MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Nine Great Demon Generals

2012-02-12T18:10:38Z

84.105.174.106:

{{factions|decepticon}}
:''The Nine Great Demon Generals are a group of [[Decepticon]]s from the [[Zone (franchise)|Zone]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TVMJuly1990Mashougun.jpg|thumb|400px|Talpa and the Dark Warlords pose for a rare family photo.]]

The '''Nine Great Demon Generals''' (九大魔将軍 ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'') are a group of elite warriors gathered together by the mysterious spectral entity [[Violen Jiger]].

The Nine Great Demon Generals are:

*[[Abominus (G1)|Monster General '''Abominus''']] (妖獣将軍 ''Yōjū Shōgun'')
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Evil Spirit General '''Black Zarak''']] ([[Scorponok]]) (悪霊将軍 ''Akuryō Shōgun'')
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Flame General '''Bruticus''']] (火炎将軍 ''Kaen Shōgun'')
*[[Devastator (G1)|Engineering General '''Devastator''']] (技術将軍 ''Gijutsu Shōgun'')
*[[King Poseidon|Oceanic Fish General '''King Poseidon''']] ([[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]]) (海魚将軍 ''Kaigyō Shōgun'')
*[[Menasor (G1)|Intelligence General '''Menasor''']] (諜報将軍 ''Chōhō Shōgun'')
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Super God General '''Overlord''']] (超神将軍 ''Chōjin Shōgun'')
*[[Predaking|Beast General '''Predaking''']] (野獣将軍 ''Yajū Shōgun'')
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Dinosaur General '''Trypticon''']] (恐竜将軍 ''Kyōryū Shōgun'')

Overlord appears to be their de-facto field commander. They are all equipped with "Armored Gear" (装甲ギア ''Sōkō Gia''), which renders them immune to most forms of artillery. <ref>[http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~FOUR-W-D/TFsaga1990zone.htm 4WD Zone Synopsis]</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Zone'' manga and story pages===

Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}}

[[Image:BruticusZone1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Flame General [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] was the first to encounter the [[Autobot]]s when he attacked the planet [[Feminia]]. He was defeated by the combined might of the [[Rescue Patrol Team]], [[Super Car Patrol Team]], [[Battle Patrol|Battle Patrol Team]], [[Galaxy Rocket]] and [[Moonradar (Zone)|Moonradar]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 2}}

Aquatic General [[King Poseidon]] and Saurian General [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] were the next to attack, attempting to conquer the oceanic world of [[Wall]]. They bested [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]], but were eventually defeated by the efforts of [[Overload (G1)|Overload]], [[Erector (G1)|Erector]], [[Missile Bull]] and [[Skywave]] commanding the [[Off Road Patrol|Off Road Patrol Team]], [[Jet Patrol Team]] and [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol Team]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 3}}

The Generals then united to attack planet Feminia once again, this time destroying it utterly. Violen Jiger next charged his Generals with collecting [[Energon Z]] and the all-powerful [[Zodiac]], which he intended to use to fuel his conquest. [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], Bruticus and [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] attacked planet Zone, defeating the Micromaster teams and stealing their Energon Z core. The Micromasters pursued them into space, only to be stopped by [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] and his energy web. [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], King Poseidon, Trypticon and [[Predaking]] next attacked the [[Earth]], which was where the Zodiac is hidden. They succeeded in obtaining the Zodiac, only to have it taken from them by the [[Powered Master]]s [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] and [[Sonic Bomber]]. The Generals were soundly defeated and driven off. {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}}

BlackZarak would later menace the Earth on his own, taking [[Landshaker]] and [[Sky Hyper]] hostage. Driven by the need to rescue their friends, Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber immediately defeated BlackZarak in combat. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 5}}

Overlord and Trypticon would next try their hand at defeating the two Powered Masters. The Powered Masters were so underwhelmed by their threat that they promised to defeat the Generals in under eight seconds. True to their word, Sonic Bomber defeated Trypticon with his "Meteor Drop" attack and Dai Atlas defeated Overlord with his "Galactic Dash" attack... all in under eight seconds. The Powered Masters then combined into [[Sky Powered]] and attacked Predaking, a self-professed master of aerial combat. They beat Predaking swiftly and soundly. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 6}}

The Generals were never again seen in battle, however, they did manage to school [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] and the [[Metrosquad]] in the ways of evil, making them more than formidable foes for the Powered Masters. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 7}}

===''Zone'' OVA===
[[Image:Nine great demon generals.jpg|600px|center|thumb|Decepticon Halloween party.]]

With the appearance of the new [[Emperor of Destruction]] Violen Jiger and his Nine Great Demon Generals, the war between the Autobots and Decepticons began a new phase.

For unknown reasons, the Generals Overlord, Abominus and Menasor obliterated planet [[Feminia]], nearly killing [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] in the process. After departing, they rejoined the other Generals in an empty area of outer space, where Overlord soon welcomed Violen Jiger's arrival.

Noting the apparent destruction of Victory Saber, Violen Jygar declared his intention to take over the galaxy and create a "Decepticon Zone". In order to do this, he told his Generals to collect "super energy" for him by any means necessary.

To acquire the special energy [[Energon Z]], Overlord, Abominus, Bruticus and Menasor attacked the planet [[Micro|Zone]] while the [[Powered Master]]s were away. After tearing the Energon Z capsule out from [[Rocket Base]], they flew off into space, where General Black Zarak took care of the pursuing [[Micromaster|Microtransformers]] in the Galaxy Rocket. The Energon Z capsule was installed in General Trypticon, granting him a powerful new attack called the [[Energon Z Beam]].

Generals Devastator, King Poseidon, Predaking, and Trypticon then attacked Earth, looking for the [[Zodiac]] energy. A group of Microtransformers fared badly in trying to stop them, but relief soon came in the form of [[Sonic Bomber]] and the new Supreme Commander, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]!

The generals nearly managed to kill the two Powered Masters, but in the end Devastator appeared to die in a lava flow, King Poseidon and Trypticon were killed when Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber transformed into their "Zone Modes" by the power of Zodiac, and Predaking's head was sliced in half. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Zone-Generals.jpg|thumb|[[Character model]]s from ''[[Transformers Generations]]''. Collect the whole set!]]
*The Japanese name for the Nine Great Demon Generals is ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'', which literally translates to "Nine Great Demonic Warriors". However, there is a pun present in there which doesn't translate into the English language. "Mashō" is the word for "devilish" or "demonic", while "shōgun" is the word for "General", hence how they are considered "generals" over "warriors". Of course, they don't actually have ''command'' over anything...

*In ''[[Transformers Generations]]'', Black Zarak's title is given as "Darkness General" (暗黒将軍 ''Ankoku Shōgun'') while Menasor's title is given as "Information General" (情報将軍 ''Jōhō Shōgun''). Just where these alternate titles originated is currently uncertain; "Evil Spirit General" and "Intelligence General" were used in both the manga and story-pages, while the Generals' titles don't seem to come up in the OVA episode.

*When last seen, Black Zarak was pretty dead. His title of "Evil Spirit General" suggests some sort of unholy resurrection, but how he came back to life is never revealed.

*[[Ban Magami]]'s character models for the Nine Generals which were used in the Zone manga and [[story page]]s differ considerably from the animation models used in the ''Zone'' OVA.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/stories/tfpulp/TV%20Magazine%2090-02/tvmag02_90_04.jpg English translation of Zone story page]

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Ranks]]
[[Category:Zone subgroups]]

Nine Great Demon Generals

2012-02-12T18:10:24Z

84.105.174.106:

{{factions|decepticon}}
:''The Nine Great Demon Generals are a group of [[Decepticon]]s from the [[Zone (franchise)|Zone]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TVMJuly1990Mashougun.jpg|thumb|400px|Talpa and the Dark Warlords pose for a rare family photo.]]

The '''Nine Great Demon Generals''' (九大魔将軍 ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'') are a group of elite warriors gathered together by the mysterious spectral entity [[Violen Jiger]].

The Nine Great Demon Generals are:

*[[Abominus (G1)|Monster General '''Abominus''']] (妖獣将軍 ''Yōjū Shōgun'')
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Evil Spirit General '''Black Zarak''']] ([[Scorponok]]) (悪霊将軍 ''Akuryō Shōgun'')
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Flame General '''Bruticus''']] (火炎将軍 ''Kaen Shōgun'')
*[[Devastator (G1)|Engineering General '''Devastator''']] (技術将軍 ''Gijutsu Shōgun'')
*[[King Poseidon|Oceanic Fish General '''King Poseidon''']] ([[Piranacon(G1)|Piranacon]]) (海魚将軍 ''Kaigyō Shōgun'')
*[[Menasor (G1)|Intelligence General '''Menasor''']] (諜報将軍 ''Chōhō Shōgun'')
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Super God General '''Overlord''']] (超神将軍 ''Chōjin Shōgun'')
*[[Predaking|Beast General '''Predaking''']] (野獣将軍 ''Yajū Shōgun'')
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Dinosaur General '''Trypticon''']] (恐竜将軍 ''Kyōryū Shōgun'')

Overlord appears to be their de-facto field commander. They are all equipped with "Armored Gear" (装甲ギア ''Sōkō Gia''), which renders them immune to most forms of artillery. <ref>[http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~FOUR-W-D/TFsaga1990zone.htm 4WD Zone Synopsis]</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Zone'' manga and story pages===

Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}}

[[Image:BruticusZone1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Flame General [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] was the first to encounter the [[Autobot]]s when he attacked the planet [[Feminia]]. He was defeated by the combined might of the [[Rescue Patrol Team]], [[Super Car Patrol Team]], [[Battle Patrol|Battle Patrol Team]], [[Galaxy Rocket]] and [[Moonradar (Zone)|Moonradar]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 2}}

Aquatic General [[King Poseidon]] and Saurian General [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] were the next to attack, attempting to conquer the oceanic world of [[Wall]]. They bested [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]], but were eventually defeated by the efforts of [[Overload (G1)|Overload]], [[Erector (G1)|Erector]], [[Missile Bull]] and [[Skywave]] commanding the [[Off Road Patrol|Off Road Patrol Team]], [[Jet Patrol Team]] and [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol Team]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 3}}

The Generals then united to attack planet Feminia once again, this time destroying it utterly. Violen Jiger next charged his Generals with collecting [[Energon Z]] and the all-powerful [[Zodiac]], which he intended to use to fuel his conquest. [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], Bruticus and [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] attacked planet Zone, defeating the Micromaster teams and stealing their Energon Z core. The Micromasters pursued them into space, only to be stopped by [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] and his energy web. [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], King Poseidon, Trypticon and [[Predaking]] next attacked the [[Earth]], which was where the Zodiac is hidden. They succeeded in obtaining the Zodiac, only to have it taken from them by the [[Powered Master]]s [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] and [[Sonic Bomber]]. The Generals were soundly defeated and driven off. {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}}

BlackZarak would later menace the Earth on his own, taking [[Landshaker]] and [[Sky Hyper]] hostage. Driven by the need to rescue their friends, Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber immediately defeated BlackZarak in combat. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 5}}

Overlord and Trypticon would next try their hand at defeating the two Powered Masters. The Powered Masters were so underwhelmed by their threat that they promised to defeat the Generals in under eight seconds. True to their word, Sonic Bomber defeated Trypticon with his "Meteor Drop" attack and Dai Atlas defeated Overlord with his "Galactic Dash" attack... all in under eight seconds. The Powered Masters then combined into [[Sky Powered]] and attacked Predaking, a self-professed master of aerial combat. They beat Predaking swiftly and soundly. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 6}}

The Generals were never again seen in battle, however, they did manage to school [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] and the [[Metrosquad]] in the ways of evil, making them more than formidable foes for the Powered Masters. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 7}}

===''Zone'' OVA===
[[Image:Nine great demon generals.jpg|600px|center|thumb|Decepticon Halloween party.]]

With the appearance of the new [[Emperor of Destruction]] Violen Jiger and his Nine Great Demon Generals, the war between the Autobots and Decepticons began a new phase.

For unknown reasons, the Generals Overlord, Abominus and Menasor obliterated planet [[Feminia]], nearly killing [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] in the process. After departing, they rejoined the other Generals in an empty area of outer space, where Overlord soon welcomed Violen Jiger's arrival.

Noting the apparent destruction of Victory Saber, Violen Jygar declared his intention to take over the galaxy and create a "Decepticon Zone". In order to do this, he told his Generals to collect "super energy" for him by any means necessary.

To acquire the special energy [[Energon Z]], Overlord, Abominus, Bruticus and Menasor attacked the planet [[Micro|Zone]] while the [[Powered Master]]s were away. After tearing the Energon Z capsule out from [[Rocket Base]], they flew off into space, where General Black Zarak took care of the pursuing [[Micromaster|Microtransformers]] in the Galaxy Rocket. The Energon Z capsule was installed in General Trypticon, granting him a powerful new attack called the [[Energon Z Beam]].

Generals Devastator, King Poseidon, Predaking, and Trypticon then attacked Earth, looking for the [[Zodiac]] energy. A group of Microtransformers fared badly in trying to stop them, but relief soon came in the form of [[Sonic Bomber]] and the new Supreme Commander, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]!

The generals nearly managed to kill the two Powered Masters, but in the end Devastator appeared to die in a lava flow, King Poseidon and Trypticon were killed when Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber transformed into their "Zone Modes" by the power of Zodiac, and Predaking's head was sliced in half. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Zone-Generals.jpg|thumb|[[Character model]]s from ''[[Transformers Generations]]''. Collect the whole set!]]
*The Japanese name for the Nine Great Demon Generals is ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'', which literally translates to "Nine Great Demonic Warriors". However, there is a pun present in there which doesn't translate into the English language. "Mashō" is the word for "devilish" or "demonic", while "shōgun" is the word for "General", hence how they are considered "generals" over "warriors". Of course, they don't actually have ''command'' over anything...

*In ''[[Transformers Generations]]'', Black Zarak's title is given as "Darkness General" (暗黒将軍 ''Ankoku Shōgun'') while Menasor's title is given as "Information General" (情報将軍 ''Jōhō Shōgun''). Just where these alternate titles originated is currently uncertain; "Evil Spirit General" and "Intelligence General" were used in both the manga and story-pages, while the Generals' titles don't seem to come up in the OVA episode.

*When last seen, Black Zarak was pretty dead. His title of "Evil Spirit General" suggests some sort of unholy resurrection, but how he came back to life is never revealed.

*[[Ban Magami]]'s character models for the Nine Generals which were used in the Zone manga and [[story page]]s differ considerably from the animation models used in the ''Zone'' OVA.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/stories/tfpulp/TV%20Magazine%2090-02/tvmag02_90_04.jpg English translation of Zone story page]

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Ranks]]
[[Category:Zone subgroups]]

Nine Great Demon Generals

2012-02-12T18:09:48Z

84.105.174.106:

{{factions|decepticon}}
:''The Nine Great Demon Generals are a group of [[Decepticon]]s from the [[Zone (franchise)|Zone]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TVMJuly1990Mashougun.jpg|thumb|400px|Talpa and the Dark Warlords pose for a rare family photo.]]

The '''Nine Great Demon Generals''' (九大魔将軍 ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'') are a group of elite warriors gathered together by the mysterious spectral entity [[Violen Jiger]].

The Nine Great Demon Generals are:

*[[Abominus (G1)|Monster General '''Abominus''']] (妖獣将軍 ''Yōjū Shōgun'')
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Evil Spirit General '''Black Zarak''']] ([[Scorponok]]) (悪霊将軍 ''Akuryō Shōgun'')
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Flame General '''Bruticus''']] (火炎将軍 ''Kaen Shōgun'')
*[[Devastator (G1)|Engineering General '''Devastator''']] (技術将軍 ''Gijutsu Shōgun'')
*[[King Poseidon|Oceanic Fish General '''King Poseidon''']] ([[Piranacon]]) (海魚将軍 ''Kaigyō Shōgun'')
*[[Menasor (G1)|Intelligence General '''Menasor''']] (諜報将軍 ''Chōhō Shōgun'')
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Super God General '''Overlord''']] (超神将軍 ''Chōjin Shōgun'')
*[[Predaking|Beast General '''Predaking''']] (野獣将軍 ''Yajū Shōgun'')
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Dinosaur General '''Trypticon''']] (恐竜将軍 ''Kyōryū Shōgun'')

Overlord appears to be their de-facto field commander. They are all equipped with "Armored Gear" (装甲ギア ''Sōkō Gia''), which renders them immune to most forms of artillery. <ref>[http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~FOUR-W-D/TFsaga1990zone.htm 4WD Zone Synopsis]</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Zone'' manga and story pages===

Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}}

[[Image:BruticusZone1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Flame General [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] was the first to encounter the [[Autobot]]s when he attacked the planet [[Feminia]]. He was defeated by the combined might of the [[Rescue Patrol Team]], [[Super Car Patrol Team]], [[Battle Patrol|Battle Patrol Team]], [[Galaxy Rocket]] and [[Moonradar (Zone)|Moonradar]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 2}}

Aquatic General [[King Poseidon]] and Saurian General [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] were the next to attack, attempting to conquer the oceanic world of [[Wall]]. They bested [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]], but were eventually defeated by the efforts of [[Overload (G1)|Overload]], [[Erector (G1)|Erector]], [[Missile Bull]] and [[Skywave]] commanding the [[Off Road Patrol|Off Road Patrol Team]], [[Jet Patrol Team]] and [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol Team]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 3}}

The Generals then united to attack planet Feminia once again, this time destroying it utterly. Violen Jiger next charged his Generals with collecting [[Energon Z]] and the all-powerful [[Zodiac]], which he intended to use to fuel his conquest. [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], Bruticus and [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] attacked planet Zone, defeating the Micromaster teams and stealing their Energon Z core. The Micromasters pursued them into space, only to be stopped by [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] and his energy web. [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], King Poseidon, Trypticon and [[Predaking]] next attacked the [[Earth]], which was where the Zodiac is hidden. They succeeded in obtaining the Zodiac, only to have it taken from them by the [[Powered Master]]s [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] and [[Sonic Bomber]]. The Generals were soundly defeated and driven off. {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}}

BlackZarak would later menace the Earth on his own, taking [[Landshaker]] and [[Sky Hyper]] hostage. Driven by the need to rescue their friends, Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber immediately defeated BlackZarak in combat. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 5}}

Overlord and Trypticon would next try their hand at defeating the two Powered Masters. The Powered Masters were so underwhelmed by their threat that they promised to defeat the Generals in under eight seconds. True to their word, Sonic Bomber defeated Trypticon with his "Meteor Drop" attack and Dai Atlas defeated Overlord with his "Galactic Dash" attack... all in under eight seconds. The Powered Masters then combined into [[Sky Powered]] and attacked Predaking, a self-professed master of aerial combat. They beat Predaking swiftly and soundly. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 6}}

The Generals were never again seen in battle, however, they did manage to school [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] and the [[Metrosquad]] in the ways of evil, making them more than formidable foes for the Powered Masters. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 7}}

===''Zone'' OVA===
[[Image:Nine great demon generals.jpg|600px|center|thumb|Decepticon Halloween party.]]

With the appearance of the new [[Emperor of Destruction]] Violen Jiger and his Nine Great Demon Generals, the war between the Autobots and Decepticons began a new phase.

For unknown reasons, the Generals Overlord, Abominus and Menasor obliterated planet [[Feminia]], nearly killing [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] in the process. After departing, they rejoined the other Generals in an empty area of outer space, where Overlord soon welcomed Violen Jiger's arrival.

Noting the apparent destruction of Victory Saber, Violen Jygar declared his intention to take over the galaxy and create a "Decepticon Zone". In order to do this, he told his Generals to collect "super energy" for him by any means necessary.

To acquire the special energy [[Energon Z]], Overlord, Abominus, Bruticus and Menasor attacked the planet [[Micro|Zone]] while the [[Powered Master]]s were away. After tearing the Energon Z capsule out from [[Rocket Base]], they flew off into space, where General Black Zarak took care of the pursuing [[Micromaster|Microtransformers]] in the Galaxy Rocket. The Energon Z capsule was installed in General Trypticon, granting him a powerful new attack called the [[Energon Z Beam]].

Generals Devastator, King Poseidon, Predaking, and Trypticon then attacked Earth, looking for the [[Zodiac]] energy. A group of Microtransformers fared badly in trying to stop them, but relief soon came in the form of [[Sonic Bomber]] and the new Supreme Commander, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]!

The generals nearly managed to kill the two Powered Masters, but in the end Devastator appeared to die in a lava flow, King Poseidon and Trypticon were killed when Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber transformed into their "Zone Modes" by the power of Zodiac, and Predaking's head was sliced in half. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Zone-Generals.jpg|thumb|[[Character model]]s from ''[[Transformers Generations]]''. Collect the whole set!]]
*The Japanese name for the Nine Great Demon Generals is ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'', which literally translates to "Nine Great Demonic Warriors". However, there is a pun present in there which doesn't translate into the English language. "Mashō" is the word for "devilish" or "demonic", while "shōgun" is the word for "General", hence how they are considered "generals" over "warriors". Of course, they don't actually have ''command'' over anything...

*In ''[[Transformers Generations]]'', Black Zarak's title is given as "Darkness General" (暗黒将軍 ''Ankoku Shōgun'') while Menasor's title is given as "Information General" (情報将軍 ''Jōhō Shōgun''). Just where these alternate titles originated is currently uncertain; "Evil Spirit General" and "Intelligence General" were used in both the manga and story-pages, while the Generals' titles don't seem to come up in the OVA episode.

*When last seen, Black Zarak was pretty dead. His title of "Evil Spirit General" suggests some sort of unholy resurrection, but how he came back to life is never revealed.

*[[Ban Magami]]'s character models for the Nine Generals which were used in the Zone manga and [[story page]]s differ considerably from the animation models used in the ''Zone'' OVA.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/stories/tfpulp/TV%20Magazine%2090-02/tvmag02_90_04.jpg English translation of Zone story page]

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Ranks]]
[[Category:Zone subgroups]]

Nine Great Demon Generals

2012-02-12T18:07:32Z

84.105.174.106:

{{factions|decepticon}}
:''The Nine Great Demon Generals are a group of [[Decepticon]]s from the [[Zone (franchise)|Zone]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TVMJuly1990Mashougun.jpg|thumb|400px|Talpa and the Dark Warlords pose for a rare family photo.]]

The '''Nine Great Demon Generals''' (九大魔将軍 ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'') are a group of elite warriors gathered together by the mysterious spectral entity [[Violen Jiger]].

The Nine Great Demon Generals are:

*[[Abominus (G1)|Monster General '''Abominus''']] (妖獣将軍 ''Yōjū Shōgun'')
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Evil Spirit General '''Black Zarak''']] ([[Scorponok]]) (悪霊将軍 ''Akuryō Shōgun'')
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Flame General '''Bruticus''']] (火炎将軍 ''Kaen Shōgun'')
*[[Devastator (G1)|Engineering General '''Devastator''']] (技術将軍 ''Gijutsu Shōgun'')
*[[King Poseidon|Oceanic Fish General '''King Poseidon''']] ([[Piranhacon]]) (海魚将軍 ''Kaigyō Shōgun'')
*[[Menasor (G1)|Intelligence General '''Menasor''']] (諜報将軍 ''Chōhō Shōgun'')
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Super God General '''Overlord''']] (超神将軍 ''Chōjin Shōgun'')
*[[Predaking|Beast General '''Predaking''']] (野獣将軍 ''Yajū Shōgun'')
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Dinosaur General '''Trypticon''']] (恐竜将軍 ''Kyōryū Shōgun'')

Overlord appears to be their de-facto field commander. They are all equipped with "Armored Gear" (装甲ギア ''Sōkō Gia''), which renders them immune to most forms of artillery. <ref>[http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~FOUR-W-D/TFsaga1990zone.htm 4WD Zone Synopsis]</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Zone'' manga and story pages===

Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}}

[[Image:BruticusZone1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Flame General [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] was the first to encounter the [[Autobot]]s when he attacked the planet [[Feminia]]. He was defeated by the combined might of the [[Rescue Patrol Team]], [[Super Car Patrol Team]], [[Battle Patrol|Battle Patrol Team]], [[Galaxy Rocket]] and [[Moonradar (Zone)|Moonradar]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 2}}

Aquatic General [[King Poseidon]] and Saurian General [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] were the next to attack, attempting to conquer the oceanic world of [[Wall]]. They bested [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]], but were eventually defeated by the efforts of [[Overload (G1)|Overload]], [[Erector (G1)|Erector]], [[Missile Bull]] and [[Skywave]] commanding the [[Off Road Patrol|Off Road Patrol Team]], [[Jet Patrol Team]] and [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol Team]]. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 3}}

The Generals then united to attack planet Feminia once again, this time destroying it utterly. Violen Jiger next charged his Generals with collecting [[Energon Z]] and the all-powerful [[Zodiac]], which he intended to use to fuel his conquest. [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], Bruticus and [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] attacked planet Zone, defeating the Micromaster teams and stealing their Energon Z core. The Micromasters pursued them into space, only to be stopped by [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] and his energy web. [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], King Poseidon, Trypticon and [[Predaking]] next attacked the [[Earth]], which was where the Zodiac is hidden. They succeeded in obtaining the Zodiac, only to have it taken from them by the [[Powered Master]]s [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] and [[Sonic Bomber]]. The Generals were soundly defeated and driven off. {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}}

BlackZarak would later menace the Earth on his own, taking [[Landshaker]] and [[Sky Hyper]] hostage. Driven by the need to rescue their friends, Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber immediately defeated BlackZarak in combat. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 5}}

Overlord and Trypticon would next try their hand at defeating the two Powered Masters. The Powered Masters were so underwhelmed by their threat that they promised to defeat the Generals in under eight seconds. True to their word, Sonic Bomber defeated Trypticon with his "Meteor Drop" attack and Dai Atlas defeated Overlord with his "Galactic Dash" attack... all in under eight seconds. The Powered Masters then combined into [[Sky Powered]] and attacked Predaking, a self-professed master of aerial combat. They beat Predaking swiftly and soundly. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 6}}

The Generals were never again seen in battle, however, they did manage to school [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] and the [[Metrosquad]] in the ways of evil, making them more than formidable foes for the Powered Masters. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 7}}

===''Zone'' OVA===
[[Image:Nine great demon generals.jpg|600px|center|thumb|Decepticon Halloween party.]]

With the appearance of the new [[Emperor of Destruction]] Violen Jiger and his Nine Great Demon Generals, the war between the Autobots and Decepticons began a new phase.

For unknown reasons, the Generals Overlord, Abominus and Menasor obliterated planet [[Feminia]], nearly killing [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] in the process. After departing, they rejoined the other Generals in an empty area of outer space, where Overlord soon welcomed Violen Jiger's arrival.

Noting the apparent destruction of Victory Saber, Violen Jygar declared his intention to take over the galaxy and create a "Decepticon Zone". In order to do this, he told his Generals to collect "super energy" for him by any means necessary.

To acquire the special energy [[Energon Z]], Overlord, Abominus, Bruticus and Menasor attacked the planet [[Micro|Zone]] while the [[Powered Master]]s were away. After tearing the Energon Z capsule out from [[Rocket Base]], they flew off into space, where General Black Zarak took care of the pursuing [[Micromaster|Microtransformers]] in the Galaxy Rocket. The Energon Z capsule was installed in General Trypticon, granting him a powerful new attack called the [[Energon Z Beam]].

Generals Devastator, King Poseidon, Predaking, and Trypticon then attacked Earth, looking for the [[Zodiac]] energy. A group of Microtransformers fared badly in trying to stop them, but relief soon came in the form of [[Sonic Bomber]] and the new Supreme Commander, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]!

The generals nearly managed to kill the two Powered Masters, but in the end Devastator appeared to die in a lava flow, King Poseidon and Trypticon were killed when Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber transformed into their "Zone Modes" by the power of Zodiac, and Predaking's head was sliced in half. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Zone-Generals.jpg|thumb|[[Character model]]s from ''[[Transformers Generations]]''. Collect the whole set!]]
*The Japanese name for the Nine Great Demon Generals is ''Kyū Dai Mashōgun'', which literally translates to "Nine Great Demonic Warriors". However, there is a pun present in there which doesn't translate into the English language. "Mashō" is the word for "devilish" or "demonic", while "shōgun" is the word for "General", hence how they are considered "generals" over "warriors". Of course, they don't actually have ''command'' over anything...

*In ''[[Transformers Generations]]'', Black Zarak's title is given as "Darkness General" (暗黒将軍 ''Ankoku Shōgun'') while Menasor's title is given as "Information General" (情報将軍 ''Jōhō Shōgun''). Just where these alternate titles originated is currently uncertain; "Evil Spirit General" and "Intelligence General" were used in both the manga and story-pages, while the Generals' titles don't seem to come up in the OVA episode.

*When last seen, Black Zarak was pretty dead. His title of "Evil Spirit General" suggests some sort of unholy resurrection, but how he came back to life is never revealed.

*[[Ban Magami]]'s character models for the Nine Generals which were used in the Zone manga and [[story page]]s differ considerably from the animation models used in the ''Zone'' OVA.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/stories/tfpulp/TV%20Magazine%2090-02/tvmag02_90_04.jpg English translation of Zone story page]

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Ranks]]
[[Category:Zone subgroups]]

Bombshell (G1)

2012-01-15T13:40:43Z

84.105.174.106: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Bombshell}}
:''Bombshell is a [[Decepticon]] [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:GenesisBombshell.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Not a hot blonde like the name implies.]]
A master of mind-controlling "[[cerebro-shell]]s", the twisted '''Bombshell''' plays with the minds of others as a child would a new toy, enthusiastically and recklessly. But there is nothing childlike about the gleeful malice he exposes in forcing his victims into more and more humiliating and destructive acts. Bombshell takes such sadistic joy in the destruction of his victims that even the other Decepticons can be put off, wondering if he wouldn't be just as pleased to play those same "games" with them...

His [[Action Master partner]] is [[Needler]]. He is sometimes known as '''Hardshell'''.

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Bell]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese), [[Edgar Wald]] (Latin American), [[Gianluca Crisafi]] (Italian, second dub)

[[Image:G1 PlagueofInsecticons Bombshell blast.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Whoa, that usually doesn't happen to me, I swear.]]
Bombshell and the rest of the Insecticons jettisoned themselves out the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]] when it and the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot ship]] crashed on [[Earth|Prehistoric Earth]]. Landing in what would become modern [[Bali]] off of [[Indonesia]], the Insecticons were altered by their [[idento-computer]]s to possess insectoid [[Alternate mode|beast modes]], and had the ability to convert organic matter into [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. The Insecticons were largely communal in nature, though Bombshell often alternated leadership with [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] was out of luck).

Reactivating around the same time as those aboard the Ark, the Insecticons formed a small nest for themselves in [[Demon Swamp]] before being tracked down by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the Decepticons. They formed an alliance for the purpose of collecting energon and vanquishing the Autobots. In their first encounter with the enemy, Bombshell demonstrated one of the most unique of the trio's abilities—after firing an "insecti-shell" at a farming machine to blow it into pieces, he and the other Insecticons used "clone beams" to somehow convert those fragments of metal into [[Insecticon clone|duplicates of the Insecticons]] in their insect modes, a virtual swarm of Insecticlones created nearly out of thin air.

The initial alliance between Decepticons and Insecticons broke down after the greedy insects attempted to gorge themselves on the cache of energon cubes Megatron had created, and then abandoned the Decepticons to the Autobots. After that, the two groups operated independently, only joining forces as a matter on convenience on rare occasions. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}}

[[Image:G1 Traitor Bombshell captures Mirage.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Bombshell approaching with something long and pointy. Mirage's exhaust port was sore for a month after they did this scene.]]
Bombshell and the Insecticons next hired out their services to Megatron during his experimentation with the [[electro-cell]]s as on-call guards, in exchange for a share of the profits. The Autobot [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] attempted to turn them against each other, however, by stealing the Insecticons' reward and framing the Decepticons for it. Bombshell and the others staged an assault on the electro cell station and their Decepticon "comrades". During a spray of one of Shrapnel's grenades, Mirage was inadvertently caught in the blast while invisible. Bombshell seized upon the opportunity to implant one of his cerebro-shells in the fallen Autobot and turn him into a slave. What he DIDN'T do, however, is question what an Autobot counter-intelligence agent was doing sneaking around Decepticon camp just then. Megatron had to force Bombshell to think at gunpoint before he realized that Megatron wouldn't rob them while [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots still lived. Maybe after, but not before. The united 'Cons then attempted to set a trap for the Autobots using Mirage, but ultimately Mirage was set free and the electro-cells were destroyed. {{storylink|Traitor}}

[[Image:G1 EntertheNightbird Bombshell Nightbird.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Bombshell copping a feel on Nightbird. It must get lonely with all the fembots being Autobots.]]
Next, Bombshell's aid was commissioned to upgrade the human-built female ninja robot known as [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]] for Megatron, converting her into a functional assassin. His engineering skills shown here were rather remarkable for someone with no table manners. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}}

On their next joint venture, Megatron arranged for Bombshell and the Insecticons to have access to the [[Nova Power Core]], a meal that filled them with raw energy and caused them to increase in size dramatically. In exchange, they aided the Decepticons in raiding the armored installation known as [[Iron Mountain]] to gain control of the defense computer being housed there. Their new power went to their heads, however, and the Insecticons were overheard plotting against Megatron by his spy [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]. Soundwave didn't get far, however, before Bombshell captured the Decepticon and turned him with the help of a cerebro-shell.

[[Image:G1 InsecticonSyndrome Bombshell Soundwave.jpg|right|170px|thumb|A communications officer with a stethoscope...and he didn't hear THAT!?!?]]
He then systematically "bugged" the rest of Megatron's troops; by the time Iron Mountain was successfully infiltrated, Megatron was the only Decepticon left. The nova power proved to be too unstable for the Insecticons to synthesize, however, and an antidote was administered to rob Bombshell and Kickback of their additional mass and power. Shrapnel, however, exploded into pieces before the antidote could be properly administered. Somehow, though, Bombshell was able to completely reconstruct his fallen comrade in a matter of seconds, using a special insecti-shell to reunify the pieces. {{storylink|The Insecticon Syndrome}}

[[Image:G1 QuestforSurvival Bombshell Kickback.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Seriously, tell me what isn't wrong with this picture.]]
In another scheme, Megatron convinced the Insecticons that he had a new energon processing system that could draw power from their organic-conversion process far more efficiently than their bodies normally could. The Insecticons would gather vast amounts of power through their clone armies, and then return to Decepticon headquarters to refine their amassed energies into energon cubes. Little did they know that the refinement process was far more effective than Megatron presented—Bombshell and the others were given scraps while dozens of cubes were being produced by their efforts. They slowly began to wise up to Megatron's duplicity and, when his henchman [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] attempted to warn them away from a certain valley, the Insecticons took it as a sign there was something valuable there. In fact there was: a can of [[robotic insecticide]] the Autobots had planned to use against the Insecticlones, and an ever-growing number of [[Morphobot]]s, techno-organic plants that fed on robot insects. Bombshell and the Insecticons attempted to feed on the plants, only to have their food "bite back" and their entire clone army destroyed in a matter of minutes. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}}

Bombshell would ultimately be mortally wounded during the battle of [[Autobot City]] and was ejected alongside many other fallen Decepticon warriors (Megatron included), into deep space, where [[Unicron]] reformatted him into [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] or [[Cyclonus's Armada|the other guy]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Either he got better or that was an identical clone, because all three Insecticons, along with the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], were later seen on Earth trying to stop [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Marissa Faireborn]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from delivering the [[Transformation cog]] to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. They were trampled by Sky Lynx. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Bombshell marvel-21.jpg|right|170px|thumb|All he's missing is a leather halter top and a whip.]]
Bombshell was first seen as a soldier on Cybertron, operating out of [[Darkmount]] under the command of Lord [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} ''Bombshell was one of the Decepticon warriors targeted for termination by the [[Wrecker]]s in [[Operation: Volcano]]. A last minute change in orders prevented Bombshell and his cronies from walking into the Autobot trap, though. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}'' After Straxus began an alliance with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and the Decepticons of Earth, Bombshell was transported to our solar system by way of the [[space bridge]]. He, Kickback, and Shrapnel were then reformatted into the Insecticons, and granted impressive [[mass shifting]] powers that enabled them to shrink down to the size of actual insects when transforming.

The Insecticons' first mission on Earth was to set up a conduit between Cybertron and Hoover Dam, stealing the hydro-electrical power. Bombshell tracked down the assistant chief engineer, [[Ricky Vasquez]], and implanted him with a cerebro-shell so that the Decepticons could infiltrate the plant clandestinely. With Megatron and the Insecticons riding shotgun, Vasquez snuck them into the control room where Shrapnel was able to take electronic control of the dam. Vasquez eventually managed to reassert his free will however and, with the interference of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Decepticon operation proved ineffective. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

[[Image:Bomshell marvel-41.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Bombshell learns that you don't have to be in the background to be block-colored by Nel Yomtov.]]
Still, Bombshell took advantage of the opportunity to infiltrate the Ark by riding atop Silverbolt back to the Autobot base. While inside, he seized a chance to fire one of his cerebro-shell inside [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] during a medical exam where Ratchet was cleaning a recent wound. He was unable to actually control Prime, but managed something almost as good—by piping in a radio connection to Megatron through Soundwave, Bombshell's implant was able to divert some of the Creation Matrix to the Decepticons, bringing life to the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] just as Prime was finalizing the life-sparks of the Aerialbots. Bombshell's implant was eventually discovered, but the damage was done. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

Later, Megatron commissioned Bombshell and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] to take control of the human creation known as [[Power Station Alpha]]. Sighting [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] casing the installation, Bombshell blasted a human boy with a cerebro-shell as a distraction, sending him off into danger while the Decepticon infiltrated Alpha and placed a specially-modified shell inside. {{storylink|Blood on the Tracks}} Things were too hot to retrieve it then, with the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team taking hostile action against Bumblebee and then being confronted themselves by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], but later that night the remote control was triggered and Power Station Alpha sprung to life. Surprisingly for the Decepticons, though, it did NOT come to their base as programmed—[[Doctor Mindbender]] of [[Cobra]] was able to lock onto the electronic frequency of Bombshell's shell and bring Alpha to [[Cobra Island]] instead. Dirge and Bombshell were therefore forced into the position of emissaries for the Decepticon cause, proposing an alliance between them and Cobra in order to share Power Station Alpha's potential. {{storylink|Power Struggle}}

While Mindbender was acting as Cobra's "ambassador", he uncovered the severity of their plans for Alpha, and the devastating effect it would have on the Earth. Once Cobra switched sides and joined in an alliance with the Joes and the Autobots, Mindbender was deemed "surplus parts" and Bombshell attempted to execute him. Instead, the Insecticon was disabled by a blast from one of the [[Baroness]]'s cannon weapons. As the two Cobra agents left to join [[Serpentor]] in conference with their new "friends", Mindbender scooped up the unconscious Bombshell (who had reverted to his tiny insect mode) in the hopes of dissecting his circuitry later. Only after arriving at the Joe base did they discover the connection between Bombshell and his cerebro-shells, as the Joe technical expert [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] prodded the shell which had been surgically retrieved from the boy Bombshell blasted days earlier, causing the still-inactive Insecticon to spontaneously transform out of his own control. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

How Bombshell eventually regained control of his systems and returned to the Decepticons is unknown, but he did and was later seen participating in a raid on an oil tanker. He used his cerebro-shells to quickly locate the vessel's control room. Unfortunately, the tanker turned out to be dry.{{storylink|Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom}} When Decepticon leadership eventually passed to [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], Bombshell was seen among his troops.{{storylink|Totaled!}}

====Earthforce====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Earthforce insecticons.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Dinner and a show, huh?]]
''Bombshell and the Insecticons were allied with Megatron during the [[Decepticon Civil War]] against Shockwave. He attended the [[Enclave]] held by the two factions, but it didn't go well and Bombshell was later seen among the massive melee between the Decepticon armies. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Bombshell and the Insecticons were later tasked by Megatron to infiltrate Shockwave's base and spy on his war room to gain secret intelligence. Bombshell had tapped into the room with a listening prong right before [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] arrived, and caught the tiny intruders with a [[rustbug hoop]]. Forced to submit, the Insecticons were surprised that Starscream wasn't going to torture or kill them: instead, he offered them a juicy bit of gossip that Shockwave would be off alone on a mission soon. Bombshell realized that Starscream was setting his leader up for a fall, arranging for both Megatron and Shockwave to be disposed of in one felt swoop. He seemed okay with it. {{storylink|Bugged!}}''

''Sure enough, Megatron and Shockwave were soon excommunicated from their respective armies, and the Decepticons united under the command of Starscream and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. Bombshell was present at the united Decepticons' first major military action, an attack on Autobot Earthbase. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Soon, however, he turned his talents to less overt and more deceitful activities. At his leaders' request, Bombshell implanted the mighty warrior [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] with one of his cerebro-shells, turning the giant against the human populace in order to smear the Autobots' image. A human reporter named [[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] managed to get inside Superion at the Autobots' request, however, and remove the shell before any permanent damage was done. {{storylink|Inside Story!}} Bombshell's follow-up surveillance revealed that the Autobots had offered the reporter an exclusive interview in exchange for his assistance. Such a positive "puff-piece" would go a long way towards improving the Autobots' image among the humans, and could not be allowed by the Decepticons. So, Soundwave and Starscream arranged for the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] to kidnap Spoon. {{storylink|Front Line!}} Trapping him inside [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]'s cabin, the Stunticons led the Autobots on a merry chase through the highways until they finally forced Motormaster off the road and recovered Spoon. The damage had been done, however; unknown to the Autobots, Bombshell had been hiding inside Motormaster's cab, and implanted the reporter with a cerebro-shell before losing custody of the human. Irwin Spoon therefore wrote exactly the piece the Decepticons wanted, painting the Autobots as evil kidnappers set to destroy mankind. {{storylink|End of the Road! (UK)|End of the Road!}}''

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Bombshell kickback shrapnel soundwave ravage war within 1-2.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Oh, shut up.]]
Bombshell, sporting a spiffy tank mode, was first seen on Cybertron millions of years ago as part of a commando group being directed by Soundwave in a raid on Iacon. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} They ran into Optimus Prime on his first day on the job. It still hurt. A lot. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} During the Dark Ages, Bombshell and his fellow future Insecticons served under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] as part of the primary Decepticon faction. At one point, they assaulted [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and the [[Chaos Trinity]] in [[Altihex]] to stop the chaos unleashed by the [[The Fallen|Fallen]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}} Bombshell was also present at [[Tyger Pax]] during the aborted peace treaty between the Autobots, Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s. Megatron's sudden arrival with the [[Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] put a quick stop to those peace talks. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} He later got to guard Autobot prisoners. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Prior to the [[Great Shutdown]], Shockwave uncovered the crash location of the missing ships the ''Ark'' and ''Nemesis'': Earth. He sent Kickback, Shrapnel and Bombshell to the planet as part of some vast, incomprehensible scheme he'd been perfecting for millennia. They initially encountered resistance from the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]], but gave them the slip and went undercover on Earth for 48 thousand [[vorn]]s. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues|The Rules of Extinction}}

{{note|Bombshell and the Insecticons made a brief appearance in the second [[Keepers Trilogy]] novel, [[Annihilation]], as troops under Starscream's command on Earth. This appearance is contradicted by later Dreamwave stories. Also, in the novel the Insecticons shrink down to insect-size as they did in Marvel Comics, whereas later Dreamwave issues showed them retaining their full size, like their cartoon versions.}}

In modern times, however, Bombshell seemed to have developed a few loose screws and begun operating outside his mission parameters. Having taken over a small town in rural America, Bombshell had begun mass production of techno-organic Insecticlones being grown from special pods. {{storylink|Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation}} His actions drew the attention of [[Earth Defense Command]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s Autobot faction, leading to an investigation of the town. The Autobots managed to uncover the Insecticons' schemes, free the townspeople, and capture their opponents. It was easy. Perhaps, too easy...? {{storylink|Extermination}}

{{note|It's heavily hinted at in Dreamwave continuity that Bombshell's cerebro-shells were the basis for the "Shell Program" later used in ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' to reprogram [[Maximal]] protoforms into [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. It makes no small manner of sense.}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
Bombshell-type Insecticons were part of the dreaded Insecticon swarms on an alternate future Earth ruled by the Decepticons. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Bombshell beachcomber spotlight blaster.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Cybertronian creature feature.]]
Shortly after [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s apocalyptic assault across Cybertron, a tiny mechanoid insect called Bombshell injected a cerebro-shell into [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] on [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s behalf. The shell enabled Soundwave to make Beachcomber into an assassin, sending him after [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], the inspirational broadcaster for the Autobots. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

Several hundred years later, Bombshell was created ([[retcon|uh...]]) on Cybertron as the first [[Insecticon swarm|non-insane]] Insecticon. Shortly after his creation, he constructed a portal between Cybertron and [[Earth]], which the Decepticons used to dump defeated Autobots in. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} After using the portal to get rid of the Autobots on Earth, the Decepticons attacked [[New York City]]. During the assault, Bombshell tore apart [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] jets in his giant beetle mode. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} He later attended Megatron's glorious victory speech in the ruins of the city, but the line about the Decepticons being "united in our cause" clearly wasn't quite true. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}}

{{note|As of All Hail Megatron #7, it's confirmed that Bombshell in Spotlight: Blaster is a different, earlier insect 'con that just so happened to be called Bombshell. In a later interview<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC3b5epypnA</ref>, Shane McCarthy confirmed that the earlier Bombshell was a prototype for the later Insecticons.}}

Battle lines started being drawn between the Insecticons and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. In [[Beijing]], Bombshell began openly mocking [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and the Seekers as "Yesterday's news", ignored by their flight commander and cast aside by Megatron in favor of the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. Despite his mind games, though, Bombshell and the united Insecticons quickly scurried off when both Skywarp and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] stood up against them. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} After returning to New York, Bombshell was approached by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], who apologized for the behavior of his fellow Seekers, and told the Insecticons about how he envisioned the future of the Decepticon Empire—a vision which incidentally included Starscream as the leader. At some point during the conquest of Earth, Bombshell also captured former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] [[Hunter O'Nion]] and started performing twisted experiments on him. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

Using [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s technology, given to the Decepticons by [[Sixshot]] {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}, Bombshell constructed a [[space bridge]] in New York. In addition, he managed to use Hunter to create a "hub" of some sort, which the Decepticons used to find Autobots all across the galaxy and deactivate their defenses. When Megatron complimented his work, Bombshell explained that human minds intrigued him, and that he found experimenting on them to be quite "delicious". He then promptly betrayed Megatron, as he had been sucked in by Starscream's words earlier and took the Seeker's side in his rebellion. In response, Megatron threw Kickback at him. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

Not long afterwards, the Autobots returned to Earth, and a massive battle broke out in New York. Bombshell jumped [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and taunted the Autobot by claiming to have toyed with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|his brother]]'s mind with information he had extracted from Hunter. He was punched out by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] before he could kill Sideswipe, however, and the Decepticons soon found themselves defeated. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} As the Decepticons fled the planet aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Bombshell cheered for Starscream when he revealed that he was in possession of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

Despite Starscream's "ascension", however, the Decepticon army began to crumble without clear direction. Bombshell and the rest of Starscream's followers eventually retreated to a lifeless planetoid in a distant solar system. Refugees from the broken Decepticon war machine began to trickle in over the next three years until nearly 100 were cowering together in the dark. Starscream ordered Bombshell to find some way to strengthen their meager energon reserves and keep what remained of the army properly fueled.

Bombshell regarded this as a fool's errand, and left the Decepticons to reach "population saturation" on their own, as the strong cannibalized the weak for resources. Instead, Bombshell worked on perfecting cerebro-shell technology, and cobbled together a prototype to present to Starscream. It proved highly effective against the dissident [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], who attacked Starscream at that moment for reasons of his own. Bombshell's little toy incapacitated Quake long enough for Starscream to eliminate the mutineer. Intrigued, Starscream requested Bombshell begin production of ''more'' cerebro-shells. {{storylink|All His Engines}}

Later, Bombshell reported to an uninterested Starscream that an approaching Autobot ship had crashed into their defenses. Tempted by the Matrix, he made an offer to take care of the relic, but Starscream violently repulsed him. Together with Shrapnel and [[Acid Storm]], he went to scavenge the ship's wreckage for anything useful, only to be attacked by the pilot, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]]. Bombshell tried to fire one of his new cerebro-shells at the intruder, who blocked it with a piece of metal and defeated him. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

Megatron would later use [[space bridge]] technology built into in his new body to summon Bombshell and the rest of the Decepticons to him on Cybertron. At first they did battle with the Autobots, but were soon mind-controlled by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] into combining with his [[Sweep]] army and forming a [[Deceptigod|huge monster]]. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}} Once this monster was defeated, the Decepticons were left weakened and easily captured by the Autobots. After three weeks in captivity, they were released to help the Autobots beat down a [[NAIL]] riot, though with [[I/D chip]] implants to keep them from going overboard. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[Image:HeartsofSteel2_Insecticons.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]
Along with several other Decepticons, Bombshell awoke in the late 19th century when a sunken human submarine crashed onto their submerged ship. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} He spent some time helping his comrades construct things underwater before being ordered by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to obtain "money" for their human ally, [[Tobias Muldoon]]. Taking on a new [[alternate mode]] alongside Kickback and Shrapnel, Bombshell transformed into the middle portion of the "[[Insectrain]]", which used his head-mounted cannon as a turret. The Insecticons attacked a train carrying money and gold from the Denver Mint, shrugging off the primitive weaponry of its human guards. Although he didn't see the value in tiny sheets of paper, Bombshell followed orders and delivered the loot to Starscream and Muldoon by the next morning. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}} He was later present when Starscream announced to his troops that the Autobots had awakened as well. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3|Hearts of Steel #3}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===The Transformers (PS2)===

{{Note|Bombshell is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Decepticon duplicates in the Autobot campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Bombshell toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|One not-so-big, bad, beetle 'borg]]
*'''Bombshell ''' (Insecticon, 1985)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''41'''
**''Accessories'': "Twin Ion Impulse Blaster"

: Bombshell transforms into a robotic rhinoceros beetle. He doesn't do a whole lot more than that. There is a variation on the mold's insect-mode horn; some versions have a rounded indent on the "top" part near the base-joint, allowing it to fold down further in robot mode. As a legacy of his past as a mold from the ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline, he has an opening canopy that can seat a ''Diaclone'' driver figure.

: In Japan, Bombshell and the other Insecticons were "re-released" as mail-order items from 1987 through 1988. They each cost 880 yen (their normal retail price) and two [[Robot Point|robot points]].

: This mold was used to make the [[Salvo]] drones.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Bombshell/bombshell.htm More information on Bombshell at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:Action Master Bombshell.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"We don't rent, we don't borrow, we don't share—we TAKE the mind."]]
*'''Bombshell''' (Action Master, 1991)
**''Accessories'': "Needler" partner, rifle

: [[Action Master]] Bombshell is a non-transforming action figure that combines the cartoon model with a few toy-based elements. Interestingly enough, his distinctive head-cannon is no longer on his skull, but his hand-held blaster bears a similar design. He comes with his robot scarab [[Action Master partner|partner]] [[Needler]], who forms a backpack/battle helmet for Bombshell. He was only available in the European markets.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1991/Decepticon/Bombshell/bombshell.htm More information on Action Master Bombshell at tfu.info.]''

*'''Insectrons''' (Multi-pack, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''16''' (full set)

: Bombshell was released as part of the Japanese "[[Transformers Collection]]" series in a set with [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] and [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]. This set also included three [[energon cube]] accessories that fit inside their chest compartments.

: The Bombshell in this set not only lacks the horn-indent of later variations, but has a couple other minor mold-differences to boot, with the horn lacking the "bumps" near the tip and base.

*'''Insecticons''' (Toys"R"Us multi-pack, 2009)

: Bombshell was released as part of the ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, as a [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]], in a set with his Insecticon pals. Like with his 2008 ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' incarnation (see below), Bombshell has been renamed Hardshell for [[trademark]] reasons. Likewise [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] has had his name changed to "Sharpshot".

: This Bombshell uses the slightly [[retool]]ed "Transformers Collection" version of the horn. The tiny insect-mode legs on the middle of his arms have also been retooled to be detachable, owing to breakage issues.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/CSHardshell/hardshell.htm More information on Hardshell at tfu.info.]''

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Bombshell''' (Decoy, 1987)

: Bombshell was one of the Decepticon [[Decoy]]s packed in with smaller carded ''Transformers'' toys. While the normal purple version could come on any Decepticon toy, the rarer red version was available ''only'' on [[Throttlebot]] cards and only for a short while before the switch to purple.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Decoys/Bombshell/bombshell.htm More information on Decoy Bombshell at tfu.info.]''

*'''Destron Hero Collection-22 Set''' (Decoy multi-pack, 1987)

: The entire run of twenty-two Decepticon Decoys were sold as a single boxed set in Japan, only in purple.

===Hard Hero===
[[Image:HardHero Bombshell statue.JPG|right|150px|thumb|]]
*'''Bombshell''' (Hard Hero statue, 2003)

: Number 3 in [[Hard Hero]]'s "Insecticon Series", Bombshell is a 9-inch cold-cast porcelain statue sculpted by [[Jason Ray]]. Only a thousand pieces of the statue were produced.

{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
*'''Perceptor Vs. Hardshell''' (2008)

[[Image:Robotheroesperceptorhardshell.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
: Another victim of trademark losses, Bombshell's ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' figurine goes by the name "Hardshell". Part of the fourth wave of ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]] Robot Heroes'', he's packed versus [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] as part of the "Generation 1 Series". His sculpt and colors are based mostly on his [[character model]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/RHHardshell/hardshell.htm More information on Robot Heroes Hardshell at tfu.info.]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Bombshell—like the other Insecticons—was originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "Waruder Kabutron" evil alien piloted mech in different colors... which were eventually used when the trio were [[redeco]]ed for [[e-Hobby]] release. This is also the genesis of those opening chest compartments.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Bombshell''' (ボンブシェル ''Bonbusheru'')
*''French:'' '''Obus''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Prudox'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Jà-dàn''' (炸彈, "Bombshell")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Granada''' (Portugal comic), '''Bomba''' (Brazil comic)
*''Russian:'' '''Bombomjot''' (cartoon, Бомбомёт, "Bomber")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Hranata''' (ICTV, Граната, "Grenade")

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

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternators Decepticons]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Insecticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Targetmaster (technology)

2011-10-17T15:50:54Z

84.105.174.106:

{{picsneeded|Japanese Targetmasters in "handgun" mode}}

[[Image:Desertislandofspace-targetmaster-rollcall.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Cambot! Gypsy! Tom Servo! Croooooow!]]

The '''Targetmasters''' are a subset of Transformers [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] to smaller partners, who transform into their weapons. The partner is often an organic life form that has been bio-engineered to be partly mechanical, or wears a suit of armor that transforms around them to become the weapon.

The Targetmasters benefit from being able to take two minds into battle. A Targetmaster possesses a living weapon that is capable of making its own tactical decisions and target priorities. The advantage is similar to that of having a dedicated gunner aboard an aircraft or tank.

The Targetmaster process is often seen to follow shortly after development of the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process. The earliest known Targetmasters were among the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] involved in the war on [[Nebulos]], and were paired with a bio-engineered [[Nebulan]] humanoid which wore a transforming exosuit. Later Targetmasters included virtually any Transformer specifically partnered with another being that becomes their weapon, not limited to Nebulans or organics. The term has been applied to the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]] team<ref>[[Hasbro]]'s 1988 toy [[catalog]]</ref> and several [[Action Master]] pairings.<ref>''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]''</ref>

Some Transformers, known as '''Double-Targetmasters''', are bonded with two smaller partners who can form individual weapons or combine with one another to form a 'double weapon', with the power of whichever weapon forms the 'barrel' boosted by the other.

{{charstubfiction}}
==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
The first Targetmasters were a group of six Autobots under the command of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. Having traveled to the planet Nebulos in search of peace, this group surrendered their weapons to the natives to prove their peaceful intentions. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

''Nebulon minds were duplicated and installed into transformable Nebulon-sized robots, creating the Targetmasters.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|This depiction of Targetmasters as robots with duplicated Nebulon minds and not actual Nebulons is unique to this story.}}

Some time later, Lord Zarak and his Decepticon Headmaster partner Scorponok had discredited the Autobots, turned public opinion against them, and driven them into retreat. A group of six Nebulan dissidents undertook a great risk to join the Autobots, allowing themselves to be bio-engineered into replacement weapons for the six unarmed Autobots. {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[Image:BrothersinArmor-Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Mouseketeer Roll Call! Cubby! Bobby! Gregor! Jimmy! Darlene! Annette!]]

The Autobot Targetmasters' first trial by combat came at [[The Nursery]], a horticultural research facility that was under threat by Zarak's Decepticons. The newly-minted Targetmasters engaged Scorponok and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] in a battle for the Nursery, but retreated as the facility was being destroyed by the battle, regardless of who was winning.

[[Vorath]] was soon able to duplicate the Autobots' experiment, creating a group of five Decepticon Targetmasters, though they weren't quite a match for the Autobot Headmasters. All of the Targetmasters left Nebulos soon after, as the Autobots retreated to spare Nebulos further warfare, and the Decepticons pursued. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

{{note|Only the eleven "large" Targetmasters are given an origin in the Headmasters mini-series, and there isn't a lot of room in the plot for others to have been made off-panel. Nevertheless, the [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Marvel bios]] for several of the "small" (1988) Targetmasters imply they became Targetmasters at this time.}}

The Autobot Targetmasters subsequently went on a mission to rescue the human [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons. They were repulsed from the Decepticons' [[Club Con|island base]] by a phalanx of hidden weapons. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}}

{{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}}

{{storylink|Dry Run!}}

{{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}

[[Image:Targetmaster-nomore.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Hot Rod is no longer a Targetmaster as he mourns Firebolt's death.]]

{{storylink|Headhunt}}

Additional Targetmasters may or may not have been created as the war went on. Quickmix and Needlenose were both seen using weapons resembling their Targetmaster partners, but their individual circumstances do not seem to easily allow for them to have been on Nebulos to acquire Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

Recoil was among the weapons surrendered by the Autobots to the Decepticons as part of preparation for an alliance against [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}}

Prowl noted the double-paired Targetmasters known as Double-Targetmasters among his list of complaints about how complicated things had gotten in his absence. {{storylink|Starting Over!}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
The Targetmaster process was developed eons ago on Cybertron, as a process to forge a warrior and his weapon into a cohesive fighting team. The two are linked on a mental and physical level, allowing them to draw energy from each other and multitask with extreme efficiency. Targetmaster weapons cannot be wielded by another being without their consent unless they are somehow incapacitated in their weapon configuration. Severe injury or death of one partner can have a profound physical and emotional impact on the other.

The Targetmaster process was further expanded upon on the planet Nebulon. This would allow organic humanoids, not just mechanoids, to function as weapons when adorned with removable armor. The strength and endurance of these modified beings were greatly enhanced, though their appearance does not change. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye issue 8}}

===American cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Targetmasters.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Here's me, and here's my gun!]]

The creation of Targetmasters and [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], in this continuity, started with an initial idea of Brainstorm's that Autobots should use [[human]] partners while driving to help with steering and speed, this idea was confirmed when a race between [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] was won not by Blurr's speed, but by Daniel's help in driving Hot Rod. [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], however, was very sceptical about this idea.

After a large scale Decepticon attack, several Autobots, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] crash landed on [[Nebulos]]; where the Autobots were taken captive by the inhabitants. After a Decepticon attack in which Daniel Witwicky was injured and put on life support, several Autobots were kidnapped by Decepticons.

The Nebulan warriors explained their situation with the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]] to the Autobots, and why they didn't trust them at first, and came to an agreement. Using Brainstorm's idea, they would use their and Daniel's minds with the Autobot's bodies to be powerful enough to defeat the Hive and save the others. Thus were born the Headmasters. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Once the Headmasters got to know their partners, they set off to rescue the five captured captured Autobots. After some torture, Hot Rod, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] and [[Pointblank]] were all saved by the Headmasters.

After witnessing the power of secondary operators, the Decepticons and other Autobots saw the logic in having some of their own.

The defeated Decepticons were captured by the hive and taken to their underground base of operations. [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], the leader of the hive gave the Decepticons an opertunity to become powerful like the Autobot Headmasters at the literal cost of their heads. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] agreed to let the Nebulans make Headmasters only out of the Decepticons there with beast modes, they however would only let the organic beings into their weapons. So [[Skullcruncher]], [[Apeface]], [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], [[Weirdwolf]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] were turned into Headmasters, [[Triggerhappy]], [[Misfire]], [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]], Scourge and Cyclonus had their weapons modified so that hive members could fit into and transform into them.

[[Image:Cyclonus tm.jpg|right|thumb|200px|*ptew ptew*]]

[[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]], meanwhile had found a city and told the news to the other Autobots, damaging himself in the process. The Nebulans fixed him and believed the city he talked about to be the hive's old base from before they moved underground. The Decepticons, now with their Nebulan partners, attacked the Autobots again. Brainstorm was mad that the Decepticons stole his idea, the Head and Targetmasters and the Decepticons overwelmed the Autobots and stole the key to the plasma energy chamber from them before the hive convinced the Decepticons to go back to Zarak to await orders.

[[Image:Rebirth2 Blurr with gun.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"Haywire you're grey and black, now stop looking like my old gun."
"Aww, but this model is so much nicer."]]

Brainstorm, to even the odds, showed his fellow Autobots scans of [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]], showing how the Decepticons modified their guns and used the Nebulan tech to modify the non-Headmaster Autobot's guns and have Nebulan partners inside them. Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Crosshairs, Pointblank and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]'s guns were modified and became the Autobot targetmasters.

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] then showed up on Nebulos and was introduced to the Autobot's Headmaster and Targetmaster partners. He was also informed that the Decepticons also had access to the same technology and the key to the plasma energy chanber. The Autobots went to the Decepticons to fight but they and their Nebulan partners had nearly completed their project. The Decepticons engaged the Autobots in combat but were surprised to see that the Autobots now Tergetmaster partners too.

The Autobots, however, were much more surprised to see that Zarak had created something big using the same Headmaster technology both factions had: [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}} {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====''Headmasters''====
[[Image:Tf headmaster 29 pointblank target on.jpg|200px|thumb|right|FIRE IN THE HOLE!]]

In Japanese continuities, Targetmaster partners hail from the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], but unlike the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] they are partnered with a regular Transformer as opposed to a [[Transtector]]. This fusion came about in a blast which binary-bonded a group of refugees from Master to the arms of the new Autobot recruits, as well as the Decepticon marauders, who were terrorizing the refugees in the first place. Unlike in the US continuity and toys, when the Masters transform into gun mode, they take the place of their larger partner's entire hand instead of being held by it.

[[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]], [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] have Targetmasters, even though they were not present for the explosion. The Japanese Targetmasters speak in a series of electronic beeps (like the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]) that only their bonded partner can understand, instead of speaking normally like their Headmaster brethren.
{{-}}

===Shattered Glass===
[[Image:Crosshairs_SG.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
In this reverse universe, the connection Targetmasters have to their smaller partners seems not to go beyond simple personality complements, i.e. [[Crosshairs (SG)|Crosshairs]] is lazy, so his partner [[Pinpointer (SG)|Pinpointer]] is enthusiastic. The small partners are [[Micromaster|Micromasters]] with three modes: robot, vehicle, and weapon.

[[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] devised a plan to keep the Decepticons stranded on Cybertron while the Autobots fled to Earth. To execute this plan, he, [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]], and Crosshairs took Targetmaster partners. [[Nightstick (SG)|Nightstick]] was easily able to take down Megatron, but the Decepticon Micromasters were able to thwart the entire group of Targetmasters, allowing Megatron to free himself. {{storylink|Do Over}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Crosshairs toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Crosshairs]]
* '''Autobot Targetmasters''' (1987)
** [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] with [[Haywire]]
** [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] with [[Pinpointer (G1)|Pinpointer]]
** [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]] with [[Firebolt]]
** [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] with [[Recoil]]
** [[Pointblank]] with [[Peacemaker]]
** [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] with [[Spoilsport]]

:The Autobot Targetmasters were sold boxed with their Targetmaster partners, and consisted of three all-new molds alongside slightly retooled versions of Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr from the previous year's assortment. The three older molds featured enlarged fist holes, allowing them to hold their new weapons. Both old and new molds transform into futuristic/Cybertronian ground vehicles. All six can mount their Targetmaster weapon on their roof or hood while in vehicle mode.

[[Image:G1 Misfire toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Misfire]]
* '''Decepticon Targetmasters''' (1987)
** [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] with [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]]
** [[Misfire]] with [[Aimless]]
** [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] with [[Fracas]]
** [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] with [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]]
** [[Triggerhappy]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]]

:Similar to their Autobot counterparts, the Decepticon Targetmasters feature three new jet molds alongside retooled versions of Cyclonus and Scourge with enlarged fist holes. All five transform into futuristic/Cybertronian aircraft. Their weapons can be mounted on top of them in jet form. The three newer molds were also sold in 1988.

{{anchor|doubletargetmasters}}[[Image:Double targetmasters.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Nebulan-on-Nebulan action!]]
* '''Autobot Targetmasters''' (1988)
** [[Landfill (G1)|Landfill]] with [[Flintlock]] and [[Silencer]]
** [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] with [[Boomer]] and [[Ricochet (G1)|Ricochet]]
** [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] with [[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] and [[Tracer (Nebulan)|Tracer]]

: Often referred to as the "small Targetmasters" to distinguish them from the larger 1987 releases, these toys were sold carded. Each toy includes two smaller Targetmaster partners, each of which can form a gun or combine together as a larger gun. The two guns can also mount on the robot's vehicle form. The three Autobots share a construction vehicle theme. These toys were never released in Japan.

* '''Decepticon Targetmasters''' (1988)
** [[Needlenose]] with [[Sunbeam]] and [[Zigzag]]
** [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] with [[Tiptop]] and [[Heater]]
** [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] with [[Hairsplitter]] and [[Singe]]
: The Decepticon "small Targetmasters" were sold carded with two Targetmaster partners each. Like the 1988 Autobots, these partners can form independent or combined weapons, and mount on their partner Transformers' vehicle forms or be wielded by them in robot mode. The three Transformers all turn into military vehicles. These toys were never released in Japan.

* '''Seacons''' (1988)
** [[Nautilator]]
** [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]]
** [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]]
** [[Skalor]]
** [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]]
: The Seacons are a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style combiner team, with [[Snaptrap (G1)|a large leader toy]] who forms the torso of a larger robot, with four smaller toys plugging in to form the limbs. The team was given an additional fifth small toy, however. All five small toys have a "weapon" mode—essentially their creature mode with a gun barrel attached—allowing any of them to be used by the combined robot as a Targetmaster weapon. Each small toy could also form a free-standing gun by attaching to a small stand included with the toy.

* '''Japanese-original Targetmasters''' (1987)
** Stepper ([[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]) with Nebulon ([[Nightstick (Ricochet)|Nightstick]])
** [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]] with [[Nightstick (Artfire)|Nightstick]]

: Artfire and Ricochet are redecos of the original toys for Inferno and Jazz, respectively. They each come with the Targetmaster partner molds that were used as Fracas and Nightstick in the US.

* '''Action Masters''' (1990)
** [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]] with [[Razor-Sharp]]
** [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] with [[Sights]]
** [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] with [[Gatoraider]]
** [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] with [[Push-Button]]
** [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] with [[Lionizer]]
** [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] with [[Glitch]]
** [[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]] with [[Top-Heavy]]
** [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] with [[Catgut]]

: Several [[Action Master]] figures include robotic partners who transform into weapons for the robot's use. Though not labeled as such at the time, 2003's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile books retroactively dubbed these characters Targetmasters.

===''Beast Wars''===
* '''Basics'''
** [[Break]]
** [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]]
:Several of the ''Beast Wars Neo'' toys include third-mode weapon forms, which could be wielded by other toys.

===''Beast Machines''===
* '''Deployers''' (2000)
** [[Dillo]]
** [[Mol]]
** [[Rav (BM)|Rav]]

===''Universe'' series===
* [[Chro]]<ref>Chro was called a Targetmaster in Cryotek's [http://botcon.com/archive/story/characters/cryotek.html BotCon online bio]. Chro is repurposed from Rav's blue deco.</ref>

===''Universe'' (2008)===
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] with [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]]
:A re-imagining of their original designs.

===''Gentei!'' (2009)===
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] with [[Rocketbot]]
:[[Redeco]]s of the ''Universe'' Cyclonus and Nightstick molds.

===Shattered Glass===
* [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] with [[Nightstick (SG)|Nightstick]]
* [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]] with [[Holepunch (SG)|Holepunch]]
* [[Crosshairs (SG)|Crosshairs]] with [[Pinpointer (SG)|Pinpointer]]
: All of these characters except Ricochet are [[repurposing|repurposed]] toys from previous toylines.
* [[Cyclonus (SG)|Cyclonus]] with [[Krunix (SG)|Krunix]]
:[[Redeco]]s of the ''Universe'' Cyclonus and Nightstick molds.

===''United''===
'''Targetmaster Microns'''
:The ''[[Power Core Combiners]]'' [[Mini-Con]] molds are released as Targetmaster Microns in the Japanese toyline ''[[United (toyline)|Transformers United]]'':<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/event/micron_01.html ''Transformers United'' official site]</ref>
*[[Recoil]] (2011)
*[[Fracas]] (2010)
*[[Haywire]] (2010)
*[[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]] (2011)
*[[Spoilsport]] (2011)

===''Transformers'' (2010 toyline)===
'''Masterpiece Rodimus Prime'''
:The North American release of Masterpiece Rodimus Prime comes with a "Limited Edition" Targetmaster partner named Offshoot.
*[[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] with [[Offshoot]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Targetmasters| ]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:The Headmasters subgroups]]

Targetmaster (technology)

2011-10-17T15:49:33Z

84.105.174.106:

{{picsneeded|Japanese Targetmasters in "handgun" mode}}

[[Image:Desertislandofspace-targetmaster-rollcall.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Cambot! Gypsy! Tom Servo! Croooooow!]]

The '''Targetmasters''' are a subset of Transformers [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] to smaller partners, who transform into their weapons. The partner is often an organic life form that has been bio-engineered to be partly mechanical, or wears a suit of armor that transforms around them to become the weapon.

The Targetmasters benefit from being able to take two minds into battle. A Targetmaster possesses a living weapon that is capable of making its own tactical decisions and target priorities. The advantage is similar to that of having a dedicated gunner aboard an aircraft or tank.

The Targetmaster process is often seen to follow shortly after development of the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process. The earliest known Targetmasters were among the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] involved in the war on [[Nebulos]], and were paired with a bio-engineered [[Nebulan]] humanoid. Later Targetmasters included virtually any Transformer specifically partnered with another being that becomes their weapon, not limited to Nebulans or organics. The term has been applied to the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]] team<ref>[[Hasbro]]'s 1988 toy [[catalog]]</ref> and several [[Action Master]] pairings.<ref>''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]''</ref>

Some Transformers, known as '''Double-Targetmasters''', are bonded with two smaller partners who can form individual weapons or combine with one another to form a 'double weapon', with the power of whichever weapon forms the 'barrel' boosted by the other.

{{charstubfiction}}
==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
The first Targetmasters were a group of six Autobots under the command of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. Having traveled to the planet Nebulos in search of peace, this group surrendered their weapons to the natives to prove their peaceful intentions. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

''Nebulon minds were duplicated and installed into transformable Nebulon-sized robots, creating the Targetmasters.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|This depiction of Targetmasters as robots with duplicated Nebulon minds and not actual Nebulons is unique to this story.}}

Some time later, Lord Zarak and his Decepticon Headmaster partner Scorponok had discredited the Autobots, turned public opinion against them, and driven them into retreat. A group of six Nebulan dissidents undertook a great risk to join the Autobots, allowing themselves to be bio-engineered into replacement weapons for the six unarmed Autobots. {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[Image:BrothersinArmor-Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Mouseketeer Roll Call! Cubby! Bobby! Gregor! Jimmy! Darlene! Annette!]]

The Autobot Targetmasters' first trial by combat came at [[The Nursery]], a horticultural research facility that was under threat by Zarak's Decepticons. The newly-minted Targetmasters engaged Scorponok and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] in a battle for the Nursery, but retreated as the facility was being destroyed by the battle, regardless of who was winning.

[[Vorath]] was soon able to duplicate the Autobots' experiment, creating a group of five Decepticon Targetmasters, though they weren't quite a match for the Autobot Headmasters. All of the Targetmasters left Nebulos soon after, as the Autobots retreated to spare Nebulos further warfare, and the Decepticons pursued. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

{{note|Only the eleven "large" Targetmasters are given an origin in the Headmasters mini-series, and there isn't a lot of room in the plot for others to have been made off-panel. Nevertheless, the [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Marvel bios]] for several of the "small" (1988) Targetmasters imply they became Targetmasters at this time.}}

The Autobot Targetmasters subsequently went on a mission to rescue the human [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons. They were repulsed from the Decepticons' [[Club Con|island base]] by a phalanx of hidden weapons. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}}

{{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}}

{{storylink|Dry Run!}}

{{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}

[[Image:Targetmaster-nomore.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Hot Rod is no longer a Targetmaster as he mourns Firebolt's death.]]

{{storylink|Headhunt}}

Additional Targetmasters may or may not have been created as the war went on. Quickmix and Needlenose were both seen using weapons resembling their Targetmaster partners, but their individual circumstances do not seem to easily allow for them to have been on Nebulos to acquire Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

Recoil was among the weapons surrendered by the Autobots to the Decepticons as part of preparation for an alliance against [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}}

Prowl noted the double-paired Targetmasters known as Double-Targetmasters among his list of complaints about how complicated things had gotten in his absence. {{storylink|Starting Over!}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
The Targetmaster process was developed eons ago on Cybertron, as a process to forge a warrior and his weapon into a cohesive fighting team. The two are linked on a mental and physical level, allowing them to draw energy from each other and multitask with extreme efficiency. Targetmaster weapons cannot be wielded by another being without their consent unless they are somehow incapacitated in their weapon configuration. Severe injury or death of one partner can have a profound physical and emotional impact on the other.

The Targetmaster process was further expanded upon on the planet Nebulon. This would allow organic humanoids, not just mechanoids, to function as weapons when adorned with removable armor. The strength and endurance of these modified beings were greatly enhanced, though their appearance does not change. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye issue 8}}

===American cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Targetmasters.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Here's me, and here's my gun!]]

The creation of Targetmasters and [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], in this continuity, started with an initial idea of Brainstorm's that Autobots should use [[human]] partners while driving to help with steering and speed, this idea was confirmed when a race between [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] was won not by Blurr's speed, but by Daniel's help in driving Hot Rod. [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], however, was very sceptical about this idea.

After a large scale Decepticon attack, several Autobots, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] crash landed on [[Nebulos]]; where the Autobots were taken captive by the inhabitants. After a Decepticon attack in which Daniel Witwicky was injured and put on life support, several Autobots were kidnapped by Decepticons.

The Nebulan warriors explained their situation with the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]] to the Autobots, and why they didn't trust them at first, and came to an agreement. Using Brainstorm's idea, they would use their and Daniel's minds with the Autobot's bodies to be powerful enough to defeat the Hive and save the others. Thus were born the Headmasters. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Once the Headmasters got to know their partners, they set off to rescue the five captured captured Autobots. After some torture, Hot Rod, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] and [[Pointblank]] were all saved by the Headmasters.

After witnessing the power of secondary operators, the Decepticons and other Autobots saw the logic in having some of their own.

The defeated Decepticons were captured by the hive and taken to their underground base of operations. [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], the leader of the hive gave the Decepticons an opertunity to become powerful like the Autobot Headmasters at the literal cost of their heads. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] agreed to let the Nebulans make Headmasters only out of the Decepticons there with beast modes, they however would only let the organic beings into their weapons. So [[Skullcruncher]], [[Apeface]], [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], [[Weirdwolf]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] were turned into Headmasters, [[Triggerhappy]], [[Misfire]], [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]], Scourge and Cyclonus had their weapons modified so that hive members could fit into and transform into them.

[[Image:Cyclonus tm.jpg|right|thumb|200px|*ptew ptew*]]

[[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]], meanwhile had found a city and told the news to the other Autobots, damaging himself in the process. The Nebulans fixed him and believed the city he talked about to be the hive's old base from before they moved underground. The Decepticons, now with their Nebulan partners, attacked the Autobots again. Brainstorm was mad that the Decepticons stole his idea, the Head and Targetmasters and the Decepticons overwelmed the Autobots and stole the key to the plasma energy chamber from them before the hive convinced the Decepticons to go back to Zarak to await orders.

[[Image:Rebirth2 Blurr with gun.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"Haywire you're grey and black, now stop looking like my old gun."
"Aww, but this model is so much nicer."]]

Brainstorm, to even the odds, showed his fellow Autobots scans of [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]], showing how the Decepticons modified their guns and used the Nebulan tech to modify the non-Headmaster Autobot's guns and have Nebulan partners inside them. Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Crosshairs, Pointblank and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]'s guns were modified and became the Autobot targetmasters.

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] then showed up on Nebulos and was introduced to the Autobot's Headmaster and Targetmaster partners. He was also informed that the Decepticons also had access to the same technology and the key to the plasma energy chanber. The Autobots went to the Decepticons to fight but they and their Nebulan partners had nearly completed their project. The Decepticons engaged the Autobots in combat but were surprised to see that the Autobots now Tergetmaster partners too.

The Autobots, however, were much more surprised to see that Zarak had created something big using the same Headmaster technology both factions had: [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}} {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====''Headmasters''====
[[Image:Tf headmaster 29 pointblank target on.jpg|200px|thumb|right|FIRE IN THE HOLE!]]

In Japanese continuities, Targetmaster partners hail from the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], but unlike the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] they are partnered with a regular Transformer as opposed to a [[Transtector]]. This fusion came about in a blast which binary-bonded a group of refugees from Master to the arms of the new Autobot recruits, as well as the Decepticon marauders, who were terrorizing the refugees in the first place. Unlike in the US continuity and toys, when the Masters transform into gun mode, they take the place of their larger partner's entire hand instead of being held by it.

[[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]], [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] have Targetmasters, even though they were not present for the explosion. The Japanese Targetmasters speak in a series of electronic beeps (like the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]) that only their bonded partner can understand, instead of speaking normally like their Headmaster brethren.
{{-}}

===Shattered Glass===
[[Image:Crosshairs_SG.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
In this reverse universe, the connection Targetmasters have to their smaller partners seems not to go beyond simple personality complements, i.e. [[Crosshairs (SG)|Crosshairs]] is lazy, so his partner [[Pinpointer (SG)|Pinpointer]] is enthusiastic. The small partners are [[Micromaster|Micromasters]] with three modes: robot, vehicle, and weapon.

[[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] devised a plan to keep the Decepticons stranded on Cybertron while the Autobots fled to Earth. To execute this plan, he, [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]], and Crosshairs took Targetmaster partners. [[Nightstick (SG)|Nightstick]] was easily able to take down Megatron, but the Decepticon Micromasters were able to thwart the entire group of Targetmasters, allowing Megatron to free himself. {{storylink|Do Over}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Crosshairs toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Crosshairs]]
* '''Autobot Targetmasters''' (1987)
** [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] with [[Haywire]]
** [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] with [[Pinpointer (G1)|Pinpointer]]
** [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]] with [[Firebolt]]
** [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] with [[Recoil]]
** [[Pointblank]] with [[Peacemaker]]
** [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] with [[Spoilsport]]

:The Autobot Targetmasters were sold boxed with their Targetmaster partners, and consisted of three all-new molds alongside slightly retooled versions of Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr from the previous year's assortment. The three older molds featured enlarged fist holes, allowing them to hold their new weapons. Both old and new molds transform into futuristic/Cybertronian ground vehicles. All six can mount their Targetmaster weapon on their roof or hood while in vehicle mode.

[[Image:G1 Misfire toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Misfire]]
* '''Decepticon Targetmasters''' (1987)
** [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] with [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]]
** [[Misfire]] with [[Aimless]]
** [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] with [[Fracas]]
** [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] with [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]]
** [[Triggerhappy]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]]

:Similar to their Autobot counterparts, the Decepticon Targetmasters feature three new jet molds alongside retooled versions of Cyclonus and Scourge with enlarged fist holes. All five transform into futuristic/Cybertronian aircraft. Their weapons can be mounted on top of them in jet form. The three newer molds were also sold in 1988.

{{anchor|doubletargetmasters}}[[Image:Double targetmasters.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Nebulan-on-Nebulan action!]]
* '''Autobot Targetmasters''' (1988)
** [[Landfill (G1)|Landfill]] with [[Flintlock]] and [[Silencer]]
** [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] with [[Boomer]] and [[Ricochet (G1)|Ricochet]]
** [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] with [[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] and [[Tracer (Nebulan)|Tracer]]

: Often referred to as the "small Targetmasters" to distinguish them from the larger 1987 releases, these toys were sold carded. Each toy includes two smaller Targetmaster partners, each of which can form a gun or combine together as a larger gun. The two guns can also mount on the robot's vehicle form. The three Autobots share a construction vehicle theme. These toys were never released in Japan.

* '''Decepticon Targetmasters''' (1988)
** [[Needlenose]] with [[Sunbeam]] and [[Zigzag]]
** [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] with [[Tiptop]] and [[Heater]]
** [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] with [[Hairsplitter]] and [[Singe]]
: The Decepticon "small Targetmasters" were sold carded with two Targetmaster partners each. Like the 1988 Autobots, these partners can form independent or combined weapons, and mount on their partner Transformers' vehicle forms or be wielded by them in robot mode. The three Transformers all turn into military vehicles. These toys were never released in Japan.

* '''Seacons''' (1988)
** [[Nautilator]]
** [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]]
** [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]]
** [[Skalor]]
** [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]]
: The Seacons are a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style combiner team, with [[Snaptrap (G1)|a large leader toy]] who forms the torso of a larger robot, with four smaller toys plugging in to form the limbs. The team was given an additional fifth small toy, however. All five small toys have a "weapon" mode—essentially their creature mode with a gun barrel attached—allowing any of them to be used by the combined robot as a Targetmaster weapon. Each small toy could also form a free-standing gun by attaching to a small stand included with the toy.

* '''Japanese-original Targetmasters''' (1987)
** Stepper ([[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]) with Nebulon ([[Nightstick (Ricochet)|Nightstick]])
** [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]] with [[Nightstick (Artfire)|Nightstick]]

: Artfire and Ricochet are redecos of the original toys for Inferno and Jazz, respectively. They each come with the Targetmaster partner molds that were used as Fracas and Nightstick in the US.

* '''Action Masters''' (1990)
** [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]] with [[Razor-Sharp]]
** [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] with [[Sights]]
** [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] with [[Gatoraider]]
** [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] with [[Push-Button]]
** [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] with [[Lionizer]]
** [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] with [[Glitch]]
** [[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]] with [[Top-Heavy]]
** [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] with [[Catgut]]

: Several [[Action Master]] figures include robotic partners who transform into weapons for the robot's use. Though not labeled as such at the time, 2003's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile books retroactively dubbed these characters Targetmasters.

===''Beast Wars''===
* '''Basics'''
** [[Break]]
** [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]]
:Several of the ''Beast Wars Neo'' toys include third-mode weapon forms, which could be wielded by other toys.

===''Beast Machines''===
* '''Deployers''' (2000)
** [[Dillo]]
** [[Mol]]
** [[Rav (BM)|Rav]]

===''Universe'' series===
* [[Chro]]<ref>Chro was called a Targetmaster in Cryotek's [http://botcon.com/archive/story/characters/cryotek.html BotCon online bio]. Chro is repurposed from Rav's blue deco.</ref>

===''Universe'' (2008)===
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] with [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]]
:A re-imagining of their original designs.

===''Gentei!'' (2009)===
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] with [[Rocketbot]]
:[[Redeco]]s of the ''Universe'' Cyclonus and Nightstick molds.

===Shattered Glass===
* [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] with [[Nightstick (SG)|Nightstick]]
* [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]] with [[Holepunch (SG)|Holepunch]]
* [[Crosshairs (SG)|Crosshairs]] with [[Pinpointer (SG)|Pinpointer]]
: All of these characters except Ricochet are [[repurposing|repurposed]] toys from previous toylines.
* [[Cyclonus (SG)|Cyclonus]] with [[Krunix (SG)|Krunix]]
:[[Redeco]]s of the ''Universe'' Cyclonus and Nightstick molds.

===''United''===
'''Targetmaster Microns'''
:The ''[[Power Core Combiners]]'' [[Mini-Con]] molds are released as Targetmaster Microns in the Japanese toyline ''[[United (toyline)|Transformers United]]'':<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/event/micron_01.html ''Transformers United'' official site]</ref>
*[[Recoil]] (2011)
*[[Fracas]] (2010)
*[[Haywire]] (2010)
*[[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]] (2011)
*[[Spoilsport]] (2011)

===''Transformers'' (2010 toyline)===
'''Masterpiece Rodimus Prime'''
:The North American release of Masterpiece Rodimus Prime comes with a "Limited Edition" Targetmaster partner named Offshoot.
*[[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] with [[Offshoot]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Targetmasters| ]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:The Headmasters subgroups]]