]
''The first modern retelling of the origins of Primus and Unicron did not come from G1-oriented media, but from a set of ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer. It was the backstory printed on Unicron's card which introduced the concept of the two being brothers created to explore the new universe by an extradimensional entity, here named the "[[Allspark]]."''

''This was subsequently expanded on and combined with aspects of the various Marvel Comics stories in [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]], published by Dorling Kindersley and written by [[Simon Furman]], who had written all three prior tellings in the first place. Here, the entity Fleer had called the "Allspark" was redubbed "[[The One]]," and the modern iteration of the myth detailed above was firmly established, and went on to form the backbone of subsequent fiction such as ''[[Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]]' ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics.''

''It was also at this point that it was established that Primus could transform from Cybertron into a robot mode like Unicron, but preferred not to, choosing to remain connected to the universe on a planetary level.''
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==Generation 1==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Primalscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|KHHHHHAAAAANNNNN!]]
Eventually, millions of years later, in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|one universe]] located in the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Primax cluster]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] found themselves transported to the center of Cybertron, where they discovered the sleeping form of Primus {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}} and were told the tale of his and the Transformers' origins by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]]. Subsequently, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s [[Pretender]]s attacked, and during the battle, a laser blast ricocheted off Grimlock and struck the essence of the sleeping Primus, causing a universe-shaking "Primal Scream" that alerted Unicron (who was located "outside the fringes of known space") to Primus's location. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} Primus himself immediately slipped back into his sleep, but it was too late. Unicron was coming. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}}

{{note|Later, in "[[Vector Prime: In the Beginning]]", this event would be presented in a greater context, with the Primal Scream being heard multiversally, and awakening Unicron from his own slumber as well.}}

[[Image:OutofTime-wakePrimus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Have you tried crashing cymbals together?]]

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] sent teams of Autobots to retrieve the lost [[Creation Matrix]], the container of Primus' essence that could destroy Unicron, he communed with the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s [[:Image:Arkaltar.jpg|Altar to Primus]]. Reaching out his mind to the Creation Matrix, the altar gave him a vision of a Matrix that had been tainted by evil. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}}

Unicron dispatched a group of [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|heralds]] to attack Cybertron and pave the way for his coming, including a [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] plucked from an [[Rhythms of Darkness!|alternate future]]. Galvatron, however, was not content to serve under Unicron, and instead captured Autobot leader [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], forcing him to fully awaken Primus, who possessed Xaaron's body and summoned Transformers from all across the universe back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Here, Primus spoke through Xaaron, telling the Transformers of his history with Unicron. Additionally, Primus chose Optimus Prime to lead both factions, united, against the Chaos Bringer. Primus knew this would draw out the [[Unicron cultist]]s among them, and Autobot and Decepticon were able to put aside their differences to defeat them. When Optimus Prime learned of Primus' ruse, his suspicions regarding his Creator's motives began to grow. Optimus wondered if the Transformers meant anything to Primus beyond being a means to an end. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:OntheEdgeofExtinction-Primus.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Now you're like me.]]

Though their battle against the Unicron cultists did temporarily unite both factions, this facade shattered once the Planet-Eater arrived. Sheer terror prevented them from carrying out his desire, and the Transformers fled despite Primus' pleas. Primus instead made a stand himself, attempting to dupe Unicron into believing he still retained his full power, but Unicron saw through the deception, and destroyed Xaaron's body. Optimus Prime came to a realization, following Primus' destruction and his retrieval of the lost and contaminated Creation Matrix, that Primus did not mean only for the Transformers to fight his battles for him, but to carry on after he was gone. Flying into space with the Matrix, Prime unleashed the full measure of Primus's power, destroying Unicron. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

Though the Transformers were technically victorious, this victory came with a price. With Primus dead, and with the grievous wounds inflicted on Cybertron itself, the planet threatened to come apart. The Transformers made plans to flee it. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Ultimately, this was averted by the [[Last Autobot]], who put into motion the planet's recovery, allowing the Autobots, who had finally won the civil war, to return to their home. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

{{note|As originally written, it is quite clear that the story intends for Primus to have died after his battle with Unicron. As the current retcon makes it clear that this cannot possibly be, one must assume that Prime was wrong in his analysis that Primus had died. Notably, even in the original comics themselves, the Matrix—the life-force of Primus—is shown to still exist and is functioning fine in the G2 Marvel Comics series that follows his supposed death.}}
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====''Classics''====
The Last Autobot created a race of tiny beings, [[Mini-Con]]s, to rebuild and restore Cybertron so that it would be ready for the Autobots' return. Part of the Mini-Cons' job was to excise certain evolutionary throwbacks, remnants of Primus' earlier experiments, such as the [[Mutant (G1)|Mutant]]s, and this alarmed one Mini-Con. He suspected that one day that Primus would consider the Mini-Cons surplus to requirements as well, and he instigated an insurgency against their Creator and his followers. {{storylink|The New World}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
{{note|Primus did not exist in the American [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] as it was originally written, since it was produced long before the [[retcon]] which established him to be a multiversal singularity. Precisely how Primus should then fit into the framework of the cartoon has not been explicitly established, although the [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comic'']]'' offered one attempt for its continuity (see "Beast Era", below). Primus was, however, explicitly and thoroughly retconned into being part of the expanded universe of the ''Japanese'' cartoon continuity by the [[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]] fiction of 2007, as part of a complicated process that folded various animated concepts—[[Oracle (G1)|Primacron's assistant]], [[Vector Sigma]] and the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]]—into the Primus myth.}}
[[Image:TGGPrimus.jpg|left|220px|thumb|Now you need to get this toy.]]

Formerly the assistant to the Primacron, the ancient genius who created the giant mechanoid Unicron, the robotic being known as the Oracle was badly damaged when Unicron rebelled against his creator. His essence fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which he used his powers to transform into a verdant, green planet. However, the Oracle could sense that in the future, Primacron would go on to create another universal danger in the form of Tornedron, and so summoned a group of [[Primitive]] Transformers back through time from the year 2010 to his planet, where he instructed them in how to destroy the threat. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}/{{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}

[[Image:TGGPrimus2.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Primus = Oracle = Vector Sigma = Primacron's Assistant = aaaargh.]]

Later in his life, the Oracle also reached through time when he discovered that the evil [[Sparkbot]]s were attempted to recreate Unicron following the planet-eater's destruction in the year 2005. By this stage calling himself "Primus", the Oracle attempted to stop the villains and their unwitting pawns, the human [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]], appearing as a giant golden hand to snatch away the fragments of Unicron's lifeforce each time the Kiss Players recovered them. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #45-46}} Unfortunately, this merely led the Kiss Players to pursue him through the timestream and resulted in them crashing into the "[[Wall of Time]]" and becoming scattered throughout the multiverse. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #47}} Knowing that the Kiss Players were innocent in this whole affair, having been duped by the Sparkbots, the benevolent Primus rescued them from the different regions of time and space they had wound up in, and properly introduced himself, explaining the Sparkbots' treachery. He then took them back in time to prehistoric Earth, arriving just in time to witness the Sparkbots' successful restoration of Unicron to life. Primus transformed once more and unleashed the power of his mobile cannon platform, destroying Unicron's energy and sealing it and the Sparkbots deep within the planet. To ensure that Unicron would never be freed again, he created a mighty guardian, [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], who would watch over it and the Earth. With the battle over, Shaoshao asked about the Kiss Players' future, but Primus did not reply. After sending the Kiss Players back to their home time, Primus transformed into the golden sphere of Vector Sigma and returned to his world to sleep. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48-51}}

Unfortunately for Primus, as he slumbered, his world was eventually discovered by the alien Quintessons, who shackled his powers and used them to both transform the planet into the metallic Cybertron, and to create the races of robots that would eventually become the Transformers. Additionally, the aliens acquired the shell that had held his essence, which became, through unknown means, the talisman that would be known to the Transformers as the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}
{{note|For further information, see [[Vector Sigma]] and [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]].}}

===Beast Era===
====''Tales From the Beast Wars''====
[[Image:Terminus-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Great, now he's going to become the Smoke Monster.]]

Before Primus became Cybertron, he plotted to create robotic life that would ultimately defeat Unicron, but first he needed to do a test run. He created twelve beings, the [[Covenant]], on a small moon named [[Protos]]. These twelve would watch the Transformers from afar and only intervene when necessary.

Their intervention would become necessary when [[Shokaract]] used Unicron's essence, the [[Decepticon Matrix of Conquest]], to conquer the future, threatening the end of all things at an important historical crossroads dubbed Point Omega. Though the Covenant's ranks were halved in the battle against Shokaract on prehistoric Earth during the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], they were ultimately able to discover a way to defeat Shokaract and his Unicron-fueled power. The remaining Covenant members returned to their original Primus-spawned energy forms and entered Shokaract's Matrix of Conquest. Reconstituting as an astral form of Primus, they severed Unicron's link with Shokaract, leaving him vulnerable to attack. {{storylink|Terminus}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
In addition to its occasional invocation in prayer or in righteous anger by the Beast Warriors {{storylink|Bad Spark}}, Primus's name was also lent to a set of prophetical datatrax, known as the [[Covenant of Primus]]. From this document, the [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] of this era took his name (as did, presumably, the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]), and the scriptures foretold the events which completed the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

====''Universe''====
{{Note|The [[3H Productions]] ''Wreckers'' comic was the first attempt by official fiction to detail how the Quintesson-born origin of the Generation 1 cartoon could be reconciled with the Primus creation myth from the comic books. Set concurrently with the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon, it only ''strictly'' applies to the continuity of the Beast Era, which is not explicitly the same universe as the Generation 1 cartoon itself.}}

Dispatched to an ice world in the far reaches of the galaxy by the orders of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], [[Primal Prime]]'s [[Wrecker]]s encountered the exiled [[Quintesson]] known as [[Al-Badur]], who revealed to them the full extent of his race's connection to Cybertron and Primus. Al-Badur explained that, millions of years ago, the Quintessons sought to exploit the power of Primus for profit, and to that end, invaded Cybertron and set up numerous barriers to separate Primus from the Transformers. Their first attempt, the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], met with failure; next, the Quintessons targeted Vector Sigma itself, surrounding it with a shell program that acted as a barrier between the Transformers and the power and guidance of Primus. {{storylink|Disclosure}} Realizing that the Oracle itself was the Quintessons' shell program, Primal Prime began to fear that all that had come about as a result of its guidance—including [[Optimus Primal]]'s mission to restore a techno-organic balance to Cybertron—was all part of a Quintesson plot, but [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] assured him that Primus worked in mysterious ways.

The Wreckers soon returned to Cybertron, discovering that in their absence, Optimus Primal had achieved his goal of recreating the planet as a technorganic world. In the wake of this overwhelming transformation, the Quintessons had invaded the planet, but they were not the only threat to Cybertron's safety: The Wreckers were also faced with [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], who had used the legendary [[Divine Light]] to tap into the power of Primus and transform himself into a living god. During the course of the battle that ensued, Primal Prime and [[Apelinq]] were struck by a blast of Primus's power by Cryotek, which wound up merging them into [[Sentinel Maximus]]. At Al-Badur's direction, Sentinel Maximus steered the battle to an interdimensional portal chamber far below the planet's surface, where [[Matrix Templar]]s [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] began draining Primus's power out of Cryotek. To stop them, Cryotek shattered the Divine Light and absorbed Primus's energies directly into himself, where they could not drain it, but as he grappled with Sentinel Maximus, the fused Autobot forced them both through the portal, into a [[transwarp|shapeless interdimensional void]]. Although unable to drain Primus's power any further, Cryotek was sustained in the void by the power he had absorbed, and he was ready to carry on the battle until Primus himself—now unshackled thanks to the destruction of the Oracle in the final stages of Optimus Primal's quest—took an active hand, spiriting Sentinel Maximus away to partake in [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|another battle]] elsewhere in the multiverse.

While all of this was happening on Cybertron, elsewhere in the universe, on [[New Quintessa]], Primus briefly possessed the body of [[Icebird]] so that he could address the Quintesson leader [[Judge Heirodyus]]. Primus shocked the Quintesson by revealing that he had allowed all that had transpired to occur, and he "thanked" Heirodyus for his race's role in the scheme, promising to call upon them again if he ever needed an "evolutionary crisis" to drive his children forward. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:TFUPrimus.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Alpha, Rita's escaped! Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude!]]
In the wake of the repulsion of the Quintesson invasion, [[Unicron]] began gathering Transformers from across the multiverse, forcing them to fight and harvesting the [[spark]]s of the losers to restore his power. With each spark devoured, Primus was weakened, and so, communing with Alpha Trion, he chose to summon Optimus Primal back from the Allspark, restoring the Maximal commander to life. {{storylink|Abduction}} Primal was charged with re-securing the battling captives from the Pit of Unicron and leading a team of multiversal warriors to put a stop to this soul-stealing scheme before it could cause the Allspark to collapse. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Primus allowed Optimus Primal to choose any Transformer who ever existed—living or dead—for his army. This required considerable amounts of Primus's power, so Primal was told to choose sparingly. Primal chose his departed former troops [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}} Ultimately, however, Unicron's defeat came not as a result of their efforts, but as a consequence of another battle, happening in another corner of the Transformers multiverse. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}
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===''Universe'' CD-ROM comic===
[[Image:UniverseCDROM-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|In the future, Primals will travel on beams of light!]]

In a strange variant universe where [[Optimus Primal]] leads the [[Autobot]]s and [[Reptilion]] leads the [[Decepticon]]s, a ship arrives once a year, when the Transformers' civil war reaches a fever pitch. The ship abducts every Decepticon it can find and promptly leaves.

These Decepticons are brought to Unicron, who is preparing them for an eventual, ultimate battle for the universe. But unknown to even Unicron, Primus, the sentient core of Cybertron, is amassing an army of Autobots that rivals Unicron's army of Decepticons. Can Primus meet Unicron's challenge, or is the universe doomed? {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===

Before the war, in a discussion with the religious [[Springarm]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] said he wasn't convinced Primus, [[Mortilus]], and [[Adaptus]] actually existed. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
{{cleanup|April 2009|Needs storylinks and general expansion.}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
A "unique digital entity" came to exist eons ago. To search for other life in the universe, it sent out the Transformers as explorers. One of the first places the Transformers settled was on a planet that would eventually become known as Cybertron. {{storylink|First Encounter}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ron Halder]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Johan Hedenberg]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Primus eng.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Primus mistakes Kicker for a Japanese schoolgirl.]]
Primus was the living energy core of Cybertron, as well as the originator of the precious and ancient fuel, [[Energon (Energon)|energon]]. Transformers of this universe believed the stories of Unicron, Primus, and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] to be only myth and legend until the existence of Unicron was revealed in "[[the Unicron Battles]]" of 2010. With Cybertron left in a disastrous state after the chaos-bringer's attack, large amounts of energon were required to repair the planet, and to search for and acquire the mineral, the united Autobot-Decepticon forces entered into an alliance with the [[Earth Federation]] government.

Primus entered into the equation when the project's head scientist, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], brought his son, [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]], to Cybertron. Terrified of the giant robots surrounding him, Kicker fled, only to find himself tumbling through tunnels into a hidden chamber deep beneath Cybertron's surface. Primus awoke and saved Kicker from what would have been a fatal fall, and for his own reasons, imbued the child with a special gift—the ability to detect energon throughout the [[universe (universe)|universe]]. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] subsequently discovered Kicker in Primus's chamber, and the god chose to work with the Transformers quite directly, imbuing them with the [[Spark of Combination]], which would allow the Autobots to [[Powerlinx]] and increase their powers. Primus went on to advise Optimus Prime on his actions in order to prepare for the future, including the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] invasion, the return of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], and the next battle with Unicron; although vague at times, he would offer just enough information to allow his children to survive the threats they faced. Primus was often very weak due to the damage done to the planet's surface, and spent most of his time in a mode of stasis to preserve his energy and keep Cybertron's energy grid online.

When Megatron succeeded in reanimating Unicron, most of the Autobot army was critically wounded in the ensuing battle. This prompted the sleeping Primus to awaken and infuse their armor with his power, upgrading them into new forms, and allowing Optimus Prime and Omega Supreme to combine into a gigantic form and defeat Unicron. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}} Unicron's spark survived, however, and Primus sought to contain it by trapping it at the heart of a new sun that he created from a reservoir of "super energon" hidden within Cybertron. {{storylink|The Sun}}

===''Cybertron'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Donovan]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Cyb ep31 cybertron breakup.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], "[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]." [[wikipedia:Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo|Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron.]]]]

{{bigquote|He who charted the universe when it was new! He who battled Unicron at the dawn of time! He whose spark formed the basis of all life on Cybertron, and Velocitron, and all the other Transformer colonized homeworlds! It can be no other! This... is... Primus!|[[Vector Prime]], religiously intoning Primus' achievements throughout the Multiverse|[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]}}

[[Image:Cyb ep32 balance.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This looks [[Emirate Xaaron|familiar]].]]

Primus's plan to contain Unicron's essence in the center of the sun failed when the star collapsed into a massive [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] which threatened not only Cybertron and the universe, but the entire multiverse itself. His energy drained to the point that he had once again been rendered dormant, Primus could now only be awakened and restored to full power by the four ancient [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, lost to the far reaches of the galaxy in a failed [[space bridge]] experiment eons ago. The magnitude of the threat posed to the multiverse was enough to summon [[Vector Prime]]—one of the original thirteen Transformers, who had been following Unicron through the multiverse and repairing the damage he had done—back to Cybertron to aid the Autobots in the quest for the keys.

After a while, the Autobots were able to find the focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], and the keys from [[Velocitron]] and [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Bringing all three together caused the group to be drawn into the consciousness of Primus, who spoke through the three Mini-Cons and told his children to "maintain the balance". {{storylink|Trap}}

[[Image:Cyb ep48 starships.jpg|right|thumb|200px|I can see my house from here!]]

Eventually, despite continued attempts by both Megatron and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] to steal the power of the Cyber Planet Keys, the Autobots were able to gather the keys from [[Velocitron]], the [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] and [[Earth]], and brought them and their focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], back to Cybertron. Coupling these three keys with the power of the Matrix, Optimus Prime was able to initiate Primus's transformation from planet mode to robot mode. Communicating with the Autobots through the [[Mini-Con]], [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]], Primus explained that the destruction of Unicron, the embodiment of the force of evil, had unbalanced the universe, and that only he could seal the black hole and restore order—but to do that, the fourth Cyber Planet Key, from [[Gigantion]], the Giant Planet, was required to reconnect Primus's spark with his body and restore his full power. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

[[Image:Cybertron Ark Homecoming.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Eat this, in remembrance of Me.]]

Attempting to retrieve the Omega Lock, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] made a rather pointless attack on Primus, only to be smacked down hard. {{storylink|Balance}} Shortly thereafter, when Primus was in the process of channelling some of his power into holding back the ever-growing black hole, Starscream tried again, plunging into the energy beam and absorbing some of Primus's power into himself. Starscream expanded in size until he was as large as Primus himself, but Primus did not take this slight lightly, as he converted Cybertron's moons into a pair of mace weapons and relentlessly pounded Starscream into submission. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb ep49 primus smiles.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He's pretty happy so long as you don't wake him up while he's napping.]]

Eventually, the Autobots were able to acquire the final key, as well as to reactivate the four ancient ships which had carried the keys to the respective worlds ages ago—the [[Atlantis]], the [[Lemuria (Cybertron)|Lemuria]], the [[Hyperborea]] and the [[Ogygia]]. Primus fused the four ships together to form the [[Ark (Cybertron)|Ark]], and with his powers subsequently restored by all four keys, he channelled all of his power through the Ark as a beam, straight into the heart of the black hole. With a massive blast, the black hole was finally sealed, and Primus transformed back into Cybertron—not Cybertron as it had been, but a new Cybertron, infused with the differing aspects of Velocitron, Jungle Planet, Earth and Gigantion, a true paradise for Transformers and humans alike. {{storylink|End}}
{{-}}

===''Cybertron'' comic===
[[Image:Revelations6-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|pudding]]
While the Autobots were occupied with the quest for the Cyber Planet Keys, Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and [[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] arrived on Cybertron, {{storylink|Balancing Act}} intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]]—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. {{Storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}} Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the Universe conflict by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}}

The Dead Matrix, however, was cast into the heart of the black hole by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], freeing Unicron's spark and allowing it to adopt a new, diminutive physical form. {{storylink|Revelations Part 4}} Unicron participated in the escalating Mini-Con civil war on Cybertron's moons, {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} but when the planet transformed into Primus's robot mode, Unicron fled. His whereabouts are unknown. {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}

{{note|The events in the second paragraph happen concurrently with Primus' transformation in the ''Cybertron'' cartoon, detailed in the section prior.}}

==Shattered Glass==
The idea of Primus, the benevolent Creator, was unknown to the heroic Decepticons until [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], a visitor from the Positive Polarity universes, told them about Him. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} Before long, Cliffjumper's "beliefs" were a subject of derision, especially among the evil Autobots. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

Cliffjumper was eventually vindicated, however, when the [[Nexus Prime]] gestalt members attempted to resurrect a recently-assassinated [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]]. As they applied their powers to the body, they were transported to Primus' presence. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} There they chose for Primus to rebirth them as their original self, with Nexus returning to the battlefield and declaring himself to his enemies as being the "mighty fist of the lord of light". {{storylink|Reunification: Part 6}}

Megatron, meanwhile, received a vision from the other side of the Allspark of a healed Cybertron, before being reborn himself as Galvatron, with Nexus investing him with some of Primus's power by proxy. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 30|Galvatron's TFCC bio}}

==Robot Heroes==
[[Image:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|right|thumb|Screw continuity, I don't see YOU with a Matrix!]]

Primus, considered to be the very first Transformer, created the Matrix of Leadership and personally gave it to Optimus! Wait WHAT?{{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
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==Live-action film series==
The location on Cybertron that is named after Primus is surrounded by the [[Rad Zone]] and [[Uraya]]. {{storylink|Risk}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Legend has it that the original seven Transformers are creations of Primus, though they themselves don't think this. It is not said who started the legend. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|The Fallen Profile}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

The [[Dynasty of Primes|Primes]] ''do'' think they're "children of Primus". But in the long run, everyone is. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 4}}

===IDW ''Dark of the Moon'' comics===
According to legend, when the [[AllSpark]] cube crashed into Cybertron, it gave life to Primus and his descendents, the Primes. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}} Primus was known as the first Cybertronian and, after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] was ended due to [[The Fallen]]'s treachery, left behind his only legacy in [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and, revealed much later, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]Wether this is true; no one can say.. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1}}
{{-}}

==Animated==

In [[universal stream|some parts of the multiverse]], Primus created organic worlds around himself, with the inhabitants eventually becoming robotic lifeforms: these worlds are [[Gobotron]] and [[Robotix|Skalorr]], with a known [[Vector Sigma]] node in the latter. The inhabitants seem unaware of the existence of Primus.

Unicron created [[Unicron#G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers|a body for himself]] in at least one of the Gobotron timelines. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==Aligned continuity==
===''Exodus'' and ''Exiles'' novels===
Primus is generally accepted to exist though his 13 children are considered a myth by [[Jazz (Prime)|some]]. Throughout Cybertron devices carry out his will: the [[AllSpark]] creates the [[protoform]]s in the [[Well of All Sparks]]. The [[Sonic Canyons]] are believed to be his ears, feeding him knowledge of the universe via Vector Sigma, though that is actually beneath [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. And the [[Core]] produces his own physical emanation, [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]].

During the civil war, the AllSpark was ejected into space to keep it out of Decepticon hands, eventually floating into the [[Milky Way]], while the Core was corrupted by the [[Dark Energon]]-imbued [[Plasma energy]] Chamber. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] removed the Chamber, but the damage was done, and the Core had to shut down and reboot to survive. But before leaving, Optimus was bestowed Primus' essence in the form of the Matrix. When the Autobots left Cybertron, the last original Prime [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] remained, stating Vector Sigma would keep him alive. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===War for Cybertron===
Optimus thanked Primus when he managed to defeat [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}}

===Transformers: Prime===

{{spoiler|One Shall Rise, Part 1|October 8, 2011}}

According to legend, at the beginning of time, Unicron and Primus battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Until, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen original Transformers|Thirteen]]: the original Primes. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space. Primus then became one with the core of Cybertron, and brought life to new Cybertronians through the [[Well of All Sparks]]. Optimus Prime would later speak of Unicron as being a physical being that had likely transcended physical form, with Primus presumably being the same. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

{{note|Cybertron is shown to exist before Primus "became one" with it, implying the planet predates him in Prime continuity.}}

==Games==
===Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed===

Faced with the growing threat of the black hole, Primus attempted to obliterate the dark matter before it spread further into the universe. {{storylink|Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed}}

== Retconning the retcon? ==

It's no secret that, after the Unicron Trilogy, ''Universe'' and the Unicron-heavy [[Dreamwave Productions]] comic books, the [[fandom]] at large was generally quite sick of stories revolving around Unicron and Primus. It is likely no coincidence, then, that the major new universes created in western media between then and [[2010]]—those of the [[IDW Publishing]] comic books, the [[live-action film series|live-action movie]] and the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon—all eschewed use of the Primus creation myth. But what does this mean for the status of the retcon that states Primus exists in all universes?

The world of the live-action initially presented the Transformers as creations of the enigmatic [[AllSpark]], with no explicit connection drawn between it and Primus. However, connections soon began to emerge. First, Takara's [[World of the Transformers]] website listed the AllSpark as a [[sacred implement]] alongside other Primus-related talismans such as the Matrix and Vector Sigma. Then, the UK's ''[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers]]'' magazine introduced Unicron in [[Transformers Comic issue 18|its eighteenth issue]], and then in [[Transformers Comic issue 20|#20]], had the Transformers discover huge versions of their own interior workings deep inside Cybertron, in a clear reference to Cybertron being the transforming body of Primus. Primus was first referred to by name in a profile for The Fallen printed by Titan, which noted that legend claimed he was the creator of the first Transformers, and then again in IDW's ''[[Tales of the Fallen]]'' mini-series. At this point, it is clear that Primus does exist in the movie universe, and that the AllSpark is merely the object through which he acts. In 2010, the new ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' continuity family lent further credence to this reading of events by incorporating it into its own storyline.

Much like the movieverse, the world of ''Transformers Animated'' also depicts the source of Transformer life as a mysterious talisman known as the [[AllSpark]], for which no origin has been given. As far as [[authorial intent]] goes, series art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] stated more than once his opinion that Primus does not exist in the ''Animated'' universe [http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1759990650]. The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|''AllSpark Almanac II'']] treads lightly on the matter in seeming honor of Wyatt's wishes, never revealing Cybertron's origins. It does, however, mention a "battle between primordial titans" as one possible origin for the planet, in an obvious allusion to the Unicron/Primus creation story, and repeatedly brings up Primus and many of the concepts associated with him by name when discussing ''other'' universes.

The IDW universe was less clear on the matter. Writer [[Simon Furman]] outright said that the IDW universe would have "no Primus. No Unicron". In accordance with this, the Furman-penned ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]]'', rather than have Transformers swear by Primus, instead had them swear by [[Primacron]], but a monkeywrench was thrown into the works when Primus's name was heard being taken in vain in [[Eric Holmes]]'s [[Megatron Origin issue 4|''Megatron Origin'' #4]]. Furman attempted to justify this on his blog by claiming that this was not ''the'' Primus, but simply "something or someone" called Primus that had existed some point. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/all-this-and-devastation-4/]

With Furman's removal as the primary architect of the IDW universe, things got changed: "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" by [[James Roberts]] refers to a Primus. However, he is not only refered to as a being that Optimus doesn't believe in, he's mentioned in conjunction with two ''other'' gods, [[Mortilus]] and [[Adaptus]], that Optimus also didn't believe in.

Ultimately, there is ''very'' little to say that Primus does not exist in the IDW or ''Animated'' universe, besides the fact that creators involved with those universes do not want to include the character in their stories. After all, just because Primus doesn't ''appear'', or characters are unaware of him, it doesn't mean he doesn't ''exist''. It wouldn't be the only time this has happened: the occupants of the parallel ''[[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' universe were largely ignorant of Primus until a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper from another universe]] mentioned him. It seems quite safe to conclude that, as of this moment, the retcon has not yet itself been retconned... and we kinda hope it isn't, because then some poor sod is going to have rewrite this article from the ground up.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:GodPrimus2.jpg|250px|thumb|The rod god.]]
*'''God Primus''' (2004)
**''Accessories:'' Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields
[[Image:GodPrimus1.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Popemobile, meet Godebago.]]
:Unbeknownst to many Western fans, the first Primus figure was a "[[Lucky Draw figure]]" in Japan, a [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] gold chrome recolored [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Rodimus Prime]] that was given away as a contest prize from the collector book, ''[[Transformers Generations|Transformers Generations Deluxe]]''. Supposedly, only 100 pieces of these lucky draw figures were manufactured.

:As a [[redeco]] of a Rodimus (no doubt inspired by the resemblance of his astral form to Rodimus in the UK comics), Primus transforms into a futuristic truck resembling nothing so much as a Winnebago. Following the trend started by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|the original Optimus Prime toy]], his trailer splits down the middle to transform into a battle station with an extending double-barrelled cannon. The figure comes with a large, hand-held blaster, and two blast-shield accessories that plug into the sides of his battle station cannon.

{{-}}{{anchor|CybG1}}
*'''Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''00'''
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:Cybertron Primus toy.jpg|350px|thumb|Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven imag— You know what, just forget it. It's not like we have rules for a reason.]]
:Primus was developed by Hasbro and Takara as a toy for their joint [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron/Galaxy Force'' toylines]], but was released in Japan in the ''Generation 1'' line a few months after ''Galaxy Force'' had ended its run. This release can be considered a pre-release of the ''Cybertron'' toy because it features Hasbro's [[Cyber Key Codes]] that the ''Galaxy Force'' line lacked.

:Primus is the first toy representation of the Transformers' creator as their home planet of Cybertron. In planet mode, he is considerably more detailed than [[Unicron]] from the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' line]], with visible cities, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], based upon its appearance in the [[DK Publishing]] book, ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', and [[Kaon]], specifically [[Kolkular]], as seen in ''[[The War Within]]''. On the 'bottom' of the planet mode there are four hard rubber legs, molded to be shaped like towers, allowing Primus to be displayed in planet mode, yet not require a flat base as Unicron did.

:Primus's transformation is unusual, in many ways similar to a [[Powermaster]], in that he requires the owner to insert his accompanying Omega Lock accessory into several special ports around the planet, then manipulate it to unlock his parts and transform him. When the Omega Lock is inserted into his back and pushed, a transforming sound is heard. When it is inserted into his chest and pushed up to reveal his head, his eyes glow red and a laser-type sound effect is heard. The Lock itself lights up red when it is inserted into any of the ports.

:In robot mode, Primus resembles both the ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' Unicron prototype as well as [[Don Figueroa]]'s Primus concept, created for ''The War Within'' and used in ''The Ultimate Guide''. He is bristling with weaponry, including two shoulder-mounted cannons that can fire missiles, two forearm blasters that raise and extend when a Cyber Power Key is inserted, and several banks of Gatling guns, lasers and missile launchers in his shins and legs revealed by the Omega Lock.

:Primus also has what might charitably be called a third mode—an intergalactic world-ship, which is basically formed by transforming the figure halfway and leaving the head down and the legs backward. It features no dedicated parts or transformation steps, making it very obvious that it was created after the fact. It looks kinda like The Starship Enterprise...backwards.

:Primus comes with two accessories, the aforementioned battery-operated Omega Lock that lights up red when inserted into any of the four Omega Lock ports, and a special silver Cybertron-Planet Cyber Power Key with the key code '''sp8u''' [[tampograph]]ed onto the back. Any four Cyber Planet Keys can be inserted into the four key slots at the base of the Omega Lock, though doing this does not activate any feature. There are also nine inactive Mini-Con [[powerlinx]] ports on the Primus figure, including two on the claws on his legs.
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===Cybertron===
*'''Cybertron Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:CybertronPrimusPackagingComparison.jpg|right|280px|thumb|This was an expensive time for completists.]]
:Cybertron Primus is the North American version of Primus, released a few months after the Japanese version. The toys are identical.

:In North America, limited early-run versions of Cybertron Primus came packaged with a very creepy "battle damaged" Unicron head based upon his Armada appearance.

:A later version, [[exclusive]] to [[Walmart]] as a [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] 2006 special, included four Mini-Cons; [[Strongarm (Cybertron)|Strongarm]], [[Knockdown (Cybertron)|Knockdown]], [[Nightscream (Cybertron)|Nightscream]], and [[Offshoot (Cybertron)|Offshoot]].
{{-}}

===Transformers 2010===
[[Image:Primus_2010.jpg|250px|thumb|Oh. Your. God.]]
*'''Creator Primus''' (2010)
**''Accessories:''
:To celebrate the year [[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]], Takara [[redeco]]ed the previous Primus toy. It is primarily silver and gold in planet mode, with blue robot parts. A blue [[Omega Lock]] is also included.
:Primus includes the retooled Cybertron style Cyber Key which was originally available with both [[:Image:Cybertron OptimusPrime deluxe toy.jpg|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Optimus Prime]] and [[:Image:Cybertron-toy Demolishor.JPG|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Demolisher]]. The Cyber Key features a "blank" central area (so any faction symbol could be tampographed on) and a Mini-Con-style Powerlinx socket on the back. The Cyber Key included with this figure is entirely unpainted, aside from the tampographed Autobot symbol.
{{-}}

==Notes==
* The original form of Primus in Marvel Comic continuity is similar to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]]. Rather creepily, this is suggested to be down to deliberate action on Primus' part in [[Salvage!|#160's Grim Grams]].
* The myth of Primus and Unicron is similar to the duality concepts present in numerous real-world religions, such as [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]].
*The idea of Primus transforming bears some resemblance to an [[The Secret of Cybertron|early script]] for [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original movie]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] merges with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and transforms into a super robot to defeat Unicron.
*The "unique digital entity" mentioned in "[[First Encounter]]" is confirmed to be Primus in an edition of [[Ask Vector Prime]] in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]''.
*According to the same source, [[Gobotron]], home planet of the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], is also an aspect of Primus, just from a very distant part of the [[Multiverse]].
*''Energon'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20041207164548/www.tfpulp.com/archive/energonprod/energonprod.html pre-production notes] detail early ideas the cartoon had for Primus's origin. Presumably non-canon, given that they are not particularly in-line with the "multiversal singularity" origin of the character, they present Primus as an entity consisting purely of energon. Energon, the notes state, is the product of the "genetic material" of the sun interacting with planetary bodies—this, then, appears to be a very literal interpretation of Primus's role as "[[Transformers: The Facts|the lord of light]]", presenting him as an actual product of the light of the sun.
*His ''Cybertron'' toy was designed by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], which is ironic, considering his dislike for the religious aspects of the ''Transformers'' mythos.
*The word "Primus" is Latin for "First."

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Primus''' (プライマス ''Puraimasu'')

==See also==
*[[Allspark]]
*[[Vector Sigma]]

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2006/Primus/Primus/primus.htm Primus at TFU.info]

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Primus

2011-10-03T04:11:36Z

74.99.182.224: /* IDW Revenge of the Fallen comics */

{{factions|autobot}}
[[Image:PrimusG1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''[[Hasbro|They]] call him Gee-Oh-Dee And he the [[Big Daddy (G1)|big daddy]] He look like [[Hot Rod (G1)|me]] But he more [[Facial hair|beardie]]'']]
'''Primus''' is the creator-god of the [[Transformer]]s. An ancient and ethereal being whose origins date back to the beginnings of the universe itself, Primus is a multiversal force for good, his life force existing across multiple realities and infinite alternate universes. In each one, he is the final defense against his fallen sibling, [[Unicron]] the Chaos-Bringer.

Primus eventually transformed himself into the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]; from its surface, his creations have risen to defend and patrol the galaxy. Within the depths of Cybertron, the mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]] serves as his internal mainframe, and a gateway for select Transformers to access his power. A portion of his lifeforce resides within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], which often determines the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Prophecies of a war to come were written down in his [[Covenant of Primus|holy covenant]] as well. The [[spark]] of each Transformer is a small piece of Primus's essence, and together they form his lifeforce, the [[Allspark]].

Though wise and powerful beyond measure, Primus is neither infallible nor without weakness. At times he has [[Out of Time!|been deceived by mere mortals]], and has made [[The Sun|miscalculations]] which [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|jeopardized all of existence]], and has been betrayed by one of his [[The Fallen|earliest creations]]. Indeed, even the intended agents of his grand plan, the Transformers, have all too frequently become mired in endless civil war. Still, in [[Withered Hope|most realities]] he has [[Wreckers: Finale Part II|managed to hold the line]] against Unicron and other threats, either directly or through his innumerable children, the Transformers.

{{quote|Until all are one!|Primus to his children|"[[Trap]]"}}

==In the beginning==
[[Image:Primus original.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Hold the sword and say, "I am the Protector of the Universe!"]]
Before the dawn of time, Order and Chaos existed within an extradimensional entity known as [[The One]]. To explore the fledgling universe, he created the astral being known as [[Unicron]], and then subdivided him, creating his twin, Primus. Both brothers were [[Multiversal singularity|multiversal singularities]], unique in all realities, but whereas Unicron could only exist in one dimension at a time, moving between them at will, Primus existed simultaneously in all realities at once. It is suggested, in fact, that the two brothers embody the basic concepts of reality—good and evil, order and chaos—and that their continued existence is necessary for the stability of the multiverse.

[[Image:Primusoriginal.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is [[FIRRIB| ''blue''!"]]]]
As Unicron and Primus went about their appointed task, venturing through the cosmos, it became apparent to Primus that Unicron was a corrupt being, and he took it upon himself to stop the threat posed to all of existence by his sibling. In combat, Primus was no match for Unicron. In cunning, however, he proved himself to his brother's superior when he shifted their battle to the astral plane, and then back to the physical world once more, only to have both their essences manifest within metallic planetoids, leaving them both trapped. It was with this act of sacrifice that Primus hoped to contain Unicron's evil forever. Unfortunately for him, over time, Unicron learned to psionically shape his prison into a giant metallic planet, and Primus followed suit, becoming the mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When Unicron then learned to transform his planetary form even further, into a gigantic robot form, Primus adapted the idea to suit his own ends—rather than transforming his own body, he would create small beings that would be able to change their shape, like Unicron. After performing a "test run" on the moon of [[Protos]], where he successfully created [[Covenant|twelve transforming robotic beings]], {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Covenant}} he birthed from his own body a group of thirteen robots that possessed the ability to change shape, like Unicron. These were the [[thirteen original Transformers]], each one infused with a fragment of Primus's life essence known as a [[spark]].

The Thirteen were Primus's soldiers in his war with Unicron, which came to its seeming end during a climactic battle in which one of the Thirteen, Megatronus Prime, who would forever afterwards be known as the [[The Fallen|Fallen]], betrayed Primus and became an acolyte of Unicron. The battle ended when the Fallen and Unicron were sucked into a black hole and disappeared from reality. With Unicron gone for now, Primus entered an eons-long slumber, his self-imposed sleep preventing Unicron from detecting him through the mental link the brothers shared. The Transformer race grew, and Primus fell into the realm of legend, with a portion of his power, the [[Matrix of Leadership]], handed down through the generations, serving as the Transformers' ever-present link to their creator.

===Evolution of the Primus/Unicron myth===
''The Primus/Unicron backstory has evolved and been rewritten a good number of times since it first originated in the [[Marvel Comics]] series. The version recounted above is the current iteration, which has slowly solidified across a wide swath of media (beginning around the time of [[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]). Before the Primus/Unicron mythos reached its present form it went through several distinct versions in the Marvel G1 comics and elsewhere.''

====Unicron's story====
''The first time we ever heard the Primus/Unicron backstory was in the UK comic continuity, from Unicron himself, in the story "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", when he recounted it to [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]. Per Unicron's telling of events, he was a primal force of evil at the dawn of the universe who led an army of [[Dark God]]s against his mortal foe, Primus, Lord of the [[Light God]]s (note the plural). Events proceeded to play out basically as described above, though the role of the Light and Dark Gods would diminish with each subsequent retelling of the story, until the current version, in which Primus and Unicron are alone and have a unique origin. (Only one of the other gods was ever named—the [[Chronarchitect]]. How exactly he factors into the current iteration of the myth is unknown.)''

====The Keeper's story====
''The second time the story was told was in the US book by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]], an ancient mechanoid who guarded Primus's head at the center of Cybertron. This telling is effectively the same as the previous UK story, but mentions that their battle was towards the end of the era of gods, that Primus and Unicron were the last of their respective pantheons, and Primus had to defeat Unicron before he could take his place with the other gods in the "[[Omniversal Matrix]]".''

====Primus's story====
''The third time the story was told was also in the US Marvel series, this time by Primus, when he gathered all his children together to prepare for Unicron's coming. It was with this telling that we learned that Unicron predated the [[universe (universe)|current universe]], and had destroyed the [[old realms|previous universe]] which existed before the current one. He had slept peacefully, alone in the [[void]] of uncreation that remained, until fragments of the old universe that he had overlooked reacted, causing the Big Bang and birthing the current universe. The "sentient core" of this new universe recognized the threat that Unicron posed, and so created Primus to counter his evil and be guardian of the new creation.''

====Fleer and DK====
[[Image:WarWithinPrimus.jpg|left|150px|thumb|I feel prickly...]]
''The first modern retelling of the origins of Primus and Unicron did not come from G1-oriented media, but from a set of ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer. It was the backstory printed on Unicron's card which introduced the concept of the two being brothers created to explore the new universe by an extradimensional entity, here named the "[[Allspark]]."''

''This was subsequently expanded on and combined with aspects of the various Marvel Comics stories in [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]], published by Dorling Kindersley and written by [[Simon Furman]], who had written all three prior tellings in the first place. Here, the entity Fleer had called the "Allspark" was redubbed "[[The One]]," and the modern iteration of the myth detailed above was firmly established, and went on to form the backbone of subsequent fiction such as ''[[Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]]' ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics.''

''It was also at this point that it was established that Primus could transform from Cybertron into a robot mode like Unicron, but preferred not to, choosing to remain connected to the universe on a planetary level.''
{{-}}

==Generation 1==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Primalscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|KHHHHHAAAAANNNNN!]]
Eventually, millions of years later, in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|one universe]] located in the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Primax cluster]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] found themselves transported to the center of Cybertron, where they discovered the sleeping form of Primus {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}} and were told the tale of his and the Transformers' origins by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]]. Subsequently, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s [[Pretender]]s attacked, and during the battle, a laser blast ricocheted off Grimlock and struck the essence of the sleeping Primus, causing a universe-shaking "Primal Scream" that alerted Unicron (who was located "outside the fringes of known space") to Primus's location. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} Primus himself immediately slipped back into his sleep, but it was too late. Unicron was coming. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}}

{{note|Later, in "[[Vector Prime: In the Beginning]]", this event would be presented in a greater context, with the Primal Scream being heard multiversally, and awakening Unicron from his own slumber as well.}}

[[Image:OutofTime-wakePrimus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Have you tried crashing cymbals together?]]

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] sent teams of Autobots to retrieve the lost [[Creation Matrix]], the container of Primus' essence that could destroy Unicron, he communed with the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s [[:Image:Arkaltar.jpg|Altar to Primus]]. Reaching out his mind to the Creation Matrix, the altar gave him a vision of a Matrix that had been tainted by evil. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}}

Unicron dispatched a group of [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|heralds]] to attack Cybertron and pave the way for his coming, including a [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] plucked from an [[Rhythms of Darkness!|alternate future]]. Galvatron, however, was not content to serve under Unicron, and instead captured Autobot leader [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], forcing him to fully awaken Primus, who possessed Xaaron's body and summoned Transformers from all across the universe back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Here, Primus spoke through Xaaron, telling the Transformers of his history with Unicron. Additionally, Primus chose Optimus Prime to lead both factions, united, against the Chaos Bringer. Primus knew this would draw out the [[Unicron cultist]]s among them, and Autobot and Decepticon were able to put aside their differences to defeat them. When Optimus Prime learned of Primus' ruse, his suspicions regarding his Creator's motives began to grow. Optimus wondered if the Transformers meant anything to Primus beyond being a means to an end. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:OntheEdgeofExtinction-Primus.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Now you're like me.]]

Though their battle against the Unicron cultists did temporarily unite both factions, this facade shattered once the Planet-Eater arrived. Sheer terror prevented them from carrying out his desire, and the Transformers fled despite Primus' pleas. Primus instead made a stand himself, attempting to dupe Unicron into believing he still retained his full power, but Unicron saw through the deception, and destroyed Xaaron's body. Optimus Prime came to a realization, following Primus' destruction and his retrieval of the lost and contaminated Creation Matrix, that Primus did not mean only for the Transformers to fight his battles for him, but to carry on after he was gone. Flying into space with the Matrix, Prime unleashed the full measure of Primus's power, destroying Unicron. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

Though the Transformers were technically victorious, this victory came with a price. With Primus dead, and with the grievous wounds inflicted on Cybertron itself, the planet threatened to come apart. The Transformers made plans to flee it. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Ultimately, this was averted by the [[Last Autobot]], who put into motion the planet's recovery, allowing the Autobots, who had finally won the civil war, to return to their home. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

{{note|As originally written, it is quite clear that the story intends for Primus to have died after his battle with Unicron. As the current retcon makes it clear that this cannot possibly be, one must assume that Prime was wrong in his analysis that Primus had died. Notably, even in the original comics themselves, the Matrix—the life-force of Primus—is shown to still exist and is functioning fine in the G2 Marvel Comics series that follows his supposed death.}}
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====''Classics''====
The Last Autobot created a race of tiny beings, [[Mini-Con]]s, to rebuild and restore Cybertron so that it would be ready for the Autobots' return. Part of the Mini-Cons' job was to excise certain evolutionary throwbacks, remnants of Primus' earlier experiments, such as the [[Mutant (G1)|Mutant]]s, and this alarmed one Mini-Con. He suspected that one day that Primus would consider the Mini-Cons surplus to requirements as well, and he instigated an insurgency against their Creator and his followers. {{storylink|The New World}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
{{note|Primus did not exist in the American [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] as it was originally written, since it was produced long before the [[retcon]] which established him to be a multiversal singularity. Precisely how Primus should then fit into the framework of the cartoon has not been explicitly established, although the [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comic'']]'' offered one attempt for its continuity (see "Beast Era", below). Primus was, however, explicitly and thoroughly retconned into being part of the expanded universe of the ''Japanese'' cartoon continuity by the [[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]] fiction of 2007, as part of a complicated process that folded various animated concepts—[[Oracle (G1)|Primacron's assistant]], [[Vector Sigma]] and the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]]—into the Primus myth.}}
[[Image:TGGPrimus.jpg|left|220px|thumb|Now you need to get this toy.]]

Formerly the assistant to the Primacron, the ancient genius who created the giant mechanoid Unicron, the robotic being known as the Oracle was badly damaged when Unicron rebelled against his creator. His essence fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which he used his powers to transform into a verdant, green planet. However, the Oracle could sense that in the future, Primacron would go on to create another universal danger in the form of Tornedron, and so summoned a group of [[Primitive]] Transformers back through time from the year 2010 to his planet, where he instructed them in how to destroy the threat. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}/{{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}

[[Image:TGGPrimus2.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Primus = Oracle = Vector Sigma = Primacron's Assistant = aaaargh.]]

Later in his life, the Oracle also reached through time when he discovered that the evil [[Sparkbot]]s were attempted to recreate Unicron following the planet-eater's destruction in the year 2005. By this stage calling himself "Primus", the Oracle attempted to stop the villains and their unwitting pawns, the human [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]], appearing as a giant golden hand to snatch away the fragments of Unicron's lifeforce each time the Kiss Players recovered them. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #45-46}} Unfortunately, this merely led the Kiss Players to pursue him through the timestream and resulted in them crashing into the "[[Wall of Time]]" and becoming scattered throughout the multiverse. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #47}} Knowing that the Kiss Players were innocent in this whole affair, having been duped by the Sparkbots, the benevolent Primus rescued them from the different regions of time and space they had wound up in, and properly introduced himself, explaining the Sparkbots' treachery. He then took them back in time to prehistoric Earth, arriving just in time to witness the Sparkbots' successful restoration of Unicron to life. Primus transformed once more and unleashed the power of his mobile cannon platform, destroying Unicron's energy and sealing it and the Sparkbots deep within the planet. To ensure that Unicron would never be freed again, he created a mighty guardian, [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], who would watch over it and the Earth. With the battle over, Shaoshao asked about the Kiss Players' future, but Primus did not reply. After sending the Kiss Players back to their home time, Primus transformed into the golden sphere of Vector Sigma and returned to his world to sleep. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48-51}}

Unfortunately for Primus, as he slumbered, his world was eventually discovered by the alien Quintessons, who shackled his powers and used them to both transform the planet into the metallic Cybertron, and to create the races of robots that would eventually become the Transformers. Additionally, the aliens acquired the shell that had held his essence, which became, through unknown means, the talisman that would be known to the Transformers as the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}
{{note|For further information, see [[Vector Sigma]] and [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]].}}

===Beast Era===
====''Tales From the Beast Wars''====
[[Image:Terminus-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Great, now he's going to become the Smoke Monster.]]

Before Primus became Cybertron, he plotted to create robotic life that would ultimately defeat Unicron, but first he needed to do a test run. He created twelve beings, the [[Covenant]], on a small moon named [[Protos]]. These twelve would watch the Transformers from afar and only intervene when necessary.

Their intervention would become necessary when [[Shokaract]] used Unicron's essence, the [[Decepticon Matrix of Conquest]], to conquer the future, threatening the end of all things at an important historical crossroads dubbed Point Omega. Though the Covenant's ranks were halved in the battle against Shokaract on prehistoric Earth during the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], they were ultimately able to discover a way to defeat Shokaract and his Unicron-fueled power. The remaining Covenant members returned to their original Primus-spawned energy forms and entered Shokaract's Matrix of Conquest. Reconstituting as an astral form of Primus, they severed Unicron's link with Shokaract, leaving him vulnerable to attack. {{storylink|Terminus}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
In addition to its occasional invocation in prayer or in righteous anger by the Beast Warriors {{storylink|Bad Spark}}, Primus's name was also lent to a set of prophetical datatrax, known as the [[Covenant of Primus]]. From this document, the [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] of this era took his name (as did, presumably, the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]), and the scriptures foretold the events which completed the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

====''Universe''====
{{Note|The [[3H Productions]] ''Wreckers'' comic was the first attempt by official fiction to detail how the Quintesson-born origin of the Generation 1 cartoon could be reconciled with the Primus creation myth from the comic books. Set concurrently with the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon, it only ''strictly'' applies to the continuity of the Beast Era, which is not explicitly the same universe as the Generation 1 cartoon itself.}}

Dispatched to an ice world in the far reaches of the galaxy by the orders of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], [[Primal Prime]]'s [[Wrecker]]s encountered the exiled [[Quintesson]] known as [[Al-Badur]], who revealed to them the full extent of his race's connection to Cybertron and Primus. Al-Badur explained that, millions of years ago, the Quintessons sought to exploit the power of Primus for profit, and to that end, invaded Cybertron and set up numerous barriers to separate Primus from the Transformers. Their first attempt, the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], met with failure; next, the Quintessons targeted Vector Sigma itself, surrounding it with a shell program that acted as a barrier between the Transformers and the power and guidance of Primus. {{storylink|Disclosure}} Realizing that the Oracle itself was the Quintessons' shell program, Primal Prime began to fear that all that had come about as a result of its guidance—including [[Optimus Primal]]'s mission to restore a techno-organic balance to Cybertron—was all part of a Quintesson plot, but [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] assured him that Primus worked in mysterious ways.

The Wreckers soon returned to Cybertron, discovering that in their absence, Optimus Primal had achieved his goal of recreating the planet as a technorganic world. In the wake of this overwhelming transformation, the Quintessons had invaded the planet, but they were not the only threat to Cybertron's safety: The Wreckers were also faced with [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], who had used the legendary [[Divine Light]] to tap into the power of Primus and transform himself into a living god. During the course of the battle that ensued, Primal Prime and [[Apelinq]] were struck by a blast of Primus's power by Cryotek, which wound up merging them into [[Sentinel Maximus]]. At Al-Badur's direction, Sentinel Maximus steered the battle to an interdimensional portal chamber far below the planet's surface, where [[Matrix Templar]]s [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] began draining Primus's power out of Cryotek. To stop them, Cryotek shattered the Divine Light and absorbed Primus's energies directly into himself, where they could not drain it, but as he grappled with Sentinel Maximus, the fused Autobot forced them both through the portal, into a [[transwarp|shapeless interdimensional void]]. Although unable to drain Primus's power any further, Cryotek was sustained in the void by the power he had absorbed, and he was ready to carry on the battle until Primus himself—now unshackled thanks to the destruction of the Oracle in the final stages of Optimus Primal's quest—took an active hand, spiriting Sentinel Maximus away to partake in [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|another battle]] elsewhere in the multiverse.

While all of this was happening on Cybertron, elsewhere in the universe, on [[New Quintessa]], Primus briefly possessed the body of [[Icebird]] so that he could address the Quintesson leader [[Judge Heirodyus]]. Primus shocked the Quintesson by revealing that he had allowed all that had transpired to occur, and he "thanked" Heirodyus for his race's role in the scheme, promising to call upon them again if he ever needed an "evolutionary crisis" to drive his children forward. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:TFUPrimus.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Alpha, Rita's escaped! Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude!]]
In the wake of the repulsion of the Quintesson invasion, [[Unicron]] began gathering Transformers from across the multiverse, forcing them to fight and harvesting the [[spark]]s of the losers to restore his power. With each spark devoured, Primus was weakened, and so, communing with Alpha Trion, he chose to summon Optimus Primal back from the Allspark, restoring the Maximal commander to life. {{storylink|Abduction}} Primal was charged with re-securing the battling captives from the Pit of Unicron and leading a team of multiversal warriors to put a stop to this soul-stealing scheme before it could cause the Allspark to collapse. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Primus allowed Optimus Primal to choose any Transformer who ever existed—living or dead—for his army. This required considerable amounts of Primus's power, so Primal was told to choose sparingly. Primal chose his departed former troops [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}} Ultimately, however, Unicron's defeat came not as a result of their efforts, but as a consequence of another battle, happening in another corner of the Transformers multiverse. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM comic===
[[Image:UniverseCDROM-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|In the future, Primals will travel on beams of light!]]

In a strange variant universe where [[Optimus Primal]] leads the [[Autobot]]s and [[Reptilion]] leads the [[Decepticon]]s, a ship arrives once a year, when the Transformers' civil war reaches a fever pitch. The ship abducts every Decepticon it can find and promptly leaves.

These Decepticons are brought to Unicron, who is preparing them for an eventual, ultimate battle for the universe. But unknown to even Unicron, Primus, the sentient core of Cybertron, is amassing an army of Autobots that rivals Unicron's army of Decepticons. Can Primus meet Unicron's challenge, or is the universe doomed? {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===

Before the war, in a discussion with the religious [[Springarm]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] said he wasn't convinced Primus, [[Mortilus]], and [[Adaptus]] actually existed. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
{{cleanup|April 2009|Needs storylinks and general expansion.}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
A "unique digital entity" came to exist eons ago. To search for other life in the universe, it sent out the Transformers as explorers. One of the first places the Transformers settled was on a planet that would eventually become known as Cybertron. {{storylink|First Encounter}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ron Halder]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Johan Hedenberg]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Primus eng.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Primus mistakes Kicker for a Japanese schoolgirl.]]
Primus was the living energy core of Cybertron, as well as the originator of the precious and ancient fuel, [[Energon (Energon)|energon]]. Transformers of this universe believed the stories of Unicron, Primus, and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] to be only myth and legend until the existence of Unicron was revealed in "[[the Unicron Battles]]" of 2010. With Cybertron left in a disastrous state after the chaos-bringer's attack, large amounts of energon were required to repair the planet, and to search for and acquire the mineral, the united Autobot-Decepticon forces entered into an alliance with the [[Earth Federation]] government.

Primus entered into the equation when the project's head scientist, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], brought his son, [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]], to Cybertron. Terrified of the giant robots surrounding him, Kicker fled, only to find himself tumbling through tunnels into a hidden chamber deep beneath Cybertron's surface. Primus awoke and saved Kicker from what would have been a fatal fall, and for his own reasons, imbued the child with a special gift—the ability to detect energon throughout the [[universe (universe)|universe]]. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] subsequently discovered Kicker in Primus's chamber, and the god chose to work with the Transformers quite directly, imbuing them with the [[Spark of Combination]], which would allow the Autobots to [[Powerlinx]] and increase their powers. Primus went on to advise Optimus Prime on his actions in order to prepare for the future, including the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] invasion, the return of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], and the next battle with Unicron; although vague at times, he would offer just enough information to allow his children to survive the threats they faced. Primus was often very weak due to the damage done to the planet's surface, and spent most of his time in a mode of stasis to preserve his energy and keep Cybertron's energy grid online.

When Megatron succeeded in reanimating Unicron, most of the Autobot army was critically wounded in the ensuing battle. This prompted the sleeping Primus to awaken and infuse their armor with his power, upgrading them into new forms, and allowing Optimus Prime and Omega Supreme to combine into a gigantic form and defeat Unicron. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}} Unicron's spark survived, however, and Primus sought to contain it by trapping it at the heart of a new sun that he created from a reservoir of "super energon" hidden within Cybertron. {{storylink|The Sun}}

===''Cybertron'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Donovan]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Cyb ep31 cybertron breakup.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], "[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]." [[wikipedia:Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo|Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron.]]]]

{{bigquote|He who charted the universe when it was new! He who battled Unicron at the dawn of time! He whose spark formed the basis of all life on Cybertron, and Velocitron, and all the other Transformer colonized homeworlds! It can be no other! This... is... Primus!|[[Vector Prime]], religiously intoning Primus' achievements throughout the Multiverse|[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]}}

[[Image:Cyb ep32 balance.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This looks [[Emirate Xaaron|familiar]].]]

Primus's plan to contain Unicron's essence in the center of the sun failed when the star collapsed into a massive [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] which threatened not only Cybertron and the universe, but the entire multiverse itself. His energy drained to the point that he had once again been rendered dormant, Primus could now only be awakened and restored to full power by the four ancient [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, lost to the far reaches of the galaxy in a failed [[space bridge]] experiment eons ago. The magnitude of the threat posed to the multiverse was enough to summon [[Vector Prime]]—one of the original thirteen Transformers, who had been following Unicron through the multiverse and repairing the damage he had done—back to Cybertron to aid the Autobots in the quest for the keys.

After a while, the Autobots were able to find the focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], and the keys from [[Velocitron]] and [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Bringing all three together caused the group to be drawn into the consciousness of Primus, who spoke through the three Mini-Cons and told his children to "maintain the balance". {{storylink|Trap}}

[[Image:Cyb ep48 starships.jpg|right|thumb|200px|I can see my house from here!]]

Eventually, despite continued attempts by both Megatron and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] to steal the power of the Cyber Planet Keys, the Autobots were able to gather the keys from [[Velocitron]], the [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] and [[Earth]], and brought them and their focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], back to Cybertron. Coupling these three keys with the power of the Matrix, Optimus Prime was able to initiate Primus's transformation from planet mode to robot mode. Communicating with the Autobots through the [[Mini-Con]], [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]], Primus explained that the destruction of Unicron, the embodiment of the force of evil, had unbalanced the universe, and that only he could seal the black hole and restore order—but to do that, the fourth Cyber Planet Key, from [[Gigantion]], the Giant Planet, was required to reconnect Primus's spark with his body and restore his full power. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

[[Image:Cybertron Ark Homecoming.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Eat this, in remembrance of Me.]]

Attempting to retrieve the Omega Lock, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] made a rather pointless attack on Primus, only to be smacked down hard. {{storylink|Balance}} Shortly thereafter, when Primus was in the process of channelling some of his power into holding back the ever-growing black hole, Starscream tried again, plunging into the energy beam and absorbing some of Primus's power into himself. Starscream expanded in size until he was as large as Primus himself, but Primus did not take this slight lightly, as he converted Cybertron's moons into a pair of mace weapons and relentlessly pounded Starscream into submission. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb ep49 primus smiles.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He's pretty happy so long as you don't wake him up while he's napping.]]

Eventually, the Autobots were able to acquire the final key, as well as to reactivate the four ancient ships which had carried the keys to the respective worlds ages ago—the [[Atlantis]], the [[Lemuria (Cybertron)|Lemuria]], the [[Hyperborea]] and the [[Ogygia]]. Primus fused the four ships together to form the [[Ark (Cybertron)|Ark]], and with his powers subsequently restored by all four keys, he channelled all of his power through the Ark as a beam, straight into the heart of the black hole. With a massive blast, the black hole was finally sealed, and Primus transformed back into Cybertron—not Cybertron as it had been, but a new Cybertron, infused with the differing aspects of Velocitron, Jungle Planet, Earth and Gigantion, a true paradise for Transformers and humans alike. {{storylink|End}}
{{-}}

===''Cybertron'' comic===
[[Image:Revelations6-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|pudding]]
While the Autobots were occupied with the quest for the Cyber Planet Keys, Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and [[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] arrived on Cybertron, {{storylink|Balancing Act}} intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]]—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. {{Storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}} Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the Universe conflict by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}}

The Dead Matrix, however, was cast into the heart of the black hole by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], freeing Unicron's spark and allowing it to adopt a new, diminutive physical form. {{storylink|Revelations Part 4}} Unicron participated in the escalating Mini-Con civil war on Cybertron's moons, {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} but when the planet transformed into Primus's robot mode, Unicron fled. His whereabouts are unknown. {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}

{{note|The events in the second paragraph happen concurrently with Primus' transformation in the ''Cybertron'' cartoon, detailed in the section prior.}}

==Shattered Glass==
The idea of Primus, the benevolent Creator, was unknown to the heroic Decepticons until [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], a visitor from the Positive Polarity universes, told them about Him. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} Before long, Cliffjumper's "beliefs" were a subject of derision, especially among the evil Autobots. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

Cliffjumper was eventually vindicated, however, when the [[Nexus Prime]] gestalt members attempted to resurrect a recently-assassinated [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]]. As they applied their powers to the body, they were transported to Primus' presence. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} There they chose for Primus to rebirth them as their original self, with Nexus returning to the battlefield and declaring himself to his enemies as being the "mighty fist of the lord of light". {{storylink|Reunification: Part 6}}

Megatron, meanwhile, received a vision from the other side of the Allspark of a healed Cybertron, before being reborn himself as Galvatron, with Nexus investing him with some of Primus's power by proxy. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 30|Galvatron's TFCC bio}}

==Robot Heroes==
[[Image:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|right|thumb|Screw continuity, I don't see YOU with a Matrix!]]

Primus, considered to be the very first Transformer, created the Matrix of Leadership and personally gave it to Optimus! Wait WHAT?{{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

==Live-action film series==
The location on Cybertron that is named after Primus is surrounded by the [[Rad Zone]] and [[Uraya]]. {{storylink|Risk}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Legend has it that the original seven Transformers are creations of Primus, though they themselves don't think this. It is not said who started the legend. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|The Fallen Profile}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

The [[Dynasty of Primes|Primes]] ''do'' think they're "children of Primus". But in the long run, everyone is. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 4}}

===IDW ''Dark of the Moon'' comics===
According to legend, when the [[AllSpark]] cube crashed into Cybertron, it gave life to Primus and his descendents, the Primes. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}} Primus was known as the first Cybertronian and, after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] was ended due to [[The Fallen]]'s treachery, left behind his only legacy in [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and, revealed much later, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1}}
{{-}}

==Animated==

In [[universal stream|some parts of the multiverse]], Primus created organic worlds around himself, with the inhabitants eventually becoming robotic lifeforms: these worlds are [[Gobotron]] and [[Robotix|Skalorr]], with a known [[Vector Sigma]] node in the latter. The inhabitants seem unaware of the existence of Primus.

Unicron created [[Unicron#G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers|a body for himself]] in at least one of the Gobotron timelines. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==Aligned continuity==
===''Exodus'' and ''Exiles'' novels===
Primus is generally accepted to exist though his 13 children are considered a myth by [[Jazz (Prime)|some]]. Throughout Cybertron devices carry out his will: the [[AllSpark]] creates the [[protoform]]s in the [[Well of All Sparks]]. The [[Sonic Canyons]] are believed to be his ears, feeding him knowledge of the universe via Vector Sigma, though that is actually beneath [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. And the [[Core]] produces his own physical emanation, [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]].

During the civil war, the AllSpark was ejected into space to keep it out of Decepticon hands, eventually floating into the [[Milky Way]], while the Core was corrupted by the [[Dark Energon]]-imbued [[Plasma energy]] Chamber. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] removed the Chamber, but the damage was done, and the Core had to shut down and reboot to survive. But before leaving, Optimus was bestowed Primus' essence in the form of the Matrix. When the Autobots left Cybertron, the last original Prime [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] remained, stating Vector Sigma would keep him alive. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===War for Cybertron===
Optimus thanked Primus when he managed to defeat [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}}

===Transformers: Prime===

{{spoiler|One Shall Rise, Part 1|October 8, 2011}}

According to legend, at the beginning of time, Unicron and Primus battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Until, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen original Transformers|Thirteen]]: the original Primes. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space. Primus then became one with the core of Cybertron, and brought life to new Cybertronians through the [[Well of All Sparks]]. Optimus Prime would later speak of Unicron as being a physical being that had likely transcended physical form, with Primus presumably being the same. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

{{note|Cybertron is shown to exist before Primus "became one" with it, implying the planet predates him in Prime continuity.}}

==Games==
===Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed===

Faced with the growing threat of the black hole, Primus attempted to obliterate the dark matter before it spread further into the universe. {{storylink|Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed}}

== Retconning the retcon? ==

It's no secret that, after the Unicron Trilogy, ''Universe'' and the Unicron-heavy [[Dreamwave Productions]] comic books, the [[fandom]] at large was generally quite sick of stories revolving around Unicron and Primus. It is likely no coincidence, then, that the major new universes created in western media between then and [[2010]]—those of the [[IDW Publishing]] comic books, the [[live-action film series|live-action movie]] and the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon—all eschewed use of the Primus creation myth. But what does this mean for the status of the retcon that states Primus exists in all universes?

The world of the live-action initially presented the Transformers as creations of the enigmatic [[AllSpark]], with no explicit connection drawn between it and Primus. However, connections soon began to emerge. First, Takara's [[World of the Transformers]] website listed the AllSpark as a [[sacred implement]] alongside other Primus-related talismans such as the Matrix and Vector Sigma. Then, the UK's ''[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers]]'' magazine introduced Unicron in [[Transformers Comic issue 18|its eighteenth issue]], and then in [[Transformers Comic issue 20|#20]], had the Transformers discover huge versions of their own interior workings deep inside Cybertron, in a clear reference to Cybertron being the transforming body of Primus. Primus was first referred to by name in a profile for The Fallen printed by Titan, which noted that legend claimed he was the creator of the first Transformers, and then again in IDW's ''[[Tales of the Fallen]]'' mini-series. At this point, it is clear that Primus does exist in the movie universe, and that the AllSpark is merely the object through which he acts. In 2010, the new ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' continuity family lent further credence to this reading of events by incorporating it into its own storyline.

Much like the movieverse, the world of ''Transformers Animated'' also depicts the source of Transformer life as a mysterious talisman known as the [[AllSpark]], for which no origin has been given. As far as [[authorial intent]] goes, series art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] stated more than once his opinion that Primus does not exist in the ''Animated'' universe [http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1759990650]. The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|''AllSpark Almanac II'']] treads lightly on the matter in seeming honor of Wyatt's wishes, never revealing Cybertron's origins. It does, however, mention a "battle between primordial titans" as one possible origin for the planet, in an obvious allusion to the Unicron/Primus creation story, and repeatedly brings up Primus and many of the concepts associated with him by name when discussing ''other'' universes.

The IDW universe was less clear on the matter. Writer [[Simon Furman]] outright said that the IDW universe would have "no Primus. No Unicron". In accordance with this, the Furman-penned ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]]'', rather than have Transformers swear by Primus, instead had them swear by [[Primacron]], but a monkeywrench was thrown into the works when Primus's name was heard being taken in vain in [[Eric Holmes]]'s [[Megatron Origin issue 4|''Megatron Origin'' #4]]. Furman attempted to justify this on his blog by claiming that this was not ''the'' Primus, but simply "something or someone" called Primus that had existed some point. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/all-this-and-devastation-4/]

With Furman's removal as the primary architect of the IDW universe, things got changed: "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" by [[James Roberts]] refers to a Primus. However, he is not only refered to as a being that Optimus doesn't believe in, he's mentioned in conjunction with two ''other'' gods, [[Mortilus]] and [[Adaptus]], that Optimus also didn't believe in.

Ultimately, there is ''very'' little to say that Primus does not exist in the IDW or ''Animated'' universe, besides the fact that creators involved with those universes do not want to include the character in their stories. After all, just because Primus doesn't ''appear'', or characters are unaware of him, it doesn't mean he doesn't ''exist''. It wouldn't be the only time this has happened: the occupants of the parallel ''[[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' universe were largely ignorant of Primus until a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper from another universe]] mentioned him. It seems quite safe to conclude that, as of this moment, the retcon has not yet itself been retconned... and we kinda hope it isn't, because then some poor sod is going to have rewrite this article from the ground up.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:GodPrimus2.jpg|250px|thumb|The rod god.]]
*'''God Primus''' (2004)
**''Accessories:'' Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields
[[Image:GodPrimus1.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Popemobile, meet Godebago.]]
:Unbeknownst to many Western fans, the first Primus figure was a "[[Lucky Draw figure]]" in Japan, a [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] gold chrome recolored [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Rodimus Prime]] that was given away as a contest prize from the collector book, ''[[Transformers Generations|Transformers Generations Deluxe]]''. Supposedly, only 100 pieces of these lucky draw figures were manufactured.

:As a [[redeco]] of a Rodimus (no doubt inspired by the resemblance of his astral form to Rodimus in the UK comics), Primus transforms into a futuristic truck resembling nothing so much as a Winnebago. Following the trend started by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|the original Optimus Prime toy]], his trailer splits down the middle to transform into a battle station with an extending double-barrelled cannon. The figure comes with a large, hand-held blaster, and two blast-shield accessories that plug into the sides of his battle station cannon.

{{-}}{{anchor|CybG1}}
*'''Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''00'''
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:Cybertron Primus toy.jpg|350px|thumb|Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven imag— You know what, just forget it. It's not like we have rules for a reason.]]
:Primus was developed by Hasbro and Takara as a toy for their joint [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron/Galaxy Force'' toylines]], but was released in Japan in the ''Generation 1'' line a few months after ''Galaxy Force'' had ended its run. This release can be considered a pre-release of the ''Cybertron'' toy because it features Hasbro's [[Cyber Key Codes]] that the ''Galaxy Force'' line lacked.

:Primus is the first toy representation of the Transformers' creator as their home planet of Cybertron. In planet mode, he is considerably more detailed than [[Unicron]] from the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' line]], with visible cities, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], based upon its appearance in the [[DK Publishing]] book, ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', and [[Kaon]], specifically [[Kolkular]], as seen in ''[[The War Within]]''. On the 'bottom' of the planet mode there are four hard rubber legs, molded to be shaped like towers, allowing Primus to be displayed in planet mode, yet not require a flat base as Unicron did.

:Primus's transformation is unusual, in many ways similar to a [[Powermaster]], in that he requires the owner to insert his accompanying Omega Lock accessory into several special ports around the planet, then manipulate it to unlock his parts and transform him. When the Omega Lock is inserted into his back and pushed, a transforming sound is heard. When it is inserted into his chest and pushed up to reveal his head, his eyes glow red and a laser-type sound effect is heard. The Lock itself lights up red when it is inserted into any of the ports.

:In robot mode, Primus resembles both the ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' Unicron prototype as well as [[Don Figueroa]]'s Primus concept, created for ''The War Within'' and used in ''The Ultimate Guide''. He is bristling with weaponry, including two shoulder-mounted cannons that can fire missiles, two forearm blasters that raise and extend when a Cyber Power Key is inserted, and several banks of Gatling guns, lasers and missile launchers in his shins and legs revealed by the Omega Lock.

:Primus also has what might charitably be called a third mode—an intergalactic world-ship, which is basically formed by transforming the figure halfway and leaving the head down and the legs backward. It features no dedicated parts or transformation steps, making it very obvious that it was created after the fact. It looks kinda like The Starship Enterprise...backwards.

:Primus comes with two accessories, the aforementioned battery-operated Omega Lock that lights up red when inserted into any of the four Omega Lock ports, and a special silver Cybertron-Planet Cyber Power Key with the key code '''sp8u''' [[tampograph]]ed onto the back. Any four Cyber Planet Keys can be inserted into the four key slots at the base of the Omega Lock, though doing this does not activate any feature. There are also nine inactive Mini-Con [[powerlinx]] ports on the Primus figure, including two on the claws on his legs.
{{-}}

===Cybertron===
*'''Cybertron Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:CybertronPrimusPackagingComparison.jpg|right|280px|thumb|This was an expensive time for completists.]]
:Cybertron Primus is the North American version of Primus, released a few months after the Japanese version. The toys are identical.

:In North America, limited early-run versions of Cybertron Primus came packaged with a very creepy "battle damaged" Unicron head based upon his Armada appearance.

:A later version, [[exclusive]] to [[Walmart]] as a [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] 2006 special, included four Mini-Cons; [[Strongarm (Cybertron)|Strongarm]], [[Knockdown (Cybertron)|Knockdown]], [[Nightscream (Cybertron)|Nightscream]], and [[Offshoot (Cybertron)|Offshoot]].
{{-}}

===Transformers 2010===
[[Image:Primus_2010.jpg|250px|thumb|Oh. Your. God.]]
*'''Creator Primus''' (2010)
**''Accessories:''
:To celebrate the year [[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]], Takara [[redeco]]ed the previous Primus toy. It is primarily silver and gold in planet mode, with blue robot parts. A blue [[Omega Lock]] is also included.
:Primus includes the retooled Cybertron style Cyber Key which was originally available with both [[:Image:Cybertron OptimusPrime deluxe toy.jpg|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Optimus Prime]] and [[:Image:Cybertron-toy Demolishor.JPG|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Demolisher]]. The Cyber Key features a "blank" central area (so any faction symbol could be tampographed on) and a Mini-Con-style Powerlinx socket on the back. The Cyber Key included with this figure is entirely unpainted, aside from the tampographed Autobot symbol.
{{-}}

==Notes==
* The original form of Primus in Marvel Comic continuity is similar to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]]. Rather creepily, this is suggested to be down to deliberate action on Primus' part in [[Salvage!|#160's Grim Grams]].
* The myth of Primus and Unicron is similar to the duality concepts present in numerous real-world religions, such as [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]].
*The idea of Primus transforming bears some resemblance to an [[The Secret of Cybertron|early script]] for [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original movie]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] merges with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and transforms into a super robot to defeat Unicron.
*The "unique digital entity" mentioned in "[[First Encounter]]" is confirmed to be Primus in an edition of [[Ask Vector Prime]] in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]''.
*According to the same source, [[Gobotron]], home planet of the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], is also an aspect of Primus, just from a very distant part of the [[Multiverse]].
*''Energon'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20041207164548/www.tfpulp.com/archive/energonprod/energonprod.html pre-production notes] detail early ideas the cartoon had for Primus's origin. Presumably non-canon, given that they are not particularly in-line with the "multiversal singularity" origin of the character, they present Primus as an entity consisting purely of energon. Energon, the notes state, is the product of the "genetic material" of the sun interacting with planetary bodies—this, then, appears to be a very literal interpretation of Primus's role as "[[Transformers: The Facts|the lord of light]]", presenting him as an actual product of the light of the sun.
*His ''Cybertron'' toy was designed by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], which is ironic, considering his dislike for the religious aspects of the ''Transformers'' mythos.
*The word "Primus" is Latin for "First."

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Primus''' (プライマス ''Puraimasu'')

==See also==
*[[Allspark]]
*[[Vector Sigma]]

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2006/Primus/Primus/primus.htm Primus at TFU.info]

[[Category:Contest prizes]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Interjections]]
[[Category:Kiss Players characters]]
[[Category:Prime characters]]
[[Category:Primus| ]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass characters]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart exclusives]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron characters]]

The Transformers: The Movie

2011-10-03T00:25:09Z

74.99.182.224: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Transformers: The Movie}}

{{quote|Conceived in the epic tradition of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]''...|[[Victor Caroli]] ain't just whistling Dixie|[[The Transformers: The Movie promo|''The Transformers: The Movie'' promo]]}}

{{episode|
|seriess=[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]
|prev=B.O.T. (episode)
|next=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1
|seriess2=[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]
|prev2=Scramble City: Mobilization
|title=''The Transformers: The Movie''
|image=Transformersanimatedfilmposter.jpg
|caption=Featuring the [[death]]s of all your favorite Transformers characters.
|production code=
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|writer=[[Ron Friedman]]
|directed by=[[Nelson Shin]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|release date=[[August 8]], [[1986]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''''The Transformers: The Movie''''' is an animated feature film based on the original Transformers toyline. It was released in the United States on Friday, August 8, 1986.

The film's storyline follows the same continuity as the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Transformers]]'' cartoon. It introduces a [[Scale|planet-sized Transformer]] called [[Unicron]] who eats other planets, and is approaching [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. As part of their continuing wars, the Autobots and Decepticons have a [[Battle of Autobot City|fierce battle]] on Earth which sees both Optimus Prime and Megatron mortally wounded. Prime passes the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to Ultra Magnus and dies, and Megatron is transformed by Unicron into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (briefly) assumes leadership of the Decepticons, but is killed when Galvatron arrives at Cybertron. Galvatron then chases the surviving Autobots on Earth across space, splitting them up and taking the Matrix. The Autobots find their way back to each other, and follow Galvatron to Cybertron just as Unicron transforms into robot mode and begins to eat their world. Travelling inside Unicron, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] recovers the Matrix, transforms into Rodimus Prime, and uses the Matrix to destroy Unicron.

Often referred to by fans simply as "the movie" or "TFTM", the movie was a step up in almost every area from the television series, with a more sophisticated plot, more serious treatment of war and violence, a hugely ambitious scope and a greatly increased animation budget with well-known celebrities providing voice work. For these reasons the film remains very popular with children of the 1980s.

The film opens with characters who had been featured in the first two years of the toyline and associated media (cartoons, comic books, etc.), but quickly introduces new characters and kills many of the old ones to make room. In particular, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] are all destroyed during the course of the film.

{{quote|The Japanese have funded a full-length animated cartoon about the doings of these toys, which is all bad outer-space stuff. I play a planet. I menace somebody called Something-or-other. Then I'm destroyed. My plan to destroy Whoever-it-is is thwarted and I tear myself apart on the screen.|Orson Welles<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=KlqsYy512WIC&source=gbs_navlinks_s "Orson Welles: A Biography"] page 522</ref>}}

==Synopsis==
[[Image:TFTM_Unicron_Lithone.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That's no moon, thats a snack!]]

A mechanical planet travels through the depths of space, attacking [[Lithone (planet)|a metal planet]] which has [[Lithone (species)|robotic inhabitants]]. Robots, vehicles, buildings, and even large chunks of rock are sucked off the surface and devoured by the monstrous planet.

It is the year 2005, and the [[Decepticon]]s are now in control of Cybertron. The [[Autobot]]s are preparing to launch an assault to retake the planet from hidden bases on two of Cybertron's moons. The Autobots launch a [[Autobot shuttle|shuttle]] to pick up a final shipment of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] from [[Earth]] before they strike.

[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I have a bad feeling about this.]]

Plans for the attack are overheard by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who reports back to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. The Decepticons attack the Autobot shuttle en route to Earth, wiping out its crew (including [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]). Using the Autobots' own shuttle, the Decepticons are able to get very close to the Autobots' base on Earth, [[Autobot City]], before they are detected, and begin a devastating surprise attack on the unprepared city.

During the battle at Autobot City, both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and Megatron suffer mortal injuries, and a number of others are also killed. Eventually the Decepticons retreat, but the damage suffered by the Autobots has been severe.

{{note|For an extensive synopsis of the battle, see [[Battle of Autobot City]].}}

[[Image:Tftm1986b.jpg|left|200px|thumb|If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.]]

Shortly after the battle, Prime lies on his deathbed. He passes the reins of leadership to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and gives him the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. (Though Hot Rod actually touches the Matrix before Magnus does.) Prime relates a prophecy: "One day, an Autobot shall rise from our ranks, and use the power of the Matrix to light our [[darkest hour]]." He then gives the oath, "[['Til all are one]]", and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|dies]]. This sequence of events is observed remotely by Unicron, who appears unusually concerned by the survival of the Matrix.

The Decepticons are making their escape aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], but are too heavy for him to get them all home under his own power. After putting the matter to a fair vote, the Decepticons decide to throw their injured members off the ship to better the chance of survival for the rest. One of the most severely injured Decepticons is Megatron. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] tosses him out and claims leadership of the Decepticon army.

Megatron and the other adrift Decepticons then encounter Unicron in interstellar space. Unicron offers to rebuild Megatron and his minions in exchange for their service. Megatron agrees, and is [[Reformatting|reformatted]] into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. The other Decepticons are turned into [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep]]s. Unicron provides them with a [[Revenge (G1)|ship]], and sends them to kill Ultra Magnus and destroy the Matrix, stating that the Matrix is the only thing which can stand in his way.

[[Image:Tftm1986c.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed.]]
Galvatron first stops at Cybertron to take his revenge by killing Starscream and reclaiming leadership of the Decepticons. Almost immediately afterwards, Unicron arrives in Cybertron's vicinity and devours at least two moons—both of the Autobots' moon bases are destroyed. Under coercion by Unicron, Galvatron finally heads to Earth to kill Ultra Magnus, but Magnus and the other surviving Autobots flee in a pair of shuttles. Eventually Galvatron manages to cause one shuttle to crash on yet another metal planet ([[Quintessa]]), and detonates the other with a volley of missiles. However, the Autobots in the second shuttle escape unnoticed by separating the front portion of their shuttle just before impact.

The Autobots in the crashed shuttle, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], find themselves separated and in a hostile environment. Hot Rod and Kup are captured by a squad of [[Allicon]]s and taken before a [[Quintesson]] [[Quintesson#Judges|judge]] and his court. While being held there, they learn the name and nature of Unicron from [[Kranix]], a survivor of the planet destroyed in the opening of the film, which he calls [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]]. Meanwhile, the Dinobots encounter and befriend a young, wild Autobot named [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] who has been living alone on Quintessa. Together, they crash the trial just as Hot Rod and Kup are fighting losing odds against the Quintessons' [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. The tide is turned, and the Autobots commandeer a [[Quintesson spacecraft#Quintesson_Cruiser|Quintesson Cruiser]].

[[Image:Tftm1986d.jpg|left|200px|thumb|What an incredible smell you've discovered!]]
The other group of Autobots has landed on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to make repairs, but are attacked yet again by Galvatron, who was tipped off to their survival by Unicron. During the battle, Ultra Magnus tries to open the Matrix to use its power, but is unable to do so, and instead is killed. Galvatron absconds with the Matrix, taking it away to Unicron. The remaining Autobots—[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike's]] son [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]]—are then ambushed by [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], the eponymous natives of Junkion, who are also giant transforming robots. This battle is cut short, however, by the arrival of Hot Rod's group in their Quintesson ship. After exchanging the [[universal greeting]] they all make friends, and the Junkions restore Ultra Magnus to life. Together, the whole group travels to Cybertron to try to recover the Matrix.

[[Image:TFTM Unicron smashes cybertron.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rebel base in range. You may fire when ready.]]
Galvatron attempts to open the Matrix to use its power against Unicron, but is also unable to get it open. Unicron, not pleased with this attempted treachery, shocks Galvatron by transforming from a planet into a [[Scale|planet-sized robot]]. Unicron plucks Galvatron off his chest and swallows him, Matrix and all, and then begins attacking Cybertron itself. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] scrambles the Decepticon forces to defend the planet, but they are ineffective against so large an enemy. Shortly the Autobots arrive from Junkion, and fly the Quintesson ship straight through Unicron's eye. This impact destroys the ship, and the Autobots fall out inside Unicron. Hot Rod, separated from the others, eventually runs into Galvatron. During their fight, Hot Rod gets his hands on the Matrix and hears Optimus's voice speak the words, "Arise, Rodimus Prime." Hot Rod grows in stature, adopts a much sterner demeanor, and quickly dispatches Galvatron by tossing him through Unicron's hull out into space. He then opens the Matrix, which fills Unicron with light and begins destroying him.

[[Image:Tftm1986e.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Use the Force, Luke.]]
In the meantime, the other Autobots inside Unicron have located some of their comrades from the moon bases who had been presumed dead, including [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and Daniel's father, Spike. The Autobots, including Rodimus, escape through Unicron's remaining eye just as he begins to fall apart and explode. The scene then immediately shifts to the surface of Cybertron, where—for unclear reasons—the Autobots seem to be in charge again. Rodimus predicts an era of peace and prosperity, and the film closes with a shot of Unicron's severed head still floating in orbit around Cybertron.

[['Til all are one]].
{{-}}

==Quotes==
"Such heroic nonsense."
:—'''Megatron''' coldly finishes off Ironhide. The 'Cons always get the best lines.

"I've got better things to do tonight than die!"
:—'''Springer''', telling it like it is.

"One shall stand. One shall fall."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' uttering the most quoted line of the Movie. An ass kicker cometh.

"You, who are without mercy, now plead for it? I thought you were made of '''''sterner stuff'''''."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s trash talk is actually [http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/sterner-stuff a lot cooler than it sounds]

"Until that day...'til all are one..."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s final words

"Oh, how it ''pains'' me to do this." 
"Wait! I still function!" 
"Wanna ''bet''?"
:—'''Starscream''' fights back the tears as he throws '''Megatron''' out of Astrotrain.

"I have summoned you here for a purpose." 
"Nobody summons Megatron!" 
"Then it pleases me to be the first."
:—'''Unicron''' shows '''Megatron''' who's the boss.

"Who disrupts my coronation?" 
"Coronation, Starscream? This is bad comedy." 
"Megatron? Is that you?" 
"Here's a hint!"
:—'''Galvatron''' drops "hints" for '''Starscream''' like others drop anvils.

"Did we ''have'' to let them detonate three quarters of the ship?" 
"Seeing as how they would have detonated ''four'' quarters, I think it was a good choice."
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Springer'''

"For a time... I considered ''sparing'' your wretched little planet Cybertron. But now... you shall witness... its ''dismemberment''!"
:—'''Unicron''' really needs to work on his anger management skills...

"Me Grimlock kick butt!" 
:—'''Grimlock''' isn't speaking figuratively.

"This is the end of the road, Galvatron!" 
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' Just before tossing Galvatron off Unicron

"Destiny... You cannot... destroy... my... destiny--AAH!!" 
:—'''Unicron''''s final words

"Let this mark the end of the Cybertronian Wars as we march forward into a new era of peace and happiness! 'Til all are one!" 
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' announces the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]... yeah, right.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]/Rodimus Prime ([[Judd Nelson]])
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] ([[Robert Stack]])
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] ([[Lionel Stander]])
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] ([[Susan Blu]])
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] ([[John Moschitta]])
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] ([[Gregg Berger]])
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] ([[Paul Eiding]])
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] ([[Buster Jones]])
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] ([[Scatman Crothers]])
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] ([[Dan Gilvezan]])
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Casey Kasem]])
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] ([[Corey Burton]])
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] ([[Don Messick]])*
*[[Auto-combatant]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Eject]]
*[[Rewind]]
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
*[[Grapple]]
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]** ([[Walker Edmiston]])
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] ([[Leonard Nimoy]])
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] ([[Chris Latta]])
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] ([[Roger C. Carmel]])
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] ([[Stan Jones]])
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] ([[Arthur Burghardt]])
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] ([[Don Messick]])
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] ([[Hal Rayle]])
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] ([[Clive Revill]])
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] ([[Jack Angel]])
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] ([[Corey Burton]])
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] ([[Bud Davis]])
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] ([[Ed Gilbert]])
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Sweep]]s
*[[Cyclonus's Armada]]
|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] ([[Eric Idle]])
*[[Scrapheap (G1)|Scrapheap]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[Rubbish]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[Re-Cycle]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[Trashbin]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[HAZMAT]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[Ashtray]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[Wasteoid Gamma]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
*[[Greasestain]] ([[Michael Bell|Bell]] and/or [[Frank Welker|Welker]])
|h4=Others|c4=
'''[[Human]]s'''
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] ([[Corey Burton]])
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] ([[David Mendenhall]])

'''[[Lithone (species)|Lithones]]'''
*[[Kranix]] ([[Norman Alden|Norm Alden]])
*[[Arblus]] ([[Norman Alden|Norm Alden]])

'''[[Quintesson]]s'''
*[[Quintesson]] leader ([[Roger C. Carmel]])
*[[Quintesson#Judges|Quintesson judge]] ([[Regis Cordic|Rege Cordic]])
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]
*[[Allicon]]s

'''Other'''
*[[Unicron]] ([[Orson Welles]])
|nonumbering=true
}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Credited, but may or may not have appeared.

<nowiki>**</nowiki>Credited, but did not appear.

==Animation errors==
* When Unicron is approaching Lithone at the start of the movie, at the line "Look, it's Unicron!", a [[Animation error#Sizing errors|cel stacking error]] results in Unicron's ring appearing in front of a building arch, [[Distribution|making Unicron look very tiny]] in that shot. In the next shot, it is clear that Unicron is several times larger than the entire planet of Lithone.
* The inside of one of the Lithonian ships being devoured by Unicron is visible for a couple of frames. The pilot of the ship appears to be Kranix, even though he apparently screams out Kranix's name, and Kranix appears later in the Quintesson prison.
* When Optimus Prime asks Jazz to report security status, it shows both Jazz and Cliffjumper. Cliffjumper is seen twiddling knobs above the actual drawn computer, as if a section was supposed to be present.
*When the closeup of Cliffjumper doing his countdown is shown, his shoulders are blue (like his windows) instead of red.
* When the Decepticons blow a hole through the Autobot shuttle to get in, it is a clean break. However, Megatron is still shown ripping through random ship components to get in.
* Scavenger's head is white instead of black as he ducks from Prowl's shot.
* When the Decepticons are killing the Autobot shuttle crew, there is one of the common Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker miscolors. Megatron transforms into gun mode and Starscream catches him, killing Brawn. When they cut back to the Decepticons, Starscream is in front of the Constructicons without Megatron and is firing one of his arm rifles (this probably should have been Skywarp or Thundercracker). When they cut back to the Decepticons for the third time, Starscream has Megatron again and is finishing off the rest of the Autobots. In the shot of Starscream firing his own lasers, his wings are red instead of gray.
* When the Decepticons fly to the shuttle's controls, all of the Autobots have changed positions from when they fell—Brawn is now on his back, for example, while Prowl is now face-down. Ironhide's chest is also completely intact, despite having a bunch of holes blown in it.
* Hot Rod has at least two totally different transformation schemes during the course of the film.
* When Kup and several Autobots at the roadblock react to Hot Rod's attack on the hijacked Autobot shuttle, Bluestreak is represented by Prowl's [[Character model|animation model]], in Bluestreak's grey and black colours.
* Sunstreaker appears with Kup's group on Earth as they observe Hot Rod firing on Ironhide's shuttle. Sunstreaker later appears as Optimus Prime's co-pilot when they arrive on Earth with the Dinobots, and is seen disembarking the shuttle along with Optimus Prime and Hound.
* In a wide aerial shot of the city under attack, a Reflector flies by in Ironhide's color scheme. Shockwave also makes his only appearance in the battle; considering both his role as Cybertron's guardian and his absence from any other scenes during the battle, his presence is probably an animation error. Rumble also flies past, despite being inside Soundwave at this point.
* Blaster's forehead is red instead of white after his "look out and shout!" line, and again after he returns to robot mode.
* A laser blast that should be behind Blaster is instead layered in front of him as he acknowledges Perceptor's orders.
* In the big lineup of firing Decepticons, Soundwave's cheek guards are blue instead of white.
* When [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] sends out his cassette troops, [[FIRRIB|Rumble is the same color as Frenzy]].
* Blaster first ejects what looks like Eject, who stays blue up until he gets to the edge of the screen. He then turns black like Rewind. Then Blaster ejects another blue cassette, which after about a second turns black. This one gets through half his transformation colored black, then turns blue for a split second then turns black again. Then, when the cassettes are fighting each other, Eject runs in from the left and jumps over Perceptor. And then he runs in from the left ''again'' to shoot Ravage.
* As Springer runs up to the launcher, Wheeljack's body is visible, but he's in red, white and blue colors.
* While Springer and Arcee are trying to move the launcher into place, Springer's face is the same color as his helmet.
* When Devastator forms in Autobot City, his chest plate is the same green as the rest of him. In the next shot, it's the usual purple. However, it promptly turns green again in the next shot.
* As Devastator lays into the walls, Shrapnel is white where he should be black.
* While Perceptor and Grapple are shooting, Swoop's lower half runs by in the foreground, long before the rest of him gets there.
* Megatron's pelvis is white instead of black as he gives the "let the slaughter begin!" order.
* Prime's dramatic transformation sequence far outlasts the transformation sound that's supposed to go with it. It's also the wrong sound (ascending pitch) for his robot-to-vehicle transformation. His trailer is also missing the Autobot logo, which reappears for the rest of the scene.
* When Prime drives up behind the Decepticons, Blitzwing's head is tan instead of purple. It becomes purple when he turns it, then goes back to tan again as he turns it back.
* Prime is missing the transformation sound as he blasts back to robot mode.
* The gun Megatron uses to fatally injure Optimus is blue and white for most of the shots it is seen in, but when Megatron screams "Fall! FALL!" while shooting Prime again, it is black.
* The gun Megatron fires uses the same sound effect as his fusion cannon.
* Prime's antennae are white as he tries to stand after knocking Megatron off the ledge.
* As he orders Astrotrain to take off, Starscream's face is gray instead of black.
* Starscream's whole nosecone, rather than just the canopy, is yellow as he looms over Megatron.
* When Optimus Prime takes the Matrix out of his chest to give to Ultra Magnus, there is another Matrix beneath it in his chest. (On which note, see also ''[[Matrix of Leadership#Universe|Matrix of Leadership, Universe comic]].'') Also, he initially grabs just the core of the Matrix, while the rest of the scene shows the entire assembly.
* When Ultra Magnus accepts the Matrix, he's seen inserting it into his chest twice, or at best readjusting its "fit".
* As the other Decepticons prepare to push him out, Bombshell's chest is rendered as a shapeless gray mass, rather than with its yellow canopy.
* The voice that says, "Brothers! Don't!" is nowhere close to the voices of any of the five Decepticons shown getting thrown out of Astrotrain.
* Starscream's got an extra yellow segment on his canopy as he nominates himself for leadership. Man, even the A-list animation team couldn't keep this straight.
* Most of Megatron's chest emblem isn't colored in as he first speaks to Unicron. It might pass for battle damage, but a few shots later it's fully purple.
[[Image:Coronation .jpg|thumb|right|250px| *''trumpet fanfare''* ]]
* Even after the [[Battle of Autobot City]], characters who are supposedly dead continue to appear in crowd shots and battles. Shrapnel's role in the fight on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]] is the most noticeable (and he was called for by name in the original script), but Thundercracker, Skywarp and Kickback can all be seen at Starscream's coronation. The two jets are later seen again, flying into Unicron's mouth.
* Hook has two eyes instead of a visor as he looks around in confusion during the trumpet scene.
* An early establishing shot clearly shows Cybertron with two and ''only'' two moons in low orbit. Yet a third moon is visible right after Unicron finishes eating the two Autobot bases.
* When Galvatron introduces himself to the Coronation party, Soundwave's chest window is drawn far too small.
* When Cyclonus is strafing the Autobot shuttle in space, he briefly flies offscreen, and during that time his laser blasts come from a point that in no way matches his flight path.
*During the wide shot of the Autobots in the crashed ship on Junk, Blurr's entire head is white.
* Daniel's lips don't purse when he whistles.
* Wreck-Gar's mouth doesn't move at all during his first lines, despite the camera pushing in all close on his face.
* The pistol Ultra Magnus fires uses the same sound effect as Optimus Prime's rifle.
* Shrapnel's lower legs are white when he lands on Junk, instead of black. Must be a side effect of being dead.
* During the Junkion chase scene, Trashbin attacks Arcee. When she fights him off his motorcycle, his model is switched for Junkyard's when he falls down.
* When Hot Rod tells the Junkions the universal greeting, the Autobot insignia on his chest is coloured black.
* When Grimlock gets kissed, his eyes are round instead of triangular.
* When Unicron transforms, the first hand we see (his right) is backwards relative to how the arm is shown on screen.
* After transforming, Unicron has all-white hands (instead of white with gold knuckles) and a white, rectangular chin (instead of the double-triangular chin with a goatee) he has later.
* As Hot Rod falls off one of Unicron's inner spikes, his lower body isn't drawn in. It looks like it should be blocked by our view of the spike, but is layered above it instead.
* Hot Rod's missing his Autobot symbol as he regains his footing inside Unicron.
* During the same sequence, we see a standard-looking control panel next to Hot Rod. It's unlikely Galvatron had time to create one inside Unicron, so where did it come from?
* As the Dinobots fly around Unicron, both his eyes are intact. (The left one had been shattered.)
* As the Dinobots fly away from Unicron, the spikes on Grimlock's right arm are gray instead of gold.
* The third smelting victim (who looks a lot like another Bumblebee) doesn't fall from the conveyor belt; he simply vanishes.

== Continuity errors ==
[[Image:G1TFTM Snarl cameo.JPG|thumb|right|250px|He used to bulls-eye womp-rats in his T16 back home.]]

* The Dinobot [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] is mysteriously absent from almost the entire movie, even though the Dinobots as a group are featured prominently. Copies of the script which have come into fans' hands repeatedly list the Dinobots, but never make mention of Snarl by name. In fact, at one point the script refers to "the four Dinobots". Despite this, Snarl does appear in three very brief shots{{m-}}in which at least one other Dinobot (Swoop in one, Sludge in another) is entirely absent. Hmm.
* Also curiously absent are the 1985 Autobot cars and Mini-Vehicles, such as Inferno, Smokescreen, Cosmos, Warpath, etc. It would seem that these characters were available at the time of the movie:
** Perceptor and Blaster both debuted at the same time in the cartoon as the 1985 cars, and both play prominent roles in the movie.
** Grapple is [[:Image:BattleAutobotCity.jpg|seen ''very'' briefly]] during the battle for Autobot City.
** The 1985 Decepticons (Astrotrain, Dirge, etc.) appear in the film.
** [[:Image:TFTM-SideswipeRedAlertTracks.jpg|Tracks]], [[:Image:TFTM-RedAlertDown.jpg|Red Alert]] and Smokescreen (who was supposed to be the corpse in place of Wheeljack next to Windcharger) all appeared in storyboards but not the finished film.
* Devastator is treated as ''the'' ultimate threat, while in the cartoon, his role (and apparent power) was already being [[Starscream's Brigade|severely diminished]], presumably because several other combiners had been introduced. In story terms, the absence of these newer combiners, not to mention the mighty Omega Supreme, is inexplicable. In real-life terms, those characters didn't exist when the film commenced production. (The [[Transformers: The Animated Movie]] adaptation shows Omega Supreme, Superion and Defensor guarding the Ark against an attack by Bruticus and Menasor, attempting to [[retcon]] the problem away.)
[[Image:Cyclonus armada tftf.jpg|thumb|right|250px|We'll be safe enough once we make the jump into lightspeed.]]
* The existence of Cybertron's moons is contentious ''at best''.
** On the one hand, in numerous close and distant shots of the planet throughout the first two seasons, not a single moon was seen. Ever. Even after it got knocked out of Earth's orbit.
** On the other hand, Megatron ''does'' refer to Cybertron as "land of the metal moon" (note the singular) during "[[Microbots]]", suggesting otherwise. The fact that he was overenergized at the time and lost consciousness in mid-sentence - just before he ''might'' have specified a plural number of moons, (in)conveniently enough - makes it unclear just how much credence we should lend this statement.
** The movie promptly introduces two (possibly three) moons over the planet. In continuity terms, they must either have highly elliptical orbits with periapsides (points in their orbits that bring them closest to the planet) that just happened to coincide with the timeframe of the movie or they were constructed sometime after 1986.
* During the Battle of Autobot City, Starscream gets his leg caught. He shoots downward and gets away while screaming "My foot!", but it's his shin that's smoking while his foot looks fine. Later he kicks Megatron with the same foot. Shouldn't that hurt, according to him? Note there is a time lapse between the "foot shooting" and the kicking, leaving the option of a battlefield repair.
* So Ultra Magnus just happens to have a ready-made Matrix chamber installed in his chest cavity? Is this standard issue for all Autobots?
* The cartoon had already established that Astrotrain increases his size when he transforms to shuttle mode, being large enough to carry a pair of Decepticons in his cockpit. However, within the movie itself, his size is [[scale|noticeably inconsistent]]: When he leaves Autobot City, he's just large enough for the Decepticon army to cram themselves in; later, he's so huge that the Constructicons can quite comfortably form Devastator inside him.
* Speaking of Astrotrain, his entire body flips over when he transforms from train to space shuttle to escape from Autobot City. The Decepticons inside must have ''loved'' that!
* The number of minions created by Unicron changes throughout the film, with more Sweeps appearing as the story progresses. A second Cyclonus ("Cyclonus, the warrior, and [[Cyclonus's Armada|his armada]]") is shown being created but disappears shortly thereafter. At least ''seven'' new characters are shown at one point, created from only ''six'' Decepticons thrown from the shuttle.

[[Image:SSBQ.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." "Yes, I bet you have."]]
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is capable of reducing [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] to ashes with a single shot from his cannon mode. Though in later episodes Galvatron is shown blowing up even small ''[[Thrull|planets]]'' with his cannon, his extraordinary killing power seems to be gone—like when he scores a direct hit in cannon mode on Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" and Magnus isn't especially hurt at all, or how a similar blast against Scourge in "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]" only leaves the latter temporarily incapacitated. [[Marvel Comics]] bios explain this by suggesting that Galvatron had nearly limitless power through Unicron... but then again, Galvatron himself claims to be "more powerful than ever" after Unicron is dead in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". [[To sell toys|Who knows.]]
* Why didn't anyone notice Unicron until he was within devouring distance of Cybertron's moons?
* Despite running out of energon goodies on Quintessa, Hot Rod has at least one to offer to the Junkions. Maybe he got some on the ship. It's also possible that, when he told the Allicons "No more," he meant that he wasn't going to ''feed'' them any more energon goodies, not that he didn't ''have'' anymore.
* Daniel, who was just learning how to use his exo-suit, had to knock down the acid cover inside Unicron to save his loved ones. Why couldn't the more experienced Spike do the same with his suit from above? He had both of his arms free and a clear shot at the cover. On the other hand, the clamp holding him may well disable his exo-suit's weapons and movement abilities-if it didn't, Unicron probably wouldn't have eaten half as many victims by now...
* It's not clear how Rodimus Prime (carrying two humans) and the other Autobots survived their jump out of Unicron's eye and their plunge towards the surface of Cybertron.
* It's also unclear just how the dozen or so Autobots (and one shipload of Junkions) managed to retake the whole planet of Cybertron. Did Unicron really wipe out ''that'' many Decepticons?
* When the Autobots are repairing Autobot City, Blaster is present, but a few minutes later, he's nowhere to be seen. And he isn't seen getting on one of the shuttles. It is possible that they took off without him, but Daniel noticed Arcee was not on board. Guess he cares more about Arcee than Blaster.
* Ultra Magnus blows up, but later his parts are just in individual sections. The Junkions place them together and shine him up, and he's fine! No welding or reprogramming, no replacing damaged parts...
* Makes you wonder why they couldn't fly Prime's body over and repair it, too. At the end of season three, we find out the Matrix can be given back to him, so that's not the issue...

===Not necessarily errors===
* Fans have noted throughout the years that Astrotrain, in his flight through zero-gravity space, should not have needed to "jettison some weight" in the literal sense. However, since the ejected Decepticons quickly fall behind Astrotrain instead of floating alongside him, he must still have been accelerating and thus would have needed to burn a greater amount of fuel in order to push a larger payload. Perhaps he should have said "jettison some ''mass''", but then again, just being a spaceship doesn't make him a rocket scientist.
* Starscream is shown just inside Astrotrain's cargo bay when he commands him to take off, but in the next shot (Astrotrain's door closing as his rocket engines ignite), Starscream is nowhere to be seen. It's possible that he walked further in, but he should still be at least partially visible.

==Continuity notes==
* The Movie has had a huge effect in shaping the mythos. Among the elements and characters which would reappear in many other iterations of Transformers are:
** The notion that Cybertron has moons
** The Matrix as a physical object, rather than the computer program previously depicted in the Marvel Comics. Even the Marvel Comics would eventually shoehorn this one in.
** Autobot City
** Unicron
** The notion of Megatron becoming Galvatron
** And it killed off Optimus Prime before it was cool!
* Gadgets and powers:
** Springer deploys a small flip-out twin laser from his wrist during the Autobot City battle.
** Arcee and Hot Rod both activate a long-distance scanner of some sort by lowering a red visor from under their helmets over their eyes.
** Hot Rod uses a saw blade that extends from his retracted wrist.
** Blurr has the same kind of hooked welding tip used by various Autobots as far back as "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
** Arcee unleashes a nasty barbed post from her fender to fend off a Junkion.
** Grimlock shows the never-before seen ability to shoot lasers from his fists.
* '''[[The Revenge of Bruticus|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's <s>dead</s> almost dead!

==Real-world references and Easter eggs==
[[Image:TFTMUnicronSkyscrapers.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
* When the inside of Unicron is shown after he devours Lithone, the "blinking energy" effect of Unicron's innards was apparently achieved by recycling backgrounds from other animated TV shows or movies. A frame by frame viewing reveals what appear to be several images of post-apocalyptic buildings inside Unicron, some of which are upside-down.
* When Sludge gets haymakered by Devastator, his eyes pop out of their sockets in ''[[Wikipedia:Looney Tunes|Looney Tunes]]'' fashion.
* Kup's storytelling sequence aboard the shuttle is drawn from the novel ''[[Wikipedia:Of Mice and Men|Of Mice and Men]]'', complete with Grimlock in the Lenny role asking Kup to "tell Grimlock about petrorabbits again".

* The Quintesson jail cell includes robot debris ''strongly'' resembling the mobile suits [[Wikipedia:Gundam Mk-II|RX-178 Gundam MK II]] and the [[Wikipedia:Z Gundam|MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam]] from 1985 Japanese animation ''[[Wikipedia:Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam|Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam]]''.

* The Junkions speak almost entirely in pop culture quotes and pastiches. Littered among the generic phrases like "operators are standing by!", "Film at eleven" and "eliminate even the toughest stains" are more specific references, such as:
** "Don't look behind door #2, Monty!" - a reference to the game show ''[[Wikipedia:Let's Make a Deal|Let's Make a Deal]]'' and its host, [[Wikipedia:Monty Hall|Monty Hall]].
** "Ger-ronny-doo-ron-ron-ronny-mo!" - both the famous "[[Wikipedia:Geronimo (exclamation)|Geronimo!]]" war cry, and the 1963 hit "[[Wikipedia:Da Doo Ron Ron|Da Doo Ron Ron]]".
** "You check in, but you don't check out" - a parody of the tagline for [[Wikipedia:Roach Motel (insect trap)|Roach Motel]] insect traps.
** "Happy motoring!" - the slogan of gas company [[Wikipedia:Esso|Esso]].

* ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects (yes, even the high-budget Movie uses them):
** The ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst noise is used extensively throughout the film, over and over and over, almost any time a Decepticon takes flight.

** [[Luke Skywalker]]'s deactivating [[lightsaber]] is used as the sound of the Quintesson ship's ramp extending.
** Clashing lightsabers are used as Unicron fires eye-blasts at the attacking Transformers.

** An igniting lightsaber is used as Rodimus opens the Matrix.
* The ''Star Trek'' sliding door sound is used as Wreck-Gar pulls out his <s>iPhone</s> mini-TV.
* Also, the sound used for the communicators on Star Trek was used when Daniel was activating his blaster to save Spike

==Adaptations==
*[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|A comic adaptation of the movie]] was published by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986, concurrently with the movie's theater run. It was based off a non-finalized version of the script, and differs in many details from the final film. Additionally, most of the major character models (and possibly their unedited original character write-ups) appear in issue #4 of the ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' series.
* [[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|A storybook adaptation]] was released in the UK by [[Ladybird Books]].
*A four-part adaptation was released in 2006/2007 by [[IDW Publishing]], as part of the film's 20th anniversary celebration. It was titled ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' to differentiate it from the [[Michael Bay]] [[Transformers (2007)|live-action film]]. Unlike its predecessor, it adheres rigidly to the script and plot of the finished movie.

==Soundtrack==
{{main|The Transformers: The Movie - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack}}

==Promotions==
* Early in the movie's production, a [[The Transformers: The Movie promo|promotional trailer]] was made to sell the project to potential investors.
* The movie was advertised on related 1986 toy packages via the [[Decipher the Decepticon]] Sweepstakes, which included a pack-in poster and contest.
* The movie was heavily advertised directly by TV [[commercial]]s, and tail-end segments on Transformer toy ads. Portions of its story were also retold in altered fashion by animation segments of commercials for the movie character toys, such as a spot showing Springer doing battle with Wreck-Gar.

==In the comic continuity==
The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK comic]] made extensive use of the Movie as the basis for a series of stories involving the Transformers in the future. However there are several differences between the events seen on screen and those referenced in the comic:

*The comic always dates the movie to 2006, following the date given in a treatment that was all [[Simon Furman]] had when he wrote [[Target: 2006]].
*In Target: 2006, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] states that he was previously "[[Life Spark]]".
*The Matrix is always called the "Creation Matrix" in the comic, a name that predates the "Matrix of Leadership" but which is now used for the same physical object.
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] both survive the events, both later appearing in [[Space Pirates!]] (set in 2008).

In addition, Shockwave definitely survives the attack by Unicron.

The US comic almost completely ignored the events of the Movie, though later in the run an alternative future is briefly shown in "[[Rhythms of Darkness!]]" and "[[A Savage Circle]]". In this timeline at least some of the events of the Movie took place such as the creation of Galvatron from Megatron, which is dated to 2005, though Prowl's death was overlooked. [[Prowl II|Wouldn't be the first time. Or the last.]]
*The US version of the future story [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]] implicitly has the events of the movie as part of its backstory. However, since the rest of the US series ignored the movie, this issue's place in the continuity is questionable.

==Edits==
Several English-language versions of the film exist, with the following differences in content from the American theatrical run:

* In some versions (notably the European version) the opening credits are replaced with a scrolling text ("''Star Wars'' style") which provides backstory.
* In some versions (notably the European version) the film ends with [[Victor Caroli|a narrator]] reassuring the audience that Optimus Prime will return.
* Instances of swearing in the film (there are two) were edited out; sometimes one, sometimes both. Those instances are: Spike yelling, "Oh shit, what are we gonna do now?" after the self-destructing Moon Base 2 fails to scratch Unicron, and Ultra Magnus growling, "Open, damn it, open!" while trying to open the Matrix to fend off Galvatron and the Sweeps on Junkion. The United Kingdom cinema version had the swearing included but, when it was released on VHS in the United Kingdom, Spike's line was cut ("damn" not being considered offensive in the UK). However it has been restored on all United Kingdom DVD releases.
* In some early FHE video releases, the shot of the Matrix falling out of Optimus Prime's hand and being caught by Hot Rod is edited so that it appears that Ultra Magnus simply takes the Matrix from Prime. Why this was done is not known, and the replay of the Hot Rod catch on Unicron's monitors was left intact.
*Instead of DEG, the [[wikipedia:Rank Organisation|Rank Film]] "gong man" appears before the film, as Rank were the United Kingdom distributors.

None of these edits significantly affect the story. They should not be confused with various other sequences which were changed before the film's final release:

* Originally, Ultra Magnus's "death sequence" on Junkion called for him to be lassoed and drawn and quartered by the Sweeps' energy beams, but this was deemed too graphic for audiences, hence the less disturbing "shot to death" sequence seen instead. There is evidence that the original sequence had been fully animated when the decision was made, however; the Sweeps still kept their solid energy lassos when they fire upon Magnus, and Magnus is seen visibly straining against what appears to be said lassos (edited out and replaced with laser fire) before exploding.
* A number of other sequences were illustrated as [[storyboard]]s but dropped, presumably without ever being animated. Among them were:
** A short scene showing Ironhide piloting the Autobot shuttle through ''huge chunks of ice'' from the tail of a passing comet, explaining how the Decepticons caught them unawares. In response to a reprimand by Prowl who prickishly disapproves of Ironhide's piloting shenanigans, Ironhide exclaims, "I can sure as shootin' dodge a couple of ice chunks". When the Autobots are suddenly jolted by the Decepticon strike force as Megatron and his troops attempt to enter the shuttle, Ironhide tells the others on board, "That was no ice chunk...". Heroic nonsense ensues...
** An extended sequence with Hot Rod and Daniel outside the city.
** A sequence of Mirage blasting Bombshell and being fired on by Megatron.
** The Autobots finally bringing down Devastator with a barrage of missiles (and the Constructicons subsequently shooting Red Alert in the back).
** The Decepticons dogpiling Optimus Prime, explaining why he seems to be standing up just before his fight with Megatron, and no longer holding his rifle. According to storyboards, Prime gets bum-rushed by Blitzwing (who causes Prime to drop his gun), Starscream, Astrotrain, and Skywarp. While it is not clear how Prime defeated the first four hand-to-hand combatants, Dirge is later shown attempting one final sneak attack (and gets his can handed back to him) as Prime is talking to Megatron before the two leaders' final fight.
** Trailbreaker is shown dead among the wreckage of Autobot City as the Decepticons begin their retreat.
:Some of these concepts were in earlier versions of the script, and hence made it into the comic adaptation.
* Rumors have occasionally circulated in the fandom of additional animated footage that was dropped from the film, such as ultra-violent battle scenes. No evidence has ever surfaced to back these claims; the only known edits are those listed in this section.
:{{see|Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers#The Transformers: The Movie|Urban legends about ''The Transformers: The Movie''}}

==Reception==
{{quote|''The Transformers'', in which Orson Welles plays a planet, is pure headache material. Target audience of cartoon-watchers also will probably find the film unintelligible, noisy and unoriginal. Boxoffice prospects are dismal.|2=[http://books.google.com/books?id=DHNZAAAAMAAJ&q=Hasbro+Transformers&dq=Hasbro+Transformers&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1983&as_maxm_is=12&as_maxy_is=2005&num=50&as_brr=0&cd=69 Variety's Film Reviews 1985-1986, Volume 19]}}

{{quote|Obnoxious animated feature about the title good guys, who defend the universe against an evil planet (which has a voice of its own... provided by Orson Welles.) That deafening rock score certainly doesn't help. Little more than a feature-length toy commercial.|Leonard Maltin, ''1987 Movie & Video Guide''}}

{{quote|While all this action may captivate young children, the animation is not spectacular enough to dazzle adults, and the Transformers have few truly human elements to lure parents along, even when their voices are supplied by well-known actors. |2=[http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/09/movies/screen-transformers-animation-for-children.html The New York Times]}}

{{quote|Transformers -- The Movie, a feature-length animated film inspired by the syndicated TV cartoon series inspired by the Hasbro toy imported from Japan, is utterly uninspired entertainment. |2=[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3CE8EA8D40CCA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM The Dallas Morning News]}}

{{quote|If you can swallow, without gagging, a large measure of sentimental and offensive religiosity - lines like "Do not grieve. Soon I will be one with the Matrix," whispered by a failing hunk of Autobot metal - then you have a better than even chance of leaving the theatre on your own two feet. |2=[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=01kiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W6gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2445,1286000&dq=transformers&hl=en The Montreal Gazette]}}

{{quote|Everything is poorly drawn and - when it's in focus - one dimensional. It is terribly hard to separate the robots from the backgrounds, and there is no easy way to tell the good guys from the bad guys. In an earlier movie based on the same sort of robot toys - "Go-Bots: The Battle of the Rock Lords" - the good guys were either white or colorful and the bad guys were dreary, and they had distinct personalities. Not this movie; everyone looks and sounds alike, except one pink robot who is a female good guy. Her tin voluptuousness makes her stand out. |2=[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kw4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OgMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6957,6334152&dq=transformers&hl=en The Toledo Blade]}}

{{quote|Even with an all-star cast doing the voice overs... and a rock music score, this is still nothing more than a ripoff of a successful toy line. |2=[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AYckAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dtsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4192,1494652&dq=transformers&hl=en The Palm Beach Post]}}

{{quote|The great animated villains, like the Wicked Queen in Disney's "Snow White," had motivations as compelling as any live-action character. Unicron apparently destroys entire worlds because it has nothing else to do. |2=[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/57996397.html?dids=57996397:57996397&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+8%2C+1986&author=CHARLES+SOLOMON&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=8&desc=%60THE+TRANSFORMERS%27%3A+STRETCHING+A+POINT The LA Times]}}

''The Transformers: The Movie'' was almost universally panned by professional critics upon its release.

Well-known film critic and animation enthusiast, Leonard Maltin, gave it a rating below 1 1/2 stars in his ''1987 Movie & Video Guide'', regarding it as a "bomb", then proceeded to write an unflattering blurb denouncing the film as a "feature-length toy commercial" (well, he was ''right'').

Caryn James of the ''New York Times'' admitted in the [[August 9]], 1986 edition of the paper that the film was intended for young children, pointing out that the kids in the audience were having a grand ole time with the ''Transformer'' toys and comics they brought with them to the theater, but derided the film as having little to no appeal to adults (''man-children'', on the other hand...).

''Variety's Film Reviews 1985-1986, Volume 19 '' was far less even-handed in their review, claiming the film had no appeal to adults ''or'' children. They predicted the film would perform poorly in the box office (and were correct, in that regard).

Carrie Rickey of the ''Dallas Morning News'' chided the film in the [[August 13]], 1986 issue of the paper, describing it as "essentially a cartoon ''Star Wars'' about robots from a toybox galaxy far, far away". She then went on to say that the film "never takes off" and derided it as "uninspired".

Janice Kennedy of the ''Montreal Gazette'' verbally disemboweled the film in the [[August 23]], 1986 edition of the paper, criticizing it as overly commercial, profane, loud, violent, humorless, heavy-handed in its religious messages and chaulk-full of gratuitous celebrity voice-overs. Her only compliment: "But ''The Transformers: The Movie'' does have at least one good thing going for it, a howlingly appropriate song by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]. It's title? ''Dare to be Stupid''." ''Ouch''.

Nanciann Cherry in the August 13, 1986 edition of the ''Toledo Blade'' claimed the robots in the movie had little personality and faded into the background. She even went on to say that ''Challenge of the GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords'' was a superior film! Her review was filled with inaccuracies, however, citing characters such as "Unicon" and claiming that the destruction of Cybertron's moons by "Unicon" is what caused the Autobots to travel to Autobot City, at which point Megatron attacked. To be fair, she readily admits, "About 20 minutes into the film, I gave up on the plot and tried to count all the ideas that were stolen from other sources. Now that kept me busy." So she wasn't really paying attention, anyway.

Kathryn Buxton in the [[August 22]], 1986 edition of the ''Palm Beach Post'' gave the film a whopping ''one'' star, calling it "a ripoff of a successful toyline", whatever ''that'' means. In the same article, she also gave David Cronenberg's ''[[Fly|The Fly]]'' one star, just for reference.

In the August 8, 1986 edition of the ''LA Times'', critic Charles Solomon made clear his dislike for the film centered primarily on the fact that none of the characters had interesting or believable motivation. He stated, "Not even the best actor can create a character out of nothing. Not one of the robots has a reason for doing what he does." Solomon then pointed to Unicron specifically as an example of the lack of deep, multi-dimensional motivations in the characters.

Over time, however, the movie has acquired something of a cult following beyond the core base of [[fandom|Transformers fans]], particularly among children of the 80s. It is sometimes screened as a midnight movie at colleges. Online, it is not hard to find amateur reviews lauding everything about it as utterly awesome, from the premise to the soundtrack, and dismissing more critical views out of hand.

To date, the budget of the film has not been disclosed—at least, not in any place the [[fandom]] has found. According to most box office tracking sites,<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers.htm</ref><ref>http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1986/0TRTM.php</ref> ''The Transformers: The Movie'' made $5,849,647 in domestic (e.g., United States) theaters. Comparing this with other animated films of 1986, the results are not particularly charitable; while it did better financially than ''[[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords]]''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gobots.htm</ref> ($1,338,264) and ''Heathcliff: The Movie''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=heathcliff.htm</ref> ($2,610,686), it performed worse than the ''[[My Little Pony]]'' movie<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mylittlepony.htm</ref> ($5,958,456) and the '''second''' ''Care Bears'' movie<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=carebearsmovie2.htm</ref> ($8,540,346). Bringing up ''The Great Mouse Detective''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=greatmousedetective.htm</ref> ($25,336,794) and ''An American Tail''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=americantail.htm</ref> ($47,483,002) would really just be overkill.

==Significance in Transfandom==
''The Transformers: The Movie'' remains one of the most important elements of the entire Transformers brand, both within the fiction and from the perspective of the brand's popularity and "mindshare".

Fictionally, it established several story concepts that have been used repeatedly in the years since 1986, some of which—such as Unicron and the Matrix—are now central to the entire Transformers mythos. The movie is also the centerpiece of the most well-known Transformers continuity: the Generation 1 animated universe. The ''Transformers'' cartoon is split into "pre-movie" and "post-movie" sections which feature different characters and settings, and even somewhat different visual styles. (Most pre-movie episodes were animated by the studio [[Toei]], while most post-movie episodes were animated by [[AKOM]].)

On a practical note, it was widely available on videotape, and remained so long after the ''The Transformers'' cartoon had gone off the air. Only a [[Family Home Entertainment|handful of series episodes]] were available on video, making ''The Transformers: The Movie'' the logical choice for someone looking to pick up a ''Transformers'' cartoon; this made it far more well-known among fans than any particular cartoon episode.

To an entire generation of young fans, the movie was the most visually spectacular and narratively epic ''Transformers'' experience of their entire youth. Events such as the death of Optimus Prime are widely reported to have reduced many kids to tears. It is hardly a surprise that these emotional experiences embedded themselves deeply in many fans' memories.

==Criticisms==
[[Image:TFTM Ratchet dies.jpg|180px|left|thumb|Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise.]]

All this is not all to say that the movie is a "masterpiece", exactly. The film met with extremely harsh critical reviews on its release, and some of those criticisms still ring true today.

The film displays an arguably cynical attitude towards itself as [[To sell toys|a vehicle for advertising toys]], especially in the way beloved characters are killed—sometimes gratuitously—for sake of justifying the story's focus on a new group of toys. (Note that with the exception of Laserbeak and possibly Buzzsaw [http://www.flickr.com/photos/42232106@N06/3893688802] the poster at the top of this article features ''only'' new characters.)

Further, the two primary plot devices—[[Unicron]] and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]—have no prior establishment in the fiction. Unicron is given no backstory ([[Call of the Primitives|until season 3]]) or justification; he simply exists, is very dangerous, and is afraid of the Matrix, all for no adequately explained reason. The introduction of the Matrix itself is a heavy [[retcon]]. The story asks the audience to accept that this cosmically powerful artifact has been in Prime's possession all along (even though an X-ray of Optimus Prime's innards in the second season episode "[[A Prime Problem]]" show absolutely no signs of said Matrix), but has somehow never been relevant before. In fact, this lack of prior establishment is what led [[Simon Furman]] to develop the divinity backstory of Unicron and [[Primus]] in the UK comics run.

[[Image:Megatronlightsaber.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Your powers are weak, old man!]]
The movie bears many similarities to ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'': There are several character-parallels ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]] is a [[Han Solo]]-type and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] even has Princess Leia's hairdo!), the primary threat is similar (it's the [[Death Star]]... [[Unicron|but it transforms!]]), and both feature a climactic battle where the [[Hot Rod (G1)|young hero]] hears the voice of his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|dead, wise mentor]] one last time before saving the day.

To be a bit more fair to ''The Transformers: The Movie'', however, most of these similarities are either superficial (Arcee's Leia-hair; Megatron's "lightsaber" he briefly uses in his duel against Optimus Prime) or can be seen as elements common to thousands of years worth of epic storytelling through human history, not just common to ''Star Wars''. As a simple example, the phenomenon of two charismatic leaders dealing each other mortal injuries in battle hearkens back to some versions of the "King Arthur" myth; in their final battle, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arthur]] and his arch-enemy [[Megatron (G1)|Sir Mordred]] deal one another lethal injuries and both apparently expire—though Arthur according to the legend will [[The Return of Optimus Prime|return]] when [[Cybertron (planet)|England's]] need [[Darkest hour|is greatest]].

==Formatting==
[[Image:Tftm widescreenesque.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The "widescreen" picture (left) actually ''cuts off'' the top and bottom of the fullscreen picture (right).]]
Although it was billed in some advertisements before its theatrical release as being "widescreen", the movie was in fact animated in a 4:3 (fullscreen) aspect ratio. For its theatrical screenings, the film was matted down in the projector by the projectionist to a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen), chopping the top and bottom off the picture, but all video transfers of the movie were done without mattes, meaning that there was actually more picture visible in the fullscreen video and DVD releases than there would have been in theaters. Across 2006 and 2007, new editions of the DVD of the film were released by Sony BMG and [[Metrodome]] which applied the mattes in order to replicate the original theatrical presentation of the film for the first time in home entertainment. Some fans, however, didn't realize that the film wasn't actually ''animated'' in widescreen, and, hearing that the DVD was to be in widescreen, expected to see the fullscreen image with additional footage at the sides, causing them to complain that the top and bottom were cut off, thereby totally missing the point.

==International versions==
{{main|The Transformers: The Movie/dubs}}

==Commercial Releases==
[[Image:Tftm laserdisk cover.jpg|right|thumb|The cover image from the original Japanese home media release of the movie.]]
* The movie was originally released in North America on home video in 1987 by [[Family Home Entertainment]], minus Spike's swear. Not long after, it was released in the UK by [[Video Gems]]. This version featured the opening text crawl and closing narration inherent to the UK version of the film. In Australia, the film was released on video by RCA/Columbia Pictures/Hoyts. In Japan, Hillcrane released a Laserdisc version alongside a VHS copy, both sporting a gorgeous painted cover that decorated many a fan's desktop back in the day.
*The movie was released spottily in the '90s, beginning with a budget VHS by Avid Home Entertainment in 1991. [[Malofilm]] released a VHS in Canada in 1995, notable for being the first home entertainment version to include Spike's swear. In 1998, Japanese company Pioneer produced another pair of Laserdisc and VHS releases. In 1999, things kicked off when American company [[Kid Rhino]] secured the Transformers license and released the film on VHS once again.
*The 21st century's flirtation with ''The Transformers: The Movie'' started with a UK budget VHS release of that country's version by [[Sony|Sony Wonder]], distributed by [[Maverick Entertainment]]. A Japanese company called CatCo followed this up with a VideoCD, and Malofilm—now Seville—were the first to release a DVD version of the film, though it was just a dump of their VHS version.
*In November 2000, ''The Transformers: The Movie'' got its first, full professional DVD release from Kid Rhino. This edition, labelled a "Special Collector's Edition", is the first to feature remastered video and audio, and several special features, including storyboards and an interview with [[Vince DiCola]]. Rhino concurrently released this version on VHS, sans extras.
*In 2001 in the UK, Sony Wonder released their own much-delayed DVD version of the film. It was the UK version of the film, but included Spike's swear. However, the release was burdened by badly interlaced video, though it notably included the [[Omni Productions]] dub version of the ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|Headmasters]]'' episode "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]" as an extra. This version (including the ''Headmasters'' episode) was simultaneously released on VHS.
*The movie was released on DVD in Australia in 2003 by [[Madman Entertainment]], using the same video as the Maverick version, but distinguished by some nifty new cover art by [[Don Figueroa]], and special features not seen on other editions, such as ''[[Stan Bush|The Touch]]'' music video and 80s TV spots.
[[Image:Tftm uk covers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The UK poster art (left) has been the most common DVD and VHS cover in its home country, but the Ultimate Edition featured new art by Andy Wildman (right).]]
*After acquiring the license to release ''Transformers'' DVDs in the UK, [[Metrodome]] focused on completing their run of series box sets before turning their attention to the movie properly, releasing only a cheap budget DVD of the UK version through Prism Leisure with no extras, and a UMD of the same version.
*In 2005, Metrodome released ''Transformers: The Movie - Reconstructed'', a new version of the film designed to expose as much of the animated picture as possible. This, however, only resulted in exposing the rough, unfinished edges of the animation, and an overly pale remaster was compounded by excessive interlacing due to an unnecessary NTSC to PAL transfer. This, coupled with a 5.1 remix from [[Magno Sound & Video]], featuring the same extra sound effects that they added to Rhino's season box sets, made this release both controversial and disappointing to many. This was the first time that the US version of the movie was released in the UK, and the first to feature the US poster art as a cover (although a Silverscreen store exclusive version of the disc included a reversible cover with the UK poster art as well). Extras include trailers, TV spots, the character biographies from the Madman release, and a subtitled version of "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]".
[[Image:Tftm sony covers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Sony's covers, by Don Figueroa.]]
*For the movie's 20th anniversary in 2006, new license holder [[Sony|Sony BMG]] released a two-disc special edition of the film, featuring both a high-quality widescreen remaster and the original fullscreen version, audio commentaries from crew and fans, several new featurettes interviewing those involved in the movie's production, storyboards, tv spots, American and Japanese commercials and more. Most notably, this version included the first Western release of "[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]", albeit silent and unsubtitled, featuring only audio commentary. This release featured two covers by Don Figueroa: one is of the '84-'85 cast that appear in the movie, and one is of the movie's new characters, available either as a lenticular hologram that switches between the two, or as a reversible sleeve with the images printed on either side.
[[Image:Tftm madman covers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Madman's 2003 DVD cover (left), and their 2007 Special Edition cover (right).]]
*Delayed a bit to coincide with the hype for the 2007 [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]], Metrodome also released a two-disc "Ultimate Edition" with a different widescreen master. Like "Reconstructed", this version used the US edition of the film, but this time, the UK version was also included, in fullscreen, on the second disc. Extras include TV spots, commercials, the Madman biographies, storyboards, commentary, "Scramble City" (with audio and subtitles), featurettes with [[Flint Dille]] and [[Peter Cullen]], and more. The double-disc edition was sold in a steel case featuring new art by [[Andrew Wildman]], with the UK poster art adorning the standard case inside. Various store exclusives were available, including postcards from Play.Com, a reversible cover with the US poster art from HMV, art cards from Virgin Megastore and [[posters]] from Woolworths and [[Toys"R"Us]]. It was also available in an extra-less single-disc version. This version was premiered at the Mid Ulster Film Festival in Ireland which was the only cinema showing of the remastered version of the film to date.
*The film was released in Full HD 1080p on Blu-ray in the UK in October 2007. The Blu-ray is not region-locked, so it will play anywhere in the world. It features a 2.0 soundtrack, 5.1 Dolby Digital track, and a full bitrate DTS 5.1 track. The master used was the same used by Sony for their US DVD. The picture is quite stunning and the sound very good. Sadly, there are no extras on the DVD. The version of the film on the Blu-ray is the US one, complete with swear word.
*Madman produced their two-disc special edition through some collaboration with Metrodome, and consequently it features much of the same content, with additional extras taking the form of The Touch music video and a bonus episode of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. This release again features cover artwork by Don Figueroa, specifically the cover of [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' adaptation.

==Television Broadcasts==
Following an airing during Season Five in parts, the feature film was only ever aired on American television in 1989 via the Fox stations. Air dates and times were June 17 at Noon, July 30 at 11 A.M. and September 2 at 10 A.M. Of course, this was the language-edited video release from Family Home Entertainment.

==Notes==
* According to [[Buzz Dixon]], Hasbro's decision to kill off Optimus Prime was actually an attempt to maintain some brand-storytelling parity with ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'', as Dixon had just convinced them to allow the death of [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] in ''[[wikipedia:G.I. Joe: The Movie|G.I. Joe: The Movie]]'' and both films were in production at the same time.<ref>http://www.joeheadquarters.com/interviews_dixon.shtml</ref>

* This film was the last professional performance by [[Orson Welles]], who died only a month later. According to production materials shown at [[BotCon 2000]] by Tim Finn, the voice recording sessions for ''The Transformers: The Movie'' were done on [[September 10]] and [[September 11|11]] of 1985. Welles died on [[October 10]] of that same year. It has often been speculated that Unicron's last line ("Destiny… you cannot destroy my destiny!") was recorded by another actor—possibly [[Leonard Nimoy|Nimoy]]—because it sounds different than the other lines. This speculation has been quashed by statements by Transformers voice director [[Wally Burr]].<ref>http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/60-astrominutes/wally-burr/wally_burr_3.html</ref>
[[Image:Windcharger wheeljack otp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!!]]

* With the exception of Starscream and possibly Shockwave, only the Autobots suffered fatalities in the movie. All of the other "dead" Decepticons from the Autobot City battle were rebuilt into Galvatron's new troops, and although more Decepticons were shown taking heavy damage and suffering huge casualties while fighting Unicron, their identities and their final condition are uncertain. Additionally, both Starscream and Unicron survived in the post-movie series in some form or another. Shockwave's death in the finished film is highly uncertain, although in the script it is fairly strongly implied. He does make some miscolored appearances in crowd shots in later cartoon episodes, but these are probably examples of the fairly common animation errors in those episodes.

* Somewhat ironically, though only three of the original eighteen Autobots - [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] - are definitively shown to have survived the movie, two would quite literally never be heard from again: [[Scatman Crothers]] passed away (though this didn't stop Jazz from making any number of background cameos) while Casey Kasem [[Casey Kasem#Notes|quit the show early in the third season]]. Fate's finger is fickle indeed.

*[[:Image:TFTM-MaybeBeachcomber.jpg|A robot resembling Beachcomber]] appears alongside Spike and the Autobots inside Unicron seconds before Daniel blasts the acid cover. Whether this was actually meant to be Beachcomber or just coincidental coloring is unknown, but regardless, Beachcomber shows up alive and well in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".

==External links==
* [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers.htm ''The Transformers: The Movie'''s box office domestic gross.]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080426020409/http://www.tftm.net/ ''The Transformers: The Movie'' "Unofficial Fansite", an extremely thorough site about the movie]
* [http://www.wombatking.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=4 ''The Transformers: The Movie'' deleted storyboards]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers: The Movie}}

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 1 media]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

All Hail Megatron issue 4

2011-09-20T04:23:04Z

74.99.182.224: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[All Hail Megatron|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]]'' #4
|prev=All Hail Megatron issue 3
|next=All Hail Megatron issue 5
|seriesissue2=
|prev2=
|next2=
|image=AHM 04 CoverA.jpg
|caption=For the last time, Ironhide, FRENZY IS BLUE! Didn't you read All Hail Megatron #2?!!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 22]], [[2008]]
|coverdate=October 2008
|written by=[[Shane McCarthy]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]] & [[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|All Hail Megatron]]
}}
'''As the Decepticons rampage across Earth, tensions rise among the Autobots on Cybertron.'''
==Synopsis==
[[Image:Ironhidepuncheseveryone.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"All Hail Megatron," aka "Ironhide punches everyone."]]
Megatron proclaims to his men that <s>some cities</s> the planet is theirs! The [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] are told of how they are gods among their race, that <s>American</s> all human resistance has fallen, and that the Decepticons have won on every front in the galaxy. The [[Autobot|Autobots]] are beaten!

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Prowl and Ironhide clash over the situation and whether or not Mirage is the one who betrayed them to the Decepticons. Ironhide punches Prowl out when it's suggested that, for all anyone knows, ''he'' could be the traitor, and Jazz has to step in to suggest Ironhide takes a walk. Once alone, Prowl and Jazz discuss how bad the situation is, how there's no [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] on the planet and they're using all they have to save Optimus, and a mysterious secret no one can know.

Out in the storm-ridden, death-causing wasteland of Cybertron, Bumblebee and Wheeljack are going for a nice drive and finding that [[Earth]] car tires don't work well on Cybertron's metal terrain. They suddenly encounter an unknown, shadowy figure, and Wheeljack calls for help with a short pulse that will turn on a console light for 1/100th of a second. Bumblebee thinks nobody would be mad enough to be constantly staring at that light on the off-chance of there being a fight, but he reckoned without Cliffjumper!

[[Image:Ironhide punches Hot Rod.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This aint' no ordinary Love!]]
Ironhide storms off after arguing with Jazz over what the latter's hiding and Mirage's potential treachery, and Cliffjumper gets him to tag along to the potential fight.

Back on Earth, the small group of survivors are arguing, and Bridge has no idea of what to do, but Sarah slaps him and tells him to man up, which miraculously cures him of his angst and makes him take up leadership.

On Cybertron, the shadowy figure is revealed to be Hot Rod. He informs Ironhide and co. that he and another group of Autobots were shot down over Cybertron and they'd almost given up hope of rescue. But his S.O.S. message must've been picked up by Ironhide's group after all, and the group's come to rescue them! ...right?
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (18)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (19)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (20)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (21)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (23)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (24)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (25)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (26)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (27)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (28)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (29)
|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (3)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (4)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (6)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (7)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (8)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (9)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (10)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (15)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (16)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (17)
|c3=
* [[Hawke|Colonel Hawke]] (11)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Daniel "Sparkplug" Witwicky]] (12)
* [[Bridge]] (13)
* [[Sarah]] (14)
}}

== Errors ==
* When the issue came out, it was noted that Autobots are happily walking and driving around Cybertron without personal field harmonics, or even mention of them, yet have not died from the cosmic radiation that saturates the planet like they should have. Issue 7 of this series stated that Cybertron had recovered and the storms were gone, but that the radiation on Cybertron makes it very painful to walk around. Unfortunately, the Autobots here make no mention and show no sign of being in pain at all, so the first error's been replaced with another...

* Hot Rod continues to hide in the shadows when he's near enough to see clearly it's Bumblebee and Wheeljack from whom he's hiding. He is then surprised to find out it is them when they talk to him.

* In the Autobot group shot on page 8, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] have a funny perspective thing going on: Mirage's upper body is behind Trailbreaker's, but his feet are in front, and neither of them are turning or twisting any part of themselves to accommodate such positioning.

== Items of note ==
* Megatron's claiming that ''Earth'' has been conquered, rather than just the parts of the United States we've seen them conquering, even though his speech appears to take place just a few hours after last issue. It appeared that wide-scale conquering wasn't important enough to show on-panel if it didn't happen to New York, until issue 5 and 6 showed the rest of the world was still very much not conquered.

* Bombshell, Kickback, Hook, Skywarp, Blitzwing and Astrotrain are enjoying Megatron's speech. Thundercracker is unimpressed, and Shrapnel looks like he's just done something very embarrassing that he's hoping nobody else noticed.

* Everyone in Prowl's unit (except Prowl and Jazz) thinks Mirage has betrayed them for reasons we are not allowed to know.

* The Autobots are stuck in their Earth forms and are unable to change their alt modes. However inexplicably, a noteworthy few such as Prowl, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are in different bodies from their prior Earth forms. These three closely resemble their recent toys in the ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' line, a change that artist [[Guido Guidi]] has revealed was suggested by [[Hasbro]]. Sunstreaker's change in bodies was later touched on in ''[[Maximum Dinobots]]'' [[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|#5]], taking place before ''All Hail Megatron''.

* Though Ironhide is drawn in his ''[[Infiltration]]'' body, the behind-the-window greebles from his [[Universe (2008 franchise)|''Universe'']] toy are drawn behind his windshield.

* Hot Rod has been redesigned; he now resembles his [[Character model|original character model]]. Like with Sunstreaker, this would later be explained by the end of the ''Maximum Dinobots'' miniseries.

* The setup of Bumblebee and Wheeljack out looking for energy on a decimated, energy-drained Cybertron is [[GEEWUN|drawn directly from]] the opening scenes of the first Transformers cartoon episode, "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Ironhide and Prowl argue while Jazz looks on; art by Guido Guidi and Josh Burcham.
* '''Cover B:''' Silhouette of Ironhide staring dejectedly on Cybertron; art by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Colored sketch art of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] by Guido Guidi.

<gallery>
Image:AHM 04 CoverA.jpg|Jazz tells me you touched his tailpipe. Well you CAN'T do that. Not NOW. Not EVER!
Image:AHM 04 CoverB.jpg|He's sad because he can't touch his toes...
Image:AHM 04 RI.jpg|Devastator want [[kibble]] back!
</gallery>

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{{DEFAULTSORT:All Hail Megatron 04}}
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Soundwave (ROTF)

2011-09-20T04:10:55Z

74.99.182.224: /* IDW Transformers movie comics */

{{faction|decepticonfilm|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]] portion of the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Rotf soundwave satellite mode.jpg|thumb|right|375px|This goes out ta' anyone listnen'!]]

'''Soundwave''', the Decepticon communications officer and one of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s staunchest supporters, doesn't just master the frequencies that carry information across our planet, he revels in them. Stationed high in the upper atmosphere and capable of processing millions of data streams at once, he is fully capable of taking over communications on a planetary scale. Whether he uses this to direct civilization or destroy it remains to be seen.

Soundwave has two extremely powerful weapons: his spread of [[Sonic Cannon]]s... and Megatron. If any Decepticon crosses him, he does not hesitate to send a full record of said Decepticon's failures to Megatron, almost certainly ensuring an untimely demise. His lofty position has made [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] suspicious, so Soundwave has his minion [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] keep an eye on the [[Air Commander]] if he gets out of hand. Soundwave is also nearly defenseless in space, as his devastating Sonic Cannons only work within the atmosphere.<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Hasbro Soundwave Battle Bio]</ref>

{{quote|Nothing moves on the orb below without '''my''' being aware of it. I see and hear everything, be it out the open or behind closed doors. My reach is invisible, intangible. My grip...cast-iron.|Soundwave is watching you...|[[Nefarious issue 1|Nefarious #1]]}}

== Fiction ==
=== Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics ===
[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was in talks with Soundwave to get him to join in the attack on Earth and be in [[Michael Bay]]'s next documentary. Soundwave is known for talking in several frequencies at once, apparently just to be annoying. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|#15's Star Screams}} Starscream doesn't trust Soundwave but notes his intelligence, and so views him as a worthy successor in the event of his death. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|#21's Star Screams}}

=== IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics ===
Thousands of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Soundwave stood by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s side on Unification Day, when a new era of Cybertronian government was ushered in that saw the planet ruled by two bodies—Megatron's [[Defense Force]], of which Soundwave became a part, and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]'s [[Science Division]]. Megatron's lust for power soon led him to claim dominion over Optimus, however, and Soundwave was silently present when Megatron summoned Optimus and made this declaration. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}}

[[Image:Defiance4Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|100px|No full body shot in the movie or comics.]]

Some time later, Megatron came under the influence of [[The Fallen]], who sought to be freed from the [[sarcophagus]] that was his trans-dimensional prison. To this end, Soundwave was assigned captaincy of the newly built spacecraft ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', which would take the sarcophagus across the galaxy to find the world on which The Fallen had built a [[Star Harvester]] millennia beforehand. Soundwave and his crew left Cybertron with The Fallen's sarcophagus just before the outbreak of war. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4}}{{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}}

After thousands of years of searching the stars, Soundwave's ''Nemesis'' detected the faint energy signature of the [[AllSpark]], which had been jettisoned from Cybertron in their absence. Unfortunately for them, so did [[Ark (DOTM)|the Ark]], an Autobot spacecraft that had also left Cybertron after the ''Nemesis'' and which was teleporting around space and time via a [[space bridge]]. The Ark materialized partially within the ''Nemesis'', the intersection of their molecules crippled both ships. While the Ark teleported away, leaving a temporary space bridge portal lingering in its wake, the Decepticons managed to set the ''Nemesis'' down on a barren moon. For the first time, The Fallen, recognizing the space bridge as the technology of [[Dynasty of Primes|his people]], spoke directly into Soundwave's mind, directing him to take the Decepticons aboard the smaller ship ''[[Longshot (DOTM)|Longshot]]'' and follow the Ark through the portal. Complying, Soundwave's crew found themselves hurled into the future, appearing in the vicinity of Earth in the year [[1961]] alongside the Ark. The Autobot craft proceeded to crash on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], and Soundwave quickly determined to keep [[human]]kind from plundering the treasures it contained: mysterious [[pillar]]s that he had his crew set about removing from the ship and stockpiling. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 1}}

Unfortunately for Soundwave, humanity detected the crash of the Ark upon the Moon, and a "space race" began between the [[United States of America]] and the [[Soviet Union]] to be the first to reach the Moon. The Soviets were first to send probes that photographed the moon's surface: in [[1963]], their [[Luna 4]] captured an image of the pillars as they were being moved. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}} Realizing the necessity of infiltrating the ranks of humanity in order to control the flow of data, Soundwave had the [[Alice|Pretender]] kill and replace Spetsnaz agent [[Alisa Morozov]] in [[1964]]; then, in [[1965]], as the Soviets' [[Luna 6]] was in flight, he sent her to [[Soviet Research Station Oktober]] to massacre the scientists awaiting data the probe would send back. Convinced by the Pretender that Humanity could be subverted towards their ends, Soundwave struck a deal with the sole surviving scientist, [[Voskhod]], to curtail further Soviet moon missions. In the process, the Pretender also learned that both America and Russia allegedly had a Cybertronian in their individual custodies, but Soundwave dismissed them as rumors, preferring to focus on the trail of the AllSpark and the Star Harvester. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 2}}

[[Image:RisingStorm2 soundwave voskhod.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'I wonder what would happen if screamed?]]

Realizing that a captive American secret agent, [[Bill Simmons]] had escaped from Research Station Oktober during the Pretender's attack, Soundwave spent two months scanning information lines in search of him, eventually discovering him when he returned to North America and made contact with his superiors. Although the Pretender failed to finish him off, Soundwave had at last learned of Simmons's well-hidden organization: [[Sector Seven]]. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 3}} In [[1969]], he monitored the launch of their [[Ghost 1]] craft, believing it to be of greater importance than the [[Apollo 11]] moon mission, but his guess proved incorrect: Thanks to Soundwave's being distracted, astronauts [[Neil Armstrong]] and [[Buzz Aldrin]] were able to carry out the first brief excavation of the Ark. Incensed by his failure, Soundwave grew even more determined to find a mole within the American space program, and he set [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to find prospective candidates. He found a NASA accountant named Gould and tapped the stock market to provide enough financial persuasion for the human to manipulate the NASA budget to halt moon missions from [[1972]] onwards. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

Soundwave spent the rest of the 1970s recruiting more human pawns to prevent the Ark from being rediscovered. Eventually, in [[1979]], deciding that everything was secure, he and his crew departed Earth on the ''Longshot'' to reconvene with The Fallen back aboard the ''Nemesis'', but with no space bridge portal to teleport them, the voyage took something in the vicinity of fourteen years. A brief talk with The Fallen yielded information: in Soundwave's absence, Megatron had visited the ''Nemesis'', on the trail of the AllSpark. Soundwave realized that his leader must have been one of the Cybertronians in captivity on Earth, and immediately departed to return to the planet, putting most of his crew in statis. Before leaving, he presented The Fallen with one of the pillars from the Ark; after he left, The Fallen used it to finally free himself from his sarcophagus. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

[[Image:SoundwaveAllianceIssue2.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Alas, poor Dreadwing. I knew him, Ravage.]]

During Soundwave's return voyage to Earth, Decepticon forces under the command of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] had arrived on the planet and freed Megatron, only for both the Decepticon leader and the AllSpark to be destroyed in battle in [[Mission City]]. Soundwave returned one month after his leader's death, but detoured briefly to investigate a space-time anomaly on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. There, he discovered a jury-rigged space bridge created from one of the Ark's pillars (created by [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]), the remains of [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing's]], an imprint of [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy's]] body, {{storylink|Alliance issue 2}} and a message from Starscream that informed him of the recent events on Earth. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Soundwave immediately made contact with Starscream, who had just finished battling [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]], and ordered him back to the ''Longshot'' to awaken the rest of his crew from stasis. {{storylink|Alliance issue 2}}{{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Dispatching what few crew members were currently active to begin searching the planet for the Star Harvester, Soundwave assumed the form of a satellite and took up orbit around Earth. {{Storylink|Alliance issue 4}}

As the search continued, Soundwave re-established contact with his many human pawns, including Gould's son [[Dylan Gould|Dylan]], who had inherited his father's role as Decepticon liaison. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

{{-}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
Soundwave appeared unknown to the Autobots.{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.4|New Tricks}} He commanded a small Decepticon cell, based out of [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]' moon [[Phobos]]. While nominally under the command of [[The Fallen]], The Fallen was merely in ''contact'' with the Decepticons and currently incapacitated. This left Soundwave free to do his ''own'' thing... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}

[[Image:Titan4_Soundwaveinterrogate.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only... Oops, wrong movie.]]

One of his goals was to find the location of the [[Tomb of the Primes]]. The aging [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]] [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] knew it but would only tell it to The Fallen. ''Strangely'' unwilling to put The Fallen and Ransack in touch and ''oddly'' preferring to personally know the location of [[Matrix of Leadership|the key to a monstrous superweapon]] himself {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}, Soundwave turned to the dormant Seekers instead. He directed [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] to [[Las Vegas]] to carve up one such Seeker for its "memory tree". He refused to explain the reason ''why'' to Grindor. When [[NEST]] showed up, Soundwave appeared contemptuous of them and their [[Human|whole species]], noting Transformers owned this world ''long'' before mankind. To Grindor, he simply said to get the memory tree to him and not get captured. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|Learning Curve}}

Later, [[Transformers Comic issue 2.2|on The Fallen's orders]], he directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to find [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], find out what they knew about The Fallen's plans and who they'd told it to, and then terminate them. When Ravage had cornered Mudflap, Soundwave talked through him and attempted to interrogate the Autobot; this failed, with Mudflap not even being bothered about who Soundwave was. While the hit was a bust, Soundwave ensured the base was bugged. As a result, he discovered [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]] distrusted the twins.

[[Image:Titan6_SoundwaveIAm.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"[[Sanctuary|There you go]], fellas!"]]

This was something Soundwave found interesting {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.4|New Tricks}} and he hatched a plan to ensure the twins were believed to be traitors: which would ensure nobody would follow up on their intell! Somehow, he got [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] to [[Diego Garcia]] at the same time the twins were there. He then had [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] get captured, so that when he was taken to [[Diego Garcia]] Scorponok would free him. With the Decepticon attacking at the same time the twins were distracting Optimus and on top of previous acts, they seemed guilty and were taken into custody. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}} Soundwave sent [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] to blow up the soldiers escorting the twins to orbitary exile, and [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] parachuted in to convince them to defect. When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] tracked down the twins - who had kidnapped [[Sam Witwicky]] in a failed attempt to convince him to speak to Optimus on their behalf - Soundwave finally landed on Earth and blasted the scout. Soundwave told the twins The Fallen would offer them sanctuary, something they seemed happy to accept... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}}

[[Image:Titan7_Soundwave_GO!.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]

Poor Soundwave soon had to put ''up'' with the twins, as they insisted on chatting through his briefings and dissing the other 'cons. He ''just'' about, through ominous glares, got them to pay attention to their mission: to capture Ransack and bring him in to be "re-educated". This, however, was all a big con on the twins: he just wanted them as expendable bait to draw out Ransack, so Grindor and Sideways could knock him out. Soundwave also spoke for the entire Decepticons when he said that if the twins survived any encounter, ''kill them anyway''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout}}

[[Image:Titan8_Soundwave_FWATT.jpg|right|thumb|200px|KERPOW!]]

Once Ransack was in his hands, Soundwave beat the snot out of him and demanded the location to the Tomb of the Primes. The Seeker still refused to talk, and insulted Soundwave as being a mere cog who could barely understand the big picture. He almost killed Ransack for that, having to be held back by Starscream (don't want The Fallen ''knowing'' you've killed his Seeker!), but the elder continued to mock him for believing he had freedom of action just because The Fallen was absent.

When the twins, revealed to have been faking their defection, returned to beat the crap out of the Phobos base, an annoyed Soundwave ended their brief success with overwhelming violence. Unfortunately, before he could kill the Autobots, Ransack took the opportunity to leg it; desperate to stop The Fallen from being informed of what he'd been up to, Soundwave gave chase and the Phobos base was abandoned. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}} As he's still around later, it seems Soundwave made ''sure'' Ransack never made it to The Fallen...

{{note|The following events occur in the Law and Disorder continuity.}}

[[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] considers Soundwave to be an untrustworthy jerk who ''never'' pulls his weight in a fight. Megatron, however, loves the guy. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|#7's Law and Disorder}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English, French, Italian. Latin American-Spanish?), [[Horst Lampe]] (German), [[Daisuke Gōri]] (Japanese)

[[Image:ROTF-Soundwaveface.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Next time, Gadget. Next time.]]
Soundwave received a transmission from [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]], who was tailing [[Mikaela Banes]], and instructed him to obtain a surviving shard of the [[AllSpark|AllSpark]] in her possession. He found a satellite transmitting a conversation between [[NEST]] and the [[United States military]]. Tapping into it with his tentacles to listen, Soundwave overheard [[Theodore Galloway]] mention another shard of the AllSpark in storage at [[Diego Garcia]], and of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s burial in the [[Laurentian Abyss]].

[[Image:ROTF Soundwave ejects Ravage.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Ravage: Eject. Operation: [[Ruined FOREVER|Childhood rape]].]]

Formulating a plan, Soundwave waited until it would be nightfall on Diego Garcia, then ejected [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] (who was equipped with [[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]] and the [[Microcon (ROTF)|microcons]] comprising [[Reedman]]) to Diego Garcia to steal the shard. Once they had stolen the shard, they reunited with some [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] and managed to resurrect their leader.

Soundwave remained in space, tapping into the satellite he had found. When Megatron decided to reveal the Transformers presence on Earth after killing [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], Soundwave issued the mobilization order to the waiting troops on the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]''. As the Decepticons streaked toward Earth, Soundwave tracked down [[Ron Witwicky|Ron]] and [[Judy Witwicky]] in [[France|Paris]]. He called Judy on her cellphone, demanding to know where Sam was, which the human dismissed as a crank call by a pervert. This allowed the Decepticons to track them down and capture them to use as bait for Sam.

[[Image:SoundwaveSatellite.jpg|thumb|300px|Yes, yes, you fans all thought about ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' when you saw me do this.]]

When the CIA discovered that Sam was in [[Egypt]], Soundwave relayed the information to the Decepticons. During [[Operation: Firestorm]], Soundwave blocked the satellites covering the Egyptian area, making things appear normal. General [[Morshower]] was unconvinced though and got other local informants to know what was happening at the [[pyramid]]s. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

{{note|In the comic, Megatron rendezvous with Soundwave after killing Optimus, making the demand for Sam Witwicky himself, which Soundwave broadcasts through the satellite he clutches. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 2}}}}

{{-}}

===IDW post-''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
Months after the battle in Egypt, Soundwave detected [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] was alive and active, and was furious someone else was ordering his pet around. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 5}} Monitoring Earth, he observed [[Alice]]'s attempt at flight and subsequent termination by [[NEST]]. [[Buzzsaw (ROTF)|Buzzsaw]], who he'd dispatched to [[Kingdom Petrochemicals]] to investigate Ravage's status, reported back that there were non-NEST humans poking around there, so Soundwave sent in [[Ratbat (ROTF)|Ratbat]], [[Rumble (ROTF)|Rumble]] and [[Beastbox (ROTF)|Beastbox]] to attack. Surprisingly [[Initiative|the humans]] were a match for the Decepticons, and Soundwave moved in to take direct action, however at that point the Autobots arrived. Soundwave destroyed [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], but when the human forces pulled out, so too did Soundwave. To his surprise, he found he wasn't able to track where the departing humans had gone. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 1|Nefarious #1}}

[[Image:Nefarious3 Soundwave bondage.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Ravage was reactivated by Buzzsaw, allowing Soundwave to access his memories. Acting on one memory, he sent Buzzsaw to help [[Strike Team Ursa]] while he rendezvoused with Ravage for an examination. When Strike Team Ursa triggered defenses, Soundwave warned them to withdraw. They did, but ran into [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], and Soundwave was forced to come to their aid. Unfortunately, Optimus Prime was also on the way, and Soundwave was no match for the Autobot leader. He tried to suggest it would be advantageous for them to let him go, but Optimus took him into custody. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 2|Nefarious #2}} Soundwave was secured and put on a plane bound for [[Odessa]], [[Texas]], however the plane was shot down by Buzzsaw, and then [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]'s team had [[Dirt Boss (ROTF)|Dirt Boss]] and Soundwave's minions to contend with as well. Soundwave tried to get Ravage to free him, but the cat's free will was overridden by an external force. In the end, Soundwave was too much trouble and Bumblebee let the Decepticons have him back. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 3|Nefarious #3}}

Soundwave tracked Ravage back to the [[Initiative base]] in [[California]]. After sending the other Decepticons in first to test the base's defenses, he moved in himself, only to find that the foe he faced had an army of brainwashed Transformers. He somehow escaped them and proceeded to the NEST base in Odessa. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 4|Nefarious #4}} He led the Autobots to the base's location, though he "neglected" to tell them about the brainwashed Transformers, but the base was gone, leading to the conclusion it was somehow mobile. Tapping into traffic cameras, he traced the base to [[Oregon]]. When they got there and began the assault, Soundwave was snootily dismissive of the Autobots' combat banter. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 5|Nefarious #5}} While the Initiative was distracted, Soundwave was able to reactivate Ravage and send [[Reedman]] to attack Initiative head [[Carter Newell]]. When Newell tried to flee with the AllSpark, Soundwave ordered Buzzsaw to assist Optimus Prime in pursuing him. It was only after everything was over that NEST discovered that the Initiative databanks had been mysteriously picked clean... {{storylink|Nefarious issue 6|Nefarious #6}}

Adopting a new body, Soundwave then took up residence at Megatron's base in [[Namibia]]. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 2|Rising Storm #2}} When [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] discovered [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]'s [[Driller]] in the [[Adirondack Mountains]], Soundwave was present to jam their communications and then send his minions to attack them. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3|Rising Storm #3}} With Elita-One leaving to warn the Autobots about Shockwave in person, the other two were surrounded by Soundwave and his animals. They chose to sacrifice themselves using a powerful bomb, though Soundwave managed to escape the explosion and return to Namibia. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4|Rising Storm #4}}

===Cyber Missions===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Bronco D. Jackson]] (English), [[Salvador Reyes]] (Latin American-Spanish)

[[Image:CyberMission1-Soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Through the dark, to the light, it's a super sonic flight!
Gotta keep it goin'!]]

{{quote|No! Too many sonic booms! I can't absorb—!}}

When Soundwave and [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] descended on [[Diego Garcia]], they interrupted an Autobot mission briefing. While Ironhide headed outside to face Bludgeon, Bumblebee remained inside to guard the Autobots' precious [[datatrax|data tracks]] from Soundwave. Bumblebee fired shot after shot, but Soundwave was able to simply use his sonic powers to repel the attacks back towards Bumblebee. However, Bumblebee gambled that Soundwave would be unable to repel a great number of attacks simultaneously, and the Decepticon was overwhelmed by Bumblebee's automatic weaponry. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 1}} Bumblebee confined Soundwave inside a vacuum-sealed electromagnetic bubble, where his sonic weaponry would be useless. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 2}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines post-''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Instructed by Megatron to "hound" humans and "get up close and personal" in his attacks, Soundwave cut a swathe of destruction across the North Atlantic, destroying ships as he headed on a course towards Florida. Identifying his pattern, [[William Lennox]] and [[Robert Epps]] staged an ambush, laying out a cargo ship for Soundwave to attack and then blindsiding him with a volley from a hidden warship. Badly damaged in the surprise assault, Soundwave was forced to retreat, venturing into the confines of...the [[Bermuda Triangle]]! (Dun dun dunnnn!)

[[Image:Titan15_Soundwaveghostship.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Bustin' makes ghosts feel good!]]

Amidst the storm clouds, Soundwave discovered another ship that he decided to attack out of spite, but faltered when his databanks identified it as a [[United States Navy]] vessel that had been lost in [[1918]]. Caught off-guard by a volley of primitive weaponsfire (even for humans!) and damaged even further, Soundwave tried to limp away, only to cross paths with ''another'' mystery ship, this one allegedly from [[1941]]! Pelted from both sides and unable to get a handle on his situation, Soundwave fled high into the air, out of the ships' range...and right in the path of a squadron of [[World War II]] bombers! Rattled by their machine gun fire and unable to overcome their superior flying skills, Soundwave decided to break upwards...''all'' the way upwards. Whatever strange chronal chaos he had encountered in the depths of the Bermuda Triangle, Soundwave concluded that the solar radiation, meteor showers and space debris he would face on the ''[[Moon (moon)|moon]]'' would be ''much'' safer! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.15|Making Waves}}

===Titan Magazines pre-''Dark of the Moon'' comics===

[[Image:Titan3-3_soundwaveyoutwo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Look out! Soundwave is pretending to be the Fat Controller!]]

When the Autobots were about to discover an ''Ark'' fragment that could lead them to [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]], Soundwave and Starscream sprang into action. From his position in high orbit, Soundwave hacked and took over NEST's defensive guns and left the [[Italy|Fiesole]] Cathedral wide open. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.1|Fight for Fiesole}}

Striking out on his own and using a brand new body, Soundwave scanned the Earth for a large seam of gold and, having discovered the legendary El Dorado in [[Colombia]], used the human [[Tanto Gang]] to help him dig it up. Once they found it, he began shooting at them: he wanted it for himself so he could flood the markets with gold and crash our economy! NEST attempted to stop him and he fought Optimus Prime directly, but in the end he was driven off when the Tanto Gang triggered a bomb for revenge. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.2|Blood And Gold}}

Soundwave then allowed NEST to find him, pretending to be injured from the battle... and then opened fire with full weaponry, injuring [[Robert Epps]] and nearly killing Bumblebee. When Optimus arrived, Soundwave was able to force him to agree to a fight without weapons (''Optimus''' weapons anyway) and attempted to blast him off the [[Spain|Sierra Nevada]] mountains. Unfortunately for him, he got too into it and his sonic blasts began to cause avalanches, while Optimus was able to locate a fissure in the rock and sneak up behind him. Surprised, he was shoved into the avalanche he'd start and almost killed.

Somehow, Soundwave had also gained the power to transform from alien satellite form into a robot form that looked like it turned into a car!{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.3|Dealing with the Devil}}

{{-}}

===''Dark of the Moon'' film===
:''Voice actor''; [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Jirō Saitō]] (Japanese), [[Leonardo García]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Mario Bombardieri]] (Italian)

During the 1970s, Soundwave had tried to hide the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'s presence on the [[moon (moon)|moon]] by gaining human contacts in the [[United States of America|United States]] and [[Soviet Union]], whose creative accounting would render further trips to the moon financially unfeasible. One of these was [[Dylan Gould|Dylan Gould's]] father, while Dylan himself would later accept Soundwave as a ''client''. But with the failure of Megatron and The Fallen's schemes, the Decepticons now planned to alert [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] to the ship's existence so he could revive [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] with the [[Matrix of Leadership]] for them.

Soundwave went undercover on Earth as a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. He and his winged minion [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]] visited the incapicitated Megatron in [[Africa]], and informed the ex-tyrant that Optimus had discovered an Ark fuel cell at the [[Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant]], and had recovered the body of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] and five of his Space Bridge [[Pillar|pillars]]. Megatron decided it was time to eliminate loose ends in their plan, so Soundwave sent Laserbeak to further draw out the Autobots by killing many of their human contacts, including [[Jerry Wang]].

Meanwhile, the disguised Soundwave was "given" by their human ally Dylan, the one human they did not kill, as a gift to [[Sam Witwicky]]'s new girlfriend [[Carly Spencer]]. During a party hosted by Gould, Sam and Carly tried to leave, only for Soundwave and Laserbeak to reveal themselves, and the sonic warrior took Carly hostage. Gould explained his relationship with the two Decepticons while Soundwave used his tentacles to threaten Carly. The pair forced Sam into finding out the Autobot's plan for a counter-attack.

[[Image:DOTMBeekillsSoundwave.jpg|thumb|left|300px|I still have my second head!]]

During the Decepticon occupation of [[Chicago]], Soundwave took several Autobots prisoner until Gould stated that things had gotten personal and the Autobots needed a lesson of respect, and Soundwave happily concurred: "No prisoners, only trophies". He and [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] began by executing [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]]. He then selected [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] to be his victim and dragged him forward, pushing him onto the body of his fallen comrade. He then told the Autobot to turn around and was about to execute him when he was distracted by [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] and [[Brains]]'s sabotage of a Decepticon aircraft carrier, raining [[Orbital Assault Carrier|fighters]] onto the battlefield. The Autobot scout took advantage of this small slip of opportunity and punched Soundwave. The two warriors battled, with Bumblebee shooting Soundwave in the leg, which caused him to drop one of his guns. He then delivered the final blow by throwing an uppercut to Soundwave's torso and shooting Soundwave upwards, disintegrating his head. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Jessop]] (English)

=====Decepticon campaign=====
[[Image:ROTF_360PS3PC_DLC_Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px|]]

{{charstubfiction}}

{{Note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Soundwave was made available as a playable character (for multiplayer games) as optional downloadable content for Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3 owners. However, instead of the silver colour scheme established on his regular release toys and movie appearance, the character model was coloured blue, like [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] Soundwave figure from the ''Gathering at Nemesis'' figure pack. His special attack in robot mode consisted of a deployable turret that generated earthquakes, a reference to [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who was one of Generation 1 Soundwave's tape minions. While using his special in vehicle mode deployed a radar jammer pod in the sky that also fired a laser at nearby enemies, a likely reference to Laserbeak, another of Generation 1 Soundwave's tape minions.}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Wii/PS2)===
{{charstubfiction}}

===Transformers Autobots/Decepticons===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons}}

===''Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]]

====(Xbox 360/PS3)====
[[Image:DOTMgameSoundwave.jpg|thumb|250px|BOOMIN'! Outcha' stereo systum!]]
During Megatron's exile after the Egypt skirmish, Soundwave remained in orbit, monitoring Autobot transmissions and messages to send to his leader for information. Soon, Soundwave was ordered to disconnect from the satellite as Bumblebee had implanted a virus into his network which allowed the Autobots to follow Decepticon operations.

After landing on the planet and taking the form of an SUV, he was ordered to destroy a base that formerly served as a [[Sector Seven]] facility. Megatron required Soundwave to do so because it contained information on their ally contained in Russia. Soundwave completed this with the utmost efficiency, destroying every Autobot encountered and displaying great courage as he blasted Autobot scouts from the inside of a laser cage. After exploring the corridors of the base and having Laserbeak incapacitate anyone standing in his way, Soundwave destroyed the base and escaped the erupting base unscathed, as did his condor companion.

He later helped escort Megatron to [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave's]] location in a cryogenics facility in a Soviet country, and appeared in Africa with Megatron, Starscream and Shockwave as Megatron announced his plans were far from over.
{{storylink|Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class toys====
*'''Soundwave''' (Legends, 2009)
[[Image:ROTFLegends Soundwave.jpg|right|300px|thumb|No matter what mode you put him in, he is always ready to get down and dirty with unsuspecting satellites.]]

: Part of the fifth wave of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Legends Class]] figures, Soundwave transforms into a simplified version of his satellite alt mode which is notable for being more movie-accurate than his Deluxe Class toy. The satellite head is completely covered in blue, however. Amusingly enough, his chest is sculpted in his Deluxe toy's flipped-up 'mode' (with the three circles showing) but is painted in the colors of the Deluxe's flipped-down form (shown on the Deluxe toy's packaging).

{{-}}

*'''Infiltrator Soundwave''' (EZ Collection, 2010)
[[Image:EZCollectionInfiltratorSoundwave.jpg|thumb|]]

: In Japan, Legends class Soundwave was [[redeco]]ed as Infiltrator Soundwave (インフィルトレイターサウンドウェーブ) to match the colors of Deluxe Infiltration Soundwave (see below). He was part of the Japanese ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' promotion, and was only available to those who bought the Voyager "[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] VS [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]" set at Amazon.jp and Yamada Denki stores.

{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|War fork!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-04'''
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

:Part of the initial Movie Preview wave, Soundwave is a [[Triple Changer]], transforming into a satellite and a Cybertron jet, which are not exactly what could be described as "distinct" from one another. In all three modes, Soundwave features a spring-loaded missile launcher which fires a missile intended to resemble [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]], in reference to the scene in the film in which he launches the feline fiend down at Earth. In his (rather stocky) robot mode, Soundwave has blue light piping in his visor, but it is disabled, having been painted over in red; his other modes feature a second, armored version of his face, which is stored on the back of his robot mode. Probably to avoid giving the toy a very obviously two-headed robot mode, the alternate face lacks any paint details, and has an unpainted blue visor. Soundwave features numerous red and gold [[Paint operation|paint application]]s which are ''very'' cleverly and subtly positioned around his body to replicate similarly-colored and -positioned details on the [[Soundwave (G1)|original Soundwave toy]].

:The configuration for the satellite mode depicted in the toy's instructions is not the way Soundwave appears in the film, featuring a different angling for the panels on his shoulders. It's not a big change, but transforming the toy in accordance with his movie appearance ''does'' help to distinguish the jet from the satellite a little, since otherwise, virtually the only difference is in the positioning of the large panel "wings".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/Soundwave/soundwave.htm More information on Soundwave at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|GatheringNemesis}}
[[Image:ROTFtoy-GatheringattheNemesis.jpg|right|thumb|300px|You can get him in blue, but you gotta get those other guys, too!]]
*'''Gathering at Nemesis''' (Figure multi-pack, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

: A [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] three pack (technically four pack if you want to count the Ravage missile), also featuring The Fallen, and a silver Voyager Class Megatron from the first movie toyline. Soundwave is [[redeco]]ed predominantly in blue as an homage to the [[Soundwave (G1)|original Soundwave]]. The Fallen was unchanged from his original release.

{{-}}{{anchor|BlackVersion}}
[[Image:CharaHobbyROTFSoundwaveBlack.jpg|thumb|300px| So...waiting for any ROTF Soundblaster jokes...]]
*'''Soundwave Black Version''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile
:Exclusive to the 2009 "C3 X Hobby Chara Hobby" show that ran across [[August 29]]-[[August 30|30]] in Japan, Soundwave Black Version is a redeco of the deluxe ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Soundwave toy in black and red with orange highlights. Following the convention, remaining quantities of the figure were made available to purchase via lottery through the [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] website.

::*''[http://www.e-hobby.co.jp/cgi-bin/omc?port=33301&req=PRODUCT&code=tf_ev_07 Soundwave Black Version at e-Hobby]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Infiltration}}
[[Image:ROTFtoy-SoundwaveNESTAlliance.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Look out for Escalation Soundwave, Devastation Soundwave, and Soundwave Loves Drift-Chan.]]
*'''Battlefield Bumblebee Vs. Infiltration Soundwave''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

:Part of the [[N.E.S.T. Global Alliance]] campaign, Infiltration Soundwave is another redeco of the Deluxe Class Soundwave mold, this time in dark blue and dark gray, plus bright red that simulates the intense heat of orbital reentry. He also comes with new light-piping that ''isn't'' painted over. He comes with Battlefield Bumblebee, a retooling of Cannon Bumblebee with a new battlemask head. Also included in the packaging is a "Mission Guide" catalog and ordering form for the mail-in exclusive Recon Ravage, a "starter sticker" for said ordering form, and a N.E.S.T. Global Alliance iron-on patch. Two additional stickers from specially-marked N.E.S.T. Global Alliance products and $4.95 shipping are required for the promotion. Sadly, this promotion does not exist in Europe or Australia, but Recon Ravage was made available in the latter country as a Toys R Us exclusive. Surprisingly, the package does not recognize his Cybertron jet mode, instead only acknowledging his satellite mode. His instructions ''do'' still mention his jet mode, though.
{{-}}

===Dark of the Moon===
====Cyberverse====
{{anchor|BeeSoundwaveRodimus}}
[[Image:DOTMCyberverseBumblebeeVsSoundwaveWRod.jpg|thumb|300px|Nope, definitely not a car in the third film. Nooooo way.]]
*'''Bumblebee / Soundwave''' with '''Rodimus''' (Cyberverse 3-pack, 2011)

:Part of a [[Walmart]] exclusive pack alongside [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#BeeSoundwaveRodimus|Bumblebee]] and [[Rodimus (DOTM)|Rodimus]], Soundwave is a redeco of the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Legends Class Soundwave, with a new deco inspired by the [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive ''Gathering at Nemesis'' gift set (see above), which in turn was heavily influenced by [[Generation 1]] [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. The toy is mostly blue with grey, black, and some gold on his solar panels.
{{-}}

{{anchor|CyberverseLegion}}
[[Image:DOTMLegionSoundwave.JPG|thumb|300px| Inside is a teeny Carly being menaced by tentacles.]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Cyberverse, 2011)
**''Series:''
**''Number:''
**''Japanese ID number:''
:This all-new Cyberverse Soundwave mold transforms into a fully-licensed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:DOTMtoy_deluxe_soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Remember, if a stranger asks you to go into his car, he's probably driving a giant evil robot with a satellite fetish.]]
*'''Soundwave''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:''
**''Accessories:'' MechTech Satellite Dish/Shoulder Cannon
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Human Alliance====
[[Image:DOTMtoy_HA_soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|All these features, and yet no tentacles?! You robbed us, Hasbro!]]
*'''Soundwave / Mr. Gould''' with '''Laserbeak''' (Human Alliance, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:''
**''Accessories:''

:A new Human Alliance mold of Soundwave in his SLS AMG mode. He comes with Laserbeak and [[Dylan Gould]]. He has "SUPERIOR" tampographed on his license plate.

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Burger King===
[[Image:ROTFMerchandise-BurgerKingSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|300px|I spy with my little eye.....impending tentacle rape.]]
*'''Seeking Soundwave''' (2009)
**'''Accessories:''' 2 blue solar panels
:The [[Burger King]] version of Soundwave is a representation of the communications satellite which Soundwave hacked into in the movie. The dishes have tendril details added to them. Peering into an opening in the top gives a sort of periscope effect, although as there is only one mirror, everything looks backwards.

{{-}}
[[Image:DOTMMerchandise-BurgerKingSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|150px]]
*'''Flip-Out Soundwave''' (2011)
:A plastic Soundwave head which opens to allow a small body to flip-out, resulting in a "super-deformed" figure which is otherwise reasonably accurate to his on-screen appearance. Circles on his front and back are daubed with glow-in-the-dark paint.
{{-}}

===RPMs - Robot Powered Machines===
*'''Soundwave''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''04 of 08''' (only 6 released)

:''[[Robot Powered Machines]]'' Soundwave is a small, non-transforming pseudo-Scion XB with his robot mode sculpted underneath. Said robot mode resembles [[Soundwave (Prime)|another Soundwave]] for some reason. The car's wheels feature through-axle construction for speedy racing on flat surfaces. Unlike other RPMs, Soundwave, along with the rest of the Metal Heroes, is made of [[die-cast]] metal.

:This toy features many differences in comparison to the [[Speed Stars]] release. Namely, the Speed Stars version lacks paint in the doors, as well as the chest, arms, legs and face of the "robot" mode, unlike the RPM release that has this fully painted. The plastic in the bottom of the car is cast in a different color: the RPM version is bronze while the Speed Stars version is golden. In addition, the RPM release has "Soundwave-Audio" written on the inferior part of the doors as well as having the tail lights painted (in red). The red that borders the rims of his wheels is also brighter and more vibrant.

:RPM Soundwave is probably the most homage-heavy Transformer ever produced: he has [[Soundwave (Animated)|''Animated'' Soundwave]] alt mode and a mix between his regular and Electrostatic incarnations "tattoos", [[Soundwave (Prime)|''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave]] robot mode (which in turn was heavily based in [[Soundwave (G1)|G1 Soundwave]]) and despite this, the bio and toyline clearly identify him as ROTF Soundwave. You can try and add [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Cybertron Soundwave]] to the list if you want, but that would be overkill.

:This toy's American release and the rest of the Metal Heroes were canceled in favor of the [[Speed Stars]] versions of the toys. They have been released in the Philippines, New Zealand and Mexico (at a discounted price compared to past RPM releases), however. Both versions were eventually available at retail in those countries.

{{-}}
{{picsneeded}}

===Speed Stars===
[[Image:SpeedStars_Soundwave_toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|See? You ''have'' your damn ''Prime'' toys, now shut up!!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''04 of 08'''

:Speed Stars Soundwave is a [[redeco]] of the RPM vehicle. All differences between the two releases are listed above. This toy was given away free as part of a Daily Mirror promotion in the UK.

{{-}}

====Stealth Force====
[[Image:SpeedStars_StealthForce_Soundwave_toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Three continuities for the price of one!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Basic, 2010)

:This Soundwave toy is part of the "Stealth Force" subline, consisting of vehicles without robot modes, but with plenty of flip-out panels with hidden weapons. Like the smaller Metal Heroes toy, Soundwave has ''Animated'' Soundwave's Scion XB altmode and features ''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave on his packaging. He features non-firing weapons hidden all throughout the toy, activated by pulling part of the roof back.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:EarlyMovieBlackout.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A Soundwave-headed Blackout from an animatic.]]
[[Image:ROTFEarthSoundwaveConcept.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Soundwave, before losing weight.]]
* Soundwave was originally supposed to feature in [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'']]; he fulfilled both [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s roles, hacking into the CIA headquarters as a portable stereo, then [[size changing|morphed]] into a Humvee to track down [[Sam Witwicky]].<ref>Details from an early script draft [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2213120&postcount=297 summed up here], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2214148&postcount=303 confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here].</ref> [[Michael Bay]]'s decision to minimalize the amount of morphing in the film resulted in a change to a helicopter who openly attacks the army. Soundwave and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] were changed to [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] as the film's location was changed from a jungle to a desert.<ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage was replaced by Scorponok at the official movie boards]</ref><ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage would have appeared in a different terrain at the official movie boards]
</ref> Soundwave's name remained attached to the separated portable stereo character for a while, but Hasbro felt the resulting character did not properly represent the original Soundwave. He was first renamed Soundbite, but eventually ended up with the name Frenzy.
*According to the trade paperback, Soundwave was a major character in the third draft of ''[[The Reign of Starscream]]''.

* In early drafts of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', Soundwave came to Earth and scanned a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck form. Artist [[Paul Ozzimo]] created a visualization of this idea, and Hasbro based the Cybertronian satellite form's robot mode on this abandoned concept, particularly a Cybertronian version of the Chevy grill and small headlights on the lower torso. They then combined Ozzimo's body design with an unused, heavily G1-esque head design that had been created by artist [[Josh Nizzi]] (although Soundwave's finalized head design was also incorporated into the toy's satellite mode, in a manner akin to [[kibble#Faux parts|faux parts]]).

*Even though [[Frank Welker]] returned to voice Soundwave for the movie, his voice was not vocoded, but rather synthesized in the same way all the other Transformer voices in the movie were. Because of this, the voice he uses is much closer to that of "The Cave of Wonders" from [[Wikipedia:Aladdin (film)|Walt Disney's ''Aladdin'']], Dr. Claw from ''Inspector Gadget'' and Darkseid from ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians'', all voiced by Welker. However, in the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' video game, Soundwave's voice ([[Peter Jessop]]) is vocoded in a manner similar to that of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]]'s first voice, only with a more musical tone.

*[[Frank Welker]] voiced Soundwave not only in the English version of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', but also in a large number of foreign dubs, including the Italian one. Welker described the process as "very hard".<ref name="welkernewsarama">[http://www.newsarama.com/tv/090915-Animated-Shorts-Welker.html Newsarama interview with Frank Welker], September 2009.</ref> Although Welker is also credited in the German dub of the movie, German dubbing insiders insist that the voice heard in the actual movie is by someone else ([[Horst Lampe]], who also dubbed ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]), presumably as a last-minute decision because Welker's "German" performance was considered sub-standard<ref name="germandub">[http://215072.homepagemodules.de/t511643f11775323-Transformers-Die-Rache-Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen-7.html German dubbing board thread about ROTF, with a discussion about Soundwave's voice]</ref>. Welker is also credited in the Latin American-Spanish dub. (Which character he voiced is not listed, but it was most likely Soundwave, or he could have been credited for Devastator, Ravage, Grindor and Reedman, since all the sounds Welker did for them were kept in the Latin American-Spanish dub.) Doblaje Wiki, on the other hand, claims he was voiced by [[Andrés García]] or [[Salvador Reyes]]. You see, Wikis tend to get confused a lot on this issue.

* Soundwave was included as a downloadable addition to the roster of the Revenge of the Fallen Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 video game, along with several ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' homages and fellow movie character [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]. Soundwave's special abilities deploy an aerial jammer pod that looks suspiciously like [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], and an AOE pod that continuously smashes the ground with piledrivers; undoubtedly a nod to Generation 1 [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s minion [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. According to concept artist [[Ken Christiansen]], his appearance was based more closely on the Deluxe class toy than his movie design.

* Early artwork for Soundwave for ''Dark of the Moon'' identified him as '''Breakdown''', but considering other names presented on other concept artwork, it was likely just a smokescreen to hide his true identity in case of a leak.<ref name="nizzi">[http://www.joshnizzi.com/TF3.htm Josh Nizzi DOTM concepts.]</ref>

[[Image:TF3HasbroSoundwaveBio.JPG|thumb|200px|right|SPOILER ALERT]]
* Before the release of ''Dark of the Moon'', Michael Bay and other official parties tried ''really'' hard to suppress the plot twist of the silver Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG given to Carly by Dylan turning out to be Soundwave's new alternate mode. After the Mercedes had been spotted on the set, with [[Rosie Huntington-Whiteley]] exiting it<ref name="mercedesset">[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=67518 DOTM Set Photos], ComingSoon.net, July 2010.</ref>, the first hint that it was more than meets the eye came with the trailer for the [[Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|video game]], which showed Soundwave's robot mode with car [[kibble]] such as wheels that heavily resembled those of the Mercedes. In addition, [[Rising Storm issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[Rising Storm]]'' depicted Soundwave's robot mode not only with car kibble, but with a Mercedes star on his chest. Despite this, director Michael Bay insisted that the Mercedes was simply Carly's car, claiming that "Mercedes would never let us make their car into a bad Decepticon. Car company's {{sic}} really frown on that. I can't say what the game company and comics do that's their own thing. They don't have the same constraints movies do. It's Carly's car."<ref name="baynomerc">[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?8724-Update-Is-Soundwave-the-silver-Mercedes-on-set-of-DOTM&p=169598&viewfull=1#post169598 Michael Bay's response to the fan theory that Soundwave is the Silver Mercedes.], April 2011.</ref> On April 19, 2011, an event for promoting the ''Spider-Man: Edge of Time'' and ''Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' video games was held in London. As part of this, [[High Moon Studios]] released promotional stills from the ''Dark of the Moon'' game, one of which depicted Soundwave's new robot mode, again with Mercedes parts. However, a news embargo was enforced on the attending press, which was broken by South African video game site [http://egamer.co.za egamer].<ref name="egamera">[http://egamer.co.za/2011/05/exclusive-hands-on-transformers-dark-of-the-moon/ egamer's preview of the ''Dark of the Moon'' video game]</ref> The site was soon asked to take down the article and images, as were various ''Transformers'' fan sites that had reported on the article and mirrored the images. On May 2, 2011, Hasbro's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/ official Transformers website] was given a massive overhaul, including the addition of the new [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/cybertronian-database.cfm Vector Sigma database]. The entry for Soundwave initially identified his alternate mode as a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but was soon changed to "satellite". On May 3, 2011, the embargo for the video game article and promotional stills was finally lifted, allowing sites to freely show the image of Soundwave's new robot mode. Whether Mercedes approved of this remains or not to be seen.
*The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG car prop sported a German/European Union [[license plate]], "'''M JS8509'''", registered in the city of Munich, on the Chicago set for ''Dark of the Moon''.<ref name="chicago">[http://www.flickr.com/photos/aperturesun/archives/date-taken/2010/07/17/ Dark of the Moon Chicago set] at Flickr.</ref> (The design of the plate is slightly inaccurate, as there should be a space between "JS" and "8509" if it were a real German plate. Also, a German car would have a license plate on the front as well.)

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Cyber Missions characters]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Human Alliance]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Satellites]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart exclusives]]

Soundwave (ROTF)

2011-09-20T04:09:17Z

74.99.182.224:

{{faction|decepticonfilm|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]] portion of the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Rotf soundwave satellite mode.jpg|thumb|right|375px|This goes out ta' anyone listnen'!]]

'''Soundwave''', the Decepticon communications officer and one of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s staunchest supporters, doesn't just master the frequencies that carry information across our planet, he revels in them. Stationed high in the upper atmosphere and capable of processing millions of data streams at once, he is fully capable of taking over communications on a planetary scale. Whether he uses this to direct civilization or destroy it remains to be seen.

Soundwave has two extremely powerful weapons: his spread of [[Sonic Cannon]]s... and Megatron. If any Decepticon crosses him, he does not hesitate to send a full record of said Decepticon's failures to Megatron, almost certainly ensuring an untimely demise. His lofty position has made [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] suspicious, so Soundwave has his minion [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] keep an eye on the [[Air Commander]] if he gets out of hand. Soundwave is also nearly defenseless in space, as his devastating Sonic Cannons only work within the atmosphere.<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Hasbro Soundwave Battle Bio]</ref>

{{quote|Nothing moves on the orb below without '''my''' being aware of it. I see and hear everything, be it out the open or behind closed doors. My reach is invisible, intangible. My grip...cast-iron.|Soundwave is watching you...|[[Nefarious issue 1|Nefarious #1]]}}

== Fiction ==
=== Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics ===
[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was in talks with Soundwave to get him to join in the attack on Earth and be in [[Michael Bay]]'s next documentary. Soundwave is known for talking in several frequencies at once, apparently just to be annoying. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|#15's Star Screams}} Starscream doesn't trust Soundwave but notes his intelligence, and so views him as a worthy successor in the event of his death. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|#21's Star Screams}}

=== IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics ===
Thousands of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Soundwave stood by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s side on Unification Day, when a new era of Cybertronian government was ushered in that saw the planet ruled by two bodies—Megatron's [[Defense Force]], of which Soundwave became a part, and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]'s [[Science Division]]. Megatron's lust for power soon led him to claim dominion over Optimus, however, and Soundwave was silently present when Megatron summoned Optimus and made this declaration. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}}

[[Image:Defiance4Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|100px|No full body shot in the movie or comics.]]

Some time later, Megatron came under the influence of [[The Fallen]], who sought to be freed from the [[sarcophagus]] that was his trans-dimensional prison. To this end, Soundwave was assigned captaincy of the newly built spacecraft ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', which would take the sarcophagus across the galaxy to find the world on which The Fallen had built a [[Star Harvester]] millennia beforehand. Soundwave and his crew left Cybertron with The Fallen's sarcophagus just before the outbreak of war. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4}}{{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}}

After thousands of years of searching the stars, Soundwave's ''Nemesis'' detected the faint energy signature of the [[AllSpark]], which had been jettisoned from Cybertron in their absence. Unfortunately for them, so did [[Ark (DOTM)|the Ark]], an Autobot spacecraft that had also left Cybertron after the ''Nemesis'' and which was teleporting around space and time via a [[space bridge]]. The Ark materialized partially within the ''Nemesis'', the intersection of their molecules crippled both ships. While the Ark teleported away, leaving a temporary space bridge portal lingering in its wake, the Decepticons managed to set the ''Nemesis'' down on a barren moon. For the first time, The Fallen, recognizing the space bridge as the technology of [[Dynasty of Primes|his people]], spoke directly into Soundwave's mind, directing him to take the Decepticons aboard the smaller ship ''[[Longshot (DOTM)|Longshot]]'' and follow the Ark through the portal. Complying, Soundwave's crew found themselves hurled into the future, appearing in the vicinity of Earth in the year [[1961]] alongside the Ark. The Autobot craft proceeded to crash on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], and Soundwave quickly determined to keep [[human]]kind from plundering the treasures it contained: mysterious [[pillar]]s that he had his crew set about removing from the ship and stockpiling. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 1}}

Unfortunately for Soundwave, humanity detected the crash of the Ark upon the Moon, and a "space race" began between the [[United States of America]] and the [[Soviet Union]] to be the first to reach the Moon. The Soviets were first to send probes that photographed the moon's surface: in [[1963]], their [[Luna 4]] captured an image of the pillars as they were being moved. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}} Realizing the necessity of infiltrating the ranks of humanity in order to control the flow of data, Soundwave had the [[Alice|Pretender]] kill and replace Spetsnaz agent [[Alisa Morozov]] in [[1964]]; then, in [[1965]], as the Soviets' [[Luna 6]] was in flight, he sent her to [[Soviet Research Station Oktober]] to massacre the scientists awaiting data the probe would send back. Convinced by the Pretender that Humanity could be subverted towards their ends, Soundwave struck a deal with the sole surviving scientist, [[Voskhod]], to curtail further Soviet moon missions. In the process, the Pretender also learned that both America and Russia allegedly had a Cybertronian in their individual custodies, but Soundwave dismissed them as rumors, preferring to focus on the trail of the AllSpark and the Star Harvester. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 2}}

[[Image:RisingStorm2 soundwave voskhod.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]

Realizing that a captive American secret agent, [[Bill Simmons]] had escaped from Research Station Oktober during the Pretender's attack, Soundwave spent two months scanning information lines in search of him, eventually discovering him when he returned to North America and made contact with his superiors. Although the Pretender failed to finish him off, Soundwave had at last learned of Simmons's well-hidden organization: [[Sector Seven]]. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 3}} In [[1969]], he monitored the launch of their [[Ghost 1]] craft, believing it to be of greater importance than the [[Apollo 11]] moon mission, but his guess proved incorrect: Thanks to Soundwave's being distracted, astronauts [[Neil Armstrong]] and [[Buzz Aldrin]] were able to carry out the first brief excavation of the Ark. Incensed by his failure, Soundwave grew even more determined to find a mole within the American space program, and he set [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to find prospective candidates. He found a NASA accountant named Gould and tapped the stock market to provide enough financial persuasion for the human to manipulate the NASA budget to halt moon missions from [[1972]] onwards. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

Soundwave spent the rest of the 1970s recruiting more human pawns to prevent the Ark from being rediscovered. Eventually, in [[1979]], deciding that everything was secure, he and his crew departed Earth on the ''Longshot'' to reconvene with The Fallen back aboard the ''Nemesis'', but with no space bridge portal to teleport them, the voyage took something in the vicinity of fourteen years. A brief talk with The Fallen yielded information: in Soundwave's absence, Megatron had visited the ''Nemesis'', on the trail of the AllSpark. Soundwave realized that his leader must have been one of the Cybertronians in captivity on Earth, and immediately departed to return to the planet, putting most of his crew in statis. Before leaving, he presented The Fallen with one of the pillars from the Ark; after he left, The Fallen used it to finally free himself from his sarcophagus. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

[[Image:SoundwaveAllianceIssue2.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Alas, poor Dreadwing. I knew him, Ravage.]]

During Soundwave's return voyage to Earth, Decepticon forces under the command of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] had arrived on the planet and freed Megatron, only for both the Decepticon leader and the AllSpark to be destroyed in battle in [[Mission City]]. Soundwave returned one month after his leader's death, but detoured briefly to investigate a space-time anomaly on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. There, he discovered a jury-rigged space bridge created from one of the Ark's pillars (created by [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]), the remains of [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing's]], an imprint of [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy's]] body, {{storylink|Alliance issue 2}} and a message from Starscream that informed him of the recent events on Earth. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Soundwave immediately made contact with Starscream, who had just finished battling [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]], and ordered him back to the ''Longshot'' to awaken the rest of his crew from stasis. {{storylink|Alliance issue 2}}{{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Dispatching what few crew members were currently active to begin searching the planet for the Star Harvester, Soundwave assumed the form of a satellite and took up orbit around Earth. {{Storylink|Alliance issue 4}}

As the search continued, Soundwave re-established contact with his many human pawns, including Gould's son [[Dylan Gould|Dylan]], who had inherited his father's role as Decepticon liaison. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

{{-}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
Soundwave appeared unknown to the Autobots.{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.4|New Tricks}} He commanded a small Decepticon cell, based out of [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]' moon [[Phobos]]. While nominally under the command of [[The Fallen]], The Fallen was merely in ''contact'' with the Decepticons and currently incapacitated. This left Soundwave free to do his ''own'' thing... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}

[[Image:Titan4_Soundwaveinterrogate.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only... Oops, wrong movie.]]

One of his goals was to find the location of the [[Tomb of the Primes]]. The aging [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]] [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] knew it but would only tell it to The Fallen. ''Strangely'' unwilling to put The Fallen and Ransack in touch and ''oddly'' preferring to personally know the location of [[Matrix of Leadership|the key to a monstrous superweapon]] himself {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}, Soundwave turned to the dormant Seekers instead. He directed [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] to [[Las Vegas]] to carve up one such Seeker for its "memory tree". He refused to explain the reason ''why'' to Grindor. When [[NEST]] showed up, Soundwave appeared contemptuous of them and their [[Human|whole species]], noting Transformers owned this world ''long'' before mankind. To Grindor, he simply said to get the memory tree to him and not get captured. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|Learning Curve}}

Later, [[Transformers Comic issue 2.2|on The Fallen's orders]], he directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to find [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], find out what they knew about The Fallen's plans and who they'd told it to, and then terminate them. When Ravage had cornered Mudflap, Soundwave talked through him and attempted to interrogate the Autobot; this failed, with Mudflap not even being bothered about who Soundwave was. While the hit was a bust, Soundwave ensured the base was bugged. As a result, he discovered [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]] distrusted the twins.

[[Image:Titan6_SoundwaveIAm.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"[[Sanctuary|There you go]], fellas!"]]

This was something Soundwave found interesting {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.4|New Tricks}} and he hatched a plan to ensure the twins were believed to be traitors: which would ensure nobody would follow up on their intell! Somehow, he got [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] to [[Diego Garcia]] at the same time the twins were there. He then had [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] get captured, so that when he was taken to [[Diego Garcia]] Scorponok would free him. With the Decepticon attacking at the same time the twins were distracting Optimus and on top of previous acts, they seemed guilty and were taken into custody. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}} Soundwave sent [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] to blow up the soldiers escorting the twins to orbitary exile, and [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] parachuted in to convince them to defect. When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] tracked down the twins - who had kidnapped [[Sam Witwicky]] in a failed attempt to convince him to speak to Optimus on their behalf - Soundwave finally landed on Earth and blasted the scout. Soundwave told the twins The Fallen would offer them sanctuary, something they seemed happy to accept... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}}

[[Image:Titan7_Soundwave_GO!.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]

Poor Soundwave soon had to put ''up'' with the twins, as they insisted on chatting through his briefings and dissing the other 'cons. He ''just'' about, through ominous glares, got them to pay attention to their mission: to capture Ransack and bring him in to be "re-educated". This, however, was all a big con on the twins: he just wanted them as expendable bait to draw out Ransack, so Grindor and Sideways could knock him out. Soundwave also spoke for the entire Decepticons when he said that if the twins survived any encounter, ''kill them anyway''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout}}

[[Image:Titan8_Soundwave_FWATT.jpg|right|thumb|200px|KERPOW!]]

Once Ransack was in his hands, Soundwave beat the snot out of him and demanded the location to the Tomb of the Primes. The Seeker still refused to talk, and insulted Soundwave as being a mere cog who could barely understand the big picture. He almost killed Ransack for that, having to be held back by Starscream (don't want The Fallen ''knowing'' you've killed his Seeker!), but the elder continued to mock him for believing he had freedom of action just because The Fallen was absent.

When the twins, revealed to have been faking their defection, returned to beat the crap out of the Phobos base, an annoyed Soundwave ended their brief success with overwhelming violence. Unfortunately, before he could kill the Autobots, Ransack took the opportunity to leg it; desperate to stop The Fallen from being informed of what he'd been up to, Soundwave gave chase and the Phobos base was abandoned. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}} As he's still around later, it seems Soundwave made ''sure'' Ransack never made it to The Fallen...

{{note|The following events occur in the Law and Disorder continuity.}}

[[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] considers Soundwave to be an untrustworthy jerk who ''never'' pulls his weight in a fight. Megatron, however, loves the guy. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|#7's Law and Disorder}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English, French, Italian. Latin American-Spanish?), [[Horst Lampe]] (German), [[Daisuke Gōri]] (Japanese)

[[Image:ROTF-Soundwaveface.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Next time, Gadget. Next time.]]
Soundwave received a transmission from [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]], who was tailing [[Mikaela Banes]], and instructed him to obtain a surviving shard of the [[AllSpark|AllSpark]] in her possession. He found a satellite transmitting a conversation between [[NEST]] and the [[United States military]]. Tapping into it with his tentacles to listen, Soundwave overheard [[Theodore Galloway]] mention another shard of the AllSpark in storage at [[Diego Garcia]], and of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s burial in the [[Laurentian Abyss]].

[[Image:ROTF Soundwave ejects Ravage.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Ravage: Eject. Operation: [[Ruined FOREVER|Childhood rape]].]]

Formulating a plan, Soundwave waited until it would be nightfall on Diego Garcia, then ejected [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] (who was equipped with [[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]] and the [[Microcon (ROTF)|microcons]] comprising [[Reedman]]) to Diego Garcia to steal the shard. Once they had stolen the shard, they reunited with some [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] and managed to resurrect their leader.

Soundwave remained in space, tapping into the satellite he had found. When Megatron decided to reveal the Transformers presence on Earth after killing [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], Soundwave issued the mobilization order to the waiting troops on the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]''. As the Decepticons streaked toward Earth, Soundwave tracked down [[Ron Witwicky|Ron]] and [[Judy Witwicky]] in [[France|Paris]]. He called Judy on her cellphone, demanding to know where Sam was, which the human dismissed as a crank call by a pervert. This allowed the Decepticons to track them down and capture them to use as bait for Sam.

[[Image:SoundwaveSatellite.jpg|thumb|300px|Yes, yes, you fans all thought about ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' when you saw me do this.]]

When the CIA discovered that Sam was in [[Egypt]], Soundwave relayed the information to the Decepticons. During [[Operation: Firestorm]], Soundwave blocked the satellites covering the Egyptian area, making things appear normal. General [[Morshower]] was unconvinced though and got other local informants to know what was happening at the [[pyramid]]s. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

{{note|In the comic, Megatron rendezvous with Soundwave after killing Optimus, making the demand for Sam Witwicky himself, which Soundwave broadcasts through the satellite he clutches. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 2}}}}

{{-}}

===IDW post-''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
Months after the battle in Egypt, Soundwave detected [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] was alive and active, and was furious someone else was ordering his pet around. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 5}} Monitoring Earth, he observed [[Alice]]'s attempt at flight and subsequent termination by [[NEST]]. [[Buzzsaw (ROTF)|Buzzsaw]], who he'd dispatched to [[Kingdom Petrochemicals]] to investigate Ravage's status, reported back that there were non-NEST humans poking around there, so Soundwave sent in [[Ratbat (ROTF)|Ratbat]], [[Rumble (ROTF)|Rumble]] and [[Beastbox (ROTF)|Beastbox]] to attack. Surprisingly [[Initiative|the humans]] were a match for the Decepticons, and Soundwave moved in to take direct action, however at that point the Autobots arrived. Soundwave destroyed [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], but when the human forces pulled out, so too did Soundwave. To his surprise, he found he wasn't able to track where the departing humans had gone. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 1|Nefarious #1}}

[[Image:Nefarious3 Soundwave bondage.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Ravage was reactivated by Buzzsaw, allowing Soundwave to access his memories. Acting on one memory, he sent Buzzsaw to help [[Strike Team Ursa]] while he rendezvoused with Ravage for an examination. When Strike Team Ursa triggered defenses, Soundwave warned them to withdraw. They did, but ran into [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], and Soundwave was forced to come to their aid. Unfortunately, Optimus Prime was also on the way, and Soundwave was no match for the Autobot leader. He tried to suggest it would be advantageous for them to let him go, but Optimus took him into custody. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 2|Nefarious #2}} Soundwave was secured and put on a plane bound for [[Odessa]], [[Texas]], however the plane was shot down by Buzzsaw, and then [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]'s team had [[Dirt Boss (ROTF)|Dirt Boss]] and Soundwave's minions to contend with as well. Soundwave tried to get Ravage to free him, but the cat's free will was overridden by an external force. In the end, Soundwave was too much trouble and Bumblebee let the Decepticons have him back. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 3|Nefarious #3}}

Soundwave tracked Ravage back to the [[Initiative base]] in [[California]]. After sending the other Decepticons in first to test the base's defenses, he moved in himself, only to find that the foe he faced had an army of brainwashed Transformers. He somehow escaped them and proceeded to the NEST base in Odessa. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 4|Nefarious #4}} He led the Autobots to the base's location, though he "neglected" to tell them about the brainwashed Transformers, but the base was gone, leading to the conclusion it was somehow mobile. Tapping into traffic cameras, he traced the base to [[Oregon]]. When they got there and began the assault, Soundwave was snootily dismissive of the Autobots' combat banter. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 5|Nefarious #5}} While the Initiative was distracted, Soundwave was able to reactivate Ravage and send [[Reedman]] to attack Initiative head [[Carter Newell]]. When Newell tried to flee with the AllSpark, Soundwave ordered Buzzsaw to assist Optimus Prime in pursuing him. It was only after everything was over that NEST discovered that the Initiative databanks had been mysteriously picked clean... {{storylink|Nefarious issue 6|Nefarious #6}}

Adopting a new body, Soundwave then took up residence at Megatron's base in [[Namibia]]. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 2|Rising Storm #2}} When [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] discovered [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]'s [[Driller]] in the [[Adirondack Mountains]], Soundwave was present to jam their communications and then send his minions to attack them. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3|Rising Storm #3}} With Elita-One leaving to warn the Autobots about Shockwave in person, the other two were surrounded by Soundwave and his animals. They chose to sacrifice themselves using a powerful bomb, though Soundwave managed to escape the explosion and return to Namibia. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4|Rising Storm #4}}

===Cyber Missions===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Bronco D. Jackson]] (English), [[Salvador Reyes]] (Latin American-Spanish)

[[Image:CyberMission1-Soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Through the dark, to the light, it's a super sonic flight!
Gotta keep it goin'!]]

{{quote|No! Too many sonic booms! I can't absorb—!}}

When Soundwave and [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] descended on [[Diego Garcia]], they interrupted an Autobot mission briefing. While Ironhide headed outside to face Bludgeon, Bumblebee remained inside to guard the Autobots' precious [[datatrax|data tracks]] from Soundwave. Bumblebee fired shot after shot, but Soundwave was able to simply use his sonic powers to repel the attacks back towards Bumblebee. However, Bumblebee gambled that Soundwave would be unable to repel a great number of attacks simultaneously, and the Decepticon was overwhelmed by Bumblebee's automatic weaponry. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 1}} Bumblebee confined Soundwave inside a vacuum-sealed electromagnetic bubble, where his sonic weaponry would be useless. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 2}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines post-''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Instructed by Megatron to "hound" humans and "get up close and personal" in his attacks, Soundwave cut a swathe of destruction across the North Atlantic, destroying ships as he headed on a course towards Florida. Identifying his pattern, [[William Lennox]] and [[Robert Epps]] staged an ambush, laying out a cargo ship for Soundwave to attack and then blindsiding him with a volley from a hidden warship. Badly damaged in the surprise assault, Soundwave was forced to retreat, venturing into the confines of...the [[Bermuda Triangle]]! (Dun dun dunnnn!)

[[Image:Titan15_Soundwaveghostship.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Bustin' makes ghosts feel good!]]

Amidst the storm clouds, Soundwave discovered another ship that he decided to attack out of spite, but faltered when his databanks identified it as a [[United States Navy]] vessel that had been lost in [[1918]]. Caught off-guard by a volley of primitive weaponsfire (even for humans!) and damaged even further, Soundwave tried to limp away, only to cross paths with ''another'' mystery ship, this one allegedly from [[1941]]! Pelted from both sides and unable to get a handle on his situation, Soundwave fled high into the air, out of the ships' range...and right in the path of a squadron of [[World War II]] bombers! Rattled by their machine gun fire and unable to overcome their superior flying skills, Soundwave decided to break upwards...''all'' the way upwards. Whatever strange chronal chaos he had encountered in the depths of the Bermuda Triangle, Soundwave concluded that the solar radiation, meteor showers and space debris he would face on the ''[[Moon (moon)|moon]]'' would be ''much'' safer! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.15|Making Waves}}

===Titan Magazines pre-''Dark of the Moon'' comics===

[[Image:Titan3-3_soundwaveyoutwo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Look out! Soundwave is pretending to be the Fat Controller!]]

When the Autobots were about to discover an ''Ark'' fragment that could lead them to [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]], Soundwave and Starscream sprang into action. From his position in high orbit, Soundwave hacked and took over NEST's defensive guns and left the [[Italy|Fiesole]] Cathedral wide open. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.1|Fight for Fiesole}}

Striking out on his own and using a brand new body, Soundwave scanned the Earth for a large seam of gold and, having discovered the legendary El Dorado in [[Colombia]], used the human [[Tanto Gang]] to help him dig it up. Once they found it, he began shooting at them: he wanted it for himself so he could flood the markets with gold and crash our economy! NEST attempted to stop him and he fought Optimus Prime directly, but in the end he was driven off when the Tanto Gang triggered a bomb for revenge. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.2|Blood And Gold}}

Soundwave then allowed NEST to find him, pretending to be injured from the battle... and then opened fire with full weaponry, injuring [[Robert Epps]] and nearly killing Bumblebee. When Optimus arrived, Soundwave was able to force him to agree to a fight without weapons (''Optimus''' weapons anyway) and attempted to blast him off the [[Spain|Sierra Nevada]] mountains. Unfortunately for him, he got too into it and his sonic blasts began to cause avalanches, while Optimus was able to locate a fissure in the rock and sneak up behind him. Surprised, he was shoved into the avalanche he'd start and almost killed.

Somehow, Soundwave had also gained the power to transform from alien satellite form into a robot form that looked like it turned into a car!{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.3|Dealing with the Devil}}

{{-}}

===''Dark of the Moon'' film===
:''Voice actor''; [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Jirō Saitō]] (Japanese), [[Leonardo García]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Mario Bombardieri]] (Italian)

During the 1970s, Soundwave had tried to hide the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'s presence on the [[moon (moon)|moon]] by gaining human contacts in the [[United States of America|United States]] and [[Soviet Union]], whose creative accounting would render further trips to the moon financially unfeasible. One of these was [[Dylan Gould|Dylan Gould's]] father, while Dylan himself would later accept Soundwave as a ''client''. But with the failure of Megatron and The Fallen's schemes, the Decepticons now planned to alert [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] to the ship's existence so he could revive [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] with the [[Matrix of Leadership]] for them.

Soundwave went undercover on Earth as a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. He and his winged minion [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]] visited the incapicitated Megatron in [[Africa]], and informed the ex-tyrant that Optimus had discovered an Ark fuel cell at the [[Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant]], and had recovered the body of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] and five of his Space Bridge [[Pillar|pillars]]. Megatron decided it was time to eliminate loose ends in their plan, so Soundwave sent Laserbeak to further draw out the Autobots by killing many of their human contacts, including [[Jerry Wang]].

Meanwhile, the disguised Soundwave was "given" by their human ally Dylan, the one human they did not kill, as a gift to [[Sam Witwicky]]'s new girlfriend [[Carly Spencer]]. During a party hosted by Gould, Sam and Carly tried to leave, only for Soundwave and Laserbeak to reveal themselves, and the sonic warrior took Carly hostage. Gould explained his relationship with the two Decepticons while Soundwave used his tentacles to threaten Carly. The pair forced Sam into finding out the Autobot's plan for a counter-attack.

[[Image:DOTMBeekillsSoundwave.jpg|thumb|left|300px|I still have my second head!]]

During the Decepticon occupation of [[Chicago]], Soundwave took several Autobots prisoner until Gould stated that things had gotten personal and the Autobots needed a lesson of respect, and Soundwave happily concurred: "No prisoners, only trophies". He and [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] began by executing [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]]. He then selected [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] to be his victim and dragged him forward, pushing him onto the body of his fallen comrade. He then told the Autobot to turn around and was about to execute him when he was distracted by [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] and [[Brains]]'s sabotage of a Decepticon aircraft carrier, raining [[Orbital Assault Carrier|fighters]] onto the battlefield. The Autobot scout took advantage of this small slip of opportunity and punched Soundwave. The two warriors battled, with Bumblebee shooting Soundwave in the leg, which caused him to drop one of his guns. He then delivered the final blow by throwing an uppercut to Soundwave's torso and shooting Soundwave upwards, disintegrating his head. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Jessop]] (English)

=====Decepticon campaign=====
[[Image:ROTF_360PS3PC_DLC_Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px|]]

{{charstubfiction}}

{{Note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Soundwave was made available as a playable character (for multiplayer games) as optional downloadable content for Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3 owners. However, instead of the silver colour scheme established on his regular release toys and movie appearance, the character model was coloured blue, like [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] Soundwave figure from the ''Gathering at Nemesis'' figure pack. His special attack in robot mode consisted of a deployable turret that generated earthquakes, a reference to [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who was one of Generation 1 Soundwave's tape minions. While using his special in vehicle mode deployed a radar jammer pod in the sky that also fired a laser at nearby enemies, a likely reference to Laserbeak, another of Generation 1 Soundwave's tape minions.}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Wii/PS2)===
{{charstubfiction}}

===Transformers Autobots/Decepticons===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons}}

===''Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]]

====(Xbox 360/PS3)====
[[Image:DOTMgameSoundwave.jpg|thumb|250px|BOOMIN'! Outcha' stereo systum!]]
During Megatron's exile after the Egypt skirmish, Soundwave remained in orbit, monitoring Autobot transmissions and messages to send to his leader for information. Soon, Soundwave was ordered to disconnect from the satellite as Bumblebee had implanted a virus into his network which allowed the Autobots to follow Decepticon operations.

After landing on the planet and taking the form of an SUV, he was ordered to destroy a base that formerly served as a [[Sector Seven]] facility. Megatron required Soundwave to do so because it contained information on their ally contained in Russia. Soundwave completed this with the utmost efficiency, destroying every Autobot encountered and displaying great courage as he blasted Autobot scouts from the inside of a laser cage. After exploring the corridors of the base and having Laserbeak incapacitate anyone standing in his way, Soundwave destroyed the base and escaped the erupting base unscathed, as did his condor companion.

He later helped escort Megatron to [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave's]] location in a cryogenics facility in a Soviet country, and appeared in Africa with Megatron, Starscream and Shockwave as Megatron announced his plans were far from over.
{{storylink|Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class toys====
*'''Soundwave''' (Legends, 2009)
[[Image:ROTFLegends Soundwave.jpg|right|300px|thumb|No matter what mode you put him in, he is always ready to get down and dirty with unsuspecting satellites.]]

: Part of the fifth wave of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Legends Class]] figures, Soundwave transforms into a simplified version of his satellite alt mode which is notable for being more movie-accurate than his Deluxe Class toy. The satellite head is completely covered in blue, however. Amusingly enough, his chest is sculpted in his Deluxe toy's flipped-up 'mode' (with the three circles showing) but is painted in the colors of the Deluxe's flipped-down form (shown on the Deluxe toy's packaging).

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*'''Infiltrator Soundwave''' (EZ Collection, 2010)
[[Image:EZCollectionInfiltratorSoundwave.jpg|thumb|]]

: In Japan, Legends class Soundwave was [[redeco]]ed as Infiltrator Soundwave (インフィルトレイターサウンドウェーブ) to match the colors of Deluxe Infiltration Soundwave (see below). He was part of the Japanese ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' promotion, and was only available to those who bought the Voyager "[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] VS [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]" set at Amazon.jp and Yamada Denki stores.

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====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|War fork!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-04'''
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

:Part of the initial Movie Preview wave, Soundwave is a [[Triple Changer]], transforming into a satellite and a Cybertron jet, which are not exactly what could be described as "distinct" from one another. In all three modes, Soundwave features a spring-loaded missile launcher which fires a missile intended to resemble [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]], in reference to the scene in the film in which he launches the feline fiend down at Earth. In his (rather stocky) robot mode, Soundwave has blue light piping in his visor, but it is disabled, having been painted over in red; his other modes feature a second, armored version of his face, which is stored on the back of his robot mode. Probably to avoid giving the toy a very obviously two-headed robot mode, the alternate face lacks any paint details, and has an unpainted blue visor. Soundwave features numerous red and gold [[Paint operation|paint application]]s which are ''very'' cleverly and subtly positioned around his body to replicate similarly-colored and -positioned details on the [[Soundwave (G1)|original Soundwave toy]].

:The configuration for the satellite mode depicted in the toy's instructions is not the way Soundwave appears in the film, featuring a different angling for the panels on his shoulders. It's not a big change, but transforming the toy in accordance with his movie appearance ''does'' help to distinguish the jet from the satellite a little, since otherwise, virtually the only difference is in the positioning of the large panel "wings".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/Soundwave/soundwave.htm More information on Soundwave at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|GatheringNemesis}}
[[Image:ROTFtoy-GatheringattheNemesis.jpg|right|thumb|300px|You can get him in blue, but you gotta get those other guys, too!]]
*'''Gathering at Nemesis''' (Figure multi-pack, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

: A [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] three pack (technically four pack if you want to count the Ravage missile), also featuring The Fallen, and a silver Voyager Class Megatron from the first movie toyline. Soundwave is [[redeco]]ed predominantly in blue as an homage to the [[Soundwave (G1)|original Soundwave]]. The Fallen was unchanged from his original release.

{{-}}{{anchor|BlackVersion}}
[[Image:CharaHobbyROTFSoundwaveBlack.jpg|thumb|300px| So...waiting for any ROTF Soundblaster jokes...]]
*'''Soundwave Black Version''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile
:Exclusive to the 2009 "C3 X Hobby Chara Hobby" show that ran across [[August 29]]-[[August 30|30]] in Japan, Soundwave Black Version is a redeco of the deluxe ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Soundwave toy in black and red with orange highlights. Following the convention, remaining quantities of the figure were made available to purchase via lottery through the [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] website.

::*''[http://www.e-hobby.co.jp/cgi-bin/omc?port=33301&req=PRODUCT&code=tf_ev_07 Soundwave Black Version at e-Hobby]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Infiltration}}
[[Image:ROTFtoy-SoundwaveNESTAlliance.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Look out for Escalation Soundwave, Devastation Soundwave, and Soundwave Loves Drift-Chan.]]
*'''Battlefield Bumblebee Vs. Infiltration Soundwave''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

:Part of the [[N.E.S.T. Global Alliance]] campaign, Infiltration Soundwave is another redeco of the Deluxe Class Soundwave mold, this time in dark blue and dark gray, plus bright red that simulates the intense heat of orbital reentry. He also comes with new light-piping that ''isn't'' painted over. He comes with Battlefield Bumblebee, a retooling of Cannon Bumblebee with a new battlemask head. Also included in the packaging is a "Mission Guide" catalog and ordering form for the mail-in exclusive Recon Ravage, a "starter sticker" for said ordering form, and a N.E.S.T. Global Alliance iron-on patch. Two additional stickers from specially-marked N.E.S.T. Global Alliance products and $4.95 shipping are required for the promotion. Sadly, this promotion does not exist in Europe or Australia, but Recon Ravage was made available in the latter country as a Toys R Us exclusive. Surprisingly, the package does not recognize his Cybertron jet mode, instead only acknowledging his satellite mode. His instructions ''do'' still mention his jet mode, though.
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===Dark of the Moon===
====Cyberverse====
{{anchor|BeeSoundwaveRodimus}}
[[Image:DOTMCyberverseBumblebeeVsSoundwaveWRod.jpg|thumb|300px|Nope, definitely not a car in the third film. Nooooo way.]]
*'''Bumblebee / Soundwave''' with '''Rodimus''' (Cyberverse 3-pack, 2011)

:Part of a [[Walmart]] exclusive pack alongside [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#BeeSoundwaveRodimus|Bumblebee]] and [[Rodimus (DOTM)|Rodimus]], Soundwave is a redeco of the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Legends Class Soundwave, with a new deco inspired by the [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive ''Gathering at Nemesis'' gift set (see above), which in turn was heavily influenced by [[Generation 1]] [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. The toy is mostly blue with grey, black, and some gold on his solar panels.
{{-}}

{{anchor|CyberverseLegion}}
[[Image:DOTMLegionSoundwave.JPG|thumb|300px| Inside is a teeny Carly being menaced by tentacles.]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Cyberverse, 2011)
**''Series:''
**''Number:''
**''Japanese ID number:''
:This all-new Cyberverse Soundwave mold transforms into a fully-licensed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
{{comingsoontoy}}
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====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:DOTMtoy_deluxe_soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Remember, if a stranger asks you to go into his car, he's probably driving a giant evil robot with a satellite fetish.]]
*'''Soundwave''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:''
**''Accessories:'' MechTech Satellite Dish/Shoulder Cannon
{{comingsoontoy}}
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====Human Alliance====
[[Image:DOTMtoy_HA_soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|All these features, and yet no tentacles?! You robbed us, Hasbro!]]
*'''Soundwave / Mr. Gould''' with '''Laserbeak''' (Human Alliance, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:''
**''Accessories:''

:A new Human Alliance mold of Soundwave in his SLS AMG mode. He comes with Laserbeak and [[Dylan Gould]]. He has "SUPERIOR" tampographed on his license plate.

{{comingsoontoy}}
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==Merchandise==
===Burger King===
[[Image:ROTFMerchandise-BurgerKingSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|300px|I spy with my little eye.....impending tentacle rape.]]
*'''Seeking Soundwave''' (2009)
**'''Accessories:''' 2 blue solar panels
:The [[Burger King]] version of Soundwave is a representation of the communications satellite which Soundwave hacked into in the movie. The dishes have tendril details added to them. Peering into an opening in the top gives a sort of periscope effect, although as there is only one mirror, everything looks backwards.

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[[Image:DOTMMerchandise-BurgerKingSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|150px]]
*'''Flip-Out Soundwave''' (2011)
:A plastic Soundwave head which opens to allow a small body to flip-out, resulting in a "super-deformed" figure which is otherwise reasonably accurate to his on-screen appearance. Circles on his front and back are daubed with glow-in-the-dark paint.
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===RPMs - Robot Powered Machines===
*'''Soundwave''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''04 of 08''' (only 6 released)

:''[[Robot Powered Machines]]'' Soundwave is a small, non-transforming pseudo-Scion XB with his robot mode sculpted underneath. Said robot mode resembles [[Soundwave (Prime)|another Soundwave]] for some reason. The car's wheels feature through-axle construction for speedy racing on flat surfaces. Unlike other RPMs, Soundwave, along with the rest of the Metal Heroes, is made of [[die-cast]] metal.

:This toy features many differences in comparison to the [[Speed Stars]] release. Namely, the Speed Stars version lacks paint in the doors, as well as the chest, arms, legs and face of the "robot" mode, unlike the RPM release that has this fully painted. The plastic in the bottom of the car is cast in a different color: the RPM version is bronze while the Speed Stars version is golden. In addition, the RPM release has "Soundwave-Audio" written on the inferior part of the doors as well as having the tail lights painted (in red). The red that borders the rims of his wheels is also brighter and more vibrant.

:RPM Soundwave is probably the most homage-heavy Transformer ever produced: he has [[Soundwave (Animated)|''Animated'' Soundwave]] alt mode and a mix between his regular and Electrostatic incarnations "tattoos", [[Soundwave (Prime)|''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave]] robot mode (which in turn was heavily based in [[Soundwave (G1)|G1 Soundwave]]) and despite this, the bio and toyline clearly identify him as ROTF Soundwave. You can try and add [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Cybertron Soundwave]] to the list if you want, but that would be overkill.

:This toy's American release and the rest of the Metal Heroes were canceled in favor of the [[Speed Stars]] versions of the toys. They have been released in the Philippines, New Zealand and Mexico (at a discounted price compared to past RPM releases), however. Both versions were eventually available at retail in those countries.

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{{picsneeded}}

===Speed Stars===
[[Image:SpeedStars_Soundwave_toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|See? You ''have'' your damn ''Prime'' toys, now shut up!!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''04 of 08'''

:Speed Stars Soundwave is a [[redeco]] of the RPM vehicle. All differences between the two releases are listed above. This toy was given away free as part of a Daily Mirror promotion in the UK.

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====Stealth Force====
[[Image:SpeedStars_StealthForce_Soundwave_toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Three continuities for the price of one!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Basic, 2010)

:This Soundwave toy is part of the "Stealth Force" subline, consisting of vehicles without robot modes, but with plenty of flip-out panels with hidden weapons. Like the smaller Metal Heroes toy, Soundwave has ''Animated'' Soundwave's Scion XB altmode and features ''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave on his packaging. He features non-firing weapons hidden all throughout the toy, activated by pulling part of the roof back.

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==Notes==
[[Image:EarlyMovieBlackout.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A Soundwave-headed Blackout from an animatic.]]
[[Image:ROTFEarthSoundwaveConcept.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Soundwave, before losing weight.]]
* Soundwave was originally supposed to feature in [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'']]; he fulfilled both [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s roles, hacking into the CIA headquarters as a portable stereo, then [[size changing|morphed]] into a Humvee to track down [[Sam Witwicky]].<ref>Details from an early script draft [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2213120&postcount=297 summed up here], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2214148&postcount=303 confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here].</ref> [[Michael Bay]]'s decision to minimalize the amount of morphing in the film resulted in a change to a helicopter who openly attacks the army. Soundwave and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] were changed to [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] as the film's location was changed from a jungle to a desert.<ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage was replaced by Scorponok at the official movie boards]</ref><ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage would have appeared in a different terrain at the official movie boards]
</ref> Soundwave's name remained attached to the separated portable stereo character for a while, but Hasbro felt the resulting character did not properly represent the original Soundwave. He was first renamed Soundbite, but eventually ended up with the name Frenzy.
*According to the trade paperback, Soundwave was a major character in the third draft of ''[[The Reign of Starscream]]''.

* In early drafts of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', Soundwave came to Earth and scanned a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck form. Artist [[Paul Ozzimo]] created a visualization of this idea, and Hasbro based the Cybertronian satellite form's robot mode on this abandoned concept, particularly a Cybertronian version of the Chevy grill and small headlights on the lower torso. They then combined Ozzimo's body design with an unused, heavily G1-esque head design that had been created by artist [[Josh Nizzi]] (although Soundwave's finalized head design was also incorporated into the toy's satellite mode, in a manner akin to [[kibble#Faux parts|faux parts]]).

*Even though [[Frank Welker]] returned to voice Soundwave for the movie, his voice was not vocoded, but rather synthesized in the same way all the other Transformer voices in the movie were. Because of this, the voice he uses is much closer to that of "The Cave of Wonders" from [[Wikipedia:Aladdin (film)|Walt Disney's ''Aladdin'']], Dr. Claw from ''Inspector Gadget'' and Darkseid from ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians'', all voiced by Welker. However, in the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' video game, Soundwave's voice ([[Peter Jessop]]) is vocoded in a manner similar to that of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]]'s first voice, only with a more musical tone.

*[[Frank Welker]] voiced Soundwave not only in the English version of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', but also in a large number of foreign dubs, including the Italian one. Welker described the process as "very hard".<ref name="welkernewsarama">[http://www.newsarama.com/tv/090915-Animated-Shorts-Welker.html Newsarama interview with Frank Welker], September 2009.</ref> Although Welker is also credited in the German dub of the movie, German dubbing insiders insist that the voice heard in the actual movie is by someone else ([[Horst Lampe]], who also dubbed ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]), presumably as a last-minute decision because Welker's "German" performance was considered sub-standard<ref name="germandub">[http://215072.homepagemodules.de/t511643f11775323-Transformers-Die-Rache-Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen-7.html German dubbing board thread about ROTF, with a discussion about Soundwave's voice]</ref>. Welker is also credited in the Latin American-Spanish dub. (Which character he voiced is not listed, but it was most likely Soundwave, or he could have been credited for Devastator, Ravage, Grindor and Reedman, since all the sounds Welker did for them were kept in the Latin American-Spanish dub.) Doblaje Wiki, on the other hand, claims he was voiced by [[Andrés García]] or [[Salvador Reyes]]. You see, Wikis tend to get confused a lot on this issue.

* Soundwave was included as a downloadable addition to the roster of the Revenge of the Fallen Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 video game, along with several ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' homages and fellow movie character [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]. Soundwave's special abilities deploy an aerial jammer pod that looks suspiciously like [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], and an AOE pod that continuously smashes the ground with piledrivers; undoubtedly a nod to Generation 1 [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s minion [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. According to concept artist [[Ken Christiansen]], his appearance was based more closely on the Deluxe class toy than his movie design.

* Early artwork for Soundwave for ''Dark of the Moon'' identified him as '''Breakdown''', but considering other names presented on other concept artwork, it was likely just a smokescreen to hide his true identity in case of a leak.<ref name="nizzi">[http://www.joshnizzi.com/TF3.htm Josh Nizzi DOTM concepts.]</ref>

[[Image:TF3HasbroSoundwaveBio.JPG|thumb|200px|right|SPOILER ALERT]]
* Before the release of ''Dark of the Moon'', Michael Bay and other official parties tried ''really'' hard to suppress the plot twist of the silver Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG given to Carly by Dylan turning out to be Soundwave's new alternate mode. After the Mercedes had been spotted on the set, with [[Rosie Huntington-Whiteley]] exiting it<ref name="mercedesset">[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=67518 DOTM Set Photos], ComingSoon.net, July 2010.</ref>, the first hint that it was more than meets the eye came with the trailer for the [[Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|video game]], which showed Soundwave's robot mode with car [[kibble]] such as wheels that heavily resembled those of the Mercedes. In addition, [[Rising Storm issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[Rising Storm]]'' depicted Soundwave's robot mode not only with car kibble, but with a Mercedes star on his chest. Despite this, director Michael Bay insisted that the Mercedes was simply Carly's car, claiming that "Mercedes would never let us make their car into a bad Decepticon. Car company's {{sic}} really frown on that. I can't say what the game company and comics do that's their own thing. They don't have the same constraints movies do. It's Carly's car."<ref name="baynomerc">[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?8724-Update-Is-Soundwave-the-silver-Mercedes-on-set-of-DOTM&p=169598&viewfull=1#post169598 Michael Bay's response to the fan theory that Soundwave is the Silver Mercedes.], April 2011.</ref> On April 19, 2011, an event for promoting the ''Spider-Man: Edge of Time'' and ''Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' video games was held in London. As part of this, [[High Moon Studios]] released promotional stills from the ''Dark of the Moon'' game, one of which depicted Soundwave's new robot mode, again with Mercedes parts. However, a news embargo was enforced on the attending press, which was broken by South African video game site [http://egamer.co.za egamer].<ref name="egamera">[http://egamer.co.za/2011/05/exclusive-hands-on-transformers-dark-of-the-moon/ egamer's preview of the ''Dark of the Moon'' video game]</ref> The site was soon asked to take down the article and images, as were various ''Transformers'' fan sites that had reported on the article and mirrored the images. On May 2, 2011, Hasbro's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/ official Transformers website] was given a massive overhaul, including the addition of the new [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/cybertronian-database.cfm Vector Sigma database]. The entry for Soundwave initially identified his alternate mode as a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but was soon changed to "satellite". On May 3, 2011, the embargo for the video game article and promotional stills was finally lifted, allowing sites to freely show the image of Soundwave's new robot mode. Whether Mercedes approved of this remains or not to be seen.
*The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG car prop sported a German/European Union [[license plate]], "'''M JS8509'''", registered in the city of Munich, on the Chicago set for ''Dark of the Moon''.<ref name="chicago">[http://www.flickr.com/photos/aperturesun/archives/date-taken/2010/07/17/ Dark of the Moon Chicago set] at Flickr.</ref> (The design of the plate is slightly inaccurate, as there should be a space between "JS" and "8509" if it were a real German plate. Also, a German car would have a license plate on the front as well.)

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Cyber Missions characters]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Human Alliance]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Satellites]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart exclusives]]

Soundwave (ROTF)

2011-09-20T04:07:11Z

74.99.182.224: /* (Xbox 360/PS3) */

{{faction|decepticonfilm|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]] portion of the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Rotf soundwave satellite mode.jpg|thumb|right|375px|Just wait till he tentacle rapes that other satellite!]]

'''Soundwave''', the Decepticon communications officer and one of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s staunchest supporters, doesn't just master the frequencies that carry information across our planet, he revels in them. Stationed high in the upper atmosphere and capable of processing millions of data streams at once, he is fully capable of taking over communications on a planetary scale. Whether he uses this to direct civilization or destroy it remains to be seen.

Soundwave has two extremely powerful weapons: his spread of [[Sonic Cannon]]s... and Megatron. If any Decepticon crosses him, he does not hesitate to send a full record of said Decepticon's failures to Megatron, almost certainly ensuring an untimely demise. His lofty position has made [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] suspicious, so Soundwave has his minion [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] keep an eye on the [[Air Commander]] if he gets out of hand. Soundwave is also nearly defenseless in space, as his devastating Sonic Cannons only work within the atmosphere.<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Hasbro Soundwave Battle Bio]</ref>

{{quote|Nothing moves on the orb below without '''my''' being aware of it. I see and hear everything, be it out the open or behind closed doors. My reach is invisible, intangible. My grip...cast-iron.|Soundwave is watching you...|[[Nefarious issue 1|Nefarious #1]]}}

== Fiction ==
=== Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics ===
[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was in talks with Soundwave to get him to join in the attack on Earth and be in [[Michael Bay]]'s next documentary. Soundwave is known for talking in several frequencies at once, apparently just to be annoying. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|#15's Star Screams}} Starscream doesn't trust Soundwave but notes his intelligence, and so views him as a worthy successor in the event of his death. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|#21's Star Screams}}

=== IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics ===
Thousands of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Soundwave stood by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s side on Unification Day, when a new era of Cybertronian government was ushered in that saw the planet ruled by two bodies—Megatron's [[Defense Force]], of which Soundwave became a part, and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]'s [[Science Division]]. Megatron's lust for power soon led him to claim dominion over Optimus, however, and Soundwave was silently present when Megatron summoned Optimus and made this declaration. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}}

[[Image:Defiance4Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|100px|No full body shot in the movie or comics.]]

Some time later, Megatron came under the influence of [[The Fallen]], who sought to be freed from the [[sarcophagus]] that was his trans-dimensional prison. To this end, Soundwave was assigned captaincy of the newly built spacecraft ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', which would take the sarcophagus across the galaxy to find the world on which The Fallen had built a [[Star Harvester]] millennia beforehand. Soundwave and his crew left Cybertron with The Fallen's sarcophagus just before the outbreak of war. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4}}{{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}}

After thousands of years of searching the stars, Soundwave's ''Nemesis'' detected the faint energy signature of the [[AllSpark]], which had been jettisoned from Cybertron in their absence. Unfortunately for them, so did [[Ark (DOTM)|the Ark]], an Autobot spacecraft that had also left Cybertron after the ''Nemesis'' and which was teleporting around space and time via a [[space bridge]]. The Ark materialized partially within the ''Nemesis'', the intersection of their molecules crippled both ships. While the Ark teleported away, leaving a temporary space bridge portal lingering in its wake, the Decepticons managed to set the ''Nemesis'' down on a barren moon. For the first time, The Fallen, recognizing the space bridge as the technology of [[Dynasty of Primes|his people]], spoke directly into Soundwave's mind, directing him to take the Decepticons aboard the smaller ship ''[[Longshot (DOTM)|Longshot]]'' and follow the Ark through the portal. Complying, Soundwave's crew found themselves hurled into the future, appearing in the vicinity of Earth in the year [[1961]] alongside the Ark. The Autobot craft proceeded to crash on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], and Soundwave quickly determined to keep [[human]]kind from plundering the treasures it contained: mysterious [[pillar]]s that he had his crew set about removing from the ship and stockpiling. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 1}}

Unfortunately for Soundwave, humanity detected the crash of the Ark upon the Moon, and a "space race" began between the [[United States of America]] and the [[Soviet Union]] to be the first to reach the Moon. The Soviets were first to send probes that photographed the moon's surface: in [[1963]], their [[Luna 4]] captured an image of the pillars as they were being moved. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}} Realizing the necessity of infiltrating the ranks of humanity in order to control the flow of data, Soundwave had the [[Alice|Pretender]] kill and replace Spetsnaz agent [[Alisa Morozov]] in [[1964]]; then, in [[1965]], as the Soviets' [[Luna 6]] was in flight, he sent her to [[Soviet Research Station Oktober]] to massacre the scientists awaiting data the probe would send back. Convinced by the Pretender that Humanity could be subverted towards their ends, Soundwave struck a deal with the sole surviving scientist, [[Voskhod]], to curtail further Soviet moon missions. In the process, the Pretender also learned that both America and Russia allegedly had a Cybertronian in their individual custodies, but Soundwave dismissed them as rumors, preferring to focus on the trail of the AllSpark and the Star Harvester. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 2}}

[[Image:RisingStorm2 soundwave voskhod.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]

Realizing that a captive American secret agent, [[Bill Simmons]] had escaped from Research Station Oktober during the Pretender's attack, Soundwave spent two months scanning information lines in search of him, eventually discovering him when he returned to North America and made contact with his superiors. Although the Pretender failed to finish him off, Soundwave had at last learned of Simmons's well-hidden organization: [[Sector Seven]]. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 3}} In [[1969]], he monitored the launch of their [[Ghost 1]] craft, believing it to be of greater importance than the [[Apollo 11]] moon mission, but his guess proved incorrect: Thanks to Soundwave's being distracted, astronauts [[Neil Armstrong]] and [[Buzz Aldrin]] were able to carry out the first brief excavation of the Ark. Incensed by his failure, Soundwave grew even more determined to find a mole within the American space program, and he set [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to find prospective candidates. He found a NASA accountant named Gould and tapped the stock market to provide enough financial persuasion for the human to manipulate the NASA budget to halt moon missions from [[1972]] onwards. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

Soundwave spent the rest of the 1970s recruiting more human pawns to prevent the Ark from being rediscovered. Eventually, in [[1979]], deciding that everything was secure, he and his crew departed Earth on the ''Longshot'' to reconvene with The Fallen back aboard the ''Nemesis'', but with no space bridge portal to teleport them, the voyage took something in the vicinity of fourteen years. A brief talk with The Fallen yielded information: in Soundwave's absence, Megatron had visited the ''Nemesis'', on the trail of the AllSpark. Soundwave realized that his leader must have been one of the Cybertronians in captivity on Earth, and immediately departed to return to the planet, putting most of his crew in statis. Before leaving, he presented The Fallen with one of the pillars from the Ark; after he left, The Fallen used it to finally free himself from his sarcophagus. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

[[Image:SoundwaveAllianceIssue2.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Alas, poor Dreadwing. I knew him, Ravage.]]

During Soundwave's return voyage to Earth, Decepticon forces under the command of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] had arrived on the planet and freed Megatron, only for both the Decepticon leader and the AllSpark to be destroyed in battle in [[Mission City]]. Soundwave returned one month after his leader's death, but detoured briefly to investigate a space-time anomaly on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. There, he discovered a jury-rigged space bridge created from one of the Ark's pillars (created by [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]), the remains of [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing's]], an imprint of [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy's]] body, {{storylink|Alliance issue 2}} and a message from Starscream that informed him of the recent events on Earth. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Soundwave immediately made contact with Starscream, who had just finished battling [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]], and ordered him back to the ''Longshot'' to awaken the rest of his crew from stasis. {{storylink|Alliance issue 2}}{{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Dispatching what few crew members were currently active to begin searching the planet for the Star Harvester, Soundwave assumed the form of a satellite and took up orbit around Earth. {{Storylink|Alliance issue 4}}

As the search continued, Soundwave re-established contact with his many human pawns, including Gould's son [[Dylan Gould|Dylan]], who had inherited his father's role as Decepticon liaison. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

{{-}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
Soundwave appeared unknown to the Autobots.{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.4|New Tricks}} He commanded a small Decepticon cell, based out of [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]' moon [[Phobos]]. While nominally under the command of [[The Fallen]], The Fallen was merely in ''contact'' with the Decepticons and currently incapacitated. This left Soundwave free to do his ''own'' thing... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}

[[Image:Titan4_Soundwaveinterrogate.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only... Oops, wrong movie.]]

One of his goals was to find the location of the [[Tomb of the Primes]]. The aging [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]] [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] knew it but would only tell it to The Fallen. ''Strangely'' unwilling to put The Fallen and Ransack in touch and ''oddly'' preferring to personally know the location of [[Matrix of Leadership|the key to a monstrous superweapon]] himself {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}, Soundwave turned to the dormant Seekers instead. He directed [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] to [[Las Vegas]] to carve up one such Seeker for its "memory tree". He refused to explain the reason ''why'' to Grindor. When [[NEST]] showed up, Soundwave appeared contemptuous of them and their [[Human|whole species]], noting Transformers owned this world ''long'' before mankind. To Grindor, he simply said to get the memory tree to him and not get captured. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|Learning Curve}}

Later, [[Transformers Comic issue 2.2|on The Fallen's orders]], he directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to find [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], find out what they knew about The Fallen's plans and who they'd told it to, and then terminate them. When Ravage had cornered Mudflap, Soundwave talked through him and attempted to interrogate the Autobot; this failed, with Mudflap not even being bothered about who Soundwave was. While the hit was a bust, Soundwave ensured the base was bugged. As a result, he discovered [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]] distrusted the twins.

[[Image:Titan6_SoundwaveIAm.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"[[Sanctuary|There you go]], fellas!"]]

This was something Soundwave found interesting {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.4|New Tricks}} and he hatched a plan to ensure the twins were believed to be traitors: which would ensure nobody would follow up on their intell! Somehow, he got [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] to [[Diego Garcia]] at the same time the twins were there. He then had [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] get captured, so that when he was taken to [[Diego Garcia]] Scorponok would free him. With the Decepticon attacking at the same time the twins were distracting Optimus and on top of previous acts, they seemed guilty and were taken into custody. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}} Soundwave sent [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] to blow up the soldiers escorting the twins to orbitary exile, and [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] parachuted in to convince them to defect. When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] tracked down the twins - who had kidnapped [[Sam Witwicky]] in a failed attempt to convince him to speak to Optimus on their behalf - Soundwave finally landed on Earth and blasted the scout. Soundwave told the twins The Fallen would offer them sanctuary, something they seemed happy to accept... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}}

[[Image:Titan7_Soundwave_GO!.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]

Poor Soundwave soon had to put ''up'' with the twins, as they insisted on chatting through his briefings and dissing the other 'cons. He ''just'' about, through ominous glares, got them to pay attention to their mission: to capture Ransack and bring him in to be "re-educated". This, however, was all a big con on the twins: he just wanted them as expendable bait to draw out Ransack, so Grindor and Sideways could knock him out. Soundwave also spoke for the entire Decepticons when he said that if the twins survived any encounter, ''kill them anyway''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout}}

[[Image:Titan8_Soundwave_FWATT.jpg|right|thumb|200px|KERPOW!]]

Once Ransack was in his hands, Soundwave beat the snot out of him and demanded the location to the Tomb of the Primes. The Seeker still refused to talk, and insulted Soundwave as being a mere cog who could barely understand the big picture. He almost killed Ransack for that, having to be held back by Starscream (don't want The Fallen ''knowing'' you've killed his Seeker!), but the elder continued to mock him for believing he had freedom of action just because The Fallen was absent.

When the twins, revealed to have been faking their defection, returned to beat the crap out of the Phobos base, an annoyed Soundwave ended their brief success with overwhelming violence. Unfortunately, before he could kill the Autobots, Ransack took the opportunity to leg it; desperate to stop The Fallen from being informed of what he'd been up to, Soundwave gave chase and the Phobos base was abandoned. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}} As he's still around later, it seems Soundwave made ''sure'' Ransack never made it to The Fallen...

{{note|The following events occur in the Law and Disorder continuity.}}

[[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] considers Soundwave to be an untrustworthy jerk who ''never'' pulls his weight in a fight. Megatron, however, loves the guy. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|#7's Law and Disorder}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English, French, Italian. Latin American-Spanish?), [[Horst Lampe]] (German), [[Daisuke Gōri]] (Japanese)

[[Image:ROTF-Soundwaveface.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Next time, Gadget. Next time.]]
Soundwave received a transmission from [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]], who was tailing [[Mikaela Banes]], and instructed him to obtain a surviving shard of the [[AllSpark|AllSpark]] in her possession. He found a satellite transmitting a conversation between [[NEST]] and the [[United States military]]. Tapping into it with his tentacles to listen, Soundwave overheard [[Theodore Galloway]] mention another shard of the AllSpark in storage at [[Diego Garcia]], and of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s burial in the [[Laurentian Abyss]].

[[Image:ROTF Soundwave ejects Ravage.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Ravage: Eject. Operation: [[Ruined FOREVER|Childhood rape]].]]

Formulating a plan, Soundwave waited until it would be nightfall on Diego Garcia, then ejected [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] (who was equipped with [[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]] and the [[Microcon (ROTF)|microcons]] comprising [[Reedman]]) to Diego Garcia to steal the shard. Once they had stolen the shard, they reunited with some [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] and managed to resurrect their leader.

Soundwave remained in space, tapping into the satellite he had found. When Megatron decided to reveal the Transformers presence on Earth after killing [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], Soundwave issued the mobilization order to the waiting troops on the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]''. As the Decepticons streaked toward Earth, Soundwave tracked down [[Ron Witwicky|Ron]] and [[Judy Witwicky]] in [[France|Paris]]. He called Judy on her cellphone, demanding to know where Sam was, which the human dismissed as a crank call by a pervert. This allowed the Decepticons to track them down and capture them to use as bait for Sam.

[[Image:SoundwaveSatellite.jpg|thumb|300px|Yes, yes, you fans all thought about ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' when you saw me do this.]]

When the CIA discovered that Sam was in [[Egypt]], Soundwave relayed the information to the Decepticons. During [[Operation: Firestorm]], Soundwave blocked the satellites covering the Egyptian area, making things appear normal. General [[Morshower]] was unconvinced though and got other local informants to know what was happening at the [[pyramid]]s. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

{{note|In the comic, Megatron rendezvous with Soundwave after killing Optimus, making the demand for Sam Witwicky himself, which Soundwave broadcasts through the satellite he clutches. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 2}}}}

{{-}}

===IDW post-''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
Months after the battle in Egypt, Soundwave detected [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] was alive and active, and was furious someone else was ordering his pet around. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 5}} Monitoring Earth, he observed [[Alice]]'s attempt at flight and subsequent termination by [[NEST]]. [[Buzzsaw (ROTF)|Buzzsaw]], who he'd dispatched to [[Kingdom Petrochemicals]] to investigate Ravage's status, reported back that there were non-NEST humans poking around there, so Soundwave sent in [[Ratbat (ROTF)|Ratbat]], [[Rumble (ROTF)|Rumble]] and [[Beastbox (ROTF)|Beastbox]] to attack. Surprisingly [[Initiative|the humans]] were a match for the Decepticons, and Soundwave moved in to take direct action, however at that point the Autobots arrived. Soundwave destroyed [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], but when the human forces pulled out, so too did Soundwave. To his surprise, he found he wasn't able to track where the departing humans had gone. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 1|Nefarious #1}}

[[Image:Nefarious3 Soundwave bondage.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Ravage was reactivated by Buzzsaw, allowing Soundwave to access his memories. Acting on one memory, he sent Buzzsaw to help [[Strike Team Ursa]] while he rendezvoused with Ravage for an examination. When Strike Team Ursa triggered defenses, Soundwave warned them to withdraw. They did, but ran into [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], and Soundwave was forced to come to their aid. Unfortunately, Optimus Prime was also on the way, and Soundwave was no match for the Autobot leader. He tried to suggest it would be advantageous for them to let him go, but Optimus took him into custody. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 2|Nefarious #2}} Soundwave was secured and put on a plane bound for [[Odessa]], [[Texas]], however the plane was shot down by Buzzsaw, and then [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]'s team had [[Dirt Boss (ROTF)|Dirt Boss]] and Soundwave's minions to contend with as well. Soundwave tried to get Ravage to free him, but the cat's free will was overridden by an external force. In the end, Soundwave was too much trouble and Bumblebee let the Decepticons have him back. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 3|Nefarious #3}}

Soundwave tracked Ravage back to the [[Initiative base]] in [[California]]. After sending the other Decepticons in first to test the base's defenses, he moved in himself, only to find that the foe he faced had an army of brainwashed Transformers. He somehow escaped them and proceeded to the NEST base in Odessa. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 4|Nefarious #4}} He led the Autobots to the base's location, though he "neglected" to tell them about the brainwashed Transformers, but the base was gone, leading to the conclusion it was somehow mobile. Tapping into traffic cameras, he traced the base to [[Oregon]]. When they got there and began the assault, Soundwave was snootily dismissive of the Autobots' combat banter. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 5|Nefarious #5}} While the Initiative was distracted, Soundwave was able to reactivate Ravage and send [[Reedman]] to attack Initiative head [[Carter Newell]]. When Newell tried to flee with the AllSpark, Soundwave ordered Buzzsaw to assist Optimus Prime in pursuing him. It was only after everything was over that NEST discovered that the Initiative databanks had been mysteriously picked clean... {{storylink|Nefarious issue 6|Nefarious #6}}

Adopting a new body, Soundwave then took up residence at Megatron's base in [[Namibia]]. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 2|Rising Storm #2}} When [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] discovered [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]'s [[Driller]] in the [[Adirondack Mountains]], Soundwave was present to jam their communications and then send his minions to attack them. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3|Rising Storm #3}} With Elita-One leaving to warn the Autobots about Shockwave in person, the other two were surrounded by Soundwave and his animals. They chose to sacrifice themselves using a powerful bomb, though Soundwave managed to escape the explosion and return to Namibia. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4|Rising Storm #4}}

===Cyber Missions===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Bronco D. Jackson]] (English), [[Salvador Reyes]] (Latin American-Spanish)

[[Image:CyberMission1-Soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Through the dark, to the light, it's a super sonic flight!
Gotta keep it goin'!]]

{{quote|No! Too many sonic booms! I can't absorb—!}}

When Soundwave and [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] descended on [[Diego Garcia]], they interrupted an Autobot mission briefing. While Ironhide headed outside to face Bludgeon, Bumblebee remained inside to guard the Autobots' precious [[datatrax|data tracks]] from Soundwave. Bumblebee fired shot after shot, but Soundwave was able to simply use his sonic powers to repel the attacks back towards Bumblebee. However, Bumblebee gambled that Soundwave would be unable to repel a great number of attacks simultaneously, and the Decepticon was overwhelmed by Bumblebee's automatic weaponry. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 1}} Bumblebee confined Soundwave inside a vacuum-sealed electromagnetic bubble, where his sonic weaponry would be useless. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 2}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines post-''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Instructed by Megatron to "hound" humans and "get up close and personal" in his attacks, Soundwave cut a swathe of destruction across the North Atlantic, destroying ships as he headed on a course towards Florida. Identifying his pattern, [[William Lennox]] and [[Robert Epps]] staged an ambush, laying out a cargo ship for Soundwave to attack and then blindsiding him with a volley from a hidden warship. Badly damaged in the surprise assault, Soundwave was forced to retreat, venturing into the confines of...the [[Bermuda Triangle]]! (Dun dun dunnnn!)

[[Image:Titan15_Soundwaveghostship.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Bustin' makes ghosts feel good!]]

Amidst the storm clouds, Soundwave discovered another ship that he decided to attack out of spite, but faltered when his databanks identified it as a [[United States Navy]] vessel that had been lost in [[1918]]. Caught off-guard by a volley of primitive weaponsfire (even for humans!) and damaged even further, Soundwave tried to limp away, only to cross paths with ''another'' mystery ship, this one allegedly from [[1941]]! Pelted from both sides and unable to get a handle on his situation, Soundwave fled high into the air, out of the ships' range...and right in the path of a squadron of [[World War II]] bombers! Rattled by their machine gun fire and unable to overcome their superior flying skills, Soundwave decided to break upwards...''all'' the way upwards. Whatever strange chronal chaos he had encountered in the depths of the Bermuda Triangle, Soundwave concluded that the solar radiation, meteor showers and space debris he would face on the ''[[Moon (moon)|moon]]'' would be ''much'' safer! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.15|Making Waves}}

===Titan Magazines pre-''Dark of the Moon'' comics===

[[Image:Titan3-3_soundwaveyoutwo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Look out! Soundwave is pretending to be the Fat Controller!]]

When the Autobots were about to discover an ''Ark'' fragment that could lead them to [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]], Soundwave and Starscream sprang into action. From his position in high orbit, Soundwave hacked and took over NEST's defensive guns and left the [[Italy|Fiesole]] Cathedral wide open. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.1|Fight for Fiesole}}

Striking out on his own and using a brand new body, Soundwave scanned the Earth for a large seam of gold and, having discovered the legendary El Dorado in [[Colombia]], used the human [[Tanto Gang]] to help him dig it up. Once they found it, he began shooting at them: he wanted it for himself so he could flood the markets with gold and crash our economy! NEST attempted to stop him and he fought Optimus Prime directly, but in the end he was driven off when the Tanto Gang triggered a bomb for revenge. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.2|Blood And Gold}}

Soundwave then allowed NEST to find him, pretending to be injured from the battle... and then opened fire with full weaponry, injuring [[Robert Epps]] and nearly killing Bumblebee. When Optimus arrived, Soundwave was able to force him to agree to a fight without weapons (''Optimus''' weapons anyway) and attempted to blast him off the [[Spain|Sierra Nevada]] mountains. Unfortunately for him, he got too into it and his sonic blasts began to cause avalanches, while Optimus was able to locate a fissure in the rock and sneak up behind him. Surprised, he was shoved into the avalanche he'd start and almost killed.

Somehow, Soundwave had also gained the power to transform from alien satellite form into a robot form that looked like it turned into a car!{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.3|Dealing with the Devil}}

{{-}}

===''Dark of the Moon'' film===
:''Voice actor''; [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Jirō Saitō]] (Japanese), [[Leonardo García]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Mario Bombardieri]] (Italian)

During the 1970s, Soundwave had tried to hide the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'s presence on the [[moon (moon)|moon]] by gaining human contacts in the [[United States of America|United States]] and [[Soviet Union]], whose creative accounting would render further trips to the moon financially unfeasible. One of these was [[Dylan Gould|Dylan Gould's]] father, while Dylan himself would later accept Soundwave as a ''client''. But with the failure of Megatron and The Fallen's schemes, the Decepticons now planned to alert [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] to the ship's existence so he could revive [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] with the [[Matrix of Leadership]] for them.

Soundwave went undercover on Earth as a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. He and his winged minion [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]] visited the incapicitated Megatron in [[Africa]], and informed the ex-tyrant that Optimus had discovered an Ark fuel cell at the [[Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant]], and had recovered the body of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] and five of his Space Bridge [[Pillar|pillars]]. Megatron decided it was time to eliminate loose ends in their plan, so Soundwave sent Laserbeak to further draw out the Autobots by killing many of their human contacts, including [[Jerry Wang]].

Meanwhile, the disguised Soundwave was "given" by their human ally Dylan, the one human they did not kill, as a gift to [[Sam Witwicky]]'s new girlfriend [[Carly Spencer]]. During a party hosted by Gould, Sam and Carly tried to leave, only for Soundwave and Laserbeak to reveal themselves, and the sonic warrior took Carly hostage. Gould explained his relationship with the two Decepticons while Soundwave used his tentacles to threaten Carly. The pair forced Sam into finding out the Autobot's plan for a counter-attack.

[[Image:DOTMBeekillsSoundwave.jpg|thumb|left|300px|I still have my second head!]]

During the Decepticon occupation of [[Chicago]], Soundwave took several Autobots prisoner until Gould stated that things had gotten personal and the Autobots needed a lesson of respect, and Soundwave happily concurred: "No prisoners, only trophies". He and [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] began by executing [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]]. He then selected [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] to be his victim and dragged him forward, pushing him onto the body of his fallen comrade. He then told the Autobot to turn around and was about to execute him when he was distracted by [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] and [[Brains]]'s sabotage of a Decepticon aircraft carrier, raining [[Orbital Assault Carrier|fighters]] onto the battlefield. The Autobot scout took advantage of this small slip of opportunity and punched Soundwave. The two warriors battled, with Bumblebee shooting Soundwave in the leg, which caused him to drop one of his guns. He then delivered the final blow by throwing an uppercut to Soundwave's torso and shooting Soundwave upwards, disintegrating his head. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Jessop]] (English)

=====Decepticon campaign=====
[[Image:ROTF_360PS3PC_DLC_Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px|]]

{{charstubfiction}}

{{Note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Soundwave was made available as a playable character (for multiplayer games) as optional downloadable content for Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3 owners. However, instead of the silver colour scheme established on his regular release toys and movie appearance, the character model was coloured blue, like [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] Soundwave figure from the ''Gathering at Nemesis'' figure pack. His special attack in robot mode consisted of a deployable turret that generated earthquakes, a reference to [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who was one of Generation 1 Soundwave's tape minions. While using his special in vehicle mode deployed a radar jammer pod in the sky that also fired a laser at nearby enemies, a likely reference to Laserbeak, another of Generation 1 Soundwave's tape minions.}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Wii/PS2)===
{{charstubfiction}}

===Transformers Autobots/Decepticons===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons}}

===''Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]]

====(Xbox 360/PS3)====
[[Image:DOTMgameSoundwave.jpg|thumb|250px|BOOMIN'! Outcha' stereo systum!]]
During Megatron's exile after the Egypt skirmish, Soundwave remained in orbit, monitoring Autobot transmissions and messages to send to his leader for information. Soon, Soundwave was ordered to disconnect from the satellite as Bumblebee had implanted a virus into his network which allowed the Autobots to follow Decepticon operations.

After landing on the planet and taking the form of an SUV, he was ordered to destroy a base that formerly served as a [[Sector Seven]] facility. Megatron required Soundwave to do so because it contained information on their ally contained in Russia. Soundwave completed this with the utmost efficiency, destroying every Autobot encountered and displaying great courage as he blasted Autobot scouts from the inside of a laser cage. After exploring the corridors of the base and having Laserbeak incapacitate anyone standing in his way, Soundwave destroyed the base and escaped the erupting base unscathed, as did his condor companion.

He later helped escort Megatron to [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave's]] location in a cryogenics facility in a Soviet country, and appeared in Africa with Megatron, Starscream and Shockwave as Megatron announced his plans were far from over.
{{storylink|Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class toys====
*'''Soundwave''' (Legends, 2009)
[[Image:ROTFLegends Soundwave.jpg|right|300px|thumb|No matter what mode you put him in, he is always ready to get down and dirty with unsuspecting satellites.]]

: Part of the fifth wave of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Legends Class]] figures, Soundwave transforms into a simplified version of his satellite alt mode which is notable for being more movie-accurate than his Deluxe Class toy. The satellite head is completely covered in blue, however. Amusingly enough, his chest is sculpted in his Deluxe toy's flipped-up 'mode' (with the three circles showing) but is painted in the colors of the Deluxe's flipped-down form (shown on the Deluxe toy's packaging).

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*'''Infiltrator Soundwave''' (EZ Collection, 2010)
[[Image:EZCollectionInfiltratorSoundwave.jpg|thumb|]]

: In Japan, Legends class Soundwave was [[redeco]]ed as Infiltrator Soundwave (インフィルトレイターサウンドウェーブ) to match the colors of Deluxe Infiltration Soundwave (see below). He was part of the Japanese ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' promotion, and was only available to those who bought the Voyager "[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] VS [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]" set at Amazon.jp and Yamada Denki stores.

{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|War fork!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-04'''
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

:Part of the initial Movie Preview wave, Soundwave is a [[Triple Changer]], transforming into a satellite and a Cybertron jet, which are not exactly what could be described as "distinct" from one another. In all three modes, Soundwave features a spring-loaded missile launcher which fires a missile intended to resemble [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]], in reference to the scene in the film in which he launches the feline fiend down at Earth. In his (rather stocky) robot mode, Soundwave has blue light piping in his visor, but it is disabled, having been painted over in red; his other modes feature a second, armored version of his face, which is stored on the back of his robot mode. Probably to avoid giving the toy a very obviously two-headed robot mode, the alternate face lacks any paint details, and has an unpainted blue visor. Soundwave features numerous red and gold [[Paint operation|paint application]]s which are ''very'' cleverly and subtly positioned around his body to replicate similarly-colored and -positioned details on the [[Soundwave (G1)|original Soundwave toy]].

:The configuration for the satellite mode depicted in the toy's instructions is not the way Soundwave appears in the film, featuring a different angling for the panels on his shoulders. It's not a big change, but transforming the toy in accordance with his movie appearance ''does'' help to distinguish the jet from the satellite a little, since otherwise, virtually the only difference is in the positioning of the large panel "wings".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/Soundwave/soundwave.htm More information on Soundwave at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|GatheringNemesis}}
[[Image:ROTFtoy-GatheringattheNemesis.jpg|right|thumb|300px|You can get him in blue, but you gotta get those other guys, too!]]
*'''Gathering at Nemesis''' (Figure multi-pack, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

: A [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] three pack (technically four pack if you want to count the Ravage missile), also featuring The Fallen, and a silver Voyager Class Megatron from the first movie toyline. Soundwave is [[redeco]]ed predominantly in blue as an homage to the [[Soundwave (G1)|original Soundwave]]. The Fallen was unchanged from his original release.

{{-}}{{anchor|BlackVersion}}
[[Image:CharaHobbyROTFSoundwaveBlack.jpg|thumb|300px| So...waiting for any ROTF Soundblaster jokes...]]
*'''Soundwave Black Version''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile
:Exclusive to the 2009 "C3 X Hobby Chara Hobby" show that ran across [[August 29]]-[[August 30|30]] in Japan, Soundwave Black Version is a redeco of the deluxe ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Soundwave toy in black and red with orange highlights. Following the convention, remaining quantities of the figure were made available to purchase via lottery through the [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] website.

::*''[http://www.e-hobby.co.jp/cgi-bin/omc?port=33301&req=PRODUCT&code=tf_ev_07 Soundwave Black Version at e-Hobby]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Infiltration}}
[[Image:ROTFtoy-SoundwaveNESTAlliance.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Look out for Escalation Soundwave, Devastation Soundwave, and Soundwave Loves Drift-Chan.]]
*'''Battlefield Bumblebee Vs. Infiltration Soundwave''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 1 Ravage missile

:Part of the [[N.E.S.T. Global Alliance]] campaign, Infiltration Soundwave is another redeco of the Deluxe Class Soundwave mold, this time in dark blue and dark gray, plus bright red that simulates the intense heat of orbital reentry. He also comes with new light-piping that ''isn't'' painted over. He comes with Battlefield Bumblebee, a retooling of Cannon Bumblebee with a new battlemask head. Also included in the packaging is a "Mission Guide" catalog and ordering form for the mail-in exclusive Recon Ravage, a "starter sticker" for said ordering form, and a N.E.S.T. Global Alliance iron-on patch. Two additional stickers from specially-marked N.E.S.T. Global Alliance products and $4.95 shipping are required for the promotion. Sadly, this promotion does not exist in Europe or Australia, but Recon Ravage was made available in the latter country as a Toys R Us exclusive. Surprisingly, the package does not recognize his Cybertron jet mode, instead only acknowledging his satellite mode. His instructions ''do'' still mention his jet mode, though.
{{-}}

===Dark of the Moon===
====Cyberverse====
{{anchor|BeeSoundwaveRodimus}}
[[Image:DOTMCyberverseBumblebeeVsSoundwaveWRod.jpg|thumb|300px|Nope, definitely not a car in the third film. Nooooo way.]]
*'''Bumblebee / Soundwave''' with '''Rodimus''' (Cyberverse 3-pack, 2011)

:Part of a [[Walmart]] exclusive pack alongside [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#BeeSoundwaveRodimus|Bumblebee]] and [[Rodimus (DOTM)|Rodimus]], Soundwave is a redeco of the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Legends Class Soundwave, with a new deco inspired by the [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive ''Gathering at Nemesis'' gift set (see above), which in turn was heavily influenced by [[Generation 1]] [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. The toy is mostly blue with grey, black, and some gold on his solar panels.
{{-}}

{{anchor|CyberverseLegion}}
[[Image:DOTMLegionSoundwave.JPG|thumb|300px| Inside is a teeny Carly being menaced by tentacles.]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Cyberverse, 2011)
**''Series:''
**''Number:''
**''Japanese ID number:''
:This all-new Cyberverse Soundwave mold transforms into a fully-licensed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:DOTMtoy_deluxe_soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Remember, if a stranger asks you to go into his car, he's probably driving a giant evil robot with a satellite fetish.]]
*'''Soundwave''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:''
**''Accessories:'' MechTech Satellite Dish/Shoulder Cannon
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Human Alliance====
[[Image:DOTMtoy_HA_soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|All these features, and yet no tentacles?! You robbed us, Hasbro!]]
*'''Soundwave / Mr. Gould''' with '''Laserbeak''' (Human Alliance, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:''
**''Accessories:''

:A new Human Alliance mold of Soundwave in his SLS AMG mode. He comes with Laserbeak and [[Dylan Gould]]. He has "SUPERIOR" tampographed on his license plate.

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Burger King===
[[Image:ROTFMerchandise-BurgerKingSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|300px|I spy with my little eye.....impending tentacle rape.]]
*'''Seeking Soundwave''' (2009)
**'''Accessories:''' 2 blue solar panels
:The [[Burger King]] version of Soundwave is a representation of the communications satellite which Soundwave hacked into in the movie. The dishes have tendril details added to them. Peering into an opening in the top gives a sort of periscope effect, although as there is only one mirror, everything looks backwards.

{{-}}
[[Image:DOTMMerchandise-BurgerKingSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|150px]]
*'''Flip-Out Soundwave''' (2011)
:A plastic Soundwave head which opens to allow a small body to flip-out, resulting in a "super-deformed" figure which is otherwise reasonably accurate to his on-screen appearance. Circles on his front and back are daubed with glow-in-the-dark paint.
{{-}}

===RPMs - Robot Powered Machines===
*'''Soundwave''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''04 of 08''' (only 6 released)

:''[[Robot Powered Machines]]'' Soundwave is a small, non-transforming pseudo-Scion XB with his robot mode sculpted underneath. Said robot mode resembles [[Soundwave (Prime)|another Soundwave]] for some reason. The car's wheels feature through-axle construction for speedy racing on flat surfaces. Unlike other RPMs, Soundwave, along with the rest of the Metal Heroes, is made of [[die-cast]] metal.

:This toy features many differences in comparison to the [[Speed Stars]] release. Namely, the Speed Stars version lacks paint in the doors, as well as the chest, arms, legs and face of the "robot" mode, unlike the RPM release that has this fully painted. The plastic in the bottom of the car is cast in a different color: the RPM version is bronze while the Speed Stars version is golden. In addition, the RPM release has "Soundwave-Audio" written on the inferior part of the doors as well as having the tail lights painted (in red). The red that borders the rims of his wheels is also brighter and more vibrant.

:RPM Soundwave is probably the most homage-heavy Transformer ever produced: he has [[Soundwave (Animated)|''Animated'' Soundwave]] alt mode and a mix between his regular and Electrostatic incarnations "tattoos", [[Soundwave (Prime)|''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave]] robot mode (which in turn was heavily based in [[Soundwave (G1)|G1 Soundwave]]) and despite this, the bio and toyline clearly identify him as ROTF Soundwave. You can try and add [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Cybertron Soundwave]] to the list if you want, but that would be overkill.

:This toy's American release and the rest of the Metal Heroes were canceled in favor of the [[Speed Stars]] versions of the toys. They have been released in the Philippines, New Zealand and Mexico (at a discounted price compared to past RPM releases), however. Both versions were eventually available at retail in those countries.

{{-}}
{{picsneeded}}

===Speed Stars===
[[Image:SpeedStars_Soundwave_toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|See? You ''have'' your damn ''Prime'' toys, now shut up!!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''04 of 08'''

:Speed Stars Soundwave is a [[redeco]] of the RPM vehicle. All differences between the two releases are listed above. This toy was given away free as part of a Daily Mirror promotion in the UK.

{{-}}

====Stealth Force====
[[Image:SpeedStars_StealthForce_Soundwave_toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Three continuities for the price of one!]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Basic, 2010)

:This Soundwave toy is part of the "Stealth Force" subline, consisting of vehicles without robot modes, but with plenty of flip-out panels with hidden weapons. Like the smaller Metal Heroes toy, Soundwave has ''Animated'' Soundwave's Scion XB altmode and features ''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave on his packaging. He features non-firing weapons hidden all throughout the toy, activated by pulling part of the roof back.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:EarlyMovieBlackout.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A Soundwave-headed Blackout from an animatic.]]
[[Image:ROTFEarthSoundwaveConcept.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Soundwave, before losing weight.]]
* Soundwave was originally supposed to feature in [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'']]; he fulfilled both [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s roles, hacking into the CIA headquarters as a portable stereo, then [[size changing|morphed]] into a Humvee to track down [[Sam Witwicky]].<ref>Details from an early script draft [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2213120&postcount=297 summed up here], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2214148&postcount=303 confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here].</ref> [[Michael Bay]]'s decision to minimalize the amount of morphing in the film resulted in a change to a helicopter who openly attacks the army. Soundwave and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] were changed to [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] as the film's location was changed from a jungle to a desert.<ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage was replaced by Scorponok at the official movie boards]</ref><ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirms that Ravage would have appeared in a different terrain at the official movie boards]
</ref> Soundwave's name remained attached to the separated portable stereo character for a while, but Hasbro felt the resulting character did not properly represent the original Soundwave. He was first renamed Soundbite, but eventually ended up with the name Frenzy.
*According to the trade paperback, Soundwave was a major character in the third draft of ''[[The Reign of Starscream]]''.

* In early drafts of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', Soundwave came to Earth and scanned a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck form. Artist [[Paul Ozzimo]] created a visualization of this idea, and Hasbro based the Cybertronian satellite form's robot mode on this abandoned concept, particularly a Cybertronian version of the Chevy grill and small headlights on the lower torso. They then combined Ozzimo's body design with an unused, heavily G1-esque head design that had been created by artist [[Josh Nizzi]] (although Soundwave's finalized head design was also incorporated into the toy's satellite mode, in a manner akin to [[kibble#Faux parts|faux parts]]).

*Even though [[Frank Welker]] returned to voice Soundwave for the movie, his voice was not vocoded, but rather synthesized in the same way all the other Transformer voices in the movie were. Because of this, the voice he uses is much closer to that of "The Cave of Wonders" from [[Wikipedia:Aladdin (film)|Walt Disney's ''Aladdin'']], Dr. Claw from ''Inspector Gadget'' and Darkseid from ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians'', all voiced by Welker. However, in the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' video game, Soundwave's voice ([[Peter Jessop]]) is vocoded in a manner similar to that of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]]'s first voice, only with a more musical tone.

*[[Frank Welker]] voiced Soundwave not only in the English version of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', but also in a large number of foreign dubs, including the Italian one. Welker described the process as "very hard".<ref name="welkernewsarama">[http://www.newsarama.com/tv/090915-Animated-Shorts-Welker.html Newsarama interview with Frank Welker], September 2009.</ref> Although Welker is also credited in the German dub of the movie, German dubbing insiders insist that the voice heard in the actual movie is by someone else ([[Horst Lampe]], who also dubbed ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]), presumably as a last-minute decision because Welker's "German" performance was considered sub-standard<ref name="germandub">[http://215072.homepagemodules.de/t511643f11775323-Transformers-Die-Rache-Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen-7.html German dubbing board thread about ROTF, with a discussion about Soundwave's voice]</ref>. Welker is also credited in the Latin American-Spanish dub. (Which character he voiced is not listed, but it was most likely Soundwave, or he could have been credited for Devastator, Ravage, Grindor and Reedman, since all the sounds Welker did for them were kept in the Latin American-Spanish dub.) Doblaje Wiki, on the other hand, claims he was voiced by [[Andrés García]] or [[Salvador Reyes]]. You see, Wikis tend to get confused a lot on this issue.

* Soundwave was included as a downloadable addition to the roster of the Revenge of the Fallen Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 video game, along with several ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' homages and fellow movie character [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]. Soundwave's special abilities deploy an aerial jammer pod that looks suspiciously like [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], and an AOE pod that continuously smashes the ground with piledrivers; undoubtedly a nod to Generation 1 [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s minion [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. According to concept artist [[Ken Christiansen]], his appearance was based more closely on the Deluxe class toy than his movie design.

* Early artwork for Soundwave for ''Dark of the Moon'' identified him as '''Breakdown''', but considering other names presented on other concept artwork, it was likely just a smokescreen to hide his true identity in case of a leak.<ref name="nizzi">[http://www.joshnizzi.com/TF3.htm Josh Nizzi DOTM concepts.]</ref>

[[Image:TF3HasbroSoundwaveBio.JPG|thumb|200px|right|SPOILER ALERT]]
* Before the release of ''Dark of the Moon'', Michael Bay and other official parties tried ''really'' hard to suppress the plot twist of the silver Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG given to Carly by Dylan turning out to be Soundwave's new alternate mode. After the Mercedes had been spotted on the set, with [[Rosie Huntington-Whiteley]] exiting it<ref name="mercedesset">[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=67518 DOTM Set Photos], ComingSoon.net, July 2010.</ref>, the first hint that it was more than meets the eye came with the trailer for the [[Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|video game]], which showed Soundwave's robot mode with car [[kibble]] such as wheels that heavily resembled those of the Mercedes. In addition, [[Rising Storm issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[Rising Storm]]'' depicted Soundwave's robot mode not only with car kibble, but with a Mercedes star on his chest. Despite this, director Michael Bay insisted that the Mercedes was simply Carly's car, claiming that "Mercedes would never let us make their car into a bad Decepticon. Car company's {{sic}} really frown on that. I can't say what the game company and comics do that's their own thing. They don't have the same constraints movies do. It's Carly's car."<ref name="baynomerc">[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?8724-Update-Is-Soundwave-the-silver-Mercedes-on-set-of-DOTM&p=169598&viewfull=1#post169598 Michael Bay's response to the fan theory that Soundwave is the Silver Mercedes.], April 2011.</ref> On April 19, 2011, an event for promoting the ''Spider-Man: Edge of Time'' and ''Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' video games was held in London. As part of this, [[High Moon Studios]] released promotional stills from the ''Dark of the Moon'' game, one of which depicted Soundwave's new robot mode, again with Mercedes parts. However, a news embargo was enforced on the attending press, which was broken by South African video game site [http://egamer.co.za egamer].<ref name="egamera">[http://egamer.co.za/2011/05/exclusive-hands-on-transformers-dark-of-the-moon/ egamer's preview of the ''Dark of the Moon'' video game]</ref> The site was soon asked to take down the article and images, as were various ''Transformers'' fan sites that had reported on the article and mirrored the images. On May 2, 2011, Hasbro's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/ official Transformers website] was given a massive overhaul, including the addition of the new [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/cybertronian-database.cfm Vector Sigma database]. The entry for Soundwave initially identified his alternate mode as a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but was soon changed to "satellite". On May 3, 2011, the embargo for the video game article and promotional stills was finally lifted, allowing sites to freely show the image of Soundwave's new robot mode. Whether Mercedes approved of this remains or not to be seen.
*The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG car prop sported a German/European Union [[license plate]], "'''M JS8509'''", registered in the city of Munich, on the Chicago set for ''Dark of the Moon''.<ref name="chicago">[http://www.flickr.com/photos/aperturesun/archives/date-taken/2010/07/17/ Dark of the Moon Chicago set] at Flickr.</ref> (The design of the plate is slightly inaccurate, as there should be a space between "JS" and "8509" if it were a real German plate. Also, a German car would have a license plate on the front as well.)

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Cyber Missions characters]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Human Alliance]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Satellites]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart exclusives]]

Soundwave (G1)

2011-09-20T04:00:29Z

74.99.182.224: /* Generation 1 cartoon continuity */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 character eventually upgraded to Soundblaster|the ''Cybertron'' character|Soundblaster (Cybertron)}}
{{suite}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Soundwave mixalot.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Ah' Rock th' Show n' Stery-ery-O!"]]
'''Soundwave''' is one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s most reliable troops, and he has positioned himself comfortably and irreplaceably in Megatron's upper command structure. He stands at the [[Decepticon leader]]'s side as a confidant. Though "only" Communications Officer, he is comparable to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in rank and is the only one of the three to display consistent loyalty to Megatron. Soundwave guards his place in the hierarchy fiercely. Other Decepticons (except Megatron) see him as a two-faced snake, since, as Communications Officer, Soundwave hears all and doesn't hesitate to use blackmail to keep himself high in Megatron's esteem. The other Decepticons wouldn't mind abandoning him on the battlefield—if they thought Megatron would let them get away with it.

Soundwave commands [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|a legion of cassette troops]] to carry out tasks big and small. He has a symbiotic relationship with them, providing them transportation and a cheap, if cramped, place to live in his chest. Sometimes he lets them all out to watch impromptu gladiator games or takes them to discotheques. In return, they perform spy and recon missions for him and make sure no one calls him "un-krozzo-matic".

He usually has all the personality of a [[:Image:Cybertronsoundwave.jpg|stump]] (as evidenced by his computer-style speech). He also has no imagination, sending the aforementioned cassettes on operations with mundane names.

As an [[Action Master]], he is [[Action Master partner|partnered]] with [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]].

Soundwave's scanning systems are so powerful that he can actually read and decode the electrical impulses that comprise "thoughts" in both organics and Cybertronians. This telepathic power is likely one of the reasons why he is so highly placed in Megatron's hierarchy.

In various universes, Soundwave is upgraded into '''Soundblaster''' (サウンドブラスター ''Saundoburasutā'').

{{quote|As you command, Megatron.|Soundwave, eternal loyalist|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Contentedfools.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Ravage, Megatron, and Soundwave, the first Decepticons.]]
Millions of years ago, Soundwave was one of the first members of the Decepticons; after sowing discontent amongst the masses, he, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] began the war that tore the planet itself out of its orbit. The Decepticons, including Soundwave, attempted to hijack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] four million years ago, only to fail and fall into deactivation sleep for four million years. In 1984, the detonation of the volcano, [[Mount St. Hilary]], reactivated the Autobots and Decepticons, unleashing their war on Earth. Learning the [[Human|inhabitants]] of this planet had access to its vast energy sources, Soundwave joined the Decepticons in raiding a drive-in movie theatre. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}} Soon after, Soundwave participated in a raid on [[Harrison Nuclear Power Plant]], and after helping the Decepticons make off with large chunks of its machinery, helped use their bounty to build a [[Fortress Sinister|new headquarters atop a cliffside]]. {{storylink|Power Play!}} After returning from [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service]] with [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], a human the Decepticons kidnapped to help them convert human fuel to Transformer fuel, the Decepticons' headquarters were infiltrated by a rescue party of [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and the human superhero [[Spider-Man]]. While Spider-Man caused a diversion in front of Soundwave, Gears was able to suckerpunch him. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}}

[[Image:Laserbeakwarriorschool.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Fly, my pretties, fly!"]]
''When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] nearly caused the death of Ravage, Megatron rallied the other Decepticons, including Soundwave, to enact vengeance for his treason. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} Later, the Decepticons unleashed a surprise attack on the Ark. After Soundwave defeated [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], the battle was halted when [[Aunty]], the Ark's computer system, turned rogue. After the crisis was averted, Soundwave and the others were able to retreat. {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}'' Due to Sparkplug's efforts during his kidnapping, the Decepticons were able to refuel, and Soundwave and his comrades attacked the Autobots. However, Sparkplug had poisoned the fuel, and Soundwave shorted out along with the others. As Soundwave lay deactivated, it was only the surprise arrival of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] that turned the tide. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

Shockwave assumed command, and immediately began restoring Soundwave and the other poisoned Decepticons. Soundwave was ordered to prepare the bodies of the fallen Autobots to serve as spare parts for Shockwave's new army of Decepticons. {{storylink|The New Order}} Megatron objected to this new order and rebelled, but Shockwave quelled him quickly, and paraded Megatron's broken body in front of Soundwave and his peers as a warning to those who would cross him. {{storylink|The Worse of Two Evils!}} Under Shockwave's command, Soundwave attacked the [[Blackrock Aerospace Assembly Plant Number One]] and secured it for Decepticon use. {{storylink|Warrior School!}} The plant's facilities were used to create the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], who built a massive radio dish that Soundwave used to beam a message back to Cybertron. However, the radio dish was destroyed when Soundwave was defeated by [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and the human trucker [[Bomber Bill]]. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

[[Image:Soundwavedinobothunt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"And you—YOU!—no longer exiiii... oh, wait."]]
''A short time later, during a brief period when both Megatron and Shockwave were missing in action, Soundwave assumed leadership of the Decepticons, happily slagging off [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s ambitions of leadership. His first attempt at manipulating Autobots into a trap failed. {{storylink|Crisis of Command!}} The second, taking advantage of the "Dinobot Hunt", was a major success—six Autobots were badly injured, not counting two of the Dinobots, and a large amount of fuel was stolen while the Autobots tried to stop a Dinobot rampage in a human town. On the way out, Soundwave proudly declared their victory, a turn of events that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] did not enjoy.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

When Megatron resurfaced, rendered immobile in a [[Wyoming]] [[Wyoming base|coal mine]] due to lack of fuel, Soundwave sped to his rescue, re-energizing him. {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}} ''Using the splintered state of the Decepticon forces to his advantage, Soundwave worked both sides of the field, reporting to both Megatron and the returned Shockwave, each without the other's knowledge. When Shockwave learned that the human [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] had begun to suffer [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-induced visions of the [[Combiner|next leap in Transformer evolution]], Soundwave reported this to Megatron, prompting him to battle Shockwave for leadership. The Decepticons' human ally, [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]], televised the battle, much to Soundwave's distaste, and in order to prevent the Decepticons from looking like fools, he interrupted the duel and insisted that they agree to a joint leadership.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[Image:Soundwavetarget2006.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You find: Insanity!]]
''When the Robot-Master hoax the Decepticons were perpetrating was threatened by the investigative work of [[Joy Meadows]], Soundwave was instrumental in ending the conflict that ensued between the Decepticons and the Dinobots by holding the reporter hostage and destroying her footage.'' {{storylink|In the National Interest}} ''Not long thereafter, when the deranged future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], traveled back in time, Soundwave was intrigued by the fact that he was unable to scan his mind to discern the truth of his identity. Siding with Megatron when conflict erupted, Soundwave and his leader were buried under an avalanche by Galvatron and then rescued by the Autobots in the name of forming an alliance to defeat their common enemy.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Soundwave's loyalty to Megatron was shaken when the latter became increasingly paranoid. Consequently he manipulated his leader into summoning the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Earth as part of a scheme by Shockwave to ensure a weaponless Megatron was destroyed by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Prey!}} However Megatron survived and soon returned to the Decepticon leadership, albeit with his memories of the events lost. {{storylink|Resurrection!}} ''Soundwave ''again'' served as co-conspirator when Shockwave once more used the Predacons to destroy Megatron. In the process a deranged Megatron seemingly committed suicide on the [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

''Soundwave was now once again under Shockwave's command, and, while patrolling on the Decepticons' mobile island base, he found himself attacked and subdued by the time-traveling freelance peace-keeping agent, [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], and tricked into giving up information on the whereabouts of Galvatron.'' {{storylink|Hunters}} ''Although Death's Head's attempts to track down the Decepticon met with failure, Galvatron was ultimately entombed in lava, where he was later discovered by [[Susan Hoffman]]. Soundwave observed a televised broadcast of her discovery, and he and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] attempted to destroy Galvatron with explosives planted around the volcano in question. After a battle with the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]], Soundwave found that he was unable to remote-detonate the explosives thanks to [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] jamming his signal.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night}}

[[Image:Soundwave uscomics.jpg|left|180px|thumb|G2 before it was cool.]]
When Shockwave was removed from power, Soundwave smoothly transitioned to serving under the new Decepticon leader, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and helped to operate his [[Realvision]] playback system to decode data from Autobot tapes [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]. {{storylink|The Flames of Boltax!}} The tapes, it was discovered, contained information on the [[Underbase]], the power of which was desired by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] so badly he sparked off a Decepticon-Decepticon war to cover himself. Soundwave ended up having his fuel pump torn into by [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]]. {{storylink|Cold War!}} When Starscream gained the Underbase's power and targeted the Earth, Soundwave co-led the defense of [[Buenos Aires]] alongside [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], but was temporarily deactivated by a blast of cosmic power from Starscream. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

''He was back on his feet by the time that Starscream, now a [[Pretender]], was busy doubting his self-worth. Soundwave was extremely scared of Starscream by this point.'' {{storylink|Fallen Star!}} He continued to operate under the command of the new Decepticon Earth commander, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], though like the other troops he was very unhappy about Starscream being allowed back in after trying to kill everyone. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} He was put in charge of guarding Optimus Prime after the Autobot leader surrendered his troops to Scorponok, hoping to elicit an alliance against the coming of [[Unicron]]. When Prime changed his mind about meekly waiting in a cell for Scorponok to make time for him, however, Soundwave provided little resistance in keeping him there. {{storylink|Surrender!}} After the Decepticon auxiliary army bombed Scorponok's base in New Jersey, Soundwave assumed temporary command of the active Decepticons in fighting back against the traitors, led by Starscream and Shockwave. This "[[Decepticon Civil War]]" didn't last long, though, as all the Autobots and Decepticons of Earth were summoned to Cybertron by [[Primus]] to deal with Unicron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}}

[[Image:TreadshotMarvel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|He's found a new gunformer to toady up with.]]
Soundwave survived the battle with Unicron, and attended a meeting between the briefly-allied Autobots and Decepticons with [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]]. There Blaster announced the imminent end of their world, and an evacuation was called for. Soundwave was still hanging out with Treadshot when he witnessed a fight break out between [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Fangry]]. [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], who had assumed command of the Decepticons, doublecrossed the Autobots by sabotaging their ships. Soundwave was last seen beside Bludgeon as the Decepticons left their self-destructing homeworld. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

In an alternate future of 2006, Soundwave was briefly seen participating in a battle on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. He didn't do much except retreat. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" are a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].}}

{{-}}
=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''In 2008, Soundwave was under the command of Shockwave on Cybertron. When the bounty hunter named [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] arrived with the deactivated bodies of the renegades [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and demanded an audience, Shockwave had Soundwave wait nearby as a precautionary measure. Sure enough, Soundwave's monitoring abilities alerted Shockwave that the two Decepticons were not as dead as they seemed, and the three invaders began an assassination attempt on Shockwave. Soundwave summoned the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], hoping that [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] could breach the sealed doors of the audience chamber in time, but wasn't swift enough. Death's Head killed Shockwave, and together the trio demanded that the Decepticons accept Scourge and Cyclonus as their new leaders. Faced with superior firepower and a hefty dose of explosives, Soundwave was reluctantly forced to accept on behalf of the Decepticons. ''

[[Image:SpacePiratesSoundwaveLeader.JPG|right|400px|thumb|Or, in short, "Soundwave: Superior".]]
''Wasting no time, Scourge and Cyclonus commanded the Decepticons to begin a full-scale assault on [[Autobase]]. This was effectively suicide, as the two armies were just about evenly matched. That, of course, was the point—Scourge and Cyclonus's true master, Unicron, wanted the children of Primus exhausted and depleted in number by the time of his glorious resurrection. After [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and Death's Head took the fight straight to the recuperating Unicron on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], however, he summoned his two minions back to his side. Seeing their "glorious leaders" abandon the battle, Soundwave and [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grrr]] sounded a retreat. In the absence of Unicron's spawn, Soundwave became the new permanent leader of the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}} ''

''Aching to make a name for himself in Decepticon military history, Soundwave soon fell into a [[Quintesson]] trap. A lone Quintesson arrived at Decepticon headquarters, seeking an alliance against the Autobots, who supposedly had assembled most of their fleet and were on their way to [[Quintessa]]. Instead of helping the Quintessons, Soundwave saw this as an opportunity to invade and destroy the Autobot territory on Cybertron, when most of their warriors were off-world. He assembled his various sub-commanders and set out aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to claim a glorious victory.''

[[Image:Soundwaveconsiders.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Too nostalgic to let go of the past? No wonder he's a fan-favorite.]]
''Instead, Soundwave and the Decepticons walked right into an ambush. There were no Autobots on Quintessa: it was a ruse to draw them out of their base, where legions of [[Allicon]]s and [[Trident Attack Craft]]s waited to overwhelm the Decepticons. Seeing the danger his troops were in, Soundwave was forced to call in the Autobots. Sending a garbled distress beacon to Autobase, Soundwave hoped to draw a suitable fighting force of Autobots to their location. He was successful, as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and his men remained to fight even after learning who the distress call came from. Autobot and Decepticon fought side-by-side until the Quintesson invaders were either destroyed or driven off-world. In a moment of introspection, Soundwave realized how effective the two armies were when fighting as one instead of as enemies... but quickly brushed aside the idea. Simply too much had happened between the Autobots and Decepticons to ever hope for a peaceful end to the war. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}''

''In 2009, Soundwave and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] were on Earth, prepping a new energy extraction system to leech the planet dry. A surgical strike led by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and Ultra Magnus destroyed all their equipment, however, leaving their power cells empty of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. Looking for revenge, the Decepticons pursued the Autobots back to Autobot City, only to find an open [[Time-jump mechanism|trans-time dimensional portal]]. Realizing the Autobots had fled back to 1989 on a mission of unknown purpose, the vengeful Terrorcons wanted to pursue them. Giving in to popular opinion, Soundwave led his troops back through time and right into the midst of the Time Wars.''

''Recognizing that the uncontrolled timestorm could conceivably destroy all of existence, Soundwave chose to put aside vendettas for the moment, and added his men to the alliance of Autobots and Decepticons from two time periods against the unmatched power and evil of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]] combined. Still, the alliance was far from perfect: Soundwave was more than willing to allow the Autobots to charge in first, letting them die in order to "soften up" the resistance. When things turned ugly, Soundwave and the Terrorcons then fled back to 2009, apparently without ever getting their hands dirty. Their final fate after reality restructured itself and the timestorm abated is unknown. {{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}''

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Secrets Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Decepticons never got the hang of Internal Affairs.]]
''In an alternate timeline, Soundwave left [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s army and returned to serving at [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s side during the [[Decepticon Civil War]] against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], helping him with the launch of a [[global warming satellite]]. {{storylink|Starting Over!}} He was not above exploiting the conflict for his own ends, however. When an energon shipment was hijacked by Shockwave's forces thanks to information Soundwave had given them, Megatron came to suspect the presence of a traitor in his ranks, but ironically assigned Soundwave to identify the culprit. To keep his own duplicity a secret, Soundwave set up [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] to take the fall, and Megatron destroyed the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]. Soundwave not only got away with his treachery, he went on to happily blackmail everyone he'd mind-scanned. Eat your heart out, Starscream! {{storylink|Secrets}}''

''Approached by Starscream with a plan to make them both Decepticon leaders, Soundwave joined forces with the schemer and lured Megatron and Shockwave to an airport, tipping off the Autobots to their location. With the two leaders thus occupied, Soundwave and Starscream took control of both factions. {{storylink|Internal Affairs!}} Subsequently, Soundwave led an all-out attack on the [[Earthbase|Earthforce base]] as a diversion, while Starscream attempted to plunder an oil tanker. Starscream met with failure, however, leading Soundwave to withdraw his forces and hint to them that maybe be should have sole command... {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Starscream was aware of Soundwave's goals, and when he was attacked by a [[Louisiana bounty hunters|group of alien assassins]], he suspected that Soundwave had ordered the hit and struck back at him. Soundwave was able to convince Starscream he was not responsible and that in actuality, it was the work of Megatron and Shockwave. {{storylink|External Forces!}}''

''Soon afterward, Soundwave learned that human reporter [[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] had secured an interview with the Autobots that could potentially resolve the public view of the Transformer war. Seeking to prevent this, he had the Stunticons capture the journalist. Although the Autobots were able to rescue him, a carefully planted [[cerebro-shell]] ensured that the story Irwin wrote was anything but accurate. {{storylink|End of the Road! (UK)|End of the Road!}}''

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

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Soundwavemarvelg2.jpg|left|125px|thumb|He gave the "complete sentences" thing a decent go, but he never really got the hang of commas.]]
After Megatron deposed Bludgeon and reassumed control of the Decepticons, Soundwave once again served Megatron as a close adviser. One of his first acts was to ask, "Why revive Starscream?". Megatron shared Soundwave's concerns, and assured him the on-again-off-again traitor would be dealt with once Megatron had regrown his army. {{storylink|Tales of Earth Part Three}}

Megatron immediately drew his Decepticons to the moon of [[Tykos]] to violently acquire [[Rheanimum]] from the natives. However, things soured when Soundwave received a distress call from [[Skullgrin]]. In moments, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] was upon them. After several casualties, and Megatron missing in action, Soundwave led a party to discover if Megatron had survived and recover him if he had; when Mindwipe expressed doubts about the mission, Soundwave told him to shut up. He appeared to assume command when Megatron appeared dead, but ceased when Megatron turned out to still function. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

He was in command of the ''[[Warworld]]'' while Megatron was on Earth. When the Empire boarded the ship (thanks to Starscream's treachery) he and his bridge crew fled to Earth in escape pods. {{storylink|Total War!}} He was later seen standing by in the final battle against the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

{{-}}
====''Classics''====
Soundwave was apparently one of the first Decepticons to return to Megatron's side after the Decepticon leader re-emerged. He helped Megatron rebuild his power base on Earth in secret, using human proxies to covertly recover the remains of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and other Decepticons lost on Earth during the Underbase Saga. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 14|Astrotrain's ''Classics'' profile}}

After the arrival of the mysterious Decepticon [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], Soundwave ran a neural scan on the Transformer to confirm his story of alternate dimensions and [[Unicron]] singularities. Soundwave confirmed that, at the very least, Landquake believed he was telling the truth. The Decepticons took off aboard Astrotrain to explore a new energy signature in the Southern Hemisphere...one which materialized at the same time as Landquake and possessed a similar resonance pattern. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 2}} In South America, Soundwave engaged [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s troops alongside Megatron and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] on the ground. At Megatron's command, he dispatched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to intercept the Autobot scouts who had been sent after the energy source. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 3}}

The Cassettes soon reported back that the energy had been discovered, and Megatron rallyed the Decepticons behind Soundwave to break for the source's location. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] interferred with the Decepticons' progress, however, by hurling Constructicons like shotputs until he knocked Soundwave down. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 5}}
Soundwave and Astrotrain got caught exchanging fire with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] until the latter Autobot turned invisible and snuck around behind the Decepticons, getting the drop on Soundwave. An explosion from below rocked the battlefield, however, and the Decepticons withdrew from combat. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}

When [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] tried to assassinate Megatron, he used [[cerebro-shell]]s to take control of Soundwave and several other Megatron loyalists. The shells' effects were soon jammed by an attacking Autobot team, and in the chaos that followed, Soundwave noticed that the Autobots were targeting their [[Ark (G1)|base]]'s computers, but failed to stop them. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

Soundwave was stationed aboard Starscream's warship when Megatron orchestrated the downfall of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his splinter faction. After their [[Seacon (G1)|inside men]] terminated Bludgeon, Soundwave informed Starscream he had received a transmission of surrender from the forces below. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Soundwave and company.jpg|right|thumb|220px][caption["Ah' got portable sounds to lift you up, portable sounds ta' take you higha'...]]
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
Soundwave was one of the first Decepticons and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s most loyal soldier. Denoted by his eerie, echoing monotone, Soundwave regularly gathered vital intelligence for Megatron's numerous schemes with the aid of his faithful and ever-growing team of cassettes, but despite his primary role as a spy and communications officer, he never shied away the battlefield, and would regularly clash with the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] before finding a true rival in his Autobot opposite number, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. He survived the perilous events of 2005 that took the lives of many of his contemporaries, and continued serving under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] in the 21st century.

In a future timeline that branches off from this one, Soundwave ultimately met his end at the hands of Blaster, but even death could not stymie his loyalty to the Decepticon cause, as he was reborn as '''Soundblaster''' through the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
{{-}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' Unknown

According to Megatron, Soundwave is a "blundering, tape-filled idiot." While the veracity of this statement is subjective, Soundwave ''does'' whine a lot. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[Image:BW Agenda Pt3 Soundwave.jpg|right|180px|thumb|With one stroke I shall free my tiny dinosaur brethren, yesssss!"]]
Soundwave was among the many Transformers strewn about the bridge of the Ark when the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] infiltrated the ship on his mission to destroy Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}
{{-}}
====3H comics====
Soundwave is one of the ancient warriors who appears from [[J'nwan]] to help battle the warlord [[Shokaract]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Soundwavewarwithin.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Sound and ([[Ravage (G1)#3H Universe_comics|eventually]]) Furry.]]
Soundwave was chosen by Megatron to lead his second assassination team against the new Autobot supreme commander, Optimus Prime. With the aid of Soundwave's cassette troops, most notably [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], it was assumed he would have no problem with a young, peace-loving Autobot. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Soundwave, like many others, underestimated Prime's resolve and was quickly incapacitated. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} He was still out cold when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] came by, {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} but recovered in time to rescue Megatron after the latter's own battle with Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

When Megatron and Optimus Prime vanished in a [[space bridge]] accident, the Decepticons were fragmented and Soundwave joined [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s faction. He participated in the attack on [[The Fallen]]'s minions in an attempt to stop the [[Unbinding]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Eventually, Shockwave attempted to call a truce with the Autobots for the good of the Transformer race, but the initial ceremony was interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s faction, the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. Soundwave was quite mad about this, telling the Predacons to perish for their crimes against Cybertron as he attacked them alongside several Autobots. Shortly after the Predacons were defeated, Megatron returned to Cybertron with his [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and reunited the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} After falling back under Megatron's command, Soundwave reported the progress on his leader's plan to dig a hole to the core of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

In the present day, Soundwave was among the Decepticons defeated by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth. The ''[[Ark II]]'', the spacecraft that would have taken the Transformers back to Cybertron, was sabotaged by General [[Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], and it exploded upon liftoff, scattering the robots across the Arctic Ocean. Soundwave and the others were recovered, Autobot and Decepticon alike, and reprogrammed by Rook to accept commands and were leased to terrorist organisations and military juntas as powerful weapons of war. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} After Megatron freed himself and the other Decepticons, Soundwave developed a 'metallic virus' that cyberformed Earth organics into cybertronic materials. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} During the subsequent battle with the Autobots in [[San Francisco]], Soundwave warned Megatron that a nuclear missile launched by Hallo was headed for the city. The Decepticons used the distraction to escape. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

[[Image:Soundwaveg1vol2.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Leader's pet.]]Soundwave was among the Decepticons who joined Shockwave's forces when the new ruler of Cybertron appeared on Earth. {{storylink|War and Peace}} When Shockwave brutally deposed Megatron, Soundwave stood by in silence and did nothing to help his former leader. Soundwave worked his way quietly into Shockwave's good graces, earning the ire of Starscream. However, it didn't take many words to bring Soundwave around to the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s point of view. Later, when interrogated by Shockwave, a single, silent look from Soundwave stopped [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from revealing that Starscream was behind Megatron's disappearance during their voyage to Cybertron. As the battle between the Autobots and Shockwave's forces intensified, Soundwave followed Starscream's lead without a word, and helped him prepare for a return trip to Earth aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Starscream rewarded him by giving him a [[Ratbat (G1)|present]]. Soundwave silently approved.

Though Soundwave feigned subservience to Starscream, it was later revealed that he had been serving Megatron the entire time in secret. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I.Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:Soundwavedevilsdue.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"Eject. Operation: Dynamic Group Shot."]]
Soundwave was among the Transformers on the ''Ark'' when it crashed long ago, and was discovered and reprogrammed by the human terrorist organization known as [[Cobra]] in the present. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Arms dealer [[Destro]] made a visit to [[Cobra Island]] where [[Doctor Mindbender]] introduced him to Soundwave and his cassettes, who were under the complete control of Cobra's scientists. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} While Destro liked what he saw, he wanted to run a test, and personally operated Soundwave's controls during an attack on the [[SPS Research Facility]].

Meanwhile, a picture of Soundwave was secretly sent out to hundreds of email boxes. The message turned out to be a [[Defense Matrix|secret signal]] from Optimus Prime, which alerted [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and Bumblebee to the location of Cobra's secret base where the rest of the Transformers were being held. When the two Autobots appeared to stop Destro's attack, the human brought Soundwave and himself back to Cobra Island. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

Soundwave was released from Cobra control thanks to Wheeljack and attacked his former human masters. With Megatron and the other Decepticons freed, Soundwave went to work making energon cubes. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Just as things were going their way, Optimus Prime arrived, powered up using the energon, and punched his fist right through Soundwave's chest, taking him out of the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After the Autobots left on a return voyage to Cybertron, Soundwave's head and remains were taken in secret by human scientists for study. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Several years later, the scientists managed to use Megatron's technology to create the organic weapon [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], who plugged himself into Soundwave's deactivated head after getting free and downloaded data on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s history. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
Along with the rest of the Decepticons, Soundwave was buried in the [[Fera Islands]] until 1938, when [[Cobra]] accidentally awakened them and used them to conquer most of [[Europe]]. He sent Laserbeak to spy on the [[United States of America|United States]]' reaction to this, and learned that [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had been created to battle the Cobra threat. Soundwave later helped Megatron and Starscream get rid of some Royal Air Force fighters above the English Channel, allowing Cobra to attack the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Line}}

When G.I. Joe attacked the Fera Islands, Soundwave infiltrated [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]'s unit in the form of a radio transmitter carried by a disguised [[Zartan]]. Flint noticed that it wasn't their radio, but that didn't stop Soundwave from capturing him and taking him back to Cobra HQ. {{storylink|Wolves}} However, the Joes had managed to awaken the Autobots also buried on the island, and Soundwave soon found himself facing down [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. He lost the fight, and either died at the hands of Grimlock or when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] was smashed to pieces. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

{{note|According to solicitations for ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'', Soundwave was set to return by unknown means years later, but [[Dreamwave Productions]] bankrupted before the issues could be produced.}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Soundwave was extremely amused by the footage Laserbeak and Ravage gathered of Starscream falling on his head. He let Megatron know, and they went to pick up Starscream, only to find him gone, taken by the Autobots. The discovery that Starscream appeared to be working with the Autobots only amused Soundwave more, and the Decepticons went to retrieve their former comrade. When it turned out that Starscream wanted to stay with the Autobots, Megatron was enraged, and Soundwave reflected that it was the most fun he'd had in years. Starscream eventually returned to the Decepticons, claiming it was all an act, and Soundwave suggested he should be more careful while mountain climbing in future. {{storylink|Redemption Center}}

Puzzled by the loss of much of their stock of weapons, Megatron assigned Soundwave to investigate. Using Laserbeak's spying abilities, Soundwave determined that [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was selling the weapons on the black market, much to Megatron's outrage. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

===IDW ''Hearts of Steel'' continuity===
Millions of years in the past, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who took on organic modes in order to battle the Autobots on prehistoric Earth. When an ice age approached, the Decepticons survived by powering down under what would eventually become the [[San Francisco]] Bay. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Soundwave woke up in the mid-19th century, where he came under the command of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Along with several other Decepticons, he stood by Starscream as he and [[Tobias Muldoon]] discussed where they would build their headquarters. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegatronOrigin4 Soundwave humbles Ratbat.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Ratbat, you shall be repurposed as the greatest mix tape ever to be given to Megatron."]]
Long before the war began, Soundwave was the personal assistant to Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] caught Ratbat's eye as a champion of the illegal underground gladiatorial matches, Ratbat sent Soundwave to offer Megatron funding and weapons technology. When [[Bumper (G1)|two]] [[Fastback (G1)|Autobots]] were discovered listening in on their conversation, Soundwave dispatched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to capture them. After their capture, he read Bumper's mind to see if there was any immediate threat to Megatron's activities. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Some time later, Soundwave was assigned to find a warrior with flight capabilities. He found the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]: Starscream, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. During a recruitment rally in which Megatron attempted to kill [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]], a raid by the Autobots under [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] resulted in the participants being arrested. Soundwave, however, was freed under [[Senate]] directive, something which greatly angered Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Soundwave had apparently switched loyalties at this time, becoming one of Megatron's own in not only helping Starscream exterminate [[Kaon]] senators but also to the extent that he destroyed Ratbat's original body, placing his spark into a relatively weak cassette form and thus forcing him into the Decepticons. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

Four million years ago, Soundwave and [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] were leading a Decepticon offensive to cover for [[Octane]]'s convoy of energon. When Optimus Prime slipped away to intercept the convoy, Soundwave went after him and got the drop on Prime from behind. Prime's bodyguard [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] turned the tables on him, though, taking out both Soundwave and his Mini-Cassettes. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

During the war, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] contacted various scientists on both sides to discuss his startling findings that the conflict would create such devastation that would render the planet uninhabitable, and that the only way to survive was to adopt the [[Pretender|organic carapace]] idea he had come up with. Soundwave was among those scientists who refused to accept Thunderwing's findings and his proposal. {{Storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

After the end of the cataclysm brought by Thunderwing, as part of a plan to assassinate [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], a motivational speaker for the Autobots, Soundwave had [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] captured and used [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to implement a [[cerebro-shell]] into him. While Beachcomber didn't outright kill Blaster, his motivational broadcast failed to air at precisely the moment the Decepticons began the big push. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[Image:SpotlightSoundwave infoispower.jpg|left|180px|thumb|He's just too busy being an eighties guy.]]

Centuries later, after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] disappeared, Megatron assigned [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to delve into Shockwave's research and relay all the information back to him. As the Decepticon leader did not fully trust Bludgeon, Megatron also assigned Soundwave to spy on him. Soundwave followed Bludgeon and his team as they left for Earth in 1984 and established a base within [[Mount St. Helens]], eventually discovering that they intended to resurrect [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. Though Soundwave tried to stop them, [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used an experimental cannon from Shockwave's arsenal to lock him in his alt mode while they instigated a volcanic eruption. He was eventually recovered by a team of unwitting humans who sold him to a pawn shop. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

Soundwave was purchased by a human teenager named [[Jimmy]] and taken to his home. When Ravage and Laserbeak were reprogrammed by the American government agency [[Skywatch]] to find the other Transformers, Skywatch's control signal was blocked by a signal emanating from a functioning Soundwave, still in cassette-player mode. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Sometime later on, Ravage and Laserbeak located the signal and reclaimed their master from Jimmy. Relocating to Mount St. Helens, Soundwave told them that he could barely keep blocking Skywatch's hold on them, due to his weakening state in cassette mode. Shockwave suddenly appeared from a cave entrance and said that the four could make a deal together. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}} Shockwave knew how Soundwave could unlock his robot mode, but would only tell him if he did Shockwave a favour in return, something which Soundwave agreed to. He was told that Skywatch had placed a bomb in Shockwave's head, and that he needed to intercept and copy its disarm code. The plan went off without a hitch, and after transmitting the code to Shockwave, Soundwave was finally freed from his alt mode. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

After returning to his position as Megatron's right hand, Soundwave helped defeat the Autobot forces on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} He was present during the attack on [[New York City]], and detected the incoming human military jets. The planes fired, and on Megatron's orders, Soundwave calmly detonated the arsenal. He then launched Laserbeak to take out the human resistance. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Soundwave reported that the humans had sent a sizable ground force after the Decepticons. Following Megatron's orders, he released [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and set him loose on the humans. The only being immune to Frenzy's infrasonic manipulation, he silently observed his minion's work. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With the conquest of New York complete, Soundwave listened to Megatron's victory speech. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} When a group of humans led by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Cmdr. Spike Witwicky]] deactivated [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] with an experimental weapon which originated from Shockwave, Soundwave, sensing this, found Rumble's lifeless body, grieved, and took him away. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

During [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] attempt to take control of the Decepticons, Megatron revealed that Soundwave had been watching him all along, reporting his planned rebellion to Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The infighting amongst the Decepticons stopped when jets from [[Europe]] arrived to take them all on, soon followed by the return of the Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Megatron was defeated, and Soundwave escaped alongside the rest of the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} Whilst traveling away from Earth onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Soundwave and his cassettes took care of their heavily injured leader. Starscream attempted to dissuade him from wasting energon on Megatron, all the while buttering him up with compliments about his loyalty, but all Soundwave said in response was "Negative. Megatron functions." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

Three years later, Soundwave was still dutifully attending to Megatron's reconstruction. {{storylink|All His Engines}} He eventually came to the conclusion that his leader's body was beyond repair, and instead recruited Shockwave to build a new body for him. Once Megatron returned in a new and upgraded form, he hatched a plan to use parts of his old body to make Megatron gun replicas that would subconsciously influence humans. Alongside his cassettes and Shockwave, Soundwave helped produce these weapons. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon}} He was later present when Megatron got rid of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and was ordered to gather everyone in the base so that their leader could address them. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

As part of Megatron's master plan, the Decepticons subsequently returned to Earth, where Soundwave led Rumble and Frenzy in an attack on the [[Skywatch]] base where several Decepticons were being held captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man}} Soundwave was then responsible for holding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] hostage while Megatron explained to Optimus Prime that he was the one turning the humans against the Autobots. In an attempt to throw off Megatron's concentration, and with it his influence over the gun-wielding humans, Prime fired on Soundwave, blowing off a large portion of his head. The plan worked: seeing his loyal soldier fall sent Megatron into a rage, and he picked up the barely living Soundwave and flew off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome}} With his body in [[stasis lock]], Soundwave was brought to Shockwave, who was unsure if he could repair such an extensive injury with the limited resources at his disposal. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine}}

{{note|The events of "Spotlight: Mirage" possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
[[Image:SpotlightMirage Soundwavescorpse.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Not so superior now, are you?]]
In a dream set in an alternate universe wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a soft taco shell dreamt by [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], Soundwave was part of the Decepticon strike force who attacked the last stronghold of the Autobots. Soundwave was attacked by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], who snapped his head off, killing him. But it was just a dream, so it didn't matter. Right? {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
Soundwave—[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|in his Laser Cycle body]]—was seen among the inhabitants of the multiversal hub city of [[Axiom Nexus]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 4}}

===Timelines===
Soundwave was present with Megatron, [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] when the topic about finding new ultimate weapon ideas changed to [[BotCon 2010]]. As Breakdown mentioned that one of the things he was looking forward to was the debut of the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]], Soundwave turned to Counterpunch and pointed to himself. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[Image:Soundwavecommercial.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Say hello to my leetle friend!"]]

Soundwave's [[commercial]] appearances include:

* An appearance in his very own 1984 commercial. This early animation featured a Soundwave model colored in lavender, versus the dark blue used later. Also, instead of the cassettes ejecting themselves from his chest, he reached into his chest compartment with his own fingers and threw the (tiny) tapes into the air. He wasn't properly introduced.

* He's more on-form in a commercial for the Dinobots, where he, Ravage and Laserbeak are driven back by the robotic monsters amid a thunderstorm.

* Soundwave has a speaking part in the commercial for Blaster. When Rumble strolls into his base carrying a radio, Soundwave immediately identifies it as an "Autobot intruder" and dispatches Ravage and Laserbeak to attack the Autobot. Soundwave is given his correct voice and modulation.

* He's seen grappling with Springer in a 1987 commercial for the ''Headmasters'' comic.

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Soundwave could intefere with Optimus Prime's progress, diverting him into areas of the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[image:TF PS2 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Robert Belgrade]]

====Decepticon story====

Soundwave and Starscream were sent to investigate strange reports of space-time warps and UFOs on the planet Zel Samine, bringing a space bridge with them on their shuttle that they would use to transport Megatron to the plant once they had landed. Inexplicably, their ship wound up crashing, and when they attempted to use the space bridge, it malfunctioned, dumping Megatron some distance away. After reuniting with his leader, Soundwave deduced that powerful electromagnetic rays from Zel Samine's sun, Paradius, were responsible for scrambling the systems of the shuttle and the space bridge, and that the Decepticons themselves would be subject to similar catastrophic system disruption if they tried venturing off the planet without a ship. The Decepticons immediately set about raiding local energy sources for energon to repair their craft, starting with a wind power plant on [[Mount Jaad]]. Then, after successfully draining the [[Ranpas geothermal plant]]—in part thanks to Soundwave deploying Laserbeak to locate any Autobot guards around the facility—Megatron chose the [[Monogan hydroelectric power station]] for their next target. Soundwave pointed out the heavy Autobot fortifications that had been set up around the station and suggested a different target, but Megatron dismissed his concerns, and when the Decepticons did indeed emerge victorious, Soundwave apologized for speaking out of turn and doubting his leader.

Via Laserbeak, Soundwave soon discovered that the Autobots on the planet had made contact with the occupants of one of the strange UFOs, and suggested to Megatron that they send a task force to intercept them. In the process, the Decepticons wound up allying themselves with the ''other'' UFO's passengers: Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, a trio of Decepticons from the future who had traveled back in time to locate and destroy the powerful [[Zel Quartz]], a weapon that threatened Galvatron's rule in their home time. Soundwave was teamed with Cyclonusto seek out possible locations of the quartz across the planet, and the communications officer stoically carried out his task, all the while struggling to keep Megatron and Galvatron from fighting with each other.

After failing to find the quartz at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], the Decepticons next decided to search the [[Karzite mine]]. Cyclonus informed Soundwave that he saw both him and Megatron as "worthless scrap", and warned the communications officer the mine yielded a similar lack of results, then he would be taking the blame, not Cyclonus. Soundwave agreed, but have a warning of his own: he charged a high price for being spoken to with disrespect. As it turned out, the quartz was not in the mine, and Soundwave accepted the blame as promised, only to then reveal his price: he had recorded his conversation with Cyclonus and played it back for Megatron, who did not take kindly to the future Decepticon's insults. At Megatron's command, Soundwave recorded Cyclonus's screams as the Decepticon leader subjected him to a vicious punishment.

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

====Autobot story====
Megatron had Soundwave send out a fake Autobot SOS transmission in an attempt to trick the Autobots into leaving their base. The plan was a success and Optimus Prime and his crew were lured out. When the Autobots realized that they had been deceived, Megatron sent a message through Soundwave's transmitter, gloating how he had tricked Prime and announced that his crew was going to steal the energon the Autobots had on their shuttle. When Megatron had finished his message, Soundwave returned to base. On the way back to their shuttle, the Autobots encountered Soundwave again, this time leading a hoard of Decepticon troops, and fought them. Despite his best efforts, Soundwave was overwhelmed and left to rejoin Megatron. Later, Soundwave fought the Autobots again while they were dealing with another swarm of enemies. He lost again, and left to fight another day.

Later on, Soundwave teamed up with his future self, Soundblaster, and with [[Full-Tilt]] as the final defense against the Autobots before they reached Megatron and Galvatron. When the Autobots arrived, Soundblaster started by expressed [[dull surprise]] at how the Autobots managed to survive up until the current point. Soundwave continued, warning the Autobots that he would not let them stand in Megatron's way. Both present and future versions of the Communications Officer we all know and love put the best fight they could, but even with Full-Tilt's help, the Autobots overpowered them.

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
{{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
:''Main article: [[Soundwave (G1)/toys]]''
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave (G1) toys#Merchandise]]''
{{-}}
==Notes==
[[Image:SoundwaveButtonUD3.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"When I think about you, I touch myself."]]

* The Decepticon faction insignia appears to be roughly based on Soundwave's head.

* Though Soundwave's toy is a microcassette recorder, his fictional appearances depict him as a stereo cassette deck or Walkman. (Likewise, his microcassette tapes are depicted as regular audio cassettes.)

* The Marvel U.S. comics chose a purple scheme for Soundwave. This could have been an attempt to distinguish him from the other Decepticons, who were mostly blue (especially since blacks also ended up as blues in the industry's then-limited color palette). Or it could have been a simple error. But very likely, it had something to do with his early animation model, which appeared lavender, rather than blue. (See Commercial Appearances.) Compounding this error, Marvel US Soundwave was drawn without a mouthplate by artist [[José Delbo]]. The Marvel UK comics colored him blue like everywhere else (partially due to using a more sophisticated coloring system) and always included his faceplate.

[[Image:Soundwave fly.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Hey, wait for me!"]]

* The G1 cartoon almost always depicted him as having to press all his own controls to eject minions or perform other functions even though these are actually part of him. This has led to many a shot of Soundwave pressing his own crotch. What will the children think?

* According to the original script<ref>http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/02/ron-friedman-auctions-scripts-part-3-of.html</ref> for [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]], "Sound Wave" transformed into "a LIGHT STANDARD - identical to the one that exists a short distance away, the perfect camouflage". So... yes, he really ''did'' turn into a lamppost on Cybertron.

* Soundwave's distinctive voice proved to be one of Generation 1's most memorable aspects. The [[Wikipedia:Vocoder|highly processed voice]] (processed by [[Scott Brownlee]]) began with [[Frank Welker]] basically doing his "Dr. Claw" voice from ''[[Wikipedia:Inspector Gadget|Inspector Gadget]]''. Whether due to variations in the performance or the processing, the final result varied quite a bit across Soundwave's three seasons on the show. Occasionally, as in the episodes "[[Roll for It]]" and "[[Webworld]]", the processing was left out and Welker's actual voice can be heard. This Dr. Claw version of Soundwave's voice made a return when Welker reprised the [[Soundwave (ROTF)|role]] for ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' as the processing was, again, left out.

* Similarly, he often emphasizes words at random, such as his well-known "RavAAAAAGE", or "LAAZABEEK". This may be a side effect of the voice doctoring in the cartoon.

*In the Mandarin dub, Soundwave had a glorious, operatic voice.

[[Image:Bm soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Soundwave gets slagged by Vehicons, and Nightscream escapes. How's that for injustice?]]

* The typically emotionally-barren Soundwave actually ''laughs'' on two separate occasions in the Generation 1 cartoon ("[[Quest for Survival]]" and "[[Auto-Bop]]"), while he ''screams like a little girl'' only once ("[[Roll for It]]").

* Soundwave has flown in his [[alternate mode|alt mode]] one time, in the episode "[[Masquerade]]." In [[Atlus]]'s ''[[The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers]]'' game, Soundwave can transform to tape deck mode and kind of bounces around to move in that form. No, really.

* In the Japanese dub of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], as well as the supporting [[manga]], all of Soundwave's cassette forces which could talk referred to him as "Anikii" (兄貴い) or "Big Brother." This is a fairly common way to refer to others you admire and such in Japanese. It's also a term that gang members use toward older, more experienced members who aren't actual gang bosses. Take it as you will. Whatever it says about his relationship with them, it does give new meaning to the phrase [[Wikipedia:Big Brother (Nineteen Eighty-Four)|"Big Brother is watching over you"]].

* Soundwave was in charge of the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|UK letters page]] from issues 22 to 78, barring a few interruptions.

[[Image:Unused AHM Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What? You mean we don't use brick-sized microcassette recorders anymore?]]

* Soundwave's computer model was used for one of the [[generic]] Transformers in Beast Machines. It is seen in "[[Forbidden Fruit]]" during [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] flashback being cornered by [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] just before Nightscream flees into the lower levels of Cybertron. Though the model was recolored, it was still really 'Soundwavey,' causing much confusion among fans. His computer model as well as [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s continued to show up for the rest of the series, used to represent deactivated Transformer shells.

* Later, Soundwave's character model showed up numerous times in various color schemes as a generic background character in the ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon.

* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] listened to music using a tape deck resembling Soundwave in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Memory]]". Later, after a new [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] was found, ''Cybertron'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] held tape deck Soundwave in his arms. This caused a great disturbance in the [[force]]...

* IDW Publishing seems to be undecided on Soundwave's speech pattern. In ''[[Megatron Origin]]'', he speaks in his classic cartoon-based monotone. However, in "[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]", he speaks in a normal fashion. Which is once again reverted to the classic speech in ''[[All Hail Megatron]]''.

* [[Guido Guidi]] made a concept drawing of Soundwave with a modern microcassette recorder as an alt-mode (which are still used by reporters and doctors today) for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' maxi-series. This was also unused. Consequently, Soundwave may go down as the Transformers character with the most unused designs.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Jam Bo''' (音波, "Voice Wave")
*''English:'' '''New Soundwave''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Soundblaster)
*''French:'' '''Radar''' (Canada), '''Sonore''' (Canada Action Master, "Sound")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Fülelő''' ("Listener")
*''Italian:'' '''Memor''', '''Vizar''' (Soundblaster)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shēng-bō''' (Taiwan, 聲波, "Sound Wave"), '''Shēng Bàu''' (Taiwan Soundblaster, 聲爆, "Sound Blast")
*''Polish:'' '''Dźwiękofalowiec''' (''The Movie'', "Soundwaver")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Onda-Sonora''' (Portugal comics), '''Microonda''' (Brazil comics, "Microwave")
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (cartoon, Бархан, "Dune")<ref>Dubbers thought his name was "Sandwave".</ref>
*''Spanish:'' '''Sam''' (America ''The Headmasters'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zvukohvyl''' (Звукохвил, "Soundwave")

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Robo-Capers characters]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:Universe Decepticons]]

Soundwave (G1)

2011-09-20T03:58:23Z

74.99.182.224: /* Generation 1 cartoon continuity */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 character eventually upgraded to Soundblaster|the ''Cybertron'' character|Soundblaster (Cybertron)}}
{{suite}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Soundwave mixalot.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Ah' Rock th' Show n' Stery-ery-O!"]]
'''Soundwave''' is one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s most reliable troops, and he has positioned himself comfortably and irreplaceably in Megatron's upper command structure. He stands at the [[Decepticon leader]]'s side as a confidant. Though "only" Communications Officer, he is comparable to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in rank and is the only one of the three to display consistent loyalty to Megatron. Soundwave guards his place in the hierarchy fiercely. Other Decepticons (except Megatron) see him as a two-faced snake, since, as Communications Officer, Soundwave hears all and doesn't hesitate to use blackmail to keep himself high in Megatron's esteem. The other Decepticons wouldn't mind abandoning him on the battlefield—if they thought Megatron would let them get away with it.

Soundwave commands [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|a legion of cassette troops]] to carry out tasks big and small. He has a symbiotic relationship with them, providing them transportation and a cheap, if cramped, place to live in his chest. Sometimes he lets them all out to watch impromptu gladiator games or takes them to discotheques. In return, they perform spy and recon missions for him and make sure no one calls him "un-krozzo-matic".

He usually has all the personality of a [[:Image:Cybertronsoundwave.jpg|stump]] (as evidenced by his computer-style speech). He also has no imagination, sending the aforementioned cassettes on operations with mundane names.

As an [[Action Master]], he is [[Action Master partner|partnered]] with [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]].

Soundwave's scanning systems are so powerful that he can actually read and decode the electrical impulses that comprise "thoughts" in both organics and Cybertronians. This telepathic power is likely one of the reasons why he is so highly placed in Megatron's hierarchy.

In various universes, Soundwave is upgraded into '''Soundblaster''' (サウンドブラスター ''Saundoburasutā'').

{{quote|As you command, Megatron.|Soundwave, eternal loyalist|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Contentedfools.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Ravage, Megatron, and Soundwave, the first Decepticons.]]
Millions of years ago, Soundwave was one of the first members of the Decepticons; after sowing discontent amongst the masses, he, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] began the war that tore the planet itself out of its orbit. The Decepticons, including Soundwave, attempted to hijack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] four million years ago, only to fail and fall into deactivation sleep for four million years. In 1984, the detonation of the volcano, [[Mount St. Hilary]], reactivated the Autobots and Decepticons, unleashing their war on Earth. Learning the [[Human|inhabitants]] of this planet had access to its vast energy sources, Soundwave joined the Decepticons in raiding a drive-in movie theatre. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}} Soon after, Soundwave participated in a raid on [[Harrison Nuclear Power Plant]], and after helping the Decepticons make off with large chunks of its machinery, helped use their bounty to build a [[Fortress Sinister|new headquarters atop a cliffside]]. {{storylink|Power Play!}} After returning from [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service]] with [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], a human the Decepticons kidnapped to help them convert human fuel to Transformer fuel, the Decepticons' headquarters were infiltrated by a rescue party of [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and the human superhero [[Spider-Man]]. While Spider-Man caused a diversion in front of Soundwave, Gears was able to suckerpunch him. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}}

[[Image:Laserbeakwarriorschool.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Fly, my pretties, fly!"]]
''When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] nearly caused the death of Ravage, Megatron rallied the other Decepticons, including Soundwave, to enact vengeance for his treason. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} Later, the Decepticons unleashed a surprise attack on the Ark. After Soundwave defeated [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], the battle was halted when [[Aunty]], the Ark's computer system, turned rogue. After the crisis was averted, Soundwave and the others were able to retreat. {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}'' Due to Sparkplug's efforts during his kidnapping, the Decepticons were able to refuel, and Soundwave and his comrades attacked the Autobots. However, Sparkplug had poisoned the fuel, and Soundwave shorted out along with the others. As Soundwave lay deactivated, it was only the surprise arrival of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] that turned the tide. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

Shockwave assumed command, and immediately began restoring Soundwave and the other poisoned Decepticons. Soundwave was ordered to prepare the bodies of the fallen Autobots to serve as spare parts for Shockwave's new army of Decepticons. {{storylink|The New Order}} Megatron objected to this new order and rebelled, but Shockwave quelled him quickly, and paraded Megatron's broken body in front of Soundwave and his peers as a warning to those who would cross him. {{storylink|The Worse of Two Evils!}} Under Shockwave's command, Soundwave attacked the [[Blackrock Aerospace Assembly Plant Number One]] and secured it for Decepticon use. {{storylink|Warrior School!}} The plant's facilities were used to create the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], who built a massive radio dish that Soundwave used to beam a message back to Cybertron. However, the radio dish was destroyed when Soundwave was defeated by [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and the human trucker [[Bomber Bill]]. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

[[Image:Soundwavedinobothunt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"And you—YOU!—no longer exiiii... oh, wait."]]
''A short time later, during a brief period when both Megatron and Shockwave were missing in action, Soundwave assumed leadership of the Decepticons, happily slagging off [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s ambitions of leadership. His first attempt at manipulating Autobots into a trap failed. {{storylink|Crisis of Command!}} The second, taking advantage of the "Dinobot Hunt", was a major success—six Autobots were badly injured, not counting two of the Dinobots, and a large amount of fuel was stolen while the Autobots tried to stop a Dinobot rampage in a human town. On the way out, Soundwave proudly declared their victory, a turn of events that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] did not enjoy.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

When Megatron resurfaced, rendered immobile in a [[Wyoming]] [[Wyoming base|coal mine]] due to lack of fuel, Soundwave sped to his rescue, re-energizing him. {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}} ''Using the splintered state of the Decepticon forces to his advantage, Soundwave worked both sides of the field, reporting to both Megatron and the returned Shockwave, each without the other's knowledge. When Shockwave learned that the human [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] had begun to suffer [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-induced visions of the [[Combiner|next leap in Transformer evolution]], Soundwave reported this to Megatron, prompting him to battle Shockwave for leadership. The Decepticons' human ally, [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]], televised the battle, much to Soundwave's distaste, and in order to prevent the Decepticons from looking like fools, he interrupted the duel and insisted that they agree to a joint leadership.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[Image:Soundwavetarget2006.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You find: Insanity!]]
''When the Robot-Master hoax the Decepticons were perpetrating was threatened by the investigative work of [[Joy Meadows]], Soundwave was instrumental in ending the conflict that ensued between the Decepticons and the Dinobots by holding the reporter hostage and destroying her footage.'' {{storylink|In the National Interest}} ''Not long thereafter, when the deranged future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], traveled back in time, Soundwave was intrigued by the fact that he was unable to scan his mind to discern the truth of his identity. Siding with Megatron when conflict erupted, Soundwave and his leader were buried under an avalanche by Galvatron and then rescued by the Autobots in the name of forming an alliance to defeat their common enemy.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Soundwave's loyalty to Megatron was shaken when the latter became increasingly paranoid. Consequently he manipulated his leader into summoning the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Earth as part of a scheme by Shockwave to ensure a weaponless Megatron was destroyed by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Prey!}} However Megatron survived and soon returned to the Decepticon leadership, albeit with his memories of the events lost. {{storylink|Resurrection!}} ''Soundwave ''again'' served as co-conspirator when Shockwave once more used the Predacons to destroy Megatron. In the process a deranged Megatron seemingly committed suicide on the [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

''Soundwave was now once again under Shockwave's command, and, while patrolling on the Decepticons' mobile island base, he found himself attacked and subdued by the time-traveling freelance peace-keeping agent, [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], and tricked into giving up information on the whereabouts of Galvatron.'' {{storylink|Hunters}} ''Although Death's Head's attempts to track down the Decepticon met with failure, Galvatron was ultimately entombed in lava, where he was later discovered by [[Susan Hoffman]]. Soundwave observed a televised broadcast of her discovery, and he and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] attempted to destroy Galvatron with explosives planted around the volcano in question. After a battle with the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]], Soundwave found that he was unable to remote-detonate the explosives thanks to [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] jamming his signal.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night}}

[[Image:Soundwave uscomics.jpg|left|180px|thumb|G2 before it was cool.]]
When Shockwave was removed from power, Soundwave smoothly transitioned to serving under the new Decepticon leader, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and helped to operate his [[Realvision]] playback system to decode data from Autobot tapes [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]. {{storylink|The Flames of Boltax!}} The tapes, it was discovered, contained information on the [[Underbase]], the power of which was desired by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] so badly he sparked off a Decepticon-Decepticon war to cover himself. Soundwave ended up having his fuel pump torn into by [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]]. {{storylink|Cold War!}} When Starscream gained the Underbase's power and targeted the Earth, Soundwave co-led the defense of [[Buenos Aires]] alongside [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], but was temporarily deactivated by a blast of cosmic power from Starscream. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

''He was back on his feet by the time that Starscream, now a [[Pretender]], was busy doubting his self-worth. Soundwave was extremely scared of Starscream by this point.'' {{storylink|Fallen Star!}} He continued to operate under the command of the new Decepticon Earth commander, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], though like the other troops he was very unhappy about Starscream being allowed back in after trying to kill everyone. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} He was put in charge of guarding Optimus Prime after the Autobot leader surrendered his troops to Scorponok, hoping to elicit an alliance against the coming of [[Unicron]]. When Prime changed his mind about meekly waiting in a cell for Scorponok to make time for him, however, Soundwave provided little resistance in keeping him there. {{storylink|Surrender!}} After the Decepticon auxiliary army bombed Scorponok's base in New Jersey, Soundwave assumed temporary command of the active Decepticons in fighting back against the traitors, led by Starscream and Shockwave. This "[[Decepticon Civil War]]" didn't last long, though, as all the Autobots and Decepticons of Earth were summoned to Cybertron by [[Primus]] to deal with Unicron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}}

[[Image:TreadshotMarvel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|He's found a new gunformer to toady up with.]]
Soundwave survived the battle with Unicron, and attended a meeting between the briefly-allied Autobots and Decepticons with [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]]. There Blaster announced the imminent end of their world, and an evacuation was called for. Soundwave was still hanging out with Treadshot when he witnessed a fight break out between [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Fangry]]. [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], who had assumed command of the Decepticons, doublecrossed the Autobots by sabotaging their ships. Soundwave was last seen beside Bludgeon as the Decepticons left their self-destructing homeworld. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

In an alternate future of 2006, Soundwave was briefly seen participating in a battle on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. He didn't do much except retreat. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" are a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].}}

{{-}}
=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''In 2008, Soundwave was under the command of Shockwave on Cybertron. When the bounty hunter named [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] arrived with the deactivated bodies of the renegades [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and demanded an audience, Shockwave had Soundwave wait nearby as a precautionary measure. Sure enough, Soundwave's monitoring abilities alerted Shockwave that the two Decepticons were not as dead as they seemed, and the three invaders began an assassination attempt on Shockwave. Soundwave summoned the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], hoping that [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] could breach the sealed doors of the audience chamber in time, but wasn't swift enough. Death's Head killed Shockwave, and together the trio demanded that the Decepticons accept Scourge and Cyclonus as their new leaders. Faced with superior firepower and a hefty dose of explosives, Soundwave was reluctantly forced to accept on behalf of the Decepticons. ''

[[Image:SpacePiratesSoundwaveLeader.JPG|right|400px|thumb|Or, in short, "Soundwave: Superior".]]
''Wasting no time, Scourge and Cyclonus commanded the Decepticons to begin a full-scale assault on [[Autobase]]. This was effectively suicide, as the two armies were just about evenly matched. That, of course, was the point—Scourge and Cyclonus's true master, Unicron, wanted the children of Primus exhausted and depleted in number by the time of his glorious resurrection. After [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and Death's Head took the fight straight to the recuperating Unicron on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], however, he summoned his two minions back to his side. Seeing their "glorious leaders" abandon the battle, Soundwave and [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grrr]] sounded a retreat. In the absence of Unicron's spawn, Soundwave became the new permanent leader of the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}} ''

''Aching to make a name for himself in Decepticon military history, Soundwave soon fell into a [[Quintesson]] trap. A lone Quintesson arrived at Decepticon headquarters, seeking an alliance against the Autobots, who supposedly had assembled most of their fleet and were on their way to [[Quintessa]]. Instead of helping the Quintessons, Soundwave saw this as an opportunity to invade and destroy the Autobot territory on Cybertron, when most of their warriors were off-world. He assembled his various sub-commanders and set out aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to claim a glorious victory.''

[[Image:Soundwaveconsiders.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Too nostalgic to let go of the past? No wonder he's a fan-favorite.]]
''Instead, Soundwave and the Decepticons walked right into an ambush. There were no Autobots on Quintessa: it was a ruse to draw them out of their base, where legions of [[Allicon]]s and [[Trident Attack Craft]]s waited to overwhelm the Decepticons. Seeing the danger his troops were in, Soundwave was forced to call in the Autobots. Sending a garbled distress beacon to Autobase, Soundwave hoped to draw a suitable fighting force of Autobots to their location. He was successful, as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and his men remained to fight even after learning who the distress call came from. Autobot and Decepticon fought side-by-side until the Quintesson invaders were either destroyed or driven off-world. In a moment of introspection, Soundwave realized how effective the two armies were when fighting as one instead of as enemies... but quickly brushed aside the idea. Simply too much had happened between the Autobots and Decepticons to ever hope for a peaceful end to the war. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}''

''In 2009, Soundwave and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] were on Earth, prepping a new energy extraction system to leech the planet dry. A surgical strike led by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and Ultra Magnus destroyed all their equipment, however, leaving their power cells empty of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. Looking for revenge, the Decepticons pursued the Autobots back to Autobot City, only to find an open [[Time-jump mechanism|trans-time dimensional portal]]. Realizing the Autobots had fled back to 1989 on a mission of unknown purpose, the vengeful Terrorcons wanted to pursue them. Giving in to popular opinion, Soundwave led his troops back through time and right into the midst of the Time Wars.''

''Recognizing that the uncontrolled timestorm could conceivably destroy all of existence, Soundwave chose to put aside vendettas for the moment, and added his men to the alliance of Autobots and Decepticons from two time periods against the unmatched power and evil of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]] combined. Still, the alliance was far from perfect: Soundwave was more than willing to allow the Autobots to charge in first, letting them die in order to "soften up" the resistance. When things turned ugly, Soundwave and the Terrorcons then fled back to 2009, apparently without ever getting their hands dirty. Their final fate after reality restructured itself and the timestorm abated is unknown. {{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}''

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Secrets Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Decepticons never got the hang of Internal Affairs.]]
''In an alternate timeline, Soundwave left [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s army and returned to serving at [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s side during the [[Decepticon Civil War]] against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], helping him with the launch of a [[global warming satellite]]. {{storylink|Starting Over!}} He was not above exploiting the conflict for his own ends, however. When an energon shipment was hijacked by Shockwave's forces thanks to information Soundwave had given them, Megatron came to suspect the presence of a traitor in his ranks, but ironically assigned Soundwave to identify the culprit. To keep his own duplicity a secret, Soundwave set up [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] to take the fall, and Megatron destroyed the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]. Soundwave not only got away with his treachery, he went on to happily blackmail everyone he'd mind-scanned. Eat your heart out, Starscream! {{storylink|Secrets}}''

''Approached by Starscream with a plan to make them both Decepticon leaders, Soundwave joined forces with the schemer and lured Megatron and Shockwave to an airport, tipping off the Autobots to their location. With the two leaders thus occupied, Soundwave and Starscream took control of both factions. {{storylink|Internal Affairs!}} Subsequently, Soundwave led an all-out attack on the [[Earthbase|Earthforce base]] as a diversion, while Starscream attempted to plunder an oil tanker. Starscream met with failure, however, leading Soundwave to withdraw his forces and hint to them that maybe be should have sole command... {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Starscream was aware of Soundwave's goals, and when he was attacked by a [[Louisiana bounty hunters|group of alien assassins]], he suspected that Soundwave had ordered the hit and struck back at him. Soundwave was able to convince Starscream he was not responsible and that in actuality, it was the work of Megatron and Shockwave. {{storylink|External Forces!}}''

''Soon afterward, Soundwave learned that human reporter [[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] had secured an interview with the Autobots that could potentially resolve the public view of the Transformer war. Seeking to prevent this, he had the Stunticons capture the journalist. Although the Autobots were able to rescue him, a carefully planted [[cerebro-shell]] ensured that the story Irwin wrote was anything but accurate. {{storylink|End of the Road! (UK)|End of the Road!}}''

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

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Soundwavemarvelg2.jpg|left|125px|thumb|He gave the "complete sentences" thing a decent go, but he never really got the hang of commas.]]
After Megatron deposed Bludgeon and reassumed control of the Decepticons, Soundwave once again served Megatron as a close adviser. One of his first acts was to ask, "Why revive Starscream?". Megatron shared Soundwave's concerns, and assured him the on-again-off-again traitor would be dealt with once Megatron had regrown his army. {{storylink|Tales of Earth Part Three}}

Megatron immediately drew his Decepticons to the moon of [[Tykos]] to violently acquire [[Rheanimum]] from the natives. However, things soured when Soundwave received a distress call from [[Skullgrin]]. In moments, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] was upon them. After several casualties, and Megatron missing in action, Soundwave led a party to discover if Megatron had survived and recover him if he had; when Mindwipe expressed doubts about the mission, Soundwave told him to shut up. He appeared to assume command when Megatron appeared dead, but ceased when Megatron turned out to still function. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

He was in command of the ''[[Warworld]]'' while Megatron was on Earth. When the Empire boarded the ship (thanks to Starscream's treachery) he and his bridge crew fled to Earth in escape pods. {{storylink|Total War!}} He was later seen standing by in the final battle against the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

{{-}}
====''Classics''====
Soundwave was apparently one of the first Decepticons to return to Megatron's side after the Decepticon leader re-emerged. He helped Megatron rebuild his power base on Earth in secret, using human proxies to covertly recover the remains of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and other Decepticons lost on Earth during the Underbase Saga. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 14|Astrotrain's ''Classics'' profile}}

After the arrival of the mysterious Decepticon [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], Soundwave ran a neural scan on the Transformer to confirm his story of alternate dimensions and [[Unicron]] singularities. Soundwave confirmed that, at the very least, Landquake believed he was telling the truth. The Decepticons took off aboard Astrotrain to explore a new energy signature in the Southern Hemisphere...one which materialized at the same time as Landquake and possessed a similar resonance pattern. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 2}} In South America, Soundwave engaged [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s troops alongside Megatron and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] on the ground. At Megatron's command, he dispatched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to intercept the Autobot scouts who had been sent after the energy source. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 3}}

The Cassettes soon reported back that the energy had been discovered, and Megatron rallyed the Decepticons behind Soundwave to break for the source's location. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] interferred with the Decepticons' progress, however, by hurling Constructicons like shotputs until he knocked Soundwave down. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 5}}
Soundwave and Astrotrain got caught exchanging fire with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] until the latter Autobot turned invisible and snuck around behind the Decepticons, getting the drop on Soundwave. An explosion from below rocked the battlefield, however, and the Decepticons withdrew from combat. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}

When [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] tried to assassinate Megatron, he used [[cerebro-shell]]s to take control of Soundwave and several other Megatron loyalists. The shells' effects were soon jammed by an attacking Autobot team, and in the chaos that followed, Soundwave noticed that the Autobots were targeting their [[Ark (G1)|base]]'s computers, but failed to stop them. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

Soundwave was stationed aboard Starscream's warship when Megatron orchestrated the downfall of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his splinter faction. After their [[Seacon (G1)|inside men]] terminated Bludgeon, Soundwave informed Starscream he had received a transmission of surrender from the forces below. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Soundwave and company.jpg|right|thumb|220px]"Ah' got portable sounds to lift you up, portable sounds ta' take you higha'...]
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
Soundwave was one of the first Decepticons and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s most loyal soldier. Denoted by his eerie, echoing monotone, Soundwave regularly gathered vital intelligence for Megatron's numerous schemes with the aid of his faithful and ever-growing team of cassettes, but despite his primary role as a spy and communications officer, he never shied away the battlefield, and would regularly clash with the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] before finding a true rival in his Autobot opposite number, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. He survived the perilous events of 2005 that took the lives of many of his contemporaries, and continued serving under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] in the 21st century.

In a future timeline that branches off from this one, Soundwave ultimately met his end at the hands of Blaster, but even death could not stymie his loyalty to the Decepticon cause, as he was reborn as '''Soundblaster''' through the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
{{-}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' Unknown

According to Megatron, Soundwave is a "blundering, tape-filled idiot." While the veracity of this statement is subjective, Soundwave ''does'' whine a lot. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[Image:BW Agenda Pt3 Soundwave.jpg|right|180px|thumb|With one stroke I shall free my tiny dinosaur brethren, yesssss!"]]
Soundwave was among the many Transformers strewn about the bridge of the Ark when the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] infiltrated the ship on his mission to destroy Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}
{{-}}
====3H comics====
Soundwave is one of the ancient warriors who appears from [[J'nwan]] to help battle the warlord [[Shokaract]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Soundwavewarwithin.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Sound and ([[Ravage (G1)#3H Universe_comics|eventually]]) Furry.]]
Soundwave was chosen by Megatron to lead his second assassination team against the new Autobot supreme commander, Optimus Prime. With the aid of Soundwave's cassette troops, most notably [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], it was assumed he would have no problem with a young, peace-loving Autobot. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Soundwave, like many others, underestimated Prime's resolve and was quickly incapacitated. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} He was still out cold when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] came by, {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} but recovered in time to rescue Megatron after the latter's own battle with Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

When Megatron and Optimus Prime vanished in a [[space bridge]] accident, the Decepticons were fragmented and Soundwave joined [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s faction. He participated in the attack on [[The Fallen]]'s minions in an attempt to stop the [[Unbinding]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Eventually, Shockwave attempted to call a truce with the Autobots for the good of the Transformer race, but the initial ceremony was interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s faction, the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. Soundwave was quite mad about this, telling the Predacons to perish for their crimes against Cybertron as he attacked them alongside several Autobots. Shortly after the Predacons were defeated, Megatron returned to Cybertron with his [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and reunited the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} After falling back under Megatron's command, Soundwave reported the progress on his leader's plan to dig a hole to the core of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

In the present day, Soundwave was among the Decepticons defeated by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth. The ''[[Ark II]]'', the spacecraft that would have taken the Transformers back to Cybertron, was sabotaged by General [[Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], and it exploded upon liftoff, scattering the robots across the Arctic Ocean. Soundwave and the others were recovered, Autobot and Decepticon alike, and reprogrammed by Rook to accept commands and were leased to terrorist organisations and military juntas as powerful weapons of war. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} After Megatron freed himself and the other Decepticons, Soundwave developed a 'metallic virus' that cyberformed Earth organics into cybertronic materials. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} During the subsequent battle with the Autobots in [[San Francisco]], Soundwave warned Megatron that a nuclear missile launched by Hallo was headed for the city. The Decepticons used the distraction to escape. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

[[Image:Soundwaveg1vol2.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Leader's pet.]]Soundwave was among the Decepticons who joined Shockwave's forces when the new ruler of Cybertron appeared on Earth. {{storylink|War and Peace}} When Shockwave brutally deposed Megatron, Soundwave stood by in silence and did nothing to help his former leader. Soundwave worked his way quietly into Shockwave's good graces, earning the ire of Starscream. However, it didn't take many words to bring Soundwave around to the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s point of view. Later, when interrogated by Shockwave, a single, silent look from Soundwave stopped [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from revealing that Starscream was behind Megatron's disappearance during their voyage to Cybertron. As the battle between the Autobots and Shockwave's forces intensified, Soundwave followed Starscream's lead without a word, and helped him prepare for a return trip to Earth aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Starscream rewarded him by giving him a [[Ratbat (G1)|present]]. Soundwave silently approved.

Though Soundwave feigned subservience to Starscream, it was later revealed that he had been serving Megatron the entire time in secret. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I.Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:Soundwavedevilsdue.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"Eject. Operation: Dynamic Group Shot."]]
Soundwave was among the Transformers on the ''Ark'' when it crashed long ago, and was discovered and reprogrammed by the human terrorist organization known as [[Cobra]] in the present. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Arms dealer [[Destro]] made a visit to [[Cobra Island]] where [[Doctor Mindbender]] introduced him to Soundwave and his cassettes, who were under the complete control of Cobra's scientists. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} While Destro liked what he saw, he wanted to run a test, and personally operated Soundwave's controls during an attack on the [[SPS Research Facility]].

Meanwhile, a picture of Soundwave was secretly sent out to hundreds of email boxes. The message turned out to be a [[Defense Matrix|secret signal]] from Optimus Prime, which alerted [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and Bumblebee to the location of Cobra's secret base where the rest of the Transformers were being held. When the two Autobots appeared to stop Destro's attack, the human brought Soundwave and himself back to Cobra Island. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

Soundwave was released from Cobra control thanks to Wheeljack and attacked his former human masters. With Megatron and the other Decepticons freed, Soundwave went to work making energon cubes. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Just as things were going their way, Optimus Prime arrived, powered up using the energon, and punched his fist right through Soundwave's chest, taking him out of the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After the Autobots left on a return voyage to Cybertron, Soundwave's head and remains were taken in secret by human scientists for study. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Several years later, the scientists managed to use Megatron's technology to create the organic weapon [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], who plugged himself into Soundwave's deactivated head after getting free and downloaded data on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s history. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
Along with the rest of the Decepticons, Soundwave was buried in the [[Fera Islands]] until 1938, when [[Cobra]] accidentally awakened them and used them to conquer most of [[Europe]]. He sent Laserbeak to spy on the [[United States of America|United States]]' reaction to this, and learned that [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had been created to battle the Cobra threat. Soundwave later helped Megatron and Starscream get rid of some Royal Air Force fighters above the English Channel, allowing Cobra to attack the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Line}}

When G.I. Joe attacked the Fera Islands, Soundwave infiltrated [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]'s unit in the form of a radio transmitter carried by a disguised [[Zartan]]. Flint noticed that it wasn't their radio, but that didn't stop Soundwave from capturing him and taking him back to Cobra HQ. {{storylink|Wolves}} However, the Joes had managed to awaken the Autobots also buried on the island, and Soundwave soon found himself facing down [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. He lost the fight, and either died at the hands of Grimlock or when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] was smashed to pieces. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

{{note|According to solicitations for ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'', Soundwave was set to return by unknown means years later, but [[Dreamwave Productions]] bankrupted before the issues could be produced.}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Soundwave was extremely amused by the footage Laserbeak and Ravage gathered of Starscream falling on his head. He let Megatron know, and they went to pick up Starscream, only to find him gone, taken by the Autobots. The discovery that Starscream appeared to be working with the Autobots only amused Soundwave more, and the Decepticons went to retrieve their former comrade. When it turned out that Starscream wanted to stay with the Autobots, Megatron was enraged, and Soundwave reflected that it was the most fun he'd had in years. Starscream eventually returned to the Decepticons, claiming it was all an act, and Soundwave suggested he should be more careful while mountain climbing in future. {{storylink|Redemption Center}}

Puzzled by the loss of much of their stock of weapons, Megatron assigned Soundwave to investigate. Using Laserbeak's spying abilities, Soundwave determined that [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was selling the weapons on the black market, much to Megatron's outrage. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

===IDW ''Hearts of Steel'' continuity===
Millions of years in the past, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who took on organic modes in order to battle the Autobots on prehistoric Earth. When an ice age approached, the Decepticons survived by powering down under what would eventually become the [[San Francisco]] Bay. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Soundwave woke up in the mid-19th century, where he came under the command of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Along with several other Decepticons, he stood by Starscream as he and [[Tobias Muldoon]] discussed where they would build their headquarters. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegatronOrigin4 Soundwave humbles Ratbat.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Ratbat, you shall be repurposed as the greatest mix tape ever to be given to Megatron."]]
Long before the war began, Soundwave was the personal assistant to Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] caught Ratbat's eye as a champion of the illegal underground gladiatorial matches, Ratbat sent Soundwave to offer Megatron funding and weapons technology. When [[Bumper (G1)|two]] [[Fastback (G1)|Autobots]] were discovered listening in on their conversation, Soundwave dispatched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to capture them. After their capture, he read Bumper's mind to see if there was any immediate threat to Megatron's activities. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Some time later, Soundwave was assigned to find a warrior with flight capabilities. He found the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]: Starscream, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. During a recruitment rally in which Megatron attempted to kill [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]], a raid by the Autobots under [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] resulted in the participants being arrested. Soundwave, however, was freed under [[Senate]] directive, something which greatly angered Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Soundwave had apparently switched loyalties at this time, becoming one of Megatron's own in not only helping Starscream exterminate [[Kaon]] senators but also to the extent that he destroyed Ratbat's original body, placing his spark into a relatively weak cassette form and thus forcing him into the Decepticons. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

Four million years ago, Soundwave and [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] were leading a Decepticon offensive to cover for [[Octane]]'s convoy of energon. When Optimus Prime slipped away to intercept the convoy, Soundwave went after him and got the drop on Prime from behind. Prime's bodyguard [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] turned the tables on him, though, taking out both Soundwave and his Mini-Cassettes. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

During the war, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] contacted various scientists on both sides to discuss his startling findings that the conflict would create such devastation that would render the planet uninhabitable, and that the only way to survive was to adopt the [[Pretender|organic carapace]] idea he had come up with. Soundwave was among those scientists who refused to accept Thunderwing's findings and his proposal. {{Storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

After the end of the cataclysm brought by Thunderwing, as part of a plan to assassinate [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], a motivational speaker for the Autobots, Soundwave had [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] captured and used [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to implement a [[cerebro-shell]] into him. While Beachcomber didn't outright kill Blaster, his motivational broadcast failed to air at precisely the moment the Decepticons began the big push. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[Image:SpotlightSoundwave infoispower.jpg|left|180px|thumb|He's just too busy being an eighties guy.]]

Centuries later, after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] disappeared, Megatron assigned [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to delve into Shockwave's research and relay all the information back to him. As the Decepticon leader did not fully trust Bludgeon, Megatron also assigned Soundwave to spy on him. Soundwave followed Bludgeon and his team as they left for Earth in 1984 and established a base within [[Mount St. Helens]], eventually discovering that they intended to resurrect [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. Though Soundwave tried to stop them, [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used an experimental cannon from Shockwave's arsenal to lock him in his alt mode while they instigated a volcanic eruption. He was eventually recovered by a team of unwitting humans who sold him to a pawn shop. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

Soundwave was purchased by a human teenager named [[Jimmy]] and taken to his home. When Ravage and Laserbeak were reprogrammed by the American government agency [[Skywatch]] to find the other Transformers, Skywatch's control signal was blocked by a signal emanating from a functioning Soundwave, still in cassette-player mode. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Sometime later on, Ravage and Laserbeak located the signal and reclaimed their master from Jimmy. Relocating to Mount St. Helens, Soundwave told them that he could barely keep blocking Skywatch's hold on them, due to his weakening state in cassette mode. Shockwave suddenly appeared from a cave entrance and said that the four could make a deal together. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}} Shockwave knew how Soundwave could unlock his robot mode, but would only tell him if he did Shockwave a favour in return, something which Soundwave agreed to. He was told that Skywatch had placed a bomb in Shockwave's head, and that he needed to intercept and copy its disarm code. The plan went off without a hitch, and after transmitting the code to Shockwave, Soundwave was finally freed from his alt mode. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

After returning to his position as Megatron's right hand, Soundwave helped defeat the Autobot forces on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} He was present during the attack on [[New York City]], and detected the incoming human military jets. The planes fired, and on Megatron's orders, Soundwave calmly detonated the arsenal. He then launched Laserbeak to take out the human resistance. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Soundwave reported that the humans had sent a sizable ground force after the Decepticons. Following Megatron's orders, he released [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and set him loose on the humans. The only being immune to Frenzy's infrasonic manipulation, he silently observed his minion's work. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With the conquest of New York complete, Soundwave listened to Megatron's victory speech. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} When a group of humans led by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Cmdr. Spike Witwicky]] deactivated [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] with an experimental weapon which originated from Shockwave, Soundwave, sensing this, found Rumble's lifeless body, grieved, and took him away. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

During [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] attempt to take control of the Decepticons, Megatron revealed that Soundwave had been watching him all along, reporting his planned rebellion to Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The infighting amongst the Decepticons stopped when jets from [[Europe]] arrived to take them all on, soon followed by the return of the Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Megatron was defeated, and Soundwave escaped alongside the rest of the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} Whilst traveling away from Earth onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Soundwave and his cassettes took care of their heavily injured leader. Starscream attempted to dissuade him from wasting energon on Megatron, all the while buttering him up with compliments about his loyalty, but all Soundwave said in response was "Negative. Megatron functions." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

Three years later, Soundwave was still dutifully attending to Megatron's reconstruction. {{storylink|All His Engines}} He eventually came to the conclusion that his leader's body was beyond repair, and instead recruited Shockwave to build a new body for him. Once Megatron returned in a new and upgraded form, he hatched a plan to use parts of his old body to make Megatron gun replicas that would subconsciously influence humans. Alongside his cassettes and Shockwave, Soundwave helped produce these weapons. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon}} He was later present when Megatron got rid of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and was ordered to gather everyone in the base so that their leader could address them. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

As part of Megatron's master plan, the Decepticons subsequently returned to Earth, where Soundwave led Rumble and Frenzy in an attack on the [[Skywatch]] base where several Decepticons were being held captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man}} Soundwave was then responsible for holding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] hostage while Megatron explained to Optimus Prime that he was the one turning the humans against the Autobots. In an attempt to throw off Megatron's concentration, and with it his influence over the gun-wielding humans, Prime fired on Soundwave, blowing off a large portion of his head. The plan worked: seeing his loyal soldier fall sent Megatron into a rage, and he picked up the barely living Soundwave and flew off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome}} With his body in [[stasis lock]], Soundwave was brought to Shockwave, who was unsure if he could repair such an extensive injury with the limited resources at his disposal. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine}}

{{note|The events of "Spotlight: Mirage" possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
[[Image:SpotlightMirage Soundwavescorpse.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Not so superior now, are you?]]
In a dream set in an alternate universe wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a soft taco shell dreamt by [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], Soundwave was part of the Decepticon strike force who attacked the last stronghold of the Autobots. Soundwave was attacked by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], who snapped his head off, killing him. But it was just a dream, so it didn't matter. Right? {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
Soundwave—[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|in his Laser Cycle body]]—was seen among the inhabitants of the multiversal hub city of [[Axiom Nexus]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 4}}

===Timelines===
Soundwave was present with Megatron, [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] when the topic about finding new ultimate weapon ideas changed to [[BotCon 2010]]. As Breakdown mentioned that one of the things he was looking forward to was the debut of the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]], Soundwave turned to Counterpunch and pointed to himself. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[Image:Soundwavecommercial.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Say hello to my leetle friend!"]]

Soundwave's [[commercial]] appearances include:

* An appearance in his very own 1984 commercial. This early animation featured a Soundwave model colored in lavender, versus the dark blue used later. Also, instead of the cassettes ejecting themselves from his chest, he reached into his chest compartment with his own fingers and threw the (tiny) tapes into the air. He wasn't properly introduced.

* He's more on-form in a commercial for the Dinobots, where he, Ravage and Laserbeak are driven back by the robotic monsters amid a thunderstorm.

* Soundwave has a speaking part in the commercial for Blaster. When Rumble strolls into his base carrying a radio, Soundwave immediately identifies it as an "Autobot intruder" and dispatches Ravage and Laserbeak to attack the Autobot. Soundwave is given his correct voice and modulation.

* He's seen grappling with Springer in a 1987 commercial for the ''Headmasters'' comic.

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Soundwave could intefere with Optimus Prime's progress, diverting him into areas of the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[image:TF PS2 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Robert Belgrade]]

====Decepticon story====

Soundwave and Starscream were sent to investigate strange reports of space-time warps and UFOs on the planet Zel Samine, bringing a space bridge with them on their shuttle that they would use to transport Megatron to the plant once they had landed. Inexplicably, their ship wound up crashing, and when they attempted to use the space bridge, it malfunctioned, dumping Megatron some distance away. After reuniting with his leader, Soundwave deduced that powerful electromagnetic rays from Zel Samine's sun, Paradius, were responsible for scrambling the systems of the shuttle and the space bridge, and that the Decepticons themselves would be subject to similar catastrophic system disruption if they tried venturing off the planet without a ship. The Decepticons immediately set about raiding local energy sources for energon to repair their craft, starting with a wind power plant on [[Mount Jaad]]. Then, after successfully draining the [[Ranpas geothermal plant]]—in part thanks to Soundwave deploying Laserbeak to locate any Autobot guards around the facility—Megatron chose the [[Monogan hydroelectric power station]] for their next target. Soundwave pointed out the heavy Autobot fortifications that had been set up around the station and suggested a different target, but Megatron dismissed his concerns, and when the Decepticons did indeed emerge victorious, Soundwave apologized for speaking out of turn and doubting his leader.

Via Laserbeak, Soundwave soon discovered that the Autobots on the planet had made contact with the occupants of one of the strange UFOs, and suggested to Megatron that they send a task force to intercept them. In the process, the Decepticons wound up allying themselves with the ''other'' UFO's passengers: Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, a trio of Decepticons from the future who had traveled back in time to locate and destroy the powerful [[Zel Quartz]], a weapon that threatened Galvatron's rule in their home time. Soundwave was teamed with Cyclonusto seek out possible locations of the quartz across the planet, and the communications officer stoically carried out his task, all the while struggling to keep Megatron and Galvatron from fighting with each other.

After failing to find the quartz at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], the Decepticons next decided to search the [[Karzite mine]]. Cyclonus informed Soundwave that he saw both him and Megatron as "worthless scrap", and warned the communications officer the mine yielded a similar lack of results, then he would be taking the blame, not Cyclonus. Soundwave agreed, but have a warning of his own: he charged a high price for being spoken to with disrespect. As it turned out, the quartz was not in the mine, and Soundwave accepted the blame as promised, only to then reveal his price: he had recorded his conversation with Cyclonus and played it back for Megatron, who did not take kindly to the future Decepticon's insults. At Megatron's command, Soundwave recorded Cyclonus's screams as the Decepticon leader subjected him to a vicious punishment.

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

====Autobot story====
Megatron had Soundwave send out a fake Autobot SOS transmission in an attempt to trick the Autobots into leaving their base. The plan was a success and Optimus Prime and his crew were lured out. When the Autobots realized that they had been deceived, Megatron sent a message through Soundwave's transmitter, gloating how he had tricked Prime and announced that his crew was going to steal the energon the Autobots had on their shuttle. When Megatron had finished his message, Soundwave returned to base. On the way back to their shuttle, the Autobots encountered Soundwave again, this time leading a hoard of Decepticon troops, and fought them. Despite his best efforts, Soundwave was overwhelmed and left to rejoin Megatron. Later, Soundwave fought the Autobots again while they were dealing with another swarm of enemies. He lost again, and left to fight another day.

Later on, Soundwave teamed up with his future self, Soundblaster, and with [[Full-Tilt]] as the final defense against the Autobots before they reached Megatron and Galvatron. When the Autobots arrived, Soundblaster started by expressed [[dull surprise]] at how the Autobots managed to survive up until the current point. Soundwave continued, warning the Autobots that he would not let them stand in Megatron's way. Both present and future versions of the Communications Officer we all know and love put the best fight they could, but even with Full-Tilt's help, the Autobots overpowered them.

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
{{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
:''Main article: [[Soundwave (G1)/toys]]''
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave (G1) toys#Merchandise]]''
{{-}}
==Notes==
[[Image:SoundwaveButtonUD3.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"When I think about you, I touch myself."]]

* The Decepticon faction insignia appears to be roughly based on Soundwave's head.

* Though Soundwave's toy is a microcassette recorder, his fictional appearances depict him as a stereo cassette deck or Walkman. (Likewise, his microcassette tapes are depicted as regular audio cassettes.)

* The Marvel U.S. comics chose a purple scheme for Soundwave. This could have been an attempt to distinguish him from the other Decepticons, who were mostly blue (especially since blacks also ended up as blues in the industry's then-limited color palette). Or it could have been a simple error. But very likely, it had something to do with his early animation model, which appeared lavender, rather than blue. (See Commercial Appearances.) Compounding this error, Marvel US Soundwave was drawn without a mouthplate by artist [[José Delbo]]. The Marvel UK comics colored him blue like everywhere else (partially due to using a more sophisticated coloring system) and always included his faceplate.

[[Image:Soundwave fly.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Hey, wait for me!"]]

* The G1 cartoon almost always depicted him as having to press all his own controls to eject minions or perform other functions even though these are actually part of him. This has led to many a shot of Soundwave pressing his own crotch. What will the children think?

* According to the original script<ref>http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/02/ron-friedman-auctions-scripts-part-3-of.html</ref> for [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]], "Sound Wave" transformed into "a LIGHT STANDARD - identical to the one that exists a short distance away, the perfect camouflage". So... yes, he really ''did'' turn into a lamppost on Cybertron.

* Soundwave's distinctive voice proved to be one of Generation 1's most memorable aspects. The [[Wikipedia:Vocoder|highly processed voice]] (processed by [[Scott Brownlee]]) began with [[Frank Welker]] basically doing his "Dr. Claw" voice from ''[[Wikipedia:Inspector Gadget|Inspector Gadget]]''. Whether due to variations in the performance or the processing, the final result varied quite a bit across Soundwave's three seasons on the show. Occasionally, as in the episodes "[[Roll for It]]" and "[[Webworld]]", the processing was left out and Welker's actual voice can be heard. This Dr. Claw version of Soundwave's voice made a return when Welker reprised the [[Soundwave (ROTF)|role]] for ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' as the processing was, again, left out.

* Similarly, he often emphasizes words at random, such as his well-known "RavAAAAAGE", or "LAAZABEEK". This may be a side effect of the voice doctoring in the cartoon.

*In the Mandarin dub, Soundwave had a glorious, operatic voice.

[[Image:Bm soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Soundwave gets slagged by Vehicons, and Nightscream escapes. How's that for injustice?]]

* The typically emotionally-barren Soundwave actually ''laughs'' on two separate occasions in the Generation 1 cartoon ("[[Quest for Survival]]" and "[[Auto-Bop]]"), while he ''screams like a little girl'' only once ("[[Roll for It]]").

* Soundwave has flown in his [[alternate mode|alt mode]] one time, in the episode "[[Masquerade]]." In [[Atlus]]'s ''[[The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers]]'' game, Soundwave can transform to tape deck mode and kind of bounces around to move in that form. No, really.

* In the Japanese dub of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], as well as the supporting [[manga]], all of Soundwave's cassette forces which could talk referred to him as "Anikii" (兄貴い) or "Big Brother." This is a fairly common way to refer to others you admire and such in Japanese. It's also a term that gang members use toward older, more experienced members who aren't actual gang bosses. Take it as you will. Whatever it says about his relationship with them, it does give new meaning to the phrase [[Wikipedia:Big Brother (Nineteen Eighty-Four)|"Big Brother is watching over you"]].

* Soundwave was in charge of the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|UK letters page]] from issues 22 to 78, barring a few interruptions.

[[Image:Unused AHM Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What? You mean we don't use brick-sized microcassette recorders anymore?]]

* Soundwave's computer model was used for one of the [[generic]] Transformers in Beast Machines. It is seen in "[[Forbidden Fruit]]" during [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] flashback being cornered by [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] just before Nightscream flees into the lower levels of Cybertron. Though the model was recolored, it was still really 'Soundwavey,' causing much confusion among fans. His computer model as well as [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s continued to show up for the rest of the series, used to represent deactivated Transformer shells.

* Later, Soundwave's character model showed up numerous times in various color schemes as a generic background character in the ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon.

* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] listened to music using a tape deck resembling Soundwave in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Memory]]". Later, after a new [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] was found, ''Cybertron'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] held tape deck Soundwave in his arms. This caused a great disturbance in the [[force]]...

* IDW Publishing seems to be undecided on Soundwave's speech pattern. In ''[[Megatron Origin]]'', he speaks in his classic cartoon-based monotone. However, in "[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]", he speaks in a normal fashion. Which is once again reverted to the classic speech in ''[[All Hail Megatron]]''.

* [[Guido Guidi]] made a concept drawing of Soundwave with a modern microcassette recorder as an alt-mode (which are still used by reporters and doctors today) for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' maxi-series. This was also unused. Consequently, Soundwave may go down as the Transformers character with the most unused designs.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Jam Bo''' (音波, "Voice Wave")
*''English:'' '''New Soundwave''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Soundblaster)
*''French:'' '''Radar''' (Canada), '''Sonore''' (Canada Action Master, "Sound")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Fülelő''' ("Listener")
*''Italian:'' '''Memor''', '''Vizar''' (Soundblaster)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shēng-bō''' (Taiwan, 聲波, "Sound Wave"), '''Shēng Bàu''' (Taiwan Soundblaster, 聲爆, "Sound Blast")
*''Polish:'' '''Dźwiękofalowiec''' (''The Movie'', "Soundwaver")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Onda-Sonora''' (Portugal comics), '''Microonda''' (Brazil comics, "Microwave")
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (cartoon, Бархан, "Dune")<ref>Dubbers thought his name was "Sandwave".</ref>
*''Spanish:'' '''Sam''' (America ''The Headmasters'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zvukohvyl''' (Звукохвил, "Soundwave")

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Robo-Capers characters]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:Universe Decepticons]]

Soundwave (G1)

2011-09-20T03:51:02Z

74.99.182.224:

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 character eventually upgraded to Soundblaster|the ''Cybertron'' character|Soundblaster (Cybertron)}}
{{suite}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Soundwave mixalot.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Ah' Rock th' Show n' Stery-ery-O!"]]
'''Soundwave''' is one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s most reliable troops, and he has positioned himself comfortably and irreplaceably in Megatron's upper command structure. He stands at the [[Decepticon leader]]'s side as a confidant. Though "only" Communications Officer, he is comparable to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in rank and is the only one of the three to display consistent loyalty to Megatron. Soundwave guards his place in the hierarchy fiercely. Other Decepticons (except Megatron) see him as a two-faced snake, since, as Communications Officer, Soundwave hears all and doesn't hesitate to use blackmail to keep himself high in Megatron's esteem. The other Decepticons wouldn't mind abandoning him on the battlefield—if they thought Megatron would let them get away with it.

Soundwave commands [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|a legion of cassette troops]] to carry out tasks big and small. He has a symbiotic relationship with them, providing them transportation and a cheap, if cramped, place to live in his chest. Sometimes he lets them all out to watch impromptu gladiator games or takes them to discotheques. In return, they perform spy and recon missions for him and make sure no one calls him "un-krozzo-matic".

He usually has all the personality of a [[:Image:Cybertronsoundwave.jpg|stump]] (as evidenced by his computer-style speech). He also has no imagination, sending the aforementioned cassettes on operations with mundane names.

As an [[Action Master]], he is [[Action Master partner|partnered]] with [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]].

Soundwave's scanning systems are so powerful that he can actually read and decode the electrical impulses that comprise "thoughts" in both organics and Cybertronians. This telepathic power is likely one of the reasons why he is so highly placed in Megatron's hierarchy.

In various universes, Soundwave is upgraded into '''Soundblaster''' (サウンドブラスター ''Saundoburasutā'').

{{quote|As you command, Megatron.|Soundwave, eternal loyalist|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Contentedfools.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Ravage, Megatron, and Soundwave, the first Decepticons.]]
Millions of years ago, Soundwave was one of the first members of the Decepticons; after sowing discontent amongst the masses, he, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] began the war that tore the planet itself out of its orbit. The Decepticons, including Soundwave, attempted to hijack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] four million years ago, only to fail and fall into deactivation sleep for four million years. In 1984, the detonation of the volcano, [[Mount St. Hilary]], reactivated the Autobots and Decepticons, unleashing their war on Earth. Learning the [[Human|inhabitants]] of this planet had access to its vast energy sources, Soundwave joined the Decepticons in raiding a drive-in movie theatre. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}} Soon after, Soundwave participated in a raid on [[Harrison Nuclear Power Plant]], and after helping the Decepticons make off with large chunks of its machinery, helped use their bounty to build a [[Fortress Sinister|new headquarters atop a cliffside]]. {{storylink|Power Play!}} After returning from [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service]] with [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], a human the Decepticons kidnapped to help them convert human fuel to Transformer fuel, the Decepticons' headquarters were infiltrated by a rescue party of [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and the human superhero [[Spider-Man]]. While Spider-Man caused a diversion in front of Soundwave, Gears was able to suckerpunch him. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}}

[[Image:Laserbeakwarriorschool.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Fly, my pretties, fly!"]]
''When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] nearly caused the death of Ravage, Megatron rallied the other Decepticons, including Soundwave, to enact vengeance for his treason. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} Later, the Decepticons unleashed a surprise attack on the Ark. After Soundwave defeated [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], the battle was halted when [[Aunty]], the Ark's computer system, turned rogue. After the crisis was averted, Soundwave and the others were able to retreat. {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}'' Due to Sparkplug's efforts during his kidnapping, the Decepticons were able to refuel, and Soundwave and his comrades attacked the Autobots. However, Sparkplug had poisoned the fuel, and Soundwave shorted out along with the others. As Soundwave lay deactivated, it was only the surprise arrival of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] that turned the tide. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

Shockwave assumed command, and immediately began restoring Soundwave and the other poisoned Decepticons. Soundwave was ordered to prepare the bodies of the fallen Autobots to serve as spare parts for Shockwave's new army of Decepticons. {{storylink|The New Order}} Megatron objected to this new order and rebelled, but Shockwave quelled him quickly, and paraded Megatron's broken body in front of Soundwave and his peers as a warning to those who would cross him. {{storylink|The Worse of Two Evils!}} Under Shockwave's command, Soundwave attacked the [[Blackrock Aerospace Assembly Plant Number One]] and secured it for Decepticon use. {{storylink|Warrior School!}} The plant's facilities were used to create the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], who built a massive radio dish that Soundwave used to beam a message back to Cybertron. However, the radio dish was destroyed when Soundwave was defeated by [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and the human trucker [[Bomber Bill]]. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

[[Image:Soundwavedinobothunt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"And you—YOU!—no longer exiiii... oh, wait."]]
''A short time later, during a brief period when both Megatron and Shockwave were missing in action, Soundwave assumed leadership of the Decepticons, happily slagging off [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s ambitions of leadership. His first attempt at manipulating Autobots into a trap failed. {{storylink|Crisis of Command!}} The second, taking advantage of the "Dinobot Hunt", was a major success—six Autobots were badly injured, not counting two of the Dinobots, and a large amount of fuel was stolen while the Autobots tried to stop a Dinobot rampage in a human town. On the way out, Soundwave proudly declared their victory, a turn of events that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] did not enjoy.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

When Megatron resurfaced, rendered immobile in a [[Wyoming]] [[Wyoming base|coal mine]] due to lack of fuel, Soundwave sped to his rescue, re-energizing him. {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}} ''Using the splintered state of the Decepticon forces to his advantage, Soundwave worked both sides of the field, reporting to both Megatron and the returned Shockwave, each without the other's knowledge. When Shockwave learned that the human [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] had begun to suffer [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-induced visions of the [[Combiner|next leap in Transformer evolution]], Soundwave reported this to Megatron, prompting him to battle Shockwave for leadership. The Decepticons' human ally, [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]], televised the battle, much to Soundwave's distaste, and in order to prevent the Decepticons from looking like fools, he interrupted the duel and insisted that they agree to a joint leadership.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[Image:Soundwavetarget2006.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You find: Insanity!]]
''When the Robot-Master hoax the Decepticons were perpetrating was threatened by the investigative work of [[Joy Meadows]], Soundwave was instrumental in ending the conflict that ensued between the Decepticons and the Dinobots by holding the reporter hostage and destroying her footage.'' {{storylink|In the National Interest}} ''Not long thereafter, when the deranged future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], traveled back in time, Soundwave was intrigued by the fact that he was unable to scan his mind to discern the truth of his identity. Siding with Megatron when conflict erupted, Soundwave and his leader were buried under an avalanche by Galvatron and then rescued by the Autobots in the name of forming an alliance to defeat their common enemy.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Soundwave's loyalty to Megatron was shaken when the latter became increasingly paranoid. Consequently he manipulated his leader into summoning the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Earth as part of a scheme by Shockwave to ensure a weaponless Megatron was destroyed by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Prey!}} However Megatron survived and soon returned to the Decepticon leadership, albeit with his memories of the events lost. {{storylink|Resurrection!}} ''Soundwave ''again'' served as co-conspirator when Shockwave once more used the Predacons to destroy Megatron. In the process a deranged Megatron seemingly committed suicide on the [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

''Soundwave was now once again under Shockwave's command, and, while patrolling on the Decepticons' mobile island base, he found himself attacked and subdued by the time-traveling freelance peace-keeping agent, [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], and tricked into giving up information on the whereabouts of Galvatron.'' {{storylink|Hunters}} ''Although Death's Head's attempts to track down the Decepticon met with failure, Galvatron was ultimately entombed in lava, where he was later discovered by [[Susan Hoffman]]. Soundwave observed a televised broadcast of her discovery, and he and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] attempted to destroy Galvatron with explosives planted around the volcano in question. After a battle with the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]], Soundwave found that he was unable to remote-detonate the explosives thanks to [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] jamming his signal.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night}}

[[Image:Soundwave uscomics.jpg|left|180px|thumb|G2 before it was cool.]]
When Shockwave was removed from power, Soundwave smoothly transitioned to serving under the new Decepticon leader, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and helped to operate his [[Realvision]] playback system to decode data from Autobot tapes [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]. {{storylink|The Flames of Boltax!}} The tapes, it was discovered, contained information on the [[Underbase]], the power of which was desired by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] so badly he sparked off a Decepticon-Decepticon war to cover himself. Soundwave ended up having his fuel pump torn into by [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]]. {{storylink|Cold War!}} When Starscream gained the Underbase's power and targeted the Earth, Soundwave co-led the defense of [[Buenos Aires]] alongside [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], but was temporarily deactivated by a blast of cosmic power from Starscream. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

''He was back on his feet by the time that Starscream, now a [[Pretender]], was busy doubting his self-worth. Soundwave was extremely scared of Starscream by this point.'' {{storylink|Fallen Star!}} He continued to operate under the command of the new Decepticon Earth commander, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], though like the other troops he was very unhappy about Starscream being allowed back in after trying to kill everyone. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} He was put in charge of guarding Optimus Prime after the Autobot leader surrendered his troops to Scorponok, hoping to elicit an alliance against the coming of [[Unicron]]. When Prime changed his mind about meekly waiting in a cell for Scorponok to make time for him, however, Soundwave provided little resistance in keeping him there. {{storylink|Surrender!}} After the Decepticon auxiliary army bombed Scorponok's base in New Jersey, Soundwave assumed temporary command of the active Decepticons in fighting back against the traitors, led by Starscream and Shockwave. This "[[Decepticon Civil War]]" didn't last long, though, as all the Autobots and Decepticons of Earth were summoned to Cybertron by [[Primus]] to deal with Unicron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}}

[[Image:TreadshotMarvel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|He's found a new gunformer to toady up with.]]
Soundwave survived the battle with Unicron, and attended a meeting between the briefly-allied Autobots and Decepticons with [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]]. There Blaster announced the imminent end of their world, and an evacuation was called for. Soundwave was still hanging out with Treadshot when he witnessed a fight break out between [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Fangry]]. [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], who had assumed command of the Decepticons, doublecrossed the Autobots by sabotaging their ships. Soundwave was last seen beside Bludgeon as the Decepticons left their self-destructing homeworld. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

In an alternate future of 2006, Soundwave was briefly seen participating in a battle on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. He didn't do much except retreat. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" are a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].}}

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=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''In 2008, Soundwave was under the command of Shockwave on Cybertron. When the bounty hunter named [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] arrived with the deactivated bodies of the renegades [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and demanded an audience, Shockwave had Soundwave wait nearby as a precautionary measure. Sure enough, Soundwave's monitoring abilities alerted Shockwave that the two Decepticons were not as dead as they seemed, and the three invaders began an assassination attempt on Shockwave. Soundwave summoned the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], hoping that [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] could breach the sealed doors of the audience chamber in time, but wasn't swift enough. Death's Head killed Shockwave, and together the trio demanded that the Decepticons accept Scourge and Cyclonus as their new leaders. Faced with superior firepower and a hefty dose of explosives, Soundwave was reluctantly forced to accept on behalf of the Decepticons. ''

[[Image:SpacePiratesSoundwaveLeader.JPG|right|400px|thumb|Or, in short, "Soundwave: Superior".]]
''Wasting no time, Scourge and Cyclonus commanded the Decepticons to begin a full-scale assault on [[Autobase]]. This was effectively suicide, as the two armies were just about evenly matched. That, of course, was the point—Scourge and Cyclonus's true master, Unicron, wanted the children of Primus exhausted and depleted in number by the time of his glorious resurrection. After [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and Death's Head took the fight straight to the recuperating Unicron on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], however, he summoned his two minions back to his side. Seeing their "glorious leaders" abandon the battle, Soundwave and [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grrr]] sounded a retreat. In the absence of Unicron's spawn, Soundwave became the new permanent leader of the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}} ''

''Aching to make a name for himself in Decepticon military history, Soundwave soon fell into a [[Quintesson]] trap. A lone Quintesson arrived at Decepticon headquarters, seeking an alliance against the Autobots, who supposedly had assembled most of their fleet and were on their way to [[Quintessa]]. Instead of helping the Quintessons, Soundwave saw this as an opportunity to invade and destroy the Autobot territory on Cybertron, when most of their warriors were off-world. He assembled his various sub-commanders and set out aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to claim a glorious victory.''

[[Image:Soundwaveconsiders.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Too nostalgic to let go of the past? No wonder he's a fan-favorite.]]
''Instead, Soundwave and the Decepticons walked right into an ambush. There were no Autobots on Quintessa: it was a ruse to draw them out of their base, where legions of [[Allicon]]s and [[Trident Attack Craft]]s waited to overwhelm the Decepticons. Seeing the danger his troops were in, Soundwave was forced to call in the Autobots. Sending a garbled distress beacon to Autobase, Soundwave hoped to draw a suitable fighting force of Autobots to their location. He was successful, as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and his men remained to fight even after learning who the distress call came from. Autobot and Decepticon fought side-by-side until the Quintesson invaders were either destroyed or driven off-world. In a moment of introspection, Soundwave realized how effective the two armies were when fighting as one instead of as enemies... but quickly brushed aside the idea. Simply too much had happened between the Autobots and Decepticons to ever hope for a peaceful end to the war. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}''

''In 2009, Soundwave and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] were on Earth, prepping a new energy extraction system to leech the planet dry. A surgical strike led by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and Ultra Magnus destroyed all their equipment, however, leaving their power cells empty of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. Looking for revenge, the Decepticons pursued the Autobots back to Autobot City, only to find an open [[Time-jump mechanism|trans-time dimensional portal]]. Realizing the Autobots had fled back to 1989 on a mission of unknown purpose, the vengeful Terrorcons wanted to pursue them. Giving in to popular opinion, Soundwave led his troops back through time and right into the midst of the Time Wars.''

''Recognizing that the uncontrolled timestorm could conceivably destroy all of existence, Soundwave chose to put aside vendettas for the moment, and added his men to the alliance of Autobots and Decepticons from two time periods against the unmatched power and evil of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]] combined. Still, the alliance was far from perfect: Soundwave was more than willing to allow the Autobots to charge in first, letting them die in order to "soften up" the resistance. When things turned ugly, Soundwave and the Terrorcons then fled back to 2009, apparently without ever getting their hands dirty. Their final fate after reality restructured itself and the timestorm abated is unknown. {{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}''

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Secrets Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Decepticons never got the hang of Internal Affairs.]]
''In an alternate timeline, Soundwave left [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s army and returned to serving at [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s side during the [[Decepticon Civil War]] against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], helping him with the launch of a [[global warming satellite]]. {{storylink|Starting Over!}} He was not above exploiting the conflict for his own ends, however. When an energon shipment was hijacked by Shockwave's forces thanks to information Soundwave had given them, Megatron came to suspect the presence of a traitor in his ranks, but ironically assigned Soundwave to identify the culprit. To keep his own duplicity a secret, Soundwave set up [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] to take the fall, and Megatron destroyed the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]. Soundwave not only got away with his treachery, he went on to happily blackmail everyone he'd mind-scanned. Eat your heart out, Starscream! {{storylink|Secrets}}''

''Approached by Starscream with a plan to make them both Decepticon leaders, Soundwave joined forces with the schemer and lured Megatron and Shockwave to an airport, tipping off the Autobots to their location. With the two leaders thus occupied, Soundwave and Starscream took control of both factions. {{storylink|Internal Affairs!}} Subsequently, Soundwave led an all-out attack on the [[Earthbase|Earthforce base]] as a diversion, while Starscream attempted to plunder an oil tanker. Starscream met with failure, however, leading Soundwave to withdraw his forces and hint to them that maybe be should have sole command... {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Starscream was aware of Soundwave's goals, and when he was attacked by a [[Louisiana bounty hunters|group of alien assassins]], he suspected that Soundwave had ordered the hit and struck back at him. Soundwave was able to convince Starscream he was not responsible and that in actuality, it was the work of Megatron and Shockwave. {{storylink|External Forces!}}''

''Soon afterward, Soundwave learned that human reporter [[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] had secured an interview with the Autobots that could potentially resolve the public view of the Transformer war. Seeking to prevent this, he had the Stunticons capture the journalist. Although the Autobots were able to rescue him, a carefully planted [[cerebro-shell]] ensured that the story Irwin wrote was anything but accurate. {{storylink|End of the Road! (UK)|End of the Road!}}''

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

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Soundwavemarvelg2.jpg|left|125px|thumb|He gave the "complete sentences" thing a decent go, but he never really got the hang of commas.]]
After Megatron deposed Bludgeon and reassumed control of the Decepticons, Soundwave once again served Megatron as a close adviser. One of his first acts was to ask, "Why revive Starscream?". Megatron shared Soundwave's concerns, and assured him the on-again-off-again traitor would be dealt with once Megatron had regrown his army. {{storylink|Tales of Earth Part Three}}

Megatron immediately drew his Decepticons to the moon of [[Tykos]] to violently acquire [[Rheanimum]] from the natives. However, things soured when Soundwave received a distress call from [[Skullgrin]]. In moments, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] was upon them. After several casualties, and Megatron missing in action, Soundwave led a party to discover if Megatron had survived and recover him if he had; when Mindwipe expressed doubts about the mission, Soundwave told him to shut up. He appeared to assume command when Megatron appeared dead, but ceased when Megatron turned out to still function. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

He was in command of the ''[[Warworld]]'' while Megatron was on Earth. When the Empire boarded the ship (thanks to Starscream's treachery) he and his bridge crew fled to Earth in escape pods. {{storylink|Total War!}} He was later seen standing by in the final battle against the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

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====''Classics''====
Soundwave was apparently one of the first Decepticons to return to Megatron's side after the Decepticon leader re-emerged. He helped Megatron rebuild his power base on Earth in secret, using human proxies to covertly recover the remains of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and other Decepticons lost on Earth during the Underbase Saga. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 14|Astrotrain's ''Classics'' profile}}

After the arrival of the mysterious Decepticon [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], Soundwave ran a neural scan on the Transformer to confirm his story of alternate dimensions and [[Unicron]] singularities. Soundwave confirmed that, at the very least, Landquake believed he was telling the truth. The Decepticons took off aboard Astrotrain to explore a new energy signature in the Southern Hemisphere...one which materialized at the same time as Landquake and possessed a similar resonance pattern. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 2}} In South America, Soundwave engaged [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s troops alongside Megatron and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] on the ground. At Megatron's command, he dispatched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to intercept the Autobot scouts who had been sent after the energy source. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 3}}

The Cassettes soon reported back that the energy had been discovered, and Megatron rallyed the Decepticons behind Soundwave to break for the source's location. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] interferred with the Decepticons' progress, however, by hurling Constructicons like shotputs until he knocked Soundwave down. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 5}}
Soundwave and Astrotrain got caught exchanging fire with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] until the latter Autobot turned invisible and snuck around behind the Decepticons, getting the drop on Soundwave. An explosion from below rocked the battlefield, however, and the Decepticons withdrew from combat. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}

When [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] tried to assassinate Megatron, he used [[cerebro-shell]]s to take control of Soundwave and several other Megatron loyalists. The shells' effects were soon jammed by an attacking Autobot team, and in the chaos that followed, Soundwave noticed that the Autobots were targeting their [[Ark (G1)|base]]'s computers, but failed to stop them. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

Soundwave was stationed aboard Starscream's warship when Megatron orchestrated the downfall of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his splinter faction. After their [[Seacon (G1)|inside men]] terminated Bludgeon, Soundwave informed Starscream he had received a transmission of surrender from the forces below. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}
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===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Soundwave and company.jpg|right|thumb|220px]]
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
Soundwave was one of the first Decepticons and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s most loyal soldier. Denoted by his eerie, echoing monotone, Soundwave regularly gathered vital intelligence for Megatron's numerous schemes with the aid of his faithful and ever-growing team of cassettes, but despite his primary role as a spy and communications officer, he never shied away the battlefield, and would regularly clash with the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] before finding a true rival in his Autobot opposite number, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. He survived the perilous events of 2005 that took the lives of many of his contemporaries, and continued serving under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] in the 21st century.

In a future timeline that branches off from this one, Soundwave ultimately met his end at the hands of Blaster, but even death could not stymie his loyalty to the Decepticon cause, as he was reborn as '''Soundblaster''' through the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
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===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' Unknown

According to Megatron, Soundwave is a "blundering, tape-filled idiot." While the veracity of this statement is subjective, Soundwave ''does'' whine a lot. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[Image:BW Agenda Pt3 Soundwave.jpg|right|180px|thumb|With one stroke I shall free my tiny dinosaur brethren, yesssss!"]]
Soundwave was among the many Transformers strewn about the bridge of the Ark when the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] infiltrated the ship on his mission to destroy Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}
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====3H comics====
Soundwave is one of the ancient warriors who appears from [[J'nwan]] to help battle the warlord [[Shokaract]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Soundwavewarwithin.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Sound and ([[Ravage (G1)#3H Universe_comics|eventually]]) Furry.]]
Soundwave was chosen by Megatron to lead his second assassination team against the new Autobot supreme commander, Optimus Prime. With the aid of Soundwave's cassette troops, most notably [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], it was assumed he would have no problem with a young, peace-loving Autobot. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Soundwave, like many others, underestimated Prime's resolve and was quickly incapacitated. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} He was still out cold when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] came by, {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} but recovered in time to rescue Megatron after the latter's own battle with Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

When Megatron and Optimus Prime vanished in a [[space bridge]] accident, the Decepticons were fragmented and Soundwave joined [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s faction. He participated in the attack on [[The Fallen]]'s minions in an attempt to stop the [[Unbinding]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Eventually, Shockwave attempted to call a truce with the Autobots for the good of the Transformer race, but the initial ceremony was interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s faction, the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. Soundwave was quite mad about this, telling the Predacons to perish for their crimes against Cybertron as he attacked them alongside several Autobots. Shortly after the Predacons were defeated, Megatron returned to Cybertron with his [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and reunited the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} After falling back under Megatron's command, Soundwave reported the progress on his leader's plan to dig a hole to the core of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

In the present day, Soundwave was among the Decepticons defeated by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth. The ''[[Ark II]]'', the spacecraft that would have taken the Transformers back to Cybertron, was sabotaged by General [[Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], and it exploded upon liftoff, scattering the robots across the Arctic Ocean. Soundwave and the others were recovered, Autobot and Decepticon alike, and reprogrammed by Rook to accept commands and were leased to terrorist organisations and military juntas as powerful weapons of war. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} After Megatron freed himself and the other Decepticons, Soundwave developed a 'metallic virus' that cyberformed Earth organics into cybertronic materials. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} During the subsequent battle with the Autobots in [[San Francisco]], Soundwave warned Megatron that a nuclear missile launched by Hallo was headed for the city. The Decepticons used the distraction to escape. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

[[Image:Soundwaveg1vol2.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Leader's pet.]]Soundwave was among the Decepticons who joined Shockwave's forces when the new ruler of Cybertron appeared on Earth. {{storylink|War and Peace}} When Shockwave brutally deposed Megatron, Soundwave stood by in silence and did nothing to help his former leader. Soundwave worked his way quietly into Shockwave's good graces, earning the ire of Starscream. However, it didn't take many words to bring Soundwave around to the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s point of view. Later, when interrogated by Shockwave, a single, silent look from Soundwave stopped [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from revealing that Starscream was behind Megatron's disappearance during their voyage to Cybertron. As the battle between the Autobots and Shockwave's forces intensified, Soundwave followed Starscream's lead without a word, and helped him prepare for a return trip to Earth aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Starscream rewarded him by giving him a [[Ratbat (G1)|present]]. Soundwave silently approved.

Though Soundwave feigned subservience to Starscream, it was later revealed that he had been serving Megatron the entire time in secret. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
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===''G.I.Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:Soundwavedevilsdue.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"Eject. Operation: Dynamic Group Shot."]]
Soundwave was among the Transformers on the ''Ark'' when it crashed long ago, and was discovered and reprogrammed by the human terrorist organization known as [[Cobra]] in the present. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Arms dealer [[Destro]] made a visit to [[Cobra Island]] where [[Doctor Mindbender]] introduced him to Soundwave and his cassettes, who were under the complete control of Cobra's scientists. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} While Destro liked what he saw, he wanted to run a test, and personally operated Soundwave's controls during an attack on the [[SPS Research Facility]].

Meanwhile, a picture of Soundwave was secretly sent out to hundreds of email boxes. The message turned out to be a [[Defense Matrix|secret signal]] from Optimus Prime, which alerted [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and Bumblebee to the location of Cobra's secret base where the rest of the Transformers were being held. When the two Autobots appeared to stop Destro's attack, the human brought Soundwave and himself back to Cobra Island. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

Soundwave was released from Cobra control thanks to Wheeljack and attacked his former human masters. With Megatron and the other Decepticons freed, Soundwave went to work making energon cubes. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Just as things were going their way, Optimus Prime arrived, powered up using the energon, and punched his fist right through Soundwave's chest, taking him out of the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After the Autobots left on a return voyage to Cybertron, Soundwave's head and remains were taken in secret by human scientists for study. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Several years later, the scientists managed to use Megatron's technology to create the organic weapon [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], who plugged himself into Soundwave's deactivated head after getting free and downloaded data on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s history. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
Along with the rest of the Decepticons, Soundwave was buried in the [[Fera Islands]] until 1938, when [[Cobra]] accidentally awakened them and used them to conquer most of [[Europe]]. He sent Laserbeak to spy on the [[United States of America|United States]]' reaction to this, and learned that [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had been created to battle the Cobra threat. Soundwave later helped Megatron and Starscream get rid of some Royal Air Force fighters above the English Channel, allowing Cobra to attack the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Line}}

When G.I. Joe attacked the Fera Islands, Soundwave infiltrated [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]'s unit in the form of a radio transmitter carried by a disguised [[Zartan]]. Flint noticed that it wasn't their radio, but that didn't stop Soundwave from capturing him and taking him back to Cobra HQ. {{storylink|Wolves}} However, the Joes had managed to awaken the Autobots also buried on the island, and Soundwave soon found himself facing down [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. He lost the fight, and either died at the hands of Grimlock or when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] was smashed to pieces. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

{{note|According to solicitations for ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'', Soundwave was set to return by unknown means years later, but [[Dreamwave Productions]] bankrupted before the issues could be produced.}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Soundwave was extremely amused by the footage Laserbeak and Ravage gathered of Starscream falling on his head. He let Megatron know, and they went to pick up Starscream, only to find him gone, taken by the Autobots. The discovery that Starscream appeared to be working with the Autobots only amused Soundwave more, and the Decepticons went to retrieve their former comrade. When it turned out that Starscream wanted to stay with the Autobots, Megatron was enraged, and Soundwave reflected that it was the most fun he'd had in years. Starscream eventually returned to the Decepticons, claiming it was all an act, and Soundwave suggested he should be more careful while mountain climbing in future. {{storylink|Redemption Center}}

Puzzled by the loss of much of their stock of weapons, Megatron assigned Soundwave to investigate. Using Laserbeak's spying abilities, Soundwave determined that [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was selling the weapons on the black market, much to Megatron's outrage. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

===IDW ''Hearts of Steel'' continuity===
Millions of years in the past, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who took on organic modes in order to battle the Autobots on prehistoric Earth. When an ice age approached, the Decepticons survived by powering down under what would eventually become the [[San Francisco]] Bay. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Soundwave woke up in the mid-19th century, where he came under the command of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Along with several other Decepticons, he stood by Starscream as he and [[Tobias Muldoon]] discussed where they would build their headquarters. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegatronOrigin4 Soundwave humbles Ratbat.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Ratbat, you shall be repurposed as the greatest mix tape ever to be given to Megatron."]]
Long before the war began, Soundwave was the personal assistant to Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] caught Ratbat's eye as a champion of the illegal underground gladiatorial matches, Ratbat sent Soundwave to offer Megatron funding and weapons technology. When [[Bumper (G1)|two]] [[Fastback (G1)|Autobots]] were discovered listening in on their conversation, Soundwave dispatched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to capture them. After their capture, he read Bumper's mind to see if there was any immediate threat to Megatron's activities. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Some time later, Soundwave was assigned to find a warrior with flight capabilities. He found the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]: Starscream, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. During a recruitment rally in which Megatron attempted to kill [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]], a raid by the Autobots under [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] resulted in the participants being arrested. Soundwave, however, was freed under [[Senate]] directive, something which greatly angered Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Soundwave had apparently switched loyalties at this time, becoming one of Megatron's own in not only helping Starscream exterminate [[Kaon]] senators but also to the extent that he destroyed Ratbat's original body, placing his spark into a relatively weak cassette form and thus forcing him into the Decepticons. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

Four million years ago, Soundwave and [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] were leading a Decepticon offensive to cover for [[Octane]]'s convoy of energon. When Optimus Prime slipped away to intercept the convoy, Soundwave went after him and got the drop on Prime from behind. Prime's bodyguard [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] turned the tables on him, though, taking out both Soundwave and his Mini-Cassettes. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

During the war, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] contacted various scientists on both sides to discuss his startling findings that the conflict would create such devastation that would render the planet uninhabitable, and that the only way to survive was to adopt the [[Pretender|organic carapace]] idea he had come up with. Soundwave was among those scientists who refused to accept Thunderwing's findings and his proposal. {{Storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

After the end of the cataclysm brought by Thunderwing, as part of a plan to assassinate [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], a motivational speaker for the Autobots, Soundwave had [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] captured and used [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to implement a [[cerebro-shell]] into him. While Beachcomber didn't outright kill Blaster, his motivational broadcast failed to air at precisely the moment the Decepticons began the big push. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[Image:SpotlightSoundwave infoispower.jpg|left|180px|thumb|He's just too busy being an eighties guy.]]

Centuries later, after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] disappeared, Megatron assigned [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to delve into Shockwave's research and relay all the information back to him. As the Decepticon leader did not fully trust Bludgeon, Megatron also assigned Soundwave to spy on him. Soundwave followed Bludgeon and his team as they left for Earth in 1984 and established a base within [[Mount St. Helens]], eventually discovering that they intended to resurrect [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. Though Soundwave tried to stop them, [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used an experimental cannon from Shockwave's arsenal to lock him in his alt mode while they instigated a volcanic eruption. He was eventually recovered by a team of unwitting humans who sold him to a pawn shop. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

Soundwave was purchased by a human teenager named [[Jimmy]] and taken to his home. When Ravage and Laserbeak were reprogrammed by the American government agency [[Skywatch]] to find the other Transformers, Skywatch's control signal was blocked by a signal emanating from a functioning Soundwave, still in cassette-player mode. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Sometime later on, Ravage and Laserbeak located the signal and reclaimed their master from Jimmy. Relocating to Mount St. Helens, Soundwave told them that he could barely keep blocking Skywatch's hold on them, due to his weakening state in cassette mode. Shockwave suddenly appeared from a cave entrance and said that the four could make a deal together. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}} Shockwave knew how Soundwave could unlock his robot mode, but would only tell him if he did Shockwave a favour in return, something which Soundwave agreed to. He was told that Skywatch had placed a bomb in Shockwave's head, and that he needed to intercept and copy its disarm code. The plan went off without a hitch, and after transmitting the code to Shockwave, Soundwave was finally freed from his alt mode. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

After returning to his position as Megatron's right hand, Soundwave helped defeat the Autobot forces on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} He was present during the attack on [[New York City]], and detected the incoming human military jets. The planes fired, and on Megatron's orders, Soundwave calmly detonated the arsenal. He then launched Laserbeak to take out the human resistance. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Soundwave reported that the humans had sent a sizable ground force after the Decepticons. Following Megatron's orders, he released [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and set him loose on the humans. The only being immune to Frenzy's infrasonic manipulation, he silently observed his minion's work. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With the conquest of New York complete, Soundwave listened to Megatron's victory speech. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} When a group of humans led by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Cmdr. Spike Witwicky]] deactivated [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] with an experimental weapon which originated from Shockwave, Soundwave, sensing this, found Rumble's lifeless body, grieved, and took him away. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

During [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] attempt to take control of the Decepticons, Megatron revealed that Soundwave had been watching him all along, reporting his planned rebellion to Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The infighting amongst the Decepticons stopped when jets from [[Europe]] arrived to take them all on, soon followed by the return of the Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Megatron was defeated, and Soundwave escaped alongside the rest of the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} Whilst traveling away from Earth onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Soundwave and his cassettes took care of their heavily injured leader. Starscream attempted to dissuade him from wasting energon on Megatron, all the while buttering him up with compliments about his loyalty, but all Soundwave said in response was "Negative. Megatron functions." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

Three years later, Soundwave was still dutifully attending to Megatron's reconstruction. {{storylink|All His Engines}} He eventually came to the conclusion that his leader's body was beyond repair, and instead recruited Shockwave to build a new body for him. Once Megatron returned in a new and upgraded form, he hatched a plan to use parts of his old body to make Megatron gun replicas that would subconsciously influence humans. Alongside his cassettes and Shockwave, Soundwave helped produce these weapons. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon}} He was later present when Megatron got rid of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and was ordered to gather everyone in the base so that their leader could address them. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

As part of Megatron's master plan, the Decepticons subsequently returned to Earth, where Soundwave led Rumble and Frenzy in an attack on the [[Skywatch]] base where several Decepticons were being held captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man}} Soundwave was then responsible for holding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] hostage while Megatron explained to Optimus Prime that he was the one turning the humans against the Autobots. In an attempt to throw off Megatron's concentration, and with it his influence over the gun-wielding humans, Prime fired on Soundwave, blowing off a large portion of his head. The plan worked: seeing his loyal soldier fall sent Megatron into a rage, and he picked up the barely living Soundwave and flew off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome}} With his body in [[stasis lock]], Soundwave was brought to Shockwave, who was unsure if he could repair such an extensive injury with the limited resources at his disposal. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine}}

{{note|The events of "Spotlight: Mirage" possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
[[Image:SpotlightMirage Soundwavescorpse.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Not so superior now, are you?]]
In a dream set in an alternate universe wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a soft taco shell dreamt by [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], Soundwave was part of the Decepticon strike force who attacked the last stronghold of the Autobots. Soundwave was attacked by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], who snapped his head off, killing him. But it was just a dream, so it didn't matter. Right? {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
Soundwave—[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|in his Laser Cycle body]]—was seen among the inhabitants of the multiversal hub city of [[Axiom Nexus]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 4}}

===Timelines===
Soundwave was present with Megatron, [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] when the topic about finding new ultimate weapon ideas changed to [[BotCon 2010]]. As Breakdown mentioned that one of the things he was looking forward to was the debut of the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]], Soundwave turned to Counterpunch and pointed to himself. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[Image:Soundwavecommercial.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Say hello to my leetle friend!"]]

Soundwave's [[commercial]] appearances include:

* An appearance in his very own 1984 commercial. This early animation featured a Soundwave model colored in lavender, versus the dark blue used later. Also, instead of the cassettes ejecting themselves from his chest, he reached into his chest compartment with his own fingers and threw the (tiny) tapes into the air. He wasn't properly introduced.

* He's more on-form in a commercial for the Dinobots, where he, Ravage and Laserbeak are driven back by the robotic monsters amid a thunderstorm.

* Soundwave has a speaking part in the commercial for Blaster. When Rumble strolls into his base carrying a radio, Soundwave immediately identifies it as an "Autobot intruder" and dispatches Ravage and Laserbeak to attack the Autobot. Soundwave is given his correct voice and modulation.

* He's seen grappling with Springer in a 1987 commercial for the ''Headmasters'' comic.

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Soundwave could intefere with Optimus Prime's progress, diverting him into areas of the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[image:TF PS2 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Robert Belgrade]]

====Decepticon story====

Soundwave and Starscream were sent to investigate strange reports of space-time warps and UFOs on the planet Zel Samine, bringing a space bridge with them on their shuttle that they would use to transport Megatron to the plant once they had landed. Inexplicably, their ship wound up crashing, and when they attempted to use the space bridge, it malfunctioned, dumping Megatron some distance away. After reuniting with his leader, Soundwave deduced that powerful electromagnetic rays from Zel Samine's sun, Paradius, were responsible for scrambling the systems of the shuttle and the space bridge, and that the Decepticons themselves would be subject to similar catastrophic system disruption if they tried venturing off the planet without a ship. The Decepticons immediately set about raiding local energy sources for energon to repair their craft, starting with a wind power plant on [[Mount Jaad]]. Then, after successfully draining the [[Ranpas geothermal plant]]—in part thanks to Soundwave deploying Laserbeak to locate any Autobot guards around the facility—Megatron chose the [[Monogan hydroelectric power station]] for their next target. Soundwave pointed out the heavy Autobot fortifications that had been set up around the station and suggested a different target, but Megatron dismissed his concerns, and when the Decepticons did indeed emerge victorious, Soundwave apologized for speaking out of turn and doubting his leader.

Via Laserbeak, Soundwave soon discovered that the Autobots on the planet had made contact with the occupants of one of the strange UFOs, and suggested to Megatron that they send a task force to intercept them. In the process, the Decepticons wound up allying themselves with the ''other'' UFO's passengers: Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, a trio of Decepticons from the future who had traveled back in time to locate and destroy the powerful [[Zel Quartz]], a weapon that threatened Galvatron's rule in their home time. Soundwave was teamed with Cyclonusto seek out possible locations of the quartz across the planet, and the communications officer stoically carried out his task, all the while struggling to keep Megatron and Galvatron from fighting with each other.

After failing to find the quartz at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], the Decepticons next decided to search the [[Karzite mine]]. Cyclonus informed Soundwave that he saw both him and Megatron as "worthless scrap", and warned the communications officer the mine yielded a similar lack of results, then he would be taking the blame, not Cyclonus. Soundwave agreed, but have a warning of his own: he charged a high price for being spoken to with disrespect. As it turned out, the quartz was not in the mine, and Soundwave accepted the blame as promised, only to then reveal his price: he had recorded his conversation with Cyclonus and played it back for Megatron, who did not take kindly to the future Decepticon's insults. At Megatron's command, Soundwave recorded Cyclonus's screams as the Decepticon leader subjected him to a vicious punishment.

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

====Autobot story====
Megatron had Soundwave send out a fake Autobot SOS transmission in an attempt to trick the Autobots into leaving their base. The plan was a success and Optimus Prime and his crew were lured out. When the Autobots realized that they had been deceived, Megatron sent a message through Soundwave's transmitter, gloating how he had tricked Prime and announced that his crew was going to steal the energon the Autobots had on their shuttle. When Megatron had finished his message, Soundwave returned to base. On the way back to their shuttle, the Autobots encountered Soundwave again, this time leading a hoard of Decepticon troops, and fought them. Despite his best efforts, Soundwave was overwhelmed and left to rejoin Megatron. Later, Soundwave fought the Autobots again while they were dealing with another swarm of enemies. He lost again, and left to fight another day.

Later on, Soundwave teamed up with his future self, Soundblaster, and with [[Full-Tilt]] as the final defense against the Autobots before they reached Megatron and Galvatron. When the Autobots arrived, Soundblaster started by expressed [[dull surprise]] at how the Autobots managed to survive up until the current point. Soundwave continued, warning the Autobots that he would not let them stand in Megatron's way. Both present and future versions of the Communications Officer we all know and love put the best fight they could, but even with Full-Tilt's help, the Autobots overpowered them.

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
{{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
:''Main article: [[Soundwave (G1)/toys]]''
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave (G1) toys#Merchandise]]''
{{-}}
==Notes==
[[Image:SoundwaveButtonUD3.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"When I think about you, I touch myself."]]

* The Decepticon faction insignia appears to be roughly based on Soundwave's head.

* Though Soundwave's toy is a microcassette recorder, his fictional appearances depict him as a stereo cassette deck or Walkman. (Likewise, his microcassette tapes are depicted as regular audio cassettes.)

* The Marvel U.S. comics chose a purple scheme for Soundwave. This could have been an attempt to distinguish him from the other Decepticons, who were mostly blue (especially since blacks also ended up as blues in the industry's then-limited color palette). Or it could have been a simple error. But very likely, it had something to do with his early animation model, which appeared lavender, rather than blue. (See Commercial Appearances.) Compounding this error, Marvel US Soundwave was drawn without a mouthplate by artist [[José Delbo]]. The Marvel UK comics colored him blue like everywhere else (partially due to using a more sophisticated coloring system) and always included his faceplate.

[[Image:Soundwave fly.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Hey, wait for me!"]]

* The G1 cartoon almost always depicted him as having to press all his own controls to eject minions or perform other functions even though these are actually part of him. This has led to many a shot of Soundwave pressing his own crotch. What will the children think?

* According to the original script<ref>http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/02/ron-friedman-auctions-scripts-part-3-of.html</ref> for [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]], "Sound Wave" transformed into "a LIGHT STANDARD - identical to the one that exists a short distance away, the perfect camouflage". So... yes, he really ''did'' turn into a lamppost on Cybertron.

* Soundwave's distinctive voice proved to be one of Generation 1's most memorable aspects. The [[Wikipedia:Vocoder|highly processed voice]] (processed by [[Scott Brownlee]]) began with [[Frank Welker]] basically doing his "Dr. Claw" voice from ''[[Wikipedia:Inspector Gadget|Inspector Gadget]]''. Whether due to variations in the performance or the processing, the final result varied quite a bit across Soundwave's three seasons on the show. Occasionally, as in the episodes "[[Roll for It]]" and "[[Webworld]]", the processing was left out and Welker's actual voice can be heard. This Dr. Claw version of Soundwave's voice made a return when Welker reprised the [[Soundwave (ROTF)|role]] for ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' as the processing was, again, left out.

* Similarly, he often emphasizes words at random, such as his well-known "RavAAAAAGE", or "LAAZABEEK". This may be a side effect of the voice doctoring in the cartoon.

*In the Mandarin dub, Soundwave had a glorious, operatic voice.

[[Image:Bm soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Soundwave gets slagged by Vehicons, and Nightscream escapes. How's that for injustice?]]

* The typically emotionally-barren Soundwave actually ''laughs'' on two separate occasions in the Generation 1 cartoon ("[[Quest for Survival]]" and "[[Auto-Bop]]"), while he ''screams like a little girl'' only once ("[[Roll for It]]").

* Soundwave has flown in his [[alternate mode|alt mode]] one time, in the episode "[[Masquerade]]." In [[Atlus]]'s ''[[The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers]]'' game, Soundwave can transform to tape deck mode and kind of bounces around to move in that form. No, really.

* In the Japanese dub of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], as well as the supporting [[manga]], all of Soundwave's cassette forces which could talk referred to him as "Anikii" (兄貴い) or "Big Brother." This is a fairly common way to refer to others you admire and such in Japanese. It's also a term that gang members use toward older, more experienced members who aren't actual gang bosses. Take it as you will. Whatever it says about his relationship with them, it does give new meaning to the phrase [[Wikipedia:Big Brother (Nineteen Eighty-Four)|"Big Brother is watching over you"]].

* Soundwave was in charge of the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|UK letters page]] from issues 22 to 78, barring a few interruptions.

[[Image:Unused AHM Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What? You mean we don't use brick-sized microcassette recorders anymore?]]

* Soundwave's computer model was used for one of the [[generic]] Transformers in Beast Machines. It is seen in "[[Forbidden Fruit]]" during [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] flashback being cornered by [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] just before Nightscream flees into the lower levels of Cybertron. Though the model was recolored, it was still really 'Soundwavey,' causing much confusion among fans. His computer model as well as [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s continued to show up for the rest of the series, used to represent deactivated Transformer shells.

* Later, Soundwave's character model showed up numerous times in various color schemes as a generic background character in the ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon.

* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] listened to music using a tape deck resembling Soundwave in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Memory]]". Later, after a new [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] was found, ''Cybertron'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] held tape deck Soundwave in his arms. This caused a great disturbance in the [[force]]...

* IDW Publishing seems to be undecided on Soundwave's speech pattern. In ''[[Megatron Origin]]'', he speaks in his classic cartoon-based monotone. However, in "[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]", he speaks in a normal fashion. Which is once again reverted to the classic speech in ''[[All Hail Megatron]]''.

* [[Guido Guidi]] made a concept drawing of Soundwave with a modern microcassette recorder as an alt-mode (which are still used by reporters and doctors today) for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' maxi-series. This was also unused. Consequently, Soundwave may go down as the Transformers character with the most unused designs.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Jam Bo''' (音波, "Voice Wave")
*''English:'' '''New Soundwave''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Soundblaster)
*''French:'' '''Radar''' (Canada), '''Sonore''' (Canada Action Master, "Sound")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Fülelő''' ("Listener")
*''Italian:'' '''Memor''', '''Vizar''' (Soundblaster)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shēng-bō''' (Taiwan, 聲波, "Sound Wave"), '''Shēng Bàu''' (Taiwan Soundblaster, 聲爆, "Sound Blast")
*''Polish:'' '''Dźwiękofalowiec''' (''The Movie'', "Soundwaver")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Onda-Sonora''' (Portugal comics), '''Microonda''' (Brazil comics, "Microwave")
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (cartoon, Бархан, "Dune")<ref>Dubbers thought his name was "Sandwave".</ref>
*''Spanish:'' '''Sam''' (America ''The Headmasters'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zvukohvyl''' (Звукохвил, "Soundwave")

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Robo-Capers characters]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:Universe Decepticons]]