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Scorponok (G1)

2007-08-12T15:56:32Z

81.67.132.131: /* Headmasters anime */

{{disambig3|Scorponok}}

:''Scorponok is a [[Decepticon]] in the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. In Japan, he became '''BlackZarak'''.''

[[Image:Scorponok-Annual.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Scorponok's American look... taken from a British publication.]]

'''Scorponok''' is frequently in a position of Decepticon leadership and is usually the arch-foe of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. He is often partnered in some way with a being named [[Zarak]]

''(Other than these base facts, much about him differs by continuity; from personality to [[scale|size]]. See separate character notes in the sections below.)''

''Italian name: '''Skorpion''' ''<br>
''Japanese name:'' '''Megazarak'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===

''(Events from the UK-only comics are in italics.)''

[[Image:MarvelHeadmasters-2.jpg|thumb|He could teach [[Scorponok (BW)|that other Scorponok]] a thing or two about terrorizing.]]

Scorponok was a Decepticon commander on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in 1987, and was a rival of the [[Autobot]] [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. ''He was also the commander of the time-displaced [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]].'' Though quite powerful, he stood only a few heads taller than the average Transformer in size.

When Fortress Maximus and his followers quit the war and left for the planet [[Nebulos]], Scorponok tracked them and lead his troops there, vowing to conquer the new planet. Upon reaching Nebulos, Scorponok manipulated and blackmailed the politician [[Lord Zarak]] into working for him and becoming his binary bonded [[Headmaster]] partner. This would affect him dramatically, however, and resulted in the alteration of both his and Zarak's personalities.

When [[Galen]] decided to leave Nebulos for [[Earth]], Scorponok and his forces again followed, leaving the war-torn Nebulos behind. ''Shortly after he arrived, his plans were set back when the Autobot [[Highbrow]] ripped his head off. The shock left both Scorponok and Zarak out of commission for quite some time while they were separated. Once reactivated,'' Scorponok found that, due to the fractured Decepticon forces on Earth, he had to vie for command of the Decepticon forces against [[Ratbat]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. By the end of the [[Underbase]] crisis, however, Shockwave had apparently burned-up on atmospheric re-entry, Starscream had exploded from an energy overload, and Ratbat was dead by Scorponok's hand. His command of the Decepticons was assured.

In 1991, Scorponok made Decepticon history as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] formally offered his surrender in hopes of making a new force to combat the Dark God [[Unicron]]. Scorponok initially planned to betray Prime's trust to bolster his own leadership position, which was faltering in the wake of Starscream's return; his troops were threatening mutiny, and two even left the ranks. But Prime eventually persuaded him to unite their forces -- just as a contingent of rebel Decepticons under Shockwave's command attacked Scorponok's base.

After a protracted battle which ended with Shockwave knocked out by the human [[Circuit Breaker]], Scorponok agreed to help the Autobots and was brought by Primus to Cybertron to prepare for the ultimate battle.

Scorponok met his fate in this battle as he sacrificed himself to rally his forces against Unicron. In his last few moments, Scorponok realized the nobility of Optimus Prime, and hoped that his sacrifice would redeem him.

Though a Decepticon to the core, Scorponok/Zarak died a hero, defending Cybertron from Unicron, and was called "old friend" by Optimus Prime himself.

===Animated continuity===
In the animated continuities, Scorponok is as big a [[Trypticon]], [[Metroplex]] and [[Fortress Maximus]].

====The Rebirth (US only)====
'''Voice actor:''' [[Stan Jones]], [[Stephen Keener]]

[[Image:Scorponok-Rebirth.jpg|thumb|Beauty]]

Scorponok was a gigantic Headmaster robot built from scratch by Lord Zarak, the dictator of Nebulos, upon learning of the Transformers. Lord Zarak has full control of the giant, which was built from the [[Hive]]'s underground city. Scorponok itself did not appear to have a mind of its own, though it did have a different voice than Zarak in robot mode.

====Headmasters anime====
'''Voice actor:''' [[Banjō Ginga]]

''(The Japanese Headmasters series diverged from "The Rebirth" greatly, completely ignoring the events of the 3-parter.)''

[[Image:Scorponok hm.jpg|thumb|In the reverse of his Western naming, in Japan, the head unit only is called Scorponok. The larger scorpion form (Megazarak) is an unliving form he combines with. When we asked [[Takara]] why, they shouted "WHAT'S THAT BEHIND YOU?!" and ran away.]]

Scorponok was one of a group of Transformers who left Cybertron long ago to escape the Great War and took up residence on the planet [[Master]]. Chaffing under the leadership of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], Scorponok and several Headmaster warriors rebelled and were exiled from the planet, joining up with Galvatron and the Decepticons and joining them in an attack on Cybertron in 2011. Scorponok reluctantly served under Galvatron, but saw his chance to take power when he instigated the destruction of Cybertron, tricking Galvatron into the heart of the explosion, apparently destroying him.

Scorponok subsequently took control of the Decepticons, falsely claiming that Galvatron was alive and commanding him from afar. Enslaving the [[Beastformers]], he had them toil on the Planet Zarak within a dark nebula to construct a giant [[Transtector]] for him, and activated it in the midst of his attempt to destroy the planet [[Mars]]. Arriving on Mars to battle Fortress Maximus, Scorponok redubbed himself "'''Mega Zarak'''" and successfully destroyed the planet, harnessing its [[plasma energy]] for his own purposes.

Believing that his deeds had cemented his position of power, Mega Zarak arrange for a coronation ceremony on Earth's moon so that he could become the new [[Emperor of Destruction]], but in the midst of it, Galvatron returned alive and well and retook leadership. This saw Mega Zarak relegated to the insulting position of interplanetary bus as the Decepticons travelled from world to world, pillaging energy, with which Galvatron planned to fuse himself with the Earth itself. Galvatron did not get the chance to put this plan into action, though, as Mega Zarak abandoned him to face the Autobot [[Headmasters]] alone in a battle at the North Pole, buring him beneath an iceberg.

Once again, Mega Zarak was now Emperor of Destruction, and began his assault on Earth, only to be foiled when the Autobots discovered his weak point, behind the Decepticon sigil on his chest. Critically wounded, Mega Zarak had the Decepticons retreat back to planet Master, where he forged the [[Zarak Shield]] out of [[G Metal]] to combat the [[Master Sword]]. The Autobots pursued the Decepticons to Master, and when the two weapons clashed, the Zarak Shield emerged triumphant, and Mega Zarak lead the charge back to Earth, intending to sent it the way of Mars. Operating out of the sunken continent of [[Lemuria]], Mega Zarak raised towers of [[Crysmag metal]] all over the Earth, tearing it apart with waves of energy, which he collected in his Transtector and the North Pole. Battling Fortress Maximus, he rigged his transtector to explode and fled the planet, but, bolstered by the energy of his fellow Autobots, Maximus managed to destroy the Transtector before it could destroy the Earth, and the Autobots drove the last of the Decepticon forces from Earth.

====Headmasters manga====

Following his defeat at the end of the anime, all the Decepticons were driven away from Earth. However, Mega Zarak managed to leave [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] behind to act as a spy. That didn't last long, as Soundblaster quickly revealed himself to the opposition when he attempted to take the [[Spike Witwicky|Witwicky]] family hostage. He was defeated by [[Chromedome]]'s "Master Chrome Hurricane Throw to the End of Hell".

====Masterforce anime====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Banjō Ginga]] (Japan)<br/>

After his defeat on Earth, Scorponok arranged for the reconstruction of his Transtector in a new, smaller, combiner-sized, more powerful form with hyper-dense armor, but before he could recombine with it, he was captured by the evil alien energy entity [[Devil Z]] and brainwashed into his service. Scorponok was subsequently linked to his new Transtector, not as a Headmaster, but wired directly into the chest. With a new head atop his Transtector's shoulders, Scorponok was now '''BlackZarak''', and returned to lead the Decepticon forces in battle against the Autobots in space.

[[Image:BlackZarakMasterforce1.jpg |right|250px|thumb|Also known as "African-American" Zarak.]]

Devil Z, meanwhile, fostered a war on Earth where human being were merged with Transtectors to become [[Headmaster Junior]]s and [[Godmasters]]. With the Autobot force increasing in power, Devil Z summoned BlackZarak to Earth, but Fortress Maximus's younger brother, [[Grand Maximus]], made it to the planet ahead of him and warned the Autobots of his coming. In preparation, they constructed [[Godbomber]], who merged with [[Ginrai|Super Ginrai]] to form [[Ginrai|God Ginrai]], who could battle BlackZarak in space when he arrived. With [[Overlord]] and Grand Maximus thrown into the mix, a showdown on the surface of the moon ensuing, during which BlackZarak was decapitated and fled back into space.

During this extended stay in space, BlackZarak mastered localized gravity manipulation and gained the ability to open black holes, which he used to teleport himself directly to Earth and lead the Decepticons in a series of attacks on major cities. When the Autobots directly attacked the Decepticon base, however, Devil Z merged with BlackZarak, subsisting Scorponok's consciousness, and used his body as a channel for his [[Devil Power]], causing widespread devastation across the planet with its deadly waves. Confronted by God Ginrai in a final battle on the Matterhorn, BlackZarak's body was destroyed through the power of the God Fire Guts, and Devil Z then met his end at God Ginrai's hands.

====Masterforce manga====

====Zone anime and manga====

[[Image:ZarakZone1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|You hear about the pirate movie? It was rated AARRRRR!!]]

''(Black Zarak is referred to as one of the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]]. This terminology, coupled with [[Violen Jygar]]'s supernatural origins, could mean that Violen Jygar was the one responsible for bringing Black Zarak back to life. Furthermore, it is never revealed whether the resurrected Black Zarak has the consciousness of Scorponok or [[Devil Z]].)''

During the reign of the mysterious entity Violen Jygar as Emperor of Destruction, the previously much-dead Black Zarak reappeared as one of the Nine Great Demon Generals and was given the rank of Evil Spirit General. Black Zarak's new appearance seemed to have a serious ''pirate''-vibe going on, with the big guy now having a hook for a hand and an eye-patch.

As a group of Autobot [[Micromaster]]s chased after the Decepticons who had stolen [[Zone (planet)|Planet Zone]]'s precious [[Energon Z]], Black Zarak suddenly appeared in the darkness of space. The Demon-General successfully attacked the Micromasters, on board [[Countdown]]'s rocket, and managed to trap them in a cocoon of powerful webbing. Black Zarak then disappeared into darkness once more.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Shortly before the [[Great Shutdown]], Scorponok attended a teleconference with [[Ratbat]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], where he criticized the latter for 'thinking like a calculator instead of a warrior'. {{storylink|Destined For Nothing}}

===IDW comics continuity===
On the planet Nebulos, Scorponok was in league with [[Mo Zarak]], head of the [[Cranium]], a cabal of really smart scientists. Presumably with input from Scorponok, the Cranium had created hybrid Nebulan/Cybertronian beings. Unfortunately for Scorponok, Ultra Magnus has tracked him down. In the ensuing battle, Scorponok accidentally shot Zarak (revealing to Magnus that the Nebulan had also been infused with Cybertronian technology), and Magnus shot Scorponok in the head. Scorponok escaped; his current whereabouts and activities are unknown. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
* Scorponok (1987)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-93'''
: The largest Decepticon toy in Generation 1, Scorponok transforms from Headmaster robot to robotic scorpion to command base. Came with Lord Zarak Headmaster head and [[Fasttrack]].

* Black Zarak (1988)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-311'''
: This Japanese-exclusive remold came with Scorponok (Zarak redeco) and Black Rorichi (Fasttrack redeco). Black Zarak is notoriously difficult to find as complete, due to much of his accessories suffering from [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|gold plastic syndrome]].

* The Action Master Elite [[Double Punch (G1)|Double Punch]] bears an uncanny resembelence to Black Zarak.

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Scorponok/scorponok.htm Scorponok at TFU.info]

[[Category:Bases]]
[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category: Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category: Decepticons]]
[[Category: Headmasters]]
[[Category: Headmasters characters]]
[[Category: Masterforce characters]]
[[Category: Zone characters]]
[[category:Zombies]]<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>

Scorponok (G1)

2007-08-12T15:55:58Z

81.67.132.131: /* Headmasters anime */

{{disambig3|Scorponok}}

:''Scorponok is a [[Decepticon]] in the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. In Japan, he became '''BlackZarak'''.''

[[Image:Scorponok-Annual.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Scorponok's American look... taken from a British publication.]]

'''Scorponok''' is frequently in a position of Decepticon leadership and is usually the arch-foe of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. He is often partnered in some way with a being named [[Zarak]]

''(Other than these base facts, much about him differs by continuity; from personality to [[scale|size]]. See separate character notes in the sections below.)''

''Italian name: '''Skorpion''' ''<br>
''Japanese name:'' '''Megazarak'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===

''(Events from the UK-only comics are in italics.)''

[[Image:MarvelHeadmasters-2.jpg|thumb|He could teach [[Scorponok (BW)|that other Scorponok]] a thing or two about terrorizing.]]

Scorponok was a Decepticon commander on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in 1987, and was a rival of the [[Autobot]] [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. ''He was also the commander of the time-displaced [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]].'' Though quite powerful, he stood only a few heads taller than the average Transformer in size.

When Fortress Maximus and his followers quit the war and left for the planet [[Nebulos]], Scorponok tracked them and lead his troops there, vowing to conquer the new planet. Upon reaching Nebulos, Scorponok manipulated and blackmailed the politician [[Lord Zarak]] into working for him and becoming his binary bonded [[Headmaster]] partner. This would affect him dramatically, however, and resulted in the alteration of both his and Zarak's personalities.

When [[Galen]] decided to leave Nebulos for [[Earth]], Scorponok and his forces again followed, leaving the war-torn Nebulos behind. ''Shortly after he arrived, his plans were set back when the Autobot [[Highbrow]] ripped his head off. The shock left both Scorponok and Zarak out of commission for quite some time while they were separated. Once reactivated,'' Scorponok found that, due to the fractured Decepticon forces on Earth, he had to vie for command of the Decepticon forces against [[Ratbat]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. By the end of the [[Underbase]] crisis, however, Shockwave had apparently burned-up on atmospheric re-entry, Starscream had exploded from an energy overload, and Ratbat was dead by Scorponok's hand. His command of the Decepticons was assured.

In 1991, Scorponok made Decepticon history as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] formally offered his surrender in hopes of making a new force to combat the Dark God [[Unicron]]. Scorponok initially planned to betray Prime's trust to bolster his own leadership position, which was faltering in the wake of Starscream's return; his troops were threatening mutiny, and two even left the ranks. But Prime eventually persuaded him to unite their forces -- just as a contingent of rebel Decepticons under Shockwave's command attacked Scorponok's base.

After a protracted battle which ended with Shockwave knocked out by the human [[Circuit Breaker]], Scorponok agreed to help the Autobots and was brought by Primus to Cybertron to prepare for the ultimate battle.

Scorponok met his fate in this battle as he sacrificed himself to rally his forces against Unicron. In his last few moments, Scorponok realized the nobility of Optimus Prime, and hoped that his sacrifice would redeem him.

Though a Decepticon to the core, Scorponok/Zarak died a hero, defending Cybertron from Unicron, and was called "old friend" by Optimus Prime himself.

===Animated continuity===
In the animated continuities, Scorponok is as big a [[Trypticon]], [[Metroplex]] and [[Fortress Maximus]].

====The Rebirth (US only)====
'''Voice actor:''' [[Stan Jones]], [[Stephen Keener]]

[[Image:Scorponok-Rebirth.jpg|thumb|Beauty]]

Scorponok was a gigantic Headmaster robot built from scratch by Lord Zarak, the dictator of Nebulos, upon learning of the Transformers. Lord Zarak has full control of the giant, which was built from the [[Hive]]'s underground city. Scorponok itself did not appear to have a mind of its own, though it did have a different voice than Zarak in robot mode.

====Headmasters anime====
'''Voice actor:''' [[Banjō Ginga]]

''(The Japanese Headmasters series diverged from "The Rebirth" greatly, completely ignoring the events of the 3-parter.)''

[[Image:Scorponok hm.jpg|thumb|In the reverse of his Western naming, in Japan, the head unit only is called Scorponok. The larger scorpion form (Megazarak) is an unliving form he combines with. When we asked [[Takara]] why, they shouted "WHAT'S THAT BEHIND YOU?!" and ran away.]]

Scorponok was one of a group of Transformers who left Cybertron long ago to escape the Great War and took up residence on the planet [[Master]]. Chaffing under the leadership of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], Scorponok and several Headmaster warriors rebelled and were exiled from the planet, joining up with Galvatron and the Decepticons and joining them in an attack on Cybertron in 2011. Scorponok reluctantly served under Galvatron, but saw his chance to take power when he instigated the destruction of Cybertron, tricking Galvatron into the heart of the explosion, apparently destroying him.

Scorponok subsequently took control of the Decepticons, falsely claiming that Galvatron was alive and commanding him from afar. Enslaving the [[Beastformers]], he had them toil on the Planet Zarak within a dark nebula to construct a giant [[Transtector]] for him, and activated it in the midst of his attempt to destroy the planet [[Mars]]. Arriving on Mars to battle Fortress Maximus, Scorponok redubbed himself "'''Mega Zarak'''" and successfully destroyed the plaet, harnessing its [[plasma energy]] for his own purposes.

Believing that his deeds had cemented his position of power, Mega Zarak arrange for a coronation ceremony on Earth's moon so that he could become the new [[Emperor of Destruction]], but in the midst of it, Galvatron returned alive and well and retook leadership. This saw Mega Zarak relegated to the insulting position of interplanetary bus as the Decepticons travelled from world to world, pillaging energy, with which Galvatron planned to fuse himself with the Earth itself. Galvatron did not get the chance to put this plan into action, though, as Mega Zarak abandoned him to face the Autobot [[Headmasters]] alone in a battle at the North Pole, buring him beneath an iceberg.

Once again, Mega Zarak was now Emperor of Destruction, and began his assault on Earth, only to be foiled when the Autobots discovered his weak point, behind the Decepticon sigil on his chest. Critically wounded, Mega Zarak had the Decepticons retreat back to planet Master, where he forged the [[Zarak Shield]] out of [[G Metal]] to combat the [[Master Sword]]. The Autobots pursued the Decepticons to Master, and when the two weapons clashed, the Zarak Shield emerged triumphant, and Mega Zarak lead the charge back to Earth, intending to sent it the way of Mars. Operating out of the sunken continent of [[Lemuria]], Mega Zarak raised towers of [[Crysmag metal]] all over the Earth, tearing it apart with waves of energy, which he collected in his Transtector and the North Pole. Battling Fortress Maximus, he rigged his transtector to explode and fled the planet, but, bolstered by the energy of his fellow Autobots, Maximus managed to destroy the Transtector before it could destroy the Earth, and the Autobots drove the last of the Decepticon forces from Earth.

====Headmasters manga====

Following his defeat at the end of the anime, all the Decepticons were driven away from Earth. However, Mega Zarak managed to leave [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] behind to act as a spy. That didn't last long, as Soundblaster quickly revealed himself to the opposition when he attempted to take the [[Spike Witwicky|Witwicky]] family hostage. He was defeated by [[Chromedome]]'s "Master Chrome Hurricane Throw to the End of Hell".

====Masterforce anime====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Banjō Ginga]] (Japan)<br/>

After his defeat on Earth, Scorponok arranged for the reconstruction of his Transtector in a new, smaller, combiner-sized, more powerful form with hyper-dense armor, but before he could recombine with it, he was captured by the evil alien energy entity [[Devil Z]] and brainwashed into his service. Scorponok was subsequently linked to his new Transtector, not as a Headmaster, but wired directly into the chest. With a new head atop his Transtector's shoulders, Scorponok was now '''BlackZarak''', and returned to lead the Decepticon forces in battle against the Autobots in space.

[[Image:BlackZarakMasterforce1.jpg |right|250px|thumb|Also known as "African-American" Zarak.]]

Devil Z, meanwhile, fostered a war on Earth where human being were merged with Transtectors to become [[Headmaster Junior]]s and [[Godmasters]]. With the Autobot force increasing in power, Devil Z summoned BlackZarak to Earth, but Fortress Maximus's younger brother, [[Grand Maximus]], made it to the planet ahead of him and warned the Autobots of his coming. In preparation, they constructed [[Godbomber]], who merged with [[Ginrai|Super Ginrai]] to form [[Ginrai|God Ginrai]], who could battle BlackZarak in space when he arrived. With [[Overlord]] and Grand Maximus thrown into the mix, a showdown on the surface of the moon ensuing, during which BlackZarak was decapitated and fled back into space.

During this extended stay in space, BlackZarak mastered localized gravity manipulation and gained the ability to open black holes, which he used to teleport himself directly to Earth and lead the Decepticons in a series of attacks on major cities. When the Autobots directly attacked the Decepticon base, however, Devil Z merged with BlackZarak, subsisting Scorponok's consciousness, and used his body as a channel for his [[Devil Power]], causing widespread devastation across the planet with its deadly waves. Confronted by God Ginrai in a final battle on the Matterhorn, BlackZarak's body was destroyed through the power of the God Fire Guts, and Devil Z then met his end at God Ginrai's hands.

====Masterforce manga====

====Zone anime and manga====

[[Image:ZarakZone1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|You hear about the pirate movie? It was rated AARRRRR!!]]

''(Black Zarak is referred to as one of the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]]. This terminology, coupled with [[Violen Jygar]]'s supernatural origins, could mean that Violen Jygar was the one responsible for bringing Black Zarak back to life. Furthermore, it is never revealed whether the resurrected Black Zarak has the consciousness of Scorponok or [[Devil Z]].)''

During the reign of the mysterious entity Violen Jygar as Emperor of Destruction, the previously much-dead Black Zarak reappeared as one of the Nine Great Demon Generals and was given the rank of Evil Spirit General. Black Zarak's new appearance seemed to have a serious ''pirate''-vibe going on, with the big guy now having a hook for a hand and an eye-patch.

As a group of Autobot [[Micromaster]]s chased after the Decepticons who had stolen [[Zone (planet)|Planet Zone]]'s precious [[Energon Z]], Black Zarak suddenly appeared in the darkness of space. The Demon-General successfully attacked the Micromasters, on board [[Countdown]]'s rocket, and managed to trap them in a cocoon of powerful webbing. Black Zarak then disappeared into darkness once more.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Shortly before the [[Great Shutdown]], Scorponok attended a teleconference with [[Ratbat]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], where he criticized the latter for 'thinking like a calculator instead of a warrior'. {{storylink|Destined For Nothing}}

===IDW comics continuity===
On the planet Nebulos, Scorponok was in league with [[Mo Zarak]], head of the [[Cranium]], a cabal of really smart scientists. Presumably with input from Scorponok, the Cranium had created hybrid Nebulan/Cybertronian beings. Unfortunately for Scorponok, Ultra Magnus has tracked him down. In the ensuing battle, Scorponok accidentally shot Zarak (revealing to Magnus that the Nebulan had also been infused with Cybertronian technology), and Magnus shot Scorponok in the head. Scorponok escaped; his current whereabouts and activities are unknown. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
* Scorponok (1987)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-93'''
: The largest Decepticon toy in Generation 1, Scorponok transforms from Headmaster robot to robotic scorpion to command base. Came with Lord Zarak Headmaster head and [[Fasttrack]].

* Black Zarak (1988)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-311'''
: This Japanese-exclusive remold came with Scorponok (Zarak redeco) and Black Rorichi (Fasttrack redeco). Black Zarak is notoriously difficult to find as complete, due to much of his accessories suffering from [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|gold plastic syndrome]].

* The Action Master Elite [[Double Punch (G1)|Double Punch]] bears an uncanny resembelence to Black Zarak.

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Scorponok/scorponok.htm Scorponok at TFU.info]

[[Category:Bases]]
[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category: Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category: Decepticons]]
[[Category: Headmasters]]
[[Category: Headmasters characters]]
[[Category: Masterforce characters]]
[[Category: Zone characters]]
[[category:Zombies]]<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>

Ratbat (G1)

2007-08-12T00:40:43Z

81.67.132.131: /* IDW comics continuity */

:''Ratbat is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ratbat.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Ah, the children of the night. What wonderful spreadsheets they make!]]

Cold-blooded and obsessed with efficiency, '''Ratbat's''' primary concern is looking out for himself. He treats his responsibilities, whether as a fuel auditor or as leader of Decepticons, as a business. In his book, everything comes down to profit and loss.

In his role as fuel scout, Ratbat carries sensors that allow him to detect and evaluate the quality of fuels of various types, from primitive hydrocarbons to [[energon]]. He can process any number of these different fuels to power himself.

Although obsessed with efficiency, like any good CEO, Ratbat allows himself a small indulgence: he enjoys sinking his fangs into the fuel tanks of Terran automobiles, the more expensive the better. He enjoys nothing more than savoring high-test gasoline siphoned from a hapless yuppie's Mercedes or BMW.

Ratbat is also the best Decepticon leader ever. True, that's what [[Megatron (G1)|every]] [[Starscream (G1)|other]] [[Shockwave (G1)|leader]] says, but he's got the victories to back it up.

''Italian name:'' '''Stridek'''<br>
''French-Canadian name:'' '''Vampiro'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|left|thumb|175px|"That...that's your fist, Astrotrain."]]
Ratbat was one of the many Decepticons left on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he rose to the critical post of fuel auditor. With a drive towards extreme efficiency, he would rarely countenance unnecessary risks. After the fall of [[Straxus|Lord Straxus]], Ratbat emerged as the most powerful Decepticon in [[Polyhex]].

Ratbat grew increasingly dissatisfied with the inefficient use of fuel by the Decepticons based on Earth under the command of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and developed schemes to improve the planet's output. He dispatched hypnotizing machines with the hope of taking over the minds of many humans and using them to deliver fuel at minimum cost to the Decepticons, but this plan was disrupted by the intervention of the Autobots' ally [[Buster Witwicky]].

Ratbat allied with the Earthbound Decepticons but remained dissatisfied with the leadership of Shockwave. When the Earthbound Autobots briefly left the planet in [[Ark]], Ratbat was at the forefront of a new Decepticon reign of terror and kidnapped Buster Witwicky, taking him to the Decepticons' island base.

[[Image:Ratbatfortmax.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Ratbat breaks through the Cassetticon glass ceiling.]]
When the Autobot [[Headmaster]]s and [[Targetmaster]]s besieged the base the Decepticons were forced to flee by deploying its rocket facility. In the process of departure, Shockwave was shot down in space and seen heading towards Earth, apparently dying, and Ratbat declared it would be inefficient to rescue him and so, instead seized command of the Decepticons for himself.

Of all the leaders of the Decepticons on Earth few came closer to outright victory than Ratbat. He followed the Autobots under [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] when they set out to unite with those under [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and launched an all out attack that resulted in huge casualties and the Autobots being briefly stranded on the Moon.

Later, Ratbat promoted the newly recovered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to the position of second-in-command and set out to learn the truth about the legendary [[Underbase]], which could seemingly make a Transformer supremely powerful. Ratbat was determined to attain its power for itself but this ambition was shared by Starscream. The latter lured the separate Decepticon faction led by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to a meeting with Ratbat's forces which soon resulted in conflict between the two, allowing Starscream to seek the Underbase for himself. Both Decepticon factions allied with the Autobots in fighting against Starscream, suffering huge casualties in the process. However both Ratbat and Scorponok independently suspected that the Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] had plans to seize the power of the Underbase for himself and they set out to stop them. Seconds later Ratbat was dead, shot in the back by Scorponok.

===Animated continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (US), [[Hōchū Ōtsuka|Yoshitada Ōtsuka]] (Japan)

Like the other cassette tape Transformers that turned into animals, Ratbat was not capable of speech, and was likened more to a pet than an equal member of the [[Decepticon]] forces. However, in the Japanese series, he and the other cassettes possessed the power of speech, though their roles seemed no different. Ratbat first appeared in ''[[Scramble City]]'' in Japan and ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' in the US.

====''Headmasters'' (Japan)====

===Blackthorne Comics continuity===
[[Image:Ratbat_blackthorne.png|thumb|Ratbat watches over his loyal pet Galvatron]]

Ratbat secretly plotted to rule the Decepticons by posing as the mentally-unstable [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron's]] witless pet and sole confidant.

[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] worried about Galvatron's unhealthy attachment to Ratbat. When [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] foiled Ratbat's search for mysterious [[energon]]-producing aliens by causing Galvatron to accidentally step on him using [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Galvatron stopped fighting to rush to Ratbat's side, distraught over his actions.

:''('''Note''': Blackthorne Ratbat appeared to have the ability to change size from his parrot-like perch on Galvatron's shoulder (at right) to a [[:image:Ratbat_blackthorne2.png|giant bat]] large enough for a Throttlebot to ride on.) This fits in with his abilities as described in his expanded Marvel comics profile.''

:''('''Another Note''': Blackthorne's Ratbat was absolutely adorable. He is love.)''

===Dreamwave comics continuity===

[[Image:ratbatwarwithin.jpg|left|thumb|Ratbat's appearance in The War Within Series]]

Millions of years ago, before the Transformers crash-landed on Earth, Ratbat was the leader of a sub-faction of Decepticons called the [[Ultracons]] during the time when [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] had disappeared. Megatron's return saw the Ultracons reintegrated into the Decepticons. At this point in time, Ratbat possessed his original Cybertronian form, able to transform from robot mode to jet. However, at a later date, after the Great Shutdown, when Shockwave established control of the planet, many Transformers including Ratbat had their bodies reformatted into Earth-themed modes, leading to Ratbat's bat/tape body. It was noted that he was not pleased with its unimposing nature compared to his original structure.

When next we saw Ratbat, he had been freed by Starscream from imprisonment, and was given to Soundwave as a servant/gift, implying a past connection that Soundwave would want recompense for - it is entirely possible that Shockwave may have viewed Ratbat as a threat to his control of the planet, and deliberately gave him a weak body and imprisoned him to keep him out of the way.

===IDW comics continuity===

{{spoiler}}

Millions of years ago, before the war, Ratbat was "Senator Ratbat" and possessed a fairly impressive humanoid form with wing-like capes and a bat head-like helmet. His professed role was "the application of wisdom through judgement" whatever that means, but actually he simply monitored news feeds and manipulated events (including stoking conflicts) to create the most profit for himself. Interested by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron's]] early gladatorial exploits he sends his servant [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron a wide variety of advanced weaponry.

''(Note: The Megatron: Origin miniseries was originally concieved back when DW held the TF lisence and it might be speculated that, had it been so published as a part of that continuity rather than IDW, this connection between Soundwave and Ratbat might explain Shockwave's "gift" mentioned in that section above.) ''

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Ratbat / Frenzy''' (Cassette 2-pack, 1986)

: Ratbat transforms from a robot bat into a microcassette that can fit in the chest compartment of the [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Blaster]] molds. He was released in a two-pack with [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] in 1986 in the US and European markets. The toy had either gold or silver weapons, and painted or sticker cassette detail. It is unknown if the color of the weapons correspond the the detailing types.

: It is worth noting that Ratbat's tiny "ears" are among the more easily-lost parts in the original [[Generation 1]] line.

*'''Ratbat''' (Cassettron, 1986/1987)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-61''', '''D-107'''

: In Japan, Ratbat was released as an individual toy. He came with a clear-plastic cassette storage case, like all other Japanese releases of the cassettes. It is unknown what weapon/tape-detail variants were available in Japan.

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Ratbat/ratbat.htm Ratbat at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Ratbat Ratbat's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category: Decepticons]]
[[Category: Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category: Mini-Cassettes]]
[[Category: Primitives]]
[[Category: Ultracons]]<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>