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Ramjet (G1)

2007-08-06T14:53:12Z

80.183.17.221:

{{disambig3|Ramjet}}

:''Ramjet is a [[Decepticon]] in the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:RamjetG1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Ramjet likes toast.]]

What can really be said about someone whose only idea of strategy is to smash into things with his head? In '''Ramjet'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defense he's specifically built to survive such midair collisions and his prey most definitely is not. The strategy can be frighteningly effective, since no one expects a fighter jet to ram them. Ramjet has a tendency to regard the sky as belonging only to him, and will frequently ram even neutral or friendly targets. Though he is built to take such hits frequent collisions and crashes can still take their toll on his internal mechanisms.

:''French-Canadian name'': '''Statoréacto'''
:''Italian name'': '''Nibbio'''

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jack Angel]] (US), [[Toshiro Ishii]] (Japan)

[[Image:Ramjetinpast.gif|150px|thumb|Ramjet could have been a great [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinedine_Zidane#Confrontation_with_Marco_Materazzi soccer player]]]
Ramjet had some excellent adventures during the ''Generation 1'' cartoon series.

Once, Ramjet was thrown back into the Medieval times and headbutted a knight, then participated in a jousting competition against [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] and [[Warpath]]. Yay! {{Storylink|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court}}

Ramjet was totally blownuptified when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] decided to deal with him by chucking the conehead into a wall. Dude. {{Storylink|The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

'''Note:''' ''The event above is highly disputable due to the animation errors that plagued the episode, and indeed, the rest of Season 3.

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
Until [[Straxus]] was assassinated, Ramjet worked under the Decepticon overlord on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} Soon after, Ramjet, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] were given Earth jet forms specified by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and were recruited to the Decepticons' Earth forces over the [[Space Bridge]] when the Decepticons attempted to exploit [[Hoover Dam]] for energy. They were defeated by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Ramjetg2comics.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Shouldn't he be teal now?]]
When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] returned and overthrew [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s command, Ramjet was aggravated that Megatron brought a revived [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] with him. Starscream was arrogant, loud, and would never shut up, so why didn't Megatron leave him dead? Seriously, what was Megatron's problem? {{storylink|Tales of Earth, Part Three}}

Ramjet was among the Decepticons killed in the [[Swarm]]'s final attack on [[Autobase:Earth]]. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave continuity===

Ramjet joined [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in his assault on the Autobot stronghold in [[Iacon]] shortly after the death of [[Sentinel Prime]]. He served under Shockwave whenever [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] happened to disappear, be it the Dark Ages or the loss of the [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]. After the [[Great Shutdown]], he continued working for Shockwave as one of his top agents, and joined his expedition to Earth to forcibly collect the crews of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and Nemesis. After Shockwave was dethroned, Ramjet escaped capture by Autobot authorities and met with Shockwave's remaining troops in the wastelands. They remained there until the [[Predacons (G1)|Predacons]] overthrew Shockwave in the name of Megatron, and Ramjet and the [[Conehead|Coneheads]] returned to his control.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
* '''Ramjet''' (1985, 1986, 2001)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-56'''

[[Image:G1Ramjet_toy.jpg|left|thumb|'Conehead' or 'Not Conehead'?]]

: The original Ramjet toy was a [[retool]] of the ''[[Diaclone]]'' "Jet Robo Acrobat-Type" F-15 Eagle that was used for Starscream, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], with new wings, and new bombs. He is otherwise identical to the other Decepticon jets aside from color.

: In robot mode his official instructions has the user pulling down his nose cone to complete his head transformation, like Starscream. However, Ramjet, as well as Thrust and Dirge's television incarnations depict them as having their heads untransformed, leaving a distinctive "conehead" shape to their appearance. This has lead many owners to do the same thing, to differentiate the three later Decepticon jets from the three earlier ones.

{{-}}

===Generation 2===
* '''Ramjet''' (1993, 1994)

[[Image:G2_Ramjet_toy.jpg|right|thumb|'90s fashion victim.]]

: For the ''[[Generation 2]]'' line, Ramjet was redecoed with the purple replacing white, black replacing burgundy and light blue replacing the original black. He also features new firing missile launchers and a sound effects box which is mounted above his engines. These parts were also used on the ''Generation 2'' release of Starscream.

{{-}}

===MyClone===
* '''Ramjet''' (2003)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''MTF016'''
[[Image:MyCloneRamjet.jpg|left|thumb|80px|Ever been headbutted by a chibi? It HURTS!]]

: ''[[MyClone]]'' Ramjet was released in the fifth series of the ''MyClone'' trading figure line, which was third and final series to feature ''Transformers'' characters. Following the ''MyClone'' aesthetic, he is a cutesy representation of Ramjet's animation model in super-deformed proportions. He features articulation in his head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips and knees, all of the parts capable of being removed, then mixed and matched with any other ''MyClone'' figure.

{{-}}

===Classics===
* '''Ramjet''' (Deluxe, 2007)
[[Image:Classics_Ramjet_toy.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Frack!]]

: ''[[Classics_(2006)|Classics]]'' Ramjet transforms into a modified fighter jet based off the hull of an F-15 Eagle. Like his original Generation 1 toy, he is a retool of Starscream, with a new nose cone/head, new wings and new projectiles for his missile launchers. Unlike Starscream, his shoulder movement is unimpeded due to a lack of wings behind his shoulders.

:As with most ''Classics toys'', he features a heat-sensitive [[rubsign]].

:Ramjet was redecoed into [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and retooled into [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] for the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]''-themed [[BotCon 2007]]-exclusive ''[[Games of Deception!]]'' box set.

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
* '''Ramjet''' (2003)
[[Image:SCFRamjet.jpg|right|thumb|111px|But he wasn't really the Pope, just an alien robot with a funny hat.]]

: During Act 6 of [[Takara]]'s ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' line, Ramjet was released as a limited articulation PVC figurine not actually based upon his cartoon model, as he is a retool of Starscream with new wings and a new head. He also came with one of the parts to for a Build-a-Figure PVC figurine of [[Grand Maximus]].

{{-}}
==External links==
*[http://tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Ramjet/ramjet.htm Ramjet at TFU.info]

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

{{stub}}
[[Category: Classics characters]]
[[Category: Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category: Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category: MyClone]]
[[Category: Seekers]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Dirge (G1)

2007-08-06T14:44:35Z

80.183.17.221:

{{disambig3|Dirge}}
:''Dirge is a [[Decepticon]] in the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DirgeG1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Death comes to he who-- wait, no, death comes to ME. I've been saying that wrong this whole time."]]

'''Dirge''' is a master of using fear as a weapon. Mournful, morose, and silent, his behavior gives even close comrades like [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] the creeps. Dirge actively cultivates this atmosphere; his engines are even tuned to generate fear in all who hear them. Few realize, however, that this need to instill fear is part of an overwhelming need for control over his own situation. Should things spiral out of control, Dirge falls victim to paralyzing fear himself and his usefulness as a warrior vanishes.

True to his name, he tends to die a lot.

:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Funébro'''
''Italian name:'' '''Sparviero'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
Dirge was on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] serving under [[Straxus]] when contact was first made with the long-lost [[Earth]]bound Decepticons. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} After Straxus's death, Dirge and his fellow "coneheads" were the second team of Decepticons to travel to Earth via the [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] had instructed that their jet modes be altered to resemble "Terran craft" which had previously been seen in a [[G.B. Blackrock|Blackrock]] aerospace plant under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] control. {{storylink|Brainstorm!}}

[[image:Dirge_DeathSerpentor.jpg|thumb|right|200px|He couldn't even kill Duke, but he wasted ''you?'']]

Their mission was to defend a giant drill that would bore through [[Hoover Dam]] and siphon the Colorado River through the space bridge to the waterless Cybertron, where Decepticon turbines would generate "enough energy to power Cybertron for years." But just as the drill began its work, the [[Aerialbot|Aerialbots]] intervened. Dirge found his fear-inducing ability was particularly effective against the acrophobic [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], but the other Decepticons fared poorly enough that a retreat was eventually called.

When the Decepticons later allied with [[Cobra]], Dirge was assigned to be an emissary among the humans. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} This would be unfortunate for the luckless [[Seeker]]. When [[Serpentor]] realized the Decepticons were going to destroy the Earth, he needed a token of conciliation to show the [[Autobot|Autobots]]. So in the middle of a battle against [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Serpentor goaded Dirge into attacking the giant with everything he had. Serpentor then pressed a button in the cockpit of his own jet, "jamming" Dirge's "frequencies," which caused the Seeker's weapons to lock up and explode when he tried to fire.

The explosion tore Dirge apart, and he wouldn't be seen again for years.{{ - }}
====Generation 2====
[[image:Dirge_DeathSwarm.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Death by [[Furmanism]].]]

Dirge reappeared among the Decepticon forces just long enough to sacrifice himself futilely against the [[Swarm]], self-destructing alongside [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]. Moments later, Megatron showed up with the [[rheanimum]] that could have saved him.{{ - }}

====Timelines Classics====
:''(<b>Note:</b> This series follows from Marvel G1 but disregards the UK and G2 comics.)''

[[image:Dirge_DeathTimelines.jpg|right|150px|thumb|You only get so many do-overs, pal.]]

While the war seemingly ended with [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon's]] defeat at [[Klo]], Megatron was quietly gathering the remains of forgotten Earthbound casualties and rebuilding them. Dirge was among his resurrections, but the Seeker chose to follow the exiled Bludgeon instead.<ref>[[Classics (2006)|Classics]] [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]'s bio card</ref> This would prove an unfortunate choice, as Dirge soon ended up in the [[Cerebro-shell|cerebro-shelled]] thrall of [[Bug Bite]].

When Bug Bite decided to try and subvert Megatron himself, Dirge was on the team accompanying him to Earth. {{storylink|Games of Deception}} As Bug Bite and Megatron confronted each other, the Autobots ambushed them, freeing many of Bug Bite's troops with a cerebro-shell jammer. It's unclear whether Dirge's shell was disabled, but the point is somewhat moot; [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] shot him in the chest, leaving him lying on the floor with extinguished optics.

{{ - }}

===Animated continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Bud Davis]] (US), [[Keiichi Nanba]] (Japan)

[[image:DinobotIslandPt2-Dirge.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Not a good start, is it?]]

Dirge appeared without explanation on Earth under Megatron's command a year or two after the [[Ark]]-borne Transformers awoke. His first notable activity was joining in a raid on [[Dinobot Island]], where he was eventually chewed on and thrown bodily by one of the time-lost dinosaurs.

Megatron said Dirge and the other two coneheads were "supposed to be the most powerful jets in the galaxy." {{storylink|The Girl Who Loved Powerglide}} But if Megatron was serious, then they certainly didn't do much to live up to that reputation. They were loyal enough troopers, participating in all the usual Decepticon mischief, but not much more than that.

[[image:Dirge_DeathUnicron.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Turns out Unicron didn't have a secret weak spot in his mouth. Thanks for trying, though!]]

Dirge's first apparent death was during [[Unicron]]'s attack on Cybertron in 2005. All three coneheads (or Seekers who looked like them) were seen flying into Unicron's mouth and exploding. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie (1986)}} However, Dirge soon turned up again in [[Carbombya]], hiding with Ramjet amongst [[Abdul Fakkadi|President Fakkadi]]'s air force. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Fakkadi denied their presence to the Autobots, but [[Outback]] psyched the two Decepticons out by walking around the airfield with what he claimed was a "[[Decepticon detector]]." When the coneheads tried to escape, Outback used a smoke grenade to make them crash, then tore the location of [[Chaar]] out of them with his steely gaze.

[[image:Dirge_toondeath.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Maybe he shouldn't take his nitroglycerin collection everywhere with him.]]

The two hapless Decepticons somehow escaped Autobot captivity, though, because they later participated in a full-scale assault on Cybertron. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} They chose to strafe [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who dispatched them both with well-timed punches that sent them careening into buildings. They exploded quite utterly (even Ramjet, who you'd think would be used to it).

And yet they later appeared again on Chaar, failing to defend [[Trypticon]] against the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}} In fact, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] tried to execute the coneheads and the [[Battlecharger]]s for their inability to stop the wraith. But they were saved when Starscream possessed Trypticon himself and launched into space, Dirge and the others onboard. When they saw that Starscream was using Trypticon to connect Unicron's head to Cybertron, they sabotaged the dinosaur from within. It's unknown whether that got them back in Galvatron's good graces; this was their last appearance.

[[image:Dirge_AlmostDeath.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Uncharacteristically AVOIDING death somehow.]]

''<b>Note:</b> When [[Octane]] was seeking refuge in the Decepticon Crypt, he paused in front of a statue and said, "I know, 'Death comes to anyone who hides behind my marker.'" {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} This may have been intended to be a reference to Dirge, who sometimes spoke that way. But the statue bore only a very vague resemblance to him, and he would appear prominently in [[Ghost in the Machine]], which had to take place afterwards. Plus it's highly unlikely the Decepticons would've been able to - or bothered to - erect the monument on Autobot-controlled Cybertron.''

{{ - }}

===''Find Your Fate Junior''===
{{Storylink|Desert Flight}}
''This is a [[multipath adventure]] with no one fixed outcome.''

Dirge is the Decepticon defending the [[Anti-gravity base|anti-gravity base]], striking fear in the Autobots. In one outcome, he succeeds in destroying [[Optimus Prime]], only to be destroyed himself by the Autobot leader's final shot. In the end, Prime' sacrifice spurs the Autobots to fight on to victory! Some days, you just '''can't''' win.

''Dirge is the most overpowering Decepticon in this story, but he can be defeated by a surprise attack. Alternately, if both Ramjet and Thrust are defeated, Dirge will retreat.''

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comics===
[[image:Dirge_DeathArmada.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Even in a new continuity, he can't get a break.]]

An alternate version of Dirge appeared briefly as one of Unicron's heralds, along with [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], and Galvatron. He was blown up when [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] detonated the Decepticon headquarters that they had taken over.

{{ - }}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Dirge'''( Decepticon Jet, 1985/2001/2004)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''97'''

[[Image:G1Dirge_toy.jpg|right|thumb|Closet [[Conehead]] ]]

: A [[retool]] of the [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] mold, Dirge transforms into a modified F-15 fighter jet with different wings. The spring-loaded missile launchers were replaced with simplified non-firing... rifle barrels?

: Dirge never had a full release in Japan, where he was only available as a mail-away in 1986 (for 1980 yen and 4 [[robot points]]), and at the 20th Century Toy Museum in 2001. He was also re-released in the US as part of the Toys "R" Us [[Commemorative Series]].

: This mold was also used to make [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].

===Timelines===
*'''Games of Deception!''' (Multi-pack, 2007)
[[Image:Classics_Dirge_Toy.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Conehead uncloseted.]]
: Dirge is part of the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]''-themed [[BotCon 2007]] box set, along with [[Bugbite]], [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. He is a [[redeco]] of the ''Classics'' Ramjet toy, transforming into an f-15 fighter jet with customized wings. He also comes with two spring-loaded missile launchers that can mount on his biceps, under his wings, or be used as hand-held weapons.

:As with most ''Classics'' toys, he features a heat-sensitive [[rubsign]].

: There were 1500 Classics Dirge figures produced.

===Merchandise===
* '''Heroes of Cybertron'''

{{ - }}

==Trivia==
* [[Simon Furman]] originally planned for Dirge and the other "coneheads" to appear and defend the ''[[Nemesis]]'' in the [[Nemesis, Part 2|conclusion]] to ''[[Beast Wars]]'', but this plot point was dropped due to time and budget constraints. Furman was so disappointed at his missed chance to use Dirge (whom he appreciated because he has a "...a cool doom-laden name"), that he chose the character to be one of Unicron's heralds in the ''[[Armada]]'' comic's "[[Worlds Collide]]" arc.
* The day after final colors were applied to the ''Timelines'' comic where Dirge apparently falls dead, colorist [[Drew Eiden]] found this article and noted to editor [[Pete Sinclair]] how ironic it was. Whether the comic was actually <i>intended</i> to continue Dirge's death-trend is unknown. ''(This was revealed by Eiden during the [[Transformers Collectors' Club|Collector's Club]] panel at [[BotCon 2007]].)''
*Dirge is the G1 equivalent of Kenny from South Park

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Dirge/dirge.htm Dirge at TFU.info]

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

*[http://bwtf.com/cbreviews/dw/arm14/ Review of DW's Armada: Worlds Collide #14]

*[http://bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonthree/nem2/ Review of Beast Wars' final episode Nemesis, Part 2]

[[Category: Classics characters]]
[[Category: Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category: Convention exclusives]]
[[Category: Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]
[[Category: Mail order exclusives]]
[[category: Predacons]]
[[Category: Seekers]]
[[Category: Timelines characters]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>