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Pretender

2012-04-02T22:01:27Z

75.146.61.69:

{{picsneeded|Screen captures from TV commercial (muscle guys)}}

{{bigquote|Pretenders hide the Transformers inside.|Pretenders subline tag}}

[[Image:Skullgrin-packageart.jpg|right|350px|thumb|We don't know exactly how this works, and the artist probably didn't either, but it sure does look cool!]]

Disguise has always been a key component of Transformer operations on other worlds. '''Pretenders''' attempt to take this concept to the next level. Pretenders are Transformers fitted with special external armor shells that can disguise their very nature as robots. Rather than hiding themselves as the machinery or vehicles of a world, Pretender Shells (also known as Pretender Suits<Ref>[[Metalhawk]]'s package</ref>) allow a robot to take on the appearance of a native life form itself.

On top of its exploration and infiltration uses, a shell can also function as powerful battle armor, aid in self-repair, and even function independently of its robot as a second combatant mentally controlled by its "wearer". The major drawback of the technology is that the core robot will feel whatever pain is inflicted on the shell, sometimes even more strongly than pain inflicted on the robot itself.

The most common style of Pretender is an inner robot with a single humanoid shell (usually resembling a monster for [[Decepticon]]s or a [[human]] in battle armor for [[Autobot]]s).

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Marvel Comics continuity====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Scorponokpretendertothethrone.jpg|left|250px|thumb|What a pervert.]][[Image:Decepticonpretenders-behold.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Because no one would think to fire on a horde of 25 foot tall nightmarish creatures charging at them with weapons.]]

''[[The Sentinel]]'' reported a genetic research lab had been taken over by "machines". The photo in the article revealed the machines to be [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]. Inside the lab, [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]] oversaw [[Vorath]]'s preparation of the [[synthoplasmic chamber]]s. Lord Zarak recombined with Scorponok to finalize the process, while boasting of his genius. Inside the six chambers, flesh and metal mixed around six Decepticons. Their resulting [[synthesized protoplasm|synthoplasmic]] outer shells would then hide their identity as Decepticons from the Autobots until it was '''''too late'''''.

{{note|Despite Scorponok and Zarak's claims, subsequent stories showed [[Longtooth]] and [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] using Pretender technology long ago in [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s past.}}

During the process, Vorath detected an intruder in their computer system and initiated a debugging sequence, but was unable to stop the intruder from downloading the data they would need to replicate the Pretender process. The intruder was [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], who was at the time reduced to a computerized personality. The information was transmitted to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s crew on board the [[Steelhaven]]. There, they replicated the process and created six Pretenders of their own.

[[Image:Pretendertothethrone-landmine.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Sproing!]]
The Decepticon Pretenders were led into a trap by Optimus Prime at [[Alternate Reality, Inc.]] They were fooled into thinking the six Autobots guarding the facility were just oversized, but cowardly humans. [[Cloudburst]] expressed doubts that the strange looking creatures were actually Decepticons until [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] reminded him they were also Pretenders just like they were. The Autobots faked a retreat only to split from their shells and thereby doubling their attack force. The Decepticons did the same, but were defeated thanks to Optimus Prime's strategy. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}}

[[Image:SkullgrinMonconMars.jpg|left|200px|thumb|When the star wants a "tall latte", he means TALL.]]
Pretender technology allowed Skullgrin to become first a rural legend, then a movie star. Sent to Earth to establish a fuel depot while hidden in his outer shell, he attracted the attention of a B-movie producer, who wrote him into the script of his latest feature. The giant devil-goat monster became a nationwide phenomenon. When Skullgrin revealed his true robotic nature to one of his human co-stars, however, he drew the ire of [[Circuit Breaker]], an encounter which may have ended his movie career. {{storylink|Monstercon from Mars!}}

During the [[Underbase Saga]], the quasi-flesh nature of the Pretenders' outer shells saved them from the energy blasts of the [[Underbase]]-possessed Starscream, even as innumerable Autobots and Decepticons were being destroyed around them. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

''Pretender shells were considered a sufficiently valuable resource that Scorponok was able to offer the technology to Carnivac and Snarler as payment for an assassination job.'' {{storylink|Survivors!}} The job didn't go so well; even two shell-equipped Decepticons weren't enough to defeat Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}}

[[Image:Nomates.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"No, no, my shell isn't that well-equipped!"]]
The Autobots Landmine and Cloudburst were able to make good use of their Pretender shells while on a mission to acquire spare parts for their fallen comrades. Traveling to a space station where giant humans were common but robots were unwelcome, they were able to bargain for microchips without tipping off their robotic natures. Later, when faced with seeing fellow Autobot Sky Lynx devoured by the [[Mecannibal]]s, Landmine's robot form was able to attack, free Sky Lynx, and then disappear by hiding inside his own shell. The entire scheme would have gone without a hitch if not for a tip-off from [[Hi-Test]] and [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]], alerting the Mecannibals that the two giant "humans" were in fact robots. {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}}

[[Image:Resurrectiongambit-starscreamrevival.jpg|left|150px|thumb|One thing you can't hide, is when you're crippled inside.]]
After bargaining their way free from the Mecannibals, Landmine and Cloudburst continued to make use of their shells, negotiating with the inhabitants of the planet [[Femax]], who also just happened to be giant humans. Cloudburst almost got to experience a little giant human nookie, before revealing to the Femaxians' [[First One]] that he was a robot, and therefore not a particularly desirable mate. {{storylink|Recipe for Disaster!}}

Pretender technology showed another face when [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] returned to power. New shells he had developed would repair and restore even the most severely damaged robots. {{storylink|The Resurrection Gambit!}} [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] was compelled to resurrect Starscream with this technology, but also managed to bring back [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]; all four now had their own Pretender shells. These new shells not only enabled disguise, but also served as great power-boosting enhancements for their wearers and allowed them to fight in two places at once. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}}

[[Image:Slog-rhythmsofdarkness1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|An adorable minion of evil.]]
''Thunderwing had his mechanical Pretender shell eons ago on Cybertron, indicating that some form of the technology predated Scorponok's use of it.'' {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}} ''Thunderwing mostly remained inside his shell, only emerging on rare occasions.'' {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}

''Carnivac, meanwhile, used his shell in his initial solo assault on the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]. When he was caught off guard, outnumbered and nearly surrounded, he sent the shell on a suicide run, allowing it to be destroyed.'' {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}} ''Though the feedback nearly killed him, the ruse worked, and his pursuers believed him to be dead, allowing him to regain the element of surprise.'' {{storylink|Where Wolf?}}

In an alternate future where Galvatron had triumphed, Pretender technology was still in use by his troops, the [[Pretender Monster]]s. These Pretenders could apparently somehow phase through their shells, without the shells having to split open like most others. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon=====
[[Image:ProtecttheWildAnimals Autobot Pretenders human.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Wikipedia:The A-Team|If you can find them, maybe you can hire...]]]]
Eight thousand years ago, a starship containing the Autobot Pretenders [[Metalhawk]], [[Lander]], [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] and [[Phoenix]] pursued the Decepticon Pretenders [[Blood]], [[Dauros]] and [[Gilmer]] to neolithic-era [[Earth]], where they crashed. Using their Pretender abilities, the Autobots adopted the form of humans. They transformed the very structure of their bodies into an organic equivalent, shrinking down to normal human size to hide in plain sight among burgeoning Humanity.

[[Image:Metalhawk puretendaaaaa.jpg|right|150px|thumb]]
A Pretender could transform from a human in two stages. Touching his left wrist and yelling "suit on!" would cause him to don his Pretender suit. From this state, he could touch his left wrist and yell "Pretender!" to [[size changing|size-change]] and revert to his robot mode.

The Decepticon Pretenders, on the other hand, adopted the forms of monstrous creatures, becoming feared as demons by early Man. After many battles, the Autobots succeeded in defeating their enemies and sealing them away—Blood in the [[pyramid]]s of [[Egypt]], Gilmer in the ruins of [[Atlantis]], and Dauros beneath the [[Nazca Lines]] in [[Peru]]—for thousands of years.

The Autobot Pretenders continued to live among humanity. By the early twenty-first century, Hawk was working at the [[Space Astronomy Research Center]] in [[Japan]], while Diver was running the [[Ocean Research Institute of California]]. When the three Decepticon Pretenders were liberated by the mysterious Decepticon "god", [[Devil Z]], the four Autobots were drawn out of hiding to fight them. {{storylink|Rise Up!! Pretenders}}

[[Image:KidnappingTargetedJet Phoenix Lander robot modes.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
The Decepticons began a plan to convert humans into zombie-like [[Destroid]]s. The Autobots sought to foil their plan, leading them to the [[Karin Islands]]. Meanwhile Blood destroyed the Astronomy Research Center and killed [[Professor Gō]]. The Autobots subsequently took residence in a new [[Autobot Base]]. Hawk would act as base coordinator until its later destruction. {{storylink|Terror! The Decepticons' Manhunt}} The Decepticons began hijacking planes to provide bodies for their Destron experiments. The Autobot Pretenders fought the new creations in [[Rome]], before Hawk and Phoenix fought to protect another plane against Blood. {{storylink|Kidnapping!? The Targeted Jumbo Jet}}

The three young humans whom the Autobots had befriended were given [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] [[transtector]]s by Hawk. He intended them to be used only for search and rescue, and later had to come to the [[Headmaster Junior]]s' aid when they were faced with three Decepticon Headmaster Juniors. {{storylink|Birth! Headmaster Jrs}} Hawk later sent them to Diver in California for training. {{storylink|Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules}} When the Decepticon Pretenders started interfering with wildlife in [[Kenya]], the Autobots went to stop them. The Autobot Pretenders were kept busy fighting [[Seacon (Masterforce)|Seacon]]s. {{storylink|Panic! Protect the Wild Animals!!}}

[[Image:ProtecttheWildAnimals Decepticons Pretenders robot mode.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]]
Unexpectedly, the Decepticon trio found themselves being supplanted by [[Buster (Masterforce)|Buster]] and [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]], two [[Godmaster]]s. The Decepticon Pretenders attacked a [[Mt Fuji Foothills Hang Gliding Competition Tournament|hang gliding competition]] to draw out Hawk and Lander, who were promptly set upon by the Godmasters and almost beaten until Phoenix and Diver arrived to help. {{storylink|Super Warriors - The Godmaster Brothers}} The Pretenders were involved in another Decepticon plan to attack a new power plant in the Karin Islands. Again, the Autobots fought the two Godmaster brothers, and were able to win. {{storylink|A Fierce Battle!! The Autobots Are in Trouble}}

A short time later, Diver encountered a Godmaster, [[Ginrai]], in California, and helped the young man understand what he'd taken on. {{storylink|A Hero Is Chosen - His Name Is Ginrai}} Diver and Lander briefed Ginrai on the Decepticons, and came to his aid when he fought the Godmaster brothers. {{storylink|Ginrai: God On of Rage!!}} Ginrai found some [[Master-Brace]]s in his Transtector cab, which Hawk unsuccessfully tried to analyse. {{storylink|A Strange Friendship: Cancer and Minerva}} After Ginrai got hold of a trailer for his Transtector, he showed it to Diver and Lander. The two Pretenders later came to his aid when he was attacked by the Godmaster brothers. {{storylink|Eliminate the Godmaster Ginrai}}

[[Image:BirthofSuperGinrai Dauros holding Diver.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
The Decepticon Pretenders captured a group of humans and held them on an island. When Diver went to investigate, he was captured by Gilmer and Dauros, who bound his arms so he couldn't touch his wrist, effectively trapping him in human form. He was, with the help of a [[Tony (Masterforce)|young boy]], able to get a signal back to the rest of the Autobots, who came to the rescue. {{storylink|Heroism!! The Birth of Super Ginrai}} After the discovery of a second Autobot Godmaster, [[Lightfoot]], Hawk and Lander accompanied the two Godmasters and the Headmaster Juniors to Canada, where they found a third Godmaster, [[Ranger]]. {{storylink|An Enemy? The Third Godmaster, Ranger}} When [[Sixknight]] came to Earth looking to prove himself, the Decepticon Pretenders were happy to show him how to draw the Autobots out. Hawk didn't fare terribly well against Sixknight in battle. {{storylink|A Powerful Foe!! Sixknight the Wanderer}}

With the arrival of [[Road King]], the Autobot Pretenders opted to turn defence of the Earth over to Ginrai and the Godmasters. {{storylink|The Autobot Warrior, Sixknight?!}} The three Decepticon Pretenders set about enacting a plan dreamed up by the Godmaster brothers, kidnapping doctors from across the planet and holding them on [[Atlan Island]]. Once the plan was discovered, the Autobot Godmasters defeated the trio. {{storylink|Save the Little Girl! The Chōjin Warriors, the Godmasters}}

[[Image:ExposetheDecepticons Decepticon Pretenders.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Another Pretender, [[Grand Maximus]], arrived from space to join the Autobot forces, providing plans for a [[Godbomber]] drone unit. {{storylink|Life? Death? The Desperate Lightfoot}} The Autobot Pretenders soon began construction on Godbomber at a [[British Motors]] factory in Canada. {{storylink|Super Ginrai Gets Blown Away in the Desert!?}} They raced to complete it as the Decepticons attacked the factory. {{storylink|Will the Bomber Project Be Destroyed!?}} They immediately turned it over to Ginrai so he could use it to reach a moonbase under attack from [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] {{storylink|God Ginrai - Into the Sky!!}} and could only observe from the Autobot Base as he and Grand Maximus duked it out with Overlord and [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]]. Lander opted to celebrate the victory with some wine. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon}}

[[Image:DisasterAutobotBase Metalhawk injured.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Gilmer took part in the construction of an undersea base, but took a back seat to [[King Poseidon]] when it came to doing any fighting. {{storylink|Escape!! The Underwater Volcano Erupts}} The Decepticon Pretenders searched in North America for the final Godmaster, but all they found was a bear. Meanwhile a distress call from a ship damaged by the real final Godmaster was picked up by Diver, who relayed the information to Ginrai. {{storylink|Appearance!! The Final Godmaster}} After the Autobots took in [[Clouder]], Hawk became suspicious of the last Godmaster, and he was proved right when he caught Clouder passing information to the Decepticons. Unfortunately the damage was already done, and the Decepticons launched an attack on the Autobot Base. {{storylink|Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!!}} Hawk was subsequently injured while trying to undertake damage control, and the base was destroyed. {{storylink|Disaster! The Autobot Base Explodes}}

Hawk, Phoenix and Diver fought Overlord over the ocean, but were no match for the Decepticon. {{storylink|BlackZarak - Destroyer from Space}} The Pretenders continued to scan the globe for Decepticon activity. Grand Maximus joined an assault on the Decepticon's space-borne [[Death Para-Machine]]. {{storylink|Crisis! The Day of Human Extinction}} The Autobot and Decepticon Pretenders clashed in Latin America {{storylink|God Ginrai - Save Cancer!?}} and again in various places around the world while Ginrai launched an attack on the Decepticon base to rescue [[Shūta Gō]]. {{storylink|God Ginrai: Showdown at the Decepticon Base}}

[[Image:UltimateCombination Autobot Pretenders.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
While everyone else went to trash the Decepticon base, the Autobot Pretenders were left to monitor the planet for Decepticon activity. The Decepticon Pretenders made a brief attempt to defend the base against Ginrai, which didn't end well for them. {{storylink|The Ultimate Combination!! BlackZarak, the New Lifeform}} As Ginrai and the Autobots closed in on BlackZarak, Lightfoot and Road King fought Gilmer and Dauros, defeating them before being attacked by Hydra and Buster, who inadvertently fragged Blood. {{storylink|Autobots! Desperate Attack!!}} The three Decepticon Pretenders spotted Road King, Ranger and Lightfoot, and alerted BlackZarak to their location. Hawk fought King Poseidon, defeating the combiner with a lot of help from Ginrai. {{storylink|Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z}} Following the destruction of Devil Z, the Decepticon Pretenders did not appear to depart Earth with the other Decepticons, and presumably went back into hiding. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}

=====''Victory'' cartoon=====
Pretender technology had advanced to the point that the shells gained sentience, as seen in the shells of the [[Dinoforce]], and could be employed simultaneously with the Transformers' robot modes.
{{stub}}

====Dreamwave comics continuity====
Pretender technology was originally developed as a form of additional body armour. Pretender shells could enhance their wearer's physical strength and resistance to damage. More advanced shell designs could shrink down to human size and enable their wearer to blend into Earth society unnoticed.

It is possible that the Pretender technology was later adapted to develop the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] beast modes.

{{note|Pretenders were only depicted in [[Dreamwave Productions]]'s ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile books and did not appear in the actual storylines.}}

====IDW comics continuity====
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Thunderwing stormbringer.jpg|left|150px|thumb|It's just not natural, I tell you!]]

The technology was the invention of the Decepticon [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and used living tissue painfully culled from live (and quite likely unwilling) subjects to create a powerful symbiotic, living carapace. The goal of this technology was to allow Transformers to survive an impending environmental collapse on their home planet, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Even [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] rejected the concept as unnatural and repulsive. The first experiences were not that encouraging. Both cases where the technology was implemented ended in disaster, as the melding of the robot's mind with the shell was improperly aligned or hastily executed. Subject one, Thunderwing, became unfathomably powerful but totally insane and destructive, ultimately rendering Cybertron too hostile for Transformer habitation. Subject two, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], tried to rush the process and ended up comatose inside his new shell. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer}}

Surprisingly, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], formerly aghast at the details of what the process entailed, decided that they needed the technology to penetrate the portal at the [[Benzuli Expanse]]. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was a little hesitant on the subject, but Jetfire managed to convince the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]. The Autobots selected for the process were [[Cloudburst]], [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]], [[Groundbreaker]], and [[Waverider]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

[[Image:IDWAutobotPretenders.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Robots wearing space suits?]]
After a long process {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}, the Technobots finally completed the four shells. Unlike the hideous and pseudo-organic look of Thunderwing and Bludgeon, these shells were simply large, bulky armor suits. Suiting up, Cloudburst's team were able to fight off a raging [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and took the [[Nega-Core]]s through the Expanse into the [[Dead Universe]] for disposal. The shells proved effective in combating the deadly energies of the dimension, protecting the Cybertronians within. However it was apparent that they could only do so for a limited amount of time under such harsh conditions. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Later, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] ordered that Jetfire's research be taken to the [[Kimia Facility]] where the scientists there (along with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]) were able to create a new body for [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], whose former body hadn't been upgraded in so long that it was incompatible with current tech. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

{{note|The term "Pretender" is not used at all during the ''Stormbringer'' series. Instead the term "polydermal grafting" is used to further illustrate how repulsive, grotesque and dangerous the process appears to be.}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]] made good use of his Pretender-style [[Crossformer]] shell, which allowed him to simultaneously pursue [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] and [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] even as they fled in opposite directions. Rather than requiring him to operate it remotely and divide his attention, the entirely robotic shell was equipped with an artificial intelligence which allowed it to function independently, if a bit stiltedly. When Black Shadow's robot form was destroyed, the shell also ceased to function - though this may have been the work of a saboteur, rather than a feature endemic to the shell. {{storylink|Gone Too Far}}

===''Shattered Glass''===
[[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]], [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]], and [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] snuck into a Pretender laboratory. There were at least six Pretender shells, including the four [[Classic Pretender]] shells and two [[Double Pretender]] shells.

Also, [[Dirge (SG)|Dirge]] appeared as a Pretender. {{storylink|Shattered Expectations}}

===Live-action film series===
====''Revenge of the Fallen''====
[[Alice]] tried to get information from [[Sam Witwicky]] by getting close to him, but later she revealed her true nature as a Pretender. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{note|Alice was not a traditional Pretender in that she transformed into an "organic" humanoid mode instead of having an outer shell. The confirmation of her as a Pretender came from an interview with [[Roberto Orci]].<ref>[http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/944/944836p1.html Transformers 2 Rumor Confirmed]</ref>}}

====''Hunt for the Decepticons''====
A [[new lab assistant]] also found a place in Sam Witwicky's life so that the Decepticons could monitor him. Megatron used him to lure [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] into a trap. {{storylink|Prime Target (book)|Prime Target}}

==Commercial appearances==
{{stub}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1 (US)===
[[Image:G1Finback toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Finback]]
[[Image:G1Splashdown toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Splashdown]]
*'''Pretenders''' (1988)
{{collist|2|
*'''Wave 1'''
**Autobots
***[[Cloudburst]]
***[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]]
***[[Waverider]]
**Decepticons
***[[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]]
***[[Skullgrin]]
***[[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]]

*'''Wave 2'''
**Autobots
***[[Groundbreaker]]
***[[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]]
***[[Splashdown]]
**Decepticons
***[[Bugly]]
***[[Finback]]
***[[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]]

}}

: The basic Pretenders (often called the "large Pretenders" to distinguish them from the smaller toys released in 1989) are the default: a single robot with a single humanoid shell. The shells split into front and back halves. All are essentially statues, articulated only at the shoulder with swivel joints. The inner robots, by comparison, tend to be highly articulated for their time, though they are generally thin-limbed and have simplistic transformations.

: The large Pretenders were released in two [[wave]]s. Each wave consists of an air, sea, and land themed character for each faction. There is a distinct design variation noticeable between the first and second wave Autobot Pretenders. The first wave shells feature a largely single-color "space suit" style design with the "human" heads partially concealed by the suits. The second wave had brighter, more "Power Ranger"-ish, armor suits with large animal-themed chest plates and fully-visible "human" heads.

: The second wave in general appears to have had production problems or delays; the initial 1988 catalogs omitted their photographs, showing only a "COMING SOON" silhouette (though common in Kenner's Star Wars toyline, such an unfinished "preview" was rare for Transformers); additionally, several of these toys have minor engineering problems, in the form of limbs which don't fold away completely in vehicle mode.

: The first wave of these toys was released in Japan with new names and characterizations, but otherwise unaltered. The second were never sold there.
{{-}}
[[Image:G1 Chainclaw toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Chainclaw]]
*'''Pretender Beasts''' (1988)
**Autobots
***[[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]]
***[[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]]
**Decepticons
***[[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]]
***[[Snarler]]
{{main|Pretender Beast}}
: The Pretender Beasts are Pretenders with quadrupedal Earth animal-based shells.

{{-}}
[[Image:G1 Gunrunner toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Gunrunner]]
*'''Pretender Vehicles''' (1988)
**[[Gunrunner (G1)|Gunrunner]] (Autobot)
**[[Roadgrabber]] (Decepticon)
{{main|Pretender Vehicle}}
: The Pretender Vehicles are Pretenders whose shells are vehicles that transform into combat decks for their inner robots.
{{-}}
[[Image:G1Longtooth toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Longtooth]]
*'''Pretenders''' (1989)
**Autobots
***[[Doubleheader]]
***[[Longtooth]]
***[[Pincher]]
**Decepticons
***[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]
***[[Octopunch]]
***[[Stranglehold]]
: The 1989 Pretenders (often called the "small Pretenders") were sold carded. Like their larger 1988 brethren, the shells are articulated only at the shoulder and split front-back. Their inner robots are much more thick-limbed than the large Pretenders; they are also small, about the same size as the [[Mini Vehicle]]s. A portion of each robot's alternate mode detaches and serves as a weapon or shield for the outer shell, rather than being concealed within. There has been some speculation that the designs for Longtooth and Stranglehold may have been switched between factions at some point, as the former better fits the Decepticon monster motif and the latter better matches the Autobots "human" stylings.
{{-}}
[[Image:Pretender Grimlock toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Grimlock]]
*'''Pretender Classics''' (1989)
**[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]]
**[[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]
**[[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]
**[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]
{{main|Pretender Classics}}
:Classic Pretenders are smaller-sized figures of 1984-85 characters (except for Bumblebee, whose inner robot figure was actually [[Mini Vehicle|larger than his original toy]]), the first subline to focus on reinventing previous characters. Starscream is the only Decepticon in this group. The inner robots were also released without their shells as Kmart exclusive [[Legends (G1)|Legends]].
{{-}}
[[Image:G1Thunderwing toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Thunderwing]]
*'''Mega Pretenders''' (1989)
**[[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]
**[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]
**[[Vroom]]
{{main|Mega Pretender}}
: Both the inner robot and the humanoid shell of the Mega Pretenders transform. They can also combine their alternate modes into a larger vehicle. Thunderwing is the only Decepticon in this group.
{{-}}
[[Image:G1 Skyhammer toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Skyhammer]]
* '''Ultra Pretenders''' (1989)
**[[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]] (Decepticon)
**[[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]] (Autobot)
{{main|Ultra Pretender}}
: The Ultra Pretenders have two Pretender shells. The outermost shell is a large vehicle that can transform into a combat deck for the inner robot. This outermost shell contains a secondary, humanoid Pretender shell that is itself able to transform into a vehicle that can be piloted by its inner robot.
{{-}}
[[Image:Birdbrain-toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Birdbrain]]
[[Image:Slog-toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Slog]]
*'''Pretender Monsters''' (1989)
**[[Birdbrain]]
**[[Bristleback]]
**[[Icepick (G1)|Icepick]]
**[[Scowl]]
**[[Slog]]
**[[Wildfly]]
{{main|Pretender Monster}}
: The Pretender Monsters are smaller Pretenders with rubbery monster shells. They are all Decepticons. Their inner robots can combine to form [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]].
{{-}}{{anchor|Double Pretenders (unreleased)}}
[[Image:DoublePretenders2.png|right|200px|thumb|...Tarantulas? Optimus Primal?]]
*'''Double Pretenders'''
**Unnamed ape duo.
**Unnamed spider-bandito duo.
{{main|Double Pretender}}
: Prototypes for "Double Pretenders", two small robots in one shell, which splits top and bottom at the waist, were designed but never put in production.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 (Japan)===
[[Image:MF-toy Metalhawk.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Metalhawk]]
*'''Pretenders''' (1988)
**[[Blood]]
**[[Dauros]]
**[[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]]
**[[Gilmer]]
**[[Grand Maximus|Grand]]
**[[Lander]]
**[[Metalhawk]]
**[[Phoenix]]
:The bulk of the Japanese Pretenders are exactly the same as their US counterparts. Metalhawk was an entirely new mold, however, and Grand featured a new-mold Pretender shell designed to hold the existing [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] mold.
{{-}}
[[Image:G1Blue Bacchus toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Blue Bacchus. Not to be confused with Violet Vulcan, Silver Saturn, Cyan Cupid, etc...]]
*'''Crossformers''' (1989)
**[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]
**[[Blue Bacchus]]
{{main|Crossformer}}
: The Crossformers are the Takara counterpart to the Hasbro Mega Pretenders; the shells were remolded to be less organic.
{{-}}
*'''Dinoforce''' (1989)
**[[Doryū]]
**[[Gairyū]]
**[[Gōryū]]
**[[Kakuryū]]
**[[Rairyū]]
**[[Yokuryū]]
{{main|Dinoforce}}
: The Dinoforce reuses the inner robot forms of the Pretender Monsters, but with cyborg dinosaur outer shells. The inner robots can combine to form [[Dinoking]].

==Notes==
[[Image:TwinTwistPretenderConcept.jpg|right|150px|thumb|..."Drillrider" just didn't sound right.]]
* Despite the fact that nearly all of the toys split front/back, most Marvel Comics portrayals of the Pretenders show the shells splitting down the middle.
* In the Marvel Comics, it may have been intended that only the Decepticon Pretenders with wings on their Pretender shells could [[flight|fly]] with their shells on. In their [[Pretender to the Throne!|first appearance]] they are all flying, but it sort of looks like Bomb-Burst and Bugly were supposed to be carrying the others (maybe something went wrong with the art?). [[King Con!|Later]], Scorponok specifically ordered Bomb-Burst and Bugly to fly Iguanus around.
* ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'' categorizes humanoid Pretender shells into three types: Human shells with thermostatic plating such as Cloudburst's are "Space-Defense Pretender Shells"; monstrous humanoid shells like Bomb-Burst's are called "Predator-Class Pretender Shells"; and shells like Bludgeon's are "Warrior-Grade Pretender Shells".
* [[Twin Twist]] has been found in a piece of Pretender concept art, which was likely used to pitch the Pretender toy concept. Given that a large number of the first Pretenders transform similarly to Twin Twist, (bend over at the waist) it seems to have been a successful conceptual model.
* In most parts of Europe, the second wave of the large 1988 Pretenders was never released.
* Not to be confused with [[reverse-pretender technology]], where a human disguises themself as a Transformer.
* The [[fusion creature]]s from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' are modeled after the Pretenders [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] and [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Pretender''' (プリテンダー ''Puritendā'')

==External links==
*[http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Prototypes/PretendersDoubleBC96Displ.html Some photos] of unreleased Double Pretenders from [http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Prototypes/Prototypes.html SUPER TOY ARCHIVE]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Pretenders| ]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce subgroups]]
[[Category:Victory subgroups]]

Unite!! Multiforce

2012-03-12T18:04:10Z

75.146.61.69:

{{episode
|series=Victory
|ep=4
|image=Unitemultiforce.jpg
|caption=Landcross would quickly discover the folly of attempting to light his farts.
|title="Unite!! Multiforce"
|japanese=合体!! マルチ戦隊
|romaji=Gattai!! Multisentai
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[April 11|11 April]] 1989
|writer=[[Hajime Suzuki]]
|director=[[Katsutoshi Sasaki]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The Multiforce seek to prove themselves in battle against the Dinoforce.'''

==Synopsis==
In an asteroid field somewhere in space, aboard the ''[[Thunder Arrow]]'', the [[Decepticon]]s gather before [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s throne in preparation for their latest strike on [[Earth]]. [[Leozack]] and his newly-arrived [[Breastforce]] teammates [[Jallguar]], [[Killbison]] and [[Drillhorn]] explain their plan for attacking an energy plant to the [[Dinoforce]]. Rather than simply steal the energy, however, they plan to steal the entire plant and use its facilities to constantly generate more energy for their war effort.

[[Image:Victory ep4 leverage.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]
Elsewhere on Earth, the [[Multiforce]] teach [[Jean Minakaze|Jean]] about the principle of levers by showing him how to move a large rock with a stick. [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] soon arrives and sends the Multiforce out on patrol, extra-wary now that the Decepticons have been confirmed as having arrived on Earth. Jean begs to be taken along and [[Wingwaver]] agrees, but not a lot of patrolling gets done as Jean wastes everyone's time making [[Wing (Victory)|Wing]] take him flying. As Wing sets down beside the rest of the team along a shoreline and Jean hops out of his cockpit, a dark, burning cloud on the horizon catches everyone's attention...

[[Image:Victory ep4 dinochase.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]
Mere moments previously, at the energy plant that is the Decepticons' target, [[Peter|one of the workers]] takes a break from his appointed task to feed an abandoned puppy that he found in the city streets and has been caring for. Suddenly, the plant is rocked by an explosion as [[Yokuryū]] bombs it from above, and the rest of Dinoforce emerge from the ocean and start wreaking havoc (both on the plant, and thanks to their clumsiness, on each other). The explosions they create are the cause of the cloud that draws the Multiforce to the plant, and Wing engages Yokuryū in an aerial duel while [[Dashtacker]] and [[Machtackle]] make an especially dramatic entrance as they confront the rest of the Dinoforce. Wing manages to blast Yokuryū out of the sky, but he crashes back into the midst of the rest of the Dinoforce, allowing the reunited team to merge into [[Dinoking]]. The Multiforce refuse to call for help, wanting to prove themselves as warriors, but Jean takes reports to Star Saber anyway, and he and the [[Brainmaster|Brainmasters]] head for the energy plant. Immediately after making his report, however, Jean is attacked by [[Rairyū]]'s [[Pretender]] shell, but is pulled to safety at the last second by some of the factory workers.

[[Image:Victory ep4 sandhide.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Hmmm....Must've taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque...]]
Outside the energy plant, the Breastforce emerge from beneath the sand, having detected Jean's transmission and intending to be ready for Star Saber's arrival. As they make their way into the base, the Multiforce is just about to initiate their own combination, but Leozack blasts them before they can merge. Thankfully for the Multiforce, an argument breaks out between Dinoking and the Breastforce about the amount of destruction the combiner is causing, giving the Autobots the time the need to link up into [[Landcross (Victory)|Landcross]]! Things start looking up even more when Star Saber and the Brainmasters arrive, with the Brainmasters taking on Jallguar and Killbison while their Supreme Commander aids Landcross against Dinoking.

[[Image:Victory ep4 leverage2.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]
As the battle rages above, Jean and the factory workers find themselves trapped in an underground section of the plant. There, they are approached by a puppy, and the workers all recognize it as the pet of their friend. They follow it as it leads them to its master, who has been trapped beneath a collapsed pipe which none of the men can lift the pipe. Luckily, Jean is able to put the principle of levers to work, and together, they all elevate the pipe and the man is hauled to safety.

Back up top, Star Saber topples Dinoking, who splits back into the Dinoforce. The cowardly Decepticons make themselves scarce instantly, and, faced with the towering forms of both Star Saber and Landcross, the Breastforce quickly do the same. Star Saber tells Landcross to always call on him for help when he needs it, because they have not simply come to Earth to fight. Their goal is to protect Earth and mankind, and Landcross vows that he will do this as best he can.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Dashtacker]] (13)
*[[Machtackle]] (14)
*[[Wingwaver]] (15)
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] (17)
*[[Wing (Victory)|Wing]] (19)
*[[Waver]] (20)
*[[Mach]] (21)
*[[Dash (Victory)|Dash]] (22)
*[[Tacker]] (23)
*[[Tackle]] (24)
*[[Braver]] (26)
*[[Laster]] (27)
*[[Blacker]] (28)
*[[Landcross (Victory)|Landcross]] (29)

|c2=
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (1)
*[[Tigerbreast]] (2)
*[[Jallguar]] (3)
*[[Killbison]] (4)
*[[Drillhorn]] (5)
*[[Leozack]] (6)
*[[Gōryū]] (7)
*[[Rairyū]] (8)
*[[Doryū]] (9)
*[[Yokuryū]] (10)
*[[Gairyū]] (11)
*[[Kakuryū]] (12)
*[[Dinoking]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Jean Minakaze|Jean]] (16)
*[[Peter]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"The stupidity of you fools is as limitless as the universe."
:—'''Leozack''' on the Dinoforce.

"Wherever the Decepticons may appear, we will be there to drive them away!"
:—'''Machtackle''', hamming it up.

"You're 100,000 years too young to try and beat me in an aerial battle!"
:—'''Yokuryū''' tries to assert superiority over Wing.

"Who's your leader, troops?" 
"The great Gōryū!" 
"Oh, right. Run away!"
:—'''Gōryū''' leads the rest of the '''Dinoforce''' in a retreat.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*As seen in the above picture, Jallguar's helmet is orange instead of black when the Breastforce is poking their heads out of the sand.

===Continuity notes===
*Wing makes a rare solo appearance this episode, actually fighting Yokuryū, then joining the rest of Multiforce to fight the Dinoforce directly. Unfortunately Waver seems to get forgotten and he simply sits on the shore in boat mode for most of the episode—even visible in the background of several fight scenes sitting there doing nothing. When it comes time for Multiforce to unite, Wing and Waver have already recombined, though we don't get to see when.
*Wingwaver teaches Jean about levers. Later in the episode he has to use a lever to save a man! Now, that's foreshadowing.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Merge, Landcross'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
::*The hamminess of Machtackle and Dashtacker's appearance in the battle is toned down.
::*Leozack asks Dinoking "what are you doing here?" rather than just asking what he's doing.
::*The unnamed worker who's looking after the dog is given the name [[Peter]].

===Trivia===
*This is the first regular episode since "[[Approach of the Demon Meteorite]]" (nearly two years prior!) to ''not'' be written by [[Toyohiro Ando]], [[Yoshihisa Araki]] or [[Hiroyuki Hoshiyama]].
*Obviously, as suggested in the title, this is the first appearance of Multiforce's combined form, Landcross. (Well, as long as you don't include the preview from last episode.)

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Victory'' — DVD Box 01 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 3 — ''Transformers: Victory'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Victory'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) — Optional [[Omni Productions|Omni]] dub. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) — Optional Omni dub.

[[Category:Victory episodes]]