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Heavy Metal War

2011-06-11T17:27:28Z

84.224.6.47: /* Rhino DVD release */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=16
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=10
|prev2=Countdown to Extinction (episode)
|next2=Autobot Spike
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=5
|prev3=S.O.S. Dinobots
|next3=The Autobot Run
|image=HeavyMetalWar Primedefeated.jpg
|caption=The agony of defeat.
|title="Heavy Metal War"
|production code=#700-13
|airdate=[[December 15]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron challenges Optimus Prime to a one on one battle to end the war.'''

:''Japanese title:'' セイバートロン星の掟 (''Cybertron-sei no Okite'', "The Laws of Planet Cybertron")
:''German ''Generation 2'' title:'' "'''Der Zweikampf'''" ("The Duel")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Guerra dos Metaleiros''' ("War of Metalheads")
:''Serbian title:'' '''Сукоб металних ратника''' (''Sukob metalnih ratnika'', "Battle of the metal warriors")
:''Italian title:'' '''Il duello''' ("The duel")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Megatron invitation.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Silly Megs, tricks are for kids!]]
A busy construction site is attacked by driver-less construction equipment, and several components are stolen. The construction vehicles return to Decepticon headquarters and are revealed to be the newly built [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. The components they stole are parts to a machine that will allow [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to absorb the [[power chip rectifier]]s from his [[Decepticon]] warriors.

While the final preparations are completed on the machine, Megatron flies to [[Autobot]] headquarters and makes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] an offer he cannot refuse. Megatron offers the Autobot leader a one on one battle with the winner staying on [[Earth]] to do as he pleases, and the loser taking his army and exiling themselves to deep space. Confident in his own abilities, Prime accepts the challenge and sets the match.

[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Megatron powerup.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Fear me, for I have the power of... poo gas!!]]

Knowing that Prime would be unable to resist a chance to honorably end their conflict, Megatron returns to the Decepticon base and uses the newly completed machine to gain all of the special powers of his warriors. [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'s teleportation, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]'s sonic boom, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s seismic attack, etc. Knowing that Megatron would now be unbeatable, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] voices concerns that the Autobot computer [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] would be able to detect what Megatron had done. Anticipating this problem, Megatron dispatches the Constructicons to take care of the computer.

The two armies arrive at the battle site, and the contest begins. Megatron unleashes a barrage of powers (while Starscream gives a running commentary), and Prime is outclassed at every step. Not knowing that he has been deceived, Prime concedes the fight and comments that he underestimated Megatron. The shocked Autobots begin the trek back to base, and the Decepticons follow to make sure they leave.

[[Image:Heavy Metal War Devastator.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Not Brawl.]]

Meanwhile, the Constructicons have nearly tunneled their way into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and Teletraan I. Sensing the imminent danger, Teletraan I activates the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. The Dinobots respond and start pounding on the Constructicons, opening up a lava channel in the process. The battle not going in their favor, the Constructicons pull out one last trick and combine into the super warrior, [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The returning Autobots see the battle, but are unable to help. Inside the Ark, Teletraan I is able to show that Megatron cheated, and the Autobots rush outside to help the Dinobots.

[[Image:Heavy Metal War Decepticons beat.JPG|right|200px|thumb|You'd think Starscream would be used to this, but no...]]

Distracted by one of [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s [[Halo|holograms]], Devastator is shot by Optimus Prime and falls apart. The Constructicons try to drive away, but the Dinobots blast them into the lava. The other Decepticons are routed by the Autobots and also pushed or knocked back by gunfire into the lava. There is much rejoicing.

...Until Megatron rises from the lava, vowing that the Decepticons will rise again.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (13)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (15)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (19)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (20)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (23)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (24)
*[[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (25)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (26)
*[[Bluestreak]] (27)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (28)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (29)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (30)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (31)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (32)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (35)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (36)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (37)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (38)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (39)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (40)
*[[Halo]] hologram (42)
|c2=
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (1)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (2)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (3)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (4)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (5)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (6)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (7)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (10)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (21)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (22)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (34)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (41)

|c3=
*Construction Workers (1)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (16)
*[[Chip Chase]] (17)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"Forgive me, but I believe your boast sounds vaguely familiar."
:—'''Starscream''', after hearing another of Megatron's promises to destroy the Autobots.

"Let's see how he likes my new [[Shock blast cannon|shockblast cannon]]! ''[The cannon explodes in his hands]'' Uhh... hnh... that's a shock, all right."
:—'''Wheeljack'''

"But I need my power chip rectifier. Besides, the Cybertron Code of Combat requires each warrior to fight as he is, without additional reinforcement. You wouldn't want to cheat, would you, Megatron?" 
"I will win by any means! At any cost! Even if it means terminating ''you'', Starscream!" 
"I was only raising a legal point..."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"Doesn't this remind you of the gladiatorial combats in ancient Rome?" 
"Maybe it would if I knew what you were talkin' about." 
"It's Earth history, Ironhide! Skip it!"
:—'''Chip''' and '''Ironhide''' on the duel between Optimus and Megatron.

"No destroy Teletraan I. Dinobots destroy you!"
:—'''Grimlock''' after hearing the Constructicons' plans to destroy Teletraan I.

'''Sludge''': Sludge not see these Decepticons before. 
'''Snarl''': Not see again either. Because we dino-mite them to pieces! 
'''Slag''': Dinobots, no fool around! 
'''Grimlock''': Right! Dinobots transform!
:—'''Sludge, Snarl, Slag, and Grimlock''' carrying on a conversation while fighting the Constructicons.

"It's bad news, Scrapper. They've brought out the heavy artillery." 
"Then it's time we did the same! Only heavier!"
:—'''Hook''' and '''Scrapper''' as the Constructicons prepare to merge into Devastator for the first time

"Prepare to meet your doom. Nothing can withstand the might of... Devastator!"
:—'''Devastator''' speaking to the Dinobots.

"Nothing defeats the Devastator! Nothing!" 
"Nothing, little one? Ha ha ha! What would you say about ''me''? HAHAHAHAHA!"
:—'''Devastator''' and a '''"Giant Autobot"'''

"It is ended." 
"Is it really over, Optimus? I mean, have we seen the end of this war? Forever?" 
"Who can say, Spike? In this vast universe, is anything truly forever?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Spike''', with a question that is quickly answered, at least for the audience

"Uhhh... we shall rise... AGAIN."
:—'''Megatron''' floating in lava

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
====Minor coloring errors====
* As Long Haul deploys his missiles, his Decepticon symbol is red, and missing its "cheeks".
* The top of Hook's head is green as Scrapper bows to Megatron... and again in the very next shot.
* Scavenger's face is colored all-green as he welds. If it was a stylistic decision to show the light from his welding, then it should flicker along with the welding lights.
* As Scrapper directs the others working on the infuser, his head is green instead of black, and Mixmaster's drum and torso are purple instead of green.
* The top of Wheeljack's chest is colored glass-blue instead of white after the shock cannon blows up.
* During the pan across the Decepticons before the strength transfer, Soundwave is missing the line in the middle of his mask, and his yellow stripes are mostly colored blue.
* Megatron's waist is red instead of silver after the transfer.
* When Megatron talks to Starscream after that, Starscream's air vent "boobs" are colored white instead of black.
* The front of Scrapper's head is red instead of black as Megatron orders him to move out.
* As Scrapper transforms, his whole helmet is green.
* As Optimus explains the code to Spike, Ironhide's forehead isn't fully drawn in.
* "Defeat, Megatron?" Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of black during this line.
* At the end of the across the Decepticons seating themselves, Soundwave's optic visor is blue instead of red.
* Laserbeak's head is light gray as he ejects from Soundwave.
* Megatron's faction emblem is missing before he teleports.
* And it's missing again as he says the Autobots must exile themselves.
* Starscream's right arm is colored dark gray for a moment, while he talks to Skywarp about the rectifiers.
* Wheeljack's missing one of the lines on his "ears" as he and the others listen to Optimus say he was not prepared.
* Prime's tires are light gray as he transforms to truck mode, and his headlights aren't colored in.
[[Image:Heavymetalwar constructicons target teletraan.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Oh, and Scavenger's chest shouldn't be purple, either.]]
* Scrapper's helmet is green in two shots as he and the others run into Autobot Headquarters.
* Scavenger's back is purple as he and the others back away from the Dinobots.
* Snarl's helmet is the same medium gray as his body as he joins Sludge.
* As Devastator walks toward the Dinobots, Swoop's head is white, while Sludge and Slag are block-colored gray.
* Devastator's hand is green instead of purple as he throws Grimlock.
* The top of Starscream's chest is red instead of gray as Megatron rants about the hologram.

====Art and character model errors====
* When Megatron comes to <s> lure Optimus into a trap </s> talk and Wheeljack and Ironhide fire their missiles, they exchange lines.
* It seems the artists might have had only script directions to go by when drawing the Constructicons' vehicular attack modes, and not actual character models. Both Long Haul and Mixmaster deploy weapons that are of similar description to their toys' attack forms (cab-mounted cannon, twin missile launchers), but look nothing like them.
* "Besides, the Cybertron code of combat requires..." Starscream's hand phases behind the transfer machine's light during his monologue.
* There's a discontinuity between shots as Megatron is infused; in one shot he's moving and reacting in visible pain to the power transfer; in the next, he's just standing there like a statue.
* After Megatron talks of the Constructicons destroying Teletraan I, he's suddenly no longer attached to the machine.
* When Megatron laughs maniacally after being infused with the power of the other Decepticons, his head is disproportionately small, and his Decepticon insignia moves independently of his body.
* When Starscream lands behind Megatron before the latter's duel with Optimus Prime, the animators forgot to animate the dust Starscream's feet stir up, so we can see that his legs are not fully drawn, and instead of feet, they end in paint blotches.
* Chip is drawn speaking Spike's line "It's Earth history, Ironhide!"
* During the duel, what are the Autobots supposed to be sitting on? Air?
* After the boulder Prime threw at Meagtron splits in two, it completely disappears before the shot ends.
* Huffer is drawn with six wheels instead of four as he takes Prime's trailer.
* How long's it take for the animators to forget that Prime isn't towing his own trailer? All of one shot! Huffer is nowhere to be seen as the 'bots leave the battlefield.
* Mixmaster's cab-weapon changes color and form between scenes (it's a gray sphere when the Constructicons start tunneling; it's a green gun when they reach Autobot Headquarters.)
* Mixmaster's acid-laser changes from pink to orange between shots. The weapon that fires it has gone back to gray in the second shot.
* The animation doesn't really show a hole ''melting'' in the floor; a section of the floor just vanishes and is replaced with a melted hole.
* Grimlock has his original head design in this episode, rather than the later, toy-based one he normally is drawn with.
* The Dinobots' voices are ''heavily'' processed in his episode, far beyond the norm, giving them a crunchy, gravely sound.
* The inside of Sludge's robot-mode mouth is glowing orange ''again''. Clearly this is part of his character model, but why and how did such a bizarre choice come about in the first place?
* As Scrapper clutches his wounded shoulder, he has two small eyes instead of a visor. (It makes him look a lot like [[Rewind]].)
* Much like [[A Plague of Insecticons|Kickback's insect head]], the cartoon could never quite make up its mind whether Devastator was supposed to have two small eyes or one big visor. This episode shows him with eyes as he monologues, then the visor shows up just a shot or two later.
* When the Autobots cheer inside their headquarters, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s insignia is missing, Wheeljack's ears aren't flashing, and Jazz's mouth is blinking on and off.
* As the hologram fades out, Hound isn't shown in the nearby cave from which he's supposed to be projecting it.
* When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] finds out the "Giant [[Autobot]]" is a hologram, his cannon [[kibble]] is gone for a brief second.
* In the final closeup of Megatron's face, several of the lava streams are flowing ''behind'' his eyes and back out. OUCH!

===Rhino DVD release===
More than most episodes, the [[Kid Rhino]] DVD version of this episode is full of animation errors that do not appear in the original broadcast version or prior home video releases (as a result of incomplete film masters being used for the DVD), as well as crude attempts made by Rhino to fix some of these errors.

Some are merely aesthetic complaints:
* In one shot, the camera pans sideways to follow the Constructicons, however they aren't moving, so they actually lag behind the screen. Then, as they round a corner, they are animated above the animation cel of the building they drive around, and you can see they are not fully drawn. Their vehicle modes end in unfinished lines and paint blotches until they come fully into view.
* As the Constructions make their big introductory transformations, the camera doesn't pan up with Bonecrusher, Long Haul, and Mixmaster, leaving them cut out of the shot from the thighs upward. Bonecrusher is also visibly floating above the ground.
* After Long Haul transforms, the equipment he's supposedly carrying simply pops into view. As the outlines tell us, it has been retroactively shopped into the image.
* The Rhino DVD portrays the power-chip smelter as a featureless rectangular smear, lacking all the light effects and animation that should be present.
* When Megatron says "Scrapper, you have your orders...", the Constructicons' eyes / eye visors no longer glow red in response.
* As he drives up to start digging, [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] is constantly jumping a bit back and forth while driving, as if the animation frames are not ordered properly.
* When the Autobots transform to leave base for the battlefield, Optimus Prime's left headlight blinks in and out a couple of times.
* Then, as they all drive out of the Ark, the screen freezes for a moment. The Autobots seem to have teleported after the animation finally continues.
* The sky behind Ironhide, when he is informing us of his ignorance of Earth's history, jumps noticeably at the beginning of the shot, and the shadowy outlines around him vibrate wildly.
* The audience isn't actually sitting on the edge of the pit, rather they are all somehow seated on the slopes.
* At two points during the duel with Optimus Prime (one of them recycled as him landing at Autobot Headquarters), Megatron is colored dark gray.
* When the miscolored Megatron blasts Prime away, the background isn't moving to simulate the camera pan, whereas Prime's animation is.
* The humans in one shot are drawn horribly off-model, with terrible looking teeth, may we add. Spike shows his pre-final print uppers again in a later shot.
* When Skywarp boasts that Megatron acquired the power of teleportation from him, he is colored like Starscream, who is seen sitting right next to him.
* During the Dinobots' fight scene with the Constructicons, some of the laser-firing animation is missing, leaving the characters with huge "holes" and gaps on their bodies where said laser shots should have been animated. This also renders the shot of Sludge firing his eye-beams completely pointless.
* And as Swoop fires his missiles, the background art isn't moving, making it look like he is floating.
* Also in one shot, the rock covering the Constructicons is missing from the foreground, and again, we see incomplete drawings instead of fully-drawn robots.
** However a later shot has a cave mouth drawn over the screen's outer rim, which shouldn't be there, as the scene takes place outside.

However, some of the screwups actually confuse the plot:
* When Rhino DVD Optimus Prime hurls a boulder at Megatron, Megatron still lights up to use Skywarp's teleportation ability to get out of the way... but after the teleporation glow effect fades, Megatron is ''still standing there''. The boulder ''flies straight through him'' with nobody seeming to care, including Megatron himself.
* When Megatron is talking to Starscream while the Constructicons are building the infuser machine, Starscream is colored like Skywarp.
** Speaking about the Constructicons being hard at work, this sequence is completely missing. We are instead treated to a shot of Megatron and Starscream standing silently for seconds.
* When [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] runs up and uses his [[glass gas]], he is coloured like [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]].
[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Mixmaster spray.JPG|thumb|right|200px|That sure isn't a cave you're in there, Mixmaster.]]
* The animation sequence of Megatron landing at the Autobot base ''is missing entirely'', and is replaced by looped animation from later in the episode of Megatron landing after a jump, along with a recycled snippet of Cliffjumper looking elated after encasing Megatron in ice from just a few seconds earlier.
* When Megatron lands, there are two Optimus Primes and Ironhides there to greet him.
* As the Autobots help Prime make his decision, the camera pans are missing, and the scene is instead shown as multiple, separate shots. Secondly, Wheeljack's light effects are mis-aligned. Finally, the added lens-effects in Prime's optics makes him look like he's about to cry.
* When the Constructicons move out to dig the passage to the Autobot headquarters, they're all shown outdoors instead of inside the base.
* A tranformation sequence for Trailbreaker, recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", still retains its exterior background even though it's supposed to happen inside Autobot Headquarters.
* When the Autobots arrive at the pit in vehicle mode, Ironhide is seen transforming from robot mode to vehicle mode. Then, he is back in his robot form.
* Instead of using the finished shot, we see recycled animation of a standing Prime being hit when Megatron delivers his final blow. He should be lying on the ground.
* The animation of the lava is absent in a couple of shots.

But, uhhh, hey, that silver DVD case sure is shiny and pretty!

===Shout! Factory DVD release===
* Like "[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction]]" before it, the sound effects of this episode are cranked down to near-inaudibility, compared to the music and vocal tracks.
* This episode is also one of several affected by Shout!'s inability to obtain complete master reels to restore the incomplete animation used in the Kid Rhino releases, resulting in 1-inch tape versions being used instead. Picture quality is thus all over the map. The scenes of Megatron approaching Autobot Headquarters are noticably underlit. Several scenes are in visibly softer focus compared to shots before and after, such as the pan of Autobots as Cliffjumper says "I don't trust 'im!"

===Continuity errors===
* This episode gives the first of [[Constructicon (G1)|three contradictory origins]] for the Constructicons.

* The building site that the Constructicons raid is a power plant. One of the construction workers states that it will be able to provide the whole planet with limitless energy, begging the question of why the Decepticons didn't raid such a powerful energy source for energon.

* So this head worker guy sees driverless, talking construction vehicles, that turn into giant malevolent thieving robots with the Decepticon symbol on 'em... but somehow he only figures out that they're Decepticons when Scrapper says they work for Megatron. Is Megatron's name more famous than all the defining aspects of his faction?

* Ironhide is apparently able to detect the Decepticons by himself, without relying on Teletraan I. However, in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]", the Autobots were unable to detect the approaching Decepticons with Teletraan I sabotaged.

* Optimus Prime takes out Devastator with a single shot from his laser rifle, something rather at odds with the later portrayal of combiners as nigh-invulnerable. Maybe they were upgraded?

* It's a bit strange that Starscream of all mechs should be concerned with legalities and suggest that Megatron try to fight honorably... but there ''is'' a touch of sarcasm when he says "You wouldn't want to ''cheat'', would you, Megatron?"

* The Autobots return to headquarters as the Dinobots have begun their battle with Devastator. They have time enough to repair Optimus Prime and detect the Decepticon deception, and meanwhile, the Dinobots are ''still'' fighting Devastator.
** On that note the Autobots don't even try to tell the Dinobots that they were leaving and the fight was over. Were the Autobots going to leave the Dinobots behind and strand them on Earth!?

* Speaking of which, didn't anybody notice the big flaming hole in the floor of Autobot Headquarters?

* So the Decepticons couldn't '''FLY''' out of the lava when they fell in? Doesn't anybody notice Megatron down there floating in the lava?

===Continuity notes===
* This episode introduces the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]].
[[Image:Heavymeatlwar megatron powers.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This fist of mine glows with an awesome power chip rectifier!]]
[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Scavenger.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This shovel of mine glows with an awesome sensor reading!]]
[[Image:Heavymetalwar constructicons target teletraan.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This computer of mine glows with an awesome lollipop!]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** The Constructicons show off a variety of armaments and abilities, such as Mixmaster melting a whole cement mixer into goop and later firing a stream of rock-melting liquid, Long Haul having dump truck-mode missile launchers (perhaps a nod to his toy's "attack mode"), and Scavenger's shovel-based sensors.
** Long Haul has the rather ''amazing'' ability to fill up his cargo bed with a payload, transform to robot mode, then convert back to dump truck mode... and still have the cargo be there!
** Ironhide detects Megatron's approach using a sensor that displays on his chest, not unlike abilities he displayed in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" and "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]".
** Cliffjumper's [[glass gas]], if that's what it's supposed to be, acts a lot more like Ironhide's liquid nitrogen. He shoots a huge stream of it from his retracted wrists, and it encases Megatron in ice.
** Speaking of which, being encased in ice does not affect Megatron's ability to fly.
** Ironhide doesn't even bother retracting his fists; he just shoots lasers right out of them. It's an unusual conceit for ''Transformers'', though [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|not]] [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|unheard of]].
** As explained in this episode, [[power chip rectifier]]s are what give Transformers their unique special abilities.
** The episode gives us a showcase of the Decepticons' most notable abilities, as Megatron uses Starscream's cluster bombs and null rays, Reflector's light-generating abilities, Rumble's earthquakes, Skywarp's teleportation, and Thundercracker's sonic abilities.
*** Incidentally, this is the first time said sonic abilities have been used explicitly. And it's not even by the guy they belong to.
** Optimus shows the strange ability to fire lasers out of his palm. He's blocking Megatron's shot with the other arm at the same time, almost like he's [[Optimus_Primal#Beast_Machines_cartoon|absorbing the energy and shooting it back]].
** Teletraan-1 can make up its own mind to wake up the Dinobots when a threat is detected.
** Snarl's sword can fire energy blasts from its tip.
*** This is also the first appearance of ''any'' of the Dinobots' swords in the cartoon, something that doesn't happen often. Instead of being red, as per the toy and comics, it uses the gray coloring it has in Snarl's package art.
** Hound projects one of his holograms out of both fists.
** Hey, turns out the Constructicons can turn themselves all into one big robot! Wonder if the toys can do that??
* When the Constructicons are tunneling, Scrapper refers to [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] as "[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]". In their [[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|''More Than Meets The Eye'']] bio, Dreamwave would paint this as a deliberate derogatory term other Decepticons sometimes refer to him as.
* Soundwave totally pets Ravage on the head like a kittycat. Adorable!
* This episode is also the "source" of the aborted "Lava Bath Safety" deco for the original Megatron toy.

* The ''Law of Cybertron'' will be invoked again many years later, to resolve the Generation 2 War. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|The Autobots Triumph in the Battle of Good Vs. Evil!}}

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''Millenium Falcon'' engine burst/whine as the Constructions take off from the construction site.
** Same effect as Megatron leaves Autobot Headquarters.
* Chip provides the episode's requisite dose of "Oh, it's ''educational''" by likening the leaders' combat to the gladiatorial matches of ancient Rome.
* Mixmaster gets in on the act by naming a couple of acids by formula: H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and HCl (hydrochloric acid).
* Oh, and the construction site will make energy from the earth's magnetic field. "Magnetic field" sounds like science, right??

===Trivia===
[[Image:SnarlG1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|And we don't just mean the "horrible rape-related imagery" aspect, either.]]
* The art style of this episode has a distinctively Japanese flavor to it, similar to that of "[[Roll for It]]". [[wikipedia:Masami Obari|Masami Obari]]'s believed to be involved with this episode.<ref>http://mimizun.com/log/2ch/ranime/1118994758/</ref>
* The animation pretty much gets Devastator's transformation spot-on. Enjoy it while you can; it [[The Core|won't]] [[The Autobot Run|last]].
* Storyboards for this episode indicate that at one point in the scripting process, power chip rectifiers were also tied into the ability to transform. Upon giving up their rectifiers, the Decepticons lose their ability to transform, and during the fight, Megatron transforms into a jet! <ref>[http://cartoonpaperwork.com/network/dt/003.shtml "Heavy Metal War" storyboards at CartoonPaperwork.com]</ref>
* Scenes and dialogue deleted from this episode include Wheeljack showing off the latest improvements he has made to the Dinobots outside Autobot Headquarters (during which Megatron arrives), Scavenger referring to Scrapper with the misnomer of "[[Gravedigger]]", and Megatron using Soundwave's mind-reading powers on Optimus Prime during their fight.
**An extended portion of dialogue is also cut from Megatron's address to Optimus Prime, resulting in the rather clumsy line in the finished episode, "Our war has gone on for millions of years — Decepticons fighting Autobots — in which opposing leaders — you and I, Optimus Prime — may do battle." In the episode's dialogue script, following "Decepticons fighting Autobots," Megatron finishes his first sentence by lamenting the endless nature of the war. Prime shares in his regret, but deems it necessary as long as Megatron continues his pursuit of conquest. Megatron then speaks again, raising the topic of the "age-old law of combat," then picking up the finished line from "in which opposing leaders..."
[[Image:RumbleisRed.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The "red robot" is clearly blue.]]
* During Teletraan I's montage of the sources of Megatron's acquired powers, the descriptions for the individual Decepticons are verbatim quotes from the [http://transformers.winterchill.com/bible/biblepage34.html Transformers Series Bible's "Decepticon Rollcall" page], albeit including several lost-in-translation typographical errors ("Decepticon Lider", "Decepticon Commicator", "Sky Warp"). The most notable of those is [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (misspelled as "Runble") being identified as a [[FIRRIB|"red robot"]]. Furthermore, the seemingly random numbers listed on those screens are actually Hasbro's product codes for the respective toys. Interestingly enough, [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] is given a product number, even though he was never released at mass retail. However, the renditions of the Decepticons are ''not'' the official [[character model]] poses for those characters, but rather all-new drawings.
* The head construction worker's cry as Scavenger drops him is recycled from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]" (from when Laserbeak kidnaps two security guards.)
* The episode's ending sure seems intended as a potential conclusion to the series, just in case it wasn't renewed for a second season. Turns out that ''Transformers'' was a bit of a hit, so that whole falling-into-lava thing was ignored.
*The hologram image Hound projected went anonymous for 26 years until it received an identity at [[BotCon 2010]] as the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard member]] [[Halo]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 10: "Heavy Metal War" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — A Ghost in the Machine / Heavy Metal Wars (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 6: Evolution Revolution ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/heavy_metal_war.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

2011-06-11T13:19:20Z

84.224.6.47: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=1
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=1
|next2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=1
|next3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|image=FHE-MTMTE.jpg
|caption=Admit it. As a kid, you longed to own this, and were only marginally satisfied if your parents instead merely dubbed it from the rental tape.
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"
|production code=4023
|airdate=[[September 17]], 1984
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}

'''In search of energy, the Autobots leave Cybertron and are pursued by the Decepticons.'''

{{TOCclear}}
==Synopsis==
[[Image:MTMtE Part1 Cybertron.jpg|left|150px|thumb|[[Star Wars (franchise)|A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...]]]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], many [[MYA|millions of years ago]], the [[Autobot|Autobots]] are on the verge of extinction. Eons of war with the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], their bitter enemies, have drained the planet's once plentiful resources. Autobots [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] are scraping together [[Conductor|energy conductors]], and narrowly avoid capture by a Decepticon patrol. They arrive at [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]], the Autobots' headquarters. There, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]], confers with his lieutenants [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] on the plan to leave Cybertron on a mission to search for new sources of energy. This plot is overheard by the Decepticon spies [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]].

Inside [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|their base]], [[Decepticon leader]] [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] plots to intercept the Autobots, and leaves his lieutenant [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in charge of Cybertron.

[[Image:MTMtE Part1 Arkcrash.jpg|right|150px|thumb|One does not simply walk into Mordor... one apparently rams one's ship into it.]]

The Autobots blast off aboard an [[Ark (G1)|Autobot spaceship]], followed by the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]]. An asteroid collision forces them to use up most of their energy clearing a path through the resulting storm. The Decepticons take advantage of this vulnerability and attack. Both ships spin out of control, crashing on nearby [[Earth]].

Four million years pass. It is the year 1984, and volcanic activity stirs the half-buried ''Ark'', awakening the computer systems aboard. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] sends out a [[Sky Spy]] satellite to reconnoiter this new world, and scans examples of terrestrial machinery in order to reformat the Transformers into new [[Alternate mode|alt modes]]. The Decepticon [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] is awakened first, and he revives the other Decepticons. Megatron observes that much time has passed since the crash. An impudent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] leaves a parting shot at the dormant Autobots, unwittingly knocking Optimus Prime into the repair beam and causing him to be the first Autobot to be revived.

[[Image:MTMtE Part1 Prime repair.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The light! It burns!]]

Megatron decrees that their mission is to drain Earth of its resources in order to build an ultimate weapon and conquer the universe (as you do). To start, they'll need a base of operations, so he puts Starscream in charge of converting the area for the construction of a [[Victory (G1)|new star cruiser]]. The Decepticon [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] trashes a nearby power station to serve as raw materials.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime dispatches [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to scout the area. They find the Decepticons, and Cliffjumper brashly takes a shot at Megatron. He misses, and the Decepticons unleash Laserbeak in pursuit. Hound is blasted and injured.

Autobot medic [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Hauler]] come to fetch Hound. Meanwhile, Decepticons [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] spot an Earth vehicle coming to investigate the destruction of the power station. [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] intercepts the vehicle, frightening the human workers away.

Hound is repaired, and reports what he overheard: that the Decepticons are on the hunt for energy. Prime has Jazz assemble a battle group to go after them. The Decepticons attack an off-shore oil rig, where [[Sparkplug Witwicky|William "Sparkplug" Witwicky]] and his son [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] work. They begin gathering energon cubes, but are interrupted by the Autobots.

[[Image:MTMtE Part1 OilRig battle.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Do yourself a favor, don't smoke at a Cybertronian waterpark.]]

A battle erupts on the drilling platform. Megatron blasts the rig's supports, tipping it into the ocean. It bursts into flames. Realizing the humans are in danger, Optimus Prime tries to save Spike and Sparkplug while the Decepticons retreat with their energon plunder.

'''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|To be continued...]]'''

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (10)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (16)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (17)
* [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (18)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (21)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (22)
* [[Hauler]] (23)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (28)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (29)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (30)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (31)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (32)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (33)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (34)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (3)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (4)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
* [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] (6)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (8)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (13)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (19)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (20)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (25)
|c3=
* [[Joe (MTMTE)|Joe]] and his coworker (24)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (26)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"Prime told me there'd be days like this." 
"And you didn't believe him?" 
"I do now!"
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Wheeljack''' under fire.

"When do we start the search mission?" 
"Soon as you're ready to launch."
:—'''Prowl''' is told to hurry up by '''Optimus Prime'''.

"Fear not, Megatron. Cybertron shall remain as you leave it."
:—'''Shockwave''', more accurate than he realizes.

"Leakin' lubricant!"
:—'''Ironhide'''

"What about materials?" 
"Use your imagination!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"Here's something to keep you warm."
:—'''Megatron''' as he ignites the oil spill.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
'''Minor art and coloring errors'''
* Soundwave's mouthplate doesn't move during his "Autobots are set to launch" line.
* As Megatron gives Shockwave his orders, Starscream is missing his canopy lines, and Soundwave's eject button is blue, while his backpack is white.
* The retracting segments of Iacon's dome appear to come out of solid, unbroken metal.
* Sideswipe's missing his shoulder launcher as he mans an Ark console.
* Starscream has a red "collar" around his neck as he prepares the tractor beam.
* When Soundwave tosses Ratchet into a console aboard the Ark, the Autobot Medic is sporting a Decepticon symbol in the center of his chest windshield, most likely the result of the animator carrying over Soundwave's design.
* As Starscream fires on the Autobot ship, the top segment of his canopy is red instead of gray in some frames.
* Part of Megatron's fusion cannon is white as he says "we'll set up here".
* Soundwave's eject button is blue instead of white as Megatron orders him to plan the new space cruiser.
* Megatron is missing his barrel as he speaks to his newly revived troops. In a close-up, he has a "five o'clock shadow", as the central segment of his face is a darker shade than the rest of it.
[[Image:Mtmte1 prepare the energon cubes.jpg|thumb|right|200px|]]
* After landing at the power plant, Soundwave's eject button is blue, instead of... y'know what? Let's just say the colorists screwed up this little detail ''all the freaking time'', and leave it at that.
* As Starscream talks about his plans with Soundwave and Rumble standing behind him, the tip of Soundwave's shoulder cannon is colored entirely black.
* Cliffjumper's mirror housings are white instead of red as he delivers his "moonbeam" line.
* Ratchet's Autobot symbol is gray before he jumps off the cliff.
* Prime's running light housings are white instead of red as he orders Jazz to organize a battle unit.
* In the pan across the battle unit, Sideswipe's helm is red instead of black, and the top of Trailbreaker's chest is white instead of black.
* The center segment of Megatron's fusion cannon is white as the wrenches & etc. bounce off of him.
* Soundwave's cheekguards are blue instead of white as he starts making energon cubes.
* Starscream is missing his wing insignia as Megatron returns to his robot form.

'''Not-so-minor errors'''
[[Image:Sunstorm Cartoon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Then again, Thundercracker has ''two'' wings.]]
* The Decepticon "welcoming committee" is often stated to contain a constantly-changing roster, but close examination reveals that it's ''almost'' consistent:
** The initial shot shows [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].
** The second shot shows a vaguely Thundercracker-colored Seeker (the blue is deeper than Thundercracker's color, and there's extra bits of white and gray) alongside two completely different Seekers (a purple one with a flamethrower, and an orange one).
** The third shot, as Wheeljack barrels through them, shows a total of five Seekers, too small to be identified. If that darker blue guy from the second shot was supposed to be Thundercracker, and you're willing to believe that several of the Decepticons managed to be off-camera in all the other shots, then the numbers actually add up. (Your wiki editors acknowledge that this probably ''was'' a goof.)
** The final shot of the group shows Starscream ordering Skywarp and Thundercracker to pursue the Autobots; both have lines in their normal voice, so they were clearly supposed to be there.
* Starscream's two lines during this scene are performed by two different actors in two different voices, neither resembling the high rasp he'll shortly establish as his normal voice. The second voice is clearly Frank Welker, sounding close to his Megatron voice.
* Bumblebee steps out of Wheeljack and immediately fires a shot in the completely opposite direction from their attackers. Was he testing his gun??
* Bumblebee is repeatedly shown to be a hovercar... yet somehow he's got wheels and an axle when the Seekers manage to hit him.
* Bumblebee is repeatedly shown to be ''wider'' than Wheeljack in vehicle mode, yet he has no trouble driving right into Wheeljack's cargo compartment. He ''keeps'' driving in until he's completely out of sight, even though we can see at least half of the compartment.
[[Image:ArkCartoon1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|If it's supposed to be transparent, then it probably shouldn't be blocking out the scenery behind it.]]
* The Ark's exhaust comes from ''behind'' the thruster ports.
* Bluestreak is colored like Prowl as the Autobots stumble around in the wake of the asteroid collision; Trailbreaker, meanwhile, has one white and one gray hand.
* Presumably, an impact is supposed to be knocking Jazz out of the pilot's seat; what the animation actually shows, however, is Prime saying "Jazz!", to which Jazz responds by spontaneously flying out of his seat.
* Immediately after a shot of Optimus Prime rallying his troops to prepare to repulse Decepticon boarders ("Prepare for battle!"), the same animation is re-used, but this time with Megatron's voice urging his troops to "Attack! Attack!" When the episode was re-done for the ''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' series, this scene was amended by placing a shot of Megatron sitting on this throne from earlier in the episode over the image, shouting the command. (In the same shot, Prowl's eye is missing.)
* A shot of Soundwave being kicked out of frame by Ironhide is immediately followed by Soundwave sparring with Ratchet.
* After Ratchet is thrown into the console, Optimus Prime and Megatron enter the frame, struggling with each other. Megatron is missing his fusion cannon in this shot, but it reappears when the angle changes to show them grappling as Prime asks for a status report.
* Ratchet is shown being thrown by Soundwave, but after Optimus Prime asks for a status report, Ratchet is seen fighting with Thundercracker on the other side of the room.
* As the above shot pans across the bridge to the right, we see Soundwave has teleported from one side of the bridge to the other, slumped against a console.
* In the pan shot on the Ark when the Transformers find out they're going to crash, there are TWO Soundwaves and TWO Starscreams.
* As the Ark rocks and sends the combatants tumbling, the left arm of the second Soundwave turns into an extended smear of gray paint for a couple of frames.
* The voice that reports about g-forces is Prowl's, but he's struggling with Starscream and doesn't seem to have time to read a console or make a report or anything. Although it's hard to tell due to the ship shaking, Jazz's mouth seems to be moving, and he ''does'' seem to be looking at machinery.
* Quite a few generic robots are mixed in among the identifiable inert Transformers in the crashed ship.
* The land around the volcano changes frequently between shots. Sometimes it's rocky desert; other times it's got forests and a river, sometimes both at once. This trend would continue throughout the whole series.
* Starscream has no transformation sound as he lands at the power plant.
* When Optimus Prime assigns Hound his mission, the establishing shot has Cliffjumper with Bumblebee's yellow colors.
* Hound's voice carries a soundproof-roof echo as he comments on how different Earth is.
* In the long shot of the Decepticons building their base, Soundwave appears in Sideswipe's colors.
* Hound says that he got shot in the drive train, but Laserbeak shot him topside. Did the shot go straight through him??
* Reflector's three component robots are standing shoulder-to-shoulder as they turn to look at the truck, but are standing in a line in the next shot.
* After Thundercracker informs Soundwave about the approaching vehicle, there's a [[scene transition]]. The final frame of the scene transition is faded into an image of Sparkplug and Wheeljack working on Optimus Prime from "Divide and Conquer".
* Rumble isn't a big guy, but he should at ''least'' be a few feet taller than a human. He's shown the same height as Sparkplug.
* Ironhide and Starscream are shown sparring with poles, while Prowl and Thundercracker have a shootout from cover. In the very next shot, Ironhide is taking on Skywarp and Thundercracker, while Starscream is now busy with Huffer and Gears, and Prowl is grappling with a Reflector. In the shot after that, Prowl is suddenly free from Reflector and charging toward Skywarp.
* A red robot of indeterminate character model is shown retreating with the Decepticons. It looks a bit like an upside-down Sideswipe.
* When Rumble knocks Spike into the water, his father yells "Pike!" instead of "Spike". Perhaps he was meant to be warning his son about carnivorous fish, but ''of course'' pike live in fresh water, not salt.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:MTMtE Part1 Cybertron.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Later episodes will go to some length to establish that Cybertron is outside of our galaxy. There's even some implication that it's not inside ''any'' galaxy, but that unlikely notion is put to the lie by the very first shots of this episode, which show its surface illuminated by an unseen sun, and the space around it filled with stars.
* Whether for reasons of cost (unlikely considering how much effort was expended on this episode's artwork) or to avoid confusing the kiddies, hardly any of the Transformers were designed to have Cybertronian robot modes (Laserbeak is the sole exception). Thus we get the strange phenomena of, for example, Jazz having a Porsche 911 bumper on his chest, four million years before Porsches were invented. This also leads to some strange transformations, with guys like Bumblebee and Wheeljack not having a single part from their vehicle forms visible in their robot modes.
* Soundwave is in robot mode outside of Iacon, not transforming back to lamppost mode until Jazz is practically on top of him. How could Jazz have failed to notice the big blue Decepticon right in front of him?
[[Image:Shockwave Hands.jpg|thumb|200px|''My honey my baby Don't put Shockwave upon no shelf She said don't gimme no lines And keep your hands... hand... whatever... to yourself!'']]
* During the scene in [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], Shockwave is consistently drawn with two hands. This may not be an error ''per se'', as he shows up a couple of other times with two hands, and plenty of characters can retract their hands and replace them with various gadgets and weapons, but it goes against his toy design and his established character model.
* Two asteroids in deep space just show up out of nowhere and collide? Right by the passing ship? The cosmic improbability beggars the imagination.
* Oddly enough, nobody opens fire during the scuffle when the Decepticons board the Ark... not even Megatron.
* The Transformers' interplanetary cruise is ''incredibly'' short. At no point do they engage any kind of faster-than-light drive, yet somehow they go from Cybertron to Earth in what seems to be a matter of minutes. The only possible gap that might account for this is the scene cut between the Decepticon launch and the asteroid collision.
* The animation would have us believe that the Autobot spacecraft has just been sticking out of the side of this active volcano for ages, without anybody noticing. The intended gist might have been that the eruption uncovered it, but the animation doesn't show it.
[[Image:Cliffgun.JPG|thumb|right|200px|"You see the size of that gun he fired at us? It was bigger than him!"]]
* Cliffjumper somehow stores on his person a cannon that's as big as he is.
* Okay, maybe it's not an actual error. But considering how many ordinary Transformers are shown to have enhanced visual abilities (Hot Rod, Rumble, Arcee, etc.) it seems a tad ridiculous that Thundercracker needs to use Reflector's camera mode to zoom in a little bit on the approaching truck. It's ''insanely'' ridiculous that Reflector produces Polaroid prints. He's not even that kind of camera! (More to the point, he should just be able to see what's visible through his own viewfinder.)
* While he is getting repaired by Ratchet, Hound refers to an Energon cube as "some kind of cube", implying that the Autobots don't know what Energon cubes are. The inference that energon cubes are a Decepticon invention holds true for almost the entirety of the pre-movie cartoon, during which time they are never used by the Autobots (something that is even made a plot point in "[[Traitor]]"). We say "almost" because of a contradictory flashback in "[[War Dawn]]" that shows what appear to be energon cubes being used by Autobots nine million years in the past. By the time of the movie, the Autobots are shown to have begun using the cubes, and continue to do so throughout the third season.
* How do the Autobots know where the Decepticons are planning to attack? They organize their battle unit before the Decepticons even learn about the oil platform!
* During Jazz's roll-call of the Autobots, he neglects to call out Cliffjumper's name. The little red guy transforms anyway.
* The large cast frequently gave the animators trouble in remembering which secondary characters should or should not be present, especially concerning the Autobots. Thus, we frequently must catalog appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Jazz's battle group consists of Prowl, Cliffjumper, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack, Mirage, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Ironhide. Even before they've left headquarters, the problems start, as Ironhide disappears and Ratchet takes his place. Ratchet is still with the group when they arrive.
** Bluestreak joins the group as they fly toward the oil rig.
** Huffer and Brawn are with them as they land on the platform.
** Gears is visible in a wide shot of the battle.
* In what ''universe'' is it legal for a fourteen-year-old American kid to be working on an oil rig, even ''with'' his father?
* Until the oil platform attack, the episode has consistently portrayed the Decepticon forces as Megatron, Soundwave, 3 tapes, 3 jets, and 3 Reflectors. Things start to fall apart here, as a dark blue jet is shown diving alongside Thundercracker. It gets ''much'' worse in the following episodes.
* ''The Transformers'' had a tendency to frequently exaggerate the capabilities of humans to survive being dropped, punched, swatted, hit, etc. As a main protagonist, Spike Witwicky was especially susceptible to this treatment; thus we catalog the adventures of ''Superhuman Spike!'':
** Spike punches Rumble in the back without breaking or even seeming to hurt his fist.
** Spike survives being bashed aside by Rumble's metal fist without even bruising a rib.
* When Starscream fires his [[Null-ray|null-ray]], ice appears on the machinery that the ray hits. However, a null ray only stops the flow of electricity; it doesn't cause freezing. (Megatron prompts him with the strange command to "activate the null ray", as if it's some external piece of equipment.)
* Flying Autobots:
** In this and the following two episodes, the Autobots are all shown flying just as easily as the Decepticons. Once the show went into full production, this ability mostly disappeared, with occasional exceptions due to special abilities (Wheeljack, Sideswipe, the Dinobots), and some [[Roll for It|scripting]], [[Attack of the Autobots|animation]] and [[The Master Builders|sound]] [[Fire on the Mountain|effect]] screw-ups. The change was, in part, to help distinguish the two forces (and perhaps because it doesn't make sense for the Autobots to drive places if they can just fly there instead).

===Continuity notes===
* As the first pilot episode, this episode establishes several iconic aspects of the cartoon and the entire [[Transformers brand]]. The planet Cybertron and its city Iacon both appear in many other media and continuities. The crash of the Ark and the four-million-year slumber of its inhabitants likewise recur in several other versions of the Generation 1 story.
* The orange Seeker from the "welcoming committee", visible for all of about two seconds, was [[Retcon|retroactively established]] to be the neo-G1 character [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]].
[[Image:Cybertronlaserbeak.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
* We get a look at Cybertronian vehicle forms for Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Skywarp and Thundercracker, Jazz, Soundwave and Laserbeak. Soundwave's toy can totally be configured into that lamp-post mode.
* Trailbreaker's presence alongside Jazz and Prowl on Cybertron is just about the ''only'' indication of his "defense strategist" function in the cartoon.
* Three episodes from now, we will see that Shockwave was true to his word, and Cybertron has not changed one iota in four million years.
* The Decepticon vessel is last seen spiraling out of control, unpiloted, toward Earth. It will be rediscovered in the Season 2 episode "[[Microbots]]". The unnamed ship would finally be given a title almost 15 years later, when it was referred to as the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' in the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'']] episode "[[Nemesis Part 1]]".
* The events of the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon take place during the 4 million years in which the Autobots and Decepticons lie dormant in the wreckage of the Ark... a time frame covered by about 5 seconds of footage in this episode.
[[Image:Sky Spy.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
* As the satellite-like probe (later dubbed a [[Sky Spy]]) leaves the Ark, we see a city skyline in the distance. While the cartoon's animation could never make up its mind about what was around the crashed ship (oceanside cliffs? desert? forests and rivers?), one might take this city to be [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], later established to have jurisdiction over the land where the Autobot ship rests.
[[Image:MTME1 Reflector camera.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Yep, pretty clearly an SLR.]]
[[Image:Ratchetg1cartoon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Repair bay optional.]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Wheeljack deploys a pair of tiny spinning blades from his front bumper, which lets him... drive through fire?
** Laserbeak spies with a pair of cylindrical doodads that come out of the side of his head.
** Rumble demonstrates his earth-quake-making power, which consists of banging the ground with a couple of big pile drivers that replace his arms. This will become one of the cartoon's most frequently-seen special powers, to the point that it eventually would carry over to the Marvel comics as well. (This power also seems to exclude Rumble himself from its effects, as the ground under him never cracks open.)
** Hound pops out a little wrist radar dish that lets him hear what the Decepticons are saying from some distance away.
** Soundwave can display graphics — the space cruiser, in this case — on his chest door.
** Cliffjumper somehow stores on his person a gun that's as big as he is. We don't want to know how he does this. Although it does look like it's collapsible.
** He also has a little cannon that pops out of his vehicle mode's backside. In the original script, this was his [[glass gas]] gun, but in the completed episode, it's merely a laser. His line "it's a gas!" hints at this earlier version, but is rendered out-of-place by the new visuals.
** Laserbeak can launch one of his cannons and have it chase down Autobots on its own.
** Ratchet is shown splitting into his robot form and his repair bay; however, the repair bay is never seen again.
** Reflector, being a super-advanced space robot, can take a photograph and instantly spit out a paper print of the resulting image. Instant photographs?! It must be THE FUTURE!
** Starscream "activates the <s>noal</s> null ray", which freezes the device it's aimed at.
[[Image:Hauler01-sm.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Frank Lloyd ''Wrong''.]]
* A [[Grapple]]-like crane named Hauler is seen with Cliffjumper, recovering Hound; he's never seen again, however. Fans have speculated that this was to be an earlier release of Grapple's toy, aborted for reasons unknown.
* [[Energon cube]]s make their first appearance here. They have to be compressed before they convert the fuel they have been filled with into energon, at which point they glow a sort of yellowish-white iridescent-y rainbow-y sort of color. The "compressing a stack" aspect of the cubes was quickly done away with after the pilot mini-series, but the rainbow-glow would stick around for a little while before being phased out in favor of a pink-purple coloration that became the standard representation of energon cubes down through ''Transformers'' history.

===Real-world references===
* ''The Transformers'' made heavy use of the sound effects library that sprung out of the movie ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. Fans have a tendency to make tiresome shocked exclamations that Laserbeak sounds like a TIE Fighter; it is therefore instructive to catalog these sound effects, which are used ''far'' more extensively than just a couple of TIE engine roars. About half a dozen sound effects tend to appear in nearly every episode, and at least a dozen total are known to have been used on ''The Transformers''. In this episode:
** The sound of the Death Star firing to destroy Alderaan, and Alderaan's subsequent explosion, is used as Skywarp and Thundercracker strafe Bumblebee and Wheeljack, and again as they abandon their pursuit.
** The sound of the Seeker training sphere aboard the ''Millennium Falcon'', along with Luke's lightsaber humming and igniting, is used as Soundwave begins making energon cubes.
* We also get the lesser-used ''Star Trek'' sliding door sound effect as Soundwave sends Laserbeak after Hound and Cliffjumper.

===Foreign dubbing===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Im Weltraum verschollen'''" (''Generation 2'', "Lost in Space")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fuga da Cybertron'''" ("Escape from Cybertron"), "'''Molto più di quel che appare - I'''" (2008 dub, "More than Meets the Eye - I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chikyū e no Michi'''" (地球への道, "The Road to Earth")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*When [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] releases the [[Sky Spy]], additional narration describing the scene is added.
::*'''Cut:''' Immediately after [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] says, "Megatron, my leader, we are alive again", a few seconds of the close-up of him and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] staring at each other and the fade away into the next scene is cut. Megatron's line, "Quickly, we must revive the other Decepticons", followed by him carrying and dropping [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], was also cut. The sequence resumes right after Megatron sets Reflector down next to [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]].
::*When the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] fires the ring of flame around [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] from his flame-thrower, he shouts out the name of his "special attack" ''Dragonball Z''-style. It was called the "Fire Attack", by the way.

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem Parte 1'''" (Brazil, "More than Meets the Eye part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ne vsjo tak prosto (Chast' 1)'''" (Не всё так просто (Часть 1), "Not All Is So Simple (Part 1)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi prvi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види први део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 1"), "'''Sile zla prvi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла први део, "Forces of Evil Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Trivia===
*Scenes deleted from the original script to this episode include Ratchet working to repair Bumblebee's damage after he and Wheeljack return to Iacon; Rumble destroying a railroad trestle for more construction materials in addition to the power plant; Skywarp and Thundercracker grumbling about being stuck with grunt work as the Decepticons construct their temporary headquarters; Skywarp finding a frisbee and tossing it back and forth to Starscream before Megatron blasts it to bits; and a scene of Brawn, Huffer and Windcharger trying to fight the oil rig fire, only for the rig to collapse out from under them, setting up the opening scene of the next episode in which Huffer is caught in the wreckage. Other differences include Soundwave being the first Decepticon to be restored by Teletraan I, rather than Skywarp, and Teletraan I bouncing its beams off of human satellites, rather than using a [[Sky Spy]].

* Shockwave's appearance hints that Hasbro was already planning for expansion of the toyline. His toy was not among the initial 28 characters advertised by the 1984 Transformers catalog, yet there he is, making a short appearance that obviously sets up the possibility of future appearances. His toy would be one of the very first 1985 toys to see release, and his character would return in the very first post-pilot episode.

[[Image:Cartoon Cybertron Marvel Iacon case 1.jpg|350px|right|thumb|]]
* The episode ends with a preview of "Part 2". While other multi-part Transformers episodes generally refer to the episode by its title ("Next time, on ''The Transformers'': 'The Ultimate Doom'"), this preview uses the series title, ''The Transformers'', as "More Than Meets the Eye" is a retroactive name for the three-part episode, which began as a mini-series before becoming a regular program.

* Many later episodes would mine this one for recycled footage, particularly the line up of transforming Autobots near the end. Transformation sequences (with and without new backgrounds) from this episode appear in "[[Heavy Metal War]]", "[[Blaster Blues]]", and others. Optimus Prime's transformation sequence from this episode is used in ''dozens'' of episodes.

*Imagery of Cybertron from this episode was used to depict Iacon in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel story]] "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]". Several buildings are clearly taken from the cartoon, and the most precious comparison has to be the tunnel entrance used by Wheeljack and Bumblebee to get energy conductors to the cartoon's dome-shaped Autobot headquarters, which is exactly the same as the one [[Fusion (Autobot)|Fusion]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] used to get shatter bombs to the [[Great Dome]]. The only difference is that the next piece of road for Fusion and Bluestreak is the same road Wheeljack and Bumblebee drove over befóre entering the tunnel.

[[Image:G2DoubleTargetmasters.jpg|right|350px|thumb|The new RCA Colortrak, with Commercial-in-Commercial feature!]]
* The mid-80s [[Family Home Entertainment]] VHS release of "More Than Meets the Eye" was granted the [[wikipedia:Film Advisory Board|Film Advisory Board]] Award of Excellence, proudly displayed on the video box cover above. However, this particular "award" does not reflect the ''quality'' of any work submitted, but rather that the work is "family-friendly". Cheeky, that.

* The three parter was released on video in the United Kingdom in 1986 under the title "Arrival from Cybertron".

* Footage from the [[commercial]] featuring the Autobot [[Targetmaster|Double Targetmaster]] trio was spliced into the [[Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]] version of this episode by way of the [[Cybernet Space Cube]]. Outside of this, they never actually appeared in the cartoon.

* Footage from this episode was used to represent a historical video in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", the opening movie for ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''.
{{--}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/more_than_meets_the_eye_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Smokescreen (Armada)

2011-06-11T12:58:54Z

84.224.6.47: /* Foreign names */

{{picsneeded|toys and merchandise}}
{{Factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Smokescreen}}

:''Smokescreen is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Armada (franchise)|Armada]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Smokescreen-armada-cardart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Wanna be my friend? I have to smash you with this first.]]

Few Autobots are as tough and steadfast as '''Smokescreen'''. He doesn't believe in giving up, and he's ready to lay down his life to defend the weak, be they Autobot, [[Mini-Con]] or [[human]]. Though he's ironheaded and unshakable in battle (and a little bit careless), showing no mercy to the [[Decepticon]]s, around the base is another matter entirely. He's a kind, friendly bot who always seems to have a good word or good-natured joke ready.

This iron resolve only intensified after Smokescreen fell in battle from a near-fatal encounter with [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Rebuilt entirely and now calling himself '''Hoist''', his jovial moments come less frequently now, and his occasional lapses in judgment are a thing of the past. Even tougher than before, he sometimes quips that nearly dying was the best thing that ever happened to him.

==Fiction==
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:DreamwaveArmada4_Smokescreen_Scavenger.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Smokescreen: "Heroic" Autobot.]]

A million years ago, Smokescreen and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] were guarding the entrance to the [[Loop]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] barged in, demanding to know where [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. Smokescreen informed him that Prime was in the satellite room and asked if anything was wrong. All Hot Shot would say was that wrong doesn't begin to describe the situation. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} What had happened was that a group of renegade Cybertronians calling themselves "[[Decepticon|Decepticons]]" were attacking [[Mini-Con]] villages and capturing the inhabitants for some reason. While sifting through the rubble of Village C-52, Smokescreen lost his temper at the plight of the "poor little guys" and couldn't wait to get his hands on these Decepticon aggressors. Unfortunately, he got his wish when the Decepticon leader, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked [[Cyber City]], with his captured Mini-Cons re-engineered to [[Powerlinx]] with [[bulk]]s, providing them great power. The Autobots were beaten up and forced to retreat. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

[[Image:DreamwaveArmada5_Smokescreen_crumbledmountain.jpg|thumb|200px|]]

For a million years the civil war raged on; the once-proud Autobots struggled to defend themselves against the powerful Mini-Con-augmented Decepticons, who were in possession of Cybertron's only remaining Mini-Cons, the others having escaped at the beginning of the conflict. Hope came in the form of a Mini-Con Reactivation Signal sent from a distant world called [[Earth]] and the Autobots resolved to go there and fight for Truth, Justice and Freedom. Almost immediately after arriving on Earth, Smokescreen was destroying public property and suggesting that they simply smash their way across the planet to find the Mini-Cons, a plan that Scavenger agreed to, as Cybertron was their priority. This callous attitude earned them both a sharp, furious rebuke from Optimus Prime, who refused to stoop down to the level of the Decepticons. However, he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Smokescreen apologised, as he was just longing for things to go back to the way they were before. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

Unfortunately for the Autobots, the Decepticons had already arrived and were chasing after [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]'s group of Mini-Cons and their human friends, [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. While Optimus Prime kept Megatron distracted by trash talking the Decepticon's failure to defeat the Autobots with all of their power, Smokescreen snuck up and demolished the cliff face Megatron was perched upon with his head. This only succeeded in infuriating Megatron, who eventually got the upper hand in his fight with Prime when he powerlinked with all of the Decepticon Mini-Cons. Smokescreen tried to assist, only to have Prime thrown into him for his trouble. As things looked grim, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s group of Mini-Cons arrived and powerlinked with the Autobots. [[Liftor]] linked with Smokescreen, giving him a mighty shoulder-mounted cannon. At a tactical disadvantage, the Decepticons were forced to flee. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

[[Image:DWArmadaFire&Ice_Smokescreen_Scavenger.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Smokescreen sure knows how to kill a conversation.]]

Soon after establishing their base, Optimus detected unusually high energy readings in the vicinity of Death Valley in [[California]], and sent Smokescreen and Scavenger to investigate. After some time, they reported back that the Decepticons were readying to launch some sort of rocket. Unfortunately, the Autobots were occupied with a Mini-Con rescue operation in [[Alaska]], so [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] brought them orders to do whatever was necessary to stop the Decepticons... about twenty minutes after the rocket had been launched. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}}

After arriving back from Death Valley, Smokescreen and Scavenger found an extensively damaged [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|Optimus Prime]] inside [[Autobase|Autobase: Earth]] and rushed him to the medical bay. When the others returned from Alaska sans ''their'' Optimus Prime, together worked to save this Prime's life and find out what had happened to ''their'' Optimus Prime. Sadly, despite their best efforts, this Prime awakened momentarily to deliver a cryptic warning about the walls of reality crumbling and the coming chaos before dying. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}}

[[Image:DWArmada18 TheEnd Autobots Smokescreen.jpg|thumb|150px|]]

When the Decepticons detected the Autobots searching the [[multiverse]] for Optimus Prime, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] launched an attack on Autobase: Earth, seizing the opportunity to hit the Autobots while their biggest guns was missing. During the battle, Smokescreen and Scavenger were the front-line defense sent to buy time, but were run off the narrow road they were on by [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Smokescreen tried to recover, but got blasted in the chest by Megatron's cannon at point-blank range. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}}

Though the blast didn't kill him, it left him in critical condition. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}} He was taken to the Autobase on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] for extensive repairs, though there was a fear he might never recover. During the final battle against [[Unicron]], Hot Shot, Scavenger and Red Alert blasted Megatron into the Chaos Bringer to avenge Smokescreen. {{storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' comic====
Ten years later, Smokescreen returned to action with a new body and a new name, "Hoist". When thousands of [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] clones attacked four Earth cities, Hoist was dispatched to handle the [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] clones invading [[Toronto]] as part of Hot Shot's unit. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor'': [[Dale Wilson]] (English), [[Katsuhisa Hōki]] (Japanese), [[Gerhard Acktun]] (German), [[Håkan Skoog]] (Swedish)

When the signal released by the reactivation of the Mini-Con panels on Earth reached Cybertron, Optimus Prime quickly assembled a small team of Autobots to travel to the planet an investigate. As they were departing through the space bridge, Smokescreen came running through the crowd, intent on joining them. He leapt through the space bridge portal at the last second, just as it was closing, and as a consequence, was separated from his comrades and deposited on a different part of the planet.

Smokescreen was first encountered by the kids in a semi-abandoned subway complex, while they were helping the Autobots search for the Mini-Con [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]]. For some reason, Smokescreen did not make verbal contact with the humans, and instead decided to chase after them menacingly in vehicle mode, almost killing them with his crane hook. Only after the mission failed, with [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] securing Drill Bit, did Smokescreen reveal himself, apologizing for scaring the children. {{storylink|Underground}}

[[Image:Overmatch Smokescreen Liftor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Say hello to my little friend?]]
Smokescreen went on to serve as a reliable and capable member of the Autobot team. In particular, his skills as a sniper through the use of his Powerlinx crane cannon were much valued for their ability to hit Decepticon aerial threats accurately ''most'' of the time. However, when the [[Race Mini-Con Team]] were recovered and formed the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]], Smokescreen was regularly assigned as being its wielder, changing his role in the unit from sniper to defender. Often, he would launch the Skyboom from his crane arm to his Autobot allies facing [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] directly. {{storylink|Tactician}}

When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s old friend and informant [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] joined the Autobots, Smokescreen was the most vocal in voicing his distrust of Scavenger, whom he labeled a no-good traitor, and his overall dissatisfaction over Optimus's trust in the turncoat. He tried to convince fellow Autobots [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] about Scavenger's alleged duplicity and lack of resolve during a battle. However, Scavenger's absence for the majority of the battle was due to a plan that only he, Optimus and Red Alert were privy to, and when Scavenger's involvement proved vital to the subsequent victory, all doubts Smokescreen had as to his teammate's loyalty were erased, forcing him to make an apology. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}}

When the awesome power of the [[Requiem Blaster]] was demonstrated, the Decepticons launched an all-out attack on the Autobot Base in a bid to seize the [[Space Mini-Con Team]], who formed the weapon. Smokescreen was left alone in the base to guard the Mini-Cons while the rest of the Autobots counter-attacked their enemies. Unfortunately, Megatron created a diversion and broke into the base and wounded Smokescreen just as the Autobots realised they had been outmaneuvered and rushed back inside. As Megatron gloated and prepared to fire his new Mini-Con superweapon at the Autobots, Smokescreen used his towline to pull the Requiem Blaster's barrel away from his friends, toward himself, only for Megatron to fire it at point-blank range.

The terrible beam cut straight through Smokescreen, burying him into a wall, to the shock of everybody, including Megatron. Megatron then turned to Optimus Prime, intending to finish what he started, but Smokescreen staggered out of the hole and collapsed to his knees, his outer shell melting off its frame. As the dying Autobot reached out to the Decepticon leader, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] suggested that they retreat, and Megatron agreed. Smokescreen collapsed into a heap as Megatron warped away.

Optimus Prime cradled his soldier, who reported his failure to protect the Mini-Cons and went into [[Stasis lock|stasis lock]]. Optimus Prime led the distressed Autobots into a military salute for their fallen comrade, before letting out a cry of anguish. {{storylink|Sacrifice}}

Red Alert rebuilt Smokescreen in a new body despite ninety percent of him being damaged and he returned just in time to stop Hot Shot and the recently defected [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from killing each other. He basically chucked boulders at them. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

He eventually decided to go by his toy's name. {{storylink|Miracle}}

{{charstubfiction}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
In the distant past, Smokescreen defended the main Autobot base on Cybertron from a Decepticon attack, and retreated when it turned out the base was lined with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}}

Station on Cybertron while Optimus Prime went to [[Earth]], Smokescreen and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] were sent to the alien planet's [[Moon (moon)|moon]] by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] to stop the Decepticons from searching for Mini-Cons there. Upon arrival, they didn't have time to do much other than complain about [[space bridge]]s before they came under attack by Mini-Con-augmented Decepticons. The outgunned Autobots fled, but Smokescreen was shot and injured by [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], who decided to end things by running him over. Luckily, the helpful Mini-Con [[Liftor]] showed up and power-linked with Smokescreen, allowing him simply to punch the Decepticon tank aside. With Scavenger also obtaining a Mini-Con of his own, the Decepticons gave up on the search and retreated. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

Later, the Decepticons returned to the Moon, where they constructed a base and planned to fire missiles at the Autobot base on Earth. Smokescreen and Scavenger were again summoned to help out (or maybe they never left the Moon to begin with), but the security around the Decepticons' missile silo was too much for them. However, the security around their [[space bridge]] controls was minimal, so the Autobots devised a new plan. When the missiles were fired, Smokescreen and Scavenger linked the Decepticons' space bridge to the Autobots' one on Earth, allowing them to transport the warheads straight back to the Decepticon base. Victorious, Smokescreen drove away as the base went up in flames. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===Lonesome Diesel===
Smokescreen was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]]. After Optimus Prime warned that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in, he suggested that they find a more stable battleground. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===3H comics===
[[Image:Cauldron-SmokescreenSmokescreen.jpg|right|thumb|250px|You mean the guy from 1985 ''doesn't'' win?! How often does ''that'' happen?]]

A presumably alternate-universe incarnation of Smokescreen was engaged in a death-duel with a presumably alternate-universe incarnation of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Primax]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] within the [[Cauldron]] arena, deep inside the shattered remnants of [[Unicron]]. Both robots' minds corrupted by the dark god, crane-Smokescreen mercilessly killed car-Smokescreen, gaining in power, while Unicron fed on the defeated robot's released [[spark]]. {{storylink|Abduction}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Armada===
[[Image:Armada Smokescreen toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Hi, kids! Sorry for chasing you menacingly in the abandoned subway and almost killing you for no apparent reason."]]
*'''Smokescreen with Liftor''' (Deluxe, 2002)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MC-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Missile

: Smokescreen transforms into a heavy Cybertronic truck with a large crane boom and tow-cable. Flipping a switch on his back end connects the tow-cable spool to his rear axle, reeling in the cable as he rolls in vehicle mode. Attaching a Mini-Con to the [[Powerlinx]] plug on his crane boom allows it to extend and unfold to almost three times its original length, forming a ''huge'' spring-loaded missile launcher. He comes with the Mini-Con [[Liftor]].

:This toy proved to be one of the biggest [[shelfwarmer]]s of the entire ''Armada'' line, with some lingering on pegs well into ''Energon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s run.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/Smokescreen/smokescreen.htm More info on Smokescreen at TFU.info]''


* '''Grap w/ Lift and Race Microns''' (Multi-pack, 2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MS-02'''
**''Accessories:'' Missile

: In Japan, Smokescreen was available both as an individual and in a multi-pack with the [[Race Mini-Con Team]]. All of the toys in the set were identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}
*'''Smokescreen''' (Happy Meal, 2002)

: One of eight McDonald's Happy Meal ''Armada'' promotional toys, Smokescreen is an ''extremely'' simplified version of the ''Armada'' toy, transforming into a crane-truck. He features a "battle damage" gimmick where hitting a button on his front grill makes his crane-boom pop off, a gimmick similar to Happy Meal [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/McSmokescreen/smokescreen.htm More info on McDonald's Smokescreen at TFU.info]''
{{picsneeded}}

{{-}}
[[Image:Armada Hoist toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Back and better than ever! You can keep calling me Smokescreen until somebody remembers I'm Hoist!"]]
*'''Hoist with Refute''' (Deluxe, 2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MC-11'''

: Smokescreen returned in a new body with the name "Hoist", transforming into a Cybertronic excavator, with a new Mini-Con partner [[Refute]] (who, in Japan, was just the upgraded form of Liftor). Plugging a Mini-Con onto his right arm unlocks his shovel-arm punch attack. The feature remains unlocked until the block is manually returned to its latched position.

: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] version had a fairly significant color difference from the [[Hasbro]] version, replacing his dark brown plastic with a swirled, semi-translucent gunmetal.

: The same mold (with the molded Autobot sigil replaced by a smooth block for a sigil [[Tampograph|tampograph]]) is used by ''Universe'' [[Ransack (Universe 2003)|Ransack]]. A heavily-[[Retool|retooled]] version of the mold is used by ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Longrack (Cybertron)|Longrack]] and [[BotCon 2006]]'s [[Dinobot (BW)#Timelines|Darksyde Dinobot]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Hoist/hoist.htm More info on Hoist at TFU.info]''

{{picsneeded|Japanese version}}

{{-}}
* '''Grap Supermode w/ Spark Lift and Adventure Microns''' (Multi-pack, 2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MS-07'''

: In Japan, Hoist was available both separately and in a multi-pack with the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]]. All of the toys in the set were identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}
*'''Smokescreen w/ Liftor''' (Built to Rule, 2003)
**''Accessories'': Missile

: One of the smaller-scale ''[[Built to Rule]]'' sets, Smokescreen can be built from a truck-crane sorta resembling the original toy into a robot mode. His crane-arm contains a spring-loaded missile launcher. He came with a building-brick version of Liftor.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/BTRSmokescreen/smokescreen.htm More info on Built to Rule Smokescreen at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{picsneeded}}

===Universe===
[[Image:Uni2003-toy_Smokescreen.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Smokescreen with Liftor vs. Ransack with Refute''' (Battle in a Box, 2004)
**''Accessories'': Missile

: Smokescreen transforms into a heavy Cybertronic truck with a large crane boom and tow-cable. Flipping a switch on his back end connects the tow-cable spool to his rear axle, reeling in the cable as he rolls in vehicle mode. Attaching a Mini-Con to the [[Powerlinx]] plug on his crane boom allows it to extend and unfold to almost three times its original length, forming a ''huge'' spring-loaded missile launcher.

: Smokescreen was only available in a "[[Market six|market six]]" [[Battle in a Box]] set with his [[Mini-Con]] partner [[Liftor]], against the [[Decepticon]] [[Ransack (Universe 2003)|Ransack]] and his Mini-Con [[Refute]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/TFUSmokescreen/smokescreen.htm More info on Smokescreen at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
*'''Grapp''' (Colour, 2003)

:A soft-plastic PVC of Smokescreen was made for Act 10 of the Takara [[Super Collection Figure]] line in 2003. It came in both full-color and pewter-finish versions, one each per case of twelve.
{{-}}
{{picsneeded}}

*'''Grapp''' (Pewter, 2003)

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}
{{picsneeded}}

==Notes==
* It is believed that the Hoist mold was originally planned to have a gear system that would activate gear-driven Mini-Con gimmicks (like those of Refute and the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]]) when his shovel rod was pushed. This is supported by the gear gimmick on Refute, who is too big to fit onto [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. This is further evidenced on Hoist's card art, wherein the Mini-Con peg is missing from his left shoulder, with a Cyclonus-styled "clip" drawn where the peg would normally be on the finished toy. Oddly, the left arm was not the one with a gimmick.

* It is ''also'' believed that the Hoist mold was originally designed to be a separate character, but was changed to become a new Smokescreen body at the behest of Takara. Official confirmation or denial of this has not yet been obtained, however.

* The "'''S.D. 74'''" on the [[Hasbro]] version of the Hoist mold is an in-joke, according to [[Aaron Archer]]. He has pointedly and repeatedly refused to ''explain'' the joke, so its meaning remains a mystery. However, an explanation of sorts was offered at [[BotCon 2008]]: The marking evidently originates from an incident at the San Diego Comic Con involving an unfortunate mix of Hasbro employees, alcohol, and a construction crane. Whatever happened, apparently the [[wikipedia:Petco_Park|Petco Park]] stadium was nearly not built because of it. Yowza. (How the 74 relates to this, exactly, remains uncertain.)

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Grap''' (グラップ ''Gurappu'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Füstfüggöny'''

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Built to Rule]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Jolt (Armada)

2011-06-11T12:57:06Z

84.224.6.47: /* Foreign names */

{{factions|minicon|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Jolt}}
{{picsneeded|Fictional appearances}}
:''Jolt is a [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Armada (franchise)|Armada]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Jolt ut.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Windmills do not work that way!]]
'''Jolt''' is [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]'s [[Mini-Con]] partner. He's kind of a geek.

==Fiction==
===''Armada'' mini-comics===
An eager Jolt was assigned by [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to work with Hot Shot, but the brash hero felt he didn't need a partner. Jolt followed him into battle anyway, and helped Hot Shot out of a JaAm with Cyclonus and [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Realizing the value of friendship and teamwork, Hot Shot accepted Jolt as his partner from then on.

(He has ARTICULATION!) {{storylink|Armada (mini-comic)#Volume 1|Armada Volume 1}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
Shortly after the Autobots arrived on Earth to heed the Mini-Con signal, a cave opening was uncovered during a battle, exposing several Mini-Con storage panels. Jolt was retrieved from this cave, and powerlinked with his new partner, Hot Shot. {{storylink|Base}}

After Hot Shot got tired playing "Tag" with the kids at the Autobot base, he called in Jolt to tag the little trouble-makers for him. On their next mission, the Autobots traveled to Antarctica in search of another Mini-Con. Hot Shot was growing impatient with Red Alert's slow and measured approach to the search and wanted to take off with Carlos before the rest of the team was ready. Jolt powerlinxed with his rash partner in order to increase his driving ability on the snow and ice...and to keep Hot Shot out of trouble. Their search eventually turned up a Mini-Con buried in the wall of an ice canyon, but Starscream arrived around the same time. Hot Shot fell into a deep gorge, but Jolt's rotors provided enough lift to keep him from smashing on the ice below. As the skirmish continued, Hot Shot was forced to eject Carlos so that he could concentrate on Starscream. As Carlos fell into a nearby canyon, Jolt detached and flew down to catch Carlos on his skis and carry him to safety. He then reunited with Hot Shot to boost his firepower for the fight. {{storylink|Soldier (episode)|Soldier}} On another mission, Jolt provided aerial reconnaissance in the forest for Hot Shot and the others, as they tracked down a Mini-Con panel atop a tall tree. {{storylink|Jungle}}

When [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] saw the kids and Street Action Team running off to play at the carnival, he roped Jolt and Longarm into joining him in tagging along. They were a big hit among the carnival goers, who thought they were just another attraction. They even got to march in the parade! [[Fred (Armada)|Fred]] and [[Billy (Armada)|Billy]] got suspicious, though, and started to chase the Mini-Cons through the fair. Jolt finally had enough and transformed, scooping them up in helicopter mode and depositing the nosy twosome atop a giant balloon. {{storylink|Carnival}}

On a mission in the desert, [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] pinned the Autobots down behind an open sand dune. Hot Shot and Jolt powerlinxed to try and return fire, but they were unable to pop out behind their cover quickly enough to get the drop on their Decepticon attacker. {{storylink|Palace}}

After [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] kidnapped Billy and Fred, the Autobots were reluctantly prepared to turn over Jolt and the other Mini-Cons to Megatron. When the Decepticons broke the deal, however, the Autobots managed to recover both the kids and the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}}

During an underwater mission, Jolt's powerlinxed propellers were used by Hot Shot in lieu of the aqua-thrusters employed by the rest of the team. {{storylink|Ruin}} When the Autobots fought for control of a Mini-Con at an abandoned volcano resort, Jolt teamed up with his fellow Mini-Cons in carrying the fight to the Decepticons, using Prime's combat deck to fight for their freedom. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

After Hot Shot acquired the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], he still relied on his old partner Jolt for the occasional helping hand. While searching for a Mini-Con near the big city, the Autobots were caught in a traffic jam created by Cyclonus. Hot Shot powerlinxed with Jolt to use his rotors and fly over the blockade. Later on, while in a running battle with [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], Jolt gave Hot Shot the necessary lift to fly behind the mercenary and get the drop on him. {{storylink|Gale}}

Jolt was present when Hot Shot returned from a trap on the moon, having lost the Star Saber to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Credulous}} This loss hit the Autobots hard, and Jolt later gave Hot Shot some much needed repair work after a series of losses to the Decepticons thanks to the Star Saber. {{storylink|Conspiracy}}

During the hunt for [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]], Jolt powerlinxed with Hot Shot to give him enough boost to clear a ravine blasted by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Reinforcement}} Later, he and the Street Action Team helped create a miniature obstacle course from Hot Shot and [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]] to train on. Jolt went into battle with Hot Shot when the Autobots were forced to confront Megatron after he gained both the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and the [[Skyboom Shield]]. Despite being curiously (and ridiculously) oversized this time, the "axel-zooka" was totally uneffective against the Skyboom Shield. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}}

After [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] arrived in the midst of a firefight and began raining cannonball laser storms down on the Autobots, Hot Shot and Blurr took to the waves to strike at the Decepticon aircraft carrier from below. Jolt and [[Incinerator (Armada)|Incinerator]] provided their partners with the proper boost to make it into the water and then unload their firepower at Tidal Wave's unprotected underbelly. {{storylink|Awakening}}

Jolt was present at the team meeting when the Autobots decided what to do with the Mini-Cons who formed the [[Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Runaway}}

After [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] was critically damaged, Jolt partnered with Hot Shot to run out and avenge him when they saw Starscream on the video monitor. As it turned out, the former Decepticon had quit his partners and was on the run from [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. Starscream came back to the Autobot headquarters and joined them in order to seek his revenge on Megatron for past slights. Despite this, Hot Shot still wished to duel Starscream. Jolt and [[Runway]] of the Air Defense Team caught them brawling and ran off to inform Optimus of the situation. {{storylink|Regeneration}} Jolt appeared briefly during the Autobots' raid on the Decepticon moon base, separating from Hot Shot to give him use of Jolt's engine / pulse cannon. {{storylink|Rescue}}

After the death of Optimus Prime, Hot Shot was becoming more and more difficult with his fellow soldiers due to his grief. Finally, [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] couldn't stand any more and warped to a secluded location to teach him a lesson. The loyal Jolt jumped into the warp field to go along with his partner, and provided what little aid he could against Scavenger's imprompteu tough love seminar. Ultimately, though, Jolt sided with his fellow Mini-Cons in confronting Hot Shot, forcing him to stop taking his guilt out on himself and the others. {{storylink|Remorse}}
Jolt and the Mini-Cons all chose to willingly follow the Autobots into space aboard the ''[[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]'', fighting alongside them against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Depart}}

Sometime later, Jolt magically appeared over a nameless planet where the Autobots and Decepticons were fighting with [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|Nemesis Prime]]. He and several other Mini-Cons used their combined power to repair the damage the Cybertronians had suffered before vanishing as quickly as they came. {{storylink|Puppet}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
Prior to the war, Jolt used to live in [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con Village C52]]. He helped prepare the [[Filtrek|forceshields]] for when the [[Decepticon]]s would inevitably reach their village, and got nervous listening to [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]]'s stories about [[Mecha-sectioning|what would happen to them]] if they were captured. Then the Decepticons got past the forceshield and captured them. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} Thanks to [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]], Jolt and the others were rescued from the [[Decepticon Headquarters (Armada)|Decepticon base]] and left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in search of a place to live in peace. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}} Unfortunately, [[Exodus (Armada)|their starship]] malfunctioned and crashed on [[Earth]], where the Mini-Cons lay dormant for a million years. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Armada #3}}

Jolt took refuge in a [[human]] junkyard alongside several other Mini-Cons, where he had his injuries from the crash treated by [[Liftor]]. After a misadventure where they had to save [[Rollbar (Armada)|Rollbar]] from a trash compactor, they learned that the Decepticons had followed them to Earth and were hunting down Sparkplug. Ignoring the danger, Jolt was the first to rush out and try to save him, and the others soon followed. When they arrived at the scene, the [[Autobot]]s were fighting with the Decepticons, so the Mini-Cons chose to help the [[bulk]]s out by [[powerlinx]]ing with them. Jolt picked [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] as his partner and chased the Decepticons away, then agreed to join the Autobots. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}} Later, Jolt and Longarm joined Sparkplug in an attempt to sneak into the Decepticons' base and rescue the Air Defense Team. The plan went awry when [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] found them sneaking about, and Jolt attacked him to little effect. He was punched out of the air by the Decepticon, who proceeded to accidentally bring the ceiling down on everyone. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Armada #6}} The three Mini-Cons spent some time trapped under rubble, but were eventually saved by the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]]. They then returned to the Autobot base to help the Autobots defend it from [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who had combined the Air Defense Team into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Armada #7}}

Like all the other Mini-Cons on Earth (except Liftor and Rollbar), Jolt was summoned to the [[Mini-Con Ark]] and taken to Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 8|Armada #8}} They were imprisoned on a [[Mini-Con Moonbase|moonbase]], where Jolt examined some technology and figured out that it wasn't a human structure. The mystery was quickly revealed when their fellow Mini-Con [[Dualor]] showed up and explained that he had brought them all to the moonbase in order for all Mini-Cons to live in peace. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 9|Armada #9}} Like Sparkplug, Jolt was not happy with how they had been forcibly summoned to the station and put behind bars for no real reason. He almost came to blows with [[Knock Out (Armada)|Knock Out]], who had nothing against the moonbase, but [[Wreckage (Armada)|Wreckage]] broke them up. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 10|Armada #10}}

In the end, the moonbase was destroyed by the Decepticons and its residents fled to the Autobot base on Earth. Most of them didn't want join the Autobots, though, and Jolt watched as [[Rook (Armada)|Rook]] held a speech to them about Mini-Con independence. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} A short while later, Jolt participated in a mission to rescue some dormant Mini-Cons in [[Alaska]]. He located [[Dune Runner (Armada)|Dune Runner]] and [[Ransack (Armada)|Ransack]], who had been defeated by the Decepticons during an earlier rescue attempt, then powerlinxed with Hot Shot for the battle with [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13}} Later, he was part of a team who investigated odd interdimensional activity in [[Big Sur National Park]] following the mysterious disappearance of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}} When the Decepticons learned of Prime's disappearance and attacked confused and weakened Autobots, Jolt and Hot Shot were easily dispatched by Megatron. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}}

Like all other Mini-Cons, Jolt returned to Cybertron to defend it from the approaching [[Unicron]]. Presumably, he was among the Mini-Cons at the [[Loop]] who gave their energy to the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], allowing [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] to critically damage Unicron. {{storylink|The End}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
Back on Cybertron, Jolt was among the Mini-Cons who fled for their lives when the Decepticons began capturing their race. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After escaping from his home planet, he and several other Mini-Cons ended up near [[Lincoln]], [[Nebraska]] when their ship crashed on [[Earth]]. After awakening, they met [[Rad White]], [[Carlos Lopez]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], but refused to get involved with the [[Autobot]]-[[Decepticon]] war again. {{storylink|First Encounter!}} After Rad showed some amazing courage by confronting [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] alone, the Mini-Cons changed their minds and entered the fray to save the human. Jolt attacked Megatron with his electric stun beam, then power-linked with the newly arrived [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], allowing the Autobot to take flight and defeat [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}}

The Autobots soon decided that the best way to keep Jolt and the other Mini-Cons safe from the Decepticons was to send them back to Cybertron. However, the Mini-Cons refused, as they preferred stay and fight alongside the Autobots. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}} Some time later, Jolt, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]] infiltrated the Decepticon base in [[Silver Ridge]], intending to free the Decepticon-owned Mini-Cons. Jolt complained about it all the time, repeatedly pointing out how risky their little adventure was. When they eventually found their fellow Mini-Cons, they turned out to have no intention of escaping, but instead captured the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons for the Decepticons. Jolt defended the group by zapping [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]] and [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] with electricity, allowing Longarm to save Sparkplug from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]]'s grasp. After escaping, the three discussed if the Decepticon Mini-Cons were corrupted somehow, but Jolt had a feeling they had always been huge jerks who deserved to be with the Decepticons. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|Into the Lions' Den!}}

Jolt later helped helped send a probe to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] to activate any leftover Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}} After pretending to give themselves up to the Decepticons, Jolt and the other Mini-Cons ended up imprisoned on a [[solar barge]] on the way to the Decepticon base on the Moon. They easily broke out, and Jolt helped out by using electrifying darts to take out Cyclonus, who was pulling the barge. He then saved Sparkplug, who had fallen into the void of space, and the Mini-Cons all returned to Earth safely. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Lost in Space!}}

==Games==
===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
Jolt was one of many [[Mini-Con]]s who crash-landed on Earth when fleeing the war on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He was trapped inside a Mini-Con-Disc and needed to be saved before the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] could find him. Once awakened, he agreed to assist the [[Autobot|Autobots]] in their battle against [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and became [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]'s Mini-Con partner. You can run him over, but due to gameplay-reasons he actually is invincible. Jolt does not talk, but if attached to Hot Shot, he increases his speed in exchange for [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]. If his special powers are not needed, he follows his counterpart by foot, defending and assisting him with shots from his laser gun. {{storylink|Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}

==Toys==
===Armada===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadatoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|JaAm copter! YAY!!]]
* '''Hot Shot w/ Jolt''' (Super-Con, 2003)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''MC-03'''
**''Accessories'': Missile, engine-block

: Jolt transforms into a red helicopter of an unknown model. He plugs into Hot Shot's butt (ewww) to activate Hot Shot's head cannon gimmick and (in the same motion) fires a missile from Hot Shot's hubcap. He can also attach to Hot Shot's spoiler plug in vehicle mode to form the combined flight mode used in Jolt's introduction. The chest/engine piece from Hot Shot can be attached to Jolt's vehicle mode or held as an arm cannon-type weapon, but in both cases does not sit well without support.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Mini-Con/Jolt/jolt.htm More information on Jolt at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
*'''Hot Rod w/ Jolt and Air Defense Microns''' (2002)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''MS-01'''
**''Accessories'': Missile, engine-block

: [[Takara]]'s "Hot Rod" and Jolt were also released in a box set with the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]]. Each item in the set is identical to their individual versions.

[[Image:Hotshotpowerlinx.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Lemon JaAm copter?]]
* '''Powerlinx Hot Shot w/ Jolt'''

: For Hot Shot's "Powerlinx" [[redeco]], Jolt's and Hot Shot's color schemes were basically reversed, with Jolt now colored yellow and black.

: In November of 2003, US [[Toys"R"Us]] stores had special bonus pack Max-Con (Deluxe) toys, which came with a single bonus Mini-Con attached to the card over their sticker, for less than the price of a normal Max-Con during Toys"R"Us' post-Thanksgiving-day sale. Like Powerlinx [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], Powerlinx Hot Shot and Jolt could come with one of the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] members: [[Dune Runner (Armada)|Dune Runner]], [[Iceberg]] or [[Ransack (Armada)|Ransack]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Mini-Con/PXJolt/jolt.htm More information on Powerlinx Jolt at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

*'''Hot Shot''' (Built to Rule, 2003)

: ''[[Built to Rule]]'' Jolt is a building-block set that must be assembled in each form then disassembled and rebuilt to "convert" from robot to helicopter and back again. Naturally, he was only available with Hot Shot.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Mini-Con/BTRJolt/jolt.htm More information on ''Built to Rule'' Jolt at TFU.info]''

===Universe (2003)===
[[Image:UnreleasedUniverseJolt.jpg|thumb|300px|OH GOD LONGARM I'M BLIND]]
*'''Smokescreen Vs Drench'''
**''Accessories:'' Hubcap-missile, engine

:[[Smokescreen (unreleased)|Smokescreen]] and Jolt were to be part of a ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' "[[Battle in a Box]]" set with [[Drench (SG)|Drench]]. Though tentatively a [[Target]] store [[exclusive]] (according to [[Hasbro]] representatives at [[OTFCC 2004]]), alas, it was canceled. Jolt was really kind of same-y, but lost all of his facial paint.

{{canceledtoy}}

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===Universe (2008)===
====Armada Series====
[[Image:UniverseHotShotJolt.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I have articulation!]]
*'''Hot Shot with Jolt''' (2008)

:Jolt's entry into the Universe toyline is a newly engineered mold. While the overall look of the toy is basically the same, the transformation and articulation are different. He has extra paint applications on his tail section, as well as some parts now cast in black plastic for contrast and visual appeal, such as his propeller and upper arms. He now has one Powerlinx socket instead of the original two.

:Jolt can attach to Hot Shot's vehicle mode by inserting Jolt's arms/engines into slots in the back of Hot Shot's spoiler. However, the connection does not hold very tight. Jolt can also attach to the Powerlinx peg on the Hot Shot's vehicle mode trunk or robot mode shoulder, but this does not activate any features.

:Jolt's mold was also used for ''[[Henkei! Henkei! (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' [[Jolt (Henkei!)|Jolt]] and ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Cop-Tur (Timelines)|Cop-Tur]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Mini-Con/Jolt/jolt.htm More information on ''Universe'' Jolt at TFU.info]''
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==Merchandise==
[[Image:MegaSCFHotRod.jpg|right|100px|thumb|]]
*'''Hot Rod''' (Mega Super Collection Figure, 2002)

: A small, non-transforming Jolt based on his cartoon model was included with [[Super Collection Figure|Mega SCF]] Hot Shot.

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[[Image:Bigtransformershotrod.jpg|right|100px|thumb|]]
*'''Hot Rod''' (Big Transformers, 2002)

: The [[Kabaya]] "Big Transformers" Hot Shot included a tiny non-transforming vehicle-mode Jolt that can peg onto his shoulder.

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jolt''' (ジョルト ''Joruto'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Bütyök''' ("Knob")

[[Category:Armada Mini-Cons]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]