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Starscream's Brigade

2009-09-30T21:35:01Z

81.156.97.225: /* Notes */

{{episode
|image=Starscreams_brigade_5_letsgo.jpg
|caption=Surely, this will be his moment to shine...or not.
|series=G1toon
|ep=62
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=53
|title="Starscream's Brigade"
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|production code=700-61
|airdate=[[January 7]], 1986
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''After his latest attempt to overthrow Megatron's rule of the Decepticons, Starscream is banished from HQ, but this time, he hatches a plan...'''

:''Japanese title:'' スタースクリーム軍団 (''Starscream Gundan'', "Starscream's Brigade")
:''German'' Generation 2 ''title:'' "'''Starscreams großer Kampf'''" ("Starscreams big Fight")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Starscreamsbrigade1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!]]
In 1943, at the height of [[World War II]], [[human]]s waged war on one another on the island of [[Guadalcanal]] in the south Pacific. Their wrecked and useless vehicles lay there untouched through the decades, until the present time—1985.

Within [[Victory (ship)|Decepticon headquarters]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] are having a spat over the fact Megatron favors [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. Predictably, it ends with Starscream shooting Megatron in the back and proclaiming himself the new leader. Megatron recovers after a few seconds, knocking Starscream to the ground. The rest of the Decepticons refuse to obey Starscream's order to kill Megatron, so he attempts to flee, only to be shot down by Megatron. At the Decepticon leader's order, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] carries Starscream away and dumps him on Guadalcanal.

Humiliated and infuriated, Starscream stumbles upon the remnants of some old World War II vehicles, which inspire him to create an army of his own. He forces his way past [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who are guarding the [[space bridge]], and travels to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. There he breaks into a [[Decepticon Detention Center]] and liberates the [[personality component]]s of five [[Renegade Decepticon]]s. Returning to Guadalcanal, he installs them into the wrecked vehicles, which transform into the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s. The quarrelsome warriors are not happy with their new bodies and threaten simply to beat Starscream to a pulp, until he reveals that their new bodies do not contain [[energy absorber]]s, without which they cannot refuel: "No energy, no life." In exchange for the needed equipment, the Combaticons agree to obey Starscream's orders for the moment.

[[Image:StarscreamsBrigade Vortex capture.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] are making a public appearance at the unveiling of the [[Optimus Prime Memorial]] when Starscream and the Combaticons attack. The two [[Autobot]]s are badly outnumbered. The statue is soon in ruins, and pair are abducted in [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]'s cargo bay. The Decepticons return to Guadalcanal, where Starscream celebrates triumphantly and the Combaticons squabble over who was responsible for the victory. He tells them to settle down and informs them that until they obtain five energy absorbers, no one is getting one.

[[Image:Starscreamsbrigade2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|We all lost weight on the Subway diet!]]

At the Decepticon base, Shockwave informs Megatron that the Combaticons' personality components are missing. Assuming the Autobots are responsible, Megatron launches an attack on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. The Autobots, meanwhile, have learned of the attack on the memorial and the abduction of Jazz and Cliffjumper, and they have assumed Megatron is responsible. When the Decepticon forces attack, the Autobots are confused by Megatron's demand for the personality components, and Optimus Prime's demand to turn over Jazz and Cliffjumper causes Megatron to suspect Starscream. Before he can complete his thought, a hit from Optimus knocks him to the ground and, realising that he and his men are low on energy, he orders a retreat. The Autobots consult [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] again for the scoop on the personality components.

Starscream and the Combaticons attack the Decepticons while they're attempting to refuel. With the refueling incomplete, Megatron and his forces are compelled to retreat, allowing Starscream to capture Dirge and Ramjet as well. The energy absorber count is now four, and Starscream and his men retire to a power plant to recharge.

[[Image:Starscreams brigade 7 SSrideshoulder.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Aren't I supposed to have an evil ''and'' a good angel?" "Shut up and shoot them!"]]

Megatron, meanwhile, rallies his troops (except the [[Stunticon]]s, who are "busy"), and moves against Starscream and his army. In the ensuing battle, Megatron pulls out his trump card: Devastator. Unfortunately for him, Starscream pulls out ''his'' trump card when he reveals that the Combaticons can likewise combine into a single titan: [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]! Bruticus makes short work of Devastator, laying out the combined [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s. The massive combiner then scoops up Megatron in one hand and forces him to acknowledge Starscream as the new Decepticon leader.

The Autobots use the battle's distraction to rescue Jazz and Cliffjumper; meanwhile, the late-arriving [[Stunticon|Stunticons]] look over the situation and decide that Starscream is too likely to continue his rampage. Merging into Menasor, they defeat the unsuspecting Bruticus with one massive punch.

From the resultant crater, Megatron emerges; grabbing Starscream by the throat, he decrees that Starscream and his army are banished from Earth. The usurpers are hauled away by [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and left stranded on a distant asteroid in deep space... from which Starscream swears vengeance.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (18)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (19)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (22)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (23)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (24)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (25)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (27)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (38)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (39)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (40)
*[[Grapple]] (43)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (44)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (4)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (5)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (6)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (7)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (8)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (10)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (11)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (12)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (13)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (14)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (15)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (16)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (20)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (26)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (28)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (29)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (30)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (31)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (32)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (33)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (34)
*[[Drag Strip]] (35)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (36
*[[Motormaster]] (37)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (41)
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (42)
*[[Wildrider]] (45)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (46)
*[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (47)

|c3=
*World War II soldiers (1)
*[[Marty Minkler]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"NOBODY TURNS HIS BACK ON ME!"
:—'''Starscream''', as Megatron turns his back on him.

"I have with me two members of the Autobot team: Jazz and Cliffjump." 
"That's 'Cliffjumper'."
:—'''Marty Minkler''' and '''Cliffjumper'''.

"I see incompetence breeds even more incompetence. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
:—'''Megatron''' to Starscream, after the latter fails in his attempt to destroy the Decepticon leader.

"Now, Megatron: who is the new Decepticon leader?" 
"Enough! Uhm...you are." 
"I can't hear you!" 
"You are!" 
"I am now the leader of all Decepticons!"
:—'''Megatron''' in the grip of Bruticus (literally), and '''Starscream'''.

'''Motormaster''': Megatron's in trouble. 
'''Dead End''': Who cares? 
'''Wildrider''': It looks like Starscream's defeated him. 
'''Dead End''': So? 
'''Motormaster''': So, you think Starscream's going to stop here? 
'''Dead End''': Good point. He never knows when to quit. 
'''Motormaster''': Stunticons, unite to form Menasor!
:—The Stunticons survey Starscream's victory.

"Bruticus?" 
"No, Starscream, ''not'' Bruticus. It's Megatron—your ''leader''!" 
"Megatron, don't, please!" 
"This time, it really is 'goodbye', Starscream! Astrotrain, get him and his giant ally off this planet! They are banished from Earth...forever!" 
"You'll regret that you did not destroy me, Megatron! I shall have my revenge!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' after the Decepticon leader survives Starscream's latest mutiny.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:StarscreamsBrigade Soundwave eyes.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Maybe Megatron isn't the one Starscream should be worried about...]]
*During the first scene in Decepticon headquarters, right before and immediately after Starscream shoots Megatron in the back (about a minute and a half into the episode), Soundwave's visor is absent. He appears to have two separate, red optics instead, which, when compared to his usually emotionless expression, is actually kind of scary. In addition, his tape door has the wrong shape.
*Early in the episode, the animators can't seem to decide which way up to have Starscream's Decepticon [[insignia]].
*At several points in the episode, such as when Starscream approaches the Space Bridge, his eye colour changes from red to blue.
*Megatron's head seems a little small when he's chatting to Shockwave over the comm.
*When Megatron is attacking the Autobot headquarters, a black Thrust can be seen standing to his left. The camera cuts to Prime and then back to Megatron, who now has a properly decoed Thrust standing to his right.
*When Starscream says, "Don't think that it hasn't been fun," when he confronts Megatron, his wings are missing. Briefly afterwards, when Megatron says, "I see incompetence breeds even more incompetence!", Starscream's wings appear slightly bigger than they're supposed to be.
*When Megatron rallies the Decepticons before going after Starscream, Shockwave is seen among the group, even though he had been shown to be still on Cybertron. Dirge is also seen in the group, despite the fact that he's supposed to be a prisoner of the Combaticons at that point. (Maybe it's Thrust miscolored.)
*When Powerglide flies over the Decepticons, his plane mode is not only white, but a different model. Or, [[Bad Boy|could it be...?]]
*As usual, Devastator's transformation sequence is all kinds of screwy. This time, Hook transforms not only into his own portion of Devastator, but also most of Long Haul's and much of Bonecrusher and Scavenger's as well. A second later, Bonecrusher and Scavenger transform into their usual Devastator components—including the parts that Hook already formed!
* Devastator repeatedly switches between having separate eyes and his usual eyeband.
* Devastator's voice is missing its usual reverb.
* During their demolition derby the stunticons duck under the cars for a split second and then go back up and reverse.
* While confronting the Combaticons Starscream's mouth disappeared once.

===Continuity errors===
* Starscream maintains control of the Combaticons by not installing [[energy absorber]]s into them, thereby preventing them from re-energising, and a repeated point is made that they must capture five Transformers in order to take their energy absorbers for the Combaticons. Yet the Combaticons are somehow able to recharge after capturing only four Transformers.
* After the Autobots figure out what's happening with Starscream and Megatron, Optimus dramatically orders his troops to "Transform and [[roll out]]!" But it seems they forgot to figure out where they were going; they're never shown arriving anywhere! The next time we see the Autobots, Optimus and Powerglide are once again standing in front of [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], and Optimus orders Powerglide to search for Starscream. Who says Prime doesn't learn from his mistakes?
*This episode was aired ''after'' "[[Aerial Assault]]", which also featured the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]].

===Transformers references===
* Earth builds a [[Optimus Prime Memorial|memorial]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] before he's even dead...[[The Transformers: The Movie|Ominous]].

===Real-world references===
*Elements of World War II are shown in the episode with the abandoned military vehicles.

===Trivia===
*According to the Generation 1 [[production bible]], this episode was titled "30 Seconds over Megatron" before broadcast. [http://transformers.winterchill.com/bible/biblepage88.html]
* Number of times that somebody says "Jazz and Cliffjumper": 7
* The Japanese dub of the episode (poorly) super-imposes Japanese translations of the captions during the World War II recap, which shows the Combaticons' origins.
* Devastator got his tail kicked. Can you tell he's no longer a new toy, folks?

==Home video releases==
* [[The Original Transformers Volume 3: Programmed For Evil]] (1999)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/starscream's_brigade.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Tigerhawk

2009-09-30T16:05:05Z

81.156.97.225: /* Trivia */

{{factions|maximal}}
:''Tigerhawk is a [[Maximal]] and emissary of [[Vok|the Vok]] from the [[Beast Wars]] era of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TigerhawkGenesis1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|800-Ton Jesus.]]
In the fires of an unknown place between time and space, the [[Vok]] aliens de-Sparked and fused the bodies of [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] together to form '''Tigerhawk''', a Vok-controlled super warrior intended to bring justice to the time-disrupting Transformers on prehistoric [[Earth]]. But when the two extracted Sparks unite and re-enter Tigerhawk's body, a different purpose and personality seems to emerge.

Tigerhawk is by far the most powerful Transformer in the Beast Wars. In robot mode, Tigerhawk can fly, has missile launchers under each arm, his wings double as shields, and he has wrist-mounted electricity cannons. His beast mode contains razor sharp claws and teeth, as well as a pair of chainguns on his forearms. However, these outstanding powers are nothing compared to his uncanny shamanic abilities to control the weather and terrain of Earth almost at whim.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Tigerfalcon'''
:''Italian name:'' '''Tigre Alata''' ("Winged Tiger")
:''Polish name:'' '''Jastrząb''' ("Hawk")

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Blu Mankuma]] (English), [[Kōichi Tōchika]] (Japanese)

[[Image:OtherVictories BirthofTigerhawk.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You see, when two Vok love each other very much...]]
Concerned with [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s constant futzing with the timestream, the Vok extracted the Sparks of the inert, captive Maximals [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]. Their bodies were merged together to form the staggeringly powerful Tigerhawk. Inhabited by two members of the Vok species, Tigerhawk travelled to Earth as a blindingly powerful energy comet.

Tigerhawk's energy-ball plunged to Earth, impacting and utterly destroying the [[Darksyde]]. Declaring himself the emissary of the Vok, he charged Megatron with "the willful disruption of time and space", and demanded Megatron's immediate surrender. Megatron was not so keen on this idea, and ordered a Predacon attack instead. Tigerhawk engaged and defeated the entire [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] force, then shot down Megatron. [[Optimus Primal]] arrived at that point, concerned that if Megatron was killed, the Spark of the original Megatron would also be destroyed, thus worsening the damage to the time stream. Tigerhawk dismissed Primal's concerns as intolerable interference, and buried him in the ground with a wave of his hand. Tigerhawk was seconds away from executing the unconscious Predacon leader when Tarantulas disabled him with specialized versions of his arachnoid helper-drones.

[[Image:OtherVictories clash.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Flying Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]
Tigerhawk awoke to find himself a captive in [[Tarantulas]]'s lair. The spider attempted to destroy Tigerhawk's mind by forcefully removing the Vok presence inhabiting it. Due to a fluke coincidence, Tarantulas only succeeded in destroying himself, alongside the Vok who had controlled Tigerhawk. The Sparks of Airazor and Tigatron, which followed Tigerhawk to Earth, merged to become one and entered Tigerhawk's body. {{storylink|Other Victories|Other Victories}}

Tigerhawk's memories appeared vague—at first he seemed not to remember being Tigatron or Airazor, yet after a moment he recognized Earth as "home". He remembered enough specifics of the Beast Wars to find surprising the appearance of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] as a Transmetal 2 and Optimus Primal in his "Optimal" form. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1}}

[[Image:BWNemesisPt2 deathofTigerhawk.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Violent deaths in a kids show! Cool!]]
Megatron, not long afterward, discovered the Decepticon warship ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', and attempted to use it to destroy the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' itself. Tigerhawk attempted to single-handedly stop the ''Nemesis'', and despite holding his own for quite some time against the legendary warship as well as simultaneously draining the ship of it's power just by holding it off, he was killed by the ship's main cannon. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{-}}
====3H comics====
[[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] was an alternate version of Tigerhawk. Unfortunately, one of the differences was his being evil and in league with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Universe (2003 comic)|Universe}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
{{note|Although it picks up after the first season, the ''Beast Wars Metals'' manga is not in-continuity with the television series.}}
[[Image:Tigerfalcon1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Four katanas, 'cuz godlike elemental powers just aren't enough.]]
At one point, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]'s [[spark]] became separated from her body, and her body was then possessed by a malevolent force. Airazor's body did battle with [[Tigatron]], though Tigatron could not bring himself to hurt Airazor due to his affection for her. Desiring death over harming her, Tigatron gave her one of his katana and knelt down.

As evil Airazor struck his neck with the blade, the real Airazor's spark traveled through the katana and into Tigatron's body. Inside cyberspace, the two reunited Maximals embraced, vowing never to be apart again. As their sparks joined, Tigatron and Airazor were reborn as the powerful Tigerhawk! (How romantic!)
{{-}}
==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[Image:BW Tigerhawk toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Fly, my kitty! Fly!]]
*'''Tigerhawk''' (Transmetal 2 Ultra, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-50'''

: Tigerhawk transforms into half-robotic, half-technorganic, flying robot tiger-thing. Yes. In beast mode, he is armed with "feather" missiles very similar to the Fuzor [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]'s, with spring-loaded switches to flip the wings forward, and flip-out missile launchers which activate when a lever on Tigerhawk's back is pulled (which also moves the wings). Under his beast head is a small cockpit with a pilot's chair (see Trivia below).

: Like Transmetal 2 Megatron, Tigerhawk features a somewhat aborted "third mode", which is just a minor rearrangement of his beast mode parts with his vacuum-metalized helmet covering his beast tiger head, making him look rather like Battle Cat from ''He-Man''.

: In robot mode, Tigerhawk has a decent level of articulation, though his elbow joints are designed in such a way as to be not particularly useful. Due to his heels being vacuum-metalized, they are especially susceptible to scratching, as owners are likely to reposition them frequently to cope better with the heavy wings and gimmicks on his back.

:This mold was later used to make ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]].

==Trivia==
[[Image:BWRConcept25.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One Winged Angel]]
*The extremely short duration of Tigerhawk's appearance on the show was the result of a strange confluence of factors. At the time, it was not at all certain that the ''Beast Wars'' franchise would be ending. However, at one point, after Tigerhawk had already been written into the show at Hasbro's explicit request, the company considered not releasing his toy at all. Thus he was ordered killed off immediately, and was. Hasbro eventually decided to release the toy, but by that point it was too late to change the scripts or animation.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/browse_frm/thread/1f02d1311fc9de33/05dc8df47640b9b7?lnk=st&q=script#05dc8df47640b9b7| Larry DiTillio explains Tigerhawk's strange, short life.]</ref> Tigerhawk's toy did not appear on shelves until well after his death on the show.

*In the ''Beast Wars Metals'' comic, Tigatron was interpreted as a samurai; the katana being their weapon of choice. Hence the whole samurai motif for Tigerhawk.

*Originally, Tigerhawk, along with [[Optimal Optimus]] and Transmetal 2 Megatron were to have small driver-like figures sitting on control chairs located in cockpits on their bodies. These drivers were meant to represent their sparks. But [[Hasbro]] then later realized that kids might confuse these spark representations as drivers controlling the robots, so they were abandoned, but the cockpits remain. The spark pilot was eventually used in the Japanese release of [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]].

*Even before they were combined into Tigerhawk, Airazor and Tigatron had a gender-ambiguous history. Tigatron was a male robot with a beast mode that seemed to be scanned from [[Snowstalker|a female tiger]], while Airazor was a female character in the English version of the show and male in the Japanese version then female again in [[Beast Wars Metals]].

*Although often thought of as a [[Fuzor]] because of his two-combined-animals beast mode, Tigerhawk was never officially designated as such.

*Tigerhawk's toy features a bird like helmet, which when placed over his tiger head, resembles Battle Cat of ''The Masters of the Universe''. For some reason, the cartoon model didn't have this feature.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Tigerhawk/tigerhawk.htm Tigerhawk at TFU.info]

[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Non-Triple Changer third mode]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Vok]]