Ricochet (Headmasters)

2008-04-14T00:45:12Z

84.71.44.23: Shattered Glass

{{disambig3|Ricochet}}

:''Ricochet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Headmasters]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Ricochetdoesnthavemuchart.jpg||thumb|right|300px|[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] gets pimped.]]

'''Ricochet's''' function is Rapid-Fire Attack, and he's well suited to it. He is the most accurate marksman the Autobots have and a [[Targetmaster]] as well, further augmenting his incredible skill. Unfortunately he's also quick-tempered and very easily provoked. This leads to him having a hard time maintaining friendly relations or even conversations with his teammates. In his favor, Ricochet has an uncommonly strong sense of justice (exactly twice as strong as the ordinary Autobot<ref>[[Talk:Ricochet (G1 Autobot)#Explanation for Targetmasterness|Ricochet's T/F Collection reissue bio]]</ref>).

His Targetmaster partner is [[Nightstick (Ricochet)|Nightstick]].

:''Japanese name'': '''Stepper'''

==Fiction==
===''The Headmasters'' manga===

Ricochet accompanied [[Artfire]], [[Chromedome]] and [[Daniel Witwicky]] in responding to a building fire. While the Autobots attempted to rescue people and put out the flames, the [[Decepticon]] Targetmasters attacked. However, the arrival of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], who dropped [[fire-retardant foam]] on the buildings in starship mode, gave the two Autobot Targetmasters the chance they needed to combine with their gun-partners and send the Decepticons flying away uncontrollably.

===T/F Collection reissue bio===

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Ricochet often had marksmanship contests with his friends [[Fusion]] and [[Bluestreak]]. (It's anyone's guess how the hot-tempered Ricochet, who couldn't maintain friendly conversations with other Autobots, could be pals with the chatterbox Bluestreak.)

Ricochet's metabolic functions were damaged in an unspecified "incident." Nightstick, an engineer on the planet [[Master]], volunteered to help him by undergoing a unique form of [[binary bonding|binary bondage]]. While ostensibly becoming a Targetmaster, Nightstick's gun mode wasn't merely hand-held. He instead plugged into Ricochet's robot-mode back, serving as a life-support system.

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' comics===

Though he was never activated, Ricochet was apparently one of several [[clone|clones]] created by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in the same program that produced [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}

{{note|This origin is at odds with what little else we know about Ricochet. Of course, [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] wasn't a clone in most stories either...}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Stepper''' (Targetmaster, 1987)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-109'''
:''Accessories'': "Nebulon" Targetmaster partner, gun mount backpack

[[Image:G1Stepper_toy.jpg|thumb|left|Former holy grail.]]

: A [[retool]] and [[redeco]] of the 1984 Autobot [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], Stepper transforms into a Porsche 935 Turbo "Moby Dick" race car. As a [[Targetmaster]], he came with a smaller partner robot named [[Nebulon (Autobot)|Nebulon]]. In gun mode, Nebulon could peg into Stepper's car mode spoiler, or could attach to a separate bracket that mounted over his robot-mode shoulder. Stepper did not come with any of Jazz's accessories.

: As a late addition to the Japanse ''Headmasters'' series (he was a tail-ender release and was unlikely to have been on shelves for very long as stores would reset for the new ''[[Masterforce]]'' series) and one of the earliest Japanese-only Transformers, though Stepper was not ''particularly'' rare, he was perceived as such in the west. As such, for several years Stepper commanded top dollar on the secondary market... until the reissue (see below) pretty much iced that.

{{-}}
*'''Ricochet w/ Nightstick''' (Targetmaster, 2003)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''TFC-15'''
:''Accessories'': "Nightstick/Nebulon" Targetmaster partner, gun mount backpack, rifle, missile launcher backpack, 3 missiles

[[Image:G1_Stepper_reissue.jpg|thumb|right|Modern heavily-discounted shelfwarmer.]]

: Announced first by [[Hasbro]] but released almost simultaneously by both Hasbro and [[Takara]], Stepper (now called Ricochet for his US debut) was released through Toys "R" Us in the US in [[Commemorative Series]] IX, and as part of Takara's [[Transformers Collection|T/F Collection]] reissue series. His arsenal was bolstered by the addition of Jazz's weapons, chromed gold where they had been silver for the Takara version, and solid black plastic for the Hasbro release. Additionally, Nightstick was retooled with a slender peg extension to allow Ricochet to actually hold him in his hand.

: Amusingly enough, neither version sold all that well, and in the US was eventually sent to the "closeout" chain Tuesday Morning, where he could be purchased for $8 (original TRU price: $35). Japan saw similar clearance sales on the piece.

{{-}}

===Alternators===
*'''Ricochet''' (Alternator, 2006)
:''Alternator ID number:'' '''20'''

[[Image:Alternators_Ricochet_toy.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Sadly, Ricochet's brilliant plan to score fembots by becoming a lifeguard failed miserably.]]

: A late-run [[Alternator]], Ricochet is a [[redeco]] of the Subaru Impreza WRX mold used to make [[Bluestreak|Silverstreak]]. He features opening doors, hood and trunk, has a detailed interior, and his intercooler becomes a hand-held (non-firing) weapon. He is one of the few Alternators with a state-specific license plate; Ricochet is registered in New Jersey. With his attitude, he'll fit right in.

: Though publicity photography give Ricochet a fully-gold face, for unknown reasons the final product's nose was white. Contrary to popular belief, it was not left unpainted, as his head is made out of black plastic.

: This mold was retooled to make [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]].

{{-}}

===Shattered Glass===

Ricochet is an attendee bonus figure for [[Botcon]] 2008. He is a remold of Cybertron [[Crosswise]], he has the same new head that [[Shattered Glass]] [[Jazz]] has. Ricochet no longer has his traditional black color scheme, opting for a new red and white scheme. There was initial displeasure for the toy from fans when it was first revealed as he does not resemble the usual Ricochet toys and his head is almost identical to Shattered Glass Jazz's (just a different colored visor).

{{-}}

==Trivia==
*Stepper and Artfire's Targetmaster partners' names were switched from their [[Nightstick (Decepticon)|English-language]] [[Fracas|counterparts]]. There has been some speculation among fans that "Stepper" and "Artfire" maybe have been switched as well; this is fueled by the fact that the ''[[Robots in Disguise]]'' Ricochet homage [[Hot_Shot (RID)|Hot Shot's]] Japanese name was Artfire, not Stepper.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Stepper/stepper.htm Ricochet at TFU.info]
* [http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/japanese/trans296.php Headmasters #7 translated in English]

[[Category: Alternators]]
[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Headmasters characters]]
[[Category: Targetmasters]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Drench (Universe)

2008-04-08T18:05:00Z

84.71.44.23: /* Unreleased */

{{disambig3|Drench}}

:''Drench was to have been an [[Decepticon]] in the [[Universe]] conflict.''

[[Image:UDrench.jpg|thumb|250px|GODDAMNIT.]]

'''Drench''' is one of many Transformers who would have been caught up in the interdimensional war between the Children of [[Primus]] and the Minions of [[Unicron]]. His relationship to any other Drench is unknown.

==Toys==
===Unreleased===
Drench was part of an ultimately unreleased [[Battle in a Box]] set with [[Smokescreen (unreleased)|Smokescreen]]. In 2004, several test-shots appeared on eBay in a group, among them a [[redeco]] of the ''[[Armada]]'' [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]] toy in ''[[Generation 2]]'' [[Drench (Autobot)|Drench]]-like coloration. When his [[Mini-Con]] is attached to his active rooftop [[Powerlinx]] port, both doors either side of the vehicle mode open up like wings, which also give access to the triggers for his door-mounted missile launchers. In robot mode, these missiles can be held in his hands as melee weapons. Unusually, his right wrist features a swivel joint while his left wrist is immobile.

He would have come with a [[Mini-Con]] partner using the [[gang-molding|gang-molded]] [[Wind Sheer (Armada)|Wind Sheer]] mold, likely also ''called'' "Wind Sheer" if the previous Battle in a Box Mini-Cons are any indication.

The toy was eventually released as a Botcon exclusive toy during 2008 with a slightly different color scheme.

==External Links==
*[http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/binalternator/unreleased/drench_vs_smokescreen/ Gallery of Drench vs. Smokescreen test-shots]

[[Category: Decepticons]]
[[Category: Universe characters]]
[[Category: Unreleased toys]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

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Ricochet (Headmasters)

Drench (Universe)